Titans Tomorrow #3

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Titans Tomorrow #3
Contempt!

Written by Joel Sawyer
Edited by Daniel Dyer

(Editor's Note: Before continuing, make sure you read Batman Beyond #5, Dan.)

"Hey, Uncle Tim, can we lend a hand? Titans Together?”

The bronze-skinned lad floated down to the roof in front of Gotham’s Commissioner Tim Drake followed by a girl with red-feathered wings and a vaguely womanish shape in glittering yellow and gold armor. Panting and sweating, Drake glowered as only an almost sixty-year old man can.

“You shouldn’t call me that out in the open,” the Commissioner hissed at Starbolt.

“You can trust them,” Ryand’r replied. “I do.”

“But you never know who is listening,” Drake explained. Tim turned and pointed with urgency. “Down there. They’ll kill him.”

As Starbolt and Cardinal launched into the air, Fusion in her armor shot forward, running at inhuman speed toward the edge of the building.

—

[Spider-Man Beyond]

>>We must go,<< Judge communicated to her team. >>Someone has come to help Drake.<<

“At least we won’t have to worry about this one,” Lynch said cheerfully, a still form at his feet. “Batman ain’t breathing!”

The Jury dispersed in six different directions even as Fusion leapt off the nearby structure and landed flawlessly in a 3-point stance near the dark, motionless figure.

“One of them said they killed Batman,” Cardinal called, swooping in for a landing.

“He’s not Batman,” Drake growled. As Starbolt landed, Tim thought to himself, How many more, Bruce?

Starbolt knelt and placed his fingers against Batman’s neck. “No pulse,” he whispered. “If he was strangled, we may be able to bring him back.”

“Relax,” Terry whispered, pushing Starbolt’s hand away. Batman stretched after laying in such an uncomfortable position. “The electric one had me for a moment, but I was in no danger from the noose. I can suppress my breathing and pulse to fake death,” he fibbed. It was the suit that masked his vital signs, but Terry felt no need to broadcast the fact.

“Are... you really The Batman,” Fusion timidly asked.

“I’m Batman,” he replied, “but not The Batman. Let’s say I’m carrying the flag.”

“In a way, so are we,” Starbolt stated with a grin. “I’m Starbolt, this is Cardinal and Fusion. My mother is Princess Koriand’r, a.k.a. Starfire, and my father...” Ryand’r heard a slight clearing of the throat and glanced toward Commissioner Drake, who almost imperceptibly shook his head ‘no’, “...was also in crime-fighting. I need to speak with Commissioner Drake. Batman, would you mind exchanging data about Judge and Jury with Cardinal? I think we all need to know as much as we can.”

Cardinal winked at Starbolt. “Since there really is a Batman again, are you sure you don’t want to change you name to Robin? Move to Gotham?”

Ryand’r actually looked sheepish as Tim shot him a withering glance.

“We came here tracking Judge and Jury,” Cardinal began. “We have a plan to bring them in...”

—

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Off to the side, Tim Drake snapped at Starbolt. “What was that Robin nonsense? You have some notion of taking that name?”

“No, Commissioner. It’s just a joke. Since Cardinal learned about Dad, she’s been ribbing me about changing my name.”

“And since when do you have a starbolt to fire?”

“It’s the gloves,” Ry stated, showing the white coverings on his hands. “I took them from a bad guy the other day. Thought they might be useful. I don’t plan to keep them.”

“So how did you show up at such an opportune moment?” Drake continued.

“Roy tagged one of them,” Starbolt answered, “and Carrie’s brother is tracking them. When we realized they were heading to Gotham, Battalion and I knew the target. We were closer, but we had to use an old Gordanian fighter to get here quickly. As it is, we almost didn’t make it. I am sorry we didn’t clear things with you before coming into Gotham.”

“You probably saved my life, and you’re apologizing,” Tim said, smiling for the first time in many hours. Despite the appearance of this upstart ‘Batman’, Tim felt the pressure ease from his mind. “So, what is your plan?”

“To drop in on Judge and Jury when they least expect it and go Chernobyl on them. There are five of us so far, and the assassins seeing us in Gotham helps a great deal.”

“Just remember, no one outside of the family need know about my past,” Tim reminded.

“Might be out of our hands,” Starbolt said with a frown. “We don’t know how they found out some of the Titans’ identities, but they did.”

“We should rejoin the others,” Tim added.

“Sure,” Starbolt smiled, “and don’t miss any more reunions!”

“Always the wise ass,” Tim chuckled.

As they turned towards the other ‘capes’, they clearly heard Cardinal’s voice say, “We have a plan but could use some help. Want another shot at them?”

“I think I would enjoy that,” Batman answered, a smile in his voice.

“She’s encouraging him,” Tim whispered sideways to Ry.

“We need help,” Starbolt said out loud. “If she hadn’t asked, I would have.”

Commissioner Drake sighed.

—

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Oliver Gabriel Lyons, grandson of Roy Harper, stepped into the edifice, surprised at the lack of security. The location was a bit out of the way in the country South of Lansing, Michigan. Then again, they used stealth technology to travel and had removed the beacon arrowhead from Poniard’s leg. Not knowing about the residue in Poniard’s bloodstream, they had no reason to think they would be followed. Now, in what amounted to an old, abandoned shooting range, Battalion began to explore.

The place seemed pretty pedestrian, with few frills. Six bedrooms held a few belongings, and a central living room with a few entertainment device, fed by a portable generator. Most of the cooking was done by zetawave by the look of the smallish kitchen, and the water likely from a well. There was a full service lab for their equipment, and a well stocked medical center. Apparently, one of them had some serious medical training.

It wasn’t the last room left unchecked, but upon opening the door to what was once an armory, Gabe’s jaw dropped.

“Is this what it’s about,” he asked the air. “Bastards!” He clicked on his long-range communicator. “Jon, do you read me,” he barked.

“I read you, Battalion. Why break silence? They might have listening devices.”

“After what I’ve seen, I want them to know I’m here.”

—

[Spider-Man Beyond]

They came from their stealth transport slowly, cautiously. Six against one is always good odds, but their quarry is fast, smart, and highly trained. Judge and Jury did not have to search long, however. As they entered their current base (they have several), Battalion stood waiting in front of the armory, the large door opened wide.

“So you know,” Judge stated.

Battalion, still dressed in soft shoes, black T-shirt and khakis, glared at them. “You mean this is why you’re killing Titans? THIS!?!” Behind him, displayed with almost religious honor, were artifacts of the recent past. Pictures of the original seven New Teen Titans: Robin, Starfire, Kid Flash, Cyborg, Wonder Girl, Changeling, and Raven. Facial portrait of Jericho and Rose Wilson. A bronze plated sword, a metal battle staff of futuristic design. The head of a Wildebeest power-suit hung on the wall alongside the head of an older man with white hair and moustache, stuffed and mounted like a hunting trophy. Lastly, a mannequin, a thing of the past since holograms and plasma screen displays came into fashion, stood dressed in a blue and orange uniform which had acted as body armor. Weapons were strapped to the figure, and an eyepatch covered one eye despite the fact that only one eyehole appeared on the full face mask. It was the battle gear for Slade Wilson, known as Deathstroke the Terminator.

“Yes,” Judge declared proudly. “We emulate the Terminator, and aspire to finish the contract he took years ago.”

“So you aren’t even taking payment for killing them,” Gabe said in disgust. “I see that, somehow, you acquired some of Slade’s mercenary logs and learned some of their identities.” Battalion shouted, “Wilson’s initial contract against the Titans died with the H.I.V.E.!”

“Yet he challenged Titan teams for years after,” Lynch offered strongly.

“Let me tell you a story, “Battalion spat at them. “You might not know this, since the details are not on record and Slade couldn’t update his files. Almost twenty years ago, Deathstroke lured a group of Titans to what was once Zandia under the pretense that Brother Blood had returned. Nightwing, Gar Logan, the Flash, Terra, Starfire, Raven, and Cyborg all landed and found a huge, well laid out trap. Despite being completely outpowered, Slade nearly defeated them all, but he underestimated the one Titan he should have known best. As Wilson prepared to decapitate a helpless Flash, Logan entered Slade’s body as a tiny parasite, wormed his way to Wilson’s vitals, transformed into different small critters, and performed interpretive dances on his insides. Just before Slade died, he told Nightwing he had wasted too many years obsessively chasing them. Is that really the torch you want to carry?”

Judge and Jury were silent for a long moment. “Was that meant to make us angry,” Judge asked, unimpressed. “Cause us to make a mistake?”

“Slade was the best at what he did,” Volt added. “Is it wrong to emulate the best?”

“Battalion, you have been judged guilty,” Judge told him. “The sentence is death.”

“I object,” Gabe shouted.

Judge laughed out loud at this. “On what grounds,” she incredulously asked.

“On the grounds that you can’t carry out the sentence,” Battalion replied with a wide, almost evil grin. “Mark,” he finished.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

The Wall and the entire armory with its artifacts blew outward with a deafening sound. A circle of swirling light appeared, and figures stepped out of the glowing vortex. Even as the others appeared, Battalion triggered his ‘Palmer Effect’ capsule, and his miniaturized uniform seemed to appear on his frame. Now, they were six strong: Starbolt, Battalion, Cardinal, Fusion, Batman, and Bart Allen, the Flash of the past forty years. The portal collapsed, leaving Judge and Jury stunned and unprepared.

“That was a Boom Tube,” Battalion explained calmly, “from one of the few Mother Boxes left on Earth. Slade would have known about them.” Battalion cast a sidelong glance towards Flash. “Well?”

“This is your moment,” Bart replied.

Battalion grinned again as he shouted, “Titans... Together!”

They launched themselves forward with Flash only staying put, his role in this clearly defined. Starbolt and Battalion charged directly at Judge, both prepared for an invisible field. Outstretched hands felt the barrier: Starbolt used the field to change direction and fly upwards while Battalion pushed off the shield, placed one foot against it, and leapt straight for Hellebore. Now with the first shield identified, Batman and Cardinal shot forward. Batman tackled Poniard and drove him out through the front door with a crash, while Cardinal grabbed Silent Vapor and dragged him out through the window, glass spraying out into the dirt parking lot beyond.

Starbolt shot Judge with the solar gloves, but the field blocked it. He then attacked with his psi-bolt knowing it should ignore the field, but Judge stood her ground laughing, “I’m a telepath. Apparently, I’m immune to your feeble assault!”

Starbolt pretended to not see Volt as he lunged, grabbing the half-Tamaranian and pulling him to the floor.

“I won’t let go until you are an alien briquet,” Volt hissed as electricity burned through his victim.

Ryand’r screamed and dropped to his knees.

A red blur streaked across the floor and behind Judge, and something slammed into her back. She stumbled several steps and adjusted the field to block Flash’s next attack.

“That leaves you and me,” Fusion said to Lynch casually as Lynch released his steel noose. He was a bit surprised when she didn’t even duck as the cable settled on her shoulders and he pulled it tight. “My light armor protects me from asphyxiation,” she chided beneath the expressionless faceplate. “Wanna take a walk?” She suddenly rocketed forward, not at Flash speed but inhumanly quick. She ripped Lynch off his feet as she jumped gracefully through the busted- out front window. The assassin slammed rather ungracefully into the window sill with a sharp smack before flipping out through the opening.

—

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Cardinal circled about one hundred foot distance in the air above the building, dangling Silent Vapor by his armpits. I can’t believe I’m so strong, she thought. She glanced down at Silent Vapor and said, “Up here, you can’t use your gasses to hurt my friends.”

“What’s to stop me from hurting you,” he snarled, firing concentrated pepper spray into her face.

Which was a bad idea, Vapor realized in hindsight, as Cardinal reflexively dropped him. “I can’t even see you to catch you, you idiot,” she shouted as he plummeted.

—

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Later, Fusion realized just how much she enjoyed dragging Lynch across the cold, hard, uneven field once used as a rifle shooting range. Finally, Lynch detached the cable from his wrist and tumbled to a stop. Fusion halted as well and watched Lynch slowly regain his feet.

“Awright, Hangman,” she said in a cheesy cowboy drawl, “Comin’ quietly?”

“I still have my tricks,” Lynch replied, extending his second cable and swinging it over his head.

“You have a lot of confidence,” she taunted, “for the fact you have no idea what I can do.”

“You can die,” Lynch growled angrily, lashing out with his cable like a whip.

Although fast, Fusion does not possess lightning quick reflexes, and the lariat stung her through her defense as it whipped into her side and nearly knocked her off her feet. Fusion ran to Lynch and grabbed his helmet in both of her hand as if to kiss him.

“Hey, Indiana Jones, running builds up a lot of friction,” she told him. “I can actually store some of that heat after a run and transfer it with a touch.” Which she did to Lynch’s steel helmet!

Once she let go, Lynch cried out and began to run around trying to release the catch to his headgear. Finally he threw the helmet down, several obvious burns on his face. “You little...” he screamed. “I’ll kill you!”

“Famous last words,” she called, extending her hands out toward him. A cascading rainbow of color shot from her hands straight into his face. While not white light, the effect was the same.

“My eyes,” Lynch shrieked as daggers of pain stabbed into his eyes and stole his vision.

“Your head,” Fusion corrected as she charged. Unable to see her coming, he was completely open. A moment later, he was completely unconscious on the gravelly dirt.

“Wow, that was fun,” Fusion said thoughtfully to herself.

—

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Terry slid to a halt about 100 yards, a football field’s length, beyond the front door of the building, actually across the old highway and in a wooded field. Poniard gained his feet and pulled a blade from under his uniform. Used to the lights and electricity of Gotham, Terry found himself amazed that such rural places even existed.

“We’ll get Drake eventually,” Poniard told him, “but I’ll settle for some Bat-meat tonight.”

“Why are you after Commissioner Drake?” Batman asked calmly. Always ask questions, he remembered from his training. Break their focus.

”You don’t know?” Poniard laughed loudly and said, “I guess you aren’t the legendary Bat. Of course, in a moment, you’ll be shish-kebob!” Poniard threw his knife.

Terry had noticed Poniard’s weapon follow Commissioner Drake earlier, so he called upon all of his combat training to keep out of the blade’s way. The weapon turned and attacked six times, with Batman noting its turn arc and speed with each pass, before returning to Poniard’s hand.

“Nice moves,” the assassin told Batman, “but you’ll tire soon.” He threw the knife again.

This time Terry took flight, zipping across the fields and angling around trees hoping to lose the weapon in a wooden trunk, but the knife followed every turn. It did, however, turn around and head back towards Poniard after about 45 seconds. Batman followed and landed at almost the same spot he had been standing before.

“Don’t throw that again,” Batman intoned coldly.

“Or what?” Poniard sneered in false shock. “You’ll bleed on me?” He threw again.

With near perfect precision, Terry dove over the knife’s flight path, the weapon nicking his lower leg but only causing a scratch through his armor. As the missile began to turn, Batman flipped and drop-kicked Poniard in the chest for the second time today. As the weapon completed its turn and shot towards them, Terry yanked Poniard to his feet, locked the criminal’s arms in a painful clutch hold, and turned him to the oncoming blade. Suddenly the blade lost its momentum, arcing to and tumbling across the grass.

“Not that easy,” Poniard grunted. “Of course I can stop it from hitting me.”

“Just that easy,” Batman corrected. “I know you have to throw your blade for it to return.” Batman locked Poniard’s arms in their very uncomfortable position with cuffs and began dragging him back to the structure.

—

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Inside the large shack, Flash rained blows down on Judge, who seemed just fast enough to block each shot. Fear surged in her heart when she saw the rage on the face of the Flash.

“After all those years,” Bart began, “I still don’t understand. Why emulate Slade Wilson? Why in all the Earths target former Titans who’ve spent their lives trying to help everyone?” Flash halted his attack as if waiting for an answer.

“Fool,” Judge yelled. “In your anger, you leave yourself open!” Judge drew an energy pistol from her robes and finished, “Slade was the best. Is it not human nature to desire being the best?”

“SICK,” Bart bellowed, whirling his hands at super-speed and causing a whirlwind that blew Judge off her feet. She rose to her knees to find Flash standing above her. With a sound like a playing card in a bicycle wheel, Flash peppered her with punches so fast she couldn’t see them. She pulled her shield up and around her so that there were no gaps, sitting on the floor covering up as Flash screamed down at her.

“I’m sick of it! I’m tired of you criminals striking out at us, hurting our families, stroking your egos at our expense. We wouldn’t even need to exist if it weren’t for you!”

>>Jury, help me, he is insane,<< Judge cried telepathically, but her sense told her that her team had its own problems. Suddenly, Judge realized that the next execution might well be hers.

—

[Spider-Man Beyond]

It’s taking him long enough to die, Volt thought as he pumped electricity into Starbolt. When the current suddenly stopped, Volt just stared as Starbolt looked up at his would-be murderer, power sizzling with a hsssss from his eyes.

“A lot of people don’t understand my psi-bolts. Basically, I age someone slightly, causing them a migraine. Successive blasts will make you feel like you haven’t slept in days, messing with your thinking, your vision, your reflexes. They effect non-living objects, too. The entire time you’ve been frying me, I’ve been hammering your equipment with psi-bolts until some component gave way, like circuitry always will eventually. Oh, I also absorb energy much better than Mom does. You’ve just made me stronger!”

Starbolt lurched to his feet, grabbed Volt, and flew him into and through the ceiling out into the night sky. About three times his normal strength, Starbolt’s first punch drove the air out of Volt’s lungs, the next strike dented the skeletal faceplate and shattered the eye coverings. Blood dripped from under the helmet as Volt fell back through the hole in the roof to the floor below.

—

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Battalion saw Hellebore’s hand jab forward and he shifted his weight, taking the hypodermics in the rib area. Gabriel locked eyes with Hellebore, who laughed.

“This is how your short quest for revenge ends,” the injectionist chuckled. “Even if I die now, I’ve killed your family line!”

“Weren’t you paying attention? How I went from about 200 lbs. to pushing 350?” Gabe’s breath fogged Hellebore’s faceplate. “I’m wearing an upgraded Wildebeest suit, you venom-fiend! Your hypos may have stained some of my circuitry, but you didn’t get me!” Battalion’s vicious grin spread on his face again just before he punched Hellebore in the head.

“Please,” Hellebore whimpered. “I surrender.”

“You’ll have to speak louder, I’m slightly deaf in my right ear,” Gabe replied, grabbing Hellebore by both wrists. He slammed the right hand against the wall, shattering the syringes and several bones in Hellebore’s hand and wrist. “That was for Holly, and this is for Dawn,” he said, doing the same thing to Hellebore’s remaining limb. Hellebore shrieked in agony as Battalion stepped back.

“This is for Roy, you worthless piece of waste,” he said before driving his foot into Hellebore’s helmet with a metallic Bonnng! Hellebore dropped, completely limp, and Battalion looked over at Flash, who stood over Judge in a similar way.

“Did you kill him?” Flash questioned.

“No. I want to. You?”

“Didn’t even beat her up much,” Bart said. “After nailing her protective bubble about a thousand times, she passed out from the strain.”

Volt dropped into the room and landed with a thump. “The others are calling in,” Battalion told Flash and the now returning Starbolt. “It looks like we won completely.”

One by one, Batman, Cardinal, and Fusion joined their comrades in front of the building. Since any meta crime is now Federal jurisdiction, government authorities were already flying out from Indianapolis and arrived less than 30 minutes later. During that time, Ryand’r and Gabriel’s minds began to wander. As the Feds took custody of Judge and Jury, the two men explained their musings to their friends.

“You know meta activity has jumped in the past year, with a huge increase in crime. The JLA is stretched thin... especially considering recent events. Maybe it’s time for the Titans to be reborn,” Starbolt said, more serious than usual.

“I know you won’t, Flash, but the rest of us and Kid Flash would make a solid team,” Battalion added.

“Hold it,” Batman interjected. “Thanks for giving me a rematch with Judge and Jury, but right now, I belong in Gotham. There are things I need to look up. I’m flattered, but I can’t join a group right now.”

“And I can’t speak for Kid Flash, but I’ll mention it to him,” Flash said. He motioned to Fusion and added, “She’s pretty fast. You may not need a Flash if she’s on the team.”

Starbolt turned toward Fusion with a hopeful expression, “Well?”

Fusion paused, suddenly full of anxiety, and said in a truly awful Bogart, “Sure, shweetheart.” Then she paused, stood tall, and continued, “You know why I agreed to help you today. Joining you would certainly suit my long-term goals. I’m in.”

They all turned to Cardinal.

“I’ll join if you call yourself Robin,” she said to Starbolt with a grin. “Kidding, of course. I’m there!”

“Even if Kid Flash joins us, we would need one or two more members,” Battalion stated, “Where in the world do we find team-mates?”

—

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Opal City.

It is nearly midnight as the helicopter lands at the smallish county airport. The large man-beast Taurus unfolds himself from the passenger compartment followed by Tamara, daughter of Changeling and Terra, and the small, ivory-haired Liana.

“So, what do your senses tell you,” Taurus rumbled from his bull’s maw.

“It’s overwhelming,” Tamara exhaled. “This whole city burns with it!”

“Burns with what?” Liana questioned, her brow furrowed with concern.

“Taint,” Tamara replied, trembling.

-END?-