Titans, Vol. 1 #40A

Hidden Agenda
Jesse Quick and Argent, shopping in their civilian identities, run afoul of the Apokalyptian, Mantis, and his insect army. Before the other Titans can respond, Garret Donovan's personal group of metahumans, The Favored, appear and help route the aliens. These are people whose metahuman traits actualized thanks to Apex, Donovan's product. They leave before the Titans learn much. So the Titans question members of Dark Nemesis, finally getting Scorcher to break and reveal their employer, Roland Lier. The Titans question him, and he begins to answer before realizing Troia is using her abilities to persuade him. He suicides, but they learn that high ranking people in government are concerned that Donovan has assembled his own crew of metahumans. Lier is a "fixer" who solves problems like that, and his solution involves the metahuman Thrust, who he has dispatched to kill Donovan. Jesse and Wonder Girl manage to subdue Thrust at the Apex building - which is empty, despite being fully occupied the previous day! This leaves them wondering what Donovan is up to. And, Omen tries to help Nikki, one of the D.E.O. orphans, and this causes an explosion!
Release Date: 2002