2000 hours standard
Astra - Priya Oonja of Earth - weather generation
Immediately after being shown to her quarters on First Base, Priya flopped onto the large plush couch in the middle of the sitting room and called her parents.
The holo showed the tears on the mothers face and the streak marks on her father's that he had tried to wipe away. What was also fully evident was the obvious pride in both parents body language. Her father had the widest smile she could ever remember seeing.
They had checked she was okay, the Legionnaires were friendly and her apartment was acceptable. Her father asked if she had eaten, which Priya had laughed at.
"What about your brother? Will he be offered membership too?" Her mother asked.
Priya had two brothers; an older one that had left Earth a few years before to pursue a career in merchantile transport that the family had barely heard from, and a younger one that still lived with her parents while he attended college. She knew her mother meant her younger sibling; he was the apple of her mother's eye...
"Ramja needs to apply, mama. Though you know he doesn't like showing off and that's what he said I was doing when I applied... maybe I could see if the Academy will take him in and build up his confidence once he's finished school? Maybe we should ask him what he wants to do."
"Your brother is fine as he is, let him grow up a bit before you try anything." Her father said.
"Yeah..." Priya said, "let's wait 'till he's totally sure of what he can do before asking if he wants to go to the Academy."
It was forty five minutes later that the call ended. Priya promised her parents that she would call them the next night before she closed the holo down.
After they had gone she lay on her bed, giggling to herself.
There was only one thought going through the young woman's mind... a thought she never realistically expected to have:
She'd done it! Priya Oonja, the shy girl from Delhiopolis from that weird family was now a Legionnaire, a genuine definite flight ring wearing Legionnaire! ...Yippee!
...............................
2100 hours,
Kid Griffin - Alzubeccus of the Green Plateau from Zerrox - Mystic, 'skin walker' assumes form of a Griffin giving flight, strength, durability, heightened senses
Glorith and Alzubeccus had stepped through the spinning warp into the central Rec Room on Second Base together.
Glorith could see how wide his eyes were as he stared at their surroundings, drinking in the uncluttered walls, sterile lighting... She hid her smile, remembering how confusing she had found the Academy on Montauk Point when she had first arrived.
"Let me show you to your quarters, Squire Alzubeccus." she led him out of the Rec Room and away from their teammates.
He looked surprised, muttering that he assumed he'd be sleeping by her hearth. Glorith smiled and explained that there was no indentured servitude required as a Legionnaire. As they walked, she explained how lost she had felt as a Legionnaire initially, though had made friends with several of the team quickly and they had supported her. Alzubeccus was relieved to hear that the team would help him...
She mentioned how Danielle Foccart, a young woman, she said, whose mind took control of the intelligent artifices that worked beneath the cold metal skin of this small world, keeping it orderly for them, was now her dearest friend. He blinked several times as he struggled to comprehend what she meant by the ...imps or sprites or spirits or whatever they were that controlled this world, but nodded in agreement as he tried to take it all in.
The young mystic had known that travelling to the Technocrats worlds would prove challenging at times but as the Lady Glorith spoke he realised he had underestimated just how little he really knew... His reverie was broken as she spoke again:
"Place you hand here...." She indicated a shining square on the wall, "it reads your cells and will recognise you afterwards."
As they walked into the new Legionnaire's apartment, Glorith could see the look of wonderment on his face turn into a feeling of being overwhelmed as his mouth fell open and tears pooled in his eyes. His main room was decorated in colours of the forest, with shelves and small cupboards along two walls lined with a range of herbs and plants, with a small writing desk tucked into the corner. A fire roared in a large stone alcove, while an intricate tapestry showing the four continents of Zerrox hung on the fourth wall. Lighting was provided by a scattering of candles while a large patchwork couch with two side tables in the centre of the room faced the hearth.
"Is this okay for you? You can change anything..." Glorith asked.
"No! No, it is more than I have ever had before, it exceeds my dreams..."
"After you were accepted onto the team, I contacted Lady Mysa for advice on how to prepare your quarters..."
"lady Mysa? The Black Witch...?"
"Yes, she was once one of our ranks, and her sister, Nura, leads Hope World. Lady Mysa was my mentor after my Naming Day."
The young mystic stared wide eyed as he looked at the sorceress.
"Squire Alzubeccus, please sit." Glorith indicated the plush couch, which he dutifully walked over to and flopped onto.
"You must remember, you are a Legionnaire now. These legends and stories you have heard are just that... Stories. You will meet interesting people along the way, though none, not one, is worth any more than you."
They sat for a few minutes, staring at the fire silently before Kid Griffin got up.
"I'm forgetting my manners, Lady Glorith. Would you like a sweet tea? Ah... Actually... Where is the kettle so I can boil the water?"
Glorith gave a small laugh as she led the young mystic around his new quarters and introduced him to the wonders of technology... They both struggled with the auto-chef and laughed at their vaguely successful results.
They spent the next two hours discussing the strange tools that science called 'technology' as Glorith tried to pass along her own limited knowledge of how to interact with it.
As she left, Glorith of Zerrox had a revelation - she had not once thought of the winged spirit-talker Southern Lights! Perhaps, she thought, she should spend more time with the young man from the people called the H'Gol.
.................................
Midnight.
Pop! - From Drungara Four - flight, short range teleportation, extra-spatial awareness
The new Legionnaire had revelled in the attention he had received during and just after the Try-Out.
Once he had been shown to his apartment on First Base, Pop! quickly realised that he no longer had the social support he was used to on Drungara Four. And Pop! liked being sociable....
There were over three dozen missed messages stacked ready to play on his holo-deck but he ignored these. Surely, his rational went, tonight was a night to celebrate with his new friends?
A quick search of his flight rings database had directed him to Shakes bar where he found quite a few Legionnaires, tutors from the Academy, mature students and interns already relaxing.
Pop! knew he was going to enjoy being a Legionnaire far more than his former colleagues in the Inspirationals had said he would after announcing his intention to apply. It appeared that some of the Legionnaires liked to party as well... After several exotic and quite amazing drinks, many congratulations and offers of support, and even an introduction to the rather strange habits the Big Ones called 'dancing' and 'karaoke', Pop! knew he had found his people!
This time as a Legionnaire was going to be the best thing he would ever experience, he just knew it!
Pop!, the so-called teleporting terror from Drungara Four planned on enjoying every single moment of his time with the hilarious Big Ones.
.........................
Data-Mite - Enhanced Intelligence Operative 4-1479XHE of the Robotica Confederated Worlds - durability, agility, invisibility, manipulation of advanced technology
Early the next day 0200 hours standard
Data-Mite stood next to Danielle Foccart.
The Robotican had not spoken and neither had the young woman since it had arrived.
They both spun along the AI interfaces and connective quark pulses that linked the many technologies that ran the operations on the base.
Danielle was showing the new Legionnaire around... it was a tour unlike any other as their consciousnesses moved at light speed through quantum controllers into each section touched by technology within Legion World One.
At one point they encountered the Henry Matrix, though neither tried to access beyond the holo-man's personal firewalls.
As the strange pair surfed through the invisible technological matrix that kept their planetoid Base running, there was a shared feeling of discovery and delight.
.......................
Armoury - Nahal Dra Hume of Gontran Freeworld iii - Strength, reflexes, psychic creation of hand held weapons and shields
0730 hours standard
Nahal had been in the gym since 0600 that morning.
This morning, just like he had for the last ten years, the new Legionnaire woke at 0500 for meditation and to break his fast. And just like he had as he had for at least nine years, as he fought his way through the Challenges of the Champions, he went to the gymnasium immediately after.
He followed his flight ring directions to the central gym. There was no-one there. Nahal was surprised as he expected the Legionnaires to have strict regimes like he had to follow as he grew up on his distant home world.
He also felt quite happy about the peace and quiet as he was not yet sure how to operate much of the equipment and wanted the opportunity to figute it out, or at least try to before asking for assistance.
He was not used to AI interfaces or Gear's nanites creating whatever he needed in seconds after giving a description, but he very quickly grew to appreciate both. The young man knew that the Four-Fathers of his home world had never dreamt of technology this slick when they had set up their training camps. Nahal wondered for a moment if he would have progressed quicker to earn each of his rings if he had been given access to such technology... though, dismissed this thought as pointless as quickly as it arrived.
He asked the AI for a fighting stack, describing what he wanted in detail. With seconds a column grew up from the floor - three metres tall and a foot wide made from a stout wood, out of which several arms and implements sprouted. At his command it started spinning and moved towards him.
Nahal smiled as he quickly put on a blindfold and spun a small shield and a club out of the air.
The Huntress and Karate Kid arrived forty five minutes later. Their new colleague was involved in an intricate training routine against three combat droids.
"It seems he is almost as adept as you." Amynta said to the short martial artist.
"I do not recognise his style. I may ask him to join us so I can learn it." Karate Kid smiled, enjoying the prospect of using her innate skill to immediately copy the moves of an opponent.
Armoury left the gymnasium two hours later with an increased respect for the Legionnaires. He knew without the slightest trace of vanity that he had prodigious combat skills, but after training alongside Karate Kid and the Huntress, he knew - and was relieved to find out - that he still had so much to learn.
......................
Lady Midnight - Mernidra Hara of Mars - energy absorption and redistribution
0830 standard hours
Tyroc and Monica Sade were finishing their breakfast in the Viewing Station on Second Base.
Set next to the North Dockin Bay, Gear had opened out this space and fitted it with comfortable chairs and large round tables, with a holo deck in the centre and a transparent force field above so the diners could enjoy the enormous vista above the planetoid. As the room was almost twenty five metres along each side, the view of open space around them was spectacular!
It had become a popular place to take meals and generally hang out amongst the team and so was rarely empty. When Troy and Monica had arrived they were both happy to see this morning was one of those rare times.
As the serving droids cleared their tables Lady Midnight walked in and looked around.
"Mernidra, hey", Monica shouted over as Troy got up and pulled a chair out for her.
"You're a rare beast Troy, a gentleman and a Legionnaire." The new teammate gave a warm smile as she joined them.
Monica Sade laughed before adding "Don't let that thin veneer of polish fool you there."
"Now now ladies, no need to fight over me." Troy said with a laugh.
Monica and Mernidra both stopped smiling and gave the team leader a disapproving look.
"Yeah, like that'd ever happen." Sade said to which Mernidra quietly responded with "truth!"
Tyroc gave an embarrassed laugh and shrugged.
The two women exchanged a smile before Monica asked, "so, how was your first night? Is your apartment okay for you?"
"Yeah, well yesterday was a bit of a whirlwind. That bed though, I think it's the most comfortable thing I've ever lain on. I really didn't want to get up today."
"Oh, I know. Gear creates them after checking your physical scan results so they give maximum support and comfort. He's gotten real good at it."
"Ladies, I gotta run. See you later Mon," Tyroc got up from the table and gave his partner a quick kiss on the top of her head.
After he had left Monica asked Mernidra what her day looked like.
"All us newbies have flight ring training at 10, then from noon we're getting an official tour of all the bases from Brainiac 5..."
"Oh, deep joy... a day with Querl. That'll be fun..." Monica Sade regretted saying it with such obvious sarcasm as she saw the change in the other woman's face.
"Sorry, you're not used to our informally yet, are you? Don't worry, we do actually respect each other but sometimes we don't necessarily get along. We're like the biggest, most dysfunctional family... so many people from so many worlds and cultures, y'know."
"Don't worry, it's fine " Lady Midnight replied with a tight smile. Her eyes had lost their warmth though.
Monica Sade could see that it wasn't 'fine' and realised that her new teammate was still operating from an ingrained Science Police perspective of professionalism based on an almost military hierarchical approach - one didn't insult more senior or experienced colleagues.
The Rimborian Legionnaire hoped her new teammate would quickly lose her regimented expectations or she'd be in for a bumpy experience with some of her new colleagues.
Unsure what else to say, Monica gave a quick "Okay then, enjoy your day," and left.
After Monica Sade had left, Lady Midnight sat back on her seat. A small smile touched her lips.
Phase one was over, she was now part of the group, exactly as she had been tasked... it was time to begin phase two: gathering intimate data on the team and their resources. As one of Dev Em's covert Black Flag meta-team, she had been extensively briefed on exactly what was needed and she fully intended to get the necessary information as quickly as possible.
She smiled to herself as she gazed up at the inky darkness above and planned what she could do next...
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