Legion World Forums LEGION OUTPOST Bits o' Legionnaire Business Postlo3w stories *LATEST UPDATE 13 AUGUST*

Yeah, it's not like your Void is the exact same person/character anyway

Hi folks, I am gonna try doing NaNoWriMo this year so I might not have time to update for a while. I will be back though....when you least expect it! *cue ominous music*

PS NaNoWriMo info @ nanowrimo.org if y'all don't know what it is

That sounds interesting! Best wishes, raz! Let us know how it's going!

Sorry for the long absence peeps! As it turns out, writing a whole novel in a month is kind of difficult so it didn't get done but I gave it a go I guess....anyway, good news is I can now get back into Legion shenanigans! Yay!

MARS
Legion of Superheroes Headquarters
In the Mission Monitor Room, one Duplicate Damsel stood before a holoboard teeming with miniature icons. With a finger at her chin, she took stock of the various Legionnaires' current statuses. A second Duplicate Damsel was sitting at another holoboard keeping an eye on incoming news transmissions. Most Legionnaires were content to let Brainiac 5's advanced computer algorithms perform the lion's share of work when they were on monitor duty but Luornu Durgo Taine preferred a more hands-on approach. Something else else didn't sit right with allowing a computer to do work she could very easily do herself.

The two Luornus were in a studious silence together when Supergirl burst into the room. "There you are!" Kara enthused. "You want to come shopping? PG tells me there's a mall as big as a planet here! Who says consumerism's a thing of the past, huh?"

"PG?" One of the Luornus turned from her work to face the boisterous teenager. "You mean Phantom Girl? No...no, thanks for the invite but I'm on monitor duty. I can't just leave."

Supergirl placed her hands on her hips. "Are you kidding me? You're the only one of us who can do monitor duty and come shopping at the same time! Come onnnn," she moaned. "We're going to help Night Girl pick out something sexy for her honeymoon...even Diamond Damsel's coming! Do you know how long I had to whine at her before she agreed? I'm super-stubborn, you know!"

Luornu allowed herself a small chuckle. "Try teaching Comet Queen, you'll learn about stubborness. But no, I can't. Really. I do appreciate you asking but there's just too much to do here. Have fun, Kara."

Supergirl screwed her face up then turned around and left. "Suit yourself," she shouted over her shoulder, "But when we've all got new outfits for the wedding next week just remember it could have been you!"

Luornu tried to push all thoughts of the girls out of her mind, but those thoughts lingered regardless. While she was happy that Night Girl and Cosmic Boy were finally getting married, it made her think about her own husband Chuck and how different he'd been since he'd come back from the past...his new closeness to Phantom Girl, the kiss she'd seen in the hangar, Chuck having an intimate dinner with Tinya when he'd said he was going to be looking for Cosmic Boy...an alert sounded, and both Duplicate Damsels were glad for the distraction.

The buzzing tone was indication of a new update from Mandalla on the activities of the Oversight Watch. While one of the Duplicate Damsels continued to monitor everything else, the other Luornu read through Mandalla's report. One thing that remained true from Mandalla's days at the Legion Academy was her excellent writing skills. Her report was thorough, informative without being over-detailed. She may not have been comfortable as the Legion's agent on the inside but she was still obviously determined to do the best job she could under the circumstances. Luornu frowned. Chuck wouldn't be happy about the Oversight Watch's next mission. He wouldn't be happy at all. Her eyes strayed to Phantom Girl's icon and a surprisingly bitter coldness fell over her.

Well. Maybe Chuck doesn't need to know.

**********
BOTEQAZAH
The Retail Planet
Five young women stepped out of a people-mover and into a bustling crowd of tens of thousands of sentients, each of the aliens different shapes and sizes and colors. Beings from worlds across the UP came to Boteqazah, it was said that anything could be bought here. There were entire landmasses dedicated to fashion, home entertainment options, recreational technologies, there was even an artificial methane sea which proudly billed itself as the United Planets' first health and relaxation facility for Hykraians. The facility hadn't yet had a single customer, but it was hardly alone on a world full of crazy and sometimes short-lived fads in capital venture.

Outside of their Legion costumes Night Girl, Phantom Girl, Supergirl, Diamond Damsel and Gas Girl were just Lydda Jath, Tinya Wazzo, Kara Zor-El, Iris Jacobs and Tal Nahii, five more women among the billions already here. Lydda felt vaguely disoriented by the bright lights, the ceaseless crowds and the ubiquitous advertising. "Now I know why Tasmia didn't want to come," she mumbled weakly.

Tinya stood close by the pale Kathoonian and squeezed her shoulder sympathetically. "There sure are a lot of people here, aren't there?"

"I know, right?!" Kara threw her hands in the air, completely oblivious to Lydda's discomfort. "Isn't this great??"

"It feels so strange being out in public like...like this." Iris pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose. At Kara's insistence, the normally diamond powerhouse had taken human form for today's trip. Kara had argued that Iris needed clothes to fit her human frame, and while these could easily be replicated on Mars Kara wouldn't hear of it. A hugely muscular yellow-skinned woman bumped into Iris and the frail redhead stumbled with a startled yelp.

"Are you okay?" Tal stepped to Iris's side. "How rude!" She glared after the offending alien who'd already clumsily pushed her way far enough into the dense crowd that only her head and shoulders could be seen bobbing above the sea of shoppers.

"I'm fine, really!" Iris blurted, embarassed at the fragility of this flesh she'd not known in a millenium. "I'm just...I'm just not used to being so...weak."

"You'll get used to it again," Tinya reassured her. "It's just different is all."

"Oh come on," Kara groaned. "This is turning into a Lifetime movie. Let's drop the angst and empty our banks!" She grabbed Lydda and Iris by the hands and dragged them into the crowd with her.

"I know Quislet's got a reputation for being nonsensical," Tal confided in Tinya, "But honestly, sometimes I barely understand a word that comes out of Supergirl's mouth."

"You can take the girl out of the 21st century," Tinya smirked, "But you can't take the 21st century out of the girl. Come on, let's go catch them before Lydda and Diamond Damsel have a nervous breakdown." Tinya turned intangible and ran through the sentients before her without a second thought.

Tal's initial instinct was to be as shocked as the shoppers that Tinya phased through, but the more time she spent around the Legion of Superheroes the more she realised they embraced their powers as a natural extension of themselves. Growing up as one of Lallor's only four mutants, Gas Girl had long been considered a great hero along with her teammates but there was an expectation that she'd only use her powers as necessary. Of all her surrogate family of mutants she was easily the most flamboyant but even then it had been drummed into her since childhood that there was a time and a place for her abilities. When she'd decided to convert her head of blonde hair into a permanent plume of gas as a fashion statement it had caused global scandal. Gas Girl couldn't conceive of the reaction if she'd ever used her power to simply avoid walking through a crowd. She smiled wickedly. Maybe it was time to find out. Soon, a swirling cloud of mist sailed overhead toward the other Legionnaires.

**********
Some time later, Lydda and Iris sat in form-fitting massage chairs while the other girls continued to shop. They both had a couple of bags each, but neither of them had the sheer enthusiasm for consumerism that their teammates showed. Iris shook her head good-naturedly as she watched Kara holding up shimmering dresses on the other side of a storefront window. "Looks like she can put down super-shopping as one of her powers too," the mousy woman remarked. "How can she even afford any of this? She's easily bought five times more than you and me combined!"

Lydda rolled her head lazily, enjoying the automated massage. "Rokk told me once that Superboy set up a couple of long-term investment funds for himself and Supergirl in the past once they started spending a lot of time with the Legion. There have been a few economic crises between their time and ours, but they've still got a healthy amount of creds put away for a rainy night."

"I suppose Supergirl's got a different idea of what a rainy night is...or a rainy day for those of us from Earth," Iris conceded. Both women laughed. "This was a great suggestion," she continued. "You know, even when I was like...this...full-time, I was never really much of a shopper. At least I don't think I was. It's so long ago now and it feels like a different person's life. I've never really had any needs in my diamond form, it's so weird getting used to something as simple as sore feet again. On that note, these chairs are a miracle." She settled back into the vibrating seat with a contented sigh.

"I am with you 100%," Lydda closed her eyes and exhaled slowly. "I've been so tense since we got here...I know it might sound insane coming from someone who spent years trying to get into the largest gathering of superheroes in the galaxy, but I really hate crowds. And all this light is giving me a migraine. I only agreed to this in the first place because Supergirl was so excited and I thought it might be nice for Gas Girl to spend some time getting to know us outside of fighting omnipotent madmen...and well...I hope this isn't presumptuous but I thought it might be good for you too."

"Me?" Iris sat up in her seat. "What do you mean?"

"When my dad gave me super-strength," Lydda explained, "I'd never been off-world before. I went from being a normal Kathooni girl to the strongest being in several star systems. Joining the Legion of Superheroes felt like a natural progression, but then I travelled into daylight for the first time and my strength was gone." Lydda gazed thoughtfully into the distance. "I was normal again, but it didn't feel normal. I felt weak...flawed. I was so depressed I wanted to turn around and go back home before I'd even reached Earth."

"So what happened?" Iris asked.

"I made it all the way to Metropolis Spaceport before it was too much. I was in line to buy a ticket back home when a bagsnatcher ran past me...and without thinking, I stuck a foot out and tripped him. It gave the Science Police enough time to catch up to him and take him into custody." Lydda locked eyes with Iris. "My dad didn't give me powers because I needed improvement. He gave them to me to help me realise my potential. But I don't need them. We don't need them. Lydda and Iris can give something special to the world just like Night Girl and Diamond Damsel can."

Iris relaxed back into her chair and considered those words for a moment. She turned to the pale-skinned woman beside her with a small grateful smile.

"Thanks Night Girl...Lydda."

**********
XANTHU
Low Orbital Range, Med-Ring 1
In a stark white room situated in the belly of a medical facility locked in geosynchronous orbit over the dark oceans of Xanthu far below, Thom Kallor and Nura Nal stood before the much younger James Cullen. The dark-skinned boy was unrestrained, though he wore a cumbersome helmet covered in blinking lights which served to both dampen his aggression and restrict access to his control of quantum fields. Xanthu medtechs had not yet been able to begin the arduous process of removing the cybernetics which made James the self-titled Quantum Avenger, but with some helpful input from Dream Girl's Naltorian super-science they'd found a way to at least suppress those abilities.

"Hello James," Thom greeted him gently, "How's your rehabilitation coming along?"

Nura stood behind him, biting her lip. She knew that her lover felt silently responsible for James Cullen's current state, but as far as she was concerned people made their own choices. James had chosen to deal with his grief over his sister's death by hurting other people and that was something Nura could not understand or excuse.

The young boy raised his head sluggishly, a result of the helmet he was forced to wear. The fire in his eyes was dulled, but it was still unmistakably present. "Rehabilitation?" James mocked. "Don't you mean brainwashing..? Doesn't matter how long you keep me here Star Boy, I'll get out one day. One day I'll avenge Jazmin..." He let his head droop, exhausted from the energy of sustaining his rage despite the aggression-inhibitor pulses coursing through his cerebral cortex.

"You can't even carry out a full conversation without nodding off," Nura taunted him. "Forgive us for not quaking in our boots."

James laughed, a weak sound. In the time since he'd been transferred to Xanthu's premier medical unit he'd undergone many cosmetic treatments to eradicate the scars he'd received at the rough hands of Khund surgeons. His once ravaged face was once again soft, boyish, and when he smiled lazily Thom could almost forget this was the same person who'd tried to kill his teammates and friends twice already.

"You got me," James continued. "You got me an' my Khund buddies...but what d'you think the rest of their buddies are gonna do to get back the quantum tech I promised them..? You'll get yours Legion, I promise that..."

A warm orange light pulsed three times and Dream Girl grabbed Star Boy's arm. "Finally," she rolled her eyes. "Come on lover, let's get out of here." James was already nodding off once again as Star Boy reluctantly allowed himself to be escorted from the room. Medical droids entered the room as they left, and Thom watched regretfully as they prepared him for transport to his psych debriefing. They woke him again as soon as they moved him, and while he didn't resist he never once stopped glaring at Thom through the transparent door.

"It's so sad," Thom's shoulders drooped as he finally turned around to leave the former hero behind them. "And a little worrying, don't you think Dreamy? Do you think there's anything to what he said? About the Khunds I mean?"

"You know what?" Dream Girl answered, "For once I don't care. The Uncanny Amazers are able to respond to any disturbance here within minutes. James Cullen's their ex-teammate and it's their technology that he stole. Let him be their problem. I don't care if it sounds selfish Thom, after everything we've been through recently we deserve some downtime. If anything that actually requires our attention happens here I'll know about it before it happens, but right now all I want to think about is how happy I am that Rokk and Lydda finally came to their senses and did what we've all been waiting for them to do since they met, and the only vision I'm interested in is how glorious our resort is going to be when we go to Kathoon for their wedding."

"Yeah." Thom smiled wanly. "Yeah, I guess you're right." He resisted the urge to look back at the boy they'd left behind one more time, but he didn't really need to. That look of muted hatred would stay with him forever.

He just hoped he really was leaving it behind him...

Glad you're writing again raz, and glad you had a good try at a novel within a month.

Nice character bits here, those of Gas Girl and Diamond Damsel ring true to their comic book "pasts". Your take on Supergirl is fun and interesting, and Lydda's sensitivity and wisdom is much appreciated. I empathize greatly with Nura, and despite her longing for a nice vacation she still comes off as very capable and responsible. I'm hoping the Lu-Chuck tension comes to a head soon, and excited to see where the Oversight Watch goes - hope Jed and Mandalla make it out okay.

Thanks IB, it is good to be back in the saddle!

Lu & Chuck shouldn't drag on for too much longer...I like showing some friction between them because we never really see that side of their relationship but it should all come out in the open very soon!

Right now I am looking forward to writing Cos & Lydda's comic book-mandated action-packed wedding next up! Thanks for the thoughts on Lydda & Iris' chat too, I like the idea that after wanting to be human forever Iris is finding it's not exactly what she expected anymore...

Lots of delicious character moments and splendid story points like Super Boy and Girls long term investments and Kara using dated lingo that the rest of the team don't understand - very cool. Lu considering not telling Chuck about Mandalla s latest update is worrying, though the great buddy moment between lydda and iris was very sweet. Loved your continuing growth of Thom's character with his on going concern for James, nice ly written.

Good to have you back Raz, looking forward to more, more, more!

Thanks Harbinger!

Lydda and Rokk's wedding issue is up next so we should get a lot more of those little character bits and then BAM! PUNCHING!

KATHOON
Infinite Starlight Receptionarium
Mon-El stood behind Shadow Lass, his powerful arms holding her close as the two looked out across the open courtyard crowded with their friends and surrogate family. Stars twinkled in the cloudless night sky, and the tiny luminescent leaves of the lightbloom tree wafted down on the fragrant breeze.

"Of all the places in the universe I've visited," Mon-El gently nuzzled his lover's neck, "Kathoon is one of the favourite I've shared with you, Shady."

Shadow Lass murmured appreciatively. "I think I see the appeal. Cosmic Boy and Night Girl certainly couldn't have picked a more tranquil place to hold their wedding." She leaned her head back to kiss the square-jawed Daxamite when a lithe golden girl careened into them with a panicked squeal.

"Stupendous nova-burn!" Comet Queen righted herself and patted down Tasmia Mallor's rumpled cape. "I'm so sorry starshine, I was totally glomming those beautiful twinklies up there! Are you shiny?"

"I'm fine," Shadow Lass intoned coldly. She pulled her cape away from the three-fingered heroine perhaps a little more brusquely than necessary. "Just watch where you're going, Comet Queen."

"Orbs blazing!" Grava saluted comically. "I'm going to find Bouncy, stay bright little pulsar!"

Still standing behind Shadow Lass, Mon-El hid a half-smile as Grava flew off. Even without being able to see Tasmia's face, he had no trouble picturing the icy stare she'd be training on an oblivious Comet Queen right now. "Relax, Shady." He turned her around and kissed her on the forehead. "This is a party, let's celebrate."

**********
A few metres away, Gas Girl sipped champagne with her former teammates in the Heroes of Lallor, Evolvo Lad and Life Lass. Life Lass involuntarily flinched as Grava's feet zoomed disarmingly close overhead. "She's quite full of energy, isn't she?" the dark-haired Lallorian girl remarked.

"You don't know the half of it," Gas Girl replied. "Honestly, it's been a magcoaster of a ride being with the Legion of Superheroes. You two should try it, we're going to have a couple of vacancies after today..."

Evolvo Lad looked across the crowd at Brainiac 5 standing on a raised balcony chatting with Gas Girl's current teammates. "Even a hyper-evolved Lallorian is no equal to a 12th level intellect," he answered Gas Girl. "And my devolved form isn't remotely on the same playing field as any of the Legion's powerhouses. No, I'm happy helping out where I'm most useful back home."

"I'm happy staying on our own little world too," Life Lass gave a shy smile to Gas Girl. "I'm happy that you're happy though, Tal."

"Of course she's happy!" a masculine voice boomed. A man's arm clothed in fine silk draped itself around Life Lass's shoulder and she blushed furiously. Dirk Morgna gave the three Lallorians his most dazzling smile as he effortlessly ingratiated himself into their conversation. While the majority of Legionnaires had worn their costumes, Dirk had come in a stylish formal outfit. "Gas Girl's happy because she's made the big leagues," he continued. "You should think about it Life Lass, we could always do with more pretty ladies!"

**********
"Unbelievable."

Shrinking Violet stood rigid, her arms folded across her chest. Watching Dirk and the Lallorians from a distance, she scowled. "Sun Boy's been here five nanos and he's already hunted down the first vulnerable single woman."

"Oh Salu, who cares?" Sitting at a table by her girlfriend's side, Taryn Loy grabbed Vi and pulled her across to land clumsily on her lap. "They're all big boys and girls, let them enjoy themselves." She shook a wave of blonde hair out of her face and kissed Vi on the lips.

"I think it's kind of romantic," Infectious Lass joined the conversation from where she sat beside her boyfriend Invisible Kid. "Don't you think it's romantic, Jacques?" She gazed at him with misty lavender eyes.

Lightning Lass laughed before Jacques could respond. "Sorry Drura," Ayla touched her arm as she leaned across the table for a snack. "You're incredibly sweet, but I don't think romantic is in Dirk Morgna's vocabulary."

"Actually," another voice joined the conversation, "The Kathooni people have gone to some considerable effort to instill an atmosphere that would generally be considered romantic by parallel cultures, Earth being one of those. I can well imagine that Sun Boy would find himself encouraged by into fitting behaviours by various visual, aural and olfactory cues that are present." The speaker was Brainiac 5, and his interjection brought the conversation to an awkward halt.

"Brainy." Supergirl rolled her eyes. "That's the most unromantic take on romance I've ever heard in my life."

"Hmm." Brainiac 5 raised an eyebrow. "Kara, come walk with me."

The Kryptonian teen wore a shimmering red dress and matching scarf which floated ethereally behind her. As she followed Brainiac 5 past a second table where some of the newer Legion recruits listened to Matter-Eater Lad's recounting of past misadventures, Kara Zor-El seemed very much like any other normal teenage girl and not at all like one of the most powerful heroines in history. The two stopped at one of the many lightbloom trees around the Receptionarium and Brainiac turned to face her, taking on the stance of a teacher about to deliver a lecture. "Use your x-ray vision," he instructed Kara. "Tell me what you see inside and below that tree."

Kara indulged him. "It's...oh Brainy, it's gorgeous!" A stream of silver energy seemed to flow through the hefty trunk, dividing into dozens of veins below the Kathooni surface. Kara followed the branching light, her blue eyes wide with wonder. The veins connected with the subterranean structure of the other trees around them, creating a fragile gleaming web which surrounded the partygoers in compliment to the constellations above.

"They're microscopic organisms which colonise the trees and help the root systems fight off disease. When they expire, the trees consume the nutrients they've metabolised and give us these." He held his palm out and produced three tiny heart-shaped leaves glowing dimly. "Each part of the ecosystem working in connection with the life around it to create something subjectively beautiful. I may not express it as well as others but I do appreciate romance, Kara."

Supergirl took his open hand in both of hers and held it close to her heart.

"I think you express it just fine, Querl Dox."

**********
Timber Wolf stalked through the crowd darkly. He'd finally managed to shake that annoying flying tin can Quislet and he'd been chatting happily with Element Lad and Shvaughn Erin before conversation turned from Earth-Man's Justice League to how much the lovers missed one another living on separate planets. Brin glanced across at Blok and Diamond Damsel lost in each other beyond the rest of the party. Even Pebblehead's got a girl, Brin brooded. I should have volunteered to switch with Ultra Boy and stayed on monitor duty back home. At least that way I might find a few heads to bust to relieve the boredom. He grabbed a drink from a wandering waiter and finished it in one gulp then slammed the empty glass back down on the tray. When the waiter walked away, Brin saw Wildfire standing in the blue man's place.

"Yo, Burroughs." Timber Wolf circled around to stand by his teammate's side. "What's so interesting over there?"

"Oh, hi Timber Wolf." Wildfire sounded flatter than usual. He handed Brin an untouched glass of synthale. "You want a drink? One of Night Girl's relatives gave it to me before, I figured it was less hassle to just take it than try to explain I don't really eat or drink anymore."

Timber Wolf shrugged. "Sure." He swigged the contents of the glass. "So how come you're not mingling with everyone else? I thought I was the lone wolf on this team."

"I was just watching Dawny," Wildfire replied. "She's really enjoying herself over there." Dawnstar had joined several other Legionnaires and their friends on an impromptu dancefloor. Some of the children present were particularly taken with her wings, and Dawnstar looked more full of joy to be playing with them than either Wildfire or Timber Wolf could ever remember having seen her.

"Doesn't answer my question," Brin continued as he downed another drink and grabbed a couple of Braalian biscuits from another passing waiter. "How come you're over here if she's over there?"

"Look at me," Wildfire shrugged. "I'm a ball of anti-energy in a man-shaped suit. She doesn't need me weighing her down tonight."

Brin crunched the salty appetisers he'd snatched. "You're an idiot," he announced through a mouthful of crumbs.

"Wait, what?" Shocked, Wildfire turned from Dawnstar to Timber Wolf.

"You've been pining after her for years," Brin explained gruffly. "Nearly as long as you've been whining about how you're no longer a man. Dawnstar's one of the most beautiful women in the Legion - grife, she's one of the most beautiful women I've ever met! And for whatever reason, she picked you when she could have any man she wants." He paused only to stuff another biscuit in his mouth and looked straight at his own reflection in Wildfire's visor. "I lost Ayla because I was so wrapped up in my own stuff I was never there for her. If you do the same even after seeing what happened to us...well, you're an idiot." He drained the last of his drink and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "I'm going to find some more of whatever that crunchy stuff is, tastes good." He walked into the throng of guests, leaving Wildfire in a rare state of stunned silence behind him.

**********
Bouncing Boy hugged his wife close as they watched their friends dancing. "This is nice, isn't it?" he asked as he swayed in time to the music.

"It is," Luornu answered. She felt genuinely relaxed for the first time in weeks. Here, now, any unspoken doubts she might have had about her husband seemed ridiculous. "Chuck...when we get home, do you want to take a couple of days away? Just the two of us..?"

"Sure, honey!" He squeezed her and kissed her on the lips. "Hey, it's a shame Jo drew monitor duty huh? Seeing all of us couples must make Tinya wish she had him here to snuggle."

Luornu grew instantly stiff. She pulled away from Chuck and cleared her throat. "Tinya. Right. I'm going to get a drink, do you want anything?"

Chuck cocked his head to one side. "No...no, I'm fine Lu. Are you okay?"

"I'll be back." She jerked away from his touch and walked with purpose toward the bar.

"Bouncing Boy?" This was Tellus, his voice modulator cutting through Chuck's concern for his wife. "May I ask a question? I am not familiar with the wedding ritual, but I have not seen Cosmic Boy or Night Girl among us for some time, is this common? I thought we were gathered to help them celebrate their union?"

Bouncing Boy stammered, trying to focus past whatever had just happened with Luornu to answer his former student's query until Chameleon Boy saw Chuck's confusion and came to his rescue. "It's a Kathooni tradition," Cham explained. "I researched it a little before we left Mars. There's a religious component to the ceremony which is carried out in private, then Cosmic Boy and Night Girl cement their commitment by performing the legal requirement in front of their loved ones. Do you not marry on Hykraius, Tellus?"

"No," the fish-like hero answered. "On Hykraius we form bonds of friendship as I have seen across the rest of the United Planets, but we do not enter long-term relationships based on sexual preference as so many other races seem to do."

"There's a little more to it than just sexual preference," Cham chuckled. "But I see your point. Choosing a mate on Durla is very different thing again. Everywhere has its own customs, the important thing is that this custom is going to make Cos and Night Girl very happy. And that's why we're here to celebrate." Cham briefly caught Chuck's eye, and Chuck gave him a silent expression of thanks. Chuck knew he'd be happy for Cos and Lydda when the time came, but right now...right now he was more anxious for his wife.

**********
In a private room, Rokk Krinn nervously adjusted his tie for the eighth time.

"Stop that!" a female voice scolded him. Imra Ardeen Ranzz turned him away from the mirror and fixed his tie for him, then brushed a stray hair back into place. "Rokk, you're going to jangle yourself into a pile of nerves if you don't calm down. Breathe."

"I'm sorry." He paced a few steps then turned around and came back, repeating the path several times. "I'm sorry, I know. I know you're right, I just...I wish I could make everything perfect for her. Lydda deserves for this to be perfect."

Sitting in a nearby armchair, Garth Ranzz chortled. "You know buddy, I don't think I've seen you this nervous facing down the Fatal Five."

"Garth, don't tease." Imra shot him a half-hearted look of admonition. She grabbed Rokk firmly by the shoulders. "Rokk, Nura told us tonight's going to work out fine. Lydda Jath has wanted to marry you since the first day she laid eyes on you, and as one of your oldest friends I know you've felt exactly the same way."

"So much for telepathic ethics," Rokk joked.

Garth shook his head. "It's not telepathy, genius. It's iron-butt intuition. You two are as bad at recognising your own feelings as one another. It took years of Ranzz charm to make this lady realise she was head over heels for me, it stands to reason she's going to be able spot a fellow emotional shut-in when she sees him." He stood up and poked Rokk playfully in the arm. "It's a good thing Night Girl doesn't give up easy, I know a little about that." He leaned into his wife and kissed her on the cheek. The three old friends stood in a mutual silence, losing themselves in countless shared memories both good and bad.

"It's a shame Mr Brande's not here to see this," Rokk finally smiled in memory of their fallen benefactor. "I think he would have liked to see another one of his pups married off."

"Your father figure may not be able to be here," a new voice entered the room. "But I hope your real father will do the trick."

"Dad!" Rokk rushed to hug his sole surviving parent.

"You know," Hu Krinn continued, his own voice quivering with emotion, "RJ Brande isn't the only person who'd be proud of you today, son. I know that wherever they are, your mother and your little brother are smiling down on you right now."

Rokk's eyes grew teary and he cleared his throat. "Thanks Dad, that means a lot to me."

"Come on, son." The elder Krinn placed an arm around his son's shoulder. "Let's go get you married before that girl comes to her senses."

**********
Behind only a few walls Lydda Jath sat in her own armchair, hands clasped tightly in her lap. Her hair was pulled up in her trademark beehive, with a Mia Cosmos treatment so that stars appeared to be twinkling in the shadows of her hair. She wore a shimmering grey dress and a diaphanous shawl which cast rainbow hues across her lithe form wherever the light caught it. A tall glass of champagne sat untouched by her side.

Sitting on two sofas on either side of the bride to be were her five oldest friends, the once and former Legion of Substitute Heroes. "Rainbow Girl sent her apologies," Color Kid declared. "She and the others had something they couldn't get out of."

Polar Boy was mildly surprised. "I thought Earthgov shut the Subs down?"

"When has anyone ever been able to shut the Legion of Substitute Heroes down for good?" Fire Lad asked cheekily.

"I'm so glad you boys are here!" Lydda grabbed the hands of Stone Boy and Chlorophyll Kid sitting closest to her. "Joining the Legion of Superheroes was always my ambition, but you boys are so much more than that. After all we've been through together, did anyone ever really think we'd end up here?"

"I did," Polar Boy resolved.

Fire Lad scoffed. "Come off it Brek, you gave up on the rest of us the first chance you got."

"Yeah, I did." Polar Boy lowered his head in shame. "And I was wrong. All of us always had what it took to be in the Legion of Superheroes and it was stupid of me to ever forget that."

"It doesn't matter," Night Girl interrupted gently but firmly. "We're all together again and I'm marrying the man I love. Today is not the day for recriminations...you guys, I'm getting married!" Lydda almost squealed with happiness, and Color Kid left his seat to hug her. The others followed, all of them equally happy to see the girl they thought of as a sister finally realising her dream.

There came a knock at the door, and Lydda's father walked in. Edmon Jath was a robust middle-aged man who seemed a decade younger. His brown hair was only slightly tinged with grey, and his eyes twinkled with life. "Show me my girl!" he roared, and the boys gladly made a path for him.

"Dad!" Lydda kissed him on the cheek, leaving a charcoal lipstick mark which Color Kid discretely blended into the older man's skin tone.

"I'm so proud of you baby, and you look beautiful! Are you ready to go?"

Both of them were choked with emotion, and Lydda dabbed at her eyes tenderly. "Yes, Dad. Let's do this."

**********
Standing on a raised stage above the crowd gathered for Rokk and Lydda's marriage, their civil celebrant smiled down at a sea of people smiling in return. A green brooch glistened on his chest, catching the eye of more and more of the people below. He saw Lydda and Rokk enter from separate corridors, and heard the crowd cheer as they made way to let the couple and their respective entourages through.

Soon, the raven-haired man brooded secretly, I'll get my ultimate revenge on you children.

Soon, you'll be my servants in eternal damnation.

...TO BE CONTINUED!!!

Fabulous stuff Raz, lots of great character moments, from Mon El's patience and Tasmia's lack of, through Vi's jealousy, Tellus' cultural confusion, Brins loneliness and pep talk to Drake and the closeness of the three founders. Very nicely written Raz, take a bow.

My guess is it's Evillo, just because he'scwell overdue an appearance in a fanfic.

Looking forward to more, more, more

Amazing work raz, you really got each Legionnaire. Well done! I'm guessing Universo because of the green brooch!

Thanks peeps! I was going to try and give everyone in the team at least a couple of lines but it would have taken three pages just for conversation, hahaha

Also regarding your excellent villain choices....I will say that while neither of them are 100% right, one is very close....

It's Rond gone psycho!

And the green brooch contains his power ring!! And he's out for revenge because he "died" in Legion of 3 Worlds?!?!?



Sometimes I force myself to do that, but the story just gets longer and longer and longer...

He wants revenge for the awful pudding bowl hair cut he had


Three pages of character study are never wasted Raz, just do it I say! Oh hang on that'll be why my fanfics take forever for anything to happen in them. Ahh that makes sense now.

as much as i love your big sweeping action i do love your side character moments just as much. Rokk and Lydda's wedding! wow long time coming. Kathoon yet again sounds like a place i want to visit/live.

Dirk's tail chasing ways are so funny.

so glad someone finally put Drake in his place and told him to stop whining! love it. can't wait for more and this mysterious green broached villain.

KATHOON
Infinite Starlight Receptionarium
Rokk Krinn and Lydda Jath stood before an assemblage of their closest friends and family, their civil celebrant reading a pre-prepared statement to the room. To one side, Lydda was flanked by Polar Boy, Fire Lad, Stone Boy, Color Kid and Chlorophyll Kid. To the other side, Garth and Imra Ranzz stood by Rokk. The happy couple's fathers stood near the front row of the gathering, several of the more physically powerful Legionnaires close by.

"We are gathered here to celebrate the union of these two heroes," the charismatic celebrant spoke. "To be more honest, you're all here for that reason. I'm only present as a legal formality." He gave a self-depreciating smile and won a few chuckles from the crowd. "You're all going to stand there transfixed of course while I take us through to the end. Completely conscious of your surroundings but completely immobile."

Rokk and Lydda shot one another a glance. Something else else about this didn't seem right, but his voice was so compelling and something about the way light glinted from his emerald brooch demanded attention. Ignoring their instincts, they turned back to the celebrant.

"I must admit," the broad-shouldered man continued, "I still haven't been entirely truthful. I am going to bring this to an end, but not in the way you're expecting."

Rokk's eyes narrowed. It was so hard to focus on anything but the celebrant...why didn't he remember the man's name..? But there was something else. Something else else very distinctive about the gemstone pinned to the man's chest. "Hypno...Stone..?" Rokk murmured. "Universo..?"

"Hush now." The celebrant placed a finger to Rokk's lips to quieten him. "Such a perceptive young man, Mr Krinn. This is indeed Universo's Hypno Stone...how else could I induce the galaxy's greatest heroes into a mindless stupor? I'm not Universo though." He tapped a button at his neck and a holographic grid flickered around his head momentarily then vanished. His true visage was monstrous to behold, burned almost to the point that it was no longer recognisable as a face. Extended fangs now clearly visible in his lipless mouth tipped Rokk and Lydda to his true identity but they were both now completely helpless to do anything but watch the coming horror unfold. The vampire grabbed Rokk's hair and pulled his head back, exposing the Braalian hero's throat. As he paused to sink his fangs into Rokk's skin, he locked his inhuman gaze on to Lydda's suddenly terrified stare. "I am Vrykos, he whom you thought destroyed. He who soon will be your only lord and master."

As Vrykos closed in for the bite, a poop-POP-poop noise caught the vampire's attention. Vrykos looked up to see a small chrome ship circling overhead. "What..?" he muttered in confusion. The hull of the ship slid back into a recess and a tiny incandescent spark zipped out.

"Legion never throw party!" the energy creature complained. "First time they do, stupid bad guy ruins fun! Quislet teach bad guy a lesson!" Quislet leaped into a nearby decorative pillar, instantly reshaping it into a marble golem which bore his distinctive sigil where a face should be. While Vrykos was still trying to come to terms with what was happening, Quislet knocked him off his feet with a tremendous blow.

Shaken but unhurt, Vrykos climbed warily to his feet. Every other person here was frozen in place under the night sky, under the thrall of vampiric mesmerism enhanced by the Hypno Stone. "How are you free?" Vrykos demanded. "What kind of creature are you?"

"Quislet gets no respect," the golem whined in a shrill voice which belied its bulk. "Quislet best Legionnaire!" He brought two fists down on Vrykos but the vampire was ready for him this time. In a blur of motion he evaded the strike before grabbing one of the stone arms in both hands. With the barest of effort, Vrykos ripped the arm off and clubbed Quislet across the head with it.

"You're certainly an odd creature," Vrykos remarked, "But while I may be unable to control you I have no doubt whatsoever that I can end you. You're out of your league, sprite."

**********
Imra Ardeen Ranzz blinked. She felt as though she'd woken from a terrible dream, and was momentarily surprised to see her husband catatonic at her side. Then she saw Rokk and Lydda and the rest of the wedding party and guests, and she realised it was no dream.

Garth. She reached out to her husband through the psionic rapport they shared.

Startled, Lightning Lad shook his head from side to side. "Imra, what--?"

"You were hypnotised, along with everyone else. Even I was affected at first, but as soon as Quislet distracted him my power snapped me out of it. Quislet's alien nature must have protected him altogether, but I think he could use some help." As she finished bringing her husband up to speed, Saturn Girl heard a defiant bellow and Vrykos hurled the marble form of Quislet straight at them. Strangely, the animated statue reversed its trajectory in mid-flight and bowled Vrykos over once more. Quislet gave an excited whoop while Garth and Imra stared in confusion.

"I am pleased that I regained control of myself in time to lend a telekinetic assist," Tellus' electronic voice modulator sounded, revealing that the Hykraian too had recovered from the assault of the Hypno Stone. "Though I confess I feel as though I am swimming through murky depths. Is that truly Vrykos?"

"The vampire you all faced last time you were on Kathoon?" Garth asked. "Stands to reason he wouldn't be very happy with the Legion; from what Rokk told me you all did a good job of dismantling his plans last time you faced him. Let's see how he likes a face full of lightning." He channeled megavolts of electricity through outstretched arms, lighting up the immediate area as he hit Vrykos front on.

At the same time, Quislet's marble construct crumbled into powder as the Teallian's possession took its inevitable toll. He popped back into his waiting microship and came back around behind Garth and the others. "Bad guy tough!" Quislet exclaimed. "Tougher than marble! When other Legionnaires going to wake up and help?"

"He's using Universo's Hypno Stone," Imra exclaimed. "It's immensely powerful, I need you and Garth to keep him busy while Tellus and I help our friends to fight its influence."

As Vrykos marched forward in the face of Lightning Lad's onslaught, Quislet saw the Hypno Stone reflect verdant light with every energy blast. "Pretty stone the problem?" Quislet deduced. "Quislet fix that!" Ensuring that his ship was at a safe distance from the lightning bolts Garth was throwing, Quislet leaped out of the vessel and into the Hypno Stone itself.

"Creature, what are you doing?" Vrykos stopped mere feet away from Lightning Lad. "Get out of there, I command you!"

"You not boss of Quislet!" The Teallian's voice rang out of the Hypno Stone as the the gem leaped comically from Vrykos' chest and evaded the villain's attempt to snatch it. "You don't tell Quislet what to do!" Quislet wasn't fast enough to avoid a second grab, and Vrykos gripped the Hypno Stone tight. He watched aghast as it disintegrated in his palm, and Quislet jumped once more into the safety of his microship.

"No!" Vrykos roared. "That artifact was priceless, do you know what I had to trade for that? I'll crush you!" Completely unfazed by Garth's lightning, he pounced into the air and grabbed Quislet's ship in both hands. The extradimensional ship's hull was resilient, but not enough so to wiithstand a vampire's strength.

"I can't shoot!" Garth cried out. "Not without damaging Quislet's ship!"

"It's okay pal," a familiar voice spoke up, "You've done more than enough already." Lightning Lad beamed to see Cosmic Boy once again alert thanks to Saturn Girl's power. The groom-to-be scowled at Vrykos and every piece of cutlery from the adjacent dining room flew across the heads of their ensorcelled friends, more than a hundred pieces of silverware embedding themselves in Vrykos' hands and arms. Vrykos bellowed more with outrage than pain, releasing his grip on Quislet's ship enough that the tiny Legionnaire could zoom away. "I'm not not normally this violent," Cosmic Boy tersely explained to his foe, "But this is meant to be the happiest day of my life, of Lydda's life. You choose today of all days to threaten everyone I love? You're lucky Legionnaires don't kill, Vrykos." The storm of cutlery bent and linked together, reshaping into jagged cuffs which entwined themselves around the disfigured maniac's arms.

Vrykos sneered, white fangs standing out once more against the backdrop of his charred face. "You little heroes are resourceful, I'll give you that. But none of you can really hurt me. You know that, don't you? You're just making my inevitable victory all the sweeter." He threw his arms wide open and Rokk's makeshift cuffs flew apart. Rokk's magnokinesis stopped the debris from hurting anybody, and Garth instantly fired upon Vrykos again. Ignoring the blazing lightning, Vrykos smacked Cosmic Boy aside and grabbed Lightning Lad by the throat.

Having just finished reviving Night Girl, Saturn Girl felt her husband's distress and turned toward him in fear. "Garth! Let him go, Vrykos!" She directed her power as a sledgehammer of psionic force aimed at the vampire's mind and he flinched slightly at the telepathic assault.

"Your wish is my command, Mrs Ranzz. You're one of the only real threats here to my plans anyway, truth be told." He flung Lightning Lad at his wife, sending both of them hurtling into the still entranced Polar Boy, Fire Lad and Stone Boy. The force of the impact was enough to knock all of them out. Vrykos next advanced on a groggy Cosmic Boy, slapping Quislet's ship away almost casually. "There's something you don't seem to understand," Vrykos menaced the Braalian. "I only hypnotised all of you so you'd have to watch powerless as I made you my eternal slaves and corrupted your altruistic little hearts. But I am not new to my glory as I was when you last faced me, Rokk Krinn. None of you stand a chance against me, you're just making things difficult for yourselves with this fruitless resistance." Cosmic Boy tried to defend himself, but there was something indescribable about the scarred man's voice, something which even without the Hypno Stone's amplification made surrender impossibly tempting. Some part of Rokk realised that he was probably concussed from the earlier strike, that he needed to fight this compulsion to obey, but he couldn't muster the will.

Before he could reach Cosmic Boy, a blur of motion swooped Vrykos from the ground and flew him high above the crowd. A couple of hundred feet out of range of the glow of the lightbloom trees, Lydda Jath smashed Vrykos with a blow so powerful that it sent him careening at least the same distance away again. He came crashing down outside the Receptionarium, crumpling one of the passenger transport vehicles parked outside. As soon as he'd pulled himself out of the gravcar's wreckage, Lydda rammed him straight back into it again. Together they made debris of another seven vehicles.

Enraged, Lydda stood over Vrykos. Her dress was in tatters, her fists clenched. "You should have stayed in hiding, Vrykos. I swear I'll see you in Hell for what you've tried to do here."

"Of course you'll see me in Hell." Vrykos jumped to his feet and delivered a punch that sent Lydda like a cannonball through several other cars. "That was always my intention, woman! I gave my soul up for power over this world, and you cost me that. I'll take your soul and the souls of all your friends in recompense."

Lydda hurled the remains of a gravcar at Vrykos, but he caught it almost effortlessly and threw it straight back at her. The impact sent her flying back through one of the exterior walls of the Receptionarium, and while almost everyone else stood in eerie stillness Cosmic Boy and Quislet rushed to Night Girl's side.

"Not so fast." Vrykos straddled Lydda and pinned down both her arms. Once again under the lightbloom trees, her strength was dampened enough that she was unable to resist. Cosmic Boy stopped in his tracks and held up a hand to stop Quislet. "That's better," Vrykos grinned, fangs gleaming. "I'd prefer that your lover serve me for eternity as a vampire, but I can just as easily rip her throat out and watch her bleed to death. Which would you prefer, Cosmic Boy?"

Rokk saw movement in the group of heroes frozen behind Vrykos and his demeanour suddenly changed. "Neither," Cosmic Boy answered. "It's over, Vrykos."

"Are you insane?" Vrykos looked down at Night Girl. While angry, she didn't seem at all concerned about her position of vulnerability. "You are insane! Both of you!"

"There's something we never told you," Night Girl said with cutting coldness. "Dream Girl warned us that this would happen. She never saw enough to be able to help us prepare for you, but she specifically saw us on the edge of defeat."

For the first time, Vrykos was rattled. "Then...why aren't you scared..?"

"Because she also told us that we'd come back from the edge," Cosmic Boy answered. "She told us everything would be okay."

An intensely bright light filled the area and Vrykos screamed in blood-curdling agony.

"Hey, Vrykos." Sun Boy walked through the crowd, Tellus and Dragonmage at his side. "Seems you spoke too soon when you said none of us could hurt you earlier. Sunlight hurts vampires plenty from what Dragonmage here tells me." Vrykos fell off of Lydda, smoldering under the blazing light. He clambered to protect himself, his skin blistering and seared.

"That's enough," Rokk spoke up. "We're not murderers and he's defeated now. He'll go to prison for the lives he's taken. We've won, Dirk."

As Sun Boy's corona dimmed, Night Girl climbed to her feet and joined Rokk. "You know I don't agree," she explained as she held his arm. "He's a vampire, he has no life for us to take. But I love you Rokk, and I love that your sense of honor extends to someone who's done nothing to deserve honor. How are we supposed to hold him though?"

"Leave that to me," Dragonmage stepped forward. "He's weak enough that one of my dragonforms will hold him now, at least long enough for us to find a more permanent solution." As Dragonmage wove his spell, Sun Boy, Cosmic Boy and Night Girl tended to their friends whom Vrykos had earlier rendered unconscious. Tellus returned to the task of freeing the others, Quislet's little ship making its unique poop-POP-poop sound as he followed.

"Woohoo!" Quislet cheered. "If weddings like this, every Legionnaire should have one!"

**********
MARS
Husband Hill, Legion of Superheroes Headquarters
Buried away in the empty heart of the Legion's base, Ultra Boy reclined in a chair with his legs stretched out and resting on a desktop. He was disappointed to have missed Cos and Night Girl's wedding, but it had also given him the opportunity to spend some real time on his ongoing investigation in to the secrets of Leeta-87. He watched holofiles slowly scroll past, his curiosity picquing more and more as he discovered less and less.

It just doesn't make sense, Jo frowned. How does one of the most famous heroes of her time have a chunk of her life totally unaccounted for? Cadmu's a techno-wonderland for grife's sake, it should be impossible for anyone to go off-grid there. He glanced across to the mission monitor board feed at his right, careful to ensure that this new interest didn't distract him from his Legion duties. A beep caught his attention and Jo turned back toward the data he'd gathered on the deceased woman. What he saw startled him so that he nearly fell off his chair.

Standing by Jo's side in full uniform, his arms folded across his chest, was Chief Kimball Zendak. From the look on his face, this wasn't a social call. Jo steadied himself and cleared his throat. "Chief Zendak! Sprock, you scared a year off my life! How did you get in here?"

"I've got clearance for full access to the Legion of Superheroes' base," the surly Science Police Chief. "And I can be surprisingly stealthy when I've got good reason to be."

"What reason?" Jo narrowed his eyes, then for the first time noticed the Leeta-87 holofiles blinking into non-existence behind Zendak. Zendak himself held a thin steel cylinder in one hand, a red light flashing at its tip. "Hey!" Jo stood warily. "What are you--?"

"You're digging into something you shouldn't be, and you need to stop digging. Right now, Ultra Boy."

"Why?" Jo asked suspiciously. "Why does the galaxy's highest ranking Science Police Officer care about me looking into the life of a woman who's been dead for decades?"

Zendak was completely stone-faced. "Stop digging, Ultra Boy. That's an order. I know you don't take orders from me, you're a private citizen of the United Planets. But you're getting uncomfortably close to matters of the highest level of security, and you'll face the same consequences that any other citizen of the United Planets would face if you continue down this path. You and your friends in the Legion who've enabled this behaviour. Do I make myself clear?"

Jo fumed, but he also had to admit he was a little shaken. Zendak was no stand-over man, for him to come on this strongly Jo didn't want to imagine the stakes involved. "I get it," he answered grimly.

"Good." Zendak looked over the blank screens that seconds ago had contained the information Ultra Boy had painstakingly compiled on Leeta-87. His device had done its work, the data was wiped. He pressed a hidden button, Jo heard another beep and the cylinder in Zendak's palm powered down. The older man turned and walked toward the door before he stopped and cast one final look at Ultra Boy. "I'm not a fool," Zendak announced curtly. "I'm well aware that the most advanced classified technology the Science Police possess is no match for Brainiac 5 or Kid Computo. I know you could continue this investigation you've launched, and I know you'd likely find out more than I want you to know before I could stop you. But I'm hoping you'll be smart enough not to do that, Ultra Boy."

He turned and walked away, and Jo pondered long and hard about his next move...

Whew! I am glad the wedding turned out well - all things considered - bad guy defeated and wedding about to continue. Thank goodness for Quislet!

I wonder what Jo will do now...

Thanks for the comments, y'all! I like to play up Kathoon's rep for being super-romantic...it does feel like Rokk & Lydda's wedding has been in the works forever, I'm glad it's done now!

Next up we are gonna take a bit of a closer look at what's happening on Earth with Earth-Man's team before we get back to wrapping up a few long-standing plots!

Yeah! Dark Kathoon does sound like a romantic place. Looking forward to seeing things on Earth!

Fantastic stuff Raz. I'm really impressed how you tie together the various story lines you've written previously to keep the internal continuity going - Vrykos being the obvious case in point. Though I am disappointed it wasn't Rond wanting revenge for suffering that awful haircur Nah, jokes aside, this was great - from start to finish.

Lydda having the Subs at her side and Rokk having Imra and Garth was a quite poignant reminder of where they started off. Quislet coming to the rescue was genius! The other Legionnaires won't live that down. "Quislet gets no respect," shouldn't be the case anymore. I really like how far you've taken his character - he's still a pain in the Klordny but every time you use him he growsin a realistic manner - something even Saint Levitz failed to do.

Saturn Girl and Night Girl giving the vampire his lumps was fun too, though how strong is he that he could stand Lydda punching him and Garth blasting him? Wow! Validud level or what? That is tough!

Sun Boy was the natural Legionnaire to take him down and you wrote it well, along with Dragonmage stepping up to contain Vrykos in the end. Lydda's views were a bitharsh though as it was her wedding day that was ruined I can understand it.

And Jo - wow you write him well, very much in the TMK vein where he isn't half as dumb as everyone thinks he is. You're ongoing Leeta 87/the 89 mystery is a delight to read, and now Kendall has shown definitively which side he's on it can't be long until things take off. I can't wait!

Great stuff Raz, thoroughly enjoyable as ever.

More, more, more!

Hey Raz, have you abandoned us? Hope all's going good and you're back soon with your next instalment!

Hi all, sorry to have vanished all of a sudden-like! I have been on an international holiday for a month with limited net access...back now though and working on a little interlude with Shvaughn Erin to explore how being a liaison officer for Earth-Man and his cronies sucks more than working with the Legion!

A month-long holiday! I am so envious. Looking forward to more raz, especially curious to see what Earth-Man and co are up to!