Titans Tomorrow #2

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Titans Tomorrow #2
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Written by Joel Sawyer
Edited by Daniel Dyer

"Roy Harper, you have been judged guilty. The Sentence is death!”

Judge’s voice rang out clear, her pronunciation perfect, her tone ringing slightly from within the chrome, skull shaped faceplate. Poniard caressed his large knife, Silent Vapor freed the nozzles of his gas sprayers, Lynch loosened his noose cable, Volt switched his circuit breaker on, and Hellebore calmly loaded his fingertip syringes. The skull helmed, blood robed figures would strike fear into nearly anyone else.

“You couldn’t polish Sivana’s head,” Roy growled, his left foot slipping back to the ready position.

>>Remember, this one is dangerous,<< Judge telepathically tells his Jury. >>Bring him down. It does not matter who carries out the sentence.<<

Silent Vapor sprayed an anesthetic mist as Lynch sliced his cable down like a whip. Roy sidestepped and then stepped on the cable even as Volt and Hellebore swooped in. Roy moved very fast for a sixty-six year old man, wrapping the metal whip around Hellebore’s neck and shoving the cable into Volt’s outstretched hand. Roy rolled away from the electric surge even as Hellebore shrieked, his muscles spasming and jerking. As Hellebore toppled, an unfazed Lynch whipped his cable across Roy’s shoulder.

“Your trick was well done, condemned,” Lynch chuckled, “but I’m grounded against such attacks. You’ll slow down as Vapor’s gas affects you.”

Don’t know about the rebreather implant Bruce designed for us, do you? Roy mused to himself. Best kept secret since the Coca Cola recipe.

Lynch attacked again, his body language suggesting that he really enjoyed his job. He also kept Roy busy as the other Jurors moved into position. Roy rolled under the next whiplash, coming face-to-face with Lynch even as he felt the sharp tug of an old wound from his left knee.

“Did you know that half my skull is now made of Promethium,” Roy whispered, smashing his head into Lynch and cracking the helmet. There would be a huge bruise on Roy’s head in a few hours, but that was fine. Nothing new there, Roy just hoped the knee held out. Harper almost casually picked up a ceramic lamp and broke it to pieces, revealing a stick folded over. Releasing the thumb catch, the spring-loaded bow snapped into place.

“STEP AWAY FROM HARPER,” a loud, rough voice boomed. Roy knew who was there, but the others in the room turned slightly to see. A large, thick individual stood on the balcony. Spikes jutted from hunter green armbands, legbands, and up from shoulderpads. While his face and exposed chest were obviously human flesh, his arms, legs, and sides were brown and leathery, almost like matted down fur. It was the face that drew most attention. The face was exotic, possibly part Asian, but it was hard to be sure. Bright red hair jumped from his head, cheeks, and chin like the mane of a lion, and a scar ripped from above his left eye and across the bridge of his nose to end on his right cheek. Fury blazed on his face like fire across a dry plain as he took in the scene.

“Battalion,” Judge intoned. “Not totally unexpected.”

“Then you know what comes next,” Battalion replied. The big man jumped a twenty foot distance straight at Judge, whose head tilted slightly in response. Battalion caromed off an invisible barrier, killing a nice grey leather sofa on landing. On his feet in an instant, Battalion prepared another attack.

“Nnnngh!” Breath exploded from Poniard as an arrow embedded itself in his calf. Roy aimed the second arrow at Judge’s shoulder, but the arrow shattered against an unseen shield. As soon as Roy released, Battalion launched a jumping circle kick that leveled Silent Vapor, even as the assassin bombarded him with a caustic spray. Battalion grimaced, grinding his teeth against the pain stabbing into his eyes.

Don’t know who you’re dealing with at all, he thought as he felt the noose fit over his neck. With one hand he kept the loop from pulling tight, with the other he yanked Lynch off his feet and into the wall.

Roy threw a stout end table at Volt as he neared the small, hidden wall compartment where a blaster sat. Don’t like guns much, he thought, but this is for keeps. Even as he reached, something stung him. He glanced down as the previously stunned Hellebore, still prone, removed the hypodermic from Roy’s leg.

“Jury, court is adjourned,” Judge shouted. The Jury instantly withdrew, with Lynch dragging the unconscious Silent Vapor by a leg and Volt helping Poniard walk. Battalion launched himself at them and Roy fired his energy pistol, but neither attack pierced the defense field. As Judge and Jury departed, Battalion began to follow.

“Battalion, no,” Roy called.

Battalion stopped short, losing his bluster. “What do you mean, ‘no’,” he snapped. “They’re leaving!”

“You’re completely outnumbered, and I can’t go anywhere. Besides, I tagged one of them.”

Roy slouched against the wall and ripped his pant leg open. Battalion bounded to his side, kneeling down next to the now sitting Harper. Deep red veins ran up his calf from the point of the needles entry.

“One of them injected me with something,” Roy whispered. “I’ve called Medevac, but I don’t think they are gonna make it.”

“Come on,” Battalion pleaded. “They looked like a bunch of poozers!”

“Even poozers can be dangerous,” Roy grunted.

They were silent for a moment, then Battalion said, “Thank you for training me. The others would say the same. Superman may be ‘Earth’s Greatest Hero’, but your legacy is your students carrying on your work. Its been amazing.”

Roy locked eyes with Battalion. “Judge creates the force fields,” he stated. “You’ll need to take her out, or isolate the others from her protection.” Roy paused. “I wish I could have seen your kids, Gabe. Titans Together.”

“Titans Together, Grand-dad.”

About a minute later, Roy Harper heart stopped beating.

---

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Raven’s head snapped up. “Roy,” she whispered.

“Roy, who?” David Dagon asked.

Raven sighed. “A dear friend has passed. Murdered.”

“Do you need to go? I mean, if it is important...”

“As a Lord of Order, I cannot interfere unless reality is threatened. I can only send my agents.”

“That’s me,” David grinned, and Raven nodded with a wan smile. Stupid, David thought. She just lost a friend, and I’m grinning like a goon!

“I do wish to help them, but I have responsibilities,” Raven finished.

“I could go,” David offered. “You’ve already taught me a lot.”

“No, David,” she replied, “There is another matter you must investigate for me. Now look into my eyes. The transference must be completed.”

---

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Tamara Markov stood in a once habitable cavern, sending her senses into the earth. Something had been here, something that had offended Earth deeply. Earth wasn’t alive the way people were, but she has power. Things humans do rarely affect Earth. Whatever had occurred here, Tamara could still feel, and it made her uneasy.

A faint whisper grazed her consciousness. She turned to find a small, white-haired girl quietly strolling toward her. The girl wore a tired but intense expression.

“You feel it, too, don’t you?” the girl asked calmly.

“Feel what?” Tamara responded hesitantly.

“Something foul,” the girl replied, looking around the cave. “Something that has scared nature.”

No sense hiding, Tamara thought. “I do feel it, and this isn’t the only place. Just the closest when I first felt it.”

“Your senses are more acute than mine,” the girl stated matter-of-factly, “What’s your name?”

“Tamara Markov-Logan.”

“I’m Liana. Where do we go from here?”

“We?”

Liana grinned as she looked up into Tamara’s eyes. “We’re here for the same reason, and we’ll likely end up in the same place looking for the same answers. Might as well travel together.”

“Can’t argue with that,” Tamara agreed. “Ever flown in a helicopter?”

---

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Ryand’r Grayson heard the call and answered. He’d been expecting it for hours.

“We have to plan, Ry,” Gabriel Oliver Lyons, known as Battalion, said through the com, “There were six of them, so we need to get some help. Any ideas?”

“Cardinal already agreed to come, and there is one other I can ask. She’s strong, and no one will know anything about her. What about Star City’s other defenders?”

“Field trip. They’re on their way, but we need to move, and they won’t be back right away. Roy tagged one of the killers. They have already removed the arrowhead and destroyed the tracer, but they don’t know about the residue.”

“Residue?” Starbolt asked.

“Yeah,” Gabe said with a smile. “Slightly radioactive material now in his blood. Won’t hurt him much, but he can be followed for 5 or 6 days. Roy always said that once they find the tracer, they usually stop looking. They are moving fast, so I’m not sure how to get ahead of them.”

“I might be able to help there, but I have to speak with Mom,” Ryand’r said.

---

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Carrie Levine really couldn’t sleep. She didn’t have the same emotional investment in the situation as Ryand’r. Her investment was with him, and she could hear the tone of his voice as he spoke with Gabriel. He was afraid, and with reason. His mother would certainly be on the killers’ list. Who was the next victim, and would they get there in time?

Imagine Carrie’s surprise when she opened her eyes and saw an unknown woman standing over her.

Carrie kicked with her legs and flexed her wings in surprise. Her left wing painfully slammed into the wall, and her legs pushed her over the side of the bed. She landed on her neck and shoulders, legs in the sir, wings jammed against the walls and bed. She looked like she was doing a bicycle kick.

“That must be very uncomfortable,” the woman whispered, a strange hollowness in her voice.

“Thanks,” Carrie grumbled, slowly extricating herself from her predicament. Finally, she stood up and covered herself. “I haven’t been doing this long,” she snapped. “I’m not used to people popping into my room. Who are you?”

The white haired figure dressed in a white and light blue, skin-tight costume smiled warmly. “I’m sorry if I startled you. I am Dove.”

Carrie stared, her mouth agape. “You died,” she croaked.

Dove smiled again. “We hear that a lot,” she chided. “Ask any of us. Dawn Granger has died, but Dove still has a purpose.”

“Which involves me,” Carrie said warily.

“I’m using the last of Dawn’s consciousness to speak with you. Once her consciousness ends, the power will be left to dissipate. I’ve chosen you, Carrie.”

“Why me?”

“Because you have already chosen this life. Because, while you are skilled, your powers are still somewhat weak for the type of opponents you will eventually face. And because you have a bird motif. The recipient does not have to call themselves Dove. Cardinal will do.”

Now, Carrie smiled, thinking, I would have liked her. “How do I benefit?” she asked.

“My powers will complement your existing abilities. You will be able to fly better, faster, and with more maneuverability. Your reflexes, strength, endurance, and toughness will increase, and your senses will become even more acute. However, you can only utilize these abilities when there is danger. Much of the time, you will rely on your own abilities. Because of what you can do already, you are the best choice to me.”

“I accept,” Carrie said solemnly. “I’ve heard enough about you to trust you. You’re not lying, are you?”

“What would you do to me if I were?” Dove asked. “I’m already dead.”

Carrie didn’t know if she should even laugh at the ghost’s joke. Dove touched Carrie’s forehead, and she fell into a deep sleep.

“You don’t even need to say ‘Dove’,” she whispered as she faded. “Just call the power to you, and it will be there.”

---

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Charlie Watkins, James Reyes, and Mikey Grace strolled downtown Opal City. They made strange companions. Charlie was very dark skinned, James classically Hispanic, and Mikey you couldn’t even really tell. They were all sort of clean-cut, as was expected in this respectable community. Opal looked old, but intentionally so. For nearly 100 years, the city refurbished and remodeled downtown structures instead of tearing them down. Charlie had always thought that his hometown looked nice.

“I don’t know why I let you drag me to this every week, man,” Mikey said with a grimace. “We could be checking out the new holovid demos at Radio Shack.”

“You would do that every night, ‘K-Fed’,” Reyes fired back. “We’re helpin’ the homeless, man! Doin’ something worthwhile.”

“You keep throwing ‘K-Fed’ around all the time, James,” Mikey responded. “You even know what that means?”

“Yeah, I do, Mikey. It means get off my back.”

“It means, ‘Loser’,” Charlie chimed in. “It was the nickname of some pseudo-celebrity wanna-be before any of us were born. I heard it on Disney’s MTV the other night.”

Suddenly, the sky lit up, and lightning struck the ground twenty feet behind the trio. They turned to see an old woman lying on the ground, the strange glow of her skin fading. “Help me,” she pleaded.

“Oh, man, we have got to go,” Mikey suggested.

“She needs help,” Charlie replied.

“I like helping people, Charlie,” James snapped, “but I can’t handle this. She’s a meta.”

“Even metas need help. Why don’t you guys go call medevac,” Charlie instructed, walking up to and kneeling beside the elderly woman, who had pale white skin and a black outfit.

“Are you OK,” he asked gently. “What’s your name?”

“Leslie,” she moaned. “Livewire. He drained my energy. I’m too tired to move.”

“How can I help?”

“Electricity,” she gasped. “Batteries. An extension cord. Drag me to an outlet. I’m dying!”

Charlie looked around, seeing a vehicle parked nearby. It was an old model, almost thirty years old, so it still had a battery instead of a charge module. He stooped down to gently slide his arms under her armpits.

Her eyes flared, and she sat up, staring at the sky in horror. “Let go,” she shouted. “Get back! He’s found me!”

Charlie looked up, and saw the dark grey lightning before it struck them.

Down the street where Mikey and James used the public com, they saw smokey grey and bright white lightning clash, bolts shooting upwards and also from the power poles. The entire area was a net of gigantic sparks. The explosion subsided, and the duo ran to the site as the dust settled. Charlie stood ablaze in electricity. What was left of Livewire smouldered at his feet.

“Charlie,” Mikey said in awe.

“I’m still hear,” Charlie Watkins answered while looking down. “Someone murdered her. I’m going to find out why.” With that, Charlie launched into the air, following the paths that Livewire and the strange grey bolt left.

---

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Midway City Museum: two young women stared at the strange artifact before them. It was an idol of Vishnu, with the arms holding small glass lenses, four in all. It was a very intricate work.

“Are you sure? I can’t sense anything at all,” Liana said.

“It’s made of gold,” Tamara answered confidently, “from the ground. I can feel its power.”

For the size of the beast behind them, it is amazing that it walked so silently. It stepped within ten feet before the girls felt it. Liana and Tamara turned. Liana calmly beheld the creature, while Tamara nearly jumped backward into the display.

The beast stood seven foot tall, with it’s horns giving it at least three more inches in height. Its barrel chest was over three feet wide, its arms huge, its body rippled with muscle. The shape was human, with dark brown fur covering from head to toe. Its head massive, a bull’s head perched atop a thick, solid neck. “In case you’re wondering,” it growled in a deep voice, “I’m not on the museum tour.”

Liana grinned, Tamara bristled. “Watch it,” she commanded. “I have powers.”

“You must,” the creature replied without missing a beat. “You are rather small.”

Tamara looked at it incredulously, then at Liana, who stood much shorter. “She’s smaller than I am.”

“True,” the beast replied, “but I can smell the power from her, and a hint of pine. You smell like a human girl who hasn’t bathed in a day or two.”

Tamara prepared a scathing retort, but then she noticed Liana doubled over, holding her sides, and stifling her giggles. “Thanks for the support,” Tamara said dryly.

“I noticed the smell, too,” Liana squealed, her curly white hair jiggling with the tremors, “but I didn’t want to be rude!”

“My sense of smell is highly acute,” the creature stated, “and apparently, so is hers. I’m sure most humans would not notice.”

Tamara sighed deeply. “If we are done discussing my B.O., what is something like you doing here.”

“My name is Taurus,” he grunted. “Hero of Greece. I’m following the trail of a magical thief who stole a national treasure from my country. My colleagues figure her next target is one of three items. My mission is to protect the Avatars of Vishnu statuette.”

“I’m Liana, this is Tamara. We can feel certain aspects of Earth,” Liana spoke up seriously. “Something is affecting nature in a bad way, and those feelings drew us here.”

A strange feeling came over Tamara, and she glance around. “I can understand if people were nervous around Taurus,” she said, “but I haven’t even seen anyone come to the entries. Where are the museum visitors?”

“I sent them away,” a strong, female voice rang out. The intruder floated through the chambers door. She wore bright red cloth almost like a toga, but with a golden helm, breastplate, armbands, and grieves like an ancient Roman soldier. “Nice to see you, Taurus. You are, by far, the easiest of my foes to deal with.”

“Arcana,” the beast huffed, “You should be concerned that we have anticipated your next move.”

“Why? You can’t stop me,” Arcana laughed viciously.

With a wave of her hand, a strange, globular mass erupted from the floor. It grew two arms, two legs, and a discernable head. In 30 seconds, a replica of Taurus stood before them. It was pale, like a photograph left out in the sun.

“Be ready,” Tamara shot to Liana.

“I’ll do what I can,” Liana whispered. “My abilities can be destructive, and we are surrounded by valuable artifacts.”

Tamara groaned in frustration. “Fine. If I can’t stop her, let her take the statue. We can concentrate on getting it back. After we are done, I want you to describe to me what you can do!”

Taurus snorted and locked up with his double. He seemed conscious of his surroundings as well. The double didn’t care where they went, but Taurus grappled with the copy without punching or throwing it, controlling what they did or didn’t bump in to.

Arcana glided across the room and touched a surprised Tamara on her shoulder. She froze, and turned into gold.

“Tamara,” Liana cried.

“And now you,” Arcana said to her.

Tamara, still golden, grabbed the shocked Arcana and threw her to the floor. Arcana could not believe it.

“You cannot move,” Arcana spat. “My Midas Touch turned you to gold!”

“I used to turn to gold to entertain my friends,” Tamara laughed. “How about this?” Tamara’s golden skin shifted, darkened, seemed to soften and turn dark brown. She smacked Arcana across the face, dust flying in an explosive puff.

“You turned into dirt,” Liana said.

“Dirt which can be blown apart,” Arcana shrieked. A shaft appeared in her hand. “Spear of Athena, strike true.” The spear flew true, and struck the now granite Tamara. She still felt the blow, which surprised her, but she smiled at her attacker.

“What else have you got, reject?” Tamara called.

Arcana presented her hand, palm up. She held a glorious, golden apple.

“Beautiful,” Tamara muttered, suddenly forgetting her mission. Arcana tossed the apple to the side of the room, and Tamara, wary and still in granite form, followed the fruit. Arcana again turned to Liana.

“Now, is it your turn, little girl?” she asked.

“I won’t try to stop you,” Liana said coldly. “Not here.”

“If you were wise, you would never challenge me,” Arcana replied. She grabbed the statue, glided out of the room, and was gone.

“Wait until we meet again,” Liana said mostly to herself. “Someplace not so precious and fragile.”

---

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Moments later, Taurus’ battle partner and the golden apple faded, with Tamara and the Minotaur coming to their senses.

“I couldn’t control myself,” Taurus barked. “That’s the second time she’s done that to me. I can’t stop myself from attacking my double!”

“Mine was just a piece of fruit,” Tamara said angrily. “Well, we failed miserably. Where should we go from here?”

Liana stepped up to Tamara. “You’re the one who can feel Earth’s distress. What do you think?”

“We should go check out the other artifacts,” Taurus suggested. “She may strike there.”

“Your compatriots are watching those sites,” Liana said. “Tamara’s senses brought us to two locations so far. I’m trusting that.”

Tamara stood for several moments before saying, “East. Near the coast. And it’s very strong.”

“Well, so am I,” Taurus growled.

---

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Gabe Lyons finished dressing in basic T-shirt and khakis as his com beeped. “Answer,” he shouted. “Battalion here.”

“This is Starbolt. I spoke with Mother, and she found what we were looking for. Fusion is joining us, too.”

“That is still only four. Anyone heard from Bart, Reese, or Logan?”

“Uncle Gar is too far away, and no one can reach the speedsters.”

“In the meantime, I’m going to check out the place where Judge and Jury stopped before the tracer went dead,” Battalion said.

“Hold on, Gabe,” Starbolt jumped in. “Jon’s calling.” The line went dead for about twenty seconds, then Ryand’r beeped in again. “Carrie’s brother is tracking Judge and Jury. We think we know where they are headed.”

“Well,” Gabe said impatiently.

“Gotham.”

“Crap,” Battalion spat.

To be continued in Batman Beyond #5