“Any last words, Duke?” the prison guard asked the inmate. With hands cuffed behind his back, he walked silently. “Yeah, get me the keys to these things,” he replied. The guard pushed him forward while the foreman of the prison led them to the execution room.

Upon opening the metal-clad, bolted door a strange sight beheld all three of them, as a rather large man sat one leg atop the other with parchment in hand, sitting upon the recently-used, smoke stalking chair that smelled of charred flesh. Only, the man had not been sentenced, nor had anyone seen him before.

“Hey! Who are you? What are you doing here!?” The foreman asked. The large man lifted himself atop his feet. “No particular reason. I’d just like you to have a look at this…” he answered coolly, handing him the piece of paper he held in his possession.

With startled eyes, the foreman read, and each passing word the man emitted perplexed eyes from under his forehead. He crumpled it in his bare hands and turned to the prison guard behind him. “Let him go…” he said. The prison guard lowered his brow in confusion. “What?!” he asked. “Let him go, I said!”

The New Justice Union#1: Housebreakers

“Don’t know where you came from, but thanks, I’ll be going my way now…” Duke replied to the man, walking away. The larger man grabbed Duke’s shoulder with his muscular hands, and gripped it tightly with great force. “I didn’t save your hide just for the fun of it…” he said threateningly.

Duke turned around calmly and brushed his ailing shoulder off. “Well, then what is it that you want? Money?” He asked. “No…” the man replied. “I’ve heard around…that you’ve made quite a name for yourself in breaking and entering…” he said. “Allow me to introduce myself, I’m General Boumtje. Get in the car….I’ll fill you in.”

Later on, the two came across a small, abandoned warehouse filled with empty boxes, canisters, and machinery of the like, a desolate place where the wind howled as the moonlight crescent shone upon the roof atop them. Inside, were three others who sat waiting for them.

“So what’s the deal?” Duke asked. Boumtje stroked his fore-bearing chin. “Got a little job for you,” he said in his crackly, hard voice. “Ah, a break-in, eh? A heist? Well where do you want me to hit? A bank, an old army base, National Weapons Securities?” Duke wondered. Boumtje then took a small folder out from a cabinet with his large, hairy hands. He then took out a picture of their intended target. “No…” he said. “We’re gonna hit here…” Duke’s head flopped backward in shock. “Justice Union headquarters?!” he wondered. “Right on target…” Boumtje answered.

“You’ll be aided by a few collected accomplices as well. Cheryl Strong, a plastic explosives expert, Raymond Ford, strategic technologist, along with Karlsbad Cavarn, stealth trainer,” he explained, pointing to a woman with light-colored hair and slim physique, a slightly balding man with small glasses, and dark-haired man with a pistol by his waist.

“Ford,” Boumtje commanded. “Why don’t you let us in on our attack plan?” Raymond Ford took the stand as he began to explain the assault. “I’ve been studying the Headquarters activities day and night quite extensively now, and I believe we have the best chance of successfully infiltrating the station at the Union’s weakest known time…maintenance hour.”

“It seems as though many of these so-called heroes are out on duty or so, and it is best received that we attack on the next maintenance session which begins as soon as the clock strikes eleven. The only overbearing obstacles we may need to watch out for, is the electrifying Electrolight, the legendary man of gold, Goldman, and Warhead, the atomic wonder.” Cheryl spoke in her soft tone. “Well, seems simple enough. I’ll be creating the diversion then, disrupting the power core…” Raymond interrupted once again. “Yes, but we must be accurately on task at the right intervals, any time lost could result in our failure of the mission, and ultimately our capture. I will man the desk here, monitoring all activity and guide you to your destinations. You, Duke, shall be responsible for retrieving our target as well as supplying adequate escape.” General Boumtje patted the young vagrant on the back. “Look alive, kid, you’re in the big time now.”

Disguised as ordinary maintenance employees, the group was able to successfully enter the headquarters of the Union undetected. As she was beamed up into the vast corridor chambers of the steel, gigantic walls of the station, Cheryl looked around in awe with mouth open. “Careful, or a fly might get in there…” Duke joked. A small intercom could be heard beside their ears, as each wore headphones fitted upon them. “Quit dawdling and get a move on!” Raymond reprimanded. The four went to the security gates.

“Identifications please,” the man at the gate said. Dozens of other workers, dressed in the same green suits that all maintenance workers wore, roamed throughout the vast halls of the great quarters. Boumtje held out his card first. The gateman took it, and swiped it into a scanner. A red light flashed and a buzzing noise sounded. “Darn machine, done this the second time this week.” Boumtje tapped his foot impatiently. “Look, we’re late, we need to get in now…” The gateman without looking up, spoke, “Just hold it will you…” The general took an overbearing stance and proposed, “Would you like to take it up with Goldman?” The gateman then let each of them through the gate.

Wandering the halls, Raymond guided the four around the station. “I nearly lost it back there when thickhead over here had the metal detector go off…” Cheryl explained. Karlsbad snuffed her complaint away. “Hey, money is money. I got a few quarters laying around in my pocket…no need to waste it.”

Raymond could be heard through each of their intercoms. “Alright, here’s where you four split up into two groups. Cheryl and Karlsbad, make your way to the main reactor. General and Duke, make your way to the secret weapons compound.” The four then split up into two groups and stealthily strode to their destinations, while oblivious young superheroes passed them by.

“Hey, ain’t that Stargirl?” Duke asked Boumtje pointing to a lightly brown haired girl, with a white shirt containing a star symbol on the front, as well as a blue skirt, red cape, and white gloves. “She’s pretty cute,” he said as he checked her out. Boumtje smacked him on the head, “Stay on task, maggot.” He chastened.

In just a few moments, Karlsbad and Cheryl made it to door of the nuclear reactor core. Planed across the area were thick, red lines that covered the hall that led to the door. “We’re four minutes and thirty-three seconds into the operation, make your way across the alarm system and disable it,” Raymond disclosed. Karlsbad, using his stealth-like acrobatic movements, was able to weave through each of the red laser beams with relative ease, and shut off the system with the code that was wired to him. He then opened the door for Cheryl to pass through, and said, “Ladies first…” Cheryl rolled her eyes. “Much obliged,” she said sarcastically, passing through the door.

Meanwhile, Boumtje and Duke stood waiting at the weapons facility entrance. “Alright, it should be exactly one minute, and thirty-six seconds before the diversion occurs,” Boumtje said, glancing at his watch. “Now you just get ready to throw in one of your boomerangs at the pass-code entrance panel,” he continued. “No problem,” Duke replied, making ready one of his weapons.

“Alright, we’re thirty-two seconds behind schedule, make sure you set the explosive for twenty-four seconds, no more, no less. Then get out of there as quickly as possible,” Raymond instructed. “No problem, hun,” Cheryl replied, preparing a bomb atop the nuclear reactor core. “Don’t mess up now, Cher,” Karlsbad teased. “Shutup,” Cheryl shot back.

As soon as the beeps sounded, the timer began running down with twenty-four seconds left. The two infiltrators quickly rushed out of the room and back into the vast corridors of the headquarters.

Seconds passed, and Boumtje stood in front of the door, eyes fixated on his watch, as he counted down. “Six…five…four…three…two…ONE! Go!” He cried. Quickly, Duke let fly out of his hand the lone boomerang that he held, and whirled it straight at the small computer access key that was placed next to the door. A wild explosion shook the compound as the power went out giving just enough time for the door to open without sounding an alarm.

“What’s the situation?” Goldman asked Electrolight. “Seems the power’s been breached. It must be the main reactor core,” Electrolight replied. “If we don’t get this situation under control fast, many people could be in danger,” she further explained. Just then, a green-suited man with a large, yellow atom logo on his chest flew with great speed across the two veteran superheroes. “I’m on it!” Warhead yelled, zipping down through the corridors to the main reactor core.

“Alright, Electrolight, get all the maintenance workers out of here as soon as possible, I’ll check how stable things are and monitor the inside,” Goldman instructed. “Initiate Emergency Shut-down sequence!” He ordered fellow workers, as they fumbled to check system maintenance at the computer database.

Doors began to slowly descend to the ground as Cheryl and Karlsbad hurriedly tried to make their way out of the reactor sector. “Looks like we better pick up the pace,” Karlsbad said, grabbing hold of Cheryl’s arm and speeding up. They were successfully able to slide under one of the gigantic, heavy-laden doors before it crushed upon the ground. But the next one seemed to be too quick. “We’re not gonna make it!” Cheryl screamed. And she was right, the door was too far closed for them to make, until a pair of yellow-gloved fingers reached beneath it, and began pulling it upward.

“Don’t worry, guys, I’ll get you outta here in no time!” Warhead consoled them, battling to keep the door aloft. “Thanks, Warhead,” Karlsbad said. “Hey, by the way, my wife’s a big fan of yours. Would you mind if I got your autograph?” he asked. Warhead, whose arms were tense in struggle, replied, “Now’s…not…a good time!” He then lifted the door over him, flew through, before it came to a crashing halt upon the ground. Cheryl smiled and looked at her daring accomplice, placing hands on her hips. “You are a bad boy, aren’t you?” Cheryl said. Karlsbad smirked. “You know you like it,” he replied.

Boumtje and Duke entered the facility and beheld before them vast arrays of subjugated weapons and machinery that filled the area. “Wow, look at all this stuff…you could have your own war in here!” Duke replied, as he stroked a rather large missile that stood upon its tail. “We’re here for one thing, and one thing only…” Boumtje told him. “What’s that then?” Duke inquired, shifting his head. His eyes widened in awe as he saw through his own vision a gigantic black, metallic robot with outstretched hands, and a thick, bullet-like head. “This my friend…is the great Titan, said to be constructed and created as by the mythic Ares.”

A com-link screen surged the view of a struggling Warhead trying to seize control of the raging nuclear core. “How’s it going down there, Warhead?” Goldman asked. “I think…I have…everything under control!” Warhead hollered back over the furious infernos that held within. He then contacted Electrolight in need of assistance. “Electrolight, we’re moving too slowly. I’m gonna need you to take some of these workers under your electric force-fields and bring them to the escape level of the quarters,” he explained. Electrolight, waving her arm in agreement, replied, “Copy that, Goldman!” And she flew off into the distance, enveloping groups of employees through the rays of her power rings and lifting them to safety.

After having Duke chant an ancient text given to him by Boumtje, Duke thought that the Titan would arise and obey their commands. But alas, it did not move. “What’s the deal here?” Duke wondered. With quick motion, Boumtje snapped his fist into Duke’s jaw, sending him backward. “Hey, what was that for!?” he yelled in anger, rubbing his mouth. Just then, the Titan began to move forward following the two infiltrators. “Just as I thought, triggered by anger,” Boumtje said.

“You need to get out of there, there’s not enough time!” Raymond warned Boumtje. “No…” the general desisted. “We wait for the others,” he demanded. “But you’ll get caught!” Raymond explained. “We wait!” He yelled back. “Just twenty seconds more…” he continued, his voice calming.

As the headquarters shook and rattled due to the impact and momentum that the core emanated, sending rumbling tremors throughout the grounds of the halls, twenty seconds passed. “Alright, then, we’ll leave,” Boumtje conceded. As he turned with Duke to leave the weapons facility, Cheryl and Karlsbad, both long-winded and breathing heavily, rushed in through the door. “Alright, Raymond,” Boumtje smirked. “Set our course for home.”

The five infiltrators sought refuge from the clamor, and darted through the halls of the station, and attempted to find the docking bay. However, something in the hall stopped them, as the windows throughout showed the blackness of space and the twinkling of stars showered upon them. There were three figures before them, and one began to speak. “Well then, looks like we got ourselves here a couple o’ ran sackers,” a man with red hair, a cowboy hat, and red bandana around his mouth, along with two revolvers at his side said, with his western country accent. “What are you guys doing here on the A-level?” A tall man with blond hair followed, with white pants, and the letter ‘D’ showing upon his shirt. Another stood, in full samurai armor, with katana in hand; only he had the flag of the Southern United States imprinted upon his chest. “Dey’s be takin’ sumtin frum us?” he wondered.

Vagabond, Capital D, and the Southern Samurai had halted their progress.

Boumtje smirked as the three heroes stood before him. He motioned the Titan to take care of business, and it complacently moved forward. Seeing the threat, Capital D, aka Matt Dawkins, purposefully increased himself in size to be equal to that of the great Titan. With flurrying feet the gigantic man flipped his fist into the monstrous robot’s bullet-sized head with clanging clamor. As its head drew back, it regained its stand, and flung its own fist back at Dawkins, knocking him backward, as Vagabond and the Southern Samurai leaped out of the way.

Thomas Fletcher quickly drew his two revolvers from his sides, twirling them before they came to a halt in his hands. Karlsbad drew his own pistol and aimed it at the cowboy. “Luks lahk dey needs tah be tawt a lessun,” Bradley Davis decided, as he waved his katana in hand. Vagabond quickly pulled the trigger to one of his guns, and narrowly missed the evasive Karlsbad. Duke then triggered his own weapon, by sending two small boomerangs into the gun-holding hands of Vagabond. The two revolvers were knocked out of his hands and onto the ground.
Quickly the Southern Samurai charged forward with sword in hand, but was interrupted when the largely built Titan grabbed him with one arm and threw him upon the ground, causing massive damage to the floor, and knocking katana outward.

Vagabond quickly drew out his lasso and roped Cheryl, Boumtje, and Karlsbad together. With quick and rational thinking however, Duke used his short-ranged arm to retrieve a boomerang and slice off the rope in two, freeing his comrades.

Vagabond went for the attack after he successfully evaded a plastic explosive heralded by the deadly Cheryl. He proceeded to Karlsbad and punched him in the face with full force, causing him to drop his pistol. But Karlsbad fought back with just as much determination.

Boumtje went for a round as Bradley Davis, with helmet now detached from his head, put his arms up for the battle. He drew back his fist and flung it forward, just missing the head of the general. With his massive arms, Boumtje fired his own fist into the face of the Samurai, causing him to fall backward. He consistently landed blows into his face until the Samurai was knocked clear into an isolated room. As he pushed him forward into it, the general pushed a side button to activate its closure and continued on to lock him inside.

Bradley, furious with anger, punched against the metal door with frustration, but was unable to penetrate.

Karlsbad butted his head against Vagabond’s face, as he then made a swift uppercut motion against his jaw. Duke proceeded to punch him in the back as well, as they ganged up to defeat the heroic cowboy. Karlsbad punched him, with great impact, into the stomach once more to make swift work of the ailing hero.

Just then, the large Titan rushed across the floor with Dawkins in hand, dragging and smashing his face into the rough floor beneath, and coming to a halt as Capital D lie lifeless and unconscious upon the ground below.

The clan proceeded to their destination.

In the control room, they were to be transported back to earth through the transportation device. But yet another had halted their progress, a man with golden armor, and large powerful fists with back turned toward them had stood in their way. He turned around slowly, arms ready at his side, to view his opponents, and stop them from escaping.

“If it isn’t Goldman,” Boumtje said. But no time was spared, and Goldman rushed forward with the sole intent of stopping the thieves from getting away. Karlsbad shot with his pistol at the rumbling hero, but his gold-plated chromium armor could not be penetrated. Without halt, he ran as gold boots clanked upon the floor and struck Karlsbad square in the face, causing him to fly backward.

Next, Cheryl threw an explosive with a direct hit upon his chest, but even that could not stop him. He then proceeded to swat Cheryl’s body many feet away. Barrett Goldsmith was not about to let up a fight.

Boumtje ordered the Titan to attack, and attack it did. It pounded Goldman in his gold-plated chest with crashing clamor, pulsing him into the other direction. A loud crash could be heard as he skidded to the ground. He contacted Electrolight once again. “Electrolight, report back to the ship, I may need some heavy backup.” But it seemed that she was too busy at the moment.

The Titan then rushed toward Goldman himself, picked him up by the helmet on his head, and started pounding him down into the ground repeatedly, seemingly relentless in destroying his opponent. Inside his golden suit, Goldman could feel bumps and bruises beginning to grow stronger, as he continued to be smashed into the hard-surface ground below.

Before another blow was completed, Goldman, with his golden-gloved hand, halted the Titan’s movement by placing the limb sturdy into the ground. Goldman then maneuvered his leg to bash it into the face of the robot, sending him dazed and fumbling backward.

Once free, he pounded with all his strength against the metal-clad robot, propelling him backward into the wall. Suddenly, a voice cried out. “Stop! Or the big guy gets it!” Cheryl warned, holding an explosive over the gaping mouth of the unconscious Capital D.

Goldman stepped down and sighed in defeat. Just then, Warhead, with his green suit and radioactive form flew in from the winding corridors of the station.

“Come on” Boumtje commanded his troops. He and the men, along with the Titan entered the transport pad. “Come on, Cheryl,” Boumtje ordered. Cheryl was hesitant.

”Oh no you don’t!” Warhead cried, as he rushed forward. Cheryl began to run as she flung the explosive into the air. “Sorry bout this Cher,” Karlsbad said, as he raised his pistol. He then fired a bullet into the fire-powered contraption, causing a blast of explosion. Warhead rushed downward to shield Cheryl from the blast, as Boumtje initiated the escape transport. Before Goldman could arrive, the three thieves had already vanished, along with their newly acquired prized possession.

“Tend to her… I need to find out where they went,” Goldman said to Warhead. With that, he was out of sight.

Electrolight came back after having received the distress signal. “What happened?” she asked, floating to the ground. Warhead, trembling and shaken stood up with Cheryl in his arms. “Seems like those scumbags got away, but not without sacrificing one of their own,” he replied. Electrolight examined the fallen woman. “Get her to the infirmary quickly, I’ll get this place cleaned up and back online.”
In yet another secluded area, filled with the darkness that falls each night, where one could scarcely be seen, and where the wind blows silently under the moonlight, the Infiltration Unit were discussing past accomplishments with their its employer.

“You did a fine job this time around, General.” A slightly pudgy, dark woman, with a low voice said. “Just trying to serve my country, ma’am,” he said. “This will be of great value, just in case the Justice Union ever tries to turn on the world…” the woman continued.

“Well, glad to be of service to ya, mayor, but I think it’s time for me to go my separate way…” Duke replied. Boumtje quickly stopped the escaping Duke with his bare hand, gripping his shoulder once again. “No you don’t. You signed up…you provide service for five years…five. No more, no less. If you want, you can go back to where you came from,” he paused, then continued. “You know, I think there’s a nice warm seat waiting for you back at the prison,” he threatened. Duke rubbed his shoulder and reluctantly obeyed the general’s orders.

“Just between you and me,” the mayor said. “Let’s keep this one a secret.”

Back at the Justice Union headquarters, dozens of workers were allowed back in to ensure that the main power source correctly functioned. Others tended to damage, while more sought to get the network back online.

“Any sign of the intruders?” Warhead asked. Goldman stood, in front of a small interrogation cell, with a blond-haired man sitting quietly inside. “No, just one inside man…he was the only one out of the line of duty during the heist, and the only one who did not cooperate with evacuation orders. He’s not saying anything…” Goldman explained.

“I don’t understand how this could’ve happened…” Electrolight said disparagingly. “Our security systems must be flawed…who can we trust now?” Large numbers of maintenance workers in green suits spread across the vast halls of the station corridors. Billions of unnamed faces were freely walking about tending to what seemed to be the tasks that they were ordered to do.

“That’s just the thing,” Goldman said. “We can’t trust anyone…”