Legion World Forums LEGION OUTPOST Bits o' Legionnaire Business Homecoming (Onevision)

Note - These events take place several months before the announcement of the Wedding of the Century.

After the end of the Dark Oval war, a flustered Invisible Brainiac had difficulty adjusting to the limelight. By publicly proposing to Blaze, he laid the groundwork for a cover story that he would be touring the galaxy with Blaze. Instead, the two headed to Earth for a vacation and a fact-finding mission. The purpose was to see how badly Earth had been hit by the Dark Oval forces, and to see how it was recovering after being liberated from the Corporations of Earth in the the Gold Watch.

I should note that developments depicted as taking place on Earth here are based on my own imagination. This story is set in a fictional future.
**************************************************************

The blue sphere, crisscrossed by white, hung in the vastness of space. Invisible Brainiac and Blaze held hands as they flew towards it.

"I haven't been here since the Corporate Takeover," IB breathed. "I wonder just how much has changed?"

"I bet a lot more than the intelligence reports indicate," Blaze said. He shivered. "I barely remember what it was like myself."

IB cuddled up closer to Blaze. "We've been talking about seeing our world forever, but now that we're here I'm getting cold feet. I thought I wouldn't, with you beside me, but..."

"I know. Hey, I'll be by your side always. And your light powers can keep us from being recognized, at least."

IB nodded. "I know. We could keep ourselves invisible the whole time. Hopefully we'll be able to resist the temptation to draw attention to ourselves..."

Blaze and IB clung to each other as the blue sphere grew larger and larger in front of them.

"Welcome home," Blaze whispered.

"Was Earth ever really our home?" IB asked.


****************************************************************

Index of Locations visited - Arranged by continent, and then alphabetically. Continents are Africa, Asia, Europe, Asia/Europe (Turkey and Russia), North America, Oceania, South America. Target is to include the 193 United Nations members, plus Greenland, Kosovo, Taiwan, Vatican City and Antarctica. I may end up visiting some countries twice.

Although geographically in North America, Greenland is included under Denmark as it is not yet a politically independent sovereign state.

Africa

Algeria - The M'zab Valley
Angola - The Central Highlands
Benin - Grande Marche du Dantopka
Botswana
Burkina Faso - The Pan-African Film and Television Festival in Ougagadougou
Burundi - Lake Rweru
Cabo Verde - Boa Vista beach
Cameroon - Sangha Trinational
Central African Republic - Sangha Trinational
Chad - The Ennedi Plateau
Comoros - Mount Karthala
Cote d'Ivoire - Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve
Democratic Republic of the Congo - Kifuka
Djibouti - Lake Assal
Egypt - The Valley of the Kings
Equatorial Guinea - Annabon Island
Eritrea - Nabro Volcano
Ethiopia - The Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela
Gabon - Crystal Mountains National Park
Gambia - The Stone Circles of Senegambia
Ghana
Guinea - Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve
Guinea-Bissau - The Bijagos Islands
Kenya - Maasai Mara National Reserve
Lesotho - The Mohale Dam
Liberia - The William Tubman Residence
Libya - Leptis Magna
Madagascar
Malawi - Lake Nyasa
Mali - Timbuktu
Mauritania - Oualata City
Mauritius - The Seven-Colored Earths of Chamarel
Morocco
Mozambique - Lake Nyasa
Namibia - Skeleton Coast
Niger - Agadez
Nigeria - Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove
Republic of Congo - Sangha Trinational
Rwanda - Lake Rweru
Sao Tome and Principe - Boca de Inferno
Senegal - The Stone Circles of Senegambia
Seychelles - Silhouette Island
Sierra Leone - The Old King's Yard
Somalia - Zeila
South Africa - Robben Island
South Sudan - The Upper Nile
Sudan - The Upper Nile
Swaziland - Pine Valley
Tanzania - Serengeti National Park
Togo - Koutammakou
Tunisia - Kerkouane
Uganda - The Tombs of the Buganda Kings
Zambia - Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe - Victoria Falls


Asia

Afghanistan - Bamiyan
Armenia - Echmiadzin
Azerbaijan - The Mud Volcanoes of Gobustan
Bahrain - Beit Al Qu'ran
Bangladesh - Sundarbans National Park
Bhutan - Paro Taktsang (The Tiger's Nest)
Brunei - Bandar Seri Begawan
Cambodia
China - The Summer Palace in Beijing
Georgia - Gergeti Trinity Church
India
Indonesia - Borobudur
Iran - Takht-e Soleyman
Iraq - Kurdistan; the Hatra Ruins
Israel - Jerusalem
Japan - Kiyomizu Dera
Jordan
Kazakhstan - The Baikonur Cosmodrome
Kuwait - The Arabian Desert
Kyrgyzstan - The Silk Road City of Balasugan
Laos - Luang Prabang
Lebanon - Ouadi Qadisha and the Forest of the Cedars of God
Malaysia - Poring Hot Springs
Maldives - Rangali Island
Mongolia - Karakorum
Myanmar - Bagan
Nepal - The Ancient City of Bhaktapur
North Korea - The Demilitarized Zone Memorial (a fictional future location)
Oman - The Buraimi Oasis
Pakistan - The Biafo Glacier
Palestine - Jerusalem
Philippines
Qatar - Khor Al Udeid
Saudi Arabia - The Empty Quarter
Singapore - Merlion Park
South Korea - The Demilitarized Zone Memorial (a fictional future location)
Sri Lanka - Sigiriya (The Lion's Rock)
Syria - Kurdistan; Aleppo
Taiwan - Carp Lake on Mount Liyu
Tajikistan - The Pamir Mountains
Thailand
Tibet - The Potala Palace
Timor-Leste - Atauro Island
Turkmenistan - The Doorway to Hell in the Karakum Desert
United Arab Emirates - The Al-Ain Oasis
Uzbekistan - The Silk Road cities of Samarkand and Bukhara
Vietnam - Halong Bay
Yemen - The Socotra Archipelago

Asia/Europe

Russia - Yakutsk
Turkey - Cappadocia


Europe

Albania - Berat
Andorra - Grandvalira
Austria
Belarus - The Mir Castle Complex
Belgium - The Stella Artois Brewery
Bosnia and Herzegovina - Moster
Bulgaria - Melnik
Croatia - Dubrovnik
Cyprus - Nicosia
Czech Republic - Pilsen
Denmark (and Greenland) - The Ilulissat Icefjord; Elsinore
Estonia - Tallinn
Finland - Kuralan kylämäki
France - Mont-Saint-Michel
Germany - The Romantic Road
Greece
Hungary - Hortobagy National Park
Iceland - The Golden Circle
Ireland - Blarney Castle
Italy - Venice
Kosovo - Sopocani Monastery
Latvia - Ventspils
Liechtenstein - Gutenberg Castle
Lithuania - Gediminas Castle
Luxembourg - The Valley of the Seven Castles
Macedonia (Former Yugoslav Republic} - Monastery St. Pantelejmon
Malta - Mdina
Moldova - The Dneister
Monaco - The Grand Casino
Montenegro - Old Town Kotor
Netherlands
Norway - The Lofoten Archipelago
Poland - Wieliczka Royal Salt Mine
Portugal - Monsanto
Romania - The Citadel of Sighisoara
San Marino - San Marino
Serbia- gracanica Monastery
Slovakia - Barjadev
Slovenia - The Skojcan Caves
Spain
Sweden - The High Coast
Switzerland - The Museum of the International Committee of the Red Cross
Ukraine - The Dneister
United Kingdom
Vatican City


North America

Antigua and Barbuda - The Beach Resorts of Antigua and Barbuda
Bahamas - Lucayan National Park
Barbados - Bridgetown
Belize - The Great Blue Hole
Canada - Toad River Valley
Costa Rica - The Stone Spheres of the Diquis
Cuba - Havana
Dominica - Champagne Reef
Dominican Republic -The border between Dominican Republic and Haiti
El Salvador - Playa El Esteron
Grenada - Seven Sister Waterfalls
Guatemala - Tikal National Park
Haiti - The border between Dominican Republic and Haiti
Honduras - Lake Yojoa
Jamaica - The Underwater City of Port Royal
Mexico - Chichen Itza
Nicaragua - Isla de Ometepe
Panama
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia - Soufriere Volcano
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines - Black Point Tunnel
Trinidad and Tobago - Scarborough
USA


Oceania

Australia - Uluru
Fiji
Kiribati - The Phoenix Islands
Marshall Islands - Bikini Atoll
Micronesia (The Federated States of) - The Ruins of Nan Makol
Nauru - Nauru
New Zealand
Palau - The Palau Shark Sanctuary, Jellyfish Lake
Papua New Guinea
Samoa - The Mount Matavanu Lava Fields
Solomon Islands - Kolambangara
Tonga - Vava'u
Tuvalu - Funafuti
Vanuatu - Mount Yasur


South America

Argentina - Mount Champaqui
Bolivia - Salar de Uyuni
Brazil
Chile - Rapa Nui (Easter Island) National Park
Colombia - Las Lajas Sanctuary
Ecuador - The Galapagos Islands
Guyana - Kaieteur Falls
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname - Raleighvallen Nature Reserve
Uruguay
Venezuela - The Historic Center of Coro

Antarctica

The Phoenix Islands, Kiribati

Earth

IB lay back in the sand and tried very hard to relax. It shouldn't be difficult; even with the present day realities of interstellar travel, the Phoenix Islands remained isolated due to their protected status. They were the first and only UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kiribati, a fact that the people made known with great pride.

Or so he'd heard on the message boards he'd read for research. He and Blaze hadn't actually seen another human being since landing in the beautiful archipelago, except for two guards playing cards.

Beside him, Blaze yawned as he stretched in the shade. "Mmmmmmm. I missed this. The soft sand, the chirping of seabirds, the warm sunlight giving you a sexy tan... I am so glad you picked this deserted island!"

IB smiled as he sat up and looked at Blaze. "I just love seeing you all so relaxed. And I'm gonna give you a backrub, and sing softly to you so you'll fall asleep..."

Blaze smiled as he raised his arms and folded his hands behind his head. "Aw, you are so sweet..."

"... and when you're asleep, I'm gonna wake you up with some ice from our cooler!"

Blaze opened his eyes and scowled. "You really don't want to let me relax, huh?"

"It's my fault," IB chuckled. "This is supposed to be a fact-finding mission, but I chose a fairly isolated spot so we could... I don't know... really wrap our hands around being here. By all accounts, the Corporate Takeover parceled up Earth into sections similar to the sovereign nations at the beginning of the 21st century. We have to tread carefully, as the reinstated Earthgov hasn't quite established itself yet."

Blaze frowned. "Good thing you've been reading up on your 21st century history then... is the Corporate Takeover the reason why there are so few people here?"

"No, this has always been a protected area. More for the sea than for the actual islands - the Kiribati government didn't allow diving back then even though the underwater life is reportedly stunning. I guess if you're a small island country, you really take pride in what you can offer. Which, admittedly, is a lot!"

"And since we have our powers, we could probably take a dive without being caught and without disrupting the ecosystem, right?"

"You read my mind," grinned IB. "I did some scouting while you were asleep, and you would NOT believe this coral I saw. It looks just like Angdar's helmet. And there's another one that looks like Emily's hat..."

Raleighvallen Nature Reserve, Suriname
Earth

"You really know how to keep me interested, baby," Blaze grinned as he ducked under a pendulum-shaped nest. "One day we're swimming in crystal clear seas, the next we're watching weaver birds in their natural rainforest habitat. And because most of the Suriname locals live on the coast, we've been undisturbed so far."

"And toucans, and macaws, and monkeys, and deer, and the cock-of-the-rock..." IB counted the animals on his fingers.

"Don't get smug," Blaze wagged his finger. "Just because you can sneak up on them unseen doesn't mean... Whoa."

Blaze stared open-mouthed. IB followed his gaze and smiled. "That must be the Voltzberg, the spectacular granite mountain hidden in the rainforest. Surprise!"

"It's amazing..." Blaze breathed. And it was.

IB smiled as he held Blaze's hand, and the two stared into the mountains in the distance.

The Golden Circle, Iceland
Earth

"Catch me if you can!" Blaze laughed as he dove off the top of Gulfoss, or the Golden Falls. "YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

IB chuckled a she followed suit. He would never have thought of trying this when he still lived on Earth, but being able to fly made taking risks a lot safer, and a lot more fun.

He let himself feel the chilly spray of water as he flew after Blaze, whose flying was definitely improving. Blaze followed the path of the falling water almost perfectly, flying in parallel with it while not getting soaked. IB did the same, thankful that their transuits could be adjusted just so - enough for them to feel some of the cold outside, but not enough to get themselves wet. He didn't quite like the idea of turning into a human popsicle.

As they neared the bottom, Blaze smoothly curved back up with a laugh. "Don't slow down," IB called. "I'm gonna catch you if you do!"

"You know I can't go too far, or your powers won't keep me invisible," Blaze pouted. "Tell you what, let's go head over to Strokkur. I heard it sprays more water than a Super Moby Dick does on Raltvee. What did you say, it erupts every five minutes, right?"

"More like five point eight, so if we miss this it shouldn't be a big problem," IB grinned. "And if we hurry, maybe we can reach Þingvellir National Park in time for the Iceland Parliament's photo shoot! Oldest continuing parliament on Earth, so they say!"

"Then what are we waiting for? Catch me if you can - and no fair cheating!"

The Ennedi Plateau, Chad
Earth

"I never knew sandstone could be so beautiful..." Invisible Brainiac whispered. The sandstone arches around them were rocky and uneven, but they had a rough glamour about them that had captured the imaginations of explorers for over a millennium. Perhaps it was the way their reddish surfaces glinted in the sun.

"I guess since this is one of the most remote places on Earth, stands to reason this would be relatively undisturbed," Blaze pointed out.

"It's a good thing we humans haven't destroyed it yet, huh?" IB said.

"Yeah... which makes me think. Baby, we're supposed to be here on a fact-finding mission, right?"

Blaze paused as IB just stared straight ahead. But he could sense IB's hesitation.

"So why are we sticking to places where there are no people?"

IB turned to look at Blaze, his mouth open. But he couldn't quite find the words to explain why.

Bamiyan, Afghanistan
Earth

Invisible Brainiac stood in front of the recess in a mountainside that once housed a Buddha. A very large Buddha. Even Hrun's ship would be able to fit in this space that once housed a single statue. "The ruined Buddhas of Bamiyan," he whispered. "Destroyed by the Taliban more than a millennium ago. It's disgusting how hatred and bigotry won the day there."

Blaze stood silently beside him, still worried. Ever since he'd asked IB why they avoided crowded or inhabited areas, IB had seemed not quite himself.

"When the Corporations took over Earth, they of course made sure no radicals would be free to disrupt their rule. So they paid off hired guns to hunt down all those militants - the Taliban, Al Qaeda, the Abu Sayyaf. They wiped them all out."

Blaze grunted. The Earth Corporations had been scum, but those terrorists had not been much better.

"Still, even wiping them out couldn't restore the gigantic Buddhas that once were here," IB said softly. "Just like bringing down the Corporations couldn't undo the damage they had done to Earth. Not instantly, anyway."

Blaze put a hand on IB's arm. "Is that why...?"

"daa tsəshay di?" came a call from below. IB reacted quickly and grabbed Blaze. He turned them both into light and flew up into the sky.

Isla de Ometepe, Nicaragua
Earth

As they rematerialized, Blaze stumbled onto the soft volcanic ash they landed on. "What...?" he asked, confused.

"Isla de Ometepe," IB replied. "The twin volcanic islands of Nicaragua. Even now in the 31st century, still mostly uninhabited except for coffee plantation workers."

"Honey," Blaze said, not even bothering to brush himself off. "Why did you get so spooked? I mean, I know we don't want to be seen, but you could have just made us invisible. Why?"

IB fell silent as he scooped up a handful of ash. He let it flow through his fingers, watching it wordlessly. Blaze stood there and waited. He knew IB would talk in due time.

As the last of the ash fell through his hand, IB spoke. "I'm not sure how to explain it myself. You and I both had painful memories in our pasts on Earth. But yours ended early on, and once you found the Order who gave you your powers, your life was much better. As for me..."

IB fell silent again. Then he looked Blaze squarely in the eye. "Humor me, okay? When I was younger it was always my dream to see Earth. But circumstances made it so I never got the chance, until now..."

Blaze nodded, and held IB's hand. They shimmered, and then vanished yet again.

Above Livingstone, Zambia
and
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Earth

Invisible Brainiac waved his hand, and the sheet of photographic paper he was holding suddenly manifested a picture of the scene below him.

"Sometimes I wish I had the power of sound as well," IB said. "Light alone can't capture the grandeur of Mosi-oa-Tunya... The Smoke That Thunders." He shivered involuntarily. "Even with our earplugs on, that name sounds very descriptive."

"Want me to turn the heat up?" Blaze asked. A corona of fire surrounded him. He had been keeping both of them warm through the colder climates they traveled through.

"Thanks," IB smiled. He began to descend, and Blaze followed him.

"How much do you know about the Corporate Takeover of Earth?" IB asked.

"I read the case files..." Blaze said quietly. "I know that they somehow infiltrated Earthgov with their agents, causing them to turn Earthgov into a corporation... and that they bought it."

"That's right. And then they subjugated Earth's population, making themselves wealthy," IB's voice was pure venom. "And they caused Earth to suffer for nearly a dozen years."

"But Cobie and Timberwolf and many of the old-time LMBers brought them down," Blaze added.

"That's right," IB said. "Lolita conceptualized the plan. Spellbinder, Faraway Lad, EDE, Vee, and Greybird were in on it." He closed his eyes and leaned back as he felt the spray of water hit him. Victoria Falls had the largest sheet of water of all waterfalls on Earth, and IB reveled in it. He took his shirt off, just feeling the water on his body. Energizing him. Cleansing him.

Blaze followed suit, and he sighed as the water fell on his body.

IB hovered in the air lying down, and Blaze joined him. as they hung in the air and enjoyed the water, IB spoke. "I was in on it too."

The Mir Castle Complex, Belarus
Earth

The Mir Castle Complex was damaged badly more than 6 times over four centuries," IB said as he and Blaze walked up towards the large red-roofed castle. "But it was eventually reconstructed almost 400 years after it was first built. And I believe Earth will recover as well."

"It sounds like you never lost faith in Earth," Blaze said as he snapped a holo of the large complex. "Is that why you helped Cobie?"

"Partly," IB said, staring straight ahead and drinking in the magnificent sight. Many of his teammates couldn't see why, but he really appreciated these ancient structures. They were just so grand, and to have been built in a technologically "backward" time... "Part of it was because I was guilty."

"But... many of us fled Earth when the takeover was happening. Even many LMBers did..."

"But not many of the LMBers were from Earth," IB said. His fists were clenched now.

"Many still were," Blaze said softly.

"Not many had the power to fight back," IB said a little more harshly then he had intended. "Don't you see? Maybe I could have stopped the takeover."

"You couldn't have... you would have been ground up!"

"That's what Cobie said. And Lardy. And so many others," IB said. "I don't know if I believe it. I had just discovered my abilities a few weeks before. I had mastered the art of invisibility, but when my photonic powers first showed... I had trouble controlling them. So maybe I would have made things worse. Maybe. But sometimes I still feel like I could have done something."

IB's hands were shaking now, and so was his voice. Then he breathed deeply. "No sense wishing now though, huh? What's past is past..."

Blaze nodded as he stood closer to IB. "Let's go enjoy the view from the roof, and then maybe you can continue telling me all about it later. I can see it's quite a lot for you."

Lake Yojoa, Honduras
Earth

"Did the man speak Interlac well?" IB asked as Blaze came jogging up to his perch on the east shore of Lake Yojoa.

"No," Blaze said as he handed a beer to IB. "But I didn't have a hard time at all."

"So you haggled like we discussed? And he barely haggled back?"

Blaze nodded as he took a sip. "Wow, this beer is amazing! The taste is so... so... wow."

"D&D Brewery has been operating in that place since the 21st century," IB said thoughtfully. "I read the family that runs it kept it going more as a hobby and as a form of art. But the added income was invaluable during the last dozen years... What you observed means that the populace has yet to fully recover. Education wasn't a priority during the takeover, and the people's entrepreneurial spirit was greatly eroded. Time was you wouldn't have been able to shave more than a centicredit off the price, and the shopkeeper would likely have talked you into buying a couple of extra bottles..."

"I guess they just really need the money?" Blaze said as he snuggled against IB. Overhead, a colorful macaw landed on a branch as the sun continued to set. "I don't think the economy would recover that quickly."

IB nodded as he finally took a sip of the beer. "At least the quality of the brew is still top-notch."

Which gives a good indication of how hardy Earthers are.

Karakorum, Mongolia
Earth

The silent walls of the ancient city founded by Genghis Khan towered in the night. The air was dry and cold, and Blaze and IB snuggled together on top of the temple they were perched on. IB felt like he understood now why the ancient Mongols had been feared so. To be able to survive and thrive in this environment meant they were hardy indeed. IB stared silently at the long shadows cast by the intricately carved temple roofs. He could appreciate the shadows more because there was little else around to shorten their forms. They were almost literally in the middle of nowhere.

"So even though the capital is far more advanced, many people still chose to stay here because of the historical significance?" Blaze asked.

"And pride," IB added. "In fact, the city's population seems to have grown in the last year. The freedom brought about by the repurchase of Earth has shocked much of the population. Their once smaller worlds - the Corporations heavily regulated "important" news - have suddenly been thrown wide open. Most people are clinging to the familiar."

Blaze looked at IB. "Is that why we're still avoiding people? This is our first city, and we're here in the darkness of night."

"I'm afraid to... I don't know. I don't know how they would react. Not only to obvious foreigners - even with my powers disguising us, we don't know nearly enough about Earth's current situation to interact with them - but to Earth natives who fled Earth."

"Why? Many would have done so if they had the chance."

"... I just have a gut feeling. It took so long for us to come back, and clearly they're not yet getting enough aid. The UP has sent help, but it's not enough..."

"The UP has its own problems. We just fought a massive war."

IB stared silently at the shadows playing on the stone turtles guarding the city walls. He shivered, but not just at the cold wind. "Somehow I doubt they would see it that way."

Annobon Island, Equatorial Guinea
Earth

Shells of ships and machinery lay glinting in the sunlight all around the barren landscape of Annobon. Once sturdy and efficient, these ancient metallic behemoths were now riddled with holes brought about by rust in the humid environment of this tiny island.

Blaze pointed towards an outpost in the distance. "Could you please magnify that bit?"

Invisible Brainiac complied, and Blaze whistled through his new "telescopic vision". "Even the outposts are rusted. How long ago did the oil run out?"

"More than 900 years," IB said. "The once corrupt and oppressive government of Equatorial Guinea was unable to hold onto power after the oil reserves ran out. They desperately dug up the rest of the seabed, but found no more oil. Guns for hire left, so the government was forced to deal with some large corporations. Unfortunately for the people. I think Equatorial Guinea was one fo the first countries to become dominated by Gold Capital."

Blaze shook his head. "I guess for this country at least, being under the dominated Corporations was a good thing."

"Things did get better," IB said. "You know our own homeland, the Philippines, was not much better off in the early 21st century. But we pulled through by the middle of the millennium. Earth saw a major increase in the middle centuries because of increased cooperation between the nations, and while people did not become truly rich, they at least had their needs met and had freedom as it happened."

Blaze looked confused. "I thought there was no such Golden Age. Didn't Earth development stagnate until the birth of the United Planets in the early 30th century?"

"I..." IB frowned. "Yes, you're right. Of course. That's why these shells of machines are still here. Equatorial Guinea and Gold Capital tried hard to keep looking for oil, but found none. They dug up much of their territory to no avail, so they were forced to rely on fishing."

"I can see why you were confused, though. Hard to imagine they spent so many centuries looking over and over for oil that wasn't there."

IB became silent. It didn't seem to add up. He made a note to check on regional history later on. Turning to Blaze, he sighed. "I guess we should fly around and see what the people are doing to survive now, while Earthgov is getting back on its feet. Fishing and subsistence farming, most likely."

As they lifted off, Blaze asked, "Are we actually going to talk to them now?"

IB sighed. "I don't know. I don't think I can handle it yet."

Lofoten Archipelago, Norway
Earth

Although IB and Blaze didn't shiver, thanks to Blaze's sacred flame, their breaths still cooled and frosted the air around them.

They trudged through the snow, looking at lights in the distance. Villages dotted the Lofoten Archipelago, but they kept away by remaining on top of the fjords and mountains. The scattered lights looked like so many fireflies bravely fighting the wind.

But the two boys did not notice, for their eyes were turned towards the heavens.

"Oh my gosh. I can't believe we're here watching the Northern Lights!" Blaze clutched IB's arm. "They're beautiful."

"Not as clear as I'd hoped, though," IB said. "But I think I can fix that."

He concentrated on the electromagnetic particles that he could perceive when he wished, commanding them to collide. The lights above slowly coalesced into green ephemeral lines that snaked through the sky. "My favorite color," breathed IB.

Blaze watched, transfixed. "Beautiful..."

"You ain't seen nothing yet," IB smiled. "Look here."

Blaze turned around and gasped. The green lines had moved to form a heart with the words "IB & Blaze 4ever" inside.

Hugging IB, Blaze laughed. "You're so sweet, and I can't get over how great you are with your powers! You must have practiced so much to do that little thing for me."

"It's easier than it used to be, ever since I lost my inhibitor earring. Watch."

The lines snaked around to form their mission monitor board symbols.

Blaze leaned against IB with a happy smile. "What a find you are. So sweet and so powerful and so in control of your powers!"

IB chuckled. "Wish it had always been like this. Thanks for appreciating them; I wish everyone did." The pain in his voice was evident.

A thoughtful Blaze considered IB. Though they talked about everything, the full story of IB's past had been left in the past. Maybe...

"IB, I want you to do something for me. Keep us invisible, close your eyes, and trust me."

IB raised an eyebrow. "You know I do, but what..."

"It's a surprise."

"Oooooooooooh," IB grinned. "I love your surprises. They really excite me." The stress on the word excite was unmistakable.

IB closed his eyes and held out his hand. Blaze gently took it as he flew in the air towards the nearest village down below. He zoomed around the houses. He spotted one where a man was bringing in freshly caught cod. Holding IB in front of him, he flew into the door and headed straight for the fireplace.

"Keep quiet, okay?" Blaze thought to IB through teir standard-issue MB telepathic plugs..

"Where are we? We're not outside anymore," IB thought back. "Did you find some cute local guy? I know you like dirty blondes."

"Something else else like that," Blaze replied as he stood near the fireplace, still holding IB's hand. This could go one of two ways, and either their relationship would move to a higher level of intimacy - and IB would be able to confront some demons of his past - or Blaze would lose the love of his life.

Blaze's breath caught in his throat as he considered. But he chose to believe in the strength of their love.

He jumped into the fire, pulling IB behind him.

Carp Lake, Mount Liyu, Taiwan
Earth

"Why is it so hot?" Invisible Brainiac asked, sweating. His heart was pounding as well.

Blaze didn't answer. He just gently pulled IB from the bonfire they had emerged from. His ability to travel from flame to flame hadn't seen much use on the more technologically-advanced Legion World, but here on a recovering Earth... He scanned the crowd. He had been right.

Carp Lake's location near Puli, at the geographic center of Taiwan, gave it great auspiciousness under the ancient system of Feng Shui. Something else else about its energy flow was supposed to bring luck to people who held ceremonies here.

"What's happening? Why is it so noisy around here? And these people... they seem to be speaking another language. Blaze? Is that Earth-Chinese? Where are we?" Blaze ignored all of IB's whispered questions.

"We're still invisible?" At IB's nod, Blaze quickly pulled him along as he flew above the crowd. He set them down, and pulled IB close. "I'm sorry, baby. But I think you need to see this."

"Sssh... Honey, you've trusted me enough to keep your eyes closed without a blindfold until now. Please. I'm only trying to help." And he grasped IB's hand. It was shaking.

IB slowly opened his eyes. And he stared silently at the happy celebration before him.

Festive banners and lanterns adorned the lakeside. Over two dozen tables, draped in red cloth and filled with dishes of food, were spread out around a central table. Each was filled with clapping, cheering Taiwanese. The object of their applause was a young man, not much younger than IB himself, who stood in front of a cake.

"Congratulations on your graduation," IB said softly. Blaze knew he was reading the banner, though he himself could not understand any of the writing. "I knew some of Earth's nations would still hold on to their ancient languages. Technology had advanced sufficiently by the mid-21st century to store such knowledge."

Blaze squeezed IB's hand. "IB... What else do you notice about the scene?"

"Knowing the Chinese way, only about a quarter of these people are direct relatives of the graduate," IB continued. "The rest are extended relatives - cousins of his dad and mom, siblings of his grandparents - others are business contacts, godparents, teachers and professors. Maybe a third or less are his friends and classmates. The Chinese always did believe in showing off and sharing their good fortune."

"Baby... you're talking faster. Are you..."

"Good luck was meant to be celebrated," IB continued. "Bad luck was supposed to be buried and never spoken of again. The fortune of a son or daughter brought honor to the family. The failure of one brought shame. In extreme cases, the child was ejected."

Blaze drew IB close. "Hon. Your eyes... are you crying? Oh baby, I'm sorry, I should never have brought you here. I thought being here would help you move past your reluctance. I..." Blaze couldn't stop stammering. "I'm sorry."

"Such a gathering means that son must have earned near the top honors at university. Unless maybe higher education is harder to come by now. But still, it used to be the norm just over a decade ago, and I know the Corporations would have ensured they'd have sufficient supply of educated and skilled workers," IB said as he tapped furiously into his Omnicom to record his observations. "So this son must have made his parents so very proud. Look at how happy they all look. Look at how many people they invited."

"IB... baby... let's go, please..." Blaze said as he hugged IB from behind. "I'm sorry, I..."

"WE HAVE TO GET A GOOD PICTURE OF WHAT EARTH LIFE IS LIKE NOW!" IB hissed. "LET GO OFF ME!" He flexed his arms outwards, trying to escape from Blaze's grip. Blaze looked around to make sure nobody had heard; luckily, the music from the karaoke machine was loud enough to drown out their altercation.

"I'm sorry, baby, I'm sorry. I'm sorry..." Blaze whispered as he flew up into the night, pulling IB along. Tears were running down his face now, and his hands wouldn't stop shaking.

As they faded into the night, the young graduate's grandmother moved to the microphone and began singing along to the music.

Silhouette Island, The Seychelles
Earth

The bonfire crackled on the quiet beach as the brilliant oranges and pinks painting the sky slowly faded into cooler blues and purples.

Blaze nervously dug his hands into the soft sand. After jumping through the flames from Taiwan to the Seychelles, IB had neglected to maintain their cloak of invisibility. Still, there were only a handful of people around the island, and most were staff of the North Island Seychelles Hotel. There was another couple, whom Blaze had heard whispered were media celebrities looking for a respite from having to distract the people of Earth from their woes. There was also a traveler, recently returned from Mars where she had amassed a small fortune.

Blaze shook his head as he waved away the waiter who had approached them. He didn't want to risk them asking for their room number; with few enough guests a little checking would expose them. He didn't want IB to be disturbed.

IB stood at the water's edge, staring silently into the horizon. He hadn't said a word since they'd arrived. He'd just snapped photos of the sunset and of the island, and then had continued to stand and stare. Blaze understood. IB liked to keep busy when he was upset and couldn't yet deal with whatever the problem was. It helped keep him sane.

As the last of the oranges and pinks melted from the sky, Blaze went forward slowly and stood beside IB. "Hon?"

IB closed his eyes and didn't turn his head. "I know why you did that. But I don't have to be happy about it."

Blaze's voice was sincerely mournful. "I'm sorry."

"I know." Still without looking at him, IB took Blaze's hand. Then they flew up, painting a streak of white and yellow across the cloak of night.

Soufriere, Saint Lucia
Earth

Blaze watched as Invisible Brainiac slowly lowered himself into the bubbling water. He couldn't help his expression of distaste. Although he loved hot springs, these wee sulfuric. But then, IB had always been better at tolerating unpleasant surroundings.

IB's eyes remained closed. Blaze silently sat down on the ground beside him, keeping a watchful eye on their belongings.

"Do you... feel like talking about it now?" he asked.

IB's eyes opened, yet they didn't look at him yet. They stared forward, where a geyser pumped a boiling jet of hydrogen sulfide into the air.

"You wanted to use that event as a trigger for me to face my past."

"Yes," Blaze replied, his eyes downcast. IB's disappointment was evident.

"You thought I wouldn't talk about it or deal with it soon, so you needed to do that."

"Yes."

"You didn't think it would hurt me so much."

"I didn't."

"You're eternally sorry and will never do that again."

"I promise, I won't."

"You will do everything I say for the rest of our stay on Earth."

"I... yes."

"You're going to go fetch me a Soco Shake Slammer and an AMF, plus two one chicken roti, one veggie roti, a breadfruit salad and a clean towel now."

"What? I mean, yes."

"I could get used to this," IB said. Blaze looked up in shock to see a grin on IB's face. "I have half a mind to really order you around for pulling that stunt, you know."

"I'm really sorry, baby," Blaze's voice trembled even as it caressed IB's heart. "I just thought... I don't know. My little therapy idea failed."

"I forgive you," IB said. "But next time, please wait for me to be ready."

"I know... I just wanted you to enjoy the rest of our stay on Earth. I feel awful for bringing this whole thing up."

"No... you're right. We have a job to do and a vacation to enjoy, and I can't do either by worrying about my past. But yes, I would very much like it if you were more patient. And I don't just mean like you waiting six months for me to finally let you do that thing you always wanted to try and then teasing me about it until now," IB said with a smirk.

The corners of Blaze's mouth drooped down even more.

"You look so cute when you're sorry. Now... could you please get that clean towel for me? Let me clean up and I'll start telling you all about it."

Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
and
Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Earth

Many offworlders - and indeed even many Earthers from elsewhere -have the impression that Africa is a barren and uninteresting the place.

They have no idea how wrong they are or how much they are missing.

"I can't get over how useful our powers are to beat the heat," Blaze smiled as he stretched his arms over his head and lay down on the gravity-cushion they'd laid out.

Invisible Brainiac smiled himself as he readied his Omnicom and film. He was kneeling beside Blaze, using his flight ring to balance himself as the safari van whose roof they were on traversed the endless plains.

Both were stark naked. Blaze was absorbing and redirecting the heat harmlessly so they wouldn't sweat, while IB was limiting the amount of direct sunlight hitting them while leaving enough for himself to tan. It was a fairly easy thing to let the lightrays hit him while avoiding Blaze, and ensuring they and their belongings remained invisible. All he had to do was be conscious of how much he bent the light.

"It's nice being able to lie down, huh? We spent a lot of time running with the wildebeest and gazelles and zebras and giraffes and lions and hippos and rhinos and ostriches and buffalo and hyena and cheetahs and..." IB rattled off the dozen or so species he could identify among the ones they'd seen. "It's a good thing the Corporation heads kept this area preserved. I guess at least one of them enjoyed watching these animals."

"Good to know that even the greediest of man are able to appreciate nature's beauty..."

They both sat in silence as they took in the splendid sight of the gigantic herds of animals sweeping through the landscape.

"Would that we could be as free as they are," IB whispered. "Would that we could let go of the past so easily..."

He fell silent as they neared a herd of wildebeest. A young one lagged behind, still unused to the long distances being traversed during the Great Migration. Several lionesses stalked it from a safe distance.

As the young called out, several adults formed a circle around it. One, which IB assumed was the mother, prodded it from behind.

IB watched in silence as Blaze held his hand. Then he turned to Blaze. "Want to hear all about what happened to me all those years ago?"

Pilsen, The Czech Republic
Earth

"Are you sure you can drink all that?" Blaze giggled as he watched IB down another mug. Both boys were red in the face - and in fact, IB's bare forearms and neck were as well. And not just from the sun.

"I can and I must. We are in the birthplace of beer, after all!" IB grinned. "The early Czechs were brilliant! Did you know that the first silverale used to use Earth beer as a component?"

"Ehhhhhhhhhh, doesn't taste as good. I mean, we've tasted beers produced by Earth colonists on Aarok, and we've tasted beers from Winath and who knows where else, but NOTHING beats this. Nothing!" Blaze laughed.

The two boys downed the rest of the contents of their mugs. Then with a thud, IB placed his back down on the table and looked straight at Blaze.

"We're having so much fun. It seems like a shame to continue with my story now," IB said.

"If you're not ready yet, honey..."

"No, I have to. Remember when we first had dinner back on Weber's World after I'd returned, and we caught up and I told you in person how much I liked you and asked you to be my boyfriend, and then you told me how much you loved me, and... oh wait, no, we didn't do those all together did we?"

Blaze gave a hearty chuckle. "Didn't YOU tell me you loved me first while you were still in space? And THEN I asked you to be my boyfriend when we met back on Weber's World?"

IB shook his head furiously. "No old man, I remember it clearly. I asked YOU first, and then I wriggled out of you that you loved me!"

"No, I remember it otherwise. It was YOU first before me! I..."

Blaze's next words were interrupted as IB quickly leaned over and kissed him on the lips. The two continued passionately for the next few minutes, both moaning in appreciation.

When they finally separated, IB looked Blaze right in the eyes and held his hands. "Thanks for being here for me."

"Any time."

"You're the only one who I feel I can tell all this to."

"And I will make it worth your while."

IB gulped down. "I know you didn't, but at first I was so upset because I thought you really had planned to bring me to a graduation party. You couldn't have known, but when my folks throw me one for my college grad... It was just like that one. See, I graduated with top honors. A student leadership award. And I was inducted into the Honors Society. Besides our Student Council President, I was the most awarded kid there - and she beat me by only one medal. It was a big deal, an amazingly big to-do."

IB fell silent as the waitress appeared to ask if they wanted anything more. IB looked at Blaze, who shook his head. IB asked for another order of Nakládaný Hermelín , the pickled, siced cheese that was made to go with Czech beer. Then he turned back to Blaze.

"There were so many people. All the relatives. Literally. I didn't know like half of them. My grandpa brought his childhood friends. My grandma brought hers. My other grandma flew in her sisters from way far down south. Both my folks asked all their college friends." IB shook his head.

"I asked my dad how many friends I could have, since I was the one graduating. He told me 50. I balked. Come on, with all the organizations I was part of, how could I trim it down to 50? Just asking the rest of the graduating class over would have filled up the 50! And you know how close we were. We'd spent the last year or so slaving over our requirements together, and the month before that getting drunk almost every day. How could I not? So I bargained for a hundred seats by trading in the red cash envelopes I would be getting."

"Wow. That's something... I know the older guests would have given you a lot just for graduating. And even more for getting all those awards!"

IB nodded. "It was still the happiest and greatest moment of my life so far, so I was willing to give up that cost in order to have more of my friends over. I can still remember the moment. My folks prepared a surprise video, and they dug up pictures I hadn't seen in years. There was this humongous cake. And then my pals surprised me by giving me a new hoverboard. You should have seen it - forced me to finally learn how to ride one."

IB fell silent again as the waitress dropped off their order. He took a bit of cheese, then suddenly grabbed his half-empty bottle of Pilsner Urquell and downed it in a gulp.

Blaze stood up in alarm as IB placed his bottle back on the table. Tears were streaming down his face. "I'm sorry baby," IB said. "It just hurts so much even after all these years. It was supposed to be the best day of my life."

Blaze nodded sadly. "I think we'd better get our bill."

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
Earth

"Feels just like heaven," Blaze purred as he drank in the sights around him. The salt spread on the ground shone in the sunlight, adding a layer of white to the ground that mirrored the sky above.

"More so because I'm with you," IB said as he cuddled up to Blaze. "And I really am glad you're with me, because it is COLD!"

"Hmph, only want me for my heat," Blaze grunted.

IB laughed as they nestled their heads together. "It's almost so beautiful that I want to forget anything horrible ever happened to me back then."

"Maybe you should," Blaze whispered.

"No. I have to get it off my chest," IB whispered back. Blaze held on tightly to him as IB leaned back. "They asked me to give a speech. of course, how could I not? They had all gathered just for me."

Blaze's hand caressed IB's while the former stared right ahead. "I can still see it. My aunts and uncles were in the front table - you would have liked them. They're just like how Cobie and Lardy and Peebz and Tempest and cleome are. All sitting around with big great mugs of beer and glasses of wine and egging me to drink more. My friends were in rows behind me, all with glasses of their own. I was so giddy then, both with the wine and because I was giving my speech to a couple hundred people."

IB leaned closer to Blaze, who hugged him tight.

"I'd finished it, then I walked to the cake. Right in the middle of the room. Everyone was cheering. I leaned in and blew the candles. Everyone was so happy."

Blaze held IB's hand as IB swallowed. He kept staring straight ahead as his eyes misted.

"Then my immediate family came over to the front. We posed for a family picture, as we always do. I remember looking at the cameras, there were over a dozen of them, all letting out bright flashes of light."

IB gave a little sob. Blaze nestled IB's head under his own neck.

"My own eyes suddenly went blind. I was so dizzy. I couldn't see straight. I felt like the light was about to swallow me up."

A lone tear fell down IB's cheek. Blaze used his finger to wipe it up.

"And then... it did."

IB turned to look at Blaze, his eyes glowing. And while they were, tears fell down his cheeks and buried themselves in the layer of salt that glimmered like the sky.

The M'zab Valley, Algeria
Earth

"How long ago was this built again?" Blaze asked. He didn't really care, but he hoped to ease IB's pain a bit.

"10th century," IB said absently. He stared off into the horizon as if lost in the endless dunes of the Sahara Desert.

Blaze looked at him with sadness. IB had gotten to the point in his story where his powers had emerged, and then he'd broken down. Old memories which he'd long buried had suddenly been dredged up... But Blaze admired IB's bravery in facing his past. It would just take time and support.

Time was something this place was not short of, though. The M'Zab Valley contained five ancient fortified cities, or ksour. The two were perched on top of the mosque in the chief sttlement of Ghardaia.

"Imagine, this mosque used to double as a fortress," Blaze said. He snapped a holo of the grand old building which was right in the center of the town.

"Yes. They needed that type of protection before," IB said. He didn't even look at place as he said it.

Blaze put an arm around IB. "You know baby... My heart is a fortress for you. I'll protect you always."

"Awwww... And I will be your cannon. Just make me shoot at any of your enemies," IB smiled. Blaze looked him in the eye, and both burst out laughing at the double entendre.

"Thanks, you always know how to make me feel better," IB laughed as he caught his breath.

"Any time. You know you don't have to continue your story..."

"I need to," IB smiled. "I think I'm ready. But let's move someplace more conducive..."

Bikini Atoll, The Marshall Islands
Earth

Invisible Brainiac closed his eyes as he let the sun's rays bathe his body. "Mmmm, feels so good."

"You're tanning nicely too," Blaze smiled as he admired his boyfriend's torso.

"And you're already perfectly tanned," IB smiled back. "Okay, I'm ready now, I think."

Blaze silently held IB's hand as they stared out at the recovering landscape. Devastated in the mid-20th century by nuclear testing, the island had managed to recover. As Blaze knew IB would. The greenery on the islandmade it hard to imagine this place a wasteland; had there not been displays showing the extent of the devastation, Blaze would never have guessed that this had once been a nuclear test site.

"I was there, surrounded by my entire family. And then my powers erupted in a flash of light. You've seen me now right? People oooh and ahhhh when I glow in all the colors of the rainbow, and when I use my powers to cast a gentle glimmer all around. But then, I just flared up like a... like a..."

IB turned to looka at Blaze. "Everyone was screaming. People were stumbling everywhere, unable to see. I can remember my folks yelling. My grandma screamed and said I was taken by a monster."

IB's voice chilled Blaze to the core. He sounded so cold, yet the pain was dripping through.

"And when my glow faded... they pointed and said I was the monster."

Blaze held IB from behind as he let his salty tears flow and mix with the salt water at their feet. All around them, the resilient palm trees swayed in the wind as if sharing their sorrow.

Bagan, Myanmar
Earth

"It's like a fairy tale," Blaze whispered.

"Because our love is a fairy tale," IB replied.

Below them, the ancient city if Bagan sprawled out. The thousands of thousands of pagodas slowly sprouted into view as the sun rose over Bagan. Silken rays of sunlight draped over the clusters of small, spired temples. IB had tried to count if there really were a thousand of them, but he'd decided to just soak in the wonderful view.

"Amazing that the government of Myanmar let Bagan stay as it is," Blaze said.

"Myanmar is very stoutly Buddhist. They were proud to be so. It was said that once upon a time, people so strongly believed in karma that nobody raised a hand in violence against his or her neighbor."

"And I suppose the tourism dollars these pagodas brought in played only a small part?" Blaze grinned.

"Earning dollars is good karma too," IB smiled.

They floated serenly along, marveling at the cruisers floating serenely through the sky. "It's also wonderful how the people of Myanmar slowly earned their freedom," IB pointed out. "After clamoring for so long, their authoritarian government finally realized that liberalization and freedom could only help them, not hinder them.

"I heard. Myanmar was one of the greatest success stories of the 21st century."

"Yes... I chose this as our next stop because it reminded me of what happened after..."

Both boys fell silent as a cruiser wandered past like a lily pad floating in a pond. They were set to glide at the slowest possible speed so that sightseers could drink in the magnificent view below.

"I didn't know what to do at first, either. Everyone was screaming. I went over to my sister to help, and she screamed at me. Told me not to touch her."

Blaze caressed IB's cheek as a tear fell.

"Everyone began running away. Scrambling away, as if somehow I had changed from the boy who they'd been toasting just a while ago..."

"And then the men in uniform came. They were wearing blacks and greens and browns, barking at everyone to fall back. I thought they would come to help me, but then this man pointed a gun at me. He was telling me to stay put."

"And what did you do?" Blaze whispered.

"I didn't have a choice. I called out to my parents, reached out to them. Then he shot me."

Tombs of Buganda Kings, Kasubi, Uganda
Earth

"I still don't believe it," Blaze muttered as they walked along the soft roads leading to the hills of Kasubi.

"What, you mean that these thatched tombs have survived over a millennium? They rebuild these every few decades, baby," IB replied. "And despite our modern "enlightened" times, people still fear that the ancient kings buried here will punish them if they disrespect the tombs."

"No... I mean that the government took you and forced you to work for them! That's outrageous!"

"I was manipulated, yes," IB replied. "I thought my family wouldn't want me back..."

"But did you ever get to speak to them again, or did those government goons just tell you that?"

"... they told me that. But hush first, okay? Let's enjoy the atmosphere of this place."

IB gestured to the main building that housed the tombs of the four kings of the ancient Kingdom of Buganda. The place was silent and deserted. There were new signs requesting visitors to remove their shoes before entering. IB levitated himself as they entered the tomb, and Blaze followed suit. Mats were spread on the floor for guests who had come to pay their respects.

IB folded his legs under himself so he knelt while floating in the air. "One of my greatest fears has always been to be buried alive. That's why I usually get the creeps when I visit tombs. Especially ones like this with limited structural integrity. Somehow, I think they knew that. When I came to, I couldn't move. They had caked me in earth. An Earthgov loudmouth was there, telling me my family had given me up for dead because I was a monster. They had coated me so I couldn't use my powers. Which was totally unnecessary, since I still had no idea how to use them."

Blaze hovered silently beside IB as they hovered through the wooden beams holding up the main tomb building. IB involuntarily shivered. "Funny, even though I felt at that moment that my life was over, that even if I escaped, there was nothing to return to outside... I didn't want to die. My mind was running through ways to make the most of the situation. Maybe I could figure out how to turn into light, or make myself invisible, and escape somewhere. Travel the world, maybe. Or find the LMB and get them to protect me. Even if my family didn't want me back, that last option would help me protect them from retaliation if I did."

"So you agreed to help Earthgov?"

IB turned to look Blaze in the eyes. "I agreed to help myself. I'd sooner cut off my arm than truly help a government that would use me like that."

Khor Al Udeid, Qatar
Earth

The sun glinted off the vast sand dunes around the inland sea. Herbal scents from shisha pipes mingled with the smell of water. Tiny desert flowers dotted the rolling dunes that to stretch out as far as the eye could see.

"If we were alone, I'd almost think we were on our own private planetoid," Invisible Brainiac whispered as he lay down. "You know, that's one of the things Earthgov tried to bribe me with."

Blaze peered over at his boyfriend. IB was usually so good at letting things roll off his back. But traumas like this were hard to shake off. "I guess we know they didn't make good on it, else you'd have brought me there now. Unless maybe that's a future surprise you have in store for me?"

"And here I thought you'd prefer the authenticity - and the hot shirtless men - of Earth," IB smirked. "No, I never believed they did anyway. But what was I to do? I just wanted the whole incident over and buried. I had manifested my powers in front of all the guests at my party, and I had caused grievous harm and injury to everyone. My family would never live that shame down, especially if I had inadvertently blinded anyone. Even with recent advances in robo-opthalsurgery, a few lost days of productivity would have been too much bother for most. So I agreed to work for Earthgov until I could figure out my next move. I was given relative freedom as long as I kept out of sight and followed orders."

"So... is that why you never tried to talk to your family again? Because of your deal with Earthgov."

IB gazed longingly at the expanse of desert sand around them. Sometimes he loved the solitude of relatively isolated places like this. They made him feel like real-life problems were so far away. "I couldn't talk to them because they thought I was dead."

Old Town Kotor, Montenegro
Earth

"One thing I love about Montenegro is that it's a lot less busy than its neighbors." Perched atop the Church of Our Lady of Health, IB and Blaze enjoyed the view of the bay.

"The solitude is nice, isn't it? Oh baby, I'm glad you didn't despair over not being able to talk with your family."

IB squeezed Blaze's hand in thanks. "I did miss them a bit, but I had to work through it. One perk of my relative freedom was getting to hang around with other super-powered agents like me. A couple were about our age. There were less than half a dozen of us, though. The LMB's high profile meant that most meta-powered Earth natives enjoyed relative freedom."

"I still don't understand why it was so shameful to your family that you had powers. You'd think they'd be proud of your abilities!"

"... Even as late as the 31st century, you'd be surprised how some communities value normalcy and conformity over diversity. Only about 1% of the Earth population have innate powers until now."

IB fell silent as he gazed at the bay. "Come on, walk with me. Let's climb up the fortifications. 1350 steps in all! Great for maintaining our abs."

"Why not? We need to work off that big lunch we had. Need to keep fit for when we hit the beaches!"

IB grinned at Blaze as they trotted off through the streets. Even with modern technology, Montenegro had preserved the old-style feel of Kotor. Buildings were painstakingly restored to how they looked in the mid-20th century. It was a strong source of pride for the governor that they had managed to keep their medieval flavor when so many of their neighboring states had not.

As they walked through the streets, Blaze tentatively steered the conversation back. "When you told me before that your family was so perfectionist and so image-conscious, I didn't think they'd go so far as disowning you."

"I think they wouldn't, though they'd be tempted to do so. It would have been easier. I just spared them from having to make the choice." IB chuckled bitterly. "I still remember seeing the news article of our party. "Multi-awarded graduate tragically slain in freak accident". Earthgov was trying to limit the UP's influence on Earth, so they alleged that extraterrestrial experimentation had vaporized me and injured several guests. I'm sure my family believed them right away..."

"Maybe they looked for you?"

"Truth to tell I didn't want to be found. I'd probably keep hearing them say they wished I never had these powers. I didn't want them either at first, but after Earthgov got me to master my invisibility and laser powers I began to revel in them."

"It does feel good to use our powers. I bet you enjoyed being able to fly!"

"I did. Earthgov groomed me to be their stealth guy - invisibly infiltrating troublesome areas and then taking out the enemy. I would use my lasers to simulate weaponry; other times I'd use my fists. I began to gain confidence. A few months in they told me I was the perfect agent."

"You sound like you enjoyed it so much. But you already told me you planned to escape from the start. Did you ever reconsider?"

"No, I never planned to stay. I began plotting my escape the minute I signed on." IB stopped as they reached the foot of the fortifications. "No more talking first. Come on, race you tot he top!"