Legion World Forums LEGION OUTPOST Mission Monitor Board The Office of Development (An Arm of Invisible Brainiac's Office of Security)

Kinetix looke with satisfaction at the arrangements. They were all done. It hadn't been hard to get Power Boy's support for this endeavor; their time on Rimbor had been a good test run (though it had led into an all out brawl, but they had also fed all the refugees there).

And so, the Office of Security would now work for the development of all UP Worlds by channeling excess resources from Legion World, and contraband confiscated from criminals. Anything which did not have an owner, or whose owners could not be traced.

Kinetix smiled as she turned to leave for the night. Tomorrow, they would launch the new Office. It felt great to really be doing some concrete, lastinggood for the universe.

Invisible Brainiac stepped up to the podium. Despite the sheer number of times he'd addressed huge crowds in the heat of battle, speaking in public during calmer times always made his stomach flutter.

"Hello, everyone. Thank you for ocming here today. The Office of Security has often been accused of taking a reactive approach to crime and disorder here on Legion World in the past. But with the inauguration of the Office of Development, we are taking our proactive stance one step further.

Numerous studies and experts have shown that many crimes are committed or abetted by those who need to fend for themselves - whether due toillness, hunger, poverty or simply a lack of opportunity. The Office of Development aims to take an indirect approach to fighting crime and reducing threats to Legion World by working with the United Planets to reduce the motivations for crime. We will act as the coordinating body for Legion World and the LMBPl funneling volunteers and excess resources to aid in the UP's major ongoing developmental programs. Never let it be said that the Office of Security merely suppresses crimes after the fact. Will it directly stop crime? Perhaps not. But we will definitely be making the galaxy - and Legion World - a better place."

Power Boy stepped up to the dais, regal uniform and cape as impressive as his super advanced physique.

"Thank you Invisible Brainiac." He turned to Legion World's press core, including Titanese and Legion liasons.

"The Universe has changed." He stared straight into the camera, the warrior lord of the Legion.

"In the wake of the Dark Oval war, star gates are down, planets are isolated, supplies, food, energy ... all these things we rely on are in short supply. More and more, myself and my team of Legion Message Board Posters must be off world, putting out fires or defeating the latest upstart criminals that take advantage of a weakened United planets and Science Police force. On many planets, poverty makes criminals out of hungry decent people. We will continue to defend the realm but long term measures are needed to stem the root of the disorder. I applaud and put my full support behind Invisible Brainiac's new initiative."

"The Dark Oval War took a heavy toll on the galaxies. We have all lost, none more than the Legion itself. However, we triumphed, we came together in our darkest hour and beat back the infinite hordes of true evil. We will conquer the instability of the United Planets as well. There will be some punching but there will also be much more ..... sharing, educating and helping our fellow sentient, so that we all can return to the Utopian United Planets we remember."


"Please join me in welcoming the new Office of Development."

Power Boy led the applause in Invisible Brainiac's honor.

(After a few moments ... no one noticed that Power Boy disappeared as quickly as he appeared, off to put down another insurgency in a far off part of the United Planets.)

Invisible Brainiac to Power Boy:

*********

Thanks for the support with the Office of Dev, Boss! Zoe's really excited to begin work, she's the perfect person to head the OD.

Oh yeah, here's the info you need on the insurgency. Follow these coordinates and you'll find the leader.

Have fun!

IB

**********

"All right, guys and girls," Kinetix spoke through the Office of Development's Monitor Board, "let's get to this. Let's show Legion World that we're not all talk and that future Chiefs of Security should totally keep the Development Arm going!"

She checked the maps. Blaze and Marvin to the ice world of Tharn, to set up a heating system.

Angdar and Cleome to Vyrga, to help preserve and cultivate a rare species of plant that would provide a nourishing source of food to the Vyrgans.

Invisible Brainiac was helping repair war damage on Kathoon; it had been hit just as hard as any U.P. world had been.

Kairos was meeting up with Special Officer Ralph to speak for a group of kids on the new Rimbor Development Center. She hoped it would help give THAT world a fresh start, at least.

Outdoor Miner, Frio and Caliente were on Aleph, using their powers to help excavate and preserve ancient ruins that had been found. Zoe smiled; she knew this new gem would boost the Alephian economy by providing more tourism.

Arachne was on Xanthu, helping fishermen on the reef cities repair their ships and nets. A freak storm had hit just a few days ago, and despite weather control's warnings they hadn't been able to protect all their ships. She understood; lives always came first.

Zoe thought for a moment. She really missed being on the field. She also missed being on Aleph; but then, Xanthu came first.

She headed for the hangar.

"Thar she blows!" yelled Marvin as he detonated his bomb. The ice underneath it cracked and fell into the crevice below.

"Wow," Blaze said as he peered into the pit. "Your bomb was just powerful enough to create a pit, and nothing more."

"I'm the best at what I do," Marvin grinned.

Blaze signaled the U.P. engineers along with them. "I'll keep the heat up high enough for us to work. Furnace installation can commence now!"

Invisible Brainiac's soft glow lit up the Kathooni wilderness. He was careful to mask it so the light only reached his own eyes; after a hard day's work helping repair Kathoon's capital, he wanted some time to himself.

The steep valleys were lit by luminescent plants that glowed like beautiful crystal beads. IB knew to avoid those; their lights masked deadly poisonous tendrils that would ensnare hapless animals and break them down into nutrients.

Instead, he hovered above the dark, silent world. He needed to think.

"That's odd," Kinetix whispered.

"What is it?" Invisible Brainiac asked. He was still on Kathoon.

"Tharr's been getting warmer. Slowly, but steadily. Even the Tharrians are becoming hard-pressed to deal with it - their cold powers protect them, but not always their equipment or food stores."

"Besides that, the forests on Vyrga are becoming rather overgrown, but for no discernible reason."

"And the seas on Mellorus are experiencing extreme underwater waves. Probably caused by seismic activity, which has never happened before."

"Doesn't sound like a coincidence," IB mused. "Keep monitoring the situation, and let's put together some teams just in case."

Frio patted her forehead with a handkerchief as she watched the scientists work. The heat of the Alephian jungle did not suit her, and neither did the mud.

Her sister Caliente, on the other hand, was enjoying herself perfectly. She'd dived into the work with gusto and was happily taking holos of all the bits and pieces they'd excavated.

She always was a little crazy.

She sighed and went over to Outdoor Miner. Here, at least, was someone who shared her views.

"Do you want to go in and get a cold drink, Miner? This humidity is annoying. I've already helped cool the area enough for everyone, but I can't turn my powers up any higher because we don't want to damage the statues."

"Well, what are we waiting for? If someone else asks me to 'port some crates back to the capital I'll stuff klegworms down their throat!"

Frio smiled. She turned to wave goodbye at Caliente, then blinked. Did that statue just...? No, no, it couldn't have. Must be the humidity.

"Let's go then. I think I really need a rest!"

"Hey Arachne, how are things going?"

"All good here, IB. Xanthu's fishing industry will be operational in no time. My webs are stronger than they look."

"As I so very well know," IB smiled. He marveled at how well their communicators could now link worlds. "Has the weather been acting up again lately?"

"Skies have been sunny. Puzzling, in fact. The storms came and went so quickly. Probably a climate control hiccup, but..."

"...I know. Instincts tell me something may be wrong. I think I'll send backup over."

"IB, we need to talk. Have a minute?"

"What's up, Zoe?"

"We're a little shorthanded at the moment. Lots of fairly minor disasters popping up on planets which can't afford full climate control yet. Nothing to major, and no loss of life, but still..."

"Yeah, with a large chunk of the LMB out with Power Boy and quite a few LMBers and allies helping out on Earth, we just don't have the numbers. Would talking to the UP help?"

"Please. You know those bureaucrats. It takes them three hours to decide what to order for lunch."

"Four, actually. Just wanted to run it by you. Okay, I'll see about gathering other volunteers. Maybe Paladin will let us take some students out on field trips, give them LMB exposure. And maybe some of the metas we met on Earth will want to check out new worlds."

"Thanks, let me know then."

"Sure. And Zoe, thanks. I know you'd rather be out there on the field instead of sitting behind a desk, and the work can be pretty overwhelming... But trust me, you're doing a lot more good that way."

Zoe smiled. She knew her worth, but it was still good hearing it said out loud.

"Thanks, IB. Knowing I could make a difference was the only reason I took this job."