Disclaimer: No copyright infringement is intended in this work. This is a non-profit effort done out of affinity and respect for the comics and their characters.
This story is the third of five in 'The Measure of a Heroine' series. All five tales feature super heroines battling on different fronts to save Earth from disaster. The styles intentionally differ from story to story, so as to present fresh and entertaining perspectives. Some, like this story, are very action oriented, whereas others use the emergency as a backdrop while exploring the dynamics between characters.
I chose the Elseworlds setting for 'The Measure of a Heroine' saga because much of the material is Pre-Crisis On the Infinite Earths. The New Teen Titans comics of Marv Wolfman & George Perez were a great read. I couldn't help but pay homage to those tales by teaming Donna Troy (in her best role as Wonder Girl) and Starfire together. My stories are stand-alone but can also be read in succession. (There is some time and content overlap.) The recommended order of reading is
1) Wonder Woman : The Measure of a Heroine
2) To Silence a Deadly Silence (features Supergirl and Hawkgirl)
3) Fortress (features Wonder Girl and Starfire)
4) Birds of Prayer (features Black Canary, Batgirl and Oracle)
5) Quick Tricks (features Zatanna and Jesse Quick)
Enjoy!
*****************************************************************************
FORTRESS
Chapter 1.
Prologue:
The clear blue water rolls up over her toes. It swirls along her arches until both feet are fully submerged from the ankles down. The wave recedes towards its origin and with it seem to go the tensions which have been bottled up within her. The cool, calming effects of the sea radiate throughout her lithe frame long before she actually ventures out for a swim. The Hawaiian beach is indeed the well-deserved heavenly reprieve she seeks.
Her name is Donna Troy. She is best known to the world as Wonder Girl, although super heroics are far from her mind. She is the most overworked of the fabulous Teen Titans. Even team leader Dick Grayson has enjoyed much needed down time in recent months. Donna can't remember when she last went a day without donning the costume of Wonder Girl. She yearns for relaxation and her closest friends have arranged this getaway weekend for her.
Kory Anders sunbathes on the beach. The Tamaran looks on as her friend wades out into the Pacific blue. The beach would not be Kory's first choice for a respite, but Donna's contentment makes it the ideal locale. As Starfire, Koriand'r knows Wonder Girl in ways her teammates never will. To the rest of the Titans, Wonder Girl is the stabilizing force of the group. Nightwing is their unflappable leader, but Donna is their heart and soul. If perfection was possible, Wonder Girl would be its embodiment.
Starfire loves and respects the Donna, but she sees flaws in the Amazon that the others don't. Wonder Girl is tired emotionally. She disguises her troubles so well that only Kory can tell that she is at her wits' end. She needs time off and Starfire has taken the initiative to ensure that she gets it. Dick accepts Starfire's recommendation and arranges to have their fellow Titans on duty to free up the weekend for the girls.
Kory is barely able to get comfortable before she is recognized by fellow beach goers. Even with her sunglasses covering her noticeably alien eyes, Starfire's Tamaran complexion and physique give her away. The shy heroine reluctantly, but graciously signs a few autographs and poses for impromptu photographs. She is resigned to this routine and accepts it as a consequence of her fame as a Teen Titan and her modeling career.
An invigorated Donna Troy towels off after a relaxing swim. Kory nearly laughs aloud at the ridiculousness of the situation. Starfire attends to her adoring public while absolutely no one notices Wonder Girl. Unlike other colleagues with secret identities, she makes no effort to conceal her identity, yet never has anyone connected Donna and Wonder Girl. Donna slips Kory a whimsical grin as she reaches for the sunscreen and bottled water. How the voluptuous Ms. Troy, wearing a skin-tight bikini and spending the afternoon with the famed Starfire, is not recognized as Wonder Girl defies all logic.
The water is too enticing to pass up. Donna is once again drawn to its soothing waves. Her body tingles as the water tickles her toes. Strangely enough, the sea seems colder than it was mere minutes ago. Much, much colder. Donna looks down in horror as the ocean literally freezes solid around her ankles. This can't be happening she thinks to herself, and she's quite right. They were supposed to spend the day in Hawaii, but to her chagrin they never made it. Instead she and Starfire are about as far from the tropics as they can be. Their location is the frigid arctic circle; their mission is to save the human race from extinction.
Her feet sink deep into the snow with each step she takes. Wonder Girl is fast losing the feeling in her toes as she endures bone-chilling cold. The temperature of 40 degrees below zero with a -70 wind-chill exceeds even her considerable tolerances. The blizzard limits visibility, although Starfire's red and orange energy trail high above provides a beacon to follow.
Their goal is to reach Superman's hidden Fortress of Solitude, which is currently under the control of an unknown and diabolical enemy. That mystery foe has engineered the disappearances of every humanoid male on Earth. Evidently intent upon conquering a defenseless planet, the aliens have converted the fortress into a base of operations. Its isolation and technologies provide the perfect site from which to effect the elimination of the remaining female population.
The Earth's man-made satellites have been transformed into a deadly weapon. They are absorbing all forms of communication waves thus nullifying telephone, radio and television. The energy builds up in the satellites until such time when it will be discharged back towards the planet with lethal consequences to Earth women. A dual effort is underway to disable the weapon. Supergirl and Hawkgirl attempt to stop it in space while the Teen Titans strive to reach the Fortress to disarm it remotely.
Neither Kory nor Donna has ever visited the fabled sanctuary of the Man of Steel. Supergirl provided them with its secret coordinates and she quickly noted some of the formidable defenses that her cousin has in place. Clearly the aliens have somehow managed to penetrate those measures and will no doubt adapt them for their own sinister uses.
Were it not for the weather, their journey has been rather uneventful. They have yet to encounter any resistance, but that will soon change. Even through the intense snowfall, the entrance to the Fortress of Solitude looms large on the cliffside. The huge door is a welcome yet unnerving sight. They have just about reached their target, yet only now does their true mission begin.
*****
From the moment she first arrived on Earth, it was clear to the Teen Titans that Princess Koriand'r was special. In many ways she is the most formidable member of the team. The energy blasts she generates are the inspiration for her Terran moniker, Starfire. The bursts are her signature power which she uses as an offensive weapon. This tends to overshadow her great strength and hand to hand combat skills. Foes will often take measures to limit the effectiveness of her energy discharges only to discover that she is more than a match for them in a physical fight.
Unfortunately, the very heritage which has made Starfire a great young heroine also betrays her on Earth. Koriand'r has lived through very trying times. Her Tamaran culture is vastly different and naturally her values reflect this. Kory is very aggressive by nature. Her instinct is to lash out at her enemies with lethal force. She understands that such aggressions are unacceptable on her new world and she must constantly fight her basic impulses when in battle.
Nightwing and Wonder Girl are both especially cognizant of Starfire's background and tendencies. They do not want to discourage her from showing initiative, yet caution must be exercised to ensure that Kory does not inadvertently become a loose cannon. Unchecked, Starfire will surely attack first before sizing up her opponent. Such misguided efforts might doom not only herself, but her teammates as well.
As Starfire rapidly ascends towards the entrance to the Fortress of Solitude, Wonder Girl can not help but hearken back to the many heart to heart chats they've had. So often Donna thought she was getting through to Kory only to see her revert back to her recklessly aggressive ways. It may seem that the best method to reach the Fortress is a direct path, but Wonder Girl knows better.
Starfire gets to within one hundred yards of the doorway when her progress is suddenly and viciously halted. A searing wave of heat vision momentarily stuns the alien teen. She swiftly shrugs off the blow only to discover that she is surrounded by three Superman robots. Somewhat flustered, the Teen Titan instinctively unloads a Starfire blast which scores a direct hit on her closest attacker. The robot is propelled away from her by the burst, but it suffers no actual damage. Starfire's initial attempts to strike the other two misfire.
The sentries are a hybrid of Terran and Kryptonian technologies. Utilizing Kryptonian science, Superman had assembled them from specially treated alloys native to Earth. The robots are built in his image and possess powers and abilities which mimic his own. They have heat vision and super strength and speed. While they are not invulnerable, the sentries are extremely durable and can withstand a wide variety of weaponry. As per his personal credo, the robots are programmed to use non-lethal force in their encounters, although it is clear to Starfire that the alien invaders have overridden that directive.
Wonder Girl looks on from the ground below. Wearing a white parka, the teen believes that she has not yet been detected through the fierce snowstorm. If she comes to Kory's aid, any element of surprise she may have will be lost. Donna recognizes that Starfire's life is in danger as she battles three of the four robot sentinels which guard the fortress. The fate of the planet must take precedence however. Wonder Girl therefore forges ahead and is left only to hope Kory can survive her ordeal.
Starfire is indeed in trouble. To her chagrin, the Superman robots prove immune to the effects of her star bolts. Each is a match for her in terms of strength and speed. It goes completely against her nature to back down, yet outnumbered three to one retreat is her only logical option. She must remain alive and sound if she is to have a chance of eventually reaching the fortress.
The miles mount swiftly as Starfire strays further and further away from the fortress. Unfortunately, she is unable to put any distance between herself and her pursuers. The untiring robots are relentless in their pursuit. They close in on Kory despite her best efforts to evade them. She fires star bolts wildly in a desperate attempt to fend them off, but her efforts are all for naught. When it becomes inevitable that she will not escape, the teen heroine attempts to descend to the ground so as to gain leverage to defend herself. The robots are too fast, however, and they grab her nearly 100 feet above the frozen arctic tundra.
Starfire bravely fights back against her aggressors. The robots are now programmed to kill and will take any measures, no matter how cruel, to defend their haven. Kory lands a pair of powerful blows against two of her foes, but the third one seizes the opportunity to attack from behind. Before she can fend it off, the robot applies a devastating stranglehold upon her. Using both its arms and legs, the sentry restrains Starfire's limbs, leaving her extremely vulnerable to assault. The heroine screams in agony as she is battered with a succession of viscous blows.
An individual can endure only so much pain before it must be ceased at any cost. Starfire has reached that point. Whether it is primitive survival instinct or her battle training, the hurting Teen Titan finds a remarkable inner strength. The terrible sound of metal thumping against flesh and bone is suddenly replaced by that of shearing metal. In an unprecedented display of personal might, Starfire shreds the robot's menacing stranglehold. Both its arms and its right leg are severed from its trunk. Alas this gallant effort takes its toll. Starfire expends a tremendous amount of energy freeing herself. She hasn't the might left to combat the remaining two adversaries. Kory absorbs several more punishing shots which send her plummeting to the icy ground below.
*****
Wonder Girl knows not the fate of her friend and teammate. She is well aware however that this is her window of opportunity. Three Superman robots flew off in pursuit of Starfire. Only one remains to guard the fortress. She will undoubtedly encounter that sentry, but she would rather take her chances with one than with four. The Teen Titan sprints towards the base of the cliffside. Her target looms directly above. She is about to take to the air when she senses that she is no longer alone.
The Superman robot hovers above her. It trains its eyes upon her and emits a sharp burst of heat vision. Wonder Girl adeptly fends off the beams with her bracelets. The sentinel is undeterred as it continues to bombard her with its heat rays. Donna is perplexed, however, because they are off target. There is no need for her to move nor must she deflect them. She realizes too late the purpose of this second wave. The beams strike the heavy woolly parka which is draped over her person. The clothing immediately erupts into flame.
Wonder Girl swiftly rolls into the snow in an attempt to snuff out the flames. She avoids the tragic irony of being severely burned in the chilly arctic, but her parka is irreparably damaged. It literally falls apart, thus leaving the teen ever vulnerable to the elements. The strategy also eliminates Wonder Girl's camouflage, for her bright red costume stands out even through the snowfall.
The robot once again resorts to its heat vision. Wonder Girl tires of this exchange for she knows she is running out of time. The heroine skillfully intercepts the dual vision beams with her bracelets. She redirects them into a single wave which heads back towards its origin. The sentry is very quick, but it is unable to avoid the blazing heat beam entirely. It connects on the midway point of the left shin and lops it off.
Wonder Girl tackles the robot in midair and brings it crashing to the ground. The machine can not stand upright due to its damaged leg, thus it is unable attain the needed leverage to launch a counter assault against the heroine. Wonder Girl pounds the robot repeatedly. Her blows dent its skull as she literally hammers it in down into the tundra like a nail. She would like to stay to finish it off, but instead she must reach the fortress before the others return.
Wonder Girl soars up towards the entrance. The powerful Amazon flexes her muscles as she hefts the enormous key which Superman has disguised as an airplane marker. This is a very difficult task because the key is both heavy and cumbersome. Donna struggles to steady the key into position outside the lock. The heroine is about to insert it into the keyhole when she is abruptly interrupted by the return of two other Superman robots.
The initial target of the sentries is not the Teen Titan, but rather the key. Without it, she can not gain entry into the sanctuary. Two robots attempt to wrestle it away from her. Facing the realization that her foes will indeed relieve her of the key in a matter of seconds, she alters her tactics. Donna uses the key as a battering ram and smashes the two robots into the cliffside.
Glancing downward, she notices that the initial robot she faced is still struggling to free itself from the frozen arctic surface. There is now a brief window of time for her to again try the key and Wonder Girl avails herself of it. Unfortunately, her effort never gets underway, for she receives a jolt to the small of her back from the missing fourth sentry. The impact slams her into the key and she tumbles over it and onto the frozen tundra beyond.
A dazed Wonder Girl forces herself to her feet. She is surprised that the robot has not immediately pounced on her to push its advantage, but she now understands why. This one is missing three of its limbs, no doubt as a result of its battle with Starfire. While it still functions, its capabilities are vastly reduced. The Amazon counterattacks the damaged sentinel and swiftly reduces it to a pile of junk.
Unfortunately, the other three guardians have all returned to confront the teenager. In constructing his robots, Superman provided them with detailed portfolios on his super foes and allies. This includes information on the Teen Titans. He took this measure as a precaution in the event that something should ever happen which may cause them to turn against society. While it would seem that the invading force does not have much respect for Earth's super-heroines, it is clear that Superman does. He holds Wonder Woman in particularly high regard and Wonder Girl rates well by association.
The robots approach Wonder Girl differently than Starfire. In terms of sheer strength, the Amazon is more powerful than Kory. She also exceeds her teammate in skills. Donna is far more prudent in the use of her might, thus Starfire might seem physically superior to the casual observer. The sentries know otherwise. They prove immune to the Tamaran's star bolts and are too much for her in combat. Wonder Girl has no such handicap and possesses the edge in power. She is outnumbered, however, and is disadvantaged as a result.
The sentries coordinate their efforts superbly in their assault against the young heroine. The robot previously damaged by the Amazon attacks her from behind. Donna instinctively whirls around to fend off her foe. She hurls the Superman replica at high speed into the frozen cliff side, severely damaging its neck and head. The two remaining robots use this diversion to close in on her right side. Wonder Girl senses their approach. In one lightning quick motion, she springs about and delivers a left-handed overhead punch with enough force behind it to decapitate one of her opponents. To her amazement, both assailants elude the blow. The teen recognizes too late that she has been coaxed into a big mistake. Her wildly aggressive punch has left her wide open on many fronts. Wonder Girl instinctively ducks her head to protect herself. Surprisingly, the robots both focus upon the closest extremity, her outstretched left arm.
Her high-pitched scream carries seemingly for miles, yet to her another terrible sound all but drowns it out completely. Seconds after the robots each latched onto her arm, the incredible stress applied upon the limb causes her shoulder to pop out of its socket. The pain is excruciating and the robots show no mercy. Her left arm is now useless, yet the sentries fully intend to rend it from her body. Her acute hearing detects the tearing of muscle fibers in her shoulder and upper arm. If she can't immediately shed her attackers, she will literally lose her left arm!
Desperately Wonder Girl leaps into the sky with the two robots draped about her person. She heads directly for the large keyhole of the fortress door. The Superman robots essentially sandwich Donna as they are subjected to an overwhelming energy discharge by the automated defense mechanism built into the lock. The hope is that their momentum will carry them through the opening while simultaneously short-circuiting both robots. While this is not meant to be, Troy's efforts prove fruitful. The lead sentry is irreparably damaged as the three bodies are ejected out from whence they came. Both Donna and the remaining robot survive, but each is momentarily disoriented as the shock wears off.
Wonder Girl struggles to rise from the frigid, snow covered ground. Her left harm hangs limply at her side and will be useless for the duration of the mission. The robot is back on its feet and closes in upon her. It directs a heat vision attack towards her injured arm. Donna is barely able to fend it off with her right bracelet. She is overmatched and must regroup. Much like Starfire, Wonder Girl is forced into retreat.
This story is the third of five in 'The Measure of a Heroine' series. All five tales feature super heroines battling on different fronts to save Earth from disaster. The styles intentionally differ from story to story, so as to present fresh and entertaining perspectives. Some, like this story, are very action oriented, whereas others use the emergency as a backdrop while exploring the dynamics between characters.
I chose the Elseworlds setting for 'The Measure of a Heroine' saga because much of the material is Pre-Crisis On the Infinite Earths. The New Teen Titans comics of Marv Wolfman & George Perez were a great read. I couldn't help but pay homage to those tales by teaming Donna Troy (in her best role as Wonder Girl) and Starfire together. My stories are stand-alone but can also be read in succession. (There is some time and content overlap.) The recommended order of reading is
1) Wonder Woman : The Measure of a Heroine
2) To Silence a Deadly Silence (features Supergirl and Hawkgirl)
3) Fortress (features Wonder Girl and Starfire)
4) Birds of Prayer (features Black Canary, Batgirl and Oracle)
5) Quick Tricks (features Zatanna and Jesse Quick)
Enjoy!
*****************************************************************************
FORTRESS
Chapter 1.
Prologue:
The clear blue water rolls up over her toes. It swirls along her arches until both feet are fully submerged from the ankles down. The wave recedes towards its origin and with it seem to go the tensions which have been bottled up within her. The cool, calming effects of the sea radiate throughout her lithe frame long before she actually ventures out for a swim. The Hawaiian beach is indeed the well-deserved heavenly reprieve she seeks.
Her name is Donna Troy. She is best known to the world as Wonder Girl, although super heroics are far from her mind. She is the most overworked of the fabulous Teen Titans. Even team leader Dick Grayson has enjoyed much needed down time in recent months. Donna can't remember when she last went a day without donning the costume of Wonder Girl. She yearns for relaxation and her closest friends have arranged this getaway weekend for her.
Kory Anders sunbathes on the beach. The Tamaran looks on as her friend wades out into the Pacific blue. The beach would not be Kory's first choice for a respite, but Donna's contentment makes it the ideal locale. As Starfire, Koriand'r knows Wonder Girl in ways her teammates never will. To the rest of the Titans, Wonder Girl is the stabilizing force of the group. Nightwing is their unflappable leader, but Donna is their heart and soul. If perfection was possible, Wonder Girl would be its embodiment.
Starfire loves and respects the Donna, but she sees flaws in the Amazon that the others don't. Wonder Girl is tired emotionally. She disguises her troubles so well that only Kory can tell that she is at her wits' end. She needs time off and Starfire has taken the initiative to ensure that she gets it. Dick accepts Starfire's recommendation and arranges to have their fellow Titans on duty to free up the weekend for the girls.
Kory is barely able to get comfortable before she is recognized by fellow beach goers. Even with her sunglasses covering her noticeably alien eyes, Starfire's Tamaran complexion and physique give her away. The shy heroine reluctantly, but graciously signs a few autographs and poses for impromptu photographs. She is resigned to this routine and accepts it as a consequence of her fame as a Teen Titan and her modeling career.
An invigorated Donna Troy towels off after a relaxing swim. Kory nearly laughs aloud at the ridiculousness of the situation. Starfire attends to her adoring public while absolutely no one notices Wonder Girl. Unlike other colleagues with secret identities, she makes no effort to conceal her identity, yet never has anyone connected Donna and Wonder Girl. Donna slips Kory a whimsical grin as she reaches for the sunscreen and bottled water. How the voluptuous Ms. Troy, wearing a skin-tight bikini and spending the afternoon with the famed Starfire, is not recognized as Wonder Girl defies all logic.
The water is too enticing to pass up. Donna is once again drawn to its soothing waves. Her body tingles as the water tickles her toes. Strangely enough, the sea seems colder than it was mere minutes ago. Much, much colder. Donna looks down in horror as the ocean literally freezes solid around her ankles. This can't be happening she thinks to herself, and she's quite right. They were supposed to spend the day in Hawaii, but to her chagrin they never made it. Instead she and Starfire are about as far from the tropics as they can be. Their location is the frigid arctic circle; their mission is to save the human race from extinction.
Her feet sink deep into the snow with each step she takes. Wonder Girl is fast losing the feeling in her toes as she endures bone-chilling cold. The temperature of 40 degrees below zero with a -70 wind-chill exceeds even her considerable tolerances. The blizzard limits visibility, although Starfire's red and orange energy trail high above provides a beacon to follow.
Their goal is to reach Superman's hidden Fortress of Solitude, which is currently under the control of an unknown and diabolical enemy. That mystery foe has engineered the disappearances of every humanoid male on Earth. Evidently intent upon conquering a defenseless planet, the aliens have converted the fortress into a base of operations. Its isolation and technologies provide the perfect site from which to effect the elimination of the remaining female population.
The Earth's man-made satellites have been transformed into a deadly weapon. They are absorbing all forms of communication waves thus nullifying telephone, radio and television. The energy builds up in the satellites until such time when it will be discharged back towards the planet with lethal consequences to Earth women. A dual effort is underway to disable the weapon. Supergirl and Hawkgirl attempt to stop it in space while the Teen Titans strive to reach the Fortress to disarm it remotely.
Neither Kory nor Donna has ever visited the fabled sanctuary of the Man of Steel. Supergirl provided them with its secret coordinates and she quickly noted some of the formidable defenses that her cousin has in place. Clearly the aliens have somehow managed to penetrate those measures and will no doubt adapt them for their own sinister uses.
Were it not for the weather, their journey has been rather uneventful. They have yet to encounter any resistance, but that will soon change. Even through the intense snowfall, the entrance to the Fortress of Solitude looms large on the cliffside. The huge door is a welcome yet unnerving sight. They have just about reached their target, yet only now does their true mission begin.
*****
From the moment she first arrived on Earth, it was clear to the Teen Titans that Princess Koriand'r was special. In many ways she is the most formidable member of the team. The energy blasts she generates are the inspiration for her Terran moniker, Starfire. The bursts are her signature power which she uses as an offensive weapon. This tends to overshadow her great strength and hand to hand combat skills. Foes will often take measures to limit the effectiveness of her energy discharges only to discover that she is more than a match for them in a physical fight.
Unfortunately, the very heritage which has made Starfire a great young heroine also betrays her on Earth. Koriand'r has lived through very trying times. Her Tamaran culture is vastly different and naturally her values reflect this. Kory is very aggressive by nature. Her instinct is to lash out at her enemies with lethal force. She understands that such aggressions are unacceptable on her new world and she must constantly fight her basic impulses when in battle.
Nightwing and Wonder Girl are both especially cognizant of Starfire's background and tendencies. They do not want to discourage her from showing initiative, yet caution must be exercised to ensure that Kory does not inadvertently become a loose cannon. Unchecked, Starfire will surely attack first before sizing up her opponent. Such misguided efforts might doom not only herself, but her teammates as well.
As Starfire rapidly ascends towards the entrance to the Fortress of Solitude, Wonder Girl can not help but hearken back to the many heart to heart chats they've had. So often Donna thought she was getting through to Kory only to see her revert back to her recklessly aggressive ways. It may seem that the best method to reach the Fortress is a direct path, but Wonder Girl knows better.
Starfire gets to within one hundred yards of the doorway when her progress is suddenly and viciously halted. A searing wave of heat vision momentarily stuns the alien teen. She swiftly shrugs off the blow only to discover that she is surrounded by three Superman robots. Somewhat flustered, the Teen Titan instinctively unloads a Starfire blast which scores a direct hit on her closest attacker. The robot is propelled away from her by the burst, but it suffers no actual damage. Starfire's initial attempts to strike the other two misfire.
The sentries are a hybrid of Terran and Kryptonian technologies. Utilizing Kryptonian science, Superman had assembled them from specially treated alloys native to Earth. The robots are built in his image and possess powers and abilities which mimic his own. They have heat vision and super strength and speed. While they are not invulnerable, the sentries are extremely durable and can withstand a wide variety of weaponry. As per his personal credo, the robots are programmed to use non-lethal force in their encounters, although it is clear to Starfire that the alien invaders have overridden that directive.
Wonder Girl looks on from the ground below. Wearing a white parka, the teen believes that she has not yet been detected through the fierce snowstorm. If she comes to Kory's aid, any element of surprise she may have will be lost. Donna recognizes that Starfire's life is in danger as she battles three of the four robot sentinels which guard the fortress. The fate of the planet must take precedence however. Wonder Girl therefore forges ahead and is left only to hope Kory can survive her ordeal.
Starfire is indeed in trouble. To her chagrin, the Superman robots prove immune to the effects of her star bolts. Each is a match for her in terms of strength and speed. It goes completely against her nature to back down, yet outnumbered three to one retreat is her only logical option. She must remain alive and sound if she is to have a chance of eventually reaching the fortress.
The miles mount swiftly as Starfire strays further and further away from the fortress. Unfortunately, she is unable to put any distance between herself and her pursuers. The untiring robots are relentless in their pursuit. They close in on Kory despite her best efforts to evade them. She fires star bolts wildly in a desperate attempt to fend them off, but her efforts are all for naught. When it becomes inevitable that she will not escape, the teen heroine attempts to descend to the ground so as to gain leverage to defend herself. The robots are too fast, however, and they grab her nearly 100 feet above the frozen arctic tundra.
Starfire bravely fights back against her aggressors. The robots are now programmed to kill and will take any measures, no matter how cruel, to defend their haven. Kory lands a pair of powerful blows against two of her foes, but the third one seizes the opportunity to attack from behind. Before she can fend it off, the robot applies a devastating stranglehold upon her. Using both its arms and legs, the sentry restrains Starfire's limbs, leaving her extremely vulnerable to assault. The heroine screams in agony as she is battered with a succession of viscous blows.
An individual can endure only so much pain before it must be ceased at any cost. Starfire has reached that point. Whether it is primitive survival instinct or her battle training, the hurting Teen Titan finds a remarkable inner strength. The terrible sound of metal thumping against flesh and bone is suddenly replaced by that of shearing metal. In an unprecedented display of personal might, Starfire shreds the robot's menacing stranglehold. Both its arms and its right leg are severed from its trunk. Alas this gallant effort takes its toll. Starfire expends a tremendous amount of energy freeing herself. She hasn't the might left to combat the remaining two adversaries. Kory absorbs several more punishing shots which send her plummeting to the icy ground below.
*****
Wonder Girl knows not the fate of her friend and teammate. She is well aware however that this is her window of opportunity. Three Superman robots flew off in pursuit of Starfire. Only one remains to guard the fortress. She will undoubtedly encounter that sentry, but she would rather take her chances with one than with four. The Teen Titan sprints towards the base of the cliffside. Her target looms directly above. She is about to take to the air when she senses that she is no longer alone.
The Superman robot hovers above her. It trains its eyes upon her and emits a sharp burst of heat vision. Wonder Girl adeptly fends off the beams with her bracelets. The sentinel is undeterred as it continues to bombard her with its heat rays. Donna is perplexed, however, because they are off target. There is no need for her to move nor must she deflect them. She realizes too late the purpose of this second wave. The beams strike the heavy woolly parka which is draped over her person. The clothing immediately erupts into flame.
Wonder Girl swiftly rolls into the snow in an attempt to snuff out the flames. She avoids the tragic irony of being severely burned in the chilly arctic, but her parka is irreparably damaged. It literally falls apart, thus leaving the teen ever vulnerable to the elements. The strategy also eliminates Wonder Girl's camouflage, for her bright red costume stands out even through the snowfall.
The robot once again resorts to its heat vision. Wonder Girl tires of this exchange for she knows she is running out of time. The heroine skillfully intercepts the dual vision beams with her bracelets. She redirects them into a single wave which heads back towards its origin. The sentry is very quick, but it is unable to avoid the blazing heat beam entirely. It connects on the midway point of the left shin and lops it off.
Wonder Girl tackles the robot in midair and brings it crashing to the ground. The machine can not stand upright due to its damaged leg, thus it is unable attain the needed leverage to launch a counter assault against the heroine. Wonder Girl pounds the robot repeatedly. Her blows dent its skull as she literally hammers it in down into the tundra like a nail. She would like to stay to finish it off, but instead she must reach the fortress before the others return.
Wonder Girl soars up towards the entrance. The powerful Amazon flexes her muscles as she hefts the enormous key which Superman has disguised as an airplane marker. This is a very difficult task because the key is both heavy and cumbersome. Donna struggles to steady the key into position outside the lock. The heroine is about to insert it into the keyhole when she is abruptly interrupted by the return of two other Superman robots.
The initial target of the sentries is not the Teen Titan, but rather the key. Without it, she can not gain entry into the sanctuary. Two robots attempt to wrestle it away from her. Facing the realization that her foes will indeed relieve her of the key in a matter of seconds, she alters her tactics. Donna uses the key as a battering ram and smashes the two robots into the cliffside.
Glancing downward, she notices that the initial robot she faced is still struggling to free itself from the frozen arctic surface. There is now a brief window of time for her to again try the key and Wonder Girl avails herself of it. Unfortunately, her effort never gets underway, for she receives a jolt to the small of her back from the missing fourth sentry. The impact slams her into the key and she tumbles over it and onto the frozen tundra beyond.
A dazed Wonder Girl forces herself to her feet. She is surprised that the robot has not immediately pounced on her to push its advantage, but she now understands why. This one is missing three of its limbs, no doubt as a result of its battle with Starfire. While it still functions, its capabilities are vastly reduced. The Amazon counterattacks the damaged sentinel and swiftly reduces it to a pile of junk.
Unfortunately, the other three guardians have all returned to confront the teenager. In constructing his robots, Superman provided them with detailed portfolios on his super foes and allies. This includes information on the Teen Titans. He took this measure as a precaution in the event that something should ever happen which may cause them to turn against society. While it would seem that the invading force does not have much respect for Earth's super-heroines, it is clear that Superman does. He holds Wonder Woman in particularly high regard and Wonder Girl rates well by association.
The robots approach Wonder Girl differently than Starfire. In terms of sheer strength, the Amazon is more powerful than Kory. She also exceeds her teammate in skills. Donna is far more prudent in the use of her might, thus Starfire might seem physically superior to the casual observer. The sentries know otherwise. They prove immune to the Tamaran's star bolts and are too much for her in combat. Wonder Girl has no such handicap and possesses the edge in power. She is outnumbered, however, and is disadvantaged as a result.
The sentries coordinate their efforts superbly in their assault against the young heroine. The robot previously damaged by the Amazon attacks her from behind. Donna instinctively whirls around to fend off her foe. She hurls the Superman replica at high speed into the frozen cliff side, severely damaging its neck and head. The two remaining robots use this diversion to close in on her right side. Wonder Girl senses their approach. In one lightning quick motion, she springs about and delivers a left-handed overhead punch with enough force behind it to decapitate one of her opponents. To her amazement, both assailants elude the blow. The teen recognizes too late that she has been coaxed into a big mistake. Her wildly aggressive punch has left her wide open on many fronts. Wonder Girl instinctively ducks her head to protect herself. Surprisingly, the robots both focus upon the closest extremity, her outstretched left arm.
Her high-pitched scream carries seemingly for miles, yet to her another terrible sound all but drowns it out completely. Seconds after the robots each latched onto her arm, the incredible stress applied upon the limb causes her shoulder to pop out of its socket. The pain is excruciating and the robots show no mercy. Her left arm is now useless, yet the sentries fully intend to rend it from her body. Her acute hearing detects the tearing of muscle fibers in her shoulder and upper arm. If she can't immediately shed her attackers, she will literally lose her left arm!
Desperately Wonder Girl leaps into the sky with the two robots draped about her person. She heads directly for the large keyhole of the fortress door. The Superman robots essentially sandwich Donna as they are subjected to an overwhelming energy discharge by the automated defense mechanism built into the lock. The hope is that their momentum will carry them through the opening while simultaneously short-circuiting both robots. While this is not meant to be, Troy's efforts prove fruitful. The lead sentry is irreparably damaged as the three bodies are ejected out from whence they came. Both Donna and the remaining robot survive, but each is momentarily disoriented as the shock wears off.
Wonder Girl struggles to rise from the frigid, snow covered ground. Her left harm hangs limply at her side and will be useless for the duration of the mission. The robot is back on its feet and closes in upon her. It directs a heat vision attack towards her injured arm. Donna is barely able to fend it off with her right bracelet. She is overmatched and must regroup. Much like Starfire, Wonder Girl is forced into retreat.