Eryk Davis Ester
Created from the Cosmic Legends of the Universe!
posted
The world has always needed heroes - people of wisdom, courage and valour. A quarter of a century ago, things changed, as a new race of super-powered humans began to be born, bringing new dangers and long-hidden threats into the light. Now, the world needs more than heroes. It needs a LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES!
Original post, stating the premise: Just an idea to play around with:
Reinvent the Legion as a 21st century (Earth-based) super-hero team. How would it work stripped of its futuristic sci-fi setting? What would the new origins of the characters be? What would the series be like? Should it be part of the mainstream DCU, or an alternate reality?
[ December 12, 2011, 04:38 PM: Message edited by: Reboot ]
From: Liberty City | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
Note, this version has been expanded by Reboot. The original post can be seen here
The Raines, a farming family from Kansas, were on holiday in the Carribbean. They had three children - Mark, the oldest, a rebellious loner; and the twins Garth and Eileen - or "Ella", as everyone called her - who were almost inseparable, and always suspicious of Mark.
One day, while the whole family was on holiday in the Caribbean, they tagged along with him, aiming to keep a watchful eye on him. Unfortunately, the batteries on their electric speedboat ran out. Using oars, they managed to paddle to a small isle nearby, where they found guardian robots, able to electrocute intruders, as they noticed when a small animal touched them.
Rather than questioning why such a small, deserted island needed such robots, Ella desperately suggested that maybe they could use them to recharge the speedboat. While they technically succeeded, all three received massive electric shocks which should have killed them. At the end, Garth and Ella were left in a coma, while Mark, panicking, took them to the mainland, dumped them in a hospital and scarpered, discovering that the shock had granted him electrical powers in the process.
They both spent weeks comatose, during which they were airlifted back to the USA. When Garth awoke, he found Ella still in a coma, and Mark gone. After being held a couple of days for further observation, he was discharged with a clean bill of health, before Ella had woken up. Alone for the first time in his life, he spent a few days sleeping a lot and kicking about the Raines farm, near Winthrop, Kansas, not talking to anyone, when he decided to take some of his anger at Mark out on a scarecrow in a remote field, and ended up blasting it with electricity. Amazed at this, he tested it out further, without telling his parents, and when Ella finally woke up the next day, a week after he had, he cautiously revealed his power to her when he visited her in the hospital. She tried to do the same, but, still weak, was only able to manage a few sparks, something which was a source of amusement to her brother.
That night, still alone in his room, he made a decision. Mark probably had the same power - who knew what he was doing or if anyone could stop him. So, when Ella was discharged the next day, she found he had packed his bags and was ready to leave for Metropolis in search of Mark, and despite her protests to either stay or take her with him, he maintained she was still too weak and left without telling their parents.
-------------------- The Semi-Great Gildersleeve - writing, super-heroes, and this 'n' that
From: The Stasis Zone | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
This version has been expanded by Reboot, with a nod to a concept originally introduced by Juan/Doctor One. Quislet's original post can be seen here
Irma Ardeen was orphaned as a young child, which activated nascent telepathic powers. When Checkmate, a US government black ops agency, started planning to recruit superpowered children from orphanages around the US, Irma was one of those chosen. After she accepted the offer, unaware of the consequences, she was handed over to Cadmus, Checkmate's scientific division, who - with the aid of STAR Labs, a private contractor - activated her potential with chemical treatment. In the blink of an eye, she found herself being able to hear and manipulate the thoughts of thousands of people. Thereafter, she underwent years of training, mediation and chemical therapy at their hands to help deal with her new power, having to live in the most strict isolation in the deepest part of Cadmus to avoid being constantly overwhelmed by the sensory overload - though a few voices still permeated though the Earth, helping to keep her sane.
Ultimately, she became the premier telepath at Cadmus, and one of the most successful subjects overall, which led Checkmate to recruit her into the active group. Unfortunately for Checkmate, thanks to the contact with her friends, she'd kept her conscience, and became more powerful than their psi-baffles. After she had begun to be used to spy on foreign dignatries and found it disgusting - as were the plans for the information - she "borrowed" knowledge from their computer science division, writing a virus to erase all trace of her from the Checkmate, Cadmus and STAR computers; used her power directly to achieve a similar effect in the minds of those in each place, and slipped away with several thousand dollars in cash and an air ticket to Metropolis while "cajoling" a Checkmate employee to take her to the airport.
-------------------- Five billion years from now the Sun will go nova and obliterate the Earth. Don't sweat the small stuff!
From: Boston | Registered: Aug 2003
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posted
Aboard the plane bound for Metropolis, Garth Raines encounters Rex Kline, a high school basketball champion from Braydon, MN, who was known back home as "Cosmic Boy" for his amazing feats on the court. What no one knows is that Rex and his younger brother, Paul, have amazing magnetic powers, due to their father's exposure to an experimental form an electromagentic radiation in the laboratory where he worked.
Rex's college scholarship was cancelled when Braydon was hit by an economic downturn. So, with the last of the money he's saved, Rex is flying to Metropolis to look for a job. On board, he and Garth spot two other passengers, a gorgeous blonde named Imra Ardeen and ...
-------------------- The Semi-Great Gildersleeve - writing, super-heroes, and this 'n' that
From: The Stasis Zone | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
Billionaire transportation mogul R.J. Brande, on his way home from a meeting with Bruce Wayne, with whom he discussed some revolutionary technology his company has developed based on a recovered boom tube.
But after thoroughly covering its tracks, Luthor Corp. has sent assassins to off R.J. and steal the technology for Lex Luthor.
While deplaning with her two new friends (and isn't that redhead a cutie?), Irma gets a mental image of what the assassins are about to do. She warns Garth and Rex, who use their powers to disable the crooks, who, of course, have no knowledge who their real employer is.
After heaping them with thanks, R.J. turns to his assistant and ward, Lorna Durgo (no Lorna Doone jokes, please) of Carthage, Mo., and says, "Get these kids names and numbers. I want to see them in my office first thing tomorrow morning. I see great things in their future."
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Meanwhile, a young woman of the European aristocracy is chafing under her mother's strict control. As daughter to the U.N. Ambassador, Tamara Wazzo (I couldn't use "Tonya", could I?) enjoys New York but longs for adventure and romance. Although her family had long practiced a branch of witchcraft which permitted them to become phantoms, Tamara has only used this power in the secrecy of her home. She believes she could use her abilities to help people, if only she knew where to begin - and could get away from her mother.
From: Café Cramer | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
After working late into the evening, Lorna Durgo has finally identified and tracked down the three "kids' names and numbers" and has arranged a meeting with R.J. for them at 10:00 AM the following morning. In order to accomplish this, she has had to put off tons of work that keeps accumulating on her desk.
Sighing at the long night that awaits her, she dials the phone to order Chinese food. As she places the order she gently strokes the latest addition to her "genie" lamp collection, which is displayed in the place of honor on her desk (reserved for her latest acquisition.)
As she waits for the restaurant employee to take her order, she sighs again and wistfully thinks "I wish I could split into three so I could keep up with all this work." There is a sudden, brilliant flash of light followed by billowing smoke, both of which combine to leave her momentarily blind.
As the smoke and her sight clears, she sees her reflection in the mirror across the room...but she's seeing triple! Or is she? Looking to her sides, she realizes that her wish has been granted by the magic "genie" lamp! There are now three of her!!!! She's triplets!
-------------------- "Hey Jim! Get Mon out of the Zone!! And...when do we get Condo back?"
From: Paragon City on patrol | Registered: Jul 2003
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The 16-year old boy loved his part-time job at the costume rental shop. He had always enjoyed disguising himself as somebody else, imitating voices and mannerisms to perfection. Was it the role-playing or the subterfuge that was so appealing? His father, an undercover cop, thought the boy had a great talent for disguise and deception - and encouraged him, teaching him the tricks of the trade. Reed Daggly planned to follow in his father's footsteps someday, although, at this point in his life, he didn't know if he wanted to put in the years required to be assigned to undercover work.
It was a slow Saturday afternoon at the store, and Reed spent some time looking through a newspaper. His attention was captured by a story about three teens who had saved a rich businessman...
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Well, there's also that offshoot of the Ute tribe that lived downwind of the U.S. government's Nevada Atomic Test Site, and got more than a normal dose of radiation. Fortunately, though, rare chemicals in their water supply diverted the particles into having nearly entirely benign effects, and the last three generations seem to have been growing bigger and bigger wings on their backs.
Nobody could take photos of these people, though, as the radiation in the area both made visitors sick and screwed up the film in their cameras. Still, one particular family had also gained what a particularly desperate reporter for the Enquirer mis-described as "psychic powers ..."
From: Starhaven Consulate, City of Angels | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
Note, this version has been expanded by Cobalt Kid, which also combined several posts by Proty.
Meanwhile, in Carlsbad, California, Jose Rimbaud paddled his surfboard out to catch the waves. All his friends heeded the reports that advised against surfing in the high storm surf, but "Surfer Jo", as he was known in the community, couldn't resist the swells. It was only there on the serene open ocean water that “Surfer Jo” could forget about the life he knew prior to Carlsbad and all the pain he had seen. There Jose was truly gone; so was even the “Surfer Jo” act. Joe was a strong swimmer, but this morning the waves were pretty strong even for him—causing him to misjudge a giant wave and be thrown down deep beneath the surface.
For a moment he's too disoriented to know which way is up. Swallowing some water, he thought for the first time that just maybe he might have made a mistake. Desperately, he swam for the light but something sucked him down. It felt like he was in a whirlpool as darkness surrounded him. GULP.
…time passed…
Joe awoke to find himself washed up, somewhere in a dank cave lit by phosphorescent fish. It stunk. It really, really stunk. He noticed the water is acidic and seemed to be eating away his neoprene suit. Climbing up on a pile of flopping fish, he tried to figure out just what happened to him.
***************
The crew of the Japanese whaler was excited. This would be the biggest whale they had ever caught! They chased it for over a day before they finally harpooned the giant creature and brought it to the surface.
"That's no whale," cried the Captain. "That's GODZILLA!"
Very little remained of the ship when the wreckage was found days later.
***************
The rescue ships searched the waters for days looking for survivors of the ill-fated whaler. So far they had only found three: one was near death, the other refused to say anything about what happened, and the third was obviously driven mad by the experience. All he would do is scream "GODZILLA" and hide beneath the covers.
They were just about to call off the search when one of the helicopters spotted a bizarre sight: a teenaged boy clinging to his surfboard in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. In the aftermath of its battle with the whaling ship, the dragon-like sea creature had disgorged young Jose Rimbaud, who thanked his lucky stars for his survival. Soon after, it became clear the experience forever altered the California surfer; as the Navy doctors who examined him learned, Surfer Jo was now the Boy with Ultra Powers!
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Sally Digby is the shy but intelligent daughter of a faculty member at Ivy University. There she befriends Professor Ray Palmer, aka the Atom, and learns of his ability to shrink in size. Without Palmer's knowledge, she repeats the same process that gave him his powers. Fortunately, there are no side effects and she is able to shrink to sub-atomic size with no problems. It is also there that she meets a prodigy by the name of Lyle...
From: Michigan | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
Quentin Docks was the fifth - and only successful - product of a designer baby program, code-named Brainiac, conducted by a black-ops division of Star Labs. The genetic manipulation raised the boy's intelligence far beyond that of any other human being, but he still lacked the social skills that developed throughout childhood. Both parents were totally absorbed in their work at Star Labs and regarded him more as a successful experiment than a child.
Quentin grew up on his own, with free reign to pursue whatever interested him within the confines of the premises, quickly surpassing the best scientists. The directors began to get nervous as the years passed and wondered if they could possibly control him as he reached his teen years. They began to look around for a way to unload the boy and wash their hands of whatever he might do in the future. Someone suggested the maverick R.J. Brande might be interested in hiring him....
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Zoe Saunders and her mother Azura are investigating some ruins in Western Europe. Zoe decides to bring up a subject that has been on her mind for a while: her upcoming prom back home in America, which will take place in six days, just enough time for her to fly back home, pick out a dress and line up a date.
Unfortunately for her, Azura confesses that she has forgotten about the prom completely, and as things stand now they have no way of making it back in time.
Distraught, Zoe runs off into the ruins. She can't belive that her mother has ruined her life AGAIN! Bad enough that she doesn't get to hang out with her friends anymore, but she has to spend most of her time in creepy, smelly places like this one!
Angrily, she kicks at an old, crumbling wall. Suddenly, the wall crumbles to dust, revealing a glowing pool of energy...
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Years ago, out in the windswept plains of New South Wales, Fred and Myra Kallor worked to put the final touches to their revolutionary gravito-scope, assembled near the massive Parkes Radio Telescope. Unbeknownst to them, a comet dragged to earth by the malfunctioning device was to have dire consequences not only for their project, but their infant son Tom...
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Tatiana Mallor clutched the book tightly to her chest as she struggled across the rocky beach. She hadn't expected the wind to pick up, but that wasn't too uncommon along this part of the English coast.
Everyone had told her that her grandmother had drowned in the ocean, but she knew better. That was impossible. Her grandmother Lydia Mallor had secrets, and Tatiana knew where she kept them -- in the book she now held. Lydia had been taken by the shadows.
Tatiana finally reached the line of caves. Someone long before her grandmother had marked one with a small sunburst, though Lydia had kept the groove fresh in the constant barrage from the blasting sea. Tatiana counted eight to the right and went in, letting muscle memory take over in the darkness.
She had been in this cave countless times and knew every rock. She wasn't afraid of the darkness. It wouldn't hurt her, but still -- shadows could be unpredictable. The familiar "ta-lok" of dripping water comforted her as she reached the spot she was looking for.
She pulled a candle from her pocket and set it on the stone table. She lit it and opened the book. She didn't know every word, but she knew enough to find the spell of communion. Lydia had always taught her that her ancestors were very important and that she could come to them in dire need.
Need didn't get more dire than this. Her grandmother had disappeared, leaving things in disarray. Her grandmother's house was going to be sold, and though Tatiana's father and uncle couldn't care less (they wanted the money), Tatiana knew she couldn't let this place of power go to someone who didn't know what he was getting -- or worse, someone who did. But she was only 13 and didn't know what to do.
So she read the words of the communion spell and waited. For a few moments, nothing happened. Then she noticed the small circle of light around her getting smaller, though the flame hadn't dimmed. She smelled her grandmother's perfume and snuffed the candle.
A familiar touch wrapped around her, and Tatiana knew her grandmother was with her. She could also feel other pairs eyes watching her, and she thought she heard a sniff of incredulity.
"Oh, Tati," Lydia's voice whispered. "The shadows took me away too soon. If only my sons ..."
"Grandmum! I knew they were lying to me! I knew you'd be here! Father is going to sell your house so he can buy us some stupid fancy flat in London! What can I do?"
"Hush, child. Everything will be fine. Do you think I'd leave this place totally without defense? I knew your father and uncle wanted no part of their destiny, but you, Tatiana, you and your cousin Gregory may be the greatest of us all."
Again, the snort.
"Greg? But he's only 10!"
"I know dear. Now listen closely. I have much to tell you, but this spell won't last forever."
Three years later, Tatiana lived in Lydia's large, rambling house with her parents, aunt, uncle and cousin Greg. Tatiana had returned from the cave with a will, leaving the property to her and Greg with no option for sale. One look in Tatiana's darkened eyes told her father and uncle this was not to be contested. They knew where she'd been, and as much as they had never wanted to believe it, they knew the family's ancient power had been passed along.
Reluctantly, they moved their families into separate wings. Provisions had been made so that her father and uncle could continue their business, while Tatiana and Greg learned their grandmother's secrets in a dark cave.
(Edited to fix duplicate name -- sorry, FC, I didn't look back on the first page)
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