Author's Note: All right I'm back with another update before the big holiday week and everyone else goes away to be with family. I tried to get this out as soon as I can. But you cant really rush a good fight chapter like this. So without any further ado here's our latest chapter. I cant believe I'm up to 25 chapters now. That just doesnt seem possible for some reason. Man...
Teen Titans All Stars, Vol. 2
Chapter 25
The Revenge of Zoom
At Titans Tower alarms continued to blare as the Titans prepared for Zoom's arrival. In the garage a set of rocket launchers were placed on the front of Nightwing's bike while a laser cannon was attached to the tail of the bike above the seat by robotic arms. The Titans' leader got on his bike, while Robin straddled his R-Cycle. Behind the two was a steel blue Hummer that Cyborg and several others were preparing to get into.
"All right team, we've dealt with guy before. And we all know how dangerous he is. Last time we barely beat him, I want everybody to be on guard at all times. This guy could slip past our defences in an instant and possibly kill someone. Do not give him that opportunity. We have three speedsters with us, so that should give us a bit of a advantage. Bart, Thad can I count on you guys?" Dick said looking back at them.
"Sure." Inertia nodded.
"You got it." said Impulse.
"You guys are to keep him off balance while watching our backs at the same time. Can you do that?" he asked.
"Yes sir!" they called.
"Wally?" he said turning to him.
"Way ahead of you." Flash said.
Dick nodded.
"The ball's in your court. Your the only other speedster that can match him move for move. I know I'm asking alot..." Nightwing trailed off.
"Trust me I've waited a long time for this." Wally said confidently.
"Let's make Bart and Thad's jobs a little easier and watch each other's backs in the process." Beast Boy said from inside the Hummer.
"Sounds like a plan." said Thad.
"All right team, let's move out." Dick said putting on his helmet.
Flash took off ahead of the others followed by Inertia and Impulse, Dick throttled the bike and raced out the base followed by Tim and the rest of the Titans. Already a mile ahead of the team Flash led the charge followed by the twin speedsters. On the Western edge of New York City, Zoom came barreling up the street overturning cars and everything else that stood in his way with the look of murder in his eyes. He grit his teeth and put on an extra burst of speed creating more havoc as he raced towards them. People on the sidewalks took cover as cars tumbled through the air and crashed violently to the ground. In the distance Flash could see the smoke and went supersonic in the next instant.
"There you are!" Flash said as they met at Times Square.
The red and gold speedsters drew back thier fists and collided creating a shockwave bubble that tore through the area. Cars were sent flying every which way as people took cover. Already the two Flashes were engaged in battle throwing punches at supersonic speed. Zoom had Wally on the run as he dodged the dark speedsters supersonic hits. One got him in the shoulder but he shook it off and hit him square in the jaw. Zoom's head jerked back and skidded back a bit. He wiped his mouth and glared at the scarlet speedster who grinned. Hunter roared and raced towards him again. Thinking fast Wally threw him over his shoulder sending him headfirst into a curbside trashcan. The golden speedster got him and threw it at him in anger. Flash dodged it with ease as Zoom raced back towards him and delivered a barrage of punches. Wally dodged them back up before grabbing Zoom's fist and crushing it and delivered one of his own. Zoom smashed into a streetlight bending it out of shape. Enraged lightning coursed through his body and shot it at Wally. The Flash bolted out of the line of fire and raced up the street while Zoom continued firing.
Tearing the streetlamp out he tore it apart a second time and threw the razor sharp edge at him. Wally dodged the projectile embedding itself in the wall beside him. Zoom came at him again with the remaining lamp in hand and slammed it into his side plowing him into the wall.
Wally grabbed him by the face in the next instant. By that time Bart and Thad arrived on the scene and grabbed Zoom from behind.
"What is this?" he yelled.
"Head's up Z-Man!" Bart yelled as he and Thad threw him over their shoulders.
Zoom flipped over landing on his feet and bared his teeth at the junior speedsters.
"Ooh! Nice recovery." he added.
"Well, well, well if it isnt Impulse and Inertia. Never though I'd see you two work together." Zoom said warming up to them.
"Alot's changed while you've been out of action Zoom." Thad said.
"And evidently neither of you have improved seeing as how young Impulse must rely on his enemy to stand a chance against me." Zoom smirked.
"Oh I've improved all right...and for the better." Inertia said standing straight and tall.
"I'm glad to hear it Thaddeus, I only wish I was there to see it. I cant imagine what sort of tragedy you went through. I'm certain it was magnificent." he smiled.
Inertia grit his teeth and tightened his fist.
"Thad no!" Wally said.
"You want to know what I went through?" he said as emerald lightning surged over him. And raced towards him.
"Then let me show you!" he yelled holding his fist back.
"Thad!" Flash yelled.
Hunter stood in place as Inertia raced towards him. The emerald speedster yelled throwing a punch. Hunter grabbed it and cracked his knuckles, Inertia winced in pain as Zoom threw him over his shoulder. The speedster spiraled sideways through the air and fired a bolt of lightning at his back. Zoom turned and redirected the current through his hand and sent it back at him stronger than before. Inertia was struck by the bolt and crashed through an office window. He tumbled across the floor as glass scattered across the floor. A billow of smoke issued from Hunter's hand as he smiled and turned his attention towards the others.
"Now who's next?" he asked.
"Bastard." Flash muttered.
Zoom cracked his knuckles and got into defensive stance daring Flash to come at him. The Fastest Man Alive grit his teeth.
"Come on Flash show me what you got. Lest I endow you with another tragedy. I was hoping after all this time you would have improved." he smirked.
Electricity crackled around Flash's body and rushed at him. At the same time Nightwing's bike raced around the corner towards them. Flash threw a punch and Zoom casually batted it aside. The roar of the engine reached his ears as he looked back and saw a rocket fly at them. Flash punched him throwing him back before getting out of the line of fire. The missile hit and exploded in a ball of fire. Nightwing glared through the windshield of his bike as he continued forward. In the next instant his form appeared in the smoke and throttled Dick in the next second grabbing him by the throat and slammed him to the ground. The bike skidded out of control coming to a stop in front of the sidewalk. Zoom then kicked him as hard as he could and sent him flying across the street on his back and slammed the back of his neck against a road sign.
Flash and Impulse came at him again and attacked simultaneously. The yellow speedster dodged their attacks grabbing both of them by the wrists and throwing them into the church bell tower. Zoom then raced up to the tower a second later and knocked them back to the pavement. The Reverse-Flash tore out the large bell and threw it at them. The two split up before it hit the ground. Dick groaned as he rolled over and rubbed his neck. Robin took aim from his bike and fired at Zoom who stood on the bell tower and disappeared before the blasts could hit and appeared before him holding him by the throat above his bike. The Boy Wonder struggled in his grasp as Flash and Impulse raced towards him. Zoom fired a bolt of lightning with his free hand detonating the ground in front of Flash, casting him into the air. Flash barreled towards him with his fist ready to strike. Zoom punched him in the stomach before he could get the chance threw him across the street with a swift kick. Impulse multiplied himself as his clones raced towards Hunter.
"Oh please." he said and used Robin as a melee weapon against them disintegrating the clones almost instantaneously having taken out Bart in the process.
Robin choked and grasped his throat laying next to Dick and Bart. A sonic cannon blast hit Zoom in the back left shoulder and looked back as the rest of the team came at him. Cyborg leaped in the air ready to fire. Zoom punched his cannon arm as he landed and lightning coursed through the weapon knocking him back a step. Vic was kicked in the stomach by him throwing him back a considerable distance. Beast Boy came at him and turned into a stegosaurus, Zoom used the same superpowered punch and knocked him back into a building. Starfire barraged him with her energy bolts as he stood there, while Raven assaulted him on another front by throwing cars at him. The speedster dodged one as it smashed into a streetlight directly behind him. Zoom fired a blast at the second car causing it to explode in front of Raven. The dark mage shielded her eyes allowing Zoom to punch her in the face. Raven fell backward on the street as he stood over her, lightning coursed through his fist. A second sonic blast him in the right shoulder and saw Cyborg standing on the other end of the street with his cannon aimed at him. The gold lightning still coursed through his circuitry. Zoom raised his arm towards him ready to fire again as Cyborg increased his amplitude and fired a gold energy blast at Zoom knocking him away from Raven.
Zoom lay in a heap beside a mailbox and started to get up his attention now fully drawn on Cyborg. The Reverse-Flash leaned against the mailbox not fully up and rubbed his jaw.
"Not bad. Try this!" he said and fired another blast at Cyborg.
The cybernetic hero stood there as it raced towards him and dodged it at the last second. His shoulder pads opened up and fired a series of rockets at the evil speedster who evaded them blowing up the mailbox. Zoom raced towards him and punched him in the jaw before delivering several more hits knocking him back. Zoom appeared in front of him and gave him the uppercut from hell. His body fell back in slow motion before Zoom punched him in the chest damaging his armor and dispatched the Titan. Raven's soul self came at him from behind the speedster turned around too late as it passed through his torso. Zoom yelled in pain as the astrial form passed through him short circuiting his powers. Crippled with pain he fell to his hands and knees. Raven came up and punched him in the cheek knocking him down. Zoom struggled to get up his body still racked with pain, when Starfire joined the fray and struck him across the opposite cheek. Wonder Girl flew down and punched him square in the face knocking him on his back. Hunter growled still paralyzed with pain as he struggled to get up. The Reverse-Flash growled as he fought to reclaim his mobility little by little. The girls landed in front of Robin, Nightwing and Impulse. Flash pried himself out of building wall.
"Ah man, Falcon Punch from Hell." he said cradeling his chest.
Steam rushed out of Zoom's nose as he sat up and glared at the women who protected the guys.
"Your going to regret that." he said getting to his feet.
Around the corner Arsenal and the other Titans stood next to the Hummer.
"Looks like we're up next." Roy said holding a gun.
Starfire and Raven readied their energy attacks, while Wonder Girl cinched up her magic lasso behind them. Bolts of lightning ran through Zoom's body as he got ready to attack. The golden speedster narrowed his eyes as the current ran rampant through him. Arsenal cocked his pistol and got out from behind the door of the Hummer.
"Hope you paid your life insurance." he said darkly.
Arsenal came out in the open with two pistols and shot at him from behind. At the same time Starfire blasted him from the front. But neither attack had any affect on him. The golden speedster threw himself at Kori enraged. The Tamarian kept firing while Raven covered the ground in front of Zoom with her dark energy. Zoom threw a bolt of lightning from his hand at Raven zapping her. The speedster appeared in front of Kori and punched her as hard as he could. Kori blocked the punch, fists and eyes blazing, Kori yelled and unleashed an optic blast in his face. The Tamarian went after him and plowed him into the ground. Zoom recovered and kicked her in the chest with both legs throwing her into the air. Zoom was back on his feet and unleashed a bolt of lightning striking her in midair. Superboy punched Zoom in the back of the head knocking him forward and Wonder Girl kicked him in the stomach. He staggered backward before Cassie spun around and nailed him with an uppercut. The golden speedster flew into the air and was grabbed by Superboy in a Full Nelson hold. Superboy spiraled headfirst towards the earth and piledrived him into the ground.
Superboy hovered back rejoining the others as Hunter pried his head out of the dirt and gave him the look of death. The speedster growled and pounded the ground with his fist causing it to shake. The Sinestro Corps logo on his ring started to flash. Zoom looked down at the blinking insignia and grinned putting the Titans on high alert as he stood up.
"Time to take it to the next level." he said holding his fist next to his opposing shoulder.
"What is that?" Dick asked holding out his staff.
Arsenal squinted his eyes before realizing what it was.
"Crap! He has a power ring!" he yelled. The others looked at him in confusion.
"You mean like that red dude we fought?" Gar asked concerned.
"Why don't we find out?" Zoom said bringing forth yellow constructs.
Five images materialized in front of him turning into fully realized copies of Zoom. All of which held the same smirk as their master.
"Oh great that's all we need." Roy said.
"What do you say we break 'em in?" Zoom said as they attacked.
Nightwing spun his staff as one of the clones came at him and struck it across the face. But the clone simply turned its head and smiled back before striking back. Beast Boy turned into a tiger and tried to get away from the clone that chased him while Impulse aided him running alongside the two. Bart spun around and drove his leg into the clone's chest, and sent him tumbling to the ground. The speedster clone quickly got up and attacked Bart. Impulse vibrated himself intangible before it could have the chance as its fist went through his chest. Bart opened an eye and raced through the clone rendering himself tangible again before hitting it in the back.
In another area Cyborg fired his sonic cannon at one of the clones and dodged it. The clone raced toward Cyborg and hit him in the jaw knocking him back. However Cyborg got the last laugh when the clone threw itself at him. Vic punched it through the chest and released a full charge destroying the construct. The primary Zoom growled in annoyance at the Titan's victory who turned and fired another sonic blast at his head. The speedster dodged it at the last instant and joined in the fray decking Cyborg across the face. Vic growled and captured him in a bear hug attempting to crush him.
"You may be as fast as the other speedsters, but there's one power of theirs you cant replicate. Vibrating your way out of things! And trust me your not going anywhere." he said.
Zoom growled as he struggled against him.
"What are you going to do? Break my back again?" he mocked.
"Don't tempt me!" yelled Vic.
"If you were capable of that, then guys like me wouldn't even be around! Its because your all too weak to do what's necessary as heroes." Zoom told him.
"And the reason I'm here is to prove guys like you wrong!" Cyborg yelled.
"Then why don't you elaborate?" growled Zoom.
Cyborg concentrated all of his strength into his arms causing Zoom's ribs to crack.
"All you care about is death and destruction, your so caught up in causing tragedy that you ignore the most important factor. The power of the human spirit. That alone can overcome any tragedy." he said before releasing him.
Zoom skidded back and faced down the Titan.
"Dont you see? They're two sides of the same coin! It is only through tragedy that we allow ourselves to move forward to better ourselves! And that is my lot in life. By inflicting great tragedies, it'll give you the resolve needed to stop guys like me. Because I AM the necessary evil!" he yelled.
Cyborg glared back at him before answering.
"No...your just crazy." he said. Hunter growled and raced towards him once again.
"Its all I am!" he yelled drawing back his fist.
Cyborg crossed his arms preparing for the inevitable, but at the last second unleashed a double sonic cannon blast blowing him back. Zoom sailed backwards with smoke billowing and crashed into a sedan. the constructs fighting the other Titans became static and started to fluctuate around them. Zoom got to his feet and picked the car up over his head. Arsenal turned and shot at the gas tank, the car erupted above Zoom's head. The speedster raced out of the flames and punched him as hard as he could. Cyborg turned and aimed his sonic cannon right next to Zoom's head and fired. Zoom dodged it and punched him in the stomach before backhanding him across the face. Nightwing wrapped his staff around Zoom's windpipe from behind. Zoom elbowed his gut and bashed the back of his head into his face before throwing him into Starfire taking her out. Flash throttled him with a flying clothesline.
"Its time we put this to bed. Raven!" Arsenal said holding out his arm.
The mage transferred his weapons from the Hummer to his side, a large red quiver flipped over his shoulder and was armed with a crossbow along with his traditional bow. And tossed the scarlet bow over to Starfire along with a special arrow.
"But this is..." she started.
"Desperate times call for desperate measures Star. You know how to shoot that right?" he asked.
"Now there's a stupid question." she said setting the arrow in place while the battle continued.
The Titans did their best to keep him off balance and to keep him from noticing either Roy or Kori. Zoom continued to defeat them one at a time. Superboy grabbed Zoom from behind while Wally grabbed his chest and Beast Boy piled on top of them trying to keep him in place. Zoom grew more agitated and struggled against the three as Starfire and Arsenal took aim. His anger boiling Zoom forced Beast Boy and Superboy off of him while Flash continued to hold him down.
"Come on Wally get out of the way!" said Roy.
Zoom finally caught sight of the two. Electricity surged through him as the Flash continued to restrain him. Zoom finally broke free from Flash. Robin threw an ice pod at him freezing his legs at the last instant.
"Now!" Arsenal yelled.
The two of them fired their arrows simultaneously at Zoom. The arrowhead capsules explode and an energy cable ran between the tails of the arrows. Zoom spun his arms generating cyclones, Raven and Inertia blasted him on opposite sides disrupting his attack. The cable touched his chest and the arrows raced around him in opposite directions.
"Get down!" Arsenal yelled.
The flats of the arrows connected and enveloped Zoom in an enormous explosion. The speedster yelled as a blast of energy raced upward and tore at his costume. A flash of white light consumed him as he screamed, the lenses in his mask break as the explosion detonated outward blowing everyone off their feet. A few seconds later the light faded and the Titans picked themselves off the ground.
"Everyone all right?" Dick asked.
The Titans moaned as they got up.
"What the hell was that?" he asked Arsenal.
"Quantum Arrows, me and Ollie both carried one. I was hoping I'd never have to use it again." he said getting up.
"So I guess that's it." he shrugged.
"Uh guys?" Gar said surprised.
The team spun around Kori clapped her hands over her mouth in shock as they looked on.
"How?" Dick asked.
The golden speedster stood before them in shredded spandex, with half his mask ripped off and a naked eye peered through his shattered lens. His Sinestro ring burning bright as his rage and a force field surrounded his body.
"Holy s#it..." Roy said stunned.
"That should have atomized him." he finished.
Zoom growled as he held up his ring and recited the oath.
"Oh crap!" the Titan said.
"In Blackest Day. In Brightest Night. Beware your fears made into light! Let those who try to stop what's right! Burn like his power Sinestro's Might!" he yelled charging up his ring and repaired his costume.
His costume was reborn in a black and yellow variant of his new affiliation and carried the yellow jester motif around his chest, while his torso turned black above the red lightning bolt belt line. And his sleeves from the shoulders to elbows turned black as well. The Sinestro Corps logo presented itself on the right shoulder of his new costume while the Zoom logo remained on his chest as did the blacked out lenses and cowl. Lightning surged throughout his body as the ring symbol glowed on his shoulder patch and ring itself. The Titans stepped back in fear not sure how they were going to defeat him now.
"Prepair for your greatest nightmare." he said in a dark voice.
Before he could make good on his threat the Corpsman disappeared before them, as if teleported out. The Titans utterly perplexed by this were soon teleported as well. And in the next instant found themselves in front of the great council of Oa.
"Who are you guys?" Nightwing asked.
"We are the Guardians of the Universe, it is of dire importance that we've brought you here." Brother Appsa told them.
Author's Note: Well that was intense wasnt it? Hope it was up to everyone's expectations. I know Zoom is crazy powerful even without the ring so it kind of a challenge to write him with the power ring. But I digress. Anyway I wanted to get this up before the holidays come around, I know I'll be busy with a couple things. So what'd you guys think of this chapter? Was it badass or what? The last time one of my friends asked if the Titans were still in the storyline, which is understandable given thier scarcity for most of the arc. I was going to get around to it eventually, and this seemed like as good of a time as any to bring them back into the main conflict of the storyline. So what do you think of it so far? The arc I mean. I want to wish you guys a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.
Please review,
Green Gallant.