ASSAULT ON JUSTICE

The airship loomed through the skies as an electromechanical, ominous threat to its intended targets. Josiah Shark sat at the ship’s controls, Desperado was a coherent navigator, and “Doctor” Luthor Vanderice was at the weapon controls. Bull, Dr. Eclipso, and the Living Lazer would actually prove useful at entering the base just before they all worked together as one to end T.J.’s program and unravel the thought of the union of Teen Justice. Simon, the sinister Cyborg-Man, could only sit on his throne at the vast epicenter of his airship and gloat about the assured success of his latest scheme. He had devised the plans of splitting Teen Justice onto separate missions; even his electronic brain had failed to recognize just how swiftly the villains as individuals would lose against meta-powered adolescents. Simon had since made the adjustment and the union of the Injustice Metas was the result.

“We’re approaching the base now.” Desperado announced. “How do we intend on knocking on the door to our new home?”

Simon’s throne swiveled around and he locked eyes with Zoe Stollin, The Living Lazer, Aiden Nash, The Bull, and Dr. Ivan Eclipso.

“T.J. uses a force shield around his base, much like the energy that he uses to create portals; Zoe, use the force shield’s energy to sap your thirst. In the event of a power outage, T.J.’s reserve power is solar based; Dr. Eclipso, your Dark Gun will take care of the solar powered panels. From there, without Teen Justice, this particular China Shop would be defenseless; Bull, you’re responsible for breaking our way in…”

Simon then swiveled his throne around once more to face his evil allies piloting the ship.

“…From there, we’ll all find ourselves quite necessary once more.”

With that, Living Lazer sensed the nearby power source of the energy Force Shield and she spread her arms wide to draw in its power. The airship shook and rumbled for a moment.

“The base’s shield, my dear; satisfy your appetite on that.” Dr. Eclipso chided her.

“…If she can.” Shark retorted.

Sure enough, the airship quit shaking and the energy shields around Teen Justice’s home base were the ones that dissipated. As the energy shields died, four solar panels almost instantly began to warm up; until Dr. Eclipso fired at each of them often enough from his Dark Gun to black them all out. There was one process left and Bull was lowered to the ground on a strong enough harness to restrain him on air for a moment.

Upon touching ground, Bull wasted no time and charged the iron walls of the domed base just as the airship itself landed and all of the villains disembarked in anticipation. With a resounding crash, Bull bounced off of the wall the first time. However, Dr. Vanderice recovered his Frost Gun in time and froze the wall for a second try. Undeterred, Bull charged the brittle, iced-over metal wall and smashed right through. The villains had penetrated the base and Simon would only have to wait a few moments longer to be rid of hated T.J. and Teen Justice…

“Knock, Knock!” Bull grunted as the villain to lead the charge into the empty hallway.

As Doctors Eclipso and Vanderice meant to enter next, there came the sound of a thud and Bull went flying in reverse. The villains signaled to the rest of the group and all ducked in time.

“…Who was there?” asked a casual voice as a lumbering armored form separated itself from the titanium walls.

“Steelor!” Simon snapped, settling his mechanical hand on Desperado’s shoulder and whirling the poor outlaw to face his angry visage. “You didn’t say anything about any of T.J.’s brats being home today!”

“His natural armor blocks my power detection, same as your machinery must.” Desperado answered. “I swear, besides him, T.J.’s home alone.”

“Well, in that case…” Vanderice retorted, getting back to his feet and firing from his Frost Gun.

Of course, Steelor’s natural iron armor frosted over and froze almost immediately in very few bursts.

“Ice to have known you, Nash!” Vanderice retorted just before he was smacked on the back of the shoulder.

“We’re moving!” Desperado announced.

“…Before the rest of Teen Justice arrives.” Simon added, taking the head of the line. “Living Lazer, drain off any more portals and lower the computer defenses. We want just enough computer power to continue generating T.J.; until we can end him. Bull, do keep your big brother here out of our hair from here on out…”

The 6’2, over-muscled “Bull” advanced on the 5’8 and titanium armored Steelor, still immobilized in place.

“The pleasure is mine!” Bull barked, hoisting Steelor’s titanium state effortlessly into the air.

“Keep it moving, men.” Simon boomed. “Steelor here will be no further trouble.”

Suddenly, a chill wind brushed passed Simon yet again.

“Hombre, keeping things moving is what I do best!” Desperado reminded the group.

“Of course.” Simon retorted with a sneer. “Zoe, keep draining the computers just enough to stifle the automated defenses and the alarms. Desperado, keep scanning for more portals; Zoe will know what to do about them as well. Vanderice, Eclipso, keep your weapons ready. Today, we take Teen Justice!”

Living Lazer nodded in understanding and she began once more to syphon power off of the multitude of computers; not enough to cancel out T.J.’s holographic form until the villains had the pleasure of doing that themselves; but just enough to prevent the defenses, alarms, or portals from activating. Simon, in turn, led the rest of the group as far as a giant, iron door.

“An automated door.” Simon declared. “Our quarry is behind there! We need only bide our time now until…”

Instantly, Shark’s arms sprouted razor-sharp fins and he lunged, slicing into the iron door with ease.

“I’m not generally one for waiting either.” Desperado retorted before Simon could address the impulse action.

Suddenly, the iron door buckled into the lab in two pieces. Simon had to admit that his acolytes had a point and that they were now inside. Sure enough, who should face the sinister Cyborg-Man but T.J.’s holographic image.

“Simon Vann,” T.J. declared in a distant fluid voice, “welcome to Teen Justice’s humble base of operations. I dare say that it’s been a while.”

“Not long enough, old friend.” Simon snapped. “By the way, I brought my own friends to my housewarming in my new place. Say hello, boys.”

“Our pleasure!” Dr. Eclipso answered, firing from his Dark Gun.

The eclipsing ray struck T.J.’s holographic image. As the eclipsing ray pulsed and coursed, T.J.’s image fizzled in and out.

“Simon…all of…STOP! …Justice must…back…help…!” T.J. pleaded.

Vanderice fired from his Frost Gun just in time to ice over the computer controls that continuously generated T.J.’s hologram program or his portal system.

“THAT should end that prattling!” Vanderice declared, lowering his Frost Gun once more.

“…and if it doesn’t,” Shark gurgled, slashing his fins into a computer keyboard, “then this will!”

Shark never saw a golden portal (not created by a computer) generate itself behind Desperado. The evil outlaw knew about the portal when a golden ram galloped through and into the lab, smashing into Desperado as it moved.

The other villains whirled just in time to see Golden Glider guiding the gold ram with Aquamarine straddling the hero’s back and Solara soaring in behind them.

“Teen Justice???” Shark gurgled. “Here; NOW???”

“Ungh…” Desperado groaned from his cast aside and grounded state.

“The computers couldn’t have possibly been in any condition to make another portal!” Simon mused. “Then again, so long as Teen Justice is now in my home…!”

“…We’ll kick ‘em out!” Vanderice added, taking aim. “Remember me, Gold Guy?”

The golden ram and Golden Glider’s gold slide vanished just as Vanderice took aim with his Frost Gun.

“Stay behind me, Aquamarine!” Golden Glider called over his shoulder as a golden barrier materialized. “If it even needs to be said, I do remember this guy and his gun well.”

“Then, consider it taken care of!” Solara answered, surging forward on air and firing a solar burst from her hand that melted the Frost Gun and dissolved the ice on air right in Vanderice’s face.

“Huh?” he declared, dropping the malfunctioned Frost Gun. “What happened here?”

Solara fired one more burst of sun energy that exploded into a hazy mist that sapped Vanderice of the last of his strength.

“My heroine!” Golden Glider gushed.

His adulations were interrupted with a kick in the back of the shin that drew his attention back to Aquamarine’s scowling face.

“Then, this ought to put out your heroine’s lights!” Dr. Eclipso answered, aiming with his Dark Gun. “Ready, Steady…”

“Hey, Bright-Eyes!” Golden Glider called from his corner of the room.

Dr. Eclipso didn’t appreciate the misnomer and pivoted to aim at Golden Glider once more. However, when he did so, the golden shield glistened even brighter than before.

“Bah; the bright light!” Dr. Eclipso bellowed, flinching and dropping the Dark Gun.

As the pistol hit the ground, it did fire and enveloped Dr. Eclipso in one of his own portals of darkness.

“I can’t see!” Eclipso bellowed, flailing wildly with his arms.

“Sharpshooting, Edison.” Golden Glider retorted, casting his hand forward with a golden burst that paralyzed the Master of Dark in a gold statue.

“Thanks, Vance; we’re even.” Solara declared. “Let me see about thawing out these computer controls and restoring T.J. to…”

There came an angry gurgle and Shark advanced on Solara from one side while Simon joined in from the other.

“Nuh-uh-UH, Flounder!” Golden Glider suddenly called.

Solara turned away from the controls just in time to see the two approaching villains and she gasped in surprise. Suddenly, however, a golden fishbowl appeared around Shark and the mechanical half of Simon’s body was immobilized in gold.

“Hey!” Shark shouted, banging into the side of the golden fishbowl and causing the sound of a giant bell.

“That wasn’t fair!” Simon managed out of the human half of his face as he struggled to regain mobility from the flesh half of his body.

Solara sighed in relief and blew a token of appreciation to Golden Glider. The hero caught the attention and blushed. Aquamarine saw the extra attention from elsewhere and went to smack Mister Vance Harper in the back of the head.

Suddenly, however, an energy bolt disrupted her.

“I thought that I heard my precious Golden Glider returning by his own means!” Living Lazer declared through her glowing, energized state as she gestured with her hands. “If only he hadn’t brought back his girlfriend with him!”

“Believe it, lady!” Aquamarine answered, clasping her palms together and generating water on air to cover both of her hands.

“Good enough; then I’ll eliminate that little obstacle permanently by own hands!” Living Lazer answered, preparing to shoot once more.

However, as Living Lazer’s energy surged forward, Aquamarine’s hydro burst did the same and the two cancelled one another out in harmless steam. Furthermore, Living Lazer constantly had to gather more energy while Aquamarine’s projectile attacks came naturally. Living Lazer aimed once more and frustratedly sent forth the last of her collected energy for the moment. However, she was met by a giant tidal wave that tossed her backward and out of the room just before Golden Glider built up a gold brick wall in her absence.

“That was what I call teamwork!” Aquamarine gushed.

“Only the best with you as my partner.” Golden Glider answered.

Suddenly, the gold brick wall caved in and Steelor reentered the lab, dragging his much taller younger brother behind him.

“What kind of a party did I miss in here?” he asked, seeing Desperado’s collapsed state and casually tossing Bull on top of his leader.

“You didn’t miss much more than we did.” Solara answered as the last of the ice dissolved from the computer controls. “Maybe T.J. will have some answers for all of us. Come on; help me clean up some of this computer equipment and get it functioning again.”

Between the four teens, they had the lab cleaned up in no time and T.J. soon reappeared. Sure enough, he could fill in the blanks.

“…It was Simon who orchestrated all of those separate missions; even the villains didn’t realize that their ideas weren’t their own.” T.J. explained. “When all of your villains failed anyway, he joined them together as a united assault. Without me to continue to guide you, Teen Justice would have come apart. I do thank you, Steelor, for coming home early; and you, Golden Glider, for managing to make your own portal home.”

“I was glad to do it, T.J.” Golden Glider answered.

“Yes; we couldn’t have these miscreants in our home.” Steelor added.

“And we needed to revive you.” Solara added.

“I don’t know where we’d be without your guidance.” Aquamarine finally concluded.

T.J. smiled as the Aquamarine’s words were loudly applauded by the rest of the group. Teen Justice was back; and their mentor was no worse for wear…