Legion World Forums LEGION OUTPOST Bits o' Legionnaire Business Tempus Fugitive

Standing before the command console stood the Monstrees, Gates, the pale blue skinned team member who Rol has sent back through the floor and a small girl with blonde pig tails and a wide grin that looked far too wise for her young years.

"Rol, enough. We know you can't be guilty so don't give them anything else to pin on you."

"I'm really sorry, I had a vision Candi, a really strong vision." Rol could see how upset his friend was and while he didn't want to get her into any more trouble he knew they had to flee. How could he explain what his father had explained and how he knew the future would involve his running out on the Amazers?

"Rol, we want to help..."

"This doesn't help." thought the alien Ambassador, and with that the Amazers who stood in their way collapsed, fast asleep. "They were stalling before Atmos and Psyche returned. The Tribune has given them direct orders that they must stop you from leaving at any cost. Your friend the Monstress was particularly upset so I've given her pleasant dreams."

While the Ambassador explained her actions Rol had approached the Transmatter control console, gingerly stepping over his fallen friends. The Laser Ape and Nemesis Girl closed the blast doors into the room, both looking very nervous about the situation.

"Okay, this is my fault you are in this mess. I'm not promising that you will come out of this with your careers intact but I do promise you that I am innocent and only want to prove that to the Galaxy. My father said that if I ever needed to escape I could travel through the Transmatters without being monitored. Guess it's time to see if he knew what he was talking about. Do you want to join me?"

His three companions all nodded.

"Right, let's go."

Rol once again picked up the alien known as Ambassador Contact, allowing the curious creature to wrap it's prehensile tail around his torso, and offered his hands out to N'Gok the Laser Ape and Aneaelle, who had taken the name of Nemesis Girl. They took hold of the hands he offered and stepped towards the buzzing event horizon of the transmatter gate, all ready to face whatever their fugitive status threw at them.

"Oh Cassandra I hope this works. MAYAVALE!"

And Rol and his three companions were gone.

The four unconscious Amazers started to rouse on the floor beside the control console and could hear their comrades approaching in the distance. They all knew, though no-one said it, that the next time they faced any of the escaped group they would not allow them the luxury of trying to talk first. Next time Rol and his gang would be brought down hard and made to pay for their actions.

That's the end of part one of Tempus Fugitive. Thank you for taking the time to read my work, hope you have enjoyed the story so far.

In total they had transmatted to 51 different locations on 40 different worlds before they stopped moving. They had abandoned everything they carried and wore along the way with the exceptions of a dagger Nemesis Girl had kept hidden in a boot and Rol’s fathers seers armband and the Legion flight ring.

They had arrived through a transmatter gate in the small city of Strmmor on Talok viii in their newly stolen clothes expecting to turn around and jump through to another random destination, as they had been doing since they left the Spire. Instead they arrived auspiciously in the middle of a local festival where everyone was dressed in costumes and hiding under holo disguises while enjoying the crowded bazaar. The small city was awash with many brightly coloured and extravagant characters all taking part in a traditional two day party. Amongst the garish crowds they could blend in and effectively vanish.

The group felt reasonably sure that anyone chasing them would have lost them before that point so decided to stay and take stock.

That had been three local days ago. In that time they had managed to persuade a local merchant, with a slightly judicious use of Ambassador Contact’s telepathy, who lived on a farmstead a little under five klicks from Strmmor's ancient fortified walls to access the UP wide streaming data news net and find out what was happening off Talok viii. Starting off the merchants data search by looking up the exploits of Tasmia Mallor, the Talokean planetary champion, and from there following seemingly random data leads until it showed the group what they had been searching for, they hoped that any AI hunter algorithm wouldn’t be alerted to the merchant’s sudden interest in Xanthuan affairs and the Naltorian High Seers proclamation.

The situation they had fled from had spread much further than Xanthu. All the news feeds from official sources, and most of the few independents that also held licenses to broadcast, were awash with the story. The High Seer of Naltor had issued a decree that the people she named were wanted for crimes that would destroy the very foundations of the United Planets.

The reward for information leading to he successful capture of Rol and the three who had followed him was enough to buy a small planetoid.

“My mother always said I was worth over a million credits of anyone’s money.” Yet despite his attempts at levity both Aneaelle and Ambassador Contact expressed their anxiety. N'Gok tutted to herself but said nothing. Rol assured them that they would be able to prove their innocence soon and that the next day they would begin the process.

As he tried to sleep that night Rol knew that despite his resourcefulness they were way out of their depth. It appeared that the entire United Planets were searching for them now. It was that night that Nura appeared to him in his dreams.

“Rol sweetheart,” in his dreams she looked like she had that day she had walked out of the Pre-commandoes. That was a day that stunned Rol along with everyone else as everyone knew that Nura Nal was the highest rated Pre-Commando student on record. She was a year older than Rol and he had secretly worshiped her since they had played together as small children. It had always been assumed that the then High Seers Grade 1 Alpha pre-cog daughter was destined to follow in her mother’s footsteps yet there she was announcing to all that her future would be on Earth working alongside the anarchistic Legion. Rol thought she had never looked so beautiful. “It’s up to you to get to the heart of this. Querl and I have our own mission now. “

Rol started to speak but she held out her hand, motioning him to stop. “I don’t have long my friend. I need to tell you that when the morning comes you must go to the great Forest of the Green Brotherhood. Querl says that the rings will always lift you and please remember that right is not might and left turns will take you backwards.” She started to fade “Be gentle with Mysa as she has been through enough already. I will see you both soon.” And with a melancholic smile she faded fully out of view.

The three days they had spend here had not been wasted.

While Rol and Ambassador Contact researched the whereabouts of the Nu-born that Rol's father had mentioned and planned what their next step would be, N'Gok and Aneaelle needed to act.

N'Gok, despite her big smile and outwardly positive attitude found it particularly ironic that she had ran away from her homeworld two years to learn more about the galaxy spanning United Planets and here she was, just as she had found a purpose in that hugely confusing and socially complex system now running away from it. She did what she had always done when faced with a problem that her conscious mind baulked at:

She found something to dismantle.

In this case it was the merchants elegant looking but woefully fuel inefficient skycart. Her love for mechanical engineering had been a constant in her life and she reveled in the challenge of working on this alien technology. It also meant she could spend a lot of time on the merchants roof garage looking out at the turquoise sky and alien landscape acting as the groups look out.

Anneaelle, as a student from Myar, the Alchemists planet, used her skills to mix up a poultice that included local flowers sap that, once spread across her and Rol's skin gave them a pale blue hue of the locals. It didn't stand up under very close scrutiny but it was enough to allow her to leave the merchants compound with a little confidence when she wrapped up in local garb. In the local bazaar she discovered that the High Seers announcement and the subsequent flurry of Science Police activity were the hot topic of conversation. Everyone had an opinion to share, a rumour to spread or speculation to muse over. She found the honesty and blinkered trust that the Talokeans showed to her despite their reputation as fierce warriors to be very endearing. On her own homeworld it would not be acceptable to speak out so openly, especially in a public place!

When she returned to the compound and shared her news the group knew there would be no going back from their course. They talked it through until the wee hours of the morning and all agreed that they would continue until they found answers.

Ambassador Contact had needed to use her telepathy very little since she had persuaded the merchant to look after them and when she spoke with Rol she commented on how honorable a man the he was, "his soul is full of generosity and light."

The merchant, Andur Sijjeh Mkaw, specialized in transporting food and beverages throughout the Southern Continents. He was a divorcee with two children he rarely saw. He lived to work and in a typical local cycle would rarely socialize. Ambassador Contacts initial telepathic push requesting he acknowledge them as friends and offer to house them while they visited Strmmor was all it took to release the more gregarious and companionable side. Here was a man who had escaped his loneliness by diving into the cut and thrust of commerce.

Amassador Contact had no need to sleep, telling the others that her species had two organs htat were a rough analogue of the Terran brain. Her species merely rested one while the other was awake. She had taken to sitting in the merchants kitchen area searching through the stores of dried meat and tubers for something rich enough in B vitamins for her system to absorb. The xenomorph had managed to sustain herself by licking some indigenous insects but she was beginning to reach her physical endurance limit. She hadn't wanted to alarm the group but her race had comparatively strict dietary requirements.

Rol had silently padded through the house to the kitchen and found her with her extended snout in what appeared to be a sack of Talokean potatoes.

"Ambassador, we need to wake up the others."

"Aneaelle is in the next room dozing. N'Gok is asleep in the nest she built on the roof terrace. She is dreaming of fishing for razor pike with her brother as they did when they were children. She was scared then and is scared now."

The directness of the Ambassadors telepathic assessment throws Rol of balance for a second. His excitement of having had a vision of Nura is pushed to the back of his mind as he realises that this group that followed him so bravely needed his attention, as well as leadership. The uncertainty of their mission must be confusing them, possibly even more than it confused Rol.

"I know where we are going Ambassador and I'm sure we will get more answers there. Can you wake the others please, we need to get going before the day starts. The less people who see us leave..."

Within ten minutes of Ambassador Contact's telepathic intrusion into the groups dreams they were all sat around the large table in the merchant's front parlor discussing what they should do. The merchant offered them the use of his now very efficient skycart. As the Forest was over 2,000 klicks away they had very little choice. Rol realised that the Talokean that they had ungraciously pushed into hiding them had developed a bond of genuine warmth with them. Whether it was that they had found a way through his loneliness to remind him about the simple joys of company or his natural generosity being able to show itself, Andur was willing to go well out of his way to help them one more time. N'Gok was keen to show him the adjustments she had made and both wanted to test drive the vehicle.

They left about two hours before the star Talok would rise above the horizon. N'Gok insisted Andur took the skycart up on it's first flight since she had made her changes. He was more insistent that N'Gok should be the pilot claiming that it was local custom for a woman to fly a vehicle as everyone knew they had better reflexes and sight. Despite his charm they all knew he was lying, he was just being kind. His sadness that they would leave him was visible in the small ways he would touch them as he spoke and the extravagant manners he suddenly acquired. Rol could see on his companions faces that they shared this feeling.

As most of the flight was over open seas and N'Gok estimated it could take up to two hours they started to talk. Andur was amazed that his "old 'cart" could make such a journey without needing to refuel and N'Gok kindly explained the system she had set up and minor engineering she had worked on. They could tell by the slightly distant look in his eyes that their merchant friend was considering how to he could benefit from these simple changes to existing technology that made such a difference. N'Gok seemed delighted that her 'tinkering;' was so well appreciated and they slipped below to examine the engine.

Rol, Aneaelle and Ambassador Contact were left in the control deck in silence.

Rol knew a little about each of his companions but knew that in the days to come, when things got harder they would need to have complete trust in each other if they were to succeed.

“Aneaelle, what is Myar really like? On Naltor we were taught that the people there had turned their back on the Enlightenment that the United Planets brought,” he smiles at the irony of this statement,”and were interested only in the metallic elements they could create for their own wealth.”

“There is possibly some truth in that Rol.” Ameaelle looks reluctant to say much more.

“Naltorians are snobs so don’t feel it’s personal. We... they are a race who think they always know what’s best for everyone else.”

“My mother moved us to Myar when I was very young. We were Bana-Mighdall. You know of our people?” There is a challenge in her tone.

Rol’s eyes widen in genuine surprise. “I’m afraid all I know is the rumours about the Bana-Mighdall. Something else else about searching for the route back to the Paradise Island that was destroyed in a long ago battle, or something like that. I’m sorry, that’s probably not true is it?”

“We were once warriors, our history is thousands of years old Rol and it would be impossible to distil it in one conversation.” Again her reluctance threatens to shut down the conversation.

“I saw a picture once in the Naltor Institute of Art of your people. It was real old school oil on canvas, stunningly dramatic, The Venus in Arms by a 24th century genius...”

“Willemma Maraggio Patel. It shows the aftermath of devastation to the Rubens Colony on Ganymede after we were supposed to have attacked one of the so-called Brave Sisterhood’s hospitals. I know it very well Rol. It is untrustworthy propaganda.” There was anger in her eyes now.

Rol had never heard about this interpretation of this famous piece of art. As he started to apologize, trying to explain that all he knew was that the picture showed the Bana-Mighdall as brave warriors Nemesis Girl got up and announced she was going to see how N’Gok and Andur were doing.

Rol bristled for the next hour of the flight.

Had it not been for his vision while they were at the Spire that showed the group together and Nura’s reassurance to keep going Rol was tempted to tell his companions to leave, return to the Spire and explain that he had tricked them to follow him. Hopefully they wouldn’t face too much flak. Actually, Rol knew that they would be imprisoned before the Amazers could say or do anything to help. The High Seer had engendered the full support from the upper echelons of the United Planets and every police force, governmental agency or brigade in the various planetary armed forces would been keen to say that they had captured these runaway suspected terrorists.

As the skycart approached a mountainous island Andur returned to the flight deck with N’Gok. They were both excited about how efficiently the engine had been running. Neither seemed in any way awkward around Rol so he guessed that Aneaelle hadn’t mentioned that he had unintentionally upset her. Rol made a mental note to thank her for her discretion later.

Andur was excitedly pointing at various readouts while N’Gok cackled with shared enthusiasm. None of them heard Aneaelle return to the flight deck. She stood silently behind Rol and Ambassador Contact, staring fixedly at the screen showing the approaching continental edge.

Andur turned to them and said, “We will be there within the next few minutes. The Brotherhood are not always welcoming of outsiders but I have had some small dealings with them before so please let me see if I can gain you the access you require to continue on your mission to free the United Planets.”

Once again, the merchant showed his generous side and Rol felt his heart sink as he realised that despite Ambassador Contact’s initial telepathic monitoring and their attempts at discretion they had dropped the ball. Andur knew exactly who they were and what they were running from all along.

Andur set down the skycart in a clearing amidst the dark and tangled forest just as the Talokean sun rose brightly from behind the curve of the world. Rol was stunned by the riot of colours. The Great Forest of Talok was said to contain every kind of tree in the Galaxy and looking at the sight before him Rol could believe it.

The clearing they had landed in was easily the size of several football pitches but it appeared small and insignificant beside the majestic forest that surrounded them. In the distance there were majestic red oaks and banyan trees shading acres, strew with vines and climber tendrils of species Rol had never seen before.

The group were silent as they followed Andur through a rough path. Every member seemed stunned, cowed even, by the sheer size and variations of plant life around them. It was N’Gok who eventually broke the silence:

“We have forests on my world that I thought were amazing but this is... well it’s outrageous!”

Rol started to agree when Aneaelle spoke:

“Where are the birds and insects?”

Rol hadn’t noticed the preternatural silence but once he started to think abot it the more uncomfortable he felt. The presence of this much vegetation should of attracted a multitude of life. There should be dozens of bugs, the air should be full of the sounds of birds calling, the multitude of trunks should have armies of critters crawling over them.

“Ambassador, what do you sense? What are we walking into?”

Ambassador Contact, the telepathic xenomorph with eyes that Rol thought looked like delicate sunflowers and four legs that arched up and down like those of a jumping cricket, was keeping pace with Rol as he strode along the shaded path with small awkward looking jumps and hops.

“We are not alone. There are others here with minds more vast that you can imagine. They know we are here so I do not want to put us at risk by probing them directly.”

“Andur!” Aneaelle started to race ahead to catch up with their guide but as she approached branches shifted and when she had sidestepped them he was gone.

Aneaelle’s initial reaction was to start twisting off branches, fighting her way through the dense vegetation to reach where she thought their guide should be. N’Gok’s eyes started to glow as the Laser Ape agreed but Rol quickly stopped her. They had been taken here for a reason and he knew they had to let this play out.

“ Stop! Don’t do that N’Gok. Aneaelle, stand down! We cannot damage this place, we need to be here and I don’t believe it’s to chop down a few trees.”

From around them the trees seemed to shake and shudder, the rustling of the leaves and trembling of branches coalesced into a sound that echoed like a chorus. N’Gok and Aneaelle took up defensive positions as they tried to locate a singular source. Rol knew better. Nura had sent him here for a reason.

“So you are the savior the Green has been told to wait for little child of the Red. You are chosen to stop the unnatural Black rule at the centre of your species dominion. You must strike at the Blacks chosen one’s heart. “

The air seemed to vibrate and thrum with an energy that made their hair stand. N’Gok covered her ears and cried out, Aneaelle visibly flinched and Ambassador Contact collapsed. Even with his confidence in Nura’s prediction Rol fought the urge to bolt. Picking up Ambassador Contact he called out:

“No! Tell me who you are? Why should we help you?”

“We are the Green.” Images flashed across the group’s minds, images of growth and life, of vegetation and the struggle of growth, of man’s destruction of nature’s harmony on their home world and the exodus to off-worlds that spread this subtle and ancient consciousness. Images of Terran plants being planted in this ancient forest spreading their consciousness amongst the semi-sapient native vegetation. With the images came the knowledge that the Red, the animals of Earth, were locked in an eternal symbiosis with the Green. The knowledge came of other players in this eternal struggle of life and balance. The Rot, the Gray spread of mould and finally, of the Black. Death itself. Necessary for the balance but it too wanted more. Its own nature made it greedy and that hunger had infected and empowered a man who sat at the heart of the societal stagnation that ate at the core of the United Planets. It had slowly taken control, limiting the spread of ideas, denying the natural urge for expansion and adaption and with an insidious power was slowly leading the many worlds of the United Planets to a cultural and evolutionary collapse that would lead to the Black holding the power its hunger demanded.

Without being told Rol knew the name of the man who had taken this up this devil’s bargain.

“Mordru.”

The forest seemed to recoil as he said the name. Rol knew that this Mordru, whoever, whatever, he was would be his ultimate adversary. Ever since Rol’s father hadn’t wanted to speak about him Rol had known with a certainty that went beyond his Naltorian gifts that their destiny was linked in a struggle that could have galactic ramifications. Even as this thought coalesced in his mind the voice of the Forest spoke again.

“The Scion of the Black is on Zerox and the planet itself feeds his lust and screams in torment as he consumes the very soul within its stones.” With the words came pictures to their minds. The mysterious world that was once the galactic refuge for sorcery and spirituality slowly being drained of the essence that made it such a magnet for the magical. At the heart of this planetary vampirism sat a man in robes of purple with a white beard and eyes that were black with insanity and power.

“Zerox? The Sorcerer's World? How are we supposed to get there? No-one knows where it is anymore, do they?”

Even as Nemesis Girl asked the question Rol asked his, “Zerox cut itself off from galactic society over three centuries ago so how’s it linked to the scientific stagnation you say is killing us all?”

“It is not just your scientific stagnation, it is the evolutionary potential within all living souls that has been denied. You hot creatures of the Red, the decaying spores of the Grey as well as the roots and branches that make the Green have all been stunted. You creatures of the Red are blinded by your lights and metals, you cannot feel past your own short spans. We will join you on your quest. We will be the Green Guide you need to see what has been taken from all living souls.”

As the voice faded Andur came back into the clearing, though not Andur as they knew him. Whatever it was wore his form but the movements were awkward and unnatural, his eyes seemed wild and excited and his skin seemed tinged with a green glow.

With a feeling of revulsion Rol watched as the once charming Talokean merchant stumbled over words as he said “This creature's great great spore giver made a bargain that we could claim his legacy if we spared it's life as we knew as sure as our sap rises in summer that one day the child of the Red destined to break the Black's bond would come to us here and we would need to guide you. We take that claim now. This Creature of the Red now belongs to the Green.”

Ever since Saturn Girl had freed Rol from the influence of Esper Lass and Lady Memory he had known that his mind had been tampered with long before the two Amazer traitors had messed with him. His father had mentioned several times how the Naltor High Seer had the ability to influence the Naltorian populace. The Witch Anagastru he had met on East continent had known of him and now the Green also seemed to have some fore knowledge that would impact on his life. Rol felt it was time that he learned what it was tat it seemed everyone else knew of him. He was not the most proficient precognitive on Naltor, he was not the strongest or most powerful of this generation of galactic heroes, in fact he was beginning to feel like a rat in a maze.

Well, he thought, it was time to do something about that and take back the control.

Laser Ape and Nemesis Girl were fussing around Andur, both were alarmed and obviously ready to confront the Green about its taking control of their former companion. Rol knew there was nothing they could do about it. He also assumed that Andur had known what he was getting into by joining the group here to this wild place.

There were bigger battles that needed to be fought.

“Green, tell me, what do you know about me? Tell me what it is we are supposed to do that will bring an end to this reign by the dark one on Zerox? “

Ambassador, the strange little xenomorph with eyes like sunflowers, hopped over to Rol’s side and wrapped her prehensile tail around Rol’s leg in an apparent show of support.

“And you can keep out of my mind too. I know now that you are not an innocent party here either.” Rol snapped and pulled his leg away.

Both Laser Ape and Nemesis Girl turned and expressed their surprise and shock.

“Well, come on! This telepath let two traitors alter the teams memories, was conveniently approaching the transmatter in Amazers Spire when I arrived and coincidentally pushed Andur to help us when we arrived here. Naltorians know there is no such thing as coincidence.”

“You are correct my friend, we are not totally innocent but we have not done anything that would be other than helpful.”

“Are you the Gray? Are you the voice of the other side in this battle?”

Rol stood his ground though could see Nemesis Girl recoil as the being known as Ambassador Contact split into several blobs of protoplasmic matter.

“Proteans? But you are extinct!”

“Yes Rol Purtha, we are the Gray. We have our own versions of what will come to pass. You creature of the Red burn so fiercely, so quickly. The gray has an unbroken line of knowledge that goes back before even the Green. We are in the final days of great darkness that will decide how the balance finally tips.” The telepathic voices were separate and distinct now. The blobs oozed back together into the singular form they had occupied, the four legged creature the group had known as Ambassador Contact. “We are here to help you in the coming battle.”

“What battle? I’ve had enough of these stories and games. Enough! Tell me what you know or I’m... I’ll return to Naltor and deal with the consequences there.” Rol knew his bluff would not fool them but he honestly didn’t know what else to say. His head spun with the events of the last few days.

The Green spoke through Andur: It is the time of the regeneration and regrowth. New seeds must be planted before all is lost. This is the time to turn away from the dark and let life reunite with it’s proper pattern. There will be a battle on a hidden world that will decide this galaxy’s destiny. You have been chosen to represent the Red for now. You have a path that was laid down before we all left the Mother World to these alien soils.

Rol replied quietly: It would have been polite to maybe tell me this was what was happening.

Ambassador Contact’s silky telepathic voice: The slow decay that brings life to the next generation has been disrupted. We must stop the Black from ascending any further for while it feeds the Grey it will kill us as surely as it will stop your heart from pumping.

The Green: We all feel the pull of tides and planets. The stars themselves light this path.

Ambassador Contact: We must get to the centre of the Blacks power without the Black’s agents knowledge. We must...

Rol: Hang on! We have to find Zerox, a magically hidden planet, and sneak onto it before we can even find this bloody Mordru who I have to defeat somehow?

Green and Gray: Yes.

Rol: Well we will need help and I can only think of one person who may be able to do that but I’m afraid she may not want to help. Princess Projectra’s a little unstable these days.

Both Nemesis Girl and Laser Ape were particularly vocal with their objections. Princess Projectra and her consort Brin Londo had led a revolution on Earth and, it had been reported, escaped from the Legion almost a year ago. They had fled with the survivors of Orando and taking control of a small world out by the Galactic Edge. Rol had heard from the Legionnaires, when he had taken Pol Krinn to Earth, how she had support from the future and it was only through the intervention of the Kryptonians from Kandor that the Legion had finally curtailed her ambition and plans for revenge. Still, Rol knew with a certainty that would not be swayed that she was the key to their successfully finding Zerox. Her illusions could hide them from any prying eyes. They needed to get Princess Projectra on side.

He was not sure how that could help them find and maybe rescue the other Nu-Borns that his father and the Techomancers had created on naltor, but he knew that if they were really following a prophecy they would have the opportunity when it arose.

“So how do we get to her?” Nemesis Girl asking in exasperation. “She’s a florggin’ nutjob Rol but if you think it’s the only way we can get to this Mordru on Zerox and you can talk her into maybe not executing us...” she left the statement hanging.

Rol had not been close to either the Orandian princess or Brin Londo and he hoped that would stand in his favour now as the Legion were definitely not on her side. Both Nemesis Girl and Laser ape knew they couldn’t change his mind so they eventually agreed, under some duress. The Green, in the form of Andur and the representative of the Rot, the Gray, the Proteans in the form of Ambassador Contact were wholeheartedly behind Rol’s idea. They both seemed oblivious to the dangers that contacting Projectra could bring.

“Ah, one problem Rol, sorry to be the party pooper but we don’t have a space ship so how do we get to see Mad Queen Projetra?” Laser Ape gave a viciously toothy smile as she asked her question.

“We need to borrow one N’Gok, I’m sure the starport here will be most accommodating. And if not we can always just steal the fastest one we can find and get going. “

“Well, that’s a plan. Maybe not the best one but a plan anyway so that’s a start.” Aneaelle’s dry humour brought a smile to Rol, his companions were behind him.

They reached the spaceport on the southern archipelago three hours later. Andur’s skycart was known by the AI’s who controlled the air space around it so they had no problem getting permission to land. The vast flat area had several towers with landing pads jutting out. On the highest of these pads sat several obviously Galactic class ships. The group planned on somehow getting access to a tower and one of these impressive ships.

Aneaelle had slathered the poultice she had created across her and Rol’s faces and hands, their skin turning the soft blue tones of the Talokeans from these southern lands. Both dressed in the voluminous clothes that the locals wore, their turban’s and high collars covering most of the faces. They hoped it would be enough to keep them from being discovered.

As they were about to leave Ambassador Contact hopped to their side and, with a fluid ease that startled them, assumed the form of Andur before the Green possession. Rol noticed the possessed merchant smiled as his double left the skycart with the two Amazers. Maybe there was something of the original man inside.

They walked towards the nearest tower and were a little under 100 mets from its base when Rol had a precognitive flash.

“We need to hurry up and we can get what we need. There’s no time for subtlety now.” Neither of his companions asked any questions.

They quickened their pace, jogging to the high security door before them. A large pad with two dozen keys showing the local script glowed to its side. Rol took a deep breath and reached out. His precognition was good for this type of problem. Without conscious control he tapped in a sequence and stood back. The doors slid open revealing a corridor. They strode in showing every confidence that they had the right to be there. They had only taken ten steps when a group of Talokeans turned into the corridor and started walking towards them.

“Hey, merchant, what are you doing here?” The man who challenged Andur drew a small weapon from his belt, “You have no business here, you’re not a technician.”

“My friends here were showing me the amazing...” Ambassador Contacts attempt to placate the Talokeans before them stopped as Nemesis Girl leapt forward and with three precise blows floored the men.

“No time for subtlety he said.” She quickly searched the fallen men, picking up two hand blasters and all three of the Talokean’s ID bracelets , then caught up with Rol and the Ambassador as they hurried down the corridor. Ambassador contact, the Proteans who served the Gray, assumed the form of one of the fallen men as they stepped into an anti-grav shaft. The ID was scanned and they flew up towards the higher levels.

Both Nemesis Girl and Laser Ape were particularly vocal with their objections. Princess Projectra and her consort Brin Londo had led a revolution on Earth and, it had been reported, escaped from the Legion almost a year ago. They had fled with the survivors of Orando and taking control of a small world out by the Galactic Edge. Rol had heard from the Legionnaires, when he had taken Pol Krinn to Earth, how she had support from the future and it was only through the intervention of the Kryptonians from Kandor that the Legion had finally curtailed her ambition and plans for revenge. Still, Rol knew with a certainty that would not be swayed that she was the key to their successfully finding Zerox. Her illusions could hide them from any prying eyes. They needed to get Princess Projectra on side.

“So how do we get to her?” Nemesis Girl asking in exasperation. “She’s a florggin’ nutjob Rol but if you think it’s the only way we can get to this Mordru on Zerox and you can talk her into maybe not executing us...” she left the statement hanging.

Rol had not been close to either the Orandian princess or Brin Londo and he hoped that would stand in his favour now as the Legion were definitely not on her side. Both Nemesis Girl and Laser ape knew they couldn’t change his mind so they eventually agreed, under some duress. The Green, in the form of Andur and the representative of the Rot, the Gray, the Proteans in the form of Ambassador Contact were wholeheartedly behind Rol’s idea. They both seemed oblivious to the dangers that contacting Projectra could bring.

“Ah, one problem Rol, sorry to be the party pooper but we don’t have a space ship so how do we get to see Mad Queen Projetra?” Laser Ape gave a viciously toothy smile as she asked her question.

“We need to borrow one N’Gok, I’m sure the starport here will be most accommodating. And if not we can always just steal the fastest one we can find and get going. “

“Well, that’s a plan. Maybe not the best one but a plan anyway so that’s a start.” Aneaelle’s dry humour brought a smile to Rol, his companions were behind him.

They reached the spaceport on the southern archipelago three hours later. Andur’s skycart was known by the AI’s who controlled the air space around it so they had no problem getting permission to land. The vast flat area had several towers with landing pads jutting out. On the highest of these pads sat several obviously Galactic class ships. The group planned on somehow getting access to a tower and one of these impressive ships.

Aneaelle had slathered the poultice she had created across her and Rol’s faces and hands, their skin turning the soft blue tones of the Talokeans from these southern lands. Both dressed in the volumous clothes that the locals wore, their turban’s and high collars covering most of the faces. They hoped it would be enough to keep them from being discovered.

As they were about to leave Ambassador Contact hopped to their side and, with a fluid ease that startled them, assumed the form of Andur before the Green possession. Rol noticed the possessed merchant smiled as his double left the skycart with the two Amazers. Maybe there was something of the original man inside.

They walked towards the nearest tower and were a little under 100 mets from its base when Rol had a precognitive flash.

“We need to hurry up and we can get what we need. There’s no time for subtlety now.” Neither of his companions asked any questions.

They quickened their pace, jogging to the high security door before them. A large pad with two dozen keys showing the local script glowed to its side. Rol took a deep breath and reached out. His precognition was good for this type of problem. Without conscious control he tapped in a sequence and stood back. The doors slid open revealing a corridor. They strode in showing every confidence that they had the right to be there. They had only taken ten steps when a group of Talokeans turned into the corridor and started walking towards them.

“Hey, merchant, what are you doing here?” The man who challenged Andur drew a small weapon from his belt, “You have no business here, you’re not a technician.”

“My friends here were showing me the amazing...” Ambassador Contacts attempt to placate the Talokeans before them stopped as Nemesis Girl leapt forward and with three precise blows floored the men.

“No time for subtlety he said.” She quickly searched the fallen men, picking up two hand blasters and all three of the Talokean’s ID bracelets , then caught up with Rol and the Ambassador as they hurried down the corridor. Ambassador contact, the Proteans who served the Gray, assumed the form of one of the fallen men as they stepped into an anti-grav shaft. The ID was scanned and they flew up towards the higher levels.

As they stepped out of the anti-grav lift into a surprising large room full of what looked like a graveyard for parts of engineering miracles an alarm started to ring out from the lower levels. The many technicians and engineers who had been focused on their own tasks started to look around, trying to see if the alarms that rang out concerned them.

“Right,” Rol quickly said, ”We need to get out to that port.” He pointed beyond a large construction of metallic pipes, “and we need to be fast!”

The three of them broke into a run, Nemesis Girl taking the lead with graceful loping strides. Ahead of them four engineers approached. All looked serious, holding their tools up as make shift weapons.

“Stop there!”

Nemesis Girl once again dove into the approaching Talokeans and with incredible accuracy she struck at them. Yet as the last one fell a blast of energy scorched a path through the air, barely missing her shoulder. Rol turned towards the direction it had come from and concentrated on the weapon. The probability was minute that such a weapon could misfire but with a bang it burst into flames and the man who had fired the shot yelped in pain. They could hear shouts as more of the workers, and possibly security approached.

Ambassador Contact and Rol rushed towards the platform and the ship they would steal while Nemesis Girl lived up to her name and fought off the Talokeans who were trying to stop them. Rol marveled at her fighting prowess. Each blow was precise and efficient. Each move seem scripted by a cosmic law of deadly elegance. The only other person he had seen with such grace was the Legion’s Karate Kid.

After twenty seconds it seemed there was no-one left to fight and she raced to join them.

“I’m confusing the senses of the remaining few. We have at most a minute to get out of here though as they are waiting for the automated security to arrive.” Ambassador Contact had resumed her form of the slinky xenomorph with sunflowers for eyes and hopped onto the ramp that led up to the underbelly of the ship. Rol looked around and spotted the magnoclamps that held it securely in place. With a little concentration they clicked open, releasing the ship so they could leave. Nemesis Girl raced onto the platform and struck at the door control that led into the room they had just left causing it to iris shut.

They raced up through the craft to reach the control pod. Rol jumped into the Commanders chair and cleared his mind. His Naltorian ability to perceive probabilities allowed him to correctly punch in the control sequence that would allow them to leave.

With a great blast they were airborne and circling down to the skycart they had arrived in and their companions. The screens before Rol allowed him to see Andur and Laser Ape were racing out towards a clear space to join them. Rol had the ship hover above them and punched in the commands for an anti-grav pulse that threw the two up towards the opening airlock door. They had barely crashed inside the stark airlock chamber when Rol punched in the control to leave the planetary gravity well.

And they were off to find a potentially insane former Legionnaire to help them in their fight.

That's all for today folks. If you've read this please let me know what you think so far.

Loving it!! I am really excited to see what happens with Projectra, and tying the social stagnation of the threeboot UP into the Green/Red mythos is brilliant, gives the story a really epic feel!

On Xanthu it had been four local days since Rol and the three trainees had escaped.

After the announcement had been made by the United Planets Council that they would be implementing the Naltorian High Seers recommendation to arrest and detain those suspected of future acts of terrorism the nascent religion focused on Rol as the Silver Seer had been immediately outlawed. The witch and royal advisor to the House of Afar known as Anagstru, her son Tre and eighteen of their closest friends and family members were arrested in a very public show of strength by the Tribune’s office within two hours of the Naltorian High Seers announcement.

Queen Sheyneyna of the House of Afar and her daughter the Princess Rabecka, alongside nearly all the staff at the Afar palace immediately, and also very publically converted to the Church of the Silver Seer. By pulling a few strings and calling in family favours this brought in news steeps from outside the Xanthi system and the story ran up the ratings until the rise of this obscure cult from a planet on the galactic rim became the second top news story in the United Planets. The top story being the Naltorian High Seers prediction about the fall of the United Planets at the hands of a dozen of her planets people in acts of serious terrorism and how these dozen people had all vanished.

In a matter of 12 hours the membership of the new religious sect had trebled as news of the Xanthu Twenty spread.

In the Amazer’s Spire disention and distrust were rife amongst the ranks. Those who had been close to Rol while he was an active member of the group were placed on ‘gardening’ leave. The Monstress, Lamprey, Dragonmage, Captain Marvel and Jasmin Cullen all quit with immediate effect.

James Cullen, on Weber’s World at the time of the announcement, refused to return home until this “obvious and stupid mistake” was cleared up. He remained on Weber’s World but found that despite his celebrity status he couldn’t get through many doors to see ambassadors or powerful politicians. Instead he appeared on ever talk show, spoke vigorously in every news interview and appeared at every rally he could physically manage in his waking day.

On Earth, the Legion, long a force for social change, took up the cause and publicly refused to aid the United Planets any further until it released those arrested on Xanthu and rescinded the order of arrest for the suspected Naltorian terrorists. The Legion Flight ring, something that after the initial interest had petered out, became a must have accessory for those against the sudden draconian measures introduced by the United Planets. After Raymond Luxury Yacht was seen at the the much anticipated red carpet opening for the action Holo ‘Bad Day on Alderbaran’ sporting replica Legion flight rings on each of his fingers their sale and spread outstripped supply.

It was announced, then within an hour denied, that within the United Planets there was talk of outlawing the Legion and the wearing of their stylized rings.

If ever there was an event that could be described as “pouring fuel onto a fire” it was this story. Even those citizens who had not been paying attention to the news story, perhaps thinking it was another publicity stunt by the Legion, stopped and considered the appalling treatment by the UP towards its own citizens.

On a further twelve planets, including Mars, Trom and Titan, the armed forces were called in to quell the public shows of support for those arrested in the initial raids and the twelve suspected terrorists.

Rol knew nothing about any of this.

Currently he was in a small dark room that had a stale metallic smell, being hung by thick metal chains ten feet above a pit full of venomous snakes. It wasn’t how he hoped his first meeting with Projectra in over a year would start. He only hoped his companions weren’t being treated in such a barbaric way. He hated to think of the damage N’Gok or Aneaelle could cause if they were held like this.

Their attempt to approach the citadel Projectra now ruled on the Rim World known as Ingrid 6 had been stopped by a force of armoured guards on the backs of great flying reptiles. Aneaelle was sure they could get past the guards but Rol knew that they needed Projectra on their side and fighting the escort she had presumably sent out to meet them would not endear her to their cause. They were escorted politely but firmly out of the ship they had stolen on Talok viii and taken into the citadel through a huge golden gate in the monumental wall on its east face. Once inside they were separated as they were asked to freshen up before they would be presented to the young queen. Even as they were led into different rooms Rol realised they were not going to get the sonic showers they hoped for, but he went along with it knowing if he fought now their cause would be lost.

“Purtha, you were always a pain in the ass. Why did you bring your freakshow here? Jeckie’s been through too much shit this past year without you bringing the florggin’ UP goons here too.” Brin Londo’s throaty growl brought a slight smile to Rol’s face. He had sparred once with Brin back in the days they were both Legionnaires. Rol actually liked the feral man, he had found him to be honest and upfront with a loyal streak a click wide.

“I missed kicking your hairy backside Londo, now be a good doggie and bring that gracious queen of yours here will you? I want an intelligent conversation.”

A grudging laugh and Rol found himself stood on tiptoes on a marble floor, his arms stretched above his head, looking at the former Legionnaire known as Queen Projectra sat on an incredibly ornate throne. The hall they were in was draped with pendants and a dizzying array of flowers while the walls set with gilded weapons and trophies. Around the edges stood perhaps fifty men and women with their heads bowed. Rol had never experienced Projectra's sensory manipulation before and he was momentarily stunned at how convincing her illusion had been.

“Well little Amazer here I am, now pray shares this intelligent conversation you flew across the galaxy for.”