TITANS TOMORROW #12

[Glippernip]

TITANS TOMORROW #12

Where is Donna Troy
Part 4: Heightened State of Fear![/u][/b][/center]

Written by Joel A. Sawyer


>>”Citizens of Opal City, I am Lord Phobos, The High God of New Olympus, and Opal has the honor of being my capitol on Earth. There will be great benefits of living in my chosen city, but there will be penalties to those who cross me. I know there will be resistance, so I would just as soon handle it now. Summon your champions, America. Let us be done so that my reign can begin.”<<

The words reverberated in the heads of the populace of Opal. Then, the fear set in, and this time, there was no manipulation from Phobos himself. He felt his strength grow and smiled.

Arcana stepped up behind the demi-god and asked, “Was it wise to announce yourself to them?”

“Right now, the powerful ones do not know each other. If I wait, I might find myself against all of them at the same time in a concentrated effort. Probably be the beginning of a new Justice League. This way, they will come singly or in small groups. And I am Phobos. The coward. The underachiever. The likes of Superman will surely underestimate my strength. By the time the heroes realize their danger, I will have eliminated some of them. And, meanwhile, I can send you and Judge and Jury to take down a few of them clandestinely.”

“Who do you think will come first?”

“Superman if he is on Earth...or the so-called Titans.”

At the foot of New Olympus, Phantasm shuddered. Somehow, he could feel it. Something bad was going to happen here.

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[Glippernip]

They were somewhere over Wyoming when it hit. Suddenly, Terra and Princess Fern had fits. Liana screamed and hit the floor holding her stomach while Tamara turned pale and leaned backward. For a moment, Cardinal couldn’t here Terra’s heartbeat. Then she gasped and looked at Liana. “You feel it, too?” she asked.

“Only worse this time,” Liana sobbed, “So much worse.”

“More phantoms from this Troy person?” Kilowatt asked, “I didn’t see anything.”

Terra shook her head ‘no’. “It must be Phobos,” she explained, “It feels the same as before, only...bigger. Stronger.”

“I can confirm that,” Jon Levine stated from his position in the cockpit, “It just came up all over the news. A small mountain just appeared in Opal City, and Phobos claimed responsibility.”

“He’s still in Opal,” Charlie hissed, a spark of electricity zapping from one eye to the other, “with my parents.”

“Heh,” Battalion chuckled, “Don’t even get to visit the new homestead. Plot a course, Jon.”

“Aye aye, Cap’n,” Jon called back.

Sitting alone, at the rear of the plane, Taurus smiled in anticipation of the coming battle.

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Earth-N-New Guardian headquarters:

Not only did the group searching for Donna find a safe harbor, they found the New Guardians very humble and giving. These heroes tended to the Titan’s wounds while telling some of their story.

“We remember when there was only one Earth,” RAM told them, “but after the Crisis that filled the sky with Earths, we ended up here. There was no Superman, no Batman, no Justice League, although we remembered them. There were only a handful of others who became this world’s great heroes: Captain Comet, Maxima, Jesse Quick, Dan Chase, a few others. The New Guardians became the JLA for our world, and since our lives are extended, we’ve been Earth’s greatest defenders for fifty years.”

Floro, the plant-man and ambassador of Earth’s green, invigorated the Titans with truly natural substances. “I’m not out to sell anything,” he laughed, “so I know the plants that really help! You should ask your green member when you return to your world,” he said to Starbolt.

“I don’t think I understand,” Starbolt returned.

“You must have one of the green near you,” he responded, “I can feel it. Her very proximity cleanses the blood of any human or animal.”

“We are not completely surprised of your arrival,” Gloss, originally from China, told them, “She contacted us over a year ago and caused some very strange phenomenon. She recognized us, but we didn’t know what was happening.”

“We eventually found her,” Extrano continued as he stared into a crystal skull, his totem, “but we could not free her from her imprisonment.”

“So you know where Donna is,” Wally West asked, his mask removed from his face.

“Yeah, we know,” Jet answered, her Jamaican accent barely perceptible, “She is in Limbo. We con lead you ‘dere.”

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[Glippernip]

The aircraft formerly owned by Judge and Jury flew by New Olympus once, then parked about a mile away. Taurus, Princess Fern, Battalion, Terra, Cardinal, and Kilowatt stepped out.

“Jon, stay here and keep trying the Justice League. Hell, try anyone!” Battalion was showing stress, a fact that disconcerted the younger, greener members of the team.

As they moved toward the mountain, they hammered out a plan.

“We know that Phobos has some items of power,” Terra explained, “We need to find those if we have any chance against him. We’ve only seen four minions so far. Cardinal, do you think you could sense the items’ location if you were close enough?”

“I don’t know for sure,” Carrie replied, “but I can sense almost anything when I’m paying attention.”

“I’m better at the sneaky stuff,” Gabe added, “Why not Cardinal and I try to find these items while you draw attention away from us. The four of you should make a spectacular distraction.

“Good idea, but try not to be too long about it,” Terra told him, “We may need you. Arcana by herself is pretty strong, let alone her warriors.”

They broke off and split up, heading to their own individual fates.

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[Glippernip]

The jet, Jon Levine’s new great joy, was a fantastic technology, fast and sleek. It was not meant as a mobile command center, and lacked certain security systems. Jon never saw them coming.

He monitored the Titan’s communications frequency, ready to put the plane into motion if things went badly, while also monitoring for any response from the superhero community. He heard the soft footstep behind him, and turned to see death stalking him in a chrome skull mask. He tried to draw his pistol, but Hellebore reached him first, injecting his toxins even as Jon turned to look at his plane’s controls.

“One down,” Judge declared outside the plane as Jon’s body slumped to the cockpit floor.

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[Glippernip]

They made noise, all right. Kilowatt zoomed up the mountain, lighting striking wherever he chose. Taurus pushed over columns and fixtures. Terra cracked the ground and smashed artwork. It was Fern who did most, however, with roots sprouting and twisting through any paved or walled surface. Then they noticed Arcana floating toward them.

Terra positioned herself in front and faced the sorceress.

“You trespass on holy ground,” Arcana said stoically, “This is the one chance that Lord Phobos gives you. Turn away.”

Terra transformed herself to grey bedrock. “We’re ready for you this time,” she bravely said.

Arcana smiled a vicious smile. Suddenly, a crackling grey lightning bolt shot toward them from higher up the mountain. Charlie intercepted it, the electricity mixing and mingling as Kilowatt tried to make it his own.

This is incredible! Charlie Watkins thought, I’ve never felt so strong, so powerful! I can feel it burn within me. Phobos is in for a surprise.

Then, like Jesse Ventura in the movie Predator, Kilowatt’s chest exploded.

“CHARLIE!” Terra shrieked as Charlie Watkins rained down on the marble terrace. She wanted to catch the main part of his body, but behind her, she heard a grunt and a thick, crunching sound, like the snapping of a green sapling. Terra turned to see Taurus down on one knee. One hand secured Liana’s legs, his other hand securing her shoulders and head. Princess Fern’s back bent over his knee in a way a human back is not supposed to bend. Taurus grinned and dropped her as he rose to his feet. He even stepped on Princess Fern instead of stepping over her. He flexed his muscles and raised his fists.

“I’ve shown the greatest amount of patience awaiting this moment,” he huffed with amusement.

Terra remembered. Sure, Taurus had thrown himself in against Two-Tone and the bruiser in Boston, but he had been totally ineffective against Arcana. The entire time, she mused in shock.

“I’m going to kill you,” she resolved, more to herself than to the man-beast.

“Spear of Athena,” she heard behind her.

“That barely scratches me,” Terra stated, making her mistake. She let the spear hit her and felt ripping, tearing ribbons run through her. She’s changed it, Terra thought just before the mystic power shattered her stone form into a hundred pieces.

“Good timing,” Arcana told Taurus, “I’ve always appreciated your dramatic touch.”

“Amateurs,” he growled with disgust, “I’m pleased to be back where I belong. Phobos will need me when the heavy hitters arrive.”

As they entered a tunnel into the mountain, Phantasm’s indigo soul-self, still in the shape of a bat, rose from the terrace near Liana’s fallen form.

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[Glippernip]

Cardinal and Battalion had been searching for a short time in the catacombs of New Olympus when Cardinal perked up at a four way crossing.

“I can feel them,” she said, “We’re getting close to the items.”

“You will not reach them,” Judge stated, stalking from a side passage. Members of the Jury came from the other directions.

They feel like the items of power, Carrie wondered, Why didn’t I sense them for what they are?

Reaction came instantly from the Titans, taking the assassins by surprise. Battalion leapt forward at Volt and Silent Vapor while Cardinal screamed at Lynch and Poniard, White Sound smashing into them. Battalion noted immediately that Volt no longer wore any equipment as lightning arced from his hands. Gabe’s suit was grounded, however, so the effect was minimal, but it concerned him that Volt formerly could not fire lightning, he needed to touch. Gabe’s hair stood on end even as he wrenched Volt’s helmet from his head and broke the man’s jaw with a knee. He knew the odds and was not going to hold back. He shot a circle kick at Vapor’s head, and found himself completely off balance when his foot passed through Silent Vapor’s body.

He changed himself into a mist, Battalion thought as his face and exposed chest began to sting from the tear gas. Hellebore ran towards him, and Gabe drove himself towards Roy Harper’s killer.

And ran full force into Judge’s invisible shield.

Cardinal heard the thump and turned slightly to see. Poniard, showing his own superhuman willpower stemming from his pride, threw his 2 foot long blade. Cardinal focused on the attack, easily avoiding the blade, but she was not prepared when it turned in mid-air, aligned itself, and slashed across her throat. The White Sound died as her implant was destroyed.

I’m bleeding, she noticed, Oh Lord, I’m bleeding so much. She felt weak and watched her energy draining out of her.

Battalion recoiled from his impact with the field and Hellebore was on him. The killer did not have syringes, his hands gloveless.

“Forget something,” Gabe taunted.

“No,” Hellebore answered. Even as Hellbore drove his fingers into Battalion’s chest, sharp spines extended from his fingertips, entering Gabe’s flesh. “I’m accounting for your battlesuit, as well.”

“Account for this.” Battalion kneed Hellebore in the groin, then twice in the gut. As Hellebore vomited inside his helmet, Gabe stomped on his right hand, breaking it. “Everytime we fight, I’m gonna break your hands,” he promised. Then Gabe stumbled, the anesthetic taking effect.

“That’s OK,” Hellebore choked, “We won’t fight again.”

Battalion collapsed.

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[Glippernip]

Earth N:

It was like a new day. Sound sleep, good food, a bit of healing from Raven, and strengthening medicine from Floro, and The Titans felt a hundred times better. Now RAM led them toward his Tech lab.

“We eventually defeated the Manhunters, which granted us a great deal of new technology, including a projector that takes the target to Limbo. Limbo seems to be a space between the Earths. It is not easy to get to,” RAM dryly explained.

“Between Earths,” Fusion asked, feeling a bit overwhelmed by all of this.

“Yes,” RAM replied, “Your Donna Troy seemed to be connected to the Multiverse.”

“That might explain why you couldn’t home in on her, Raven,” Logan suggested, “Maybe our home wasn’t the first she visited, and you were following a trail. We didn’t really ask Justice Machine if they had recorded strange visions.”

“I hate to seem rude,” Koriand’r told RAM, “but Raven feels that Donna’s time is limited.

“Not at all,” RAM replied.

After entering the lab, RAM quickly uncovered the projector and revealed the stage where the travelers would stand.

“Looks like a Star Trek transporter,” Gar snickered.

“Simple designs are sometimes the best,” RAM said, “Roddenberry understood this.”

The six walked onto the pad and RAM triggered the device. The six faded from view.

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[Glippernip]

Wally West, Garfield Logan, Koriand’r, Alexandra Light, Ryand’r Grayson, and Raven appeared in a white void. Above them and around them serenely floated many Earths, a little blurry and out of focus to the eye. Central to them, not far away, floated the black-haired figure they were looking for.

“Oh, Donna,” Kory whispered, tears welling up in her green eyes.

Donna Troy looked bad. Worse, she looked sad, her face drawn and tired, her body thinner than it should be, her arms and legs hanging listlessly. She appeared pale and sick.

“Donna,” Koriand’r cried, “Donna, its Starfire. Can you hear me?”

Troy’s eyes flickered, and she glanced at Starfire. “Hello again, Kory,” Donna said before her eyes again glazed over.

“She believed we are ghosts,” Raven stated, “Not really here.”

Koriand’r tried to touch her, but a bubble of force surrounded her. “Donna, please,” she begged, “we are your friends. We are here for you.”

Nothing. They each tried. Flash even tried to vibrate through the barrier, but it wouldn’t work. They tried for some time, but nothing seemed to pierce the field or Donna’s perceptions. Then Starbolt stepped (floated) forward.

“Ms. Troy, I realize that you don’t know me. I’m Koriand’r’s and Dick Grayson’s son. I’m no one you would have remembered, so either you’ve made me up completely, or I am real.

Donna smiled. “What a nice boy,” she said, turning away. Then Ryand’r hit her with a Psi-bolt.

“RYAND’R!” Starfire shouted, “What are you...” Kory’s question trailed off as she realized that Donna focused her complete attention on the youth.

“That wasn’t a dream, wasn’t a ghost,” Ry said threateningly, “It is pain, Donna.” She didn’t move, and he blasted her again.

Donna had him by the collar, her other arm cocked back to punch. This is really going to hurt, Ry thought. Fusion was already in her light-screen armor, ready to fight. However, Donna’s punch never fell.

She looked around. “W...Wally?” she gasped. Flash smiled and nodded. “Gar? Raven? You all look...”

“Magnificent?” Logan suggested, “Handsome?”

“Old,” Donna said with a weak smile, at which point Koriand’r grabbed her in a tight embrace.

“Until Raven told us about this,” Kory said, “I had accepted that you had died, that we never would see you again.”

“I’ve been trapped here, monitoring the Multiverse.” Troy looked at Ryand’r. “That was very brave,” she told him, “Dick must be very proud.” A memory flickered in her mind. “But he died, didn’t he?” Ry nodded. “I’ve felt the passing of my friends and allies,” Donna explained, “Dick, Roy, Diana, others. It is the only thing I knew was real for many, many years.”

It was Fusion, somewhat left out of the proceedings, who noticed Raven floating a distance away, her back turned on her friends. Fusion approached the Lord of Order and found tears streaming down her face.

“I thought my link to our Earth’s magic forces could lead us home,” she whispered, “but our indirect path confounds me.” Raven shuddered, then looked at Fusion. “I cannot take us back without assistance.”

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[Glippernip]

New Olympus:

Judge walked in with pride and arrogance and looked Battalion in the face, the Titan now stripped naked and bleeding from a dozen different wounds. He was strapped to a column, his arms stretched backwards to take away his leverage. He looked up into Judge’s skull-adorned face.

“Since you are awake, I just wanted you to know how bad it really is. Your friends have failed completely. Taurus is one of Arcana’s warriors, and has been the entire time. Right now, only you and Cardinal remain, and she no longer has her sonic implant.” Judge leaned in and whispered, “I guess you didn’t know who you were dealing with, did you?” Gabe dropped his eyes, shoulders slumping in defeat. Judge laughed and walked away.

With his tongue, Gabriel triggered the tiny transceiver hidden behind his last upper right molar. He waited a moment until he heard the reply.

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[Glippernip]

“Hello?”

Little John Deardon said it cautiously. This was an emergency line. One of the family was in serious trouble.

“LJ, its Gabe,” the voice whispered from the little speaker, “I’ve lost my suit and need some help.”

“Of course,” LJ said immediately. The circumstances didn’t matter. This was family. Gabe rattled off the supplies he needed, and LJ’s brow furrowed. “That’s quite a shopping list, Gabe. Are you sure about the last items?”

“This is a hunt now, LJ. The frontal assault didn’t work. It’s guerilla tactics now.”

I haven’t heard that tone in his voice since... LJ shook the thought off. “I’m on my way,” Black Arrow promised.

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[Glippernip]

Abbey awoke with a start from her afternoon nap. Her last rew days had been grueling, but as always, she took it all with a grin. She reached out for her hoverchair to find it no longer in its familiar spot.

In fact, peering through the darkness, she realized that her bed was no longer in its familiar spot. Instead, she sat on her bed in a cavern.

“Abigail,” the ancient wizard called, “You are needed. There are heroes this world will need that are lost. This can not be!”

Abbey nodded, doubt leaving her mind.

“SHAZAM,” she replied.

Lightning crashed, and taking the place of Abigail stood the New Captain Marvel. “What do I need to do,” she asked courageously.

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[Glippernip]

"The body of the Teen Titan named Kilowatt has been recovered. Eyewitnesses report seeing the other Titans ascend the mountain, but their current status is unknown."

He watched the news report with a little trepidation. He had never fought a would-be god, and felt just a bit intimidated.

But, then, wasn’t this what he was here for? Gabriel, Ryand’r, and Tamara are probably on that mountain, he thought.

In one second, Reese Allen dressed as The Flash and rocketed toward Opal City.


To Be Continued...