Legion World Forums LEGION OUTPOST Bits o' Legionnaire Business Legion Worlds (fanfic - Finished 23 April)

Just about got everyone in place now, thanks Raz and IB. Laurel Kent will be kind of joining the group soon along with one of your guesses from above Raz.

There's a surprise future Legionnaire away to pop up soon too.

Thanks for your support guys it keeps me going.

As Zoe Saugin curled around her unconscious fellow student awaiting a fiery death from the eyes of the Mon El imposter she heard a booming rush of air followed by an ear battering crash. She took a second to open her eyes and turn around. In the air before her stood Mon El, their Mon El; complete with blue detailing on boots and compassionate aura.
“I hate people impersonating me.” Said while rubbing his knuckles, “Are you okay there Zoe?” Lar Gand smiled at the young red head and could hear her pulse jump. Bless her, he thought, she didn’t realise I’d know her name.

“Ah.... Yeah...” Kinetix had always thought of herself as a strong person but as she shakily let go of Dragonmage and stood to face her saviour she couldn’t get the words out of her mouth to thank him and could feel the rush of blood to her cheeks, adding to her embarrassment.

“Don’t worry there, you two did a great job slowing him down ‘til I arrived. Remind me never to cross you. Anyway...” Mon El studied the sky above them, “Got to go grab him as it looks like he’s re-entering the atmosphere... right... about... now.” And with a sudden rush of air marking where he had been Mon El was gone.

“WasthatOURMonEL? WOW! Isthefusionsphereokay?” Jenni Ognat arrived in a cloud of displaced dust, “ CanyougetDragonmagemedicalhelpandI’llseehowit’sgoinginside....” The newly appointed Legion Academy tutor rushed off before her charge could reply.

Xao was still unconscious. Zoe quickly checked his breathing and his pulse, remembering her battle first aid class she also made sure he had no immediately obvious wounds or fractures that required treatment. Thankful not to find any she reached out wither power and gently shaped the ground below him into a supportive cot. Above her head she heard approaching sirens as the Science Police arrived.

Better late than never, she thought to herself.

Oodo Shanair, the Lallorian mutant empath ambassador and member of the Legion’s recently formed auxiliary ambassadorial team primarily based on Weber’s World, knew that there was something wrong.

It wasn’t just the Durlan Legionnaire speaking in his head that told him that. His mutant ability to perceive the physical reactions within a beings biology that betrayed their emotional state was drawing some very worrying readings from Ambassador Anton Relnic.

The Anton Relnic that Oodoo knew from countless ambassadorial functions and conferences was a self contained man who never let his guard slip in public. He had always come across as very down to earth (so to speak) and showed impeccable manners by always taking the time to thank those around him, regardless of title or function. He had never in Oodoo’s experience displayed any really strong emotional response – certainly not at a tiresome event like this one at any rate. The Anton Relnic in front of the Lallorian was fairly self contained, that was true, but he also radated a feeling of glee, a smugness that Oodoo had grown to learn meant the person exhibiting these traits felt entirely superior to those around them. That did not tally with any of his previous experiences with Relnic.

Oodoo Shanair had a reputation for being fairly fearless. In truth he wasn’t really but he knew how far his rights extended given his position and he did have the advantage of being able to know what those around him truly felt so knew how much to push a person without ever truly being in any danger.

The person in front of him was an unknown – Not for the first time he wished to himself that the Haza twins had not asked to be transferred back to Lallor after the recent Weber’s Word incident. Their joint telepathy would give him the answers he wanted. Oodoo was concerned that Anton Relnic may be under the influence of a psychotic breakdown as he doubted the ambassador would be in any way easy to brainwash. Whatever had happened Oodoo knew that for the first time since... well afew weeks really since the Llorn had torn their way through Weber’s World, he felt an excited surge of adrenaline fire through his system. He walked up to the Terran ambassador and lightly took a hold of his arm.

“Ambassador Relnic, my old friend it is so good to see you here. You wouldn’t mind joining me for a conversation in private would you? Thank you my good man, let’s have a quick stroll...” Silky smooth, his voice was that of an old dear friend. His mutant ability kicked in with the physical contact and the person he held had no choice but to agree.

They walked out into the broad corridor. The Lallorian had been here many times before in his career so knew exactly where he wanted them to go towards even before Chameleon Boy telepathically spoke along the Flight Ring relay with suggestions. The two ambassadors chatted inanely about the event they were both attending and for all the world looked like two old friends having a gentle reminiscence as they took a stroll.

“You have no concerns about joining me into the grav-lift do you? You don’t mind at all that we should take a tour of the security facilities while we are here.”Oodoo once again touched the ambassador’s arm and with that reinforcement of his early command to join him they both smiled as the lift shot them towards the central Science Police security deck.

As they approached the SP’s level Oodoo once again gently touched his ‘old friend’.

“You must be exceptionally exhausted, so tired you couldn’t possibly offer any resistance or exhibit any resistance. Though of course you will answer completely all question put to you, won’t you? This time Oodoo’s voice is no longer smooth. The orders are set and as the door opens the Ambassador Relnic at his side starts to shudder and his form starts to dissolve. By the time the door had spiralled fully open the Lallorian ambassador stood beside a young Durlan woman wearing an ominous gray costume with a black circle motif across her chest. Five security androids and a singular rather excited young officer approached them as they walked out of the lift.

“Ah Officer, thank the stars you are here. I believe you want to interview this person, you’ll find her very cooperative. “

Inside Ambassador Oodoo Shanair’s head Chameleon Boy let out a whoop of joy and congratulated him on successfully completing his first solo Legion Espionage Squad mission.

“Well that wasn’t really too difficult was it.” Oodoo said to no-one in particular as he strolled easily behind the Science Police officer and their captured Dark Circle Durlan spy.

A holo popped up of Chief Cussimano’s face.

“Legionnaires, we are facing an attack on Takron Galtos that is beyond the capability of the force there to repulse. Can you send assistance?”

Harmonia applied in the affirmative and turned towards Dawnstar and Wildfire.

“You both have the best chance of reaching there in time.”

“Say no more, c’mon Dawny, let’s go do some 31st century butt whupping.” Wildfire flew out of the room while Dawnstar smiled her apology to Harmonia for her partner’s rudeness. With one great flap of her snow white wings she was gone as well.

Brainiac 5 muttered concerns to himself about their rushing into an unknown combat situation so quickly after returning to the Thirty First century but it seemed that all the time spent in the twenty First had done nothing to diminish Drake Burrough’s enthusiasm or Dawnstar’s willingness to follow.

Danielle innocently asked if it was okay to tell the planetoid’s resident AI that they wouldn’t be expecting any more Dark Circle troops as it had been pestering her for a few minutes now wondering if it could reserve power in the residential areas.

Harmonia replied, “Danielle, please inform the AI that it is not to accept any more followers of the Dark Circle. If for whatever reason, any more arrive here it should set off an alarm and do it’s best to contain the cultist until we arrive. Also, it should give all Legionnaires and their guests full support. Do you think it will....”

“Done it Professor Li.”

“Thank you Danielle.” Harmonia Li’s expression was slightly awed at how fast and efficiently the young girl could process and communicate information to the AI’s around them.

Meanwhile Timber Wolf and Tyroc had picked up the unconscious Laurel Kent and the still woozy Drura Sepht and asked where the nearest medi-bay could be found. The AI responded with a holo schematic that led the two newly returned Legionnaires out of the vortex room. Tellus followed them out of the room without a word. Brainiac 5 thought of all the returned Lost Legionnaires it was their psychic comrade who looked the most exhausted. Had the others not wondered about the cost on his metabolism that his rapid physical transformation would have? His race usually didn't develop fingers and all the rest of the humanoid features until they we approaching their sixth decade at least.

“Hey Gates, you think maybe you need a medic too?” Inferno pointed towards their comrades leaving. Gates agreed and they followed them out of the Temporal Vortex chamber in search of medical facilities.

“Professor Dox, Henry says you can save her now. That’s one of reasons he was sent back here. To let you save her. Why is he saying that?”

“Oh Danielle, Henry has a funny sense of humour, that’s all.” Harmonia smiled coolly as she spoke to the young girl.

“Actually I disagree Harmonia. Apologies but if my hypothesis is correct our ...friend here, the controlling intelligence Danielle calls Henry, has been sent here with very specific purposes so in all probability has a very strong knowledge of our current loci within the timeline and all the events that must happen from here on.”

“Henry says you know it Dox...” Danielle chuckled as she relayed the message.

“Querl, you know as well as I that the timestream is not a resource that can be plundered.”

“That is definitely the case but I believe that Henry can be used with pinpoint accuracy if we require it so... Danielle, could you ask Henry if he can pick the person up from these precise co-ordinates.” A screen popped up from Brainiac 5’s palm held device.

“Querl, stop! You know she was destined to die that day!”

“She was destined never to appear in the Twentieth century from that point onwards. Dying though was never completely established.”

“Querl, I’m ordering you to ...” Before Harmonia could complete her sentence the vortex roared once more filling the room with its spectral light. Professor Harmonia Li was stunned into silence as a badly battered body wearing a distinctive red and blue costume fell through the temporal tear and collapsed onto the floor before them.

“Kara....”

Squeee Kara!!!! Is this pre-Crisis Kara? I WILL DIE.

Also I meant to say and forgot....so impressed with how in just a few words you not only very elegantly explained away the crappy renderings of Tellus in any 21st setting, but you've turned it into an actual plot element! Awesome job!

Raz, get your defibrillator as it is the original pre-Crisis Kara, Squeee indeed Well, she was overdue an appearance in one of my stories.

Thanks for your kind words regarding my solution to the dramatically altered Tellus too, I have a few ideas for him though need to get the Dark Circle civil war and Henry's story out of the way first.

Thanks again, I say it every time but it is definitely true, your feedback is appreciated and keeps me motivated to continue writing (and IB's and everyone else's too of course!)

WAAAUGHHHH SO EXCITED *brain asplodes*

I know what you mean about feedback being a great motivator...I am very much the same, very grateful when people let me know they like what I am doing....it's always nice to have a bit of validation

M’Windaji had led them here.

The young tracker had insisted that they shouldn’t follow the other team to Kiev. He had stubbornly argued with Crystal Kid that his tracking ability was leading them elsewhere. Whatever was happening in Kiev, whilst dramatic was not the source of this trouble, it was a distraction. Bbob Khan countered that there were no alerts being raised on Western Europe to deserve their attention and Gahaji must be mistaken. The trackers clenched jaw as he retorted told anyone watching exactly what he thought of Crystal Kids decision making skills.

Sade had interrupted and settled the conversation in a brusque manner:

“Right you two nass heads, if hunter-boy says the scent takes us to Berlinopolis then we go to Berlinopolis. Bbob, if he’s wrong I’ll personally shoot him for you. Okay? We’re wasting time so can we go already?”

The three of them had sat in silence the entire journey. When they arrived on the edge of the manicured lawns of the Lustgarten M’Windaji led the way from the cruiser towards the beautiful neoclassic entrance to the Altes museum. The museum had stood on this site for eleven hundred years and still its architecture looked stunning. Bbob Khan’s parents had left Earth with him when he was under two to work on terraforming projects in the Rim Worlds so it wasn’t until he returned to Earth fourteen years later that he had truly appreciated the skill and workmanship of architecture. On Rim World 17 and asteroid station Zenon where he had spent almost all his life prior to joining the Legion Academy the pragmatic uniformity of the liveable areas had meant he had been truly shocked when he first saw the wide range of materials and style used on Earth – the incredible use of space itself had blown his young mind. On his days off from the Academy Bbob had often travelled Earth and its nearby colonies to see the stunning buildings that the jaded Terrans took for granted. In front of him stood one of the few buildings he had planned to visit but never had. As they flew towards the eighteen fluted ionic columns at its front he gave a silent prayer that they didn’t accidentally destroy the museum while they dealt with whatever it was that had brought M’Windaji to take them here.

They flew across the grand sweeping staircase and through the columns into the central rotunda. The sparse crowds below them looked up and there were muted cheers.

“This way.” M’Wandaji took the lead as they swerved into a side room. As they entered the room they all saw the four cowled men wrestling with a security bot.

“Mine” and Sade was gone from their side with a pop!

She reappeared behind two of the men and quickly dispatched them across the black and white tiled floor. As she did Bbob Khan reached out and crystal strands spun out of his fingers that encased the two fallen men, pinning them to the floor. As Sade wrestled with the other two M’Windaji flew over her head and landed beside a man in a long gray robe standing apart from the excitement. The man appeared to be in his sixties with a metallic skull cap and came to a point like a widow’s peak over his brow.

“You are the reason we are here, aren’t you?” Although phrased like a question the young tracker’s body language made it clear he was not asking.

“You Legionnaires get younger every time I turn around.” The older man had a kindly smile and his tone was soft. M’Windaji was about to place the man in an arrest when out of the corner of his eye he saw more dark cowled figures appear, running into the room with weapons raised. Sade appeared amongst them, the Rimborian smiling all the while she ‘ported around smacking the Dark Circle operatives unconscious. A thick wall of crystal appeared above the attacking force and dropped dramatically upon them while Sade teleported to M’Windaji’s side.

“Hey there, you need a hand?”

“Don’t worry Legionnaires Ontiir won’t get away with this. I have what I came for so will trouble you no more.” And with that the man extended his arms upwards and started muttering arcanely. Without stopping to think M’Windaji struck out, punching the older man stoutly on the side of the head knocking him unconscious. As he fell a small scroll dropped onto the floor beside him. Sade picked it up

“He’s the reason we are here.” M’Windaji smiled up at Bbob Khan who was floating overhead. Silky strands of crystal reached out like a spider web sculpture from the newly appointed tutor that reached and contained the Dark Circle attackers.

“Good job Gahaji, good job!”

Several security bots flew into the room announcing they were programmed to fully subdue anyone who resisted arrest.

“Nope, don’t think so.”

Sade held up her right hand, her Legion Flight Ring glistened in the pin lights; one of the perks that went with the rings was the ambassadorial status they gave the wearer. They weren’t the ones who would get arrested today.

The unconscious Infectious Lass was gently placed into a sterile white cot within the medical bay. Gates struggled up onto an examination couch while Tellus asked the doctor AI if it could aid Hykraians. As the psychic Legionnaire waited for his reply Timber Wolf asked if there was a hydroponics unit nearby. Tyroc started to ask why before the Zuunian pointed out that there would be Sunlamps where the previous occupants grew plants and the ultra violet light might help Laurel Kent’s partial Kryptonian metabolism to heal quicker. Tyroc looked momentarily startled before agreeing whole heartedly with the idea. As Timber Wolf bounded down the corridor with the unconscious former academy student held protectively against his chest Invisible Kid tapped Tyroc on the arm and signaled he would like to talk outside the medical bay.

As they started to slowly stroll down the corridor Jacques Foccart asked the recently returned Troy Stewart about the Lost Team’s experiences a thousand years in the past.

“The food was a bit strange...” The both laughed and there was a pause before Jacques said:

“We ‘ave all missed you terribly mon ami. I ‘ave missed you...”

“Likewise Jacques, there were times it got quite dark y’know....”

“Once we have settled the current Dark Circle problem I look forward to ‘earing about it properly from you.”

“Once we’ve settle this problem half a dozen more will already need our attention.”

Invisible Kid snorted a laugh and agreed. “Too true but we need to ‘ave some hope, do we not?” The two legionnaires had never been especially close though that was primarily due to rarely working together rather than any personal differences, still Invisible Kid was aware that his comrade appeared upset.

“What is on your mind Troy? My apologies if I’ve said anyt’ing to upset you.”

Tyroc, tears now obvious in his eyes turned and smiled before answering, “If I’m honest with you I’m so happy to be back... We were there for two years and had started to think... I thought we would never get home again.”

Jacques compassionately put his arm around his friend’s shoulder as Troy quietly cried in relief.

Brainiac 5 asked Danielle to ensure the planetoids AI locked the Temporal chamber behind them, with explicit orders that no-one was allowed to enter unless they were wearing a Legion flight ring and that Henry was not allowed to bring anything or anyone through the vortex while they were gone.

In the Coluan Lagionnaire's arms Super Girl hung limply. He strode down the corridor with a holo arrow lighting their way to the medical center. Querl Dox gave abrupt orders to the controlling AI of what he needed once they arrived there. Behind him Danielle struggled to keep pace without breaking into a run and Harmonia Li’s expression was one of someone who was considering committing an angry murder.

Querl Dox neither knew nor cared. In his arms was Kara... his Kara saved from a horrific and pointless death. Within the multifaceted strands of his amazing mind he was already planning his defense when called before the United Planets. Actively tampering with recognized historical events was a crime that had been in place since the late twenty first century within Sol space. The old Time Beacon had helped regulate this but since its destruction with Titan there had been no way to successfully monitor any temporal invasions.

He was certain that the Legion would be blamed by the media if the story broke, as if the team could ever have persuaded him to not attempt saving Kara. The team would most likely hold him to account: A show trial perhaps to reassure the greater populace of this part of the Northern Arm of the United Planets that their Coluan Wunderkid wasn’t losing his mind.... again. No, Querl Dox had no doubts that in the days and weeks to come he would have to answer for this moment. The consequences could be serious.

Querl Dox frankly just didn’t care a jot as in his arms, saved from certain death during the First Crisis, he held Kara.

I always like when one of the Legion guys everyone thinks of as dumb steps up and shows their smarts (ie: Timber Wolf in this case)....also great job at giving Crystal Kid and M'Windaji more personality than they ever showed in an actual comic! Admittedly it is easier to do with this form of writing I think because you have more freedom to develop their motivations and background, but it's still worth pointing out when it's done well! Things like Crystal Kid's love of Earth architecture are the things that stand out about a character when you remember them.

Really looking forward to Kara waking up! I wonder how she is gonna interact with this version of the Legion who are different from the friends she would remember in some ways (not to mention seeing how her whole world history has changed!)

Chuck Taine, Dr Kent Shakespeare and the only member of the alpha training squad not currently on a mission, an Xanthuan native called Jazmin Cullen, Kid Quantum, approached their destination with a supersonic roar. Their small personal cruiser had been fitted with stellar class engines and Chuck was more than happy to use them.

The wild hills of Alaska Range looked beautiful in the dimming afternoon light as they flew across Lake Clark. For a second Chuck remembered several years before when he and Lu had left the Legion and planned to work on a terraforming site, out of the public scrutiny that living on Earth or any of the major worlds kept them under. That had been a great time in their lives, apart from the killer D'jinn of course, but they had dealt with that and he was certain they would deal with this problem as well.

Both Dr Shakespeare and Ms Cullen were powerful people. Chuck knew that the meta being that set off the alarms that had the Science Police requesting their assistance up here would regret messing with those two. And, if he was being entirely honest with himself, he rather looked forward to seeing a bit of action again.

Ahead of them, at the foot of the hills stood a small town that according to their information was famous for being the birthplace of the 24th century composer Mik Frost-Rvol. At a glance at its size Chuck doubted if it had all of three thousand inhabitants.

It was Kid Quantum who first pointed at the smoke, tendrils were rising from several places.

“They use geo-therm for heating so there’s no need for actual combustion“, mused Kent Shakespeare.

“Well, do you want to go check it out Dr Shakespeare?”

“I’d better go in case there are any casualties.” The large man strode out of the flight deck through to the small central cargo hold. “I hope this ring works...” He smiled as he tapped the flight ring Chuck had given him when he arrived at Montauk Point at Brainiac 5’s invitation several weeks before, and gave the command for the spiraling door to open underneath him. With a whoosh of air he was gone. The cruiser momentarily swerved as Bouncing Boy compensated for the opening.

“Your turn Jazmin. Good luck and keep in touch.”

She confidently strode through to the cargo area and jumped out of the open hatch. Chuck watched as they both flew down to the small town below on the scanner. Closing the hatch with a spoken command he also ordered the cruiser to circle the town. There was something wrong here, there were no civilians in sight and apart from the smoke there didn’t appear to be any motion at all.

For all of his confidence Chuck Taine felt worried they were walking into a trap.

Element Lad and Star Boy stared in disbelief.

Ahead of them a giant man in a gray costume with the Dark Circles motif on the chest lay curled up on the floor. From the sounds emanating from within the smoky cloud that clung to his head he was currently half choking, half vomiting into his mask. It was obvious he wouldn’t be giving them any more trouble for a while.

“I’ll never dis Grava again.”

“She dealt with that Colossal Boy rip off fairly efficiently, you’ve got to give her that. Remind me to tell Lu and Chuck they taught her well. “

Comet Queen had been putting on an acrobatic victory flight in the air above them as they spoke. They had arrived back in Earth space less than forty minutes ago and picked up several alerts. Mon El had flown to Kiev to deal with the Fusion Sphere problem, they had chosen to come here to the United Province of Australia. One of Lu’s selves had alerted them to a possible Dark Circle attack. Two separate teams from the alpha team at the Academy were already dealing with problems and Chuck was off dealing with another. The rest of the full team were either in Saturn space or out in the Oort Cloud dealing with an apparent invasion.

The young Legionnaire had attacked the giant without thought as soon as they arrived. He had been tearing up an intersection in Melbournopolis close to the industrial area of this, the most southerly of the Twelve Great Cities of Earth. Comet Queen had dove straight at him and at the last moment deftly swerved over the top of his head leaving a black cloud of noxious gasses in her wake. As he started to wave his hands desperately in front of his face she drove down and crashed into the back of his right knee causing him to stumble. She then flew straight back up and collided with his throat, just under his jaw knocking him over. As the giant man fell he had smacked the side of his head on a pillar he had earlier broken and knocked himself out.

Unfortunately he had not been alone.

Thankfully neither was she. The fifty or so soldiers, also wearing the Dark Circles uniform were subdued quiet quickly by a judicious use of Star Boy’s mass induction and Element Lad transforming their clothes into unbending metal.

“So why do you think the Circle would waste resources here? They weren’t likely to achieve much here were they?”

Element Lad pondered the question for a second or two before answering, “Yeah, you're right, this must just be a distraction. They wanted us to stretch our resources I think Thom. There must be something they don’t want us to interfere with going on elsewhere.”

“When isn’t there....”

Tinya Wazzo had just walked onto the command deck of the Legion cruiser when Harmonia contacted her.

The Legion leader had just finished thanking Soddam Yat who was containing most of the unconscious Starburst Bandits and their mounts in a gigantic bubble of energy while the Science Police sent more ships with the capacity to hold the swarm. A further crew from the SP’s had joined Tasmia on Rhea to examine the finding within the mysterious dome. Tinya had asked Shadow Lass to return to the cruiser as she deserved a well earned rest.

“Phantom Girl,” The ancient elemental's tone was flat, guarded, “Is it appropriate to report now?”

Tinya Wazzo inwardly sighed, she knew already that the news wasn’t going to be good. Harmonia was usually so professional in her demeanor that this didn’t bode too well.

“Go ahead Harmonia, are you all okay?”

Harmonia Li was still not entirely trusted within the group after the disaster that destroyed Titan though the way she had managed to keep Brainiac 5 in check and exhibited a versatile set of abilities had won her over to most of the team. Even with those contributing factors Tinya had been slightly surprised that the former professor at the Time Institute had been voted in as deputy leader.

From within the Dark Circles former base in the Oort Cloud Harmonia Li gave a dispassionate report. The news of a Temporal Vortex created by a sapient console that said it was from the far future and wished to be called Henry wasn’t anything too unusual really, Danielle Foccart’s increased confidence communicating with technology gave Tinya a slight concern though. The child’s abilities had been introduced by Computo and the idea that that rogue psychopathic AI might somehow still be inside or even take control over Jacque’s sister was worrying. When Harmonia casually mentioned that the Lost team had been returned Jo and Ayla both rushed over to join Tinya, all three asking questions into the holo-feed simultaneously.

“Where were they?”
“Are they alright?”
“Why didn’t you tell us this first?”

Harmonia cut through their conversation to say that Drura Sehpt and Laurel Kent had also rejoined them, along with an angry girl from Gate’s reality who called herself Inferno. The Legionnaires on the cruiser were excitedly chatting amongst themselves as the deputy leader dropped her bombshell.

“Dox has also seen fit to save Kara Zor-El from her apparent death at the hands of the Anti-Monitor.”

“What?”
“Is that possible?”

“Oh goddess, that idiot! Vi, is everyone aboard? We need to get to the Oort Cloud now.”

The Science Police took the captive into their craft. He was still unconscious from M’Windaji’s blow but the SP’s weren’t taking any chances and a medical officer scanned the older man and programmed a hypo from the readings. A quick injection into his arm and they were assured he’d remain asleep for a further four hours. Enough time to figure how to deal with him, especially since the Academy student had told them that he scented magic on the unknown man.

As the local newsfeed had alerted the public to potential Legion activity crowds had grown in the Lustgarten and while the tutor wanted to meet his adoring public he had decided to take the students and leave in case anyone was hurt inadvertently in the crush.

As the Science Police cruiser lifted off the onboard medic took his helmet off and swept the thin layer of sweat from his brow. He knew they were super stars and all that but Legionnaires made him nervous. Those affiliated with though not quite full member like those Substitutes and the Academy kids even more so. Disasters had a way of following them around and three years off retiring he didn’t want to miss out on the chance of taken off from this system and settling somewhere a good bit more peaceful on a full pension.

As he studied the hard light read out he didn’t notice behind him a woman in a gray uniform with a Dark Circle motif grow from out of a speck. He didn’t even hear a thing as she drew her knife. The first thing the medic knew of the intruder was when he felt the blade slide into his back and puncture his left kidney. As the blade tore upwards he tried to scream but her hand held his mouth tightly. His last thought was that it was surprising how gently she placed him on the floor.

The alarm on the cruiser rang out with an ear splitting screech.

The medics vital signs were, like all Science Police staff, being monitored while he was on a mission. The craft's interior auto-defense system kicked in but it was already too late. The assassin had already beheaded the unconscious man that her faction of the Dark Circle had been desperately throwing their resources at throughout this world to find. With her job complete she shrunk down into the molecules of the floor below and vanished.

Thanks again Raz,

TW was always shown as astute if not entirely well educated - he made a couple of comments during the Who is Sensor Girl storyline that pointed towards her real identity - so it made sense he'd think about Laurels unique metabolism.

I was thinking about what it must be like to be of human stock and arriving on 30th C Earth and it struck me that the incredible history on display in the very buildings would be amazing. Bbob was lucky enough to receive that bit of character development purely because other than being a glory seeking loser he didn't seem to have much of a personality. Glad you liked it.

Things will come to a head soon with Kara, don't worry she won't be ignored.

I've kind of thought of this storyline (from the first post involving Projectra) as a twelve issue miniseries to reintroduce the team - we're on about issue 7 or 8 right now by my reckoning so we're on the way to a hopefully climatic ending.

Thanks again Raz, appreciate your feedback.

Sade with a flight ring!

Crystal Kid's appreciation of architecture makes sense, given his powers. Cool!

Nice moment between Tyroc and Jacques. I think we take for granted how sensitive and friendly a soul Jacques is, and this moment highlighted it perfectly.

Agree on the Brin moment

KARA!!! Oh my gosh!!!

Bless you, for including Jazmin now too! Along with Zoe and Jenni, all three really deserve to be in the Legion too

The cruiser scanner identified 2,843 human life signs.

Chuck breathed a sigh of relief, he had been worried they were away to enter a site of a massacre. There was a concentration of almost 500 people in what appeared to be the central square of the small outpost on the edge of the Alaska Range so he manually directed the craft to fly over the top of them. The town’s square appeared neat with hedges running around its perimeter and areas for picnics in the summer and shelters for the winter months. Picturesque, reminiscent of a less hurried time he thought. With a weariness that he didn’t really feel Chuck thought it was time to see what was going on. He ordered the auto pilot to land the cruiser outside of the town and await further instructions and leapt out of the craft as it swooped over the crowds gathering below.

Jazmin Cullen flew close to the edge of the terrace of houses towards the center of the town. Apart from deserted streets there had been nothing out of the ordinary to see, no bodies, no wreckage, no screaming scared crowds wildly fleeing imminent death, basically none of the expected signs of a meta human incursion that Durgo had trained them to be watchful of at any rate. Instead there was nothing. No people, no automated services, no movement other than the trees swaying slightly in the breeze. It made it somehow feel worse. Jazmin had grown up as part of a military family where there was no time for crying so had grown to be a determined and emotionally controlled young woman. Even so there was an unshakable sense of dread, a shadow on the edge of her emotional vision if you like, that kept her pulse racing. Why was she doing this? To prove to that nass head James that she could beat his invitation to join the Amazer program? She was putting herself at risk to show her brother she was somehow better? The uncomfortable feeling in Jazmin’s stomach grew and she nervously looked over her shoulder across the town’s roofs. What the sprock was she doing here?

Doctor Kent Shakespeare wondered for the fiftieth time in the last week what he was doing here. Well not here specifically, but affiliated with the Legion. Professor Dox had taken a particular interest in his case when he had been infected a few years ago by that unknown pathogen from the Gorilla Nebulae and had encouraged and supported the young, and very scared, young man for several months while he went through quarantine and then spent a further month on Medicus One under the watchful eye of Dr Gym’ll. It was Dr Gym’ll who inspired the young Kent to follow his interest into the medical fields. Specializing in xeno-biology had been an obvious route to follow and with the publishing of his thesis on the Terran muta-gene Professor Dox had somehow become re-acquainted and before he knew it here he was. Somehow gone from the son of an explorer to a scared and infected teenager to a patient of one of the most exclusive doctors in this sector to a doctor himself to staff at the Legion Academy to an active adventurer helping the Legion out while it dealt with serious matters off planet. What was he doing here? The large man sat on the edge of a small wall and sighed, he’d never truly felt in control of his life and if ever he needed proof that it was spiraling out of control here he was living it. His large hands cupped his face as he started to weep.

Even as he dove towards the crowd Chuck Taine knew what to expect. He had felt this before and it wasn’t pleasant then and had left him shaken for several days afterwards. This time he knew that he could get through it if he kept his focus. The crowds below were obvious towns folk in a wide range of clothing all knelt in supplication before a single woman dressed in gray with a black circle across her chest. The woman watched Chuck as he dove towards them. Her white hair was tied back in a single ponytail though loose strands blew across her face. Bouncing Boy recognised her immediately. When they had met before she had appeared humble and modest to Chuck and part of his mind anxiously worried what the Dark Circle could have done to drive the Legion’s former ally Psyche of the Wanderers to act in such an appalling manner. Swerving off from the crowd Bouncing Boy flew out towards the mixture of buildings that surrounded the square.

“You will return here and adore me.” Her voice sounded colder than the wind that currently blew from the mountains to their north.

“No!” Chuck inflated and with killer precision rebounded from a nearby building to collide into her knocking her clean off her feet and into a hedgerow. There was a loud crack as she tumbled over the hedge and landed solidly on the pavement behind. The crowds in the square started to rise, dazed and confused to find themselves here. Chuck flew over the hedge and picked up the unconscious villain.

“Sorry Psyche but there’s only one woman who I’ll ever adore and if you knew her like I do you’d understand why I’m unlikely to ever argue with her about that.”

On the planetoid previously commandeered by the dark Circle Brin Londo carefully placed Laurel Kent underneath a six foot square lamp that pumped out heat and light. He had rudely trodden down the flowering plants underneath it to form a soft surface for the unconscious time stranded ex Academy student. As he placed her down she started to stir, her eyelids fluttered and she muttered something to herself. Brin looked around and found a water tap. Quickly wiping his hands to went back and softly placed his damp palm on her forehead.

“Hmm ...’s nice...” She started to sit up but when she opened her eyes fully she let out a yell and punched the Legionnaire fully on the face, snapping his head around.

“What the flo... Brin? Is that you? Where am I?” With effort she pulled herself onto her feet and looked up into the eyes of the Legionnaire standing over her.

“Ah... Laurel, look this is going to sound weird but it’s been years since any of us last saw you. In fact the last time was when a Manhunter claiming to be you tried to kill us. Umm.... do you want to put some clothes on?” Timber Wolf pulled off his top and handed it to the naked student.

“Thanks.... um... so what’s going on?” Her voice rose up at the end of the sentence in, what Brin thought sounded a little like the beginnings of hysteria. She reached across to take the Legionnaires top and flung it over her head. It hung long enough that she could wear it as a short dress. Timber Wolf could see she looked confused and in an aid to helping her feel safe he compassionately put his arm gently around the lithe girl’s shoulders as he briefly filled her in on the salient facts. Laurel pulled his hand to her face and rested her cheek on it.

“This sucks Brin, but what about my dad? Didn’t he go looking for me?”

“Laurel, we went looking for the contacts and references from your academy application and couldn’t find any of them. According to the records we researched they never existed. We thought the Manhunter was you and that all the people you referenced were false, created by her to get into the Academy and spy on us. I’m really sorry....”

“What? My family can trace their roots to the 20th century, you know that as well as anyone. You’ve met my great great whatever grandfather... you fought beside him, he was your friend!” Tears stood out in her eyes and her expression had changed from shock and confusion to anger.

Brin remained silent and waited for any further outbursts but the invulnerable descendant of Earth’s most famous hero stayed quiet too and just stared into the hydroponics unit at their side. After a couple of minutes she looked up at the Legionnaire again and asked:

“What am I supposed to do now?”

Brin paused for a couple of seconds before replying, “You stay with us now Laurel, at least until we figure out what happened to your family. You're right, I’m .... we're all owe Super Man a huge debt so it’s only fair we begin to repay that today, with you, his granddaughter.”

The lithe girl put her arms around the Legionnaire's torso and buried her face in his broad chest and wept.

The cruiser turned around and immediately returned to Berlinopolis.

“How the heck did that happen?” Bbob Khan asked the Science Police officer’s holo that had just informed them that their suspect had been beheaded within the SPs own ship.

“Our internal scanners didn’t pick up the attacker at all. They must have some cloaking technology...” The young officer looked away momentarily in embarrassment.

“That’s okay, we have the best darn tracker this side of Dawnstar with us so we won’t let them get away again. Ain’t that right M’Windagereenooni?”

Sade and M’Windaju shared a glance as they sat behind the Crystal Kid. He may be their tutor at the academy but he had a lot to learn about inspiring trust in those under him. The cruiser once again settled gently down beside the Lustgarten and they disembarked. Before them a Science Police cruiser with ten officers stood around its circumference obviously standing guard. M’Windaji walked up to the nearest officer and, after showing his flight ring for identification, asked to be shown onto the ship. Sade followed her fellow student. Crystal Kid, pointing towards the crowds being held back by an SP exclusion field, asked if they would be okay as he wanted to check to see if there were any witnesses. The students were both grateful to have permission to act independently. While neither disliked their tutor they both felt that he maybe hadn’t had the life experience they both had had before joining the Academy. M’Windaji thanked Crystal Kid for having faith in their abilities and strode into the anti grav stream closely followed by Sade.

“He’s such an ass.” Sade spoke quietly though Gahaji heard and snorted a laugh in agreement.

On board the ship they were quickly shown to the sealed off medi-bay where M’Windaji quickly ascertained that their quarry was already out of this room and had moved into the vehicle. He had their scent now so they would find them soon and ensure they were brought to justice. As they walked towards the anti grav lift Sade asked:

“You don’t really smell your quarry do you Gahaji? Is it a psychic gift you have, isn’t it?”

“Magical originally, my forefathers had the same gift given by our people’s shaman. We settled in a remote system where the old ways of the Spirit Talkers weren’t watered down by science and the talent continued down to me. The Legion is one of the few places were the mystical isn’t scoffed at so it seemed to make sense I try out here if I am to be successful in the wider universe. What about you Sade?”

“Cybernetics and bad luck really. You got their scent now?” Her attempt at changing the topic of conversation did not go unnoticed though Gahaji chose not to comment. Instead the young tracker concentrated and started down the corridor, past the SP’s forensics team’s force field cordon and into a small storage room that housed the police teams armour and weaponry.

“You have your guns, right?”

Sade drew both pistols and flamboyantly spun them around her fingers, “Always ...”

The young tracker pounced into a corner and drew out a utility belt, holding tightly to one of the pouches, though as he did it started to expand and within a second a small person had burst out and was increasing size rapidly.

The size changing assassin never reached their full size in a conscious state as Sade coolly took aim and fired.

Hi IB, thanks for your support.

Sade with a flight ring - scary thought eh?

I keep trying to put in little interpersonal moments, like Jacques and Try, or like Brin and Laurel above as ultimately what I like about the team more so than any other comic group I know is they are friends who support each other even if they don't really get on or agree with each other.

Kara is back for sure, more on her next time.

Lots of new/old faces are going to turn up soon as after this story finishes it's try out time !

Thanks again

Cx

Ontiir opened his eyes.

His sense of smell had already informed him that he was alone – the Vortex control would be close by. The foolish Legionnaires had left him here thinking he was unconscious while they dealt with their own needs. The Tsaurian lumbered to his feet, his arm still held tightly by a Science Police restrain yolk, he smiled coolly. He had worked within the security services of the United Planets for many years and still possessed some of the technology he had acquisitioned in that time. Stretching his fingers out he lightly prodded a pouch on his belt until he found what he was searching for; a small metallic box, no bigger than his thumb with three buttons on one end. Despite being unable to see it Ontiir knew exactly what to do. He held the box within his strong fingers and tapped a code with the nail of his thumb onto the three buttons. The Science Police restrain yolk pinged to itself as the Dark Circle operative overrode it’s programming, unfolding itself from across his shoulders and releasing his arms, it dropped to the floor with a thud.

Stretching his arms in relief Ontiir started to walk towards the strange organic looking control panel that manipulated the temporal vortex.

“Now I will sshow them that the Dark ssCircle is not to be trifled with.”

“No Ontiir you won’t. I won’t allow it.”

The reptilian spun around and came face to face with a young man, bald and wearing a red and blue outfit with a darkened visor covering much of his face. Ontiir swung out but his hands passed right through the young man’s torso.

“Hah, a holo, you’ll never ssstop me!”

“No Ontiir, I am not a holo. I’m the life force that commands the vortex, I am Henry.”

As if to emphasize the point the vortex started to roar, the darkened room once again being thrown into stark relief by the swirling light spinning from the event horizon that had materialized within it. From within the twisting mass of energy a blast of heat swept into the room.

“Henry? The child called the control panel Henry....”

“I was a Legionnaire once before, they may not remember me but I am still one of them.” The holo man held up his right hand, a flight ring clearly on display.

“You gave me the army to defeat my enemiess!”

“No, I gave you the army to destroy your own vile organisation. History says the Dark Circle imploded at this time and never regained prominence again. I gave you the means to destroy yourself and you’re too greedy and arrogant to notice... don’t you see you’ve destroyed the organisation you worked so hard to take over. You are pathetic Ontiir, history will treat you as a joke!”

The Tsaurian flung himself at the holo, screaming in rage as he flew. Ontiir passed through and collided face first into a pillar behind the image of the bald man knocking himself unconscious in the process. The holo turned and smiled at the once again asleep Tsaurian.

“Good riddance bad rubbish... ”

The mauve skinned young man had valiantly fought through the swarming mass of Starburst Bandits as he searched for his husband. Tel Vole had been struggling at the heart of a huge mass of the flaming raiders and by shifting his mass between intangible and diamond hard Jed Rikane had gotten far enough into the swarm to protect Tel’s back as the gravity manipulator stretched his abilities to their limits to repulse a wave of around three hundred Bandits.

Mandalla had been using her psychic abilities to turn groups of the Bandits against their comrades and Berta Harris-Skye had arrived with armed Science Police reinforcements and the twister she summoned from the heavens helped delay the attacking force. But still, almost three thousand solar blasting Starburst Bandits and their fiery mounts fell from the sky onto this one section of this most distant world with the ferocity of a biblical plague.

One stray blast and Tari Wahlmunn fell. As her psionic hallucinations faded the Starburst Bandits she had been manipulating came to their senses and turned their attention away from attacking their swarm back to the assassination they had been charged with. On the surface the automated defenses were being overrun by the sheer force of numbers. The Bandits were blasting cells indiscriminately, killing their residents and any guards they encountered. Several SP cruisers were in the air valiantly tying to even the numbers but of the twelve that initially attacked the swarm, within a minute they were all felled by concentrated attacks from hundreds of Bandits.

Wildfire and Dawnstar arrived in just enough time to save Jed Rikane and Tel Vole’s lives. Drake Burroughs flew straight into the heart of the swarm blasting everything in his way. Dawnstar had told him where he would locate the two ex-academy students before veering off from the attack and flying around the edge of the swarm knocking every Bandit she could flying off of their mounts. At the supersonic speeds she was traveling at the sonic booms that heralded her arrival did most of the work.

“Jed!” Wildfire shouted, “Get out of here man, quick, I’m going to bring these bastards down.”

Unbelieving, Power boy looked up through the attacking swarm and could see the distinctive orange and red of his former tutor, the legionnaire Wildfire. But...but Wildfire and his team had been lost almost two years ago?

“Jed! Move it babes,” Tel Vole looked exhausted as he pushed downwards with his gravity manipulating power, dragging his husband behind him. Jed put his arm around Tel and pushed. They both dropped through the scattering swarm and had almost reached the ground when they heard a tremendous explosion from above. The pressure blast knocked them onto a walkway between two buildings.

“Quick, get cover!” Jed pushed Tel under a doorway of a municipal building as around them Starburst Bandits fell from the sky, blasted unconscious as Wildfire explosively tore out of his protective containment suit. As the swarm was blasted apart Dawnstar continued her hypersonic attack knocking any stragglers aside.

Jed peered out from under the protection of the door and was nearly hit by a falling mass of bodies.

“Damn! It is any wonder we never made it into the Legion? They’ve almost cleaned up between the two of them.” He said to no-one in particular, his face a mixture of exhaustion and awe.

As the mark viii cruiser settled down onto the central landing bay Phantom Girl phased through the floor and straight through to the tunnels that riddled the planetoid below.

“She’s pissed!”

“Understatement Vi.” Jo Nah looked concerned as he spoke to his Imskian teammate. Tinya was one of the most centered and compassionate people he had ever met – and he knew that since joining the Legion he had the privilege to meet a lot of people who could take that title – but he had never seen her this angry before.

“You’d better get after her Jo, we’ll sort things out at this end.”

Jo saluted Salu Digby and blurred out of the control deck at ultra-speed.

Within the planetoid Tinya Wazzo’s flight ring led her to her Coluan comrade. She phased through the floors and walls until she reached a large sterile looking medical facility. Inside Harmonia Li stood reading a screen, Danielle Foccart appeared to be staring into space while Brainiac 5 lent over a prone figure on a couch.

“Brainy! What the sprock do you think you are doing?”

By now the Legion leader was beside Querl Dox, her finger pointing in his face.

“You know we can’t just pluck people out of the timestream when we fancy it, even people we love. Especially... especially Kara, you knew her history from the moment she joined us, you arrogant bastard, why are you doing this?”

As she finished her tirade it was obvious tears were forming in her eyes. Tinya Wazzo had been part of the team that invited Super Girl into the Legion and she had immediately realized that the young Kryptonian would not only be a team mate but also friend and a role model. Kara’s trust and confidence in her teammates had helped cement those early bonds that made the Legion a family to Tinya, and all the while they all knew she was destined to be killed at one particular point in history. They had celebrated Super Girl’s life and grieved her loss in equal measure and to this day there was a dark place in Tinya’s heart where Kara’s loss still hurt.

Brainiac 5 looked at his comrade, blinking several times as she finished.

“Tinya, so long as Kara does not return to her previous life I’ve calculated she will be fine. I’ve discerned that the temporal ....”

“Damn you, you cannot do this! Sort it out Querl, sort it today or I swear you’ll be on Talkon-Galtos by the end of the week. I’ll lock your cell myself, you understand me? She was supposed to die! We lost her already Querl, we’ve lost her already!”

Tears streamed down her cheeks as Tinya raged. Brainiac 5 noticed that Phantom Girl, for all her rage, had not actually looked at Super Girl as she lay underneath the yellow sunlamp recovering from her horrific injuries. Danielle Foccart had been speaking quietly to herself and they had only just realized it.

“Danielle?”

“It’s Henry, he needs to talk to you both. He says if you don’t listen everything will be lost.”

“Henry? What is ....?”

“It’s the temporal vortex control, it’s sapient and it talks to Danielle.” Harmonia Li answered as she wrapped an arm lightly around the obviously upset child.

“He’s saying you need to listen now, not fight.”

Tinya quickly wiped the tears from her eyes as she replied, “Okay Danielle, it’s going to be fine. Brainy just made a mistake....”

“No Ms Wazzo, Henry says he didn’t. You need to talk to Henry in the control room and he’ll explain everything to you. Please....”

OMG I can't believe the twist with Henry....if that's who I think it must be, I am once again stunned and eagerly waiting to see what happens next!

Other bits I really liked: Ontiir being dangerous even when captured...makes sense that someone who was a double agent for so long would have some sneaky tricks up his sleeve!

Also I think the way you showed how effective Wildfire & Dawny were compared to the Academy kids was really well done....like Jed's reaction showed, there should be a difference between Legionnaires and those who didn't make the grade but I liked that the Academy kids weren't nerfed to make that point.

Oh, and Tinya's reaction to Kara was well done too...we never really see Kara's relationship with anyone else on the team outside of Brainy, it makes sense that one of her super-girlfriends would be very emotionally attached