Titans West

Sonya Romanov scowled. She was in the Los Angeles airport reading a newspaper with her hair tucked securely under a dark wig. Her eyes narrowed as she saw the people she was waiting for walk past. When she was sure they were gone, she started for a phone. She had to get word to Leonid.

“They are calling themselves the People’s Heroes.” Leonid Kovar stood at the head of the Titans West meeting table, an unusual place for him. However, he was directing this briefing. “They are coming here to kill myself and Sonya.”

Gar leaned forward and rubbed his forehead. “Leonid, why didn’t you tell us they attacked you?*”

(*TW 43 – db)

“I did not think it important at the time,” Leonid said. “Also, we encountered the Gargoyle immediately after, and then we met Vicky Winters.”

“I see your point,” Gar conceded. “What can we expect from these guys?”

Leonid pushed a button and the screen behind him lit up. He pointed to the first one. “This is Hammer. He is nearly invulnerable and his hammer provides his strength a focus point. He is mine.”

He moved to the next member. “This is Sickle. She possesses a laser-like sickle. Sonya has requested her.”

Golden Eagle looked like he was about to say something but stayed quiet as Red Star moved along. “Bolshoi. He has accented agility and is a martial arts master.”

“So we don’t want to try to get him hand to hand,” Vibe cracked. The joke fell flat.

“This one I am unsure of,” Red Star said. He pointed at a person wearing what seemed to be a metal suit. “From what I have been able to learn from sources in Russia, they have recreated the accident which caused a man to mutate into a being called Pozhar. He has powers over fire.”

“Molotov. He can create explosions.”

Red Star turned to look at Dagon. “Schreck. He claims to be a vampire.”

”Does he?” Dagon asked. “We’ll see.”

“That is all.” Red Star turned and walked out. The rest of the Titans stood and began to exit as well.

Golden Eagle hurried to the front of the room and grabbed Gar by the arm. “What’s up, Jason?” Gar asked.

Eagle pulled off his helmet and set it on the table. “I’ve got a bad feeling about this one,” he finally admitted. “I mean, we’re supposed to go into fights like this. Kind of goes with the territory. But when did we start bringing civilians into this?”

Gar nodded but said nothing as Jason continued. “And Leonid – his whole personality’s changed. Haven’t you noticed? That wasn’t a meeting today. It was a military briefing.”

Gar leaned back against the table. “I know. I was worried that I was the only one seeing it.” He turned and looked at the monitor where the People’s Heroes were still displayed. “Some of the old Titans have told me about him when they first met. He’s turning back into who he was then. Even the first time I met him he was more open than he is now. I think all of this talk about Russia’s affecting him, and I’m not sure how to help.”

Red Star walked over to Sonya. “Soon this will be over,” he said as he placed his hands on her shoulders.

”I hope so,” she said. “I did not want to leave home, you know. I would have been happy there, defending our beloved homeland.”

”As would I,” Red Star replied. “However, that was stopped by government politics. Now that that government is gone, I hope that I will be permitted to return.”

“Perhaps,” Sonya said as she stroked his cheek. “I am sure that the government will not forget how you have aided me.”

“Gar!” Mal’s voice sounded clear through the intercom. “We’ve just gotten word that the Peoples Heroes have been spotted!”

”Who did it come from?” Gar asked.

“Leo,” Mal replied. “He’s already on his way to the jet.”

Gar frowned as he clicked off the intercom and turned to Tara. “Leo.”

Tara thought a moment. “I don’t like this,” she said.

”I agree,” Gar said. “He’s letting beating these guys turn into an obsession. But we can’t let him and Sonya go alone.”

”I know,” Tara said. “Let me get into my costume and I’ll see you at the jet.”

The T-jet circled overhead. A wide area of the park was vacant. At the center of it stood the Peoples’ Heroes.

“Sir, look!” Bolshoi said, pointing upward at the jet.

A hard smile crossed Hammer’s lips. “As I expected. These Americans are so predictable.”

”Orders?” Molotov asked.

“Let them land,” Hammer said. “Then we do whatever is necessary to execute the two traitors.”

They were silent as the T-jet touched down and the Titans filed out. Changeling headed straight for Hammer.

“All right,” he said. “What are you after?”

”Simple,” Hammer replied. He glanced up and saw Sonya and Red Star exiting the jet. “There are the traitors!” he called. “Destroy them!” He shoved Changeling out of the way and the Heroes started charging the Titans.

“Not so fast,” Vibe said as he fired a sonic wave. The Heroes stopped as the ground began bucking beneath them. Vibe’s grin faded as a clawed hand grabbed him by the jacket collar and hauled him into the air.

“You are an obstacle,” Schreck hissed. “Now you are mine.”

“Wrong,” Dagon said. He appeared before Schreck in his bat form and slashed at the Russian with his own claws.

“Another one of us,” Schreck observed. “I will enjoy draining you dry!” He threw Vibe and jumped into battle against Dagon.

Vibe tried to catch his bearings as he flew toward the ground. “Hey, guys?” he asked. “A little help here!” He lost his breath as something unyielding caught him. Vibe looked up into the face of Golden Eagle.

“Sorry,” Eagle said with a smile. “It’s not a good idea to be up here if you can’t fly.”

”Man, just get me on the ground and you’ll never have to worry about that again,” Vibe said.

“Now that’s a deal I can’t pass up,” Eagle replied as he set Vibe down. Suddenly he screamed as something detonated behind him. A sneering Molotov stepped forward as Eagle crumpled to the ground.

“One of you down,” Molotov said. “This is too easy.”

“Not quite,” a voice said from behind. Molotov’s eyes rolled back in his head and he fell forward. Bumblebee stood behind him, her stinger launcher still extended.

“Thanks,” Vibe said.

“No problem,” Karen replied. “Now let’s get the rest of them.”

Flamebird smiled as Bolshoi stepped before her. “So, I get to dance with you?” she asked.

“Da,” Bolshoi replied. The two exploded into a whirlwind of motion.

Hammer stepped forward with a sick smile on his face. Sickle stood beside him. “So, Kovar,” he said. “This time there will be no surprise attacks,”

”Agreed,” Red Star said. Sonya stood beside him, her sickle at the ready.

“I would like you to meet a new friend of ours,” Hammer said. “Pozhar!” A man in a metal suit landed behind him.

Hammer’s smile grew wider. “Surrender and die. If you do not, Pozhar will turn your friend into ash.” Red Star followed Hammer’s finger through the battles to the fallen Golden Eagle.

“If he makes a move, he will die. And you will immediately follow,” Sonya said.

Sickle smirked. “Big threats from an imposter.”

”They’re not alone,” Changeling said. He, Terra, and Bumblebee formed up behind Red Star. “If you attack one of us, you take us all on.”

”Changeling, this is personal business,” Red Star said. “Stay out of this.”

“No, let him interfere,” Hammer said. “Pozhar, deal with them.”

Pozhar lumbered toward the Titans as Red Star and Sonya tensed, preparing for Hammer and Sickle’s attack.

“Will you hold still!” Flamebird yelled. Every maneuver she made, Bolshoi dodged easily.

Bolshoi simply smiled. “Nyet. I am enjoying this too much.” Suddenly he shook as if he was having a convulsion and fell to the ground, revealing Vibe behind him.

“I could have taken him,” Flamebird said.

“Sure thing, but take a look.” Vibe pointed at the others who were being approached by Pozhar. “I just think that the others could use a hand with big and ugly.”

“I think you’re right,” Flamebird said. “Let’s go.”

“So what do you do?” Changeling asked. In response, Pozhar raised his arms. Vents around his wrists began to open, revealing the flickering of flames within.

“Incoming!” Terra yelled as she created an earth shield. Pozhar’s fireball baked it solid in less than a second.

“Excellent, Pozhar!” Hammer yelled as he battled Red Star. “Kill them!”

Pozhar slowly lowered his arms and turned to look at Hammer, who had just sent Red Star flying with a lucky punch. “Kill them!” Hammer yelled.

Pozhar simply shook his head.

“I knew it,” Sickle said. “He lacks our training. He was simply a civilian who was changed.”

”Failure will not be tolerated,” Hammer said coldly. He swung his hammer and slammed it into and through Pozhar’s helmet. Immediately small alarms could be heard sounding inside the suit. Flames flickered from the hole.

Pozhar grabbed Hammer and flew upward. When he judged they were high enough, he threw Hammer down and continued to soar. Moments later, his armor detonated.

Hammer slammed into the ground, creating a crater. With Sickle distracted, it was simplicity itself for Sonya to ram the handle of her sickle into the Russian’s head, knocking her out.

“That’s it?” Flamebird asked as Bumblebee ran to tend to the fallen Golden Eagle.

“Wait,” Red Star said. “Where is Schreck?” A moment later, Schreck fell from the sky and landed on the unconscious Hammer.

“No problem,” Dagon said as he landed.

“Go,” Red Star said. “Sonya and I will remain here until the police have arrived.”

Later that night, Leonid and Sonya sat in her living room. “You know what must be done,” she said.

“Yes,” Leonid finally admitted. “But I do not know how the others will feel.”

”Whether or not they approve, we have no choice,” Sonya said. “We have only one course of action open to us.”

They sat there holding each other as the moon continued its trip across the sky.

Next Issue: It’s the one you’ve been waiting for! The wedding takes place and the team changes forever!

Previous Issue | Next Issue