Legion World Forums LEGION OUTPOST Bits o' Legionnaire Business What happened to Dream Boy?

A short story I've been working on for a wee while - as ever there are liberties taken - a few of the characters are from the Try Out short I wrote ages ago. Other than that I've tried to stick within the Threeboot universe. Hope you enjoy!

"Are you really sure you need to wear these clothes?" Val Armorr, the Karate Kid, holds up the offending articles in front of his face. It's an open chested tunic with three golden chains, flared trousers and boots made from Rol Purtha's favourite clouded material, a broad silver belt and his silver ornate Seers' armband.

"Absolutely, if I wear my normal clothes I won't really be getting into the swing of it, will I?" Dream Boy smiles a huge, well practiced grin as he directs this question to Karate Kid, but both of the Legionnaires present know that he is hiding something. Nervously betraying his lie, he continues.

"Yeah, you see it's the only time that I'll get a holoiday for... well at least a year and I've always wanted to see the Steam Beaches you know?" Unconvinced, Karate Kid grunts and turns back to his comrade.

There is a pregnant pause before Karate Kid continues, asking "Why don't you just programme another set into your flight ring?"

"Hey, flight rings! Sorry I forgot about that option." Dream Boy looks momentarily embarrassed, giving a big grin before continuing, "Umm well you see, ummm... 'cause somebody might recognise me anyway wouldn't they?"

The two legionnaires remain silent for another few minutes before Karate Kid smiles a very restrained smile that Dream Boy doesn't particularly care to intrepret, and asks "And tell me again why you are taking this ship rather than just Transmatting there?" This time he doesn't face his comrades, he continues to stare at the screen showing the minute calculations the Legion AI navigation system is making to project the most efficient Sub-space journey.

Dream Boy stretches in his seat and stands up.

"Okay, okay already. I have to be discrete, things are a little... complicated on Xanthu. I don't know everything but I do know that there are others who will be on the look out so if I go incognito I have a better chance of getting where I need to be and dealing with my business. If I were to transmat directly my bio-info would be a matter of public record then who knows we'd be there. Really Val, I have to be discrete. Okay?" He stares at first Karate Kid with a challenge in his eyes.

"And you couldn't tell me that before why, exactly?" Karate Kid gives a rare genuine grin as he asks this question.

Dream Boy grins as he replies, "Basic Precommando training, sorry. You never let others know everything you see coming as it might alter the possibiliy, and we don't want to enter chaos do we?" Both him and his comrade are smiling as the reply.

"Oh, before I leave I have to tell you Val that you must follow Trips, okay? You got that? Two hours from now you must follow Trips through the transmatter."

"Let me guess you don't know why?" Val Armorr grins shrewdly.

"I... no Val, I don't know exactly but it feels right."

Encyclopedia Galactica - "Xanthu, a brief history of the Astronomers Planet"

Settled during the early 25th Century Terran Diaspora by mainly descendents of Old Earths' northern African Countrystates under the Fau-Jenkins-Ohatu Planetary Terraforming Share Agreement, this world is situated right on the very edge of the Milky Ways spiral arm giving it's night skies some of the clearest views of distant galaxies. The Xanthi system itself has only four planets including the twin jovian class worlds, N'kutu and Mombassa which were rich in polidium, iron, iridium and silver as well as methane, nitrogen and oxygen, giving resources the early settlers desperately required for their technology allowing the terraforming of Xanthu and it's single moon, Lillith, to be successfully completed within a generation. It's nearest populated neighbouring system is Vyrga, consisting of Hive colonies. Although both systems are bound by a strict non-aggression pact there remains tension between the human settlers and the Insectovoids.

Xanthu has five continents, prosaically called North, South, East, West and Central by the early explorers. Both North and South are permanently under ice sheets with Nature Preservation Orders firmly in place on each resulting in very little development on either. Continent Central is where the current planetary government, main business centres and large population bases are situated. West is renowned for it's crystal mountains, steam beaches, Ghandi Gorge - the deepest valley in the system, and the last remaining native flora forests. East is mainly desert with small communities build along the coastline and the Great Eye, the early settlers first Astronimcal observatory in the middle of the central massif.

Although a staunch supporter of the United Planets Legislation, Xanthu is known as a liberal world in comparrison to many others. Public nudity on the steam beaches and general face to face social interaction are not seen as beyond the norm.
................................

Rol lands his Legion borrowed small one man warpship on one of nearly a thousand orbital platforms that ring Xanthu, registering as Rol Purtha rather than allowing the registration to be logged as the ships' Legion designation code number. After a brief private shuttle journey between the orbital platform and the Skycity of Marimor the Legionnaire stops to check his pocket map screen and grab a needed drink of un-recombatant Caffie from the lone diner on the otherwise empty floating station.

"So, where to now Dreamy Boy?" He asks the question aloud, knowing that his precognition has taken him this far and will guide him further as need be.

With the Legion phenomenum on Earth several planetary systems started to see the potential of investing in their own metabeing programmes. On Xanthu there was already a fairly high profile metahuman who some of the population called 'hero', Atmos. Prior to the Legion it would be fair to say he was at best tolerated by the state, but once the Tribune Rulers saw how the Legion could easily tip the balance of power within the fragile United Planets they started to locate the gifted and strange from their own and close by star systems, initially organising surveillance teams to keep these strange ones under watch. That all changed seventeen months ago when the then Tribune for Social Commentary was murdered by an unknown assailant who escaped unchallenged from the Tribunes high security Skyhouse.

Within three months the Xanthuan government had their own team led by Atmos ready to jump into action at a call. The media dubbed this newly formed group the Amazers. Even as they were ready to announce their existance to their world one of the members regarded as a potential leader for the group regened on their deals and left to join the earth based Legion. Thom Kallor had been approached by Rokk Krinn and decided his place was at the side of the Braalian. The Amazer programme was almost scrapped there and then, but Atmos persuaded the High Tribune to allow the group to be kept on and given a chance to prove their worth.

At present there are eight Amazers with a further twelve on the programmes payroll as these students went through the intensive training regime. It was expected that at least three of these twelve would become fully fledged members within the coming months, and the minister charged with overseeing the Amazer project was especially proud that three of these had been keen to join the Legion before becoming disillussioned with the preposterous infighting caused by the clashing egos of Cosmic Boy and Brainiac 5.

Yes, Captain Marvel, Typhoon and Reflecto were going to make grand Amazers, the minister was absolutely certain.

"So you're sure that was Dream Boy?"

"Of course I recognised him, you know what the boss is like for getting us to memorise all those bloody heroes faces. I went back for a second look and he was wearing one of those Naltorian armbands y'know, to show off his precog powers."

"Damn, if he's here then other legionnaires can't be far behind. He didn't see you did they?"

"There was only Dream Boy there, definitely on his todd, no other Legionnaires. I'm certain he didn't know I was there, so chill already, after all who pays attention to a beam of light?"

"Good. We better hope that shifty precog is alone, though if he's stupid enough to involve his friends then we'll just have to kill them as well as those Amazer losers. It's been nearly a year and this plan is finally coming to fruition, the master will be most annoyed if we fail here"

"Don't worry 'Slasher, cool you mechanical heart, we'll get our job done and be out of here before the Legion can interfere, though if it does I can guarantee we'll take them down along with this planets government. At no extra cost either, I'll kill them all just for the sport.Where's Mist Master anyway, I thought he was.."

"Asked you I have," a spectral voice says from the air in front of the Tamaran called Lazon, "Atmosfear to call me." Like the hologram of an apparition the shape of a Gil'Dishpan comes into view, it's assymetrical body less than solid but slightly denser than the air floating before the Tamarans face.

"Great, so if we're gonna kill the Legionnaire, I beg the honour." Lazon has a savage grin on his face, his eyes glinting with a feral glee.

"You can bide your time until I tell you to."

Both the sleek silvered four armed android and the young Tamaran turn around to face the screen showing the siloette of their paymaster. The mysterious Dark Man had been involved in arranging more assassinations and mysterious disappearances than anybeing in history. It was said he was the number one most wanted xenoterrorist in this arm of the galaxy. It was a role he revelled in.

"Between yourselves you should be able to handle anything the Amazers send at you but I'll send you a few more.. physical comrades to help you out just in case. They'll transmat directly to you within the next three hours so be ready, then we can finish our work here once and for all."

"We do not need physical comrades to help, I am more than a match for these puny meat and blood bags." The Silver Slasher Murder'Bot spoke quietly as the Dark Mans image faded.

The Slasher Murder'Bots were the creation of the Department of Correction at the order of the dictator Strangefel Maranana-Handersenn III in 2913 on the then breakaway continent of Africa on Planet Earth. Strangefel had an unhealthy obsession with seeing the blood of her enemies and in what has become known as one of the most disgusting weeks of the 30th century she unleashed her dozen Slasher Murder'Bots upon all of those whom she saw as political adversaries. The resulting bloodbath killed almost 329,000 free citizens. Men, women and children, Earthborn and alien alike. All who did not obviously wear the seven pronged star motif of Maranana-Handersenn's Progressive Liberty and Free Choice For All Party died in a three day orgy of blood, suffering and pain. The Science Police took a further two days to track down and destroy all but one of the Murder'Bots.

Strangefel Maranana-Handersenn III took her own life in her widely broadcast final speech. In it she thanked the United Planets for giving her the political lee-way to secede from the United Earth Government and settle the centuries old scores that had triggered her bloodbath.

The political fallout shook the foundations of Earth-Gov. Laws were quickly ammended and re-written to ensure that such a personal agenda or wanton damage would not be allowed on the planet Earth again. The stories that came to light in the following weeks of brutality, torture and ethnic cleansing on a scale not seen since the gas-oven atrocities of the brutal 20th century, and the steps that were being taken to support those who had survived these base actions totally eclipsed the story of the missing Murder'Bot. Most believed it must have been destroyed in a nameless skirmish. The scientists and designers who had been forced to work within the crenated walls of the Department of Correction knew better, the Murder'Bots had been desiged to survive and be ruthlessly efficient in their one goal! Thankfully for the peace of mind of the already shocked world population these terrified scientists were never given access to the Planetary Media-web to express their fears.

"This one." Dream Boy smiled as he spoke aloud to himself. "Pezo-morphic tech, that's not common." His eyes squint as he tries to make out any markers on the approaching Skyship.

The Tamaran woman had stepped out of the private shuttle and walked regally over to the planetary tubeservice station. Other than the small bag across her shoulder there was no sign that she was a traveller, she looked refreshed and at ease with her surroundings, her long auburn hair stirring in the evening breeze behind her. Her stride confident and loping like that of a recently sated wolf. Several people at the station were watching her, the Tamaranians elegant beauty catching their eyes, capturing their interest.

Dream Boy sat in the half empty tubeshuttle with his back to the woman he was tailing. Dream Boy was certain he knew when his quarry would be getting off so he had sat in silence for ten long minutes reading the info-news from the Xanthi System CommWeb.

"So," Dream Boy thinks, unsure where his second sight was taking him but trusting it to lead him to wherever it is he needed to be. He tries to condense the dozen or so pages of news he's just read, looking for a pattern that his rational mind could hold onto, "In the last year there's been seventeen assassinations within this sector and now all senior Tribune staff and any 'stronomer worth their salt are being kept under scrutiny. It certainly didn't help when the Hive spokesbeing from Vyrga made a public announcement that its planets government had sent it here to investigate some assassinations that had happen there. This could bring the High Tribune and probably this sectors fragile democracy down pretty soon if it isn't dealt with."

As is the way when Rol had a precognitive vision there was a moment when it felt to him as if the ground beneath his feet had somehow borrowed a little gravity from the surroundings making his body feel heavy and sluggish.

This was not the only reaction to this vision, it also chilled his blood.

An explosion above an industrial yard, an incredibly muscled green woman falling from the sky, a young man being litterally blown apart, a poisonous cloud around a flying man in silver clutching an unconscious robed figure, a four armed murder machine with fingertips like blades, two flashes of light twisting organically, a fight, screams, blood, his own blood arcing in the air like strips of a red rorschach print...

He shook his head to clear the vision, allowing his senses to return to the here and now.

None of his fellow passengers seemed to have noticed his momentary discomfort yet he was sure were any to have caught his eye they would have been aware of his sudden unease and the sheen of perspiation on his brow. Without drawing attention to the fact, Rol reached into the pouch on his belt and surreptiously drew his Pre-Commando extendable baton out, holding it by his side. Since arriving at the Legion's headquarters two months before he had only handled this once, in a brief sparring match with Shadow Lass. Before joining the Legion he had trained with it virtually every day for the last four years. He hoped his reflexes weren't dulled from his last two relatively lazy months.

The tubeshuttle had slowed to a stop. Without being told Rol knew that the Tamaran he had followed onto the transporter would exit. He stood at a seperate door and confidently strode out onto the platform without even a gaze in her direction. She is further down the platform closer to the exit stairwell. Rol can see her attention is split between finding the exit on this unfamiliar station and using a palm held device. Although he does not want to be too obvious in his curiousity he steals a glance at the silver and purple device in her hands. From it a small hologramatic image projects showing the buildings around in a pale green, a small red spot stands at the centre of the image.

In a moment of uncommon impulsiveness Pol approaches the tall woman an politely asks "Are you lost madam? Could I help you find..?" He trails off as her gaze suddenly shoots up towards a small craft in the air not far from them, the red dot on the hologram also moves he notices out of the corner of his eye. he turns to watch whatever it is that has grabbed her attention and sees the industrial vista around the station. With a precogs certainty he knows that in only a few seconds the peaceful sky will be filled with a deafening explosion.

The empath known as Psyche had picked up the trail.

With her were the Monstress and two of the more trustworthy trainees - Separator and Typhoon . They were silently watching their psychic teammate as she tried to focus. Sat in a circle around the central control console of their small mark iv Sheesbani Saucer cruiser they kept their thoughts to themselves as their discus shaped craft flew over an industrial zone of the city below. Even Monstress, normally the most talkative knew better than to disturb the concentration her comrade was showing. Psyche's slim fingers danced over a virtual control sheet, moving the ship slowly in ever decreasing circles.Psyche had been in her private Tower of Contemplation when she had sensed a distressingly troubled mind zoom past. At the scene of several murders in the last few months she had sensed a similar pattern on the aether, she was certain that the this was the assassins poisonous mind she could now feel. Rushing to the control AI port she had tried to get visuals of every passing aircar and freight vehicle but none of them had satisfied her. Only a sudden flash of light, gone before it could be focussed upon had troubled her. She called her teammates, most of whom had been in a meeting with the Minister of Meta Human Affairs, and requested their help in tracking this anomoly.

"The feelings... the rage... came from below us, I'd estimate about 40 metres or so." They looked at the visuals of below though all it showed was a small park, littered with exotic plants, carefully sculpted lawns and restful pools.

"Psyche dearest one," began Monstress in her usual husky musical tones,"the park is only 35 metres below, do you think that maybe whoever you sensed is underground?"

"No!" The Empath looked up with sudden panic, "They know..." Her words were broken off by a sudden explosion of light.

Afterwards, Rol realised, the fight had taken a brutally short period of time, though at the time with his andrenaline pumping and his senses straining he had no idea how long the incident had really been. With hindsight he admitted that this shocked his Naltorian sensibilities more than the actual violent event had itself.

The small craft had exploded in a ball of blinding light, ripping the clear sky with it's sonic howl. Just as he had foreseen.

The excessively muscled Monstress had dived straight for the ground 35 metres below landing with a gigantic crash. Just as he had foreseen.

The Separator's limbs had been blown off, but as they were cybernetic extensions to his body their internal AI's immediately sprung to full independent control grabbing the unconscious torso and using internal anti-grav mechanisms to gently float him to the ground then went into automatic defence positions around his vulnerable form. By then the Monstress was clambering out of the impact crater her crashing to the ground had created.

In the air above a man in a silver jumpsuit held onto another unconscious figure. Rol was to later learn that he had been watching the weather manipulator known as Typhoon with the Amazer empath Psyche. Out of the corner of his eye he had seen the Tamaran woman vanish in a burst of light.

By now he was running at full tilt towards the Monstress. She seemed to be struggling with an attachment on her belt, later he was to learn it was the Amazer Antigrav Buckle had malfunctioned. At that moment all he knew was that if he didn't get to her quick a silver skinned, four armed killing machine would try to behead her while she struggled from her self created hole in the ground. Above him he could hear Typhoon start to cough.

The poisonous cloud! Just as he had foreseen.

Rol shouted as he ran, "It's poisonous gas, hold your breath, get away from it!" Unsure if the flying man had heard he raced on towards he Monstress. As he approached her she raised her head, the smile on her face slipping as she saw an unknown man waving a baton raced towards her. As Rol launched himself towards her, screaming a martial arts cry, the Monstress instinctively ducked her head. She had not seen or heard the Silver Murder'bot launch itself at her back. The Murder'bot had not seen Dream Boy.

He had foreseen the lot. And he had foreseen his own blood!

The Baton he carried was a standard Naltorian Pre-Commando issue titanium alloy. Dream boy had been trained to always consider using the baton as the last resort, it had been designed to hurt whatever it hit. He smacked the Silver Slasher with all his might off the side of its face knocking it onto the ground with a ferocious crack and forcing it to miss its intended target. The Murder'bots preternatural reflexes allowed it to strike out at the flying Dream Boy even as it spun down, its' extended claws raking across his left leg, pulling gouts of skin and blood in a wide arc of brutalised red. As it crashed into the ground the Monstress struck with an almost casual blow, the murder'bot spun violently and flew across the air for twenty five metres before crashing to the ground and bouncing awkwardly.

Above their heads Typhoon had heard Dream Boys warning and was summoning a wind to cyclone around him with the last of his fading strength. He could actually see the air try to resist the increasingly powerful winds, a sight that would unnerve him far more than he would later admit. With concentration he focussed on the latent electricity in the air sending small bolts of furious lightning randomly into the sentient cloud entity. Within a few seconds he knew that whatever it was that had just come close to choking him was fleeing, the electricity had obviously worked as he had hoped. With one final push of concentration he flung the strongest wind he could risk while holding onto the unconscious Psyche after the fleeing presence. Later he never mentioned to any of his colleagues that he had thought he had heard the poisonous cloud scream a curse at him as it's tattered form was blown away.

If he had the strength to look above he would have seen an even more unbelieveable sight than the poisonous cloud that had shook him up so.

Two beams of energy seemed to spin around each other leaving retina burning trails glaring into the eyes of Dream Boy and the Monstress below as they stared in total disbelief.

The initial explosion that had blown the Amazer's craft apart had drawn a crowd of spectators and, in suprisingly short order, the local science police force. It was their arrival that ended the deadlock between the two spinning energy beams. As they approached in their gray bulbous craft one of the beams disengaged from the duel and flung itself into the oncoming SP cruiser.The resulting explosion spun the SP craft into a slow nosedive.

Without stopping to think Dream Boy raced to the Monstress, his leg screaming it's pain and almost buckling under him as the Slasher's cut bled out, and pushed his Legion flight ring into her mammoth hand. "Just think 'fly!' and point yourself that way!" He pointed towards the tumbling SP vehicle, only a hundred metres from the ground and the crowd below.

The momentary confusion and suspicion on the great green womans face dissolved as she understood what was needed, and she gave a low yet surprisingly childish laugh as gravity's grip fell away and she soared up towards the falling cruiser. The crowd gasped then cheered as the Monstress flung her great mass upwards and managed to slow the fall of the grey craft and with nary a bump lowered it on her broad back into a large vehicle park. She was certain that the SPs own insurance would cover the damage the cruiser inflicted on the few personal hover crafts that were rendered paper thin underneath it's bulk.

As the cruiser landed Rol remembered the Murder'bot and turned quickly but it had vanished.

Even as he was cursing under his breath at the enemies escape a flash of light suddenly flared above him and the tall Tamaran woman was at his side.

Gravely she said, "My brother has fled like a coward. He knew I would be honour bound to stay and offer aid to those he has attacked."

The Science Police medic had pressed a simple Stopblood patch onto Dream Boys cut leg before racing to help Typhoon and Psyche, both of whom were struggling between vomiting from the poison and regaining full consciousness. The Monstress had rather solemnly pressed the flight ring back into Rol's hand before breaking into a huge grin and almost knocking him clean off his feet as she patted him affectionately on his shoulder. Within minutes the Seperator had been re-assembled, Typhoon and Psyche had been ministered back to full consciousness and the four Amazers stood around Dream Boy and the tall Tamaran woman.

The Science Police discreetly moved the crowds away from the group.

"I guess a thank you is in order," the Monstress smiled as she spoke, "and maybe introductions?" She glanced at the Tamaran as she asked.

"I am Soland'r, Princess Regent of the Tamaran Eternal Crown of Stars." She says this with her chin up and as much regal bearing as Rol could ever imagine a being possessing, "I'm sometimes known as the Quantum Queen." Her small smile is coy, as if expecting an awed response from the group. She has too much grace to look crestfallen when the group aknowledge the title with nothing less than the most ordinary of recognition.

"It's an honour to meet you Princess Soland'r, I am Prince Sareen Augustus Ampeii III of the Ancient and most Imperial House of Hemmil-Gotha-Rex-in-Exile. Also known as Typhoon. May I have the priviledge of being the first to extend the thanks of the planet Xanthu for your aid." Typhoon had spoken hurridly. Dream Boy was sure that everyone present could see the longing in his eyes. Typhoon was trying to hide how smitten he was with the exotic princess and failing miserably.

As Typhoon and the Quantum Queen start to talk Psyche turns to Dream Boy, "You are still in pain, if you want I could help alleviate it." She is a small bald ageless woman with sea green eyes set deeply in a puckish face that, Dream Boy thinks it would be impossible to lie to. He has a sense of contained energy from her, as if she was coiled and ready to jump.

"Thank you but it is manageable, maybe later if it doesn't fade soon." He politely replies.

The trainee Amazer known as Separator starts to mutter, fidgetting with his hands. He is obviously hoping for attention but is not confident enough to speak out loud. Dream Boy hadn't really noticed before but as he watches the trainee Amazer he is surprised by just how young he appears. Maybe 14, maybe...

Psyche asks curtly, "What is it Separator? You have something you want to add?"

"Umm, it's my AI system miss Psyche, it thinks it knows where they've gone..."

The Quantum Queen and Typhoon were all for racing after the escaped villains and were obviously suprised when Psyche and the Monstress' calmer rationale prevailed. After checking exactly what the Separators system had told him they realised the sophisticated cybersystem would be able to track the Silver Slasher murder'bots' unique energy trail so there was no immediate rush to follow the villains with a less than full power team. The Science Police kindly gave the group a lift to the Amazers base, a steep sided spire with a flat circilar landing pad three quarters along it's length that jutted precariously over a magnificent rift valley that ran along the northern edge of Xanthu's main city. Below Dream Boy could see small ramshackled houses at the bottom of the cliff. Xanthu's poorest were literally at the bottom of the pile.

As they stepped from the SP ship onto the Amazer headquarters' landing pad Dream Boy became aware of the tension between Typhoon and Psyche, the weather manipulating trainee was obviously trying to persuade the adroit empath that the rest of the team would not be needed as, this time, they would be prepared. Just as Dream Boy was about to interupt and remind Typhoon that they were lucky to win the last round Psyche's eyes seemed to glow for the briefest of seconds and Typhoon immediately fell asleep. The Monstress and Quantum Queen both stared at Psyche whose only reply was "He can be such a tiresome boy." The Monstress casually picked the unconscious Typhoon up and tossed him gently across one of her broad shoulders. Her expression told Dream Boy of her own thoughts on the matter, and whom, in the Monstresses opinion was really tiresome. Dream Boy knew that this was not the time to comment on Psyche's manipulation of the trainees, her casual disregard for their dignity would eventually catch up with her. From his own experience within the Pre-Commandos he knew that it was pinpricks not principles that engendered treason among the otherwise loyal. He hoped she knew what the consequences of her actions might be or the Amazers could be over before fully realised.

Nothing more was said though the atmosphere became tense with a brittle feel as if one word would be enough to inflame an argument. Dream Boy realised that the Amazers were not as unified as the Legion, their groups structure was not set up to be flexible. He supposed that this was in hindsight to be expected as this group had not been created around an altruistic movement, it was an extension of a military body, monitored and controlled through political machination. Personalities were given no room to bloom within the Amazers as they were amongst the Legion - otherwise Ultra Boy would never have lasted as a legionnaire Dream Boy thinks shrewdly, or Brainiac Five for that matter! - this organisation was run more as a case of 'do as you're told and be grateful, or else.'

Dream Boy was ushered into an elevator that rose swiftly until it stopped in a large cylindrical room with a circular table. The walls were of polarised glass showing magnificent views on all sides, the sky begining to turn to a darkened purple, clouds made of rusted colours slowly huffed along the horizon above the still hanging line of the suns' yellow light. Even as he stood admiring the splendid vista he knew that this serenity would not last for too much longer. As they waited for the rest of the Xanthu team an auto-doc drone examined and applied a green salve to Dream Boy's painfully throbbing cuts. It only took a few seconds for the aneasthetic to ease the pain he was very grateful to notice.

Atmos arrived. The Amazer's leader was easily over two metres tall, a striking figure with his red mohican haircut and disturbing sculpted body shape. Dream Boy had, of course, heard of and and seen footage of Xanthu's first meta-hero but the effect of being in his prescence was startling. Dream Boy knew without having consciously being told that Atmos must have had a low level psionic skill to affect him so easily.

Psyche and Atmos spoke in low voices, their faces serious as the conference room filled with Amazers and their trainees. Dream Boy knew most of them by reputation though was pleasantly surprised that there were a few he had no idea about. One of the trainees seemed to hang back behind his comrades as if conciously trying to avoid Dream Boy's gaze. Of course he had been recognised as soon as he had strutted into the room but Dream Boy thought that it was not the right time to talk to Reflecto, the young man who had previously shown an incredibly unhealthy and ultimately destructive interest in his predescessor in the Legion, Nura Nal.

Psyche called the meeting to attention, the room suddenly quiet. All eyes were on the empath as she made introductions for Rol's and the Tamarans' sake. Atmos, the Monstress, James and Jazmin Cullen - the Kids Quantum, Insect Queen, Atom'X and Particon making up the fully fledged team. The trainees were studiously ignored by the full team except for the Monstress and James Cullen, both of whom seemed slightly uneasy by the lack of full introductions.

Psyche had effectively summarised the team's brief skirmish with the xeno-terrorists that they suspected were part of the so-called League of Super Assassins.

Atmos had ended the talk by picking a team to tackle the suspected assassins - Himself, the Monstress, Atom'X, the Seperator and Psyche. Almost as an after thought he motioned to the Quantum Queen and Dream Boy to join the assault team "in an advisory capacity". Typhoon and the Tamaran Quantum Queen had been laughing quietly as they shared some small joke while Atmos had been speaking but at this last remark the tall Tamaran turned her full attention the the Amazer's leader.

"I shall not agree with your plans, it is my right to do whatever I feel fit in the search for my brother." Her chin was up in an easy regal manner, her manner showing she expected no reply other than agreement.

"Listen sister, while on my planet.."

"You will honour my diplomatic status, and that of my brother as well, as all staff of this planetary government are honour bound to do under the Scinogle Accords and Dellanith Agreement of 2770." The gaze she levelled at Atmos would have withered a forest with it's cold contempt.

"If you had been listening to Psyche and me while we were discussing the problems we expect while dealing with your darling brother and his murdering friends rather than chatting like a schoolgirl with that trainee you'd.."

"Like all heirs of established royal families I am well aware of whom I was addressing while you and the staff were chattering your plans. This is Prince Sareen Augustus Ampeii III of the Ancient and most Imperial House of Hemmil-Gotha-Rex-in-Exile. His family has ruled in one form or another for over well fifteen hundred years, most recently terraforming the once lethel enviroments of Albion 4 in 2640, and until the Great Tin Mine Strike of 2944 they ruled that noble system most justly and wisely. So Atmos of the Xanthu Amazers, I am well aware of this ones providence and who he is. I have no idea of what you are though."

The silence that followed was brutal.

It was an inconvenient moment, Rol thought later, to be shaken by a strong prophetic vision though it was most probable that Atmos had been grateful of the distraction as Dream Boy collapsed onto the tiled floor.

Thirty seconds later, the Amazers standing around him, Dream Boy knew he had to make Atmos listen to reason.

"There are more than three of them now Atmos."

"There are more than three of us Legionnaire." The last word had been steeped in scorn, a dismissal.

"I'm a pre-cog, you will lose if you don't take more of your group.."

"You are a pre-cog, but I'm the leader here."

"How can you be so suicidal? You. Will. Lose! Psyche and Atom'X will be murdered and you will be blinded, permanantly blinded." Dream Boy refused to be cowed into submission by Atmos so he took a step closer to the Amazer's leader and pointed his finger towards Atmos' eyes in emphasis. Aware that the warning he had given Atmos was false Rol knew that he would have to be brutal to get the angry Amazer to listen.

"If you are such a great pre-cog how come you didn't see this happ.." Atmos swung his arm in a wide arc, hand open to slap Dream Boy soundly around the head. The Amazer leader had had just about enough of outsiders making demands of his team, and he intended to show the soft looking Naltorian pretty boy exactly who was the boss here. The next two seconds were possibly more humiliating to the pride of Atmos than the previous dressing down by the Tamaran Quantum Queen. Dream Boy easily ducked under the swung arm, allowing Atmos to become slightly overballanced before he casually flicked out a foot sharply catching the Amazer behind his left knee. Atmos collapsed with a crash but was back on his feet in a split second, anger written across his face in a red blush, eyes squinched to murderous slits, fists crackling with barely supressed energy.

"I'm a fully trained Pre-Commando Atmos, short term visions for hand to hand fighting are my speciality." Although he said it with his chin held up and stern eye contact Rol was, he would later admit openly, terrified of what Atmos was capable of inflicting on him. Limited precognition was fine and dandy but super strength, speed and nuclear bolts were in an altogether completely different league.

The Monstress stepped between them with casual speed.

"Now dearies, you really, really don't want to get me involved, do you?" Although her question was said to both Dream Boy and Atmos the edge was definitely tipped towards the Amazer. "I'm sure it won't hurt us to listen to our Legionnaire friend's advice now, would it?"

Atmos turned and strode across the room, his feet stamping with each step as if to mark his anger and embarassment onto the floor.

"That was amazing! You totally owned Atmos!" The words are whispered into Rol's ear by one of the trainee Amazers. He didn't turn to aknowledge it, aware that he might not have been the only person present who had heard the praise. This organisation would not tolerate those kind of views and Dream Boy had no urge to have Atmos' anger transfered onto the speaker. It was very doubtful a trainee would get away with sending their leader to the ground in a comedy prat-fall without very serious repercussions.

Dream Boy walked back over to the Amazer's leader, right hand offering a shake.

Atmos grudgingly accepted. "I've seen a giantess with the Silver Slasher murder'bot, and a being made of granite as strong as your Monstress. We need to make sure we take them by surprise and all their escape routes are blocked or you probably won't get a second chance."

"What else did you see?" Psyche asked. Dream Boy was aware of a warm sensation behind his eyes as if someone were prodding. The empath was trying to influence him! Well she was in for a surprise as all Naltorians were trained from their first vision to keep their minds under control, a survival technique utterly necessary when ones consciousness can uncontrollably flit between time.

"I see you trying to manipulate me, I strongly advise you to stop!"

There's a momentary flash of anger in her eyes before her smooth answer, "I was trying to relax you Rol, you are aggitated and tired. Truthfully, all I was trying to do was gently relax you so you can focus on advising us about your visions." He can see she is telling the truth and feels the blush rise to his cheeks.

"Ah... Sorry, as you said it has been a very tiring day. My apologies Psyche, you are right, I do need to relax a little." The empath smiles her understanding and asks him to tell of his vision.

"I saw a giantess gripping that trainee," Rol points to the pale young man wearing green, black and navy.

"Dragon Mage, right."

"But she was being held in place by the Kids Quantum, they affect motion and pockets of time, yes?"

"Good, the Kids Quantum will be there, what else Rol?"

"I saw the Monstress fight toe to toe with a.. a man like a block of granite, ummm, he was huge and it looked like she was having a hard time, sorry. I saw all of us present there except for you, you, you and you three," he points to a group of the trainees, "... And I saw... I saw one of us die."

A profound silence followed, Rol knew better than to tell the person and was thankful that no-one asked.

"So you fled. Normally I would have you punished for such cowardice but in this occassion... hmmmm. Your comrades will be with you within the next few minutes, though I warn you now that if the Amazers strike at you again I will not be pleased if you do not report their successful execution." And with that the holo of the Dark Man vanished.

Lazon looked furious but did his best to hide his emotions. The Slasher Murder'Bot scraped her bladed fingertips against each other in frustration. Only the ethereal Gil'Dishpan made no outward sign of it's disappointment. After escaping from the Amazer's unexpected attack the Assassins had fled to their secondary base, set up just in case their primary base was compromised.

The Slasher had reported their current status to the Dark Man, well aware that he would not be pleased. It's android brain had been re-programmed by the Dark Man's tech-lackeys and there were no doubts that it would tell their master exactly what had happened. Lazon had been particularly annoyed by this but knew better than to ask too many questions. They were all well aware of how close they had come to being captured and while the UP and Xanthu had long abolished the death penalty the members of the Dark Man's League of Assassins could be fairly certain that the Dark Man would see to it that they would not survive long if they were caught.

The transmatter buzzed and through it walked a tall muscular woman, red hair and purple and torquoise battle armour making her a striking sight. "Hey losers, you need a bit of a hand eh? I'm Titania of Big City, here to save your soft asses." Her arrogance and flippant disregard for the members of the group present irritated Lazon. Here was a team mate he wouldn't particularly care if the Amazer's got their manacles onto. Lazon had worked with this annoying woman before and knew that her savagery and shrewdness would be a great help if they did encounter the Amazers again.

Behind her there lumbered a massive being, looking for all the world as if he had just been carved from a granite cliff face. This was a new member of the group. "I'm Blok, I am here to assist you." His voice was low and rumled like the start of an avalanche. There were quick introductions before the final member arrived.

Lazon was horrified, the Slasher almost struck out, Titania flinched, Blok said "How is this possible?" and even the normally unflappable Gil'Dishpan that Lazon had christened the Mist Master seemed to shudder in the air around them.

Before them floated one of the most brutal and unpredictable beings in the known universe. "I am Neutrax, we have much to discuss..."

The team was split into three groups. Atmos, the Monstress, Atom'X and the Tamaran Quantum Queen took the information from the Seperator's AI controlled cyborg limbs for tracking the Silver Slasher murder'bot and hopefully the entire villainous team to their lair. Their role was to direct an attack at the League, divert them from the other members sidelong attacks and hopefully take out as many of the rogue team as quickly as possible.

Dream Boy, Psyche, Particon and three trainees, including Typhoon and Reflecto were to follow the first attack group, their added number would hopefully be enough to subdue any League members not incapacitated by Atmos' teams initial attack. Dream Boy was aware that it would be best if he could somehow have a private conversation with the trainee Reflecto, the awkwardness between them would definitely be noticed soon and Rol had no urge to embarrass the trainee, he only wanted to ascertain exactly how stable Reflecto might or might not be.

The Kids Quantum led an aerial force of the Insect Queen and the young man wearing a green uniform with a dragon motif whom Psyche had named the Dragon Mage. Their job was to stop any of the League from escaping. With Dream Boy's warning the Kids Quantum knew they would need to deal with a particularly savage giantess, the others he saw were on edge, eager to get started. Rol found it difficult to maintain eye contact with James Cullen, knowing what he did about what the future held in store.

Their three airships rose quietly off the Amazers launch pad and in seconds they were en route towards a fight with an interplanetary group of villains. There was a feeling within the group that when they were very successful and had subdued the League of Super Assassins it would be the making of the Amazers reputation.

Dream Boy spoke to the trainee that was sat nearest to him, a small muscular green skinned girl with large dark eyes and beautiful long shimmering hair. She had a compact nervous energy that showed with quick darting eyes and a nervous chewing of her inner lip. She politely introduced herself after a swift wary glance at Psyche. The trainees were obviously not encouraged to fratenize with outsiders. Well, thought Dream Boy, that's easily fixed with a smile and a bit of formal ignorance of that rule! Her accent was musical with rising lilts at the end of each sentence making it sound as if she were asking questions. Dream Boy recognised the accent, she was one of the Many Folks of Ancient Uluru, decendants of the Terran Australian Aboriginies who had settled onto a particularly tough world of large desert continents amidst stormy seas. The trainee was obviously part of the bio-engineered sea living section of that society, the so-called Surfer Dudes. Whatever a 'dude' was...

"I'm Taylaskott, though they've given me the name of Lamprey, after the fish you know? I can breathe in water and am quite strong but the... ah talent that let me join is I can convert absorbed energy into electricy, you know, like I suck it out of an opponent then zap them back with it. A total double whammy!" She seemed equally eager and nervous Dream Boy thought, keen to please and afraid to offend. He gave her a big smile and complimented her on her range of useful abilities.

"I wanted to be a Legionnaire originally but, you know, with all that infighting between Cosmic Boy and Brainiac 5... well when I heard about this group being formed I decided to come here instead."

"It's a shame how passionate people can lead their peers astray, even with the best of intentions eh? Still, it's good that you are not letting other peoples disagreements stop you from having a constructive career." Dream Boy could see Psyche give a small grin as he complimented the Lamprey. Whether or not Dream Boy agreed with the Lamprey's feelings towards the Legion he understood that to challenge them would not help.

"I also thought I wanted to be a Legionnaire but that was before I too saw sense." It was the first time Reflecto had spoken to Dream Boy, his words thick with challenge.

"Of course." Dream Boy's bland reply.

From the corner of his eye Rol could see Psyche's smile became a frown.

With their ships on stealth mode they arrived at their destination within five minutes. At first glance it appeared that they hovered over a hundred hectares of well tendered Arutien-wheat fields. The golden stalks were swept and swayed with gentle breezes, giving the appearance, Rol thought of the Amazer's ship hovering over golden rippling seas. The ship that Psyche pilotted hovered low to the ground and they got out, allowing the auto pilot to lift the ship out of the projected combat area. Dream Boy stood beside Lamprey and Particon, Psyche took Reflecto and Typhoon a few hundred yard away, both small teams getting prepared for action, Atmos' team would blast their way into the Assassins' base hidden just underground any second and then, as Rol was well aware from his vision, all hell would break out.

3... 2... 1...

BOOOM!

The ground exploded fifty metres from where they were stood as Atmos, the Tamaran Quantum Queen and Atom'X focussed their energies onto a single spot above the point where the Silver Slasher Murder'bot's trail led from within the stealth field of their Amazer saucer ship. As Rol focussed his visions into the next few seconds in readiness for this fight he started running full speed towards the gaping hole in the ground that had been blasted apart, as the Giantess exploded upwards, her anger and desperation turning into a howl that shook the ground. The Silver Slasher Murder'bot jumped from the now gaping hole in the field, landing facing away from Rol as he ran towards it. He was aware that Particon and Lamprey were not too far behind him, and that Psyche's team would join them swiftly in the fight.

A streak of light shot away through the sky, quickly followed by a sibling beam; the Quantum Queen would not let her brother escape this time.

The Giantess had grabbed the trainee known as Dragon Mage in the air above the ground skirmish before the Kids Quantum could contain her within their stasis fields, just as Rol had foretold. The caught trainee, the Dragon Mage was summoning a spell to contain their opponent that manifested itself as a great winged reptile, coiling itself in tighter circles around the assassin. That was one Assassin who would not be escaping easily!

Behind the Silver Murder'bot rose a humanoid body of granite, arms wider than Rol's torso and, as Rol ran to confront the Slasher, the Monstress dove from the sky to crash into the stoney Assassin. The resulting 'boom!' was heard kilometers away and all those present at this fight would have ringing in their ears for days.

As the Slasher turned to face Rol he swung his Precommando baton, fully precognitively aware that the Murder'bot would try to stop the blow. As the Silver Slasher struck out at the baton with two of its' four clawed hands Dream Boy kicked with all his might into its' midrift knocking it off it's feet, Particon slung an energy barage into the struggling Murder'Bot's face and the Lamprey jumped onto it with a battle yell, her hands then entire body glowing with absorbed energy before she discharged this newly absorbed energy with one almighty blast back at the Slasher. It stayed down, smoke streaming from its' damaged face, neck and chest carapace. The smile on Lamprey's exhaused face could have lit a city block.

Psyche's team were not faring nearly as well.

The Gil'Dishpan known as Atmosfear had reached them invisibly within seconds. It had recognised Typhoon as the Amazer trainee that had almost made it lost cohesion in their first encounter and intended to make sure that would not happen again. At the very last moment Psyche had sensed its' approach but was not quick enough to act before the poisonous gaseous form had caused her to voilently throw up, at her side Reflecto was also unable to effectively move for retching. Typhoon, aware of what they were probably facing was trying to summon a wind to strike at their gaseous foe but could stir nothing more than a breeze before doubling up as he started to choke on his own bile.

"Lamprey, I need you to trust me, you have to take the deepest breath you can manage and run over to Reflecto, absorb what you can from him and release it into the air around him. that should be enough to disrupt the poisonous cloud. Once you do that get Psyche to wake up Typhoon, he's the only one who can stop that assassin from reforming and killing you all. Okay? Go on then..."

The trainee looks at Dream Boy with incredubility before swallowing air in two big gulps and racing over to help her fallen team mates as asked.

Meanwhile Atmos and Atom'X were also in great trouble as they tackled the sixth of the League of Super Assassins. From out of the blasted hole in the wheat field rose a terrifying site, suspended within a transparent sphere there sat a huge mass of pink flesh like matter that superficially resembled a mammalian brain and nerve stem- it was one of the so-called Brain Globes of Rambat! The incredible psychic energies neutralised both the Amazer's abilities and anti-grav buckles rendering them both effectively useless against their floating nemesis.

"Right Particon, we need to take out that Brain Globe and quick before it neutralises' your teammates ability to breathe, you up to the task?" Rol's question obviously annoys the Amazer. The flinty look given as a reply said everything Rol needs to know. Between the pair of them they would be able to deal with the Rambatian criminal, though a small part of his mind still wonders why he was unable to foresee this part of the battle.

The Brain Globes of Rambat were not, contrary to popular belief, highly intelligent brains from a super evolved race from beyond the Milky Way.

Instead they were the surviving fragments of a huge singular organism that evolved on the largest moon of a Jovian gas planet that circled the star Rambat. This organism grew on a satellite slightly larger than the Earth's singular moon where it flowed across the surface as a sea of gelatinous life, completing a circuit around the moons circumference in approximately 80 Earth days. It has been estimated from the fragmented records available, to have been roughly the two thirds of the size of the Mediterranean Sea on Old Earth. It lived by sucking a few minerals from the rich terrain and gasses from the thick atmosphere, and most importantly by absorbing energy directly from the solar radiation that would otherwise scar this small satellite world.

In mid 2706 a survey ship from the then expanding Khundian Empire investigated the Rambat system. Previously this small star with only three planets - each gas giants, had been neutrally placed between the static United Planets and the expansionist Khundian Empire. It's status as a 'neutral system' had kept both from investigating it further for fear of offending their mighty neighbour. It took the scout ship seventy two hours from entering the system to discover the being.

With ruthless efficiency the Khundian commander ordered the dissection of this uniquely singular organism. For the equivelent of eight Earth days the Khunds had their sport with the being; cutting, lasering, blasting and, it was reported even eating the flesh of the huge being with a barbaric gusto. One of the few recorded facts that has emerged from the Khundian Empire is that the Khundian commander had ordered that small dissected parts of the creature be parcelled up into small storage globes for its' now many parts to be examined upon the ships return to the Empire proper.

The creature had evolved without any natural predator so had no natural defences - so instead of fighting, poisoning or fleeing it reacted in an until then unforeseen manner - it screamed! As the Khundian race are by nature entirely psi-blind they were unaware of the huge psionic potential of the creature, or it's mental cries of pain their actions were generating that were alerting a goodly portion of nearby space to their cruel actions. Four ships sent from the United Planets Psi-Tech Outreach Programme were the first of many psionically aware groups to arrive on the scene after the Khundian massacre. First Contact Protocols were abandoned as both telepathic technicians within each of the UP ships were overcome by the tremendous pain that the Rambat Brain, as the creature was at then point known, blasted it's emotions across the psychic aether. The Khunds had by this time retreated to the systems' asteroid clogged Oort cloud.

The records of what followed have been lost, if indeed they were ever truly recorded as UP protocol dictates. It has been suggested that the enormous psychic strength of the seperate sections of the once mighty creature overpowered the UP crews and in an act of alien instinct it wiped the memories of what followed. The first known record of these Brain Globes are recorded in the personal log and recovered black box device of a UP diplomat's personal ship found adrift almost 3 light years from the Khund Exclusion Zone, 4 light years from Rambat's sun, in 2781. It would be a further 30 years before there were any confirmable sightings of these strange creatures and not until 2902 that a telepathic conversation was recorded and the creatures had told their victim that they were the remains of the now legendary being from the Rambat system.

From the recorded information available it is known that these beings seem to be entirely a-moral, either unaware of other's dignity, or unable to empathise with other races. It has be supposed by quite a few scholars that the Brains have only acted in a way that they were first treated by the Khunds so believe that their actions are a Galactic norm. It has also been supposed that as the original being on the lonely moon was a uniquely one-of-a-kind it never adapted to life with other living beings present so has no standard to which it can judge others.

Other facts known about these creatures are that they possess highly skilled psionics abilities - telepathy and levitation being the most obvious, though there are records of the Brain's being able to neutralise energy fields. They are listed as one of the most dangerous beings ever encountered by the UP, their unpredictable nature and amazing abilities giving them a red level 'Do No Approach' rating.

There is also a incredibly huge reward available from the Xeno-exploration Department of Rachman Heinstein's University of Xanthu for one of these beings to be captured alive and brought to their laboratories for study.

Particons energy bolt deflected off the Brain Globe that called itself Neutrax, scattering rainbow hues into the air like oil sparkling across still deep water. Dream Boy shared the Amazers gut fear for this creature, their reputations were horrific and he had to admire the bravery that his new comrade showed as bolt after bolt of energy struck its encasement.

Rol could see Lamprey discharging electricity around her crouched form dissipating the poisonous cloud that had felled Psyche, Typhoon and Reflecto. He hoped that they would soon be able to help him with the floating monstrosity from Rambat. As Particon had been delivering the energy burst Rol had flown above the Brain Globe, taken a deep breath and, Pre-Commando combat baton fully extended he dived headlong into the fray.

Atmos and Atom'X were both still out for the count after falling to the ground as the BrainGlobe had neutralised their anti-grav buckles along with their natural abilities. The Kids Quantum and the trainee called Dragon Mage had successfully caught the Assassin giantess and Monstress was busy exchanging seismic blows with the granite being. This fight had thankfully moved several hundred metres away from the area that the others were battling in. The Tamaran Quantum Queen was nowhere to be seen, chasing her errant brother. The only member of the group who was not either unconscious or engaged in combat was the Insect Queen. She had been flying around the Giantess but as it was apparent that her team mates would be able to deal with her without her aid she had decided to find someone else to help. She saw Dream Boy and Particon begin their attack though through the spectrum of dispersing energy was unable to see their target. She dove behind Dream Boy as he launched his aerial attack.

Several hundred feet above the Insect Queen, the Kids Quantum exchanged a glance, their opponent was twice bound within their stasis fields and held by the trainee Dragon Mages' spiralling serpentine spell. The siblings could see that their gigantic foe had resigned herself, her struggle was over. Having neutralised the immediate threat they looked to see if any of their team mates needed their help.

"I'll go help them." Said James, his sister nodding her agreement as she concentrated on maintaining her quantum hold over the gigantic Assassin. Like an Olympic diver James plunged downwards, arms spread out, heels together, facing the ground as it rushed towards him, a feral grin of glee upon his young handsome face.