Legion World Forums LEGION OUTPOST Bits o' Legionnaire Business RAINBOW GIRL BOOK 24: THE WEDDING

To:
Dawnstar, Daughter of Moonwalker
Drake Burroughs
Flute Aerie, Starhaven

Doris Emma Aandraison
and
Ennis Wilson Jahnson

INVITE YOU TO SHARE IN THE JOY
OF THE BEGINNING OF OUR NEW LIFE TOGETHER
WHEN WE EXCHANGE MARRIAGE VOWS
ON STARDATE 3014.10.13
AT A SUNRISE CEREMONY
AT THE
SATURNIAN NEW UNIVERSALIST CHAPEL
ENCHANTED FOREST ISLAND
JAHNSON’S PLANET

AN EXTENDED WEDDING RECEPTION
INCLUDING BREAKFAST LUNCH AND DINNER
WILL IMMEDIATELY FOLLOW
AT THE POLAMAR ENCHANTED FOREST
PALACE HOTEL GRAND BALLROOM
IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE CHAPEL

Doris Emma Aandraison
and
Ennis Wilson Jahnson

INVITE YOU TO SHARE IN THE JOY
OF THE BEGINNING OF OUR NEW LIFE TOGETHER
ON STARDATE 3014.10.13
AT AN EXTENDED WEDDING RECEPTION
INCLUDING BREAKFAST LUNCH AND DINNER
AT THE POLAMAR ENCHANTED FOREST
PALACE HOTEL GRAND BALLROOM
ON JAHNSON’S PLANET

CHAPTER ONE: THE FLUTE AERIE, STARHAVEN

“Good morning, Dawnstar,” said the box on her nightstand.

Dawnstar rolled out of bed, put on a pair of slippers, and trudged to the kitchen.

“You have lunch scheduled with your parents today,” said the box, floating behind her. “And there is a message waiting from Zwengravers, Ltd.”

“Have you read it?” asked Dawnstar.

“No, I thought we could read it together,” said the box. “If it’s from Zwengravers, it’s probably invitation to a Baby Shower or Wedding.”

“Thank the Great Bird of the Galaxy we aren’t expecting invitations to Shanghalla anymore,” said Dawnstar. “Why don’t you put some clothes on?”

The box floated over to a sliding closet. There were a number of Wildfire suits hanging there. One was the Enhanced model, bestowing all the powers of the original suit. Another had a holographic faceplate; a third was an experimental winged android model. Wildfire chose a standard orange-and-gold model, exiting the VR box he ‘slept’ in at night.

Dawnstar thumbed the WallScreen on. “It’s an invitation to Dori Aandraison’s wedding,” she said. “Do you remember her?”

“Former Substitute,” said Wildfire. “Currently romantically linked to the proprietor of Jahnson’s Planet, according to the Society Pages.”


“I didn’t know you read the Society Pages,” said Dawnstar.

“I read a lot,” said Wildfire. “When you’re awake twenty-four hours a day, you find things to occupy your time.”

“As you have told me before,” said Dawnstar. “But I thought that’s what your new VR box was for-- to give you the semblance of dreaming.”

“It can act like a fancy Omnicom, too” said Wildfire. “And I find I’m more interested in what’s going on in the real Galaxy than any of the worlds Brainy has programmed into it.”

The aerie’s entry-way alarm chimed.

“Someone at the door,” said Dawnstar, quickly throwing on a robe. “Do you mind answering it?”

Wildfire clicked the WallScreen to the entry-way camera. “Its an Appellaxian,” he said. “I wonder what he wants?”

The Appellaxian hovered in the air, some thirty feet off the ground, just outside the aerie’s entry-way. “Mr. Drake Burroughs? Ms. Dawnstar, Daughter-of-Moonwalker?” he gasped. “May I come in? I am feeling rather vertiginous out here.” Wildfire ushered him inside. Dawnstar came out of the kitchen, nibbling a toasted breakfast wrap. She regarded the Appellaxian with some curiosity. The white-skinned humanoid carried a large golden egg under one arm.

“Thank you,” he gasped. “Your atmosphere is thin enough, but to live so high above the ground… well, that is neither here nor there.” He pulled out a memory crystal, which displayed a travel receipt. “The two of you traveled to Appellax approximately one-half year ago,” the alien explained. “You took advantage of our Elemental Constructs entertainment program, transferring your psyches into… let me see… a Silver Giant, and a Golden Roc. I assume you were satisfied with your vacation experience?”

Dawnstar and Wildfire exchanged glances, and nodded, somewhat hesitantly.

“It appears, however, that you did not take sufficient… precautions… during your stay, and this is the result,” he held out the golden egg. Dawnstar took it from him, rather reluctantly. “According to the terms of your contract, you agreed to take full responsibility for any… products… of your adventures on Appellax. If I may have an electronic signature to confirm that it has been appropriately delivered?”

The little egg was artificial, and hinged, and opened to reveal a tiny, golden semi-humanoid girl, with a bird-like head and golden wings, sleeping peacefully. The Appellaxian offered a second memory crystal.

“This is a summary of the child’s unique biology,” he said, “Including care and feeding recommendations. We believe it to be completely sapient, evidently a level-three or level-four intelligence on the Coluan scale.” He gave a little bow. “The creature is now fully your responsibility, a citizen of StarHaven, and subject to all local laws and regulations pertaining thereto. Good-bye. I will show myself out. Thank you, Mr. Burroughs, Ms. Moonwalker.”

The Appellaxian exited quickly, and made a rapid, although safe, descent to the ground.

The little newborn golden bird-girl opened her eyes, which were a deep crimson-chocolate. She gave a small squeak, the beginnings of a cry of protest or confusion.

“I had imagined we might one day name a daughter Firedawn,” said Dawnstar. “But I think Goldwing might be more appropriate in this case?”

“I never really thought I’d be a Dad,” said Wildfire. “But now that I suddenly am, I’m beginning to think I might like the idea.” There was a twinkle of light on his faceplate. “How soon do you think the three of us will be ready to fly together?”

“I don’t know,” said Dawnstar, activating the second memory crystal. “But the first thing to do is go grocery shopping. It looks like we’re going to need to make our own nutritional formula, and quickly. I’m afraid we’ll also have to send our regrets to Dori’s wedding. There seems to be a lot involved in caring for a newborn.”

Wildfire also perused the list the memory crystal was projecting. “And I will now have a good reason to stay up all night,” he said.

CHAPTER TWO: THE WEDDING

Dori and Ennis decided on a completely Orthodox Saturnian Universalist wedding. Ennis, of course, had abandoned his family’s Jesine Firmamentalist upbringing. Dori had no formal religious affiliation, although she still remembered some of the ancient Bible stories her mother used to tell her: Mother Noah, the heroes Deborah and Jael and Esther, and the prophetesses Huldah and Anna.

The guests were segregated as Friends of the Groom and Friends of the Bride. It was somewhat difficult deciding which of the Legion attendees should sit on which side: eventually, all the various Substitutes, including Kimball Zendak’s New Substitutes of Earth, as well as the families and friends associated with Lightning Ring Farms, were placed on right, the Bride’s side. Flederweb was placed on the right as well, as his wife Marigwen was also originally from Xolnar.

The first two rows of pews were set aside for the families of the Bride and Groom. Ennis’ parents, aunts, uncles and cousins refused to attend, of course, as they considered marriage an abomination, so the pews on his Family side were filled by his son and daughter, Ciardo and Cacia, his ex-wife, Reina, and her new husband Goghvan. As Dori had no living relatives, her pews were filled by the staff of Iridium House, as well as the two new occupants, Lesley and Rey Polamar.

The Groom’s Attendants wore black-on-white tuxedos in an early 30th-century style. Ceremonial swords hung from gilded sashes at their waists. The Schwarzwald Forest Park Hotel Manager served as ‘Best Man’, and the six other Attendants of the Bridegroom were the Enchanted Forest Park Hotel Manager, the Jiuzhaigou Forest Park Hotel Manager, the Daintree Forest Park Hotel Manager, the Fanghorn Wood Park Hotel Manager, the Forest of Vorn Park Hotel Manager, and the Jungle of Seven Surprises Park Hotel Manager. Dori had been introduced to the men, but could not remember their names. She had, of course, seen them around Jahnson’s Planet, and in Ennis’ office from time to time, but she was personally unacquainted with them. She suspected that even Ennis had mostly a formal business relationship with the seven. She was fairly certain that the Jiuzhaigou Forest Park Hotel Manager was named Mr. Kang, or Kong, or Khan.

Ennis was looking particularly handsome in his vintage tux. Dori suspected he had finally given in, and used a trim-ray for a few days to mitigate the stoutness of his middle-age.

Bernardine (Bunny) Chandrasekhar served as ‘Matron of Honor’, naturally, in a lovely Ivory wedding dress.

The other six Attendants of the Bride were Nurse Gemma of the Fire and Ice Forests of Thermopylae Park Hospital,in pink; Nurse Dora of Enchanted Forest Park Hospital, in pastel gold, Drura Seppt Foccart of Somathur, in green, Judith Gideon in a pastel indigo, Carroll Hildebrandt in pale lavender, and Lydda Jath Krinn of Kathoon and Lightning Ring Farms in grey.

They also each wore a ceremonial sword, to match the Groom’s Attendants.

Dori’s wedding gown had been a gift from Mr. Phil on Earth, a simple gown iridescent in mother-of-pearl tones, with quiet, understated-- and perhaps holographic-- elegance.

The altar was decorated with flowers and candles. The Minister was the same who had officiated at the Aden-Albens wedding.

“Will you, Ennis Wilson Jahnson, receive this woman, Doris Emma Aandraison, as your companion, in full equality, respect and love?” the Minister intoned quietly.

“I will,” said Ennis Jahnson.

“Will you, Doris Emma Aandraison, receive this man, Ennis Wilson Jahnson, as your companion, in full equality, respect and love?” the Minister repeated.

“I will,” said Dori, and her tears blurred the room into a fog of shimmering light and color.

“Are there any who object to the union of these two loving souls?” the Minister called. On cue, the Attendants of the Bride and Attendants of the Groom drew their fourteen swords, and raised them high in the air. There were no objections.

“May I have the rings?” asked the Minister.

Thom Greyson served as ring bearer. On a white satin pillow sat two plain silver bands.

“Thirty silver coins was the price of a slave, paid to the Betrayer,” the Minister sermonized. “They were cast away as unclean, for their part in the transaction. The Betrayer and the Suborners were guilty, but the silver itself was innocent. It is a great thing to find true purity and innocence in this old world.”

Ennis placed the smaller ring on Dori’s finger.

“May these two pure silver rings, like mirrors, reflect your love and affection as long as it may last,” said the Minister.

Dori placed the larger ring on Ennis’ finger.

The Minister produced a small grey cloth bag. “This contains a small supply of Flour of Cronus, actual dust collected from Saturn’s rings,” he said. “I received it when I had scarcely completed my Master of Divinity, and it has served me all these years.” He took a tiny pinch of the ultra-fine dust, and blew it over the couple before him. “May you and your union be blessed with the goodness which emanates from the Flour of Cronus,” he said. “You are now a single house, Echeco-Juana and Echeco-Andrea, hearts bound together. Please face the congregation.”

As one, the guest stood and applauded the bride and groom.

CHAPTER THREE: THE ARRIVAL OF THE ROYALS

Those guests who were Royals on their own homeworlds did not attend the wedding itself. All were, to one extent or another, the heads of the various religious orders on their planets, and to attend a service presided over by another religious head would have been both inappropriate and rude. Rather, they, with their entourages, remained in their private ships, in orbit around the artificial moon, until such time as the reception had begun. They then made their appearances.

First to arrive was Queen Projectra of Orando, with her entourage. In addition to her personal attendants, and representatives of the Orakills, there were caretakers for the young Princess Lycanna Brianna Valiente Voxvanna Annaxandra Londo Vauxhall. Brin Londo of Zoon, the Emeritus Prince Consort, and biological father of the Wolf Princess, also came with the Orandan company.

Next came the delegation from Talok VIII, led by Grev Mallor, Shadow Champion, and Kahnya Nahtahnie, Lady Memory, Priestess of Maakas, and Ruler of the Hill People. They were accompanied by their nine-year-old daughter, Princess Mynaudra Nahtahnie-Mallor, and her attendants. Lady Tasmia Mallor and her consort, Lar Gand of Daxam, with his ‘niece’ and ward, Lauren Vidar-Gand, were also in the retinue. There was also a young Lady Memory-in-training, Mala, with her escort, a member of the Hill People named Thazmio, and another Shadow cousin, Korvea Mallor, formerly known as the Legionnaire Umbra, and her escort, Rann Varal of Rimbor, also known as WolfPack.

Dori’s eyes grew wide as they received the delegation from Talok VIII. She stared at Lar Gand, impressive in semi-military dress. The mischievous blue eyes, receding hairline, were instantly familiar to her.

“Mr. Cobb!?” Dori exclaimed.

Lar Gand clicked his heels, and gave a slight bow. “Lar Gand of Talok VIII,” he said. “Currently doing business as Robert L. Cobb, Cobb’s Brush and Reparo. ‘We clean anything, we fix anything.’ I told you I had contacts with the Royal Family.” He smiled.

Ennis laughed out loud. “I see now how you rebuilt Dori’s Spanish castle in such record time,” he said.

“My husband,” said Tasmia Mallor cooly, “Occasionally needs an outlet from Palace life.”

The last and largest royal entourage was from the twin worlds of Naltor and New Titan. The High Seer came surrounded by her half-dozen consorts, all burly, handsome blondes. Among the other notable guests were Thom and Yvyya Kallor, manager and owner, respectively, of the Naltoran Dreamers, the still-winning batball team, and Yvyya’s son (and Thom’s step-son) Rol Purtha, and his fiancé, I.Z.O.R. of Linsar. Lady Mysa, the High Seer’s sister, was accompanied by her acolytes from Tharn, the Sorcerers’ World: Zoe and Thanat Saugin, Harlack the Khund, Orlight, Xao Jin the Dragonmage, and the Zrfffn Qznkpykl. The Tharnites also conveyed the regrets of the Wizard Klavanatus, Valor, and Thunder, who were unfortunately otherwise engaged. The necromancer Laurel Kent sent no regrets, and made no appearance. From New Titan came Eve Aries, her husband Tenzil Kem, and their children, the bald teen-ager Tenzil Kem, Jr., and his ‘baby sister’, the five-year-old Norja Kem. The Batch SW6 Tenzil Kem also accompanied them, making three Tenzils in all, a source of some confusion throughout the day and and on into the evening.

“Hello, Mysa,” said Chip, in passing.

“Hello, Chip,” said Lady Mysa.

There was a substantial period of silence.

“Well,” said Chip, “This is awkward.”

“Yes,” said Lady Mysa. “I hope to see you again.”

And that was all.

CHAPTER FOUR: GIFTS

Despite their request that there be no gifts, Bunny had insisted that the Probes set up two large gift tables. In this she was not wrong.

A few of the gifts were welcome. Lightning Ring Farms had set up a temporary StarGate between Winath and Jahnson’s Planet, fully catered the reception, providing a lavish buffet, gratis. It was heavy on vegetarian dishes, but the Ranzzes had also arranged to import a wide variety of Mardruan Meatmelons, as well as a collection of actual exotic ranch-fed meats. A small supply of semi-precious silicates had been provided specifically for Chip. There were also a wide variety of wines and spirits available, including a hundred bottles of a fine Ordzean champagne.

Reina and Goghvan, on the other hand, presented Dori and Ennis with a hologram of a huge work that Goghvan had completed on Mars: a pyramid of dozens of various animals, life-sized, constructed of a variety of metals, chemically treated to display a rainbow patina of color. The statue itself was the gift; it had only to be transported to Jahnson’s Planet. This turned out to be remarkably expensive; the artist, of course, took a substantial commission on the transportation and installation. Ennis placed it at one of the entrances of his new Hunting Parks.

Baron and Baroness Rocksalt had placed a small card on the gift table, which read, “A donation has been made in your name to the El Family Foundation for Space Orphans.”

“A deserving charity,” Ennis declared. “They are the group that famously found a foster home for that Hajoran boy-- what was his name?”

“Was it Bates?” asked Dori. “No, that can’t be right. I believe he is here somewhere. Perhaps we will see him.”

Baron Rocksalt was a physical replica of Ennis Jahnson, although some four decades older. There were few men with whom Ennis could see eye-to-eye, and fewer still that matched his breadth. The Baroness caught Dori in a smothering embrace as soon as she was near enough in the reception line.

“I am so happy for you,” she said, and it was clear she meant it with all her heart.

After the Rocksalts came Bill and Felicia Katz, dressed to the nines. Bill had already been heavily tippling, although it was still morning in the Enchanted Forest. After them came a couple who identified themselves as ‘Mr. and Mrs. Aku of Dollworld’.

“The Katzes are more than they appear,” Mrs. Aku whispered to Dori.

“Oh, I know all about Bill,” said Dori.

“Yes, and Felicia is a Farfarmniflatchian, you know,” Mrs. Aku whispered back.

“Really?” said Dori.

“Who was that?” Ennis asked Dori. “I don’t recognize them, and don’t remember seeing Dollworld on the list of invitations.”

“Oh, no, they’re crashing the party,” said Dori. “But they’re old acquaintances of mine, so it’s all right, really. I;m sure they will behave themselves. Although, if you knew them like I do, there isn’t much we could do to stop them, anyway.” Even if no one else was aware, Dori could see that ‘Mr. and Mrs. Aku’ were, in fact, Ganthet and Sayd, the ancient Oans. Despite her equanimity with Ennis, she was just a little perturbed by their undercover appearance.

Ulu and Zellani Vakk kept their promise to tell the tale of their trip to Maltus with Dori. When they had finished, several guests who had missed the beginning of the story asked them to tell it again. As they began their second recital, a package on the gift table began to quiver, then vibrate, then broke open. A glowing purple gem shot into the air.

“Ulu Vakk, you brought your collection of Lantern Rings!” Dori exclaimed.

“We intended them as a wedding gift,” said Zellani. “It seemed more appropriate that you should have them.”

“I thought they were replicas,” said Ulu. “I didn’t imagine they were active.”

The purple ring flew onto a young guest’s finger. A full-sized violet lantern appeared, hovering in the air.

“Lauren Vidar-Gand of Daxam, you are capable of great love. Welcome to the Star Sapphire Corps.”

For hearts long lost and full of fright,
For those alone in blackest night,
Accept our ring and join our fight,
Love conquers all--
With violet light!

“Honestly, Sayd?” said Ganthet. “She’s only a child.”

“A half-Daxamite child,” said Sayd. “And her father was a Green Lantern. Besides, it wasn’t me. I suspect it was the work of the Violet Entity itself.”

“The Predator has a preference for unrequited love,” said Ganthet. “She must have a terrible crush on someone.”

Ganthet and Sayd followed the traces of emotion in the air, their attention finally resting on Garridan Ranzz and Ivy, canoodling near the buffet tables.

“Oh my, there is quite an age difference, isn’t there,” said Ganthet.

“Well, in ten years, she’ll be eighteen and he’ll be twenty-six, and it won’t seem so large anymore,” said Sayd. The ersatz Mrs. Aku dug into her purse, producing a second violet ring, which she surreptitiously replaced in the black case on the gift table. “I do hate to see a set broken up,” she whispered.

Suddenly, there was a burst of green light from overhead. Sodam Yat hovered near the ceiling of the ballroom wreathed in green flames.

“I have a message for you, Ennis Jahnson,” said Sodam Yat.

There was a chap- I forget his name-
Who burned with a hard and a gemlike flame;
His soul was pure, and his soul was white,
And is shown like a candle in the night.

This singular state that chap achieved
By living up to the things he believed;
He shunned the Better, pursued the Best,
And wedded the Form the Thing Expressed,

He strove for Virtue with all his heart,
And worshipped Life as a form of Art;
And everything Vulgar he flung aside
Till his soul was perfectly purified.

And that explains how this poor chap came
To burn with a hard and a gemlike flame;
And that explains why my old friend Mike
Laid him out with a marlinspike.

Sodam Yat disappeared in a coruscation of green light.

“We really need to find a way to get that boy some help,” said Ganthet to Sayd.

CHAPTER FIVE: MARI POLAMAR’S STORY

At her majority, the age of fourteen, Mari Polamar cashed in her shares in the Polamar Trust. Through a combination of high living and poor investments, she managed to exhaust all her inheritance within only a few years. She managed to use her social connections to establish herself as an independent gossip columnist, contributing to the less respectable pages of, for example, the Social Register and the Sensationalist. It was a meager living compared to what she had the luxury to which she had become accustomed, and there was a degree of jealousy on her part towards those who had been more frugal with their monthly allowances.

Mari Polamar, however, knew an opportunity when she saw one.

“I wish I could see this Maltusian Engine of yours,” she told Zellani and Ulu Vakk. “It must be quite a piece of technology.”

“Oddly enough, it looks perfectly ordinary,” said Zellani. “We have not been able to see what the engineers on Maltus did to it.”

“Our cruiser is parked here in the lot,” said Ulu. “We would be happy to show it to you. But I’m afraid you would need one of the Brainiacs to make any sense of it.”

“Oh, I don’t think either of the Brainiacs would be interested in helping me,” said Mari. She was thinking of a particular rumor she had started regarding the Coluans once.

“I would be interested in taking a look,” said I.Z.O.R., passing by.

And so it was that Mari Polamar, the Vakks, I.Z.O.R., and Rol Purtha found themselves gathered around the old Mark III cruiser an hour or so later.

“You’re correct, it looks like a perfectly ordinary SuperLuminary engine,” I.Z.O.R. said. He created and utilized several additional sensor devices, one at a time. “Interesting, though. It appears they have… permeated?... the original engine in a… an intangible second engine of some kind. Oh, my.”

“Do you mean, like one set in another dimension?” asked Mari.

“No, the second engine… it’s made of… well, as far as I can determine, it’s made of the fabric of spacetime itself, folded into a topological replica of the original engine. But with rather different capabilities. Ingenious.”

Mari had barely enough in savings to put a downpayment on a used space-runabout, and managed to squeeze a loan out of a small, local retail bank in Metropolis once she got back to Earth. She had to trade on her Polamar name, and her small fame as a journalist, as well as some creative financial representations. However, the day she took possession of the runabout, she set off for the co-ordinates Ulu and Dori had provided for the location of Maltus.

Naturally, it was not there.

What she did find was a Terran colony on a relatively hostile world. They had cannibalized all their equipment for survival early on, and had no way of contacting Weber’s World, or any other world in the United Planets for that matter. They had used up their dietary supplements a half-year before, and the peculiar biology of this world had allowed them to grow nothing but low-quality sugar beets and cacao, a diet they had subsisted on for some ten years. The nutritional deficiencies of this diet were beginning to make themselves known, especially among the children of the colony. They were thrilled when Mari Polamar discovered them, and was able to call for rescue through sub-etheric radio. There was a small reward fund established by the United Planets for heroes who rescued struggling or endangered colonies. It was just about enough to pay off her new space-runabout.

CHAPTER SIX: THE RECEPTION (1)

The Enchanted Forest Park Hotel Ballroom was large enough that everything was able to happen at once.

Tables were set up for buffet diners. Wandering Probes were able to take orders and deliver meals to those who preferred to stake out a table, and remain seated. WallScreens ran repeated screenings of the wedding ceremony itself, and the highlights of the reception: the cutting of the cake, the bride and groom’s ‘first’ dance, and other events from the day. Yellow Brick Rhoda of the Substitute Legion of Super-Heroes of Throon caught the bouquet.

Separate rooms in the hotel were established for the reception line, and for the use of the children of the guests.

Driscoll Foccart, Pol Krinn, Dacey and Dorrit Ranzz, and Marrita Sharrik compared their various enhanced senses. Cub Nah demonstrated his power to triplicate, and was matched by the Taine twins, who multiplied two by three to make six. Cub also tried to convince an android Probe that supervision of the group was unnecessary, using his peculiar ability to physically age himself to an adult. The Probe was wise enough to contact Tinya, however, and the ruse failed.

Norja Kem was a favorite, as things always seemed to be happening around the little girl. She made fast friends with the half-Sklaran Umbrial An'Nan, who was amused by the way toys did what they had never been designed to do in her presence.

After the excitement of becoming a Star Sapphire, Lauren Vidar-Gand spent most of the time entertaining the younger children with small, clever, but harmless violet light-constructs. She had a burning desire to try out her new powers, and this seemed a way to do so without attracting too much attention.

Dori was surprised at the number of people who knew Ennis that she did not. For a man who spent so much of his time as a virtual hermit on an out-of-the-way world, he had an astonishing variety of acquaintances. There was Kitsune Dogstar, and T’Proot the Mock of Arbro. A Khundish female named Kaack. An odd trio arrived: a Branx Warrior, a Gamorrean Guard, and a Klaramaran Faceless Hunter-- purple, green, and gold-- who spoke to Ennis at length, laughing over anecdotes Dori could not follow. There was a family of Zafarans, a Zyzan couple, two Saurian brothers, and even a nine-foot-tall Kanamit, who demonstrated an intense interest in the Marduan Meat-Melons, eventually discussing them at length with Garth Ranzz and the bear-couple, the Albens.

Reges Questar popped in, and popped right out again shortly.

Dori’s old Iridium House staff came in a group. The family of Wonn Ez presented as a gift a song, which caused utter silence to fall in the ballroom as all listened, entranced.

“When Xudarians are given a song, it becomes part of them,” said the young daughter of Wonn Ez, quietly. “But we know your human ears are not made in that way, so we have placed a memory crystal on the table, so that you may hear it whenever you wish, as we can.”

Ennis thanked them effusively, and Dori followed suit.

At the end of the group from Iridium House were Lesley and Rey Polamar, the new residents. And behind them… Dori gasped.

“Ennis,” she said, beckoning to an older, white-haired couple, “This is Jorj and Wynn Polamar. My former in-laws. Irveang’s parents. Oh, Ennis, I hope you aren’t…”

The older couple approached. “Dori, you will always be our daughter-in-law. And more like a daughter, that daughter-in-law,” said the old woman. “And Ennis Jahnson, if you would be willing, you could call us ‘Mom’ and ‘Pop’ as well.”

“I would be honored,” said Ennis. “Everything I know about hostelries, I learned from studying your son’s writings on the subject.”

Dori looked at Ennis in surprise.

“Oh, I’ve told you that before, Dori”, he said. “Perhaps not in so many words, but yes.”

“So,” said Ennis to the elder Polamars, “What have you been doing with yourselves?”

“Oh, I’m afraid we can’t tell you that,” said Jorj Polamar. “But I can tell you, it’s an exciting life we lead now. Sometimes a little too exciting.”

“You know, this room-- this world-- is filled with telepaths,” said Dori.

Jorj Polamar laughed. “Do you think we didn’t take that into account? We have take precautions. We are quite different people than the young folks you used to know, Dori. But we are glad you have done well for yourself, and wanted to take time out to congratulate you.”

“Thank you,” said Dori and Ennis together.

CHAPTER SEVEN: THE RECEPTION (2)

By any measure, Yera Allon had had too much to drink.

“There he is,” she said, too loudly. “Gim, my ex-husband. Had me declared dead, when we were only lost in time. And wasted no time getting re-married, either.”

Yera had assumed the appearance of Gim’s new wife, and was leaning over their table. “You could have been my son,” she half-whispered to the little boy sitting with his parents..

“Mommy, the melting lady is scaring me,” said Elijah Allon to the real Thuvia Allon.

Yera’s skin, in response to a surfeit of alcohol, had taken on the texture of warmed candle-wax.

“Yera, please…” Gim Allon began, standing from his chair.

Toog Lintens interrupted. “I’m sorry, Gim. She sent me away to get more drinks, or I never would have let her get this far. I’ll take care of her now.”

“I think I’m going to be sick,” Yera moaned.

An android Probe thoughtfully and instantly provided a sixty-four-liter bucket. Toog Lintens assisted his rapidly liquefying date in pouring herself into the receptacle.

“It’s embarrassing,” he said to Mr. Church, the Best Man. “Such a cliché: ‘Durlans can’t hold their liquor’. An offensive stereotype, really.”

“There are a number of private rooms available in the Hotel. There is a StarGate that leads directly to Winath,” said Mr. Church. “Or, I could call you a Space Cabbie. Compliments of the Hotels, of course.”

“We had better take the cab,” said Toog Lintens. “Yera has a residence on Earth, and so do I.”

* * *

Catspaw brought her pre-teen daughter, May, as her plus-one. Lyle Norg (SW6) came stag. After some initial discomfort, they were able to establish civil, even warm, relations. May was excited to meet her father. The three stayed together, a trio, for the festivities, but left separately.

* * *

The elder Querl Dox was accompanied by the Karabot Mark II. The younger Querl Dox came with the Xanthuan Kid Quantum 2, Jasmine Cullen. They were also joined in the reception line by a small, furry, green, buck-toothed alien.

“This is our associate from the ‘Earth-C-minus’ dimension,” said Brainiac 5.1. “Squerl Dox.”

Dori suppressed a giggle. A fleeting smile crossed Ennis’ lips.

Dori had a sudden thought. She opened the small locket she always wore, and showed the two Coluans the odd silver key she had inherited from her parents.

“You see?” she said. “One side is marked ‘N.I.M.’. The other is marked ‘U.E.’. I haven’t been able to figure out just what sort of key it is, or what it might fit.

“U.E. could mean ‘United Earth’- the old 24th-century name for the planet,” said Brainiac 5.

“Yes, or, ten thousand other things,” said Brainiac 5.1. “There is just not enough evidence to draw a reliable conclusion.”

“I can tell you exactly what it is,” said Mysa Nal, stepping up from behind them. “Although I can’t imagine how your parents came to have it.”

Everyone’s attention was riveted on the former witch.

“It is a Key to Faeryland. Although all the doors to Faeryland closed centuries ago, even the ones on the Sorcerer’s World. The only entry to Faeryland now is the Planet Faerth, and there are all sorts of wards around it now. But it is perfectly recognizable, and I can even tell you who the Key originally belonged to: Nimue.”

Seven pair of eyes stared at Lady Mysa blankly.

“Nimue? The fairy? One of the Ladies of the Lake?” Mysa tried. “Enchanter and gaoler of Merlin? Later known as Madame Xanadu?”

More blank stares.

“At any rate, I can’t believe your parents actually intended will it to you intentionally,” said Mysa. “How did you find it?”

“It was with a number of other items in a safety deposit box on Xolnar,” said Dori. “Which we found after they had both passed away.”

“I don’t doubt the Key once belonged to your parents,” said Mysa. “But, well, you see, the thing about these particular Keys to Faeryland is, that they cannot be Bought or Sold, Stolen or Given. They can only be Lost or Found. And it would be an odd thing indeed if your parents had willed it to you. Faintly macabre.”

“How so?” asked Dori.

“You found it after they had both died. Well, the Key is clearly marked with Nimue’s name. And below the ‘UE’-- you see that little symbol? That’s a musical note. It’s meant to represent ‘Nimue’s Song’.”

“Yes, and?” asked Dori.

‘Nimue’s Song’ is ‘Follow me’,” said Mysa.

* * *

Ayla Ranzz and Salu Digby stood in line with their daughter. She was terribly well-behaved, and did not think she should be sent to the Children’s Rooms.

“Oh, she is precious,’ said Dori. “What did you name her?”

“Violet Digby-Ranzz,” said Salu. “According to her genetic profile, we are told she ought to be able to decrease both her size and weight-- once her powers have been activated by the white dwarf radiation of Irulan.”

“We are going to wait on that,” said Ayla. “There is entirely too much meta-human activity at Lightning Ring Farms as it is.”

“You know, Mother, I am standing right here,” said the precocious Kindergartener. “It is rude to speak about me as if I’m somewhere else.”

* * *

Kimball Zendak’s New Legion of Substitute Heroes of Earth now boasted three ‘owlgirls’.

Adrianna Nocks of Kathoon, the original ‘Owl Girl’, now went by ‘Nightsight’.

But there was also a Starhavenite from the Owl Tribe there, who had owl-like wings, and another alien-- a dark violet-black owl-alien from Ulla. These two had nearly identical powers-- unassisted ftl spaceflight and enhanced navigational senses. The Starhavenite went by her given name, Stillwing, and the Uwillan called herself Lilith. Zendak explained there had been some confusion at first, with names such as ‘Owl Girl’, ‘Owl Lass’, ‘Kid Owlet’, and ‘Owl Maiden’ being bandied about. There was still some friendly competition between the three young ladies.

* * *

There was a patio / balcony outside the second floor of the Enchanted Forest Park Hotel that had a beautiful, unobstructed view of Tesoro. On this part of Jahnson’s Planet, the giant orb hung motionless a quarter of the way up into the sky, rapidly going through its phases once every twenty-four hours. About three hours after midnight, the giant orb was full. Ennis encouraged his guests who were staying that late to go and take a look.

The Lightning Ring guests took the opportunity together to look at the former Jahnson's World. Chip (the parthenogenetic son of Blok) in particular seemed entranced.

"Saturn Girl," he said. He had never gotten used to calling her 'Imra' or 'Mrs. Ranzz'. "Can you feel it? There is someone there."

Imra Ardeen-Ranzz looked at Chip, startled. "What do you mean?" she asked.

"Silicon-based life-forms," said Chip. "Several million of them. I can hear their minds."

"Not possible," said Imra. "The United Planets never would have allowed Ennis to purchase a world with sapient life." But she re-focused her mind, listening for the strange, stony thoughts, like the drifting of continents, that characterized the living silicon mind. Few organic telepaths were capable of such a feat, but Imra Ardeen-Ranzz was no ordinary telepath. And, she had been trained by Blok himself. "They are in the seas!" Imra exclaimed.

"Under the seas," said Chip. “We must go and visit them.” And, indeed, it was decided that they must.

CHAPTER EIGHT: THE TESORONS

For a week after the wedding, Ennis and Dori stayed in a Chinese-style manor house in the Jiuzhaigou Forest Park. Ennis had had it built to house a family of guests-- it could actually accommodate three or four families-- who wished a more extended stay. However, few had made use of it. The newlyweds intended to make it a honeymoon retreat.

It was less idyllic than first imagined. Two days after the wedding, Ennis went back to work, although on reduced hours, only transforming and un-transforming every day, and making the most urgent decisions. Stragglers and well-wishers who had not managed to attend either the wedding or reception nevertheless sought out the happy couple to offer their congratulations. The manor house was full, with people coming and going and even staying overnight, on a couple of occasions. Dori found it necessary to employ, apologetically, a few human servants from elsewhere on Jahnson’s Planet to feed and entertain the unexpected guests.

One group who showed up at the Chinese-style mansion were a half-dozen tall, bald-headed humanoids.

Dori introduced them excitedly. “Ennis, this is Rikk and Loosi Retsun, Double-Header’s parents. They allowed the Subs to use their home on Janus during the Niedrigh Era. As a sort of headquarters / hideout. They were very kind to us. That was after Dyvud and Frenk... well…” she paused in her enthusiasm. It had been many years, but does anyone ever get over losing a child?

“It was too difficult to come to the reception,” said Loosi. “Knowing of all the Legionnaires who would be there. The Substitutes are still dear to our hearts of course, but to think that our sons’ murderer was a member of the Legion… even for only a little while…”

There was a brief silence, when a great deal went unsaid. Dori changed the subject.

“These must be your siblings,” said Dori, indicating a second Janusite couple.

“Yes, said Loosi. “This is Freyd and Thella, our ‘other halves’. And their sons, Dyvud and Frenk’s cousins, Rikk and Broos.” Warm handshakes were given all around, which took up some time.

“Rikk and Broos are exceptional Janusites as well,” said their father, Freyd Retsun. “Dyvud and Frenk developed independent personalities, unusual for Janusite twins. And Rikk and Broos, contrary to Janusite tradition, did not marry sisters.”

“This is my wife, Jullibee,” said Rikk. “My brother could hardly marry her sister; Jullibee is another Janusite anomaly, a singlet. But she is really one-of-a-kind to me.”

“And this is my wife Llanna,” said Broos. “She is…”

Suddenly there were three of Llanna. Then there was one again.

“You are Cargggan then?” said Ennis.

“Yes,” said Llanna. “Although I keep my head shaved out of respect for the customs of my new homeworld of Janus.”

“I thought Janusites were naturally bald?” said Ennis.

“She means the Janusite custom of conformity,” said Broos. “We oddballs are expected to keep a low profile.” He laughed. “Not to flaunt our diversity.”

“I’m really pleased you all came,” said Dori.

* * *

In a far-distant spiritual plane, Frenk Retzun's soul, bound to the Spectre, Spirit of Vengeance, and Dyvud Retzun's soul, bound to the Radiant, the Spirit of Mercy, watched the proceedings.

“It seems a shame,” said Dyvud, “We cannot tell them that we still live.”

“We are not alive,” said Frenk.

“Still, our existence continues, after a fashion,” said Dyvud.

“And we have our responsibilities on Malacthon,” said Frenk. “That is the center of the current crises. Still, I am gratified that they are all doing well, and enjoying life. It is a shame that life is so short.”

“That’s my brother,” said Dyvud. “Always looking on the bright side. A shining light in the miasma of despair.”

“Your paltry attempts at irony are far overshadowed by the natural Universe itself,” said Frenk.

* * *

Meanwhile, an expedition was arranged to the seas of Tesoro. Chip and the two Imras were accompanied by two android Probe guards, as well as an ambassador officially representing the United Planets, from Gil’Disphan. The Gildanite ended up merely an observer, as its Universal Translator seemed incapable of interpreting the telepathic transmissions of the new-found aliens.

They resembled immense tortoises, although they lived at the bottom of the Tesoron ocean, not on land. Their arms and legs ended in a half-dozen stubby, clawed fingers, each as large as a softball. Their rocky shells rose twenty feet high; their bodies more than twice that length, their heads alone nearly as tall as a human.

“So, you are the creatures who encamped about the fringes of our gardens,” said one. “The Great Families have been debating what ought to be done with you. You did not damage the gardens, but it hurt the aesthetics.”

“You debated this for fifteen years?” asked Imra.

“We do not make decisions hastily,” said another. “We are glad to see you have built yourselves a new home, and restored our gardens to their unspoiled beauty.”

“Then these gardens-- these islands up above-- are artificial?” asked Chip.

“Oh, yes, certainly, They are our-- what is your concept? Works-of-Art. There are twenty Great Families of us, each tending a garden of unique biology and design. We are grateful none was damaged. The knowledge to create some of these life-forms has been lost over the centuries, and we would have a difficult time repairing some of the rarer creations.”

“You may have observed,” said the younger Imra, “That we are not all the same, even as your gardens are not all the same. We represent a United Planets of many worlds. If we had known of your existence, we would not have allowed colonization of your planet for even such a-- um-- short time-- as this. But we invite you to consider joining our association.”

“We could offer…” began Chip. Thoughts of trade, protection, mutual social enrichment… all flowed suddenly out of his mind, and to the Tesorons. “You are powerful telepaths!” exclaimed Chip.

“And you have given us a great deal to think about. You are much more than merely visitors on the edges of our gardens. We must discuss this with the other Great Families. Give us another… ‘fifteen years’?... and we will have some questions for you.”

The First Contact was not deemed a success by the Ambassadorial Service. The fault, it was eventually agreed, was that the Hykraians had left the United Planets, who, some felt, were more similar to the Tesorons than the Gildanites. A program of recruiting Hykraian diaspora was embarked upon.

CHAPTER NINE: HOME

After a week in Jiuzhaigou, Ennis and Dori moved back into their suite of apartments in the Schwarzwald Forest Park Hotel. Their ordinary schedule resumed; Ennis was quite busy running Jahnson’s Planet, and Dori became deeply involved in their new social responsibilities-- sending thank-you notes, maintaining new and renewed relationships, and so forth.

In the early hours before dawn one morning, Dori arose to find Ennis standing at a window, staring out as Jahnson’s Planet lay stretched out far below him. The horizon was near, small, and visibly curved.

“What’s wrong, Ennis?” Dori asked. Clearly, something was occupying his thoughts. Ennis was a reliably heavy sleeper.

“Do you know,” said Ennis, “Today I am exactly twenty thousand Earth-days old?”

“Well, then, Happy Birthday,” said Dori. “I never could keep track of Xolnaran time when I am away.”

“A temporal coincidence,” said Ennis. “Unimportant, really.”

“What’s really concerning you, Ennis?” said Dori. “I know when you are being evasive.”

“Well, we ought to be concerned that the Gamorreans have seceded from the United Planets, and joined with the Tellarite Federation,” he said. “But, of course, I am still evading your question.” He moved over to a couch. “Let’s sit down,” he invited. “I was going to wait until morning, but I suppose now is as good a time as any.”

“Ennis, you are frightening me,” said Dori.

“I certainly don’t mean to,” said Ennis. “But I have a story to tell you. As you know, the United Planets strongly discourages the attempted colonization of worlds already inhabited by other species. There are many exceptions, of course. Humans live on many alien worlds, and numerous aliens live Earth. But there the Homeworld species has given their explicit permission-- and the bureaucracy associated with that permission is daunting. Attempting to colonize or claim a world which is already inhabited by an intelligent species is deemed ‘exploitation’.”
“So I no longer own Tesoro-- no one does, it is an independent world now-- and the loan from the Interplanetary Bank has been cancelled as illegitimate.”
“However, in order to discourage this practice there is a 110% tax on any benefit derived from the ‘exploitation’ of native sapient species. And that is what is keeping me up tonight.”

“Oh, dear,” said Dori. “Certainly they aren’t blaming you for not knowing about the Tesorons before you bought Jahnson’s Planet!”

“It is not a matter of blame,” said Ennis. “But there is no provision in the law for ‘known or should have known’. Accident and ignorance are no excuse. The United Planets wants to discourage the ‘accidental’ exploitation of alien species, as well as the intentional. And it is not the net benefit, but the gross. They are considering, at a minimum, the sum of all guest payments received by Jahnson’s World for the past fifteen-and-some years as the basis of liability. Of course, all of that money is gone. The debt service alone took up the majority of it, then the monthly franchise fees to Polamar Hotels, salaries, the annual greenscaping, and so on and so on. But they are not looking to collect from secondary beneficiaries: the burden is mine, and mine alone, as Owner and Proprietor of Jahnson’s World.”

“I cannot even imagine the credits you are talking about,” said Dori.

“Oh, I can,” said Ennis Jahnson. “I estimate the total gross receipts of Jahnson’s world to be approximately two-hundred-twenty billion credits, since its opening. At a 100% tax rate, that works out to just under a quarter of a trillion credits. Even Brande Industries or Polamar Trust would choke at that sum.”

“Surely, they can’t really expect you to pay that,” said Dori. “It’s impossible!”

“Oh, no, naturally not,” said Ennis. “But they can confiscate all my assets, and garnishee twenty-five percent of my future income until the end of my life. It will mean, among other things, losing Jahnson’s Planet. I will become just another employee. Of course, they can’t make me use my powers if I don’t want to, but it will be run according to whatever agenda the receivership custodians think appropriate. And, of course, I could simply be fired.”

“There must be something we can do,” said Dori.

“Oh, I have Solicitor Loy appealing to the United Planets on my behalf, but she doesn’t think we have much of a chance. It’s too bad, too. I was in negotiations to bring in our permanent residents-- the “Liberty Cities” project-- but that is financially a losing proposition, so I can’t imagine the U.P. would allow it to continue. And, of course, I need to inform my charities that no more donations will be forthcoming.”

“I’m so sorry,” said Dori.

“Unfortunately,” said Ennis, “This affects you, too. When you married me, you married my debts. And the United Planets will have claim on all the assets-- real estate, ships, cash-- that the Polamar Trust left you. The two of us will be really and truly bankrupt.”

“Oh,” said Dori. This was the first she had thought of this.

“Unless…” said Ennis.

“Unless what?” said Dori. “Ennis, we’ve been married just short of two weeks. Are you suggesting a divorce?”

“Not divorce,” said Ennis. “That wouldn’t help at all. Our assets and debts would still need to be divided up between us, and all of it would go to the U.P. I’m suggesting-- not suggesting, really, but talking about-- an annulment. U.P. law allows ninety days for ‘buyer’s remorse’ from a marriage. It will be as though the marriage had never happened.”

“So you are asking me to choose between a million credits in the bank, and a future life of continuing ease and comfort, or a lifetime of poverty, penury, and nondischargeable debt with you,” said Dori.

“Well, put that way...,” said Ennis.

“So I suppose it’s you and me against the Worlds forever,” said Dori.

“Well, we could always abscond, and join the Tellarite Federation,” said Ennis.

CHAPTER TEN: XOLNAR: BUSINESS

“Have we received a final decision from the U.P.?” asked Dori.

“No, but there is a message for you from Alder Lokasenna,” said Ennis. “Evidently your tenants at your Da’s old house are moving out. She wants your approval to send in a cleaning and gardening service to make sure the property is in tip-top shape for showing.”

“Well, it’s your rental property as much as mine, now that we’re married,” said Dori. “You could have given her the OK. But I’ll give her a call. We’re not broke yet.”

“No, but it may be seen as an act of ill will if we go about spending a lot of credits while our case is pending,” said Ennis.

“It’s improving an asset,” said Dori. “They ought to be pleased. Besides, they can’t take more than everything from us.”

“I was considering staying on Jahnson’s Planet, and having you take your flyer or cruiser to Xolnar alone,” said Ennis. “I assume you are going to want to inspect the property after the work is done. But I’ve changed my mind. We’ll get Reges Questar to take us both there, and hang the expense. That is, if we don’t get a final ruling and assessment from Weber’s World first.”

“That’s the spirit,” said Dori. “Caution to the winds. Live life to the fullest. We can scrimp and save tomorrow.”

“I haven’t told Cacia and Ciardo that they will be likely losing their homes,” said Ennis. “Those properties are in my name, you know.”

“Let it be a surprise,” said Dori. “No, no, you should probably talk to Reina first. She’s half-owner, right?”

“No, I bought her out when she married that artist,” said Ennis. “A mistake, in retrospect.”

“I’ll tell you what, I’ll contact Cacia and Ciardo myself today, after I talk to Alder Lokasenna,” said Dori. “You continue your work as Supreme Despot of Jahnson’s Planet, while you still can.”

The Xolnaran Merry Mecha-Maids had done a thorough job at the little house in Seventh City. Still, Dori and Ennis checked every nook and cranny. The windowsills, the interiors of closets, nothing escaped their attention.

“Dori, I’ve found something odd,” said Ennis from the Master Bedroom.

“What is it?” Dori asked, entering the room.

“See here?” Ennis had been inspecting the main closet, and pointed to a small hole in the wall. “This looks like a place where your Key to Faeryland might fit.”

It did indeed look like a small key-hole. Dori took the key from her amulet, and tried it in the wall. The wall opened, a hidden panel.

“This area of the closet was specifically designed to hold warmsuits,” said Dori, noting the specialized hangers. “With a warmsuit hanging here, the key-hole would be undetectable.” There was nothing on the other side of the panel but the empty wall-- a couple of beams, empty space, and the back side of the wall in the hallway. “Well, Mysa did say that all the doors to Faeryland had been closed,” said Dori. “I wonder if there was one here, once?”

“Let me go look in the hallway,” said Ennis. He walked around to the opposite side, and tapped on the wall. Dori tapped back. “Definitely a solid wall here.” he said.

Dori shut the hidden panel, and locked it again with her key. That was when she noticed a trace of fine, pale dust on the floor of the closet. It was only a thin line, just under the lower edge of the panel. “I think the cleaning service missed a little something,” said Dori. She ran her fingers through the grey stuff. It was finer than flour. It glittered. Dori found something about the dust funny-- that is amusing. Hilarious, even. She began to giggle, then to laugh out loud. She looked around the master bedroom, and saw colors that had never been there before-- then colors that had never been. The room was spinning, her head was swimming. “Ennis, this is wonderful!” she called. “You have to see this!”

She woke up on the couch in the living room, back in her right mind. Ennis stood over her. A look of bemusement alternated with a look of concern on his face.

“You were pixilated,” he explained. “That stuff on the floor is pixie dust. I put on a pair of gloves and cleaned it up. I’ve got it saved in one glove. I hate to throw it out-- who knows what trouble it might cause to some poor unsuspecting soul. I don’t think we can burn it, either, without risking effects from the fumes.” Dori stared at him. Ennis shrugged. “Ever since Lady Mysa identified your key, I’ve been reading up on Faeries. Obviously, someone did not seal this door properly. Something else else is seeping through.”

“We need to talk to our magically learned friend again,” said Dori. “In the meantime, perhaps we ought not to rent this house right away.”

“I believe, under the terms of garnishment, we may be allowed to keep one principal residence,” said Ennis. “Perhaps it ought to be this one. In case we ever need to leave Jahnson’s Planet.”

“And abscond to Faeryland?” said Dori. “Wouldn’t that be exciting.

CHAPTER ELEVEN: THE FINAL VERDICT

There was a message waiting from Bunny when they returned from Xolnar.

“If the two of you are finished galavanting about the Galaxy,” she said. “Come down to Ennis’ office immediately. The United Planets have come to a final decision, and I, for one, would like to find out who I will be working for next week. The United Planets has made the extraordinary decision to send representatives, in person, to deliver their verdict. I don’t like to keep them waiting.”

When they entered Ennis’ office, Dori and Ennis were were greeted by Bunny and Tenzil Kem, Jr.

“Tenzil?” said Dori. “You are the United Planets representative?”

“I am only here as a translator,” said Tenzil. “And as a Mind Boy, newest member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Two-point-O.”

Ennis recognized the others in the room as well. “Chip?” he said. “And you are Dendra of Hykraius, is that right? You were at our reception with the other young Legionnaires.”

The Hykraian straightened, as much as her race was able. “My Legion name is Outcast, as I am one of those who left Hykraius in protest, when they joined the Dark Circle.”

“It was Chip and Outcast who arranged things,” said Bunny.

“What does that mean, ‘arranged things’?” asked Dori.

“Well, to get immediately to the point,” said Mind Boy, “The United Planets is holding the two of you responsible for a tax liability in the matter of Jahnson’s World of just over one-quarter of a trillion dollars. The exact figure has been sent to your datafiles. But Outcast and Chip have negotiated a Manumitter for you.”

“A what?” asked Dori.

“They have found someone to pay the debt for us,” said Ennis. “With provisions.”

“Covenants,” corrected Mind Boy. “They will take possession of Jahnson’s Planet. You will serve as Chief Executive Officer. They will serve as Board of Directors. No other forfeiture of assets or property will be necessary.”

“Who would pay a quarter of a trillion dollars for an artificial planetoid that is already mortgaged up to the hilt with Brande Enterprises?” Ennis asked. “And who has that kind of money anyway?”

“Not money,” said Mind Boy. “Leverage.”

“The Lithochelonians,” said Outcast.

“Who?” said Dori.

“The Tesorons,” said Chip. “That is what they preferred to be called now.”

“The Lithochelonians do not have a spoken language,” Outcast explained. “But they have a formal, telepathic language of concepts. We explained to them that you had been accused of exploitation of Tesoro-- a concept they recognize as ‘taking-from-another’s-garden-without-permission-to-enrich-your-own’.”

“But the Tesorons considered you only guilty of ‘working-on-the-fringes-of-your-neighbors-garden-without-permission’,” said Chip, “Which we translated as ‘aggravated trespassing’. They felt your punishment-- losing control of your own gardens-- was too extreme.”

“Outcast and Chip convinced the Lithochelonians that your efforts on Jahnson’s World and Jahnson’s Planet building artificial forests was similar to their efforts to maintain the ‘gardens’ of Tesoro.”

“But vastly inferior, of course,” said Chip.

“The Lithochelonians are primarily artists,” Outcast explained. “The island gardens are their great masterworks. They wish you to retain creative control over your own work, as they do” Outcast explained.

“And some of these, er, Lithochelonians will serve on a Board of Directors, to whom I will be responsible?” Ennis asked.

“All of them,” said Chip.

“All the Great Families,” added Outcast.

“And how many Great Families are there?” asked Ennis.

“The entire race is divided into twenty Great Families,” said Mind Boy. “Averaging a little less than a million members each. Each will have their say in the operations of Jahnson’s Planet.”

“And I am to prepare twenty million or so financial statements every month for my Board of Supervisors?”

Outcast whistled, a Hykraian form of laughter. “The Lithochelonians do not understand money,” she said.

“Why should they?” said Mind Boy. “With the dissolved minerals and siliceous micro-life in Tesoro’s oceans, they essentially live in a sea of Loaded Potato Soup. They need no houses, as they carry them on their backs. Their one drive and desire is to create and appreciate artistic endeavor.”

“What they want,” said Chip, “Is for you to improve your Forest Parks.”

“And how am I to do that?” asked Ennis, petulantly. “By taking advice from twenty million art critics?”

“What the Lithochelonians value most of all,” Chip explained, “Is creativity. They want to see diversity and imagination on display on Jahnson’s Planet. Of course, change will take some time-- and they would never make suggestions as to how you would proceed. They wish to be surprised. Repeatedly. Every couple of decades or so.”

“And they have not given much attention to your Forest Parks until now,” said Outcast. “But now that they recognize them as artworks, they will be observing and discussing them in greater detail. The probably are unaware that sentient life is a part of the Parks, and that visitors come and go, changing the nature of the Parks on a daily basis. The islands of Tesoro are all self-contained.”

“There is not so much as a bird or bee analog on the entire planet,” said Mind Boy.

“So I am to continue doing just what I am doing now,” said Ennis Jahnson, “Building and expanding my pet project, as long as I amuse the Lithochelonians, who may not give me feedback more than every twenty years?”

“There is one stipulation from the United Planets,” said Mind Boy. “You are not to receive a salary, or any other compensation, for your employment as C.E.O of Jahnson’s World, except for room and board.” His eyes twinkled. “And Father’s associate, Taryn Loy, has made clear in the legal documents that ‘room and board’ means ‘all services and amenities available on Jahnson’s Planet, now and in the future’.”

Ennis smiled.

“And what does the United Planets get out of this?” asked Dori. “I suppose that the Tesorons have agreed to U.P. membership. Is that the ‘leverage’ you spoke of?”

“Not quite,” said Mind Boy. “As I understand it, the concept is ‘provisional applicant’-- that is, they agree not to affiliate with any other planetary confederation, without informing the United Planets first, will seriously consider new membership, and allow ambassadorial contact. And they will also allow a few high-resolution satellites to map the surface of Tesoro. Now that certain people have become aware of the fact that the Tesoron Continents are massive artistic installations, there is an interest in examining them more closely.”

“And this is the world,” said Ennis, “That United Planets surveyors first named ‘Basura’, insisting it contained nothing of value. My thanks to the Legion for your involvement. You were able to persuade the Tesorons-- the Lithochelonians-- to make a decision in record time.”

“Oh, but we didn’t, not really” said Chip. “It took us just over a day to get across to them the concepts of what was going on on Jahnson’s Planet, but it took four days for the Great Families to come to a decision.”

“And that is only because their decision was to essentially to take no action,” said Outcast. She whistled again. “It took the Great Families four days to decide to maintain the status quo. Except, perhaps, to pay attention to the skies above them.”

“We don’t have to do this, you know,” Ennis told Dori. “When the United Planets discovers what a sweet deal they have arranged for us, they are sure to interfere, at some point in the future. We could just throw it all over, and retire to a quiet life on Xolnar.”

“Or,” said Dori, “We could continue to operate Jahnson’s Planet for as long as it amuses you, and then retire to a quiet life on Xolnar.”

AUTHOR’S NOTES

The Earth-K paracosm is not the Universe of Star Trek, Star Wars, or the Twilight Zone. However, there are Gamorreans, Tellarites, and the Kanamit there.

The following is probably worth reprinting, for those who do not keep the entire Earth-K paracosm in their heads, as I do:

Legion 2.O

01 Validus: Garridan Ranzz of Winath
Enhanced strength and durability, unique 'mental lightning'

02 Ivy: Ivés Benem Jor of Rimbor
Daughter of Ral Benem and Jan Jor (Elastic Lass, 'False Pretenses Kid'); ward of Jo Nah and Tinya Wazzo, also formerly associated with Kent Shakespeare and Brita An’nan.
Talks to plants.
(Actually able to psychically sense events which occurred in the past, as long as it was in the vicinity of plant life; probably due to some sort of quantum effect of sound and light on the plant structures. Straight-up telepath with Arborans, though)

03 Chip: Parthenogenetic offspring of Blok
Enhanced strength and durability, mass/energy absorption & reflection, silicon telepath, resistance to organic telepathy. Legacy hero from Legion 1.5. Has some of Blok's memories. Apparent age at organization: 8.

04 Sizzle:Teela Spuunvll of Abaddonus
Energy transmutation

05 Turtle: Bogdan Tarka of Doopa
Extreme enhanced durability

06 Gazelle: Giselle Smith of Triton
Able to accelerate or decelerate her own biological systems

07 Sludge: Ty Jal of Antares XIII
Able to create a thin layer of 'sludge' in his immediate vicinity, and manipulate its coefficient of friction, from impossibly slick to inescapably sticky.

08 Spunge: Spunge of Sporran (real name unpronounceable)
Absorbs and neutralizes any form of energy. This is his species equivalent of eating. If he aborbs too much energy at once, he becomes 'drunk'. Humorously referred to as 'Energy-Drinker Lad'.

09 Theena: Theena Mommo of Sklar
Controls a clairvoyant symbiote. Honorary member. Permanent Supervisor, Mission Monitor.

10 Outcast: Dendra of Hykraius
Telepathy and Telekinesis. All of Hykraius is now a member of the Dark Circle; she is one of a band of conscientious objectors: refugees cannot return home. Where Tellus was yellow-and-purple, she is chartreuse-and-teal.

11 Symbiote: ‘Seven’ of Kurlijo. Some of her ‘parts’ have taken individual names.
Able to divide into seven separate creatures. Kurlijons are of the race also known as Jigsaw Beasts. Some serve as Interplanetary Bank Guards.

12 Kid Psycho: Gnill Opral of Hajor
Telepathy, telekinesis, super-intelligence, force-fields, time tunneling. Using his powers ages him, but he has created a serum which reverses the effects. Due to some miscalculations on his part, at the time Legion 2.O was formed, he had an apparent age of about six years.

13 Dodgeball II: mmROARld of Fomalhaut 4
Also goes by the ‘human’ name ‘Mawrk’. One of those weird furry bouncy things from the unnamed world from the old Satan Girl story. (In the Earth-K paracosm, it is a planet orbiting the star Fomalhaut.) Has all the powers of Bouncing Boy and Matter-Eater Lad. Can also teleport 2 meters in any direction once per minute.

New members: ‘One Year Later’

14 Mind Boy: Tenzil Kem Jr., actually the son of Eve Aries and Lex Luthor, her husband Tenzil unhesitatingly accepted him and raised him as his own son. Super-intellect.

15 Veritas: Graym Ranzz of Winath
When Graym Ranzz developed a brain fever, Brainiac 5 placed him in biological stasis, and downloaded his memories and personality into an android Probe. His electronic brain gives him limited mind-reading ability and enhanced intelligence.

16 Copycat of Nyorp (Action #285) See here.
Like all Nyorpans, has the ability to exactly replicate any individual, including powers, abilities, memories, and personality, but only for a short period of time. In their default forms, Nyorpans look like the semi-humanoid sphynx cats. Nyorpan social life is very interesting.

17 Algol (Living Liquid Lad): Ra's Al-Ghul of Earth (14th-century Arabia)
When Ra's inhabited a defective, underdeveloped clone, he gained the appearance of a teen-ager, and amnesia. Able to temporarily leave his host body as a living liquid, he was admitted to the Legion, mostly so they could just keep their eye on him. He was not faking his amnesia as some suspected, but later betrayed the Legion anyway, ultimately joining the then-current incarnation of the Legion of Super-Villains. No one was particularly surprised.

New Members: Seven to Ten Years Later

18 Star Sapphire: Lauren Vidar-Gand of Daxam
Half-Daxamite powers. Standard Star Sapphire abilities.

19 Gemini: Dacey and Dorrit Ranzz of Winath
Telepathic abilities on a par with their mother’s.

20 Magnet Boy: Pol Krinn II of Winath
Magnetism. Infra-red vision. Quantum magno-vision.

21 the Wolf Princess (Princess Lycanna Brianna Valiente Voxvanna Annaxandra Londo Vauxhall of Orando), in vitro daughter of Projecta and Brin Londo
Summons giant wolves.

22 Atom Girl: Violet Ranzz, daughter of Ayla Ranzz and Salu Digby
Able to reduce her size and weight, independently.

23 Power Boy: Umbrial An'Nan, son of Kent Shakespeare and Kono, born and raised on Sklar.
Has the ability to transfer super-powers from one individual to another. (Alters the manner in which they express hyper-bio-energy) Fated to die at a young age.

24 Lgxqzryp (Lig-ex-quizzer-yip), a half-Zrfffn, half-human with the ability to temporarily transmute any object or person into any other object or person, as long as he keeps concentrating. Needs to be able to say his ‘magic word’ (His name, backwards) No conservation of mass restriction.

25 Improbability Lass: Norja Kem of New Titan. Daughter of Tenzil Kem and Eve Aries, ‘baby sister’ of Mind Boy.
She is a living Improbability Generator. Although she does not have 100% control over her powers (there is always a random factor involved) she is useful to have around. When her powers once threatened to grow out of control, she transferred a portion of her improbability energy into a blue guitar, and sent it fifty years into the future. Thus the future super-heroine Guitar Girl was born.

26 the Cheshire Cat: May Norg, daughter of the Batch SW6 Invisible Kid and April Dumaka. Born on Earth, raised as a galactic nomad.
Invisibility, teleportation, and feral powers. Furry and cute.

Unintended parenthood! For some reason, Dawnstar and Wildfire's new status reminds me of Raising Arizona. Great idea of how their relationship could work and Drake sounds much more settled. You accomplished a lot with that one scene.

The wedding went off without a hitch, except for Yera in her cups. Nice use of many characters, especially keeping the big guns in the background.

Then Bureaucracy strikes, the supervillain who crashes the honeymoon. The Tesorons are fascinating, supremely self-actualized.

And thanks for the recap of Legion 2.0 membership - and beyond. They say you are a Blue Guitar, you do not play things as they are.

These stories center on "Rainbow Girl" and her interaction with the Earth-K paracosm: it's her story; the "big guns" only figure in when they impact her life.

"The man replied, 'Things as they are
Are changed upon the blue guitar.'"

What a wonderful little arc. A lovely wedding. Sentient life on Tesoro. A sweet deal brokered by Chip and company - Chip certainly helped fix the situation he inadvertently started.

Faeryland!

Poor Yera.

Mari's little adventure was quite amusing.

This is a brief summary of Wildfire’s history in the Earth-K paracosm.

In the early 21st century, five of the ‘Legion Lost’ (Chameleon Girl, Dawnstar, Gates, Timber Wolf, and Tellus) were transported back to the 31st century after Brainiac 5 arrived in a Time Bubble one midnight, picking them up in front of the abandoned Metropolis Daily Star newspaper building.

Tyroc had, several months earlier, left the group to be united with the 21st-century Marzal, which had temporarily appeared on Earth off the coast of Senegal.

Wildfire remained on Earth for several more years. In the late 24th century, with the advent of interstellar space travel, he relocated to a distant planet, quite near its sun, inhabited entirely by energy-beings. As Wildfire is an anti-energy being, of a more substantial density, his time there was analogous to the time Superman spent on Earth. In the late 30th century, after the disbanding of the Legion in LSH v.6 #23, but before the Black Dawn event, Wildfire journeyed to Colu, informing Brainiac 5 that the ‘Legion Lost’ Legionnaires were alive in the 21st century, and how he had witnessed Querl rescuing them. It took some time for Querl to get approval to take a time bubble into Earth’s past-- he was still under the age of majority on Colu.

(In fact, Querl actually only got approval retroactively.)

During the Black Dawn event, the Lost Legionnaires and Wildfire joined the Legion of Rimbor, led by Ultra Boy, and whose deputy leader was the Sun Boy clone created by Starfinger and Dr. Regulus. It was the subversive programming of this clone which led directly to the Black Dawn event.

It was only by exhausting the magicks of the Black Witch (during which time Mordru and Kinetix were released, along with a host of other sorcerers and magicians) and Wildfire’s personal sacrifice, uniting himself with the sun’s corona, that was able to stop the wholesale destruction of the Solar System.

At this point, Gates returned to his own time and world, fifteen years in the future.

Timber Wolf returned to Zoon, his physiology badly damaged by the ‘Black Dawn’ event.

Yera discovered that Gim had re-married in her absence.

Tellus returned to Hykraius, secretly joining the Dark Circle revolutionaries against their Gil’Dishpan overlords.

It was at this time, with his anti-energies attenuated across the surface of the Sun, that Wildfire began to discover that he was not exactly Drake Burroughs, but an Anti-Energy Elemental imprinted with Drake’s personality and memories. It was the shade of the real Drake Burroughs who instructed Wildfire in how to return to the greater world, by inhabiting the corpse of the late Sun Boy clone.

Dawnstar, meanwhile, was undergoing the horror of being inhabited by the Bounty entity. Years passed. Dawnstar received new wings-- first artificial, then wholly re-grown. The Sun Boy clone-corpse was ultimately completely consumed by Wildfire’s anti-energy, although faint traces of the artificially imprinted memories of Dirk Morgna remained. Wildfire himself finally accepted what he truly was-- an independent being, with more than a thousand years experience beyond his original “Drake Burroughs” personality and memories.

For Dawnstar, it had been years. For Wildfire, it had been centuries. It took another decade, but they re-kindled their love, and were at last married, moving semi-permanently to Starhaven, and honeymooning on Appellax.

So, yes, I intended Wildfire to be older, and more mature.

That's a very satisfying conclusion to Legion Lost II. What you do with Wildfire opens up the potential of the character considerably - and helps to explain why he wouldn't go insane or completely lose touch with humanity after centuries.


That figures.


I was trying, off and on for years, to think of some logical explanation which could cast the Dark Circle as good guys and explain why Tellus would support them. Here it is, in part. These political movements are often a matter of perspective and depend on who wins.