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

The Science Police and UP Council were not entirely convinced but didn’t know what else to do.

The five Dark Circle supporting Legionnaires from alternate realities had been transported in individual ships under heavy guard to the planetoid in the Oort cloud where they had first arrived in this reality. Despite the high tech restraints and assurances from the Legion about the safety of the operation there was a palpable tension in the air. The five beings that had caused such problems on Earth were each marched down the winding corridors to the temporal vortex chamber where Harmonia Li, Chameleon Boy, Ultra Boy, Danielle Foccart, Gates and the newly discovered girl called Inferno waited for them. The holo of the man called Henry stood before the vortex; for all the world he looked as calm as a proud Maitre’d awaiting his favourite patrons to take their seats.

A force field corridor created by the asteroid’s AI stood shimmering between the Legionnaires of this reality and the swirling maw of the temporal vortex.

The Dark Circle Chameleon Girl was the first to arrive. Her head was covered in a high tech restraint that had wires extend down her back and along her limbs. Six Science Police walked alongside her with one behind carrying a small hard light control panel.

“We’re keeping her unconscious, I’m controlling her movements.” Shvaughn Erin’s voice was recognizable through her white and navy SP armor.

“Bye bye you fugly saddo!” Inferno waves sarcastically as the Durlan walks into the vortex, her manacles fall to the floor as she vanishes and the temporal rift shrinks back down to the size of a fist in the air.

“No need giving them our technology.” Henry says it almost casually as the SP officer nearest picks up the manacles

Mon El and the academy student Dragonmage follow the Daxamite Legionnaire’s counterpart, who also wore the SP’s limb controlling manacles. Next the alternate Colossal Boy is crossed back to his home reality followed in short order by their Shrinking Violet. As each one walks into the Vortex Sandy Anderson makes a comment. “See ya durj breath!”, “Don’t rush back now Squajj face!”, “Later’s you freaky loser!”.

“By their realities rules we are the criminals, they are doing what they have been trained to do which was exactly as we would if we were summoned by an alternate realities plea for help. And to humiliate one’s opponents after their defeat is a particularly juvenile act Miss Anderson unworthy of a Legionnaire. If you wish to remain with this Legion you must start acting appropriately.” Harmonia levels a flat gaze at Inferno and the young girl stops, puts her hands behind her back and looks at the floor in embarrassment.

Professor Aven and four of his hand-picked staff accompanied the alternate Psyche into the vortex room. His face is stern with concentration making it obvious that this Dark Circle alternate Legionnaire was not unconscious like her comrades and resisted the psionics that were attempting to keep her prodigious abilities in check. After she had stepped through the swirling vortex Professor Aven turned to the Legionnaires and gave a weak smile.

“She was a fierce opponent Legionnaires, her mind was polluted with dark dogma and greed....”

“Professor Aven, you and your staff are welcome to rest here until you are ready to return to your craft.” The old telepath nodded his thanks and the five staff from the Titanian Psi Institute were led away to a nearby room to rest by Chameleon Boy.

“Henry...” Danielle’s voice was small but the holo man from the 75th Century appeared at her side and gently inquired what she wanted.

“Why did we need to bring them here? You can go where ever you like can’t you?”

“Ha, well... yes I can Danielle but it is taxing and leaves me weak against any....”

The deputy leader interrupted, ”Could you return all of the Starburst Bandits to their correct reality and places in history?”

“Harmonia, my apologies but the risks are just too huge, it may leave me unprotected against outside forces.”

“So maybe if you transported a thousand at a time? Otherwise we’ll be shipping them out of here for the next three months.”

“I could though you must understand it can alert others of my presence. There are realities where we would be seen as an easy target and until the Time Institute has the beacon in order it is difficult to navigate my way through these otherworlds.”

“That’s a risk we need to take I think. We’ll make sure the portals you raise are protected so if you could arrange that I’ll contact Chief Cusimano and start transferring the prisoners this afternoon.”

The holo looked distinctly vexed as he gave a grudging nod to the Legion’s deputy leader.

General Zod wore armor made of a smoky dark crystal that, were it not for the rough hewn representation of his face upon the front of the head, would have made him look like an insect of scary proportions. Laurel knew from her extensive history lessons these were the armors that the Kryptonian Army wore into battle when they fought in lethal environments.

The things that puzzled her though were why the Kryptonians had chosen to climb into them and what they were so scared of that the three ruthless beings before her now chose to wear them. Her psychometric abilities had shown her that for almost the last year they had not left their protective crystal cocoons. Something else else was most definitely wrong here!

“You were not alone coming here little girl. Why did you try to fool us?”

Before them a holo erupted into the air showing Brin Londo unconscious and wrapped in crystal strands that bit dangerously into his flesh.

“Didn’t you think we would protect our territory?” Non’s deep voice carried his disgust. Laurel knew she had to do something quickly to distract them or the situation would quickly escalate but before she could act Ursa grabbed her by the hair and flung her rudely onto the granite floor before the Kryptonian general.

“Your comrade is one of the damned Legionnaires. We know of their disgusting team...”

“You are correct, he is. I’m not and you have to help me... please....” tears burst from her eyes as Laurel started to cry, “...you are my only hope.”

hey y'all, apologies for the delay between posts but those pesky real life things kept interrupting. Anyway, theres five posts above to hopefully keep you going until the next lot.

Yay, more Legion Worlds!

Laurel and Brin continue to be an awesome pair and I'm really enjoying the juxtaposition between those two and Brainy & Kara

I like how you're paying homage to Kara's very important role in Crisis. I agree that her "death" would have been a very important galvanizing point for the 20th century heroes, and I love how you used her "death" to ensure she could - and should, from Brainy's analysis - remain in the 31st century.

The Laurel/Brin plot continues to be very intriguing!

Also like how Henry is sticking around.

Harmonia telling off Inferno, and acting like a good Deputy Leader, is welcome. Inferno must have mellowed down a bit though, as I'm surprised she was cowed by Harmonia so easily.

The crystal threads that wrapped around Timber Wolf kept him suspended upside down underneath the Kryptonian despots floating security device and cut into his shoulders, chest, forehead, arms and legs. Blood oozed from a cut across his chest, dripping down to his chin, it dribbled down to pool in his left eye socket before running down his brow to drip metronome like onto the dry ground below. Brin had quickly learned that he was not strong enough to break the threads and the more he struggled the more they cut into him. He recalled Val teaching him how to centre himself... breathe deep, slow, hold... release.
Breathe deep, slow, hold...release.
Breathe deep, slow, hold... release.

Breathe deep, slow, hold... release.
Using his flight ring to float enough stop his weight from dragging him down and being sliced like over ripe fruit through the crystal strands that held him here Brin tried to hold onto his consciousness. His body needed to heal before he would be anywhere ready to deal with the situation.
Breathe deep, slow, hold... release.

Breathe deep, slow, hold... release.
Through the haze of pain Brin could hear movement below him. Opening his right eye to peer down the Legionnaire was horrified to see the former academy student that had led him here pointing towards the Legion cruiser and signalling for three armored beings to follow as she led the way towards it. Without thinking Brin starts to shout towards Laurel but the crystal threads cut deeply across his chest and face and his concern turns to a fresh wave of crippling pain.

As he slowly regained control of his breathing it struck Brin that maybe this was Laurel’s plan all along. The time displaced young girl was looking for someone of Kryptonian heritage, just not her father. What if she is still the Manhunter and wants to release these thugs as part of her plan? The mists thicken and fade, thicken and fade… Breathe deep, slow, hold... release.

Breathe deep, slow, hold... release.

Is this what passes for time in this damned place that time forgot?

Brin realised he had faded out of consciousness and his focus on the flight ring had slipped as the crystal threads once again started to bite against his skin. He hears voices but they aren’t familiar. Are there more Kryptonians?

“Hey here he is. Candi, I’m going to need your help here doll, he’s tangled up good.”

“Comin’ sweetie…. Oh my, the poor dear, look at that! James, you are holding him in stasis aren’t you? He doesn’t look like he could cope with any more blood loss. Here let me snap those dreadful ties…”

“And I can find time to help this poor soldier when exactly? I mean, he was only under the UP’s finest neural surgeon on Mons Olympus in a better medi-bay than we have, but I’m sure I can do something… just as well I only have thirty six other priories to deal with today….” Querl complained to himself as his hands flew across the hard light screen.

Thom had warned Grava not to talk; their resident Coluan genius loved to moan almost as much as he loved the challenge. Grava smiled at Thom as they walked out of the small medi-bay on the newly christened Legion World. As the door swooped shut she put her arms around him and spun him in the air.

“You are outer-galactic!”

“Yeah, well… umm… can you let go now please… umm… “

“Thomas Kallor… “ Nura’s voice, clear and obviously mocking echoes along the hallway.

Grava let go of Thom and quickly flew into the air towards Nura, inadvertently spraying the corridor behind her with her comet gasses.

“D..D..Dream Girl, wait, oh this is dead star dreadful, I din’t mean anything but your stellaroptic man just went totally like beyond the C-Speed limit for me and…

“Grava, it’s okay, I’m only teasing you…”

“I’m so sorry… so sorry…”

In between coughing Thom Kallor laughed.

“Thom darling, if you have quite finished giving your attention to another woman....” Nura Nal looked through drooping lashes at her partner, the edges of a teasing smile on her lips.

“Oh Dream Girl I’m so sorry....”

“Grava! Stop it, Nura’s only teasing me, honest. Now, if you don’t mind we need to speak... in private.” Thom Kallor's voice was firm.

Comet Queen finally realized that the Naltorian Legionnaire was not serious and as the blush crept into her face she said a quick goodbye and flew down the corridor leaving Star Boy and Dream Girl the peace and quiet they required.

“How did you know we’d be here Nura?” Thom asks with a big smile as he starts hugging his lover.

“Precognition is such a handy talent darling. Now do you want to know what else I foresaw?” The grin she shared was positively electric.

Brin sat in a recovery tank on board the Amazer’s space ship talking to the huge green skinned girl that had snapped the cutting crystal threads that had strung him up like a trapped Swamp-dog. She had introduced herself as Candi, the Monstress, and a member of the Amazer Initiative of Xanthu. Timber Wolf had heard of the program the Xanthui government had started a couple of years ago, Star Boy had given a report at one of the Legion’s meetings he was sure, but he had assumed it had been quietly dropped as they hadn’t heard much since. Guess the Legion wasn’t as aware of other meta-being teams as they thought. Xanthu it seemed had an active group that involved this woman who was at least as strong as Ultra Boy!

“You know Marak don’t you? Atmos? He’s out there...” she waved vaguely towards the mighty craft’s bulkheads, “Bless him, he’s mopping up after your colleague blew up your ship, she’ll be fine though. Very brave of her wasn’t it?”

“What do you mean Candi? I was the only Legionnaire...”

“Laurel Kent... Shield... I think she called herself that. Didn’t you know? She’s upstairs waiting to hear back from your leader. Wait a sec.” The gigantic girl turned and motioned a nearby comm unit into life. “Hey there sweetie, have you heard anything yet?”

“Yeah, hi Candi. Tinya is on her way now with a team, we’ll only be bugging you for another hour or so then we’ll be on our way...”

“It’s our pleasure Laurel. Anyway your colleague is conscious and....”

“Brin! Fabulous! I’ll be right down.” There was a cracking noise and the comm. Unit went dead.

Twenty seconds later Laurel Kent barreled through the med-bay doors and ran up to the recovery tank. Slapping her palms against the glass she eagerly started talking to the recuperating Legionnaire.

“We did it Brin! We beat Zod and his cronies... we did it!” The slender girl looked as if she was verging on hysteria she was so happy.

Wearily, though with a lopsided grin, Brin said “What happened Laurel? You helped them get out of the Zone...”

”You distracted them perfectly and I told them I needed their help escaping from you. They didn’t realise that I could read their history from their armors.” She waved her arms excitedly as she spoke.

“Whoah Laurel, what do you mean?”

“It’s like Henry said, with the Time Beacon off the dimensions are weaker and somehow ours and theirs have started to collapse so Time itself started leaking through. They were aging Brin, for the first time in millennia time was catching up with them so they climbed into their armors before they were reduced to dust. The armors linked to their neural pathways but as their bodies faded their personalities took over the circuitry. That was all that was left of them and I read it when I touched them Brin! I knew that there was only an old Brown Dwarf on the other side of the dimensional rifts so they wouldn’t be able to charge up and all I need to do was incapacitate them so I blew up the ship and sent a distress call.” Laurel had said this in one breath, her eagerness to share her excitement was, Brin thought, very endearing.

“You couldn’t have simply locked them in the cargo bay?” He gave her a teasing smile.

“Well... Kryptonian Battle Armor is really tough you know, they could burst out easily... But without yellow star radiation they would never get anywhere in space so I hit the auto destruct and ran for an escape pod. The Amazers were already looking for us....”

“That nice Coluan called and asked if we could.” The Monstress’ rich voice interjected.

“But...Laurel what about your father?”

“Yeah... He.. I reckon was never there Brin, the warp didn't open until about 9 months ago so I’ll just have keep looking I guess.” The academy student looked suddenly deflated after her earlier elation.

“We, Laurel, we will keep looking for him. I told you, Legionnaires look after their own.”

Saskia Montague-Brunlry-Frogeside joined Dirk into the small sub- lab on the underground level.

Dirk pushed his flight ring from his finger and tossed it casually towards a large silver disc that rotated slowly above a bank of instruments. The ring floated gently a few centimetres from the centre of the disc and a string of flashing pulses were exchanged between the two.

“Watch the holo Saskia, you’ll understand my skepticism about your claims... not that my father was one of your operatives but that he died because of it.”

“Oh, okay Dirk, though I’m not sure what...”

“Brainy has built a scanning function into the rings. It can help us with evidence if we ever get called to court, saves time y’know.” Dirk smiles quickly though Saskia can see his eyes are still full of anger and grief.

“We don’t need to do this Dirk, if you like...”

“Watch.”

A holo rose before them of the apartment where Derek Margna’s body had been found. Saskia was momentarily alarmed as she realized it was unlikely she would ever go back there. Without Derek waiting for her there was no need to. The holo ran through a range of colours and perspectives before finally freezing on one aspect. It showed a pane of glass in one of the huge windows that overlooked the park below.

“So, a multi-spectra scanning range. Very sophisticated but what does this prove Dirk?”

“Look at this pattern here.” Dirk pointed to a squiggly line that as it came into focus she could see became almost an outline of a hand. “You know what this is? It’s microscopic deposits of irradiated gold.”

“What does this have to do with Derek... your father?”

“Well, certain enemies use distinctive technologies and Brainy had the rings scanners look for them in amongst all of the other tricks it does and there’s one person who uses this technology that we know. This is his way of telling me he was there. My father’s spying for your organization wasn't at all responsible for his death, I believe he was killed by Zaxton Regulus. I think it’s time I dealt with the sadistic bastard once and for all”

Raz and IB, thanks again for your support. It's been a long time coming but the end of this section is in sight now so I hope you are still reading and enjoying this.

Dr Regulus! I love Dr Regulus! I dunno why because he's not really on the same level as the Fatal Five or Lightning Lord, but I have always really liked him anyway....even though "bad dude involved in hero's origin becomes his nemesis" is as old as the hills, it's actually pretty rare for the Legion. With so many Legionnaires coming from worlds where everyone shares their power, a lot of them don't really have origins as such or a real sense of history prior to joining the team. I think the Dirk/Regulus rivalry is something that should come up as often as Mekt and Garth/Ayla does

Brilliant of you to have Laurel/Shield playing Zod and company for fools! Also love how you have Brin a heroic scene by having him struggle to remain conscious.

Loved Monstress' appearance

The Nura/Thom dynamic is brilliant, and so is your handle on Comet Queen.

And am loving the Dirk plotline too.

Ooh, fun to see a hint of Regulus appearing! I feel bad for killing him off in my own fic recently, without giving him a real chance to shine or getting into his characterization.

Phantom Girl, leading her team of Polar Boy, Gazelle, Shadow Lass and Deathstorm, arrived thirty five minutes later.

There were introductions from both sides. The gentle giant called Monstress was the most star struck by the Legionnaires and interested in the two Khund members. Atmos and Kid Quantum were, Laurel thought, playing it far too cool for school and consequently came across as aloof and shallow. Gazelle and Shadow Lass asked Monstress for a tour of the Xanthui team’s craft while Phantom Girl and Deathstorm followed behind Atmos and Kid Quantum as they led her to Timber Wolf.

Polar Boy casually leant upon a viewing deck, apparently admiring the view of this warped and strange part of space on the very fringes of the galaxy. It was obvious that he wanted to say something. Laurel remained silent, uninterested in what he might say, he thoughts were a jumbled knot of excitement at having survived and incapacitated General Zod and his psychotic followers, and confusion and fear at where her father might be. The former Substitute Legionnaire simply wasn’t that high up on her agenda of issues to deal with right now. Brek Brannin and Laurel Kent had once helped out Cosmic Boy and initially Brek’s positivity had seemed endearing though by the end their little adventure he had annoyed Laurel with his constant references to her costume and heritage. To make matters even more unpleasant, at the end of the day he had attempted to persuade her to join him back to the Sub’s headquarters in Metropolis for the night. Laurel had handed him with her usual tact and after she had finished belly laughing at the short man she found he had left before she could actually say ‘no’. They hadn’t seen each other after that point. She had seen a different side to him that day, the pathological positive side he usual wore had slipped into something that spoke of an unearned right of privilege. She realized then that the determination that had kept the short man from the far edges of civilised space so focused while running the Substitute team ran deeper than the happy to help façade he wore.

“so… you really did it Laurel, eh?”

“Sorry Brek, what?”

“You did it this time eh?”

There was something in his tone that Laurel found worrying, as if he was accusing her of serious misconduct.

“What exactly have I done this time?”

“Blowing up a cruiser, that’s not too clever eh? Expensive things cruisers, there’ll be an investigation for certain now…” His hands were on his hips and he looked at her as if she was something unpleasant to be found on the sole of his boots.

“Listen Polar Boy, I didn’t want to sleep with you while I was at the academy back in the day and d’you know what… I still don’t fancy you so wind your neck in already. Anyway, Brin is twice the man you are… if you know what I mean.” She held her hands apart as if showing the size of an invisible object. Her eyebrows raised mischievously as she pulled her palms further apart.

“Hey just saying sometimes you may need a friend is all…. That’s something you might…. Hey! Brin how are you buddy?”

The Tharrian was facing the corridor as Timber Wolf and the rest of the assembled heroes strode back to join them.

“Not bad buddy, though if it wasn’t for this clever girl’s quick thinking I don’t think I’d be here now.” The Zuunian Legionnaire strode up to Laurel Kent and hugged her tightly.

“You can do this Henry, I’ve asked the AI to pour more power into your matrix.”

Danielle Foccart was standing beside the holo of the man from the future within the central cavern that housed the mushroom shaped console that directed the trans-dimensional warp. The flight ring that Brainiac 5 had insisted she wore bleeped and the Coluan’s voice rang out.

“Henry, if you are ready we have almost four thousand Starburst Bandits waiting to go back where they originated from.”

“Danielle, I really hope you are right as I’ve never tried anything on this scale before….” With that the holo disappeared and the young girl stood in welcome silence.

Outside of the Planetoid within the inner Oort Cloud sixty Science Police and Star Fleet cruiser and prisoner transport ships formed a crescent. Floating in space before them stood Harmonia Li, Ultra Boy, Chameleon Boy, Invisible Kid, Brainiac 5, Lightning Lass, Mon El and Shrinking Violet with the academy students M’Windaji, Otaki and Dragonmage. The eco-protect function on their flight rings kept them safe as a thousand meters before them a warp in the fabric of space opened in a sickening swirling of obscene colours.

From within the largest of the nearby vessels force fields extended out between the cargo doors and the widening rift and out poured hundreds of the recently captured Bandits from the Dark Circle controlled reality. The force field pushed at them as they struggled, firing off their name sake solar charges uselessly.

“The upgrades I gave your science crew work well I see Gim. Your force fields are holding very well.” Brainiac 5 spoke into his flight ring to the former Legionnaire Gim Allon, currently serving on board a Star Fleet ship not three kilometres from him.

“They look great Brainy, the tech’s said they had never seen such an efficient system before.”

“Simple Coluan intra-spacial pizoelectric circuitry coupled with a Strange Loop Redemption Filter and a Titanian Do-matrix . Basic stuff really.”

As they spoke the first mass of Bandits fell through the rift and were gone. The Rift vanished almiost immediately and the holo known as Henry popped up before the Legionnaires.

“Actually, that wasn’t too bad. Who’s next?”

Over the next forty five minutes special warps spun into existence before almost forty of the cruisers and transport vessels and masses of the Starburst Bandits and their fiery steeds were flung back to their home dimensions. With only a third of the ships left to disgorge their captured cargo Henry announced that he had a problem, “Someone is pushing back through.”

The Legionnaires, after being very casual suddenly sprung into action, joined by their former member Gim Allon, to guard the next warp as it was carefully opened. Despite Henry’s fears they had nothing to worry about as the Starburst Bandits were yet again pushed through the space warp. After eight more warps had been opened, Henry had given a warning that he felt something coming yet nothing arrived and hundreds of their opponents had been sent home the Legionnaires once again began to look casual, their eager battle positions were less tense and they were once again chatting amongst themselves when suddenly the warp pulsed with an ugly violet light and a body tore through and blasted into their space. Henry yelled as if he had been struck.

Ultra Boy and Mon El were the first to confront their intruder.

Before them floated a curled up body of a man in a metallic costume that looked at best only half conscious.

“Andy? Oh Dragon’s teeth it’s Andrew Nolan!” Ultra Boy swooped in to cradle the body of the former teammate whom they all believed had given his life to stop the Sun Eater many years before.

“No… not… Andy,” came a soft and battered sounded voice from the figure, “Douglas….am I home….?”

“Nura, are you sure?”

“Thom... of course I’m sure, you don’t think I’d make this up do you?”

There were tears in both Legionnaire’s eyes as they looked across the table at each other. They sat in a secluded booth at one of Londonopolis’ premier restaurants overlooking the surprisingly clean looking Thames. It cheerfully scattered light in every direction off its wind tussled ripples as it had on sunny days for millennia before. Thom Kallor didn’t notice. The Legionnaire from Xanthu felt his perception close down around the beautiful woman who sat opposite. The beautiful woman opposite that had held his heart in the palm of her hand for the last ten years.

The beautiful woman that had just told him about her precognitive dream regarding the end of their lives as they knew it.

“So when do we actually leave Nura?”

“We’ll tell them at the try outs Thom. A week and then they will all know what I’ve just told you.”

“Do we need to say everything?” He knew the answer but already he could hear the comments when Nura made her announcement.

“They deserve the truth, anyway aren’t you excited even a little bit at least Thom? We will be leaving for the best of reasons. You always said you wanted to be a father.”

“That’s true. I’d love to be a dad, it’s just I always thought that when you decided to become a mother you'd be pregnant with my child.”

Creepy Polar Boy is creepy!

Intrigued about Thom and Nura! And still digging Laurel Kent's characterisation a lot!

Agree, Polar Boy is being very creepy! But it's an interesting take on him, and one that's not unfounded.

Whoa, I guessed almost immediately that Nura was pregnant, but not that Thom WASN'T the father! Yikes! I wonder who?

And Douglas Nolan, wow!

Re Polar Boy, it's actually a very interesting way to gel skirt chaser Brek of recent days with overachiever classic Brek....nice one Harbinger!

Three days later Dirk had initially joined them but very quickly had been surrounded by a bevy of young beauties and had retired to one of the private nooks for the night. None of the Legionnaires that had joined him on this night out were too surprised, Dirk’s appetites were well known.

Brek had attached himself to Hadru after that and the two young men spoke about what it must be like to be that popular with a little bit of wishful thinking and a sprinkling of outright jealousy. As the drinks flowed they admitted to each other that they expected to get a bit more action, in the non-combat sense, than they actually had since joining the Legion. With Hadru’s abilities to lessen the effects of the alcohol they consumed they ended up in a drinking competition that drew them a lot of attention and, consequently both drank far more than they normally would in such a public place. Purely by extension of their heavy drinking they dissuaded a lot of potential company that evening. Neither cared as they discovered an unexpected friendship with someone who could understand why they found it so damn difficult find love and be a Legionnaire. They swapped tall stories of their lives prior to being on the team and opinions on a wide range of subjects from animal husbandry through to inter-galactic politics, and gossip about their team mates and allies, until they both eventually succumbed to the effects of having drank enough to knock out ten men and were escorted into a premier sleep deck for the rest of the night. While both became close friends after that neither ever spoke about waking up in bed together several hours later.

After over an hour of trying to keep up with her dancing Jo had convinced Tinya that the gang could look after themselves and they followed Dirk’s lead and booked a private nook where the two of them could be undisturbed until dawn.

Salu watched as Ayla danced effortlessly alongside the professional entertainment. Her woman had the moves! Shrinking Violet had had enjoyed two drinks then switched to non-stims and drank filtered water. As soon as Lightning Lass returned to the table Vi intended to follow Dirk, Tinya and Jo’s example and drag her gorgeous lover into a secluded lover’s nook for the night. If she ever stopped dancing that was. Vi smiled as she watched the single most beautiful person she had ever had the pleasure of meeting dance without a care in the world up on a stage alongside half a dozen professional dancers. She smiled broadly.

Tasmia Mallor and J’izl are unsure what to do. Neither came from a culture where dancing was something one who wanted to be thought of as sane would consider and the alcoholic drinks on offer didn’t really affect their alien systems in a similar way to humans. J’izl was upset to learn that the club didn’t sell synthi-whiskey – one of the few Terran alcoholic beverages that affect Khunds as it is seen as far too common for such a prestigious place. Tasmia sipped slowly on her pineapple juice, the nearest thing on this world that tasted like the luxurious drink known as Stret mo Hom on Talok viii. Initially Tinya had bought her a dark rum and coconut juice without thinking but the Tasmia before her did not have he ten years of memories and associations to find that drink palatable. Tinya had been embarrassed when her friend had spat out the first sip and exclaimed she would never imagine finding that drink bearable. Tactfully Tinya pretended that she had meant it for Ayla but both knew that in her life before the recent robbing of her memories Tasmia Mallor had grown to love that beverage.

Several hours later and only Shady and Gazelle were sitting on a plush couch overlooking the expansive dance floor when Gazelle casually announced that human men just didn’t interest her as they only have one.

“One what?” asks Shady

“Well Khund males have one for spare…. Y’know… in case during the throes of passion a woman accidentally breaks one off.”

Hysteria ensued.

And that's the end of that section - coming up a brief interlude on Winath aswe check out two of the founders, then it's all change at the Try-Outs.

Raz and IB, thank you for your continuous support, it is really appreciated! Polar Boy always struck me as a bit too over eager and I wanted to look in on the less shiny side of his character, glad you both thought it wasn't too leftfield.

I have been reading both of your fab stories too - normally on my phone on the bus (as well as Sean's excellent Camelot) as it's the only time i seem to get to myself lately and one of these nights I'll have more than an hour free so I can immerse myself in them properly and give you decent feedback - the joys of being self employed is I have to take the work when it's here and right now things are manic (not that I'm complaining really).

Thanks again guys, you keep me going.

After the notion was introduced that old rejects like Absorbancy Boy, Radiation Roy, Spider-Girl, Tusker, etc. might have been rejected because Saturn Girl detected something off about them, the notion that this might extend to other rejects, like Polar Boy, Night Girl, Fire Lad, Chlorophyll Kid, etc. would logically follow.

And so a less flattering look at Polar Boy isn't entirely out of bounds. Then again, his original portrayal wasn't always flattering, with him getting in an argument with Saturn Girl (who wrote it!) over what the Legion Constitution meant during Brainy's trial.

Poor Brek. He might not have the temperament for this super-hero business!

Polar Boy and Chemical Kid as good friends is inspired, and I agree they do have something in common. I can remember some issues in the Levitz run where Brek was a bit hard on his fellow Subs, feeling they were holding him back and all. So yes, your portrayal of Brek is definitely not out of left field! I think it's a good idea to have them as just good friends, while maybe leaving the door open for some teasing. They make good bedfellows, pardon the pun, as both have that immature-and-entitled attitude.

Glad to see Vi/Ayla and Tinya/Jo going strong!

Also glad to see your portrayal of the Tinya/Tasmia friendship. It's very realistic and I love seeing this side of Tinya highlighted. She's a very astute, caring and sensitive woman.

Yeah, Brek and Hadru as bedfellows - ha - that wasn't really what I had intended but it was amusing to write. There is, as you say IB a shared immature and entitled attitude, and while I like Hadru I've had to really think about Polar Boy as he's never been a favourite. Hopefully I'll redeem his character flaws soon as I don't necessarily see him as a bad person, just a bit of a glory hunting idiot.

Set, I agree that the subs were probably refused membership on more than just their poor abilities, but people mature (hopefully anyway!) so never say never when it comes to their chances of moving up a league.

Thanks guys, hopefully have more for you soon as I started the interlude before Xmas so it will hopefully be ready within the next few days. After that I plan to have the try outs and it all changes after that, whoo hoo!

Oh, I can't wait for those tryouts! Would be great to see a new lineup after that which includes all active members, I'm sure some will leave and many more will join!