Titans: The Resistance #46

“Every generation needs a new revolution.”
Thomas Jefferson

“If by the mere force of numbers a majority should deprive a minority of any clearly written constitutional right, it might, in a moral point of view, justify revolution.”
Abraham Lincoln


-1-

Empress Petra led Prince Brion—the Geo-Force—to one of the genetics and metahuman experimental laboratory complexes at the Science Ministry.

“You mentioned a bizarre experiment at the briefing?” Geo-Force said to her.

“Yes, indeed. After the treachery of Doctor Cross, new specialists were brought in. Dr. Paul Bourg and Dr. Niles Caulder Both suffered devastating injuries, and Caulder disappeared... but Bourg is still with us, or at least, what is left of him is. Thankfully their experiment was successful.”

“What was left of him?” Geo-Force frowned.

“As I said, both Caulder and Bourg were injured. Caulder was merely crippled. Bourg’s situation was much more severe. It is a wonder he survived at all. But even so, he has triumphed. We have duplicated the powers of one of the aliens in Tara’s cabal!”

“The one we held prisoner?”

“Nay, Son, the other one. You shall see momentarily.”

Two Science Ministry guards stood to attention. The empress waved them off and punched a complex code into the keypad by the large metal door they guarded. Slowly, it hissed open.

“Greetings, Your Majesties!” an amplified voice boomed. It seemed almost robotic to Geo-Force, but also with a vaguely French accent.

“Doctor Bourg,” the empress returned, “I am told you have adapted well to your...situation?”

“It is true that I mourn the loss of my natural physique,” the voice answered, resonating out of the shadows on the far side of the laboratory. “An android body has been proposed, but for the moment I am satisfied with my computer interfaces. But you did not come here to inquire about my health.”

“We did not.” she agreed. “I am told the subject is living up to expectations?”

“In every way save intelligence,” Doctor Bourg’s robotic French voice answered, “as you were informed. However, I believe this to be an asset in controlling the subject.”

“I concur,” the empress said, smiling. “Show us the subject, please.”

“Your wish is my command, Your Majesty. Proceed to viewing port B, ahead and to the right. The blue one.”

Frowning uncertainly, Geo-Force followed his mother to the blue, convex glass archway indicated.

Through it, he could see a woman in a sleek bodysuit - like that of the Resistance member identified as ‘Supergirl’, save in the orange and black of the Empire - flying around a contained angular chamber, smashing stone pillars, occasionally stomping the ground.

“B. Zarro,” Bourg’s voice said, echoing into the chamber.

The woman/creature turned her face towards the speakers. “Me am not B. Zarro!” she said, but her voice was growling and distorted, her face sharp, savage planes of brutality.

Geo-Force took an unwitting step back. The empress merely raised an eyebrow.

“Yes, dear. We have guests... Show them your heat vision.”

B. Zarro gave a slow shake of her head, then turned and turned to the wall and glared. Red lines stretched from her eyes to the wall. First it smouldered.....then it started to melt.

“Well done, dear,” Bourg said, then cut off the audio transmission with a click.

“Does she always answer negatively?” The empress frowned.

“Always the reverse of her intent. No means yes, and yes means no. She originally did things correctly—within her limited grammar—but as her power increased, her mentality was further distorted. It would be a pity, if it did not make her so useful to us.”

“Yes,” the empress said absently. “Flowers for Algernon, and all that. So she is pliable?”

“Most times. But it is wise not to provoke her temper.”

“Of course. Same with any stupid brute. Do we have any control over her, besides her stupidity?”

“Some of the crystals, that provided the radiation to make her, seem to repulse her. But we’re holding them in reserve until necessary.”

“A match for the ‘Super’ girl, but under our command... yes, very useful.” She refocused on the shadowy part of the lab. “They tell me when B. Zarro went berserk, she injured you horribly. I’m surprised she still obeys your commands.”

“The robotic distortion of my voice is apparently enough to fool her,” Bourg’s voice answered. “Also, I am much nicer to her now.”

The empress laughed. Geo-Force didn’t, even though it probably would’ve been politic to do so.

“Additionally, I am never in the same room with her. Though I doubt she’d recognize me now.”

“How much of you is left?” Geo-Force managed to ask.

There was a pause. Then Bourg said, “It is better to show, than tell.”

He slid out of the dark.

Geo-Force sucked in a breath, and only his iron will and training prevented him from throwing up.

There was nothing left of Dr. Bourg except a brain in a jar, mounted on a mobile pedestal with a speaker grill.

Even the empress was grim. “I had heard there was little left of you. I am glad you can still serve the Empire.”

“Your wish is my command, Your Majesty. Free of the needs of the flesh, I can better serve you.”

“Perhaps. Now, I was told you have another project?”

Bourg’s brain case turned away. “Lights,” he called, and the rest of the lab lit up. “As you can see here, I am using my own experience to study the possibilities of using cybernetic synapses to enhance the intelligence of apes. It is my hope that this one will be ready in time for the invasion of the New World...”

-2-

The Sweet Lilly went where Eric directed it, through channels and byways off the coast of North Africa.

Rose was still leery of bringing her flagship here, so close to the European sensor net. But Lantern helped with his ring, as much as he could. Even that was no longer a sure thing, as he’d been detected before.

But their luck held, at least for now.

No Society members met them; just armed guards in deliberately-dull gray livery. But if you looked close, you could see the word “Justice” stitched in pale blue upon their chests, over the heart.

The Society were not so foolish as to meet Terra in their main home base. Not out of distrust of her, specifically, but just general protection of their base. What the Titans did not know, they could not divulge to Markovian Inquisitors under torture. Even Eric didn’t know all their secret bases and locations. Rose and Terra very specifically did not ask if he had a cyanide tooth, or if the Lantern Corps had some equivalent, like a self-destruct built into the ring. But they knew that there must be some safeguard.

So they were led below the desert sands through twisting, turning corridors. The Justice Society had been fighting the Empire for decades; they had secret bases scattered everywhere, Eric knew. He had also learned that the Bat vigilantes had been information contacts and financial supporters going all the way back to when the first Batman had suited up. It didn’t surprise him. And that explained how easily the old Bat accepted Robin’s membership in their little troupe. Ultimately, the Justice Society had become masters of subterfuge and secrecy. They’d had to.

At length, they came to a meeting chamber, the Justice Society logo on one wall. At the center was a long, rectangular table...

Eric Gardner strode forward and clasped Alan Scott by the hand. “It’s been too long, sir.”

“You’ve been busy,” Alan Scott said. “So have we.”

“Have the Lantern Corps given their blessing for you to act directly?”

“They’re aware of the situation. So long as we don’t try to seize power afterwards, they have no problem with it.”

“They could’ve said that earlier!” Eric said.

“They had to watch me for a long time. They had to make sure that there wasn’t another one like that Korugarian. But in any case, we have not been idle.”

“Of course you haven’t....I didn’t mean....” Eric hung his head. Alan nodded and smiled, gently. It occurred to the other Titans that Eric and Alan had spent more time apart since this all began than Tim and his mentors had.

“With respect kid,” Wildcat said, “this isn’t about you.” He nodded to Terra.

She came forward slowly. “I realize how big a gesture this is for you,” she said, softly.

Alan Scott stared into her with a gaze so strong that she wondered if he was using his ring to enhance it. “A Markovian in our own base, and not a prisoner. Truly, a momentous occasion.”

“Relax, Princess.” Wildcat made an expansive gesture. “We’ve got the recordings of your interrogation by the Bats.” He gave a grim little smile. “Me and the old man sparred a few times, in my younger days. When I could get away from here. He always meant to come help us direct, but it never happened. Anyway, sit down.”

Terra slowly sat in an empty chair, knowing there were many eyes on her. Not just those of the old Lantern, Wildcat, and Doctor Mid-Nite. But others too. Society members she did not know. Even now, many of them did not trust her. She did not blame them.

Alan Scott made a point of reaching across the table to shake her hand. She accepted his grasp. “His successor will be active soon enough in these climes; this is why I am here.”

“And the sidekick who is already one of you, who has done his share.” Wildcat nodded. “We know.”

“The Markovian war machine readies to strike,” Alan sighed. “This is no secret, not anymore.”

“If anything, we’re more worried about little miss pirate there, rather than you.” Wildcat scowled. “I knew your old man, sweets. If you’re like him.....”

“Like him, I help resupply people like you.” Rose’s single eye gleamed. “I’m sure your Society benefited indirectly from our smuggling ops.”

“And many innocents suffered from your pirate ops,” Wildcat snarled. “People we’re trying to help.”

“Not this again,” Terra sighed.

“Indeed! Stand down, both of you.” Alan Scott looked less than impressed. “Maybe you two can spar later, but for right now, stick to the business at hand.”

Rose crossed her arms and Wildcat glared, but neither said any more.

“Perhaps you can decide where we should attack the Markovian forces,” Terra said. “Mother is likely to know my stratagems by now.”

“The Empire has been fighting us for longer, and knows our tactics also.” Scott frowned thoughtfully. “However, part of the Imperial pride is in their Navy. And that is also how they will attack the New World.”

“Bringing ships across,” Terra nodded.

“Exactly. We’ve both hit their shipping before. But perhaps we can find a new way to surprise them...”

-3-

The girl with red wings had flown on, but came back after the Martian Manhunter sent her a telepathic impulse. That was one of his abilities, apparently.

“But I would not use such abilities on you,” he said to the Resistance members, “unless you were willing to trust me to do so. I found Carrie after Markovians killed her parents. I’ve been fighting them a long time. Come, Carrie; meet our guests.”

The girl came in on her thin, feathery wings, braking to a stop inches away. “Hi,” she said softly.

“I have trained her in physical combat. She also has some use of explosives... her parents taught her that before the Markovians killed them.”

Carrie blushed and sighed. Argent and Anarky got the impression her parents might have been mercenaries that the Markovians double crossed. Wisely, they chose not to bring it up.

“How did a Martian come to exist in this time? No life signs were detected in scans of Mars.” Supergirl frowned.

Argent winced, and even Anarky was surprised by Supergirl’s lack of diplomacy.

“Markovian scientific experiments are not new. An attempt at temporal engineering sixty years ago drew me here. My arrival,” and here an alien smirk flittered across that strange face, “caused the program to be shut down.”

“You are a mind reader....read my thoughts,” Supergirl invited, much to the astonishment of the others. “Learn what you need to know of us.” She bowed her head.

The Martian narrowed his eyes, and the others could almost feel the power thrumming between them. At the end of it, he nodded.

“So, the war with Markovia has come. The old resistance, and your new one, must work together to defeat the enemy. And you seek my aid.”

“Because you faced them already,” Argent pointed out.

The Martian nodded slowly. “I will help you.”

“A bold warrior,” Starfire said approvingly. Then she turned to look at Supergirl. “And that was a daring risk to take.”

Supergirl shrugged. “It was the quickest way of gaining his trust.”

“You showed weakness, but as part of a strategy,” Starfire said slowly.

“Honesty is a powerful weapon,” Supergirl returned.

“Mmm.” Starfire nodded thoughtfully.

“You’ll come with us then?” Argent asked.

“Just give us a moment to.....bring some additional weaponry.” The Martian gestured. “Come.”

That, of course, was the moment when the Markovians attacked.

It was a squad of jet fighters, screaming overhead.

“Scatter!” Supergirl said. The Martian needed no such instruction; he and Carrie were already flying away.

Starfire shot after the jets, screaming her own special kind of rage, firing bolts of energy....

-4-

In the Batcave, old Bruce was putting the finishing touches on a long range battle robot to assist the Titans in the upcoming conflict. He’d been working on the design off and on for years, and four prototypes were down here in the cave, waiting for the last phase of their assembly. He was pleased with their progress.

A console beeped. Someone was hailing the Titans frequency.

Frowning, Bruce rolled over. “Who is there? Which Titan is this?”

“I’m trying to find Ravager, actually,” an apologetic voice said on the other end. “She’s the only one I’ve had contact with.”

“I understand she’s busy in Europe at the moment. You have something to tell the Titans?”

“In a way, yes. I’m....well, Ravager met me. I’m the new Green Arrow. And if the Titans want help, I’ve got a team of my own....”

-5-

Deriven had left his sanctum for the mystic realms beyond. Crow was already there, and Lilith said the Kid Devil was ready. But the Changeling was not to be found, or Captain Marvel. He wanted their aid at the very least. The Seelie Court too, if he could get their aid; the Changeling could surely help with that. There were also those vampire hunters in London the others had told him of....

There was a trembling in the dark of deep astral night; and a rumbling noise.

Deriven groaned in frustration. “Oh, not now of all times!”

But he was sure it was no coincidence. Since the connection between the worlds had been reforged, those without were more aware of those within....and there were those dark powers that would frustrate his plans.

It came in the shape of a blue-green dragon, breathing fire and lightning and acid.

“Choronzon,” he breathed. “Greatest and most horrible child of Tiamat.”

Choronzon could converse, if he so chose. But he did not. Instead he spoke with fire and lightning....


If you wish to comment on this issue, please CLICK HERE to visit the letters page.