Legion World Forums LEGION OUTPOST Bits o' Legionnaire Business Homecoming (Onevision)

Note - These events take place several months before the announcement of the Wedding of the Century.

After the end of the Dark Oval war, a flustered Invisible Brainiac had difficulty adjusting to the limelight. By publicly proposing to Blaze, he laid the groundwork for a cover story that he would be touring the galaxy with Blaze. Instead, the two headed to Earth for a vacation and a fact-finding mission. The purpose was to see how badly Earth had been hit by the Dark Oval forces, and to see how it was recovering after being liberated from the Corporations of Earth in the the Gold Watch.

I should note that developments depicted as taking place on Earth here are based on my own imagination. This story is set in a fictional future.
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The blue sphere, crisscrossed by white, hung in the vastness of space. Invisible Brainiac and Blaze held hands as they flew towards it.

"I haven't been here since the Corporate Takeover," IB breathed. "I wonder just how much has changed?"

"I bet a lot more than the intelligence reports indicate," Blaze said. He shivered. "I barely remember what it was like myself."

IB cuddled up closer to Blaze. "We've been talking about seeing our world forever, but now that we're here I'm getting cold feet. I thought I wouldn't, with you beside me, but..."

"I know. Hey, I'll be by your side always. And your light powers can keep us from being recognized, at least."

IB nodded. "I know. We could keep ourselves invisible the whole time. Hopefully we'll be able to resist the temptation to draw attention to ourselves..."

Blaze and IB clung to each other as the blue sphere grew larger and larger in front of them.

"Welcome home," Blaze whispered.

"Was Earth ever really our home?" IB asked.


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Index of Locations visited - Arranged by continent, and then alphabetically. Continents are Africa, Asia, Europe, Asia/Europe (Turkey and Russia), North America, Oceania, South America. Target is to include the 193 United Nations members, plus Greenland, Kosovo, Taiwan, Vatican City and Antarctica. I may end up visiting some countries twice.

Although geographically in North America, Greenland is included under Denmark as it is not yet a politically independent sovereign state.

Africa

Algeria - The M'zab Valley
Angola - The Central Highlands
Benin - Grande Marche du Dantopka
Botswana
Burkina Faso - The Pan-African Film and Television Festival in Ougagadougou
Burundi - Lake Rweru
Cabo Verde - Boa Vista beach
Cameroon - Sangha Trinational
Central African Republic - Sangha Trinational
Chad - The Ennedi Plateau
Comoros - Mount Karthala
Cote d'Ivoire - Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve
Democratic Republic of the Congo - Kifuka
Djibouti - Lake Assal
Egypt - The Valley of the Kings
Equatorial Guinea - Annabon Island
Eritrea - Nabro Volcano
Ethiopia - The Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela
Gabon - Crystal Mountains National Park
Gambia - The Stone Circles of Senegambia
Ghana
Guinea - Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve
Guinea-Bissau - The Bijagos Islands
Kenya - Maasai Mara National Reserve
Lesotho - The Mohale Dam
Liberia - The William Tubman Residence
Libya - Leptis Magna
Madagascar
Malawi - Lake Nyasa
Mali - Timbuktu
Mauritania - Oualata City
Mauritius - The Seven-Colored Earths of Chamarel
Morocco
Mozambique - Lake Nyasa
Namibia - Skeleton Coast
Niger - Agadez
Nigeria - Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove
Republic of Congo - Sangha Trinational
Rwanda - Lake Rweru
Sao Tome and Principe - Boca de Inferno
Senegal - The Stone Circles of Senegambia
Seychelles - Silhouette Island
Sierra Leone - The Old King's Yard
Somalia - Zeila
South Africa - Robben Island
South Sudan - The Upper Nile
Sudan - The Upper Nile
Swaziland - Pine Valley
Tanzania - Serengeti National Park
Togo - Koutammakou
Tunisia - Kerkouane
Uganda - The Tombs of the Buganda Kings
Zambia - Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe - Victoria Falls


Asia

Afghanistan - Bamiyan
Armenia - Echmiadzin
Azerbaijan - The Mud Volcanoes of Gobustan
Bahrain - Beit Al Qu'ran
Bangladesh - Sundarbans National Park
Bhutan - Paro Taktsang (The Tiger's Nest)
Brunei - Bandar Seri Begawan
Cambodia
China - The Summer Palace in Beijing
Georgia - Gergeti Trinity Church
India
Indonesia - Borobudur
Iran - Takht-e Soleyman
Iraq - Kurdistan; the Hatra Ruins
Israel - Jerusalem
Japan - Kiyomizu Dera
Jordan
Kazakhstan - The Baikonur Cosmodrome
Kuwait - The Arabian Desert
Kyrgyzstan - The Silk Road City of Balasugan
Laos - Luang Prabang
Lebanon - Ouadi Qadisha and the Forest of the Cedars of God
Malaysia - Poring Hot Springs
Maldives - Rangali Island
Mongolia - Karakorum
Myanmar - Bagan
Nepal - The Ancient City of Bhaktapur
North Korea - The Demilitarized Zone Memorial (a fictional future location)
Oman - The Buraimi Oasis
Pakistan - The Biafo Glacier
Palestine - Jerusalem
Philippines
Qatar - Khor Al Udeid
Saudi Arabia - The Empty Quarter
Singapore - Merlion Park
South Korea - The Demilitarized Zone Memorial (a fictional future location)
Sri Lanka - Sigiriya (The Lion's Rock)
Syria - Kurdistan; Aleppo
Taiwan - Carp Lake on Mount Liyu
Tajikistan - The Pamir Mountains
Thailand
Tibet - The Potala Palace
Timor-Leste - Atauro Island
Turkmenistan - The Doorway to Hell in the Karakum Desert
United Arab Emirates - The Al-Ain Oasis
Uzbekistan - The Silk Road cities of Samarkand and Bukhara
Vietnam - Halong Bay
Yemen - The Socotra Archipelago

Asia/Europe

Russia - Yakutsk
Turkey - Cappadocia


Europe

Albania - Berat
Andorra - Grandvalira
Austria
Belarus - The Mir Castle Complex
Belgium - The Stella Artois Brewery
Bosnia and Herzegovina - Moster
Bulgaria - Melnik
Croatia - Dubrovnik
Cyprus - Nicosia
Czech Republic - Pilsen
Denmark (and Greenland) - The Ilulissat Icefjord; Elsinore
Estonia - Tallinn
Finland - Kuralan kylämäki
France - Mont-Saint-Michel
Germany - The Romantic Road
Greece
Hungary - Hortobagy National Park
Iceland - The Golden Circle
Ireland - Blarney Castle
Italy - Venice
Kosovo - Sopocani Monastery
Latvia - Ventspils
Liechtenstein - Gutenberg Castle
Lithuania - Gediminas Castle
Luxembourg - The Valley of the Seven Castles
Macedonia (Former Yugoslav Republic} - Monastery St. Pantelejmon
Malta - Mdina
Moldova - The Dneister
Monaco - The Grand Casino
Montenegro - Old Town Kotor
Netherlands
Norway - The Lofoten Archipelago
Poland - Wieliczka Royal Salt Mine
Portugal - Monsanto
Romania - The Citadel of Sighisoara
San Marino - San Marino
Serbia- gracanica Monastery
Slovakia - Barjadev
Slovenia - The Skojcan Caves
Spain
Sweden - The High Coast
Switzerland - The Museum of the International Committee of the Red Cross
Ukraine - The Dneister
United Kingdom
Vatican City


North America

Antigua and Barbuda - The Beach Resorts of Antigua and Barbuda
Bahamas - Lucayan National Park
Barbados - Bridgetown
Belize - The Great Blue Hole
Canada - Toad River Valley
Costa Rica - The Stone Spheres of the Diquis
Cuba - Havana
Dominica - Champagne Reef
Dominican Republic -The border between Dominican Republic and Haiti
El Salvador - Playa El Esteron
Grenada - Seven Sister Waterfalls
Guatemala - Tikal National Park
Haiti - The border between Dominican Republic and Haiti
Honduras - Lake Yojoa
Jamaica - The Underwater City of Port Royal
Mexico - Chichen Itza
Nicaragua - Isla de Ometepe
Panama
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia - Soufriere Volcano
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines - Black Point Tunnel
Trinidad and Tobago - Scarborough
USA


Oceania

Australia - Uluru
Fiji
Kiribati - The Phoenix Islands
Marshall Islands - Bikini Atoll
Micronesia (The Federated States of) - The Ruins of Nan Makol
Nauru - Nauru
New Zealand
Palau - The Palau Shark Sanctuary, Jellyfish Lake
Papua New Guinea
Samoa - The Mount Matavanu Lava Fields
Solomon Islands - Kolambangara
Tonga - Vava'u
Tuvalu - Funafuti
Vanuatu - Mount Yasur


South America

Argentina - Mount Champaqui
Bolivia - Salar de Uyuni
Brazil
Chile - Rapa Nui (Easter Island) National Park
Colombia - Las Lajas Sanctuary
Ecuador - The Galapagos Islands
Guyana - Kaieteur Falls
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname - Raleighvallen Nature Reserve
Uruguay
Venezuela - The Historic Center of Coro

Antarctica

The Phoenix Islands, Kiribati

Earth

IB lay back in the sand and tried very hard to relax. It shouldn't be difficult; even with the present day realities of interstellar travel, the Phoenix Islands remained isolated due to their protected status. They were the first and only UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kiribati, a fact that the people made known with great pride.

Or so he'd heard on the message boards he'd read for research. He and Blaze hadn't actually seen another human being since landing in the beautiful archipelago, except for two guards playing cards.

Beside him, Blaze yawned as he stretched in the shade. "Mmmmmmm. I missed this. The soft sand, the chirping of seabirds, the warm sunlight giving you a sexy tan... I am so glad you picked this deserted island!"

IB smiled as he sat up and looked at Blaze. "I just love seeing you all so relaxed. And I'm gonna give you a backrub, and sing softly to you so you'll fall asleep..."

Blaze smiled as he raised his arms and folded his hands behind his head. "Aw, you are so sweet..."

"... and when you're asleep, I'm gonna wake you up with some ice from our cooler!"

Blaze opened his eyes and scowled. "You really don't want to let me relax, huh?"

"It's my fault," IB chuckled. "This is supposed to be a fact-finding mission, but I chose a fairly isolated spot so we could... I don't know... really wrap our hands around being here. By all accounts, the Corporate Takeover parceled up Earth into sections similar to the sovereign nations at the beginning of the 21st century. We have to tread carefully, as the reinstated Earthgov hasn't quite established itself yet."

Blaze frowned. "Good thing you've been reading up on your 21st century history then... is the Corporate Takeover the reason why there are so few people here?"

"No, this has always been a protected area. More for the sea than for the actual islands - the Kiribati government didn't allow diving back then even though the underwater life is reportedly stunning. I guess if you're a small island country, you really take pride in what you can offer. Which, admittedly, is a lot!"

"And since we have our powers, we could probably take a dive without being caught and without disrupting the ecosystem, right?"

"You read my mind," grinned IB. "I did some scouting while you were asleep, and you would NOT believe this coral I saw. It looks just like Angdar's helmet. And there's another one that looks like Emily's hat..."

Raleighvallen Nature Reserve, Suriname
Earth

"You really know how to keep me interested, baby," Blaze grinned as he ducked under a pendulum-shaped nest. "One day we're swimming in crystal clear seas, the next we're watching weaver birds in their natural rainforest habitat. And because most of the Suriname locals live on the coast, we've been undisturbed so far."

"And toucans, and macaws, and monkeys, and deer, and the cock-of-the-rock..." IB counted the animals on his fingers.

"Don't get smug," Blaze wagged his finger. "Just because you can sneak up on them unseen doesn't mean... Whoa."

Blaze stared open-mouthed. IB followed his gaze and smiled. "That must be the Voltzberg, the spectacular granite mountain hidden in the rainforest. Surprise!"

"It's amazing..." Blaze breathed. And it was.

IB smiled as he held Blaze's hand, and the two stared into the mountains in the distance.

The Golden Circle, Iceland
Earth

"Catch me if you can!" Blaze laughed as he dove off the top of Gulfoss, or the Golden Falls. "YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

IB chuckled a she followed suit. He would never have thought of trying this when he still lived on Earth, but being able to fly made taking risks a lot safer, and a lot more fun.

He let himself feel the chilly spray of water as he flew after Blaze, whose flying was definitely improving. Blaze followed the path of the falling water almost perfectly, flying in parallel with it while not getting soaked. IB did the same, thankful that their transuits could be adjusted just so - enough for them to feel some of the cold outside, but not enough to get themselves wet. He didn't quite like the idea of turning into a human popsicle.

As they neared the bottom, Blaze smoothly curved back up with a laugh. "Don't slow down," IB called. "I'm gonna catch you if you do!"

"You know I can't go too far, or your powers won't keep me invisible," Blaze pouted. "Tell you what, let's go head over to Strokkur. I heard it sprays more water than a Super Moby Dick does on Raltvee. What did you say, it erupts every five minutes, right?"

"More like five point eight, so if we miss this it shouldn't be a big problem," IB grinned. "And if we hurry, maybe we can reach Þingvellir National Park in time for the Iceland Parliament's photo shoot! Oldest continuing parliament on Earth, so they say!"

"Then what are we waiting for? Catch me if you can - and no fair cheating!"

The Ennedi Plateau, Chad
Earth

"I never knew sandstone could be so beautiful..." Invisible Brainiac whispered. The sandstone arches around them were rocky and uneven, but they had a rough glamour about them that had captured the imaginations of explorers for over a millennium. Perhaps it was the way their reddish surfaces glinted in the sun.

"I guess since this is one of the most remote places on Earth, stands to reason this would be relatively undisturbed," Blaze pointed out.

"It's a good thing we humans haven't destroyed it yet, huh?" IB said.

"Yeah... which makes me think. Baby, we're supposed to be here on a fact-finding mission, right?"

Blaze paused as IB just stared straight ahead. But he could sense IB's hesitation.

"So why are we sticking to places where there are no people?"

IB turned to look at Blaze, his mouth open. But he couldn't quite find the words to explain why.

Bamiyan, Afghanistan
Earth

Invisible Brainiac stood in front of the recess in a mountainside that once housed a Buddha. A very large Buddha. Even Hrun's ship would be able to fit in this space that once housed a single statue. "The ruined Buddhas of Bamiyan," he whispered. "Destroyed by the Taliban more than a millennium ago. It's disgusting how hatred and bigotry won the day there."

Blaze stood silently beside him, still worried. Ever since he'd asked IB why they avoided crowded or inhabited areas, IB had seemed not quite himself.

"When the Corporations took over Earth, they of course made sure no radicals would be free to disrupt their rule. So they paid off hired guns to hunt down all those militants - the Taliban, Al Qaeda, the Abu Sayyaf. They wiped them all out."

Blaze grunted. The Earth Corporations had been scum, but those terrorists had not been much better.

"Still, even wiping them out couldn't restore the gigantic Buddhas that once were here," IB said softly. "Just like bringing down the Corporations couldn't undo the damage they had done to Earth. Not instantly, anyway."

Blaze put a hand on IB's arm. "Is that why...?"

"daa tsəshay di?" came a call from below. IB reacted quickly and grabbed Blaze. He turned them both into light and flew up into the sky.

Isla de Ometepe, Nicaragua
Earth

As they rematerialized, Blaze stumbled onto the soft volcanic ash they landed on. "What...?" he asked, confused.

"Isla de Ometepe," IB replied. "The twin volcanic islands of Nicaragua. Even now in the 31st century, still mostly uninhabited except for coffee plantation workers."

"Honey," Blaze said, not even bothering to brush himself off. "Why did you get so spooked? I mean, I know we don't want to be seen, but you could have just made us invisible. Why?"

IB fell silent as he scooped up a handful of ash. He let it flow through his fingers, watching it wordlessly. Blaze stood there and waited. He knew IB would talk in due time.

As the last of the ash fell through his hand, IB spoke. "I'm not sure how to explain it myself. You and I both had painful memories in our pasts on Earth. But yours ended early on, and once you found the Order who gave you your powers, your life was much better. As for me..."

IB fell silent again. Then he looked Blaze squarely in the eye. "Humor me, okay? When I was younger it was always my dream to see Earth. But circumstances made it so I never got the chance, until now..."

Blaze nodded, and held IB's hand. They shimmered, and then vanished yet again.

Above Livingstone, Zambia
and
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Earth

Invisible Brainiac waved his hand, and the sheet of photographic paper he was holding suddenly manifested a picture of the scene below him.

"Sometimes I wish I had the power of sound as well," IB said. "Light alone can't capture the grandeur of Mosi-oa-Tunya... The Smoke That Thunders." He shivered involuntarily. "Even with our earplugs on, that name sounds very descriptive."

"Want me to turn the heat up?" Blaze asked. A corona of fire surrounded him. He had been keeping both of them warm through the colder climates they traveled through.

"Thanks," IB smiled. He began to descend, and Blaze followed him.

"How much do you know about the Corporate Takeover of Earth?" IB asked.

"I read the case files..." Blaze said quietly. "I know that they somehow infiltrated Earthgov with their agents, causing them to turn Earthgov into a corporation... and that they bought it."

"That's right. And then they subjugated Earth's population, making themselves wealthy," IB's voice was pure venom. "And they caused Earth to suffer for nearly a dozen years."

"But Cobie and Timberwolf and many of the old-time LMBers brought them down," Blaze added.

"That's right," IB said. "Lolita conceptualized the plan. Spellbinder, Faraway Lad, EDE, Vee, and Greybird were in on it." He closed his eyes and leaned back as he felt the spray of water hit him. Victoria Falls had the largest sheet of water of all waterfalls on Earth, and IB reveled in it. He took his shirt off, just feeling the water on his body. Energizing him. Cleansing him.

Blaze followed suit, and he sighed as the water fell on his body.

IB hovered in the air lying down, and Blaze joined him. as they hung in the air and enjoyed the water, IB spoke. "I was in on it too."

The Mir Castle Complex, Belarus
Earth

The Mir Castle Complex was damaged badly more than 6 times over four centuries," IB said as he and Blaze walked up towards the large red-roofed castle. "But it was eventually reconstructed almost 400 years after it was first built. And I believe Earth will recover as well."

"It sounds like you never lost faith in Earth," Blaze said as he snapped a holo of the large complex. "Is that why you helped Cobie?"

"Partly," IB said, staring straight ahead and drinking in the magnificent sight. Many of his teammates couldn't see why, but he really appreciated these ancient structures. They were just so grand, and to have been built in a technologically "backward" time... "Part of it was because I was guilty."

"But... many of us fled Earth when the takeover was happening. Even many LMBers did..."

"But not many of the LMBers were from Earth," IB said. His fists were clenched now.

"Many still were," Blaze said softly.

"Not many had the power to fight back," IB said a little more harshly then he had intended. "Don't you see? Maybe I could have stopped the takeover."

"You couldn't have... you would have been ground up!"

"That's what Cobie said. And Lardy. And so many others," IB said. "I don't know if I believe it. I had just discovered my abilities a few weeks before. I had mastered the art of invisibility, but when my photonic powers first showed... I had trouble controlling them. So maybe I would have made things worse. Maybe. But sometimes I still feel like I could have done something."

IB's hands were shaking now, and so was his voice. Then he breathed deeply. "No sense wishing now though, huh? What's past is past..."

Blaze nodded as he stood closer to IB. "Let's go enjoy the view from the roof, and then maybe you can continue telling me all about it later. I can see it's quite a lot for you."

Lake Yojoa, Honduras
Earth

"Did the man speak Interlac well?" IB asked as Blaze came jogging up to his perch on the east shore of Lake Yojoa.

"No," Blaze said as he handed a beer to IB. "But I didn't have a hard time at all."

"So you haggled like we discussed? And he barely haggled back?"

Blaze nodded as he took a sip. "Wow, this beer is amazing! The taste is so... so... wow."

"D&D Brewery has been operating in that place since the 21st century," IB said thoughtfully. "I read the family that runs it kept it going more as a hobby and as a form of art. But the added income was invaluable during the last dozen years... What you observed means that the populace has yet to fully recover. Education wasn't a priority during the takeover, and the people's entrepreneurial spirit was greatly eroded. Time was you wouldn't have been able to shave more than a centicredit off the price, and the shopkeeper would likely have talked you into buying a couple of extra bottles..."

"I guess they just really need the money?" Blaze said as he snuggled against IB. Overhead, a colorful macaw landed on a branch as the sun continued to set. "I don't think the economy would recover that quickly."

IB nodded as he finally took a sip of the beer. "At least the quality of the brew is still top-notch."

Which gives a good indication of how hardy Earthers are.

Karakorum, Mongolia
Earth

The silent walls of the ancient city founded by Genghis Khan towered in the night. The air was dry and cold, and Blaze and IB snuggled together on top of the temple they were perched on. IB felt like he understood now why the ancient Mongols had been feared so. To be able to survive and thrive in this environment meant they were hardy indeed. IB stared silently at the long shadows cast by the intricately carved temple roofs. He could appreciate the shadows more because there was little else around to shorten their forms. They were almost literally in the middle of nowhere.

"So even though the capital is far more advanced, many people still chose to stay here because of the historical significance?" Blaze asked.

"And pride," IB added. "In fact, the city's population seems to have grown in the last year. The freedom brought about by the repurchase of Earth has shocked much of the population. Their once smaller worlds - the Corporations heavily regulated "important" news - have suddenly been thrown wide open. Most people are clinging to the familiar."

Blaze looked at IB. "Is that why we're still avoiding people? This is our first city, and we're here in the darkness of night."

"I'm afraid to... I don't know. I don't know how they would react. Not only to obvious foreigners - even with my powers disguising us, we don't know nearly enough about Earth's current situation to interact with them - but to Earth natives who fled Earth."

"Why? Many would have done so if they had the chance."

"... I just have a gut feeling. It took so long for us to come back, and clearly they're not yet getting enough aid. The UP has sent help, but it's not enough..."

"The UP has its own problems. We just fought a massive war."

IB stared silently at the shadows playing on the stone turtles guarding the city walls. He shivered, but not just at the cold wind. "Somehow I doubt they would see it that way."

Annobon Island, Equatorial Guinea
Earth

Shells of ships and machinery lay glinting in the sunlight all around the barren landscape of Annobon. Once sturdy and efficient, these ancient metallic behemoths were now riddled with holes brought about by rust in the humid environment of this tiny island.

Blaze pointed towards an outpost in the distance. "Could you please magnify that bit?"

Invisible Brainiac complied, and Blaze whistled through his new "telescopic vision". "Even the outposts are rusted. How long ago did the oil run out?"

"More than 900 years," IB said. "The once corrupt and oppressive government of Equatorial Guinea was unable to hold onto power after the oil reserves ran out. They desperately dug up the rest of the seabed, but found no more oil. Guns for hire left, so the government was forced to deal with some large corporations. Unfortunately for the people. I think Equatorial Guinea was one fo the first countries to become dominated by Gold Capital."

Blaze shook his head. "I guess for this country at least, being under the dominated Corporations was a good thing."

"Things did get better," IB said. "You know our own homeland, the Philippines, was not much better off in the early 21st century. But we pulled through by the middle of the millennium. Earth saw a major increase in the middle centuries because of increased cooperation between the nations, and while people did not become truly rich, they at least had their needs met and had freedom as it happened."

Blaze looked confused. "I thought there was no such Golden Age. Didn't Earth development stagnate until the birth of the United Planets in the early 30th century?"

"I..." IB frowned. "Yes, you're right. Of course. That's why these shells of machines are still here. Equatorial Guinea and Gold Capital tried hard to keep looking for oil, but found none. They dug up much of their territory to no avail, so they were forced to rely on fishing."

"I can see why you were confused, though. Hard to imagine they spent so many centuries looking over and over for oil that wasn't there."

IB became silent. It didn't seem to add up. He made a note to check on regional history later on. Turning to Blaze, he sighed. "I guess we should fly around and see what the people are doing to survive now, while Earthgov is getting back on its feet. Fishing and subsistence farming, most likely."

As they lifted off, Blaze asked, "Are we actually going to talk to them now?"

IB sighed. "I don't know. I don't think I can handle it yet."

Lofoten Archipelago, Norway
Earth

Although IB and Blaze didn't shiver, thanks to Blaze's sacred flame, their breaths still cooled and frosted the air around them.

They trudged through the snow, looking at lights in the distance. Villages dotted the Lofoten Archipelago, but they kept away by remaining on top of the fjords and mountains. The scattered lights looked like so many fireflies bravely fighting the wind.

But the two boys did not notice, for their eyes were turned towards the heavens.

"Oh my gosh. I can't believe we're here watching the Northern Lights!" Blaze clutched IB's arm. "They're beautiful."

"Not as clear as I'd hoped, though," IB said. "But I think I can fix that."

He concentrated on the electromagnetic particles that he could perceive when he wished, commanding them to collide. The lights above slowly coalesced into green ephemeral lines that snaked through the sky. "My favorite color," breathed IB.

Blaze watched, transfixed. "Beautiful..."

"You ain't seen nothing yet," IB smiled. "Look here."

Blaze turned around and gasped. The green lines had moved to form a heart with the words "IB & Blaze 4ever" inside.

Hugging IB, Blaze laughed. "You're so sweet, and I can't get over how great you are with your powers! You must have practiced so much to do that little thing for me."

"It's easier than it used to be, ever since I lost my inhibitor earring. Watch."

The lines snaked around to form their mission monitor board symbols.

Blaze leaned against IB with a happy smile. "What a find you are. So sweet and so powerful and so in control of your powers!"

IB chuckled. "Wish it had always been like this. Thanks for appreciating them; I wish everyone did." The pain in his voice was evident.

A thoughtful Blaze considered IB. Though they talked about everything, the full story of IB's past had been left in the past. Maybe...

"IB, I want you to do something for me. Keep us invisible, close your eyes, and trust me."

IB raised an eyebrow. "You know I do, but what..."

"It's a surprise."

"Oooooooooooh," IB grinned. "I love your surprises. They really excite me." The stress on the word excite was unmistakable.

IB closed his eyes and held out his hand. Blaze gently took it as he flew in the air towards the nearest village down below. He zoomed around the houses. He spotted one where a man was bringing in freshly caught cod. Holding IB in front of him, he flew into the door and headed straight for the fireplace.

"Keep quiet, okay?" Blaze thought to IB through teir standard-issue MB telepathic plugs..

"Where are we? We're not outside anymore," IB thought back. "Did you find some cute local guy? I know you like dirty blondes."

"Something else else like that," Blaze replied as he stood near the fireplace, still holding IB's hand. This could go one of two ways, and either their relationship would move to a higher level of intimacy - and IB would be able to confront some demons of his past - or Blaze would lose the love of his life.

Blaze's breath caught in his throat as he considered. But he chose to believe in the strength of their love.

He jumped into the fire, pulling IB behind him.

Carp Lake, Mount Liyu, Taiwan
Earth

"Why is it so hot?" Invisible Brainiac asked, sweating. His heart was pounding as well.

Blaze didn't answer. He just gently pulled IB from the bonfire they had emerged from. His ability to travel from flame to flame hadn't seen much use on the more technologically-advanced Legion World, but here on a recovering Earth... He scanned the crowd. He had been right.

Carp Lake's location near Puli, at the geographic center of Taiwan, gave it great auspiciousness under the ancient system of Feng Shui. Something else else about its energy flow was supposed to bring luck to people who held ceremonies here.

"What's happening? Why is it so noisy around here? And these people... they seem to be speaking another language. Blaze? Is that Earth-Chinese? Where are we?" Blaze ignored all of IB's whispered questions.

"We're still invisible?" At IB's nod, Blaze quickly pulled him along as he flew above the crowd. He set them down, and pulled IB close. "I'm sorry, baby. But I think you need to see this."

"Sssh... Honey, you've trusted me enough to keep your eyes closed without a blindfold until now. Please. I'm only trying to help." And he grasped IB's hand. It was shaking.

IB slowly opened his eyes. And he stared silently at the happy celebration before him.

Festive banners and lanterns adorned the lakeside. Over two dozen tables, draped in red cloth and filled with dishes of food, were spread out around a central table. Each was filled with clapping, cheering Taiwanese. The object of their applause was a young man, not much younger than IB himself, who stood in front of a cake.

"Congratulations on your graduation," IB said softly. Blaze knew he was reading the banner, though he himself could not understand any of the writing. "I knew some of Earth's nations would still hold on to their ancient languages. Technology had advanced sufficiently by the mid-21st century to store such knowledge."

Blaze squeezed IB's hand. "IB... What else do you notice about the scene?"

"Knowing the Chinese way, only about a quarter of these people are direct relatives of the graduate," IB continued. "The rest are extended relatives - cousins of his dad and mom, siblings of his grandparents - others are business contacts, godparents, teachers and professors. Maybe a third or less are his friends and classmates. The Chinese always did believe in showing off and sharing their good fortune."

"Baby... you're talking faster. Are you..."

"Good luck was meant to be celebrated," IB continued. "Bad luck was supposed to be buried and never spoken of again. The fortune of a son or daughter brought honor to the family. The failure of one brought shame. In extreme cases, the child was ejected."

Blaze drew IB close. "Hon. Your eyes... are you crying? Oh baby, I'm sorry, I should never have brought you here. I thought being here would help you move past your reluctance. I..." Blaze couldn't stop stammering. "I'm sorry."

"Such a gathering means that son must have earned near the top honors at university. Unless maybe higher education is harder to come by now. But still, it used to be the norm just over a decade ago, and I know the Corporations would have ensured they'd have sufficient supply of educated and skilled workers," IB said as he tapped furiously into his Omnicom to record his observations. "So this son must have made his parents so very proud. Look at how happy they all look. Look at how many people they invited."

"IB... baby... let's go, please..." Blaze said as he hugged IB from behind. "I'm sorry, I..."

"WE HAVE TO GET A GOOD PICTURE OF WHAT EARTH LIFE IS LIKE NOW!" IB hissed. "LET GO OFF ME!" He flexed his arms outwards, trying to escape from Blaze's grip. Blaze looked around to make sure nobody had heard; luckily, the music from the karaoke machine was loud enough to drown out their altercation.

"I'm sorry, baby, I'm sorry. I'm sorry..." Blaze whispered as he flew up into the night, pulling IB along. Tears were running down his face now, and his hands wouldn't stop shaking.

As they faded into the night, the young graduate's grandmother moved to the microphone and began singing along to the music.

Silhouette Island, The Seychelles
Earth

The bonfire crackled on the quiet beach as the brilliant oranges and pinks painting the sky slowly faded into cooler blues and purples.

Blaze nervously dug his hands into the soft sand. After jumping through the flames from Taiwan to the Seychelles, IB had neglected to maintain their cloak of invisibility. Still, there were only a handful of people around the island, and most were staff of the North Island Seychelles Hotel. There was another couple, whom Blaze had heard whispered were media celebrities looking for a respite from having to distract the people of Earth from their woes. There was also a traveler, recently returned from Mars where she had amassed a small fortune.

Blaze shook his head as he waved away the waiter who had approached them. He didn't want to risk them asking for their room number; with few enough guests a little checking would expose them. He didn't want IB to be disturbed.

IB stood at the water's edge, staring silently into the horizon. He hadn't said a word since they'd arrived. He'd just snapped photos of the sunset and of the island, and then had continued to stand and stare. Blaze understood. IB liked to keep busy when he was upset and couldn't yet deal with whatever the problem was. It helped keep him sane.

As the last of the oranges and pinks melted from the sky, Blaze went forward slowly and stood beside IB. "Hon?"

IB closed his eyes and didn't turn his head. "I know why you did that. But I don't have to be happy about it."

Blaze's voice was sincerely mournful. "I'm sorry."

"I know." Still without looking at him, IB took Blaze's hand. Then they flew up, painting a streak of white and yellow across the cloak of night.

Soufriere, Saint Lucia
Earth

Blaze watched as Invisible Brainiac slowly lowered himself into the bubbling water. He couldn't help his expression of distaste. Although he loved hot springs, these wee sulfuric. But then, IB had always been better at tolerating unpleasant surroundings.

IB's eyes remained closed. Blaze silently sat down on the ground beside him, keeping a watchful eye on their belongings.

"Do you... feel like talking about it now?" he asked.

IB's eyes opened, yet they didn't look at him yet. They stared forward, where a geyser pumped a boiling jet of hydrogen sulfide into the air.

"You wanted to use that event as a trigger for me to face my past."

"Yes," Blaze replied, his eyes downcast. IB's disappointment was evident.

"You thought I wouldn't talk about it or deal with it soon, so you needed to do that."

"Yes."

"You didn't think it would hurt me so much."

"I didn't."

"You're eternally sorry and will never do that again."

"I promise, I won't."

"You will do everything I say for the rest of our stay on Earth."

"I... yes."

"You're going to go fetch me a Soco Shake Slammer and an AMF, plus two one chicken roti, one veggie roti, a breadfruit salad and a clean towel now."

"What? I mean, yes."

"I could get used to this," IB said. Blaze looked up in shock to see a grin on IB's face. "I have half a mind to really order you around for pulling that stunt, you know."

"I'm really sorry, baby," Blaze's voice trembled even as it caressed IB's heart. "I just thought... I don't know. My little therapy idea failed."

"I forgive you," IB said. "But next time, please wait for me to be ready."

"I know... I just wanted you to enjoy the rest of our stay on Earth. I feel awful for bringing this whole thing up."

"No... you're right. We have a job to do and a vacation to enjoy, and I can't do either by worrying about my past. But yes, I would very much like it if you were more patient. And I don't just mean like you waiting six months for me to finally let you do that thing you always wanted to try and then teasing me about it until now," IB said with a smirk.

The corners of Blaze's mouth drooped down even more.

"You look so cute when you're sorry. Now... could you please get that clean towel for me? Let me clean up and I'll start telling you all about it."

Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
and
Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Earth

Many offworlders - and indeed even many Earthers from elsewhere -have the impression that Africa is a barren and uninteresting the place.

They have no idea how wrong they are or how much they are missing.

"I can't get over how useful our powers are to beat the heat," Blaze smiled as he stretched his arms over his head and lay down on the gravity-cushion they'd laid out.

Invisible Brainiac smiled himself as he readied his Omnicom and film. He was kneeling beside Blaze, using his flight ring to balance himself as the safari van whose roof they were on traversed the endless plains.

Both were stark naked. Blaze was absorbing and redirecting the heat harmlessly so they wouldn't sweat, while IB was limiting the amount of direct sunlight hitting them while leaving enough for himself to tan. It was a fairly easy thing to let the lightrays hit him while avoiding Blaze, and ensuring they and their belongings remained invisible. All he had to do was be conscious of how much he bent the light.

"It's nice being able to lie down, huh? We spent a lot of time running with the wildebeest and gazelles and zebras and giraffes and lions and hippos and rhinos and ostriches and buffalo and hyena and cheetahs and..." IB rattled off the dozen or so species he could identify among the ones they'd seen. "It's a good thing the Corporation heads kept this area preserved. I guess at least one of them enjoyed watching these animals."

"Good to know that even the greediest of man are able to appreciate nature's beauty..."

They both sat in silence as they took in the splendid sight of the gigantic herds of animals sweeping through the landscape.

"Would that we could be as free as they are," IB whispered. "Would that we could let go of the past so easily..."

He fell silent as they neared a herd of wildebeest. A young one lagged behind, still unused to the long distances being traversed during the Great Migration. Several lionesses stalked it from a safe distance.

As the young called out, several adults formed a circle around it. One, which IB assumed was the mother, prodded it from behind.

IB watched in silence as Blaze held his hand. Then he turned to Blaze. "Want to hear all about what happened to me all those years ago?"

Pilsen, The Czech Republic
Earth

"Are you sure you can drink all that?" Blaze giggled as he watched IB down another mug. Both boys were red in the face - and in fact, IB's bare forearms and neck were as well. And not just from the sun.

"I can and I must. We are in the birthplace of beer, after all!" IB grinned. "The early Czechs were brilliant! Did you know that the first silverale used to use Earth beer as a component?"

"Ehhhhhhhhhh, doesn't taste as good. I mean, we've tasted beers produced by Earth colonists on Aarok, and we've tasted beers from Winath and who knows where else, but NOTHING beats this. Nothing!" Blaze laughed.

The two boys downed the rest of the contents of their mugs. Then with a thud, IB placed his back down on the table and looked straight at Blaze.

"We're having so much fun. It seems like a shame to continue with my story now," IB said.

"If you're not ready yet, honey..."

"No, I have to. Remember when we first had dinner back on Weber's World after I'd returned, and we caught up and I told you in person how much I liked you and asked you to be my boyfriend, and then you told me how much you loved me, and... oh wait, no, we didn't do those all together did we?"

Blaze gave a hearty chuckle. "Didn't YOU tell me you loved me first while you were still in space? And THEN I asked you to be my boyfriend when we met back on Weber's World?"

IB shook his head furiously. "No old man, I remember it clearly. I asked YOU first, and then I wriggled out of you that you loved me!"

"No, I remember it otherwise. It was YOU first before me! I..."

Blaze's next words were interrupted as IB quickly leaned over and kissed him on the lips. The two continued passionately for the next few minutes, both moaning in appreciation.

When they finally separated, IB looked Blaze right in the eyes and held his hands. "Thanks for being here for me."

"Any time."

"You're the only one who I feel I can tell all this to."

"And I will make it worth your while."

IB gulped down. "I know you didn't, but at first I was so upset because I thought you really had planned to bring me to a graduation party. You couldn't have known, but when my folks throw me one for my college grad... It was just like that one. See, I graduated with top honors. A student leadership award. And I was inducted into the Honors Society. Besides our Student Council President, I was the most awarded kid there - and she beat me by only one medal. It was a big deal, an amazingly big to-do."

IB fell silent as the waitress appeared to ask if they wanted anything more. IB looked at Blaze, who shook his head. IB asked for another order of Nakládaný Hermelín , the pickled, siced cheese that was made to go with Czech beer. Then he turned back to Blaze.

"There were so many people. All the relatives. Literally. I didn't know like half of them. My grandpa brought his childhood friends. My grandma brought hers. My other grandma flew in her sisters from way far down south. Both my folks asked all their college friends." IB shook his head.

"I asked my dad how many friends I could have, since I was the one graduating. He told me 50. I balked. Come on, with all the organizations I was part of, how could I trim it down to 50? Just asking the rest of the graduating class over would have filled up the 50! And you know how close we were. We'd spent the last year or so slaving over our requirements together, and the month before that getting drunk almost every day. How could I not? So I bargained for a hundred seats by trading in the red cash envelopes I would be getting."

"Wow. That's something... I know the older guests would have given you a lot just for graduating. And even more for getting all those awards!"

IB nodded. "It was still the happiest and greatest moment of my life so far, so I was willing to give up that cost in order to have more of my friends over. I can still remember the moment. My folks prepared a surprise video, and they dug up pictures I hadn't seen in years. There was this humongous cake. And then my pals surprised me by giving me a new hoverboard. You should have seen it - forced me to finally learn how to ride one."

IB fell silent again as the waitress dropped off their order. He took a bit of cheese, then suddenly grabbed his half-empty bottle of Pilsner Urquell and downed it in a gulp.

Blaze stood up in alarm as IB placed his bottle back on the table. Tears were streaming down his face. "I'm sorry baby," IB said. "It just hurts so much even after all these years. It was supposed to be the best day of my life."

Blaze nodded sadly. "I think we'd better get our bill."

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
Earth

"Feels just like heaven," Blaze purred as he drank in the sights around him. The salt spread on the ground shone in the sunlight, adding a layer of white to the ground that mirrored the sky above.

"More so because I'm with you," IB said as he cuddled up to Blaze. "And I really am glad you're with me, because it is COLD!"

"Hmph, only want me for my heat," Blaze grunted.

IB laughed as they nestled their heads together. "It's almost so beautiful that I want to forget anything horrible ever happened to me back then."

"Maybe you should," Blaze whispered.

"No. I have to get it off my chest," IB whispered back. Blaze held on tightly to him as IB leaned back. "They asked me to give a speech. of course, how could I not? They had all gathered just for me."

Blaze's hand caressed IB's while the former stared right ahead. "I can still see it. My aunts and uncles were in the front table - you would have liked them. They're just like how Cobie and Lardy and Peebz and Tempest and cleome are. All sitting around with big great mugs of beer and glasses of wine and egging me to drink more. My friends were in rows behind me, all with glasses of their own. I was so giddy then, both with the wine and because I was giving my speech to a couple hundred people."

IB leaned closer to Blaze, who hugged him tight.

"I'd finished it, then I walked to the cake. Right in the middle of the room. Everyone was cheering. I leaned in and blew the candles. Everyone was so happy."

Blaze held IB's hand as IB swallowed. He kept staring straight ahead as his eyes misted.

"Then my immediate family came over to the front. We posed for a family picture, as we always do. I remember looking at the cameras, there were over a dozen of them, all letting out bright flashes of light."

IB gave a little sob. Blaze nestled IB's head under his own neck.

"My own eyes suddenly went blind. I was so dizzy. I couldn't see straight. I felt like the light was about to swallow me up."

A lone tear fell down IB's cheek. Blaze used his finger to wipe it up.

"And then... it did."

IB turned to look at Blaze, his eyes glowing. And while they were, tears fell down his cheeks and buried themselves in the layer of salt that glimmered like the sky.

The M'zab Valley, Algeria
Earth

"How long ago was this built again?" Blaze asked. He didn't really care, but he hoped to ease IB's pain a bit.

"10th century," IB said absently. He stared off into the horizon as if lost in the endless dunes of the Sahara Desert.

Blaze looked at him with sadness. IB had gotten to the point in his story where his powers had emerged, and then he'd broken down. Old memories which he'd long buried had suddenly been dredged up... But Blaze admired IB's bravery in facing his past. It would just take time and support.

Time was something this place was not short of, though. The M'Zab Valley contained five ancient fortified cities, or ksour. The two were perched on top of the mosque in the chief sttlement of Ghardaia.

"Imagine, this mosque used to double as a fortress," Blaze said. He snapped a holo of the grand old building which was right in the center of the town.

"Yes. They needed that type of protection before," IB said. He didn't even look at place as he said it.

Blaze put an arm around IB. "You know baby... My heart is a fortress for you. I'll protect you always."

"Awwww... And I will be your cannon. Just make me shoot at any of your enemies," IB smiled. Blaze looked him in the eye, and both burst out laughing at the double entendre.

"Thanks, you always know how to make me feel better," IB laughed as he caught his breath.

"Any time. You know you don't have to continue your story..."

"I need to," IB smiled. "I think I'm ready. But let's move someplace more conducive..."

Bikini Atoll, The Marshall Islands
Earth

Invisible Brainiac closed his eyes as he let the sun's rays bathe his body. "Mmmm, feels so good."

"You're tanning nicely too," Blaze smiled as he admired his boyfriend's torso.

"And you're already perfectly tanned," IB smiled back. "Okay, I'm ready now, I think."

Blaze silently held IB's hand as they stared out at the recovering landscape. Devastated in the mid-20th century by nuclear testing, the island had managed to recover. As Blaze knew IB would. The greenery on the islandmade it hard to imagine this place a wasteland; had there not been displays showing the extent of the devastation, Blaze would never have guessed that this had once been a nuclear test site.

"I was there, surrounded by my entire family. And then my powers erupted in a flash of light. You've seen me now right? People oooh and ahhhh when I glow in all the colors of the rainbow, and when I use my powers to cast a gentle glimmer all around. But then, I just flared up like a... like a..."

IB turned to looka at Blaze. "Everyone was screaming. People were stumbling everywhere, unable to see. I can remember my folks yelling. My grandma screamed and said I was taken by a monster."

IB's voice chilled Blaze to the core. He sounded so cold, yet the pain was dripping through.

"And when my glow faded... they pointed and said I was the monster."

Blaze held IB from behind as he let his salty tears flow and mix with the salt water at their feet. All around them, the resilient palm trees swayed in the wind as if sharing their sorrow.

Bagan, Myanmar
Earth

"It's like a fairy tale," Blaze whispered.

"Because our love is a fairy tale," IB replied.

Below them, the ancient city if Bagan sprawled out. The thousands of thousands of pagodas slowly sprouted into view as the sun rose over Bagan. Silken rays of sunlight draped over the clusters of small, spired temples. IB had tried to count if there really were a thousand of them, but he'd decided to just soak in the wonderful view.

"Amazing that the government of Myanmar let Bagan stay as it is," Blaze said.

"Myanmar is very stoutly Buddhist. They were proud to be so. It was said that once upon a time, people so strongly believed in karma that nobody raised a hand in violence against his or her neighbor."

"And I suppose the tourism dollars these pagodas brought in played only a small part?" Blaze grinned.

"Earning dollars is good karma too," IB smiled.

They floated serenly along, marveling at the cruisers floating serenely through the sky. "It's also wonderful how the people of Myanmar slowly earned their freedom," IB pointed out. "After clamoring for so long, their authoritarian government finally realized that liberalization and freedom could only help them, not hinder them.

"I heard. Myanmar was one of the greatest success stories of the 21st century."

"Yes... I chose this as our next stop because it reminded me of what happened after..."

Both boys fell silent as a cruiser wandered past like a lily pad floating in a pond. They were set to glide at the slowest possible speed so that sightseers could drink in the magnificent view below.

"I didn't know what to do at first, either. Everyone was screaming. I went over to my sister to help, and she screamed at me. Told me not to touch her."

Blaze caressed IB's cheek as a tear fell.

"Everyone began running away. Scrambling away, as if somehow I had changed from the boy who they'd been toasting just a while ago..."

"And then the men in uniform came. They were wearing blacks and greens and browns, barking at everyone to fall back. I thought they would come to help me, but then this man pointed a gun at me. He was telling me to stay put."

"And what did you do?" Blaze whispered.

"I didn't have a choice. I called out to my parents, reached out to them. Then he shot me."

Tombs of Buganda Kings, Kasubi, Uganda
Earth

"I still don't believe it," Blaze muttered as they walked along the soft roads leading to the hills of Kasubi.

"What, you mean that these thatched tombs have survived over a millennium? They rebuild these every few decades, baby," IB replied. "And despite our modern "enlightened" times, people still fear that the ancient kings buried here will punish them if they disrespect the tombs."

"No... I mean that the government took you and forced you to work for them! That's outrageous!"

"I was manipulated, yes," IB replied. "I thought my family wouldn't want me back..."

"But did you ever get to speak to them again, or did those government goons just tell you that?"

"... they told me that. But hush first, okay? Let's enjoy the atmosphere of this place."

IB gestured to the main building that housed the tombs of the four kings of the ancient Kingdom of Buganda. The place was silent and deserted. There were new signs requesting visitors to remove their shoes before entering. IB levitated himself as they entered the tomb, and Blaze followed suit. Mats were spread on the floor for guests who had come to pay their respects.

IB folded his legs under himself so he knelt while floating in the air. "One of my greatest fears has always been to be buried alive. That's why I usually get the creeps when I visit tombs. Especially ones like this with limited structural integrity. Somehow, I think they knew that. When I came to, I couldn't move. They had caked me in earth. An Earthgov loudmouth was there, telling me my family had given me up for dead because I was a monster. They had coated me so I couldn't use my powers. Which was totally unnecessary, since I still had no idea how to use them."

Blaze hovered silently beside IB as they hovered through the wooden beams holding up the main tomb building. IB involuntarily shivered. "Funny, even though I felt at that moment that my life was over, that even if I escaped, there was nothing to return to outside... I didn't want to die. My mind was running through ways to make the most of the situation. Maybe I could figure out how to turn into light, or make myself invisible, and escape somewhere. Travel the world, maybe. Or find the LMB and get them to protect me. Even if my family didn't want me back, that last option would help me protect them from retaliation if I did."

"So you agreed to help Earthgov?"

IB turned to look Blaze in the eyes. "I agreed to help myself. I'd sooner cut off my arm than truly help a government that would use me like that."

Khor Al Udeid, Qatar
Earth

The sun glinted off the vast sand dunes around the inland sea. Herbal scents from shisha pipes mingled with the smell of water. Tiny desert flowers dotted the rolling dunes that to stretch out as far as the eye could see.

"If we were alone, I'd almost think we were on our own private planetoid," Invisible Brainiac whispered as he lay down. "You know, that's one of the things Earthgov tried to bribe me with."

Blaze peered over at his boyfriend. IB was usually so good at letting things roll off his back. But traumas like this were hard to shake off. "I guess we know they didn't make good on it, else you'd have brought me there now. Unless maybe that's a future surprise you have in store for me?"

"And here I thought you'd prefer the authenticity - and the hot shirtless men - of Earth," IB smirked. "No, I never believed they did anyway. But what was I to do? I just wanted the whole incident over and buried. I had manifested my powers in front of all the guests at my party, and I had caused grievous harm and injury to everyone. My family would never live that shame down, especially if I had inadvertently blinded anyone. Even with recent advances in robo-opthalsurgery, a few lost days of productivity would have been too much bother for most. So I agreed to work for Earthgov until I could figure out my next move. I was given relative freedom as long as I kept out of sight and followed orders."

"So... is that why you never tried to talk to your family again? Because of your deal with Earthgov."

IB gazed longingly at the expanse of desert sand around them. Sometimes he loved the solitude of relatively isolated places like this. They made him feel like real-life problems were so far away. "I couldn't talk to them because they thought I was dead."

Old Town Kotor, Montenegro
Earth

"One thing I love about Montenegro is that it's a lot less busy than its neighbors." Perched atop the Church of Our Lady of Health, IB and Blaze enjoyed the view of the bay.

"The solitude is nice, isn't it? Oh baby, I'm glad you didn't despair over not being able to talk with your family."

IB squeezed Blaze's hand in thanks. "I did miss them a bit, but I had to work through it. One perk of my relative freedom was getting to hang around with other super-powered agents like me. A couple were about our age. There were less than half a dozen of us, though. The LMB's high profile meant that most meta-powered Earth natives enjoyed relative freedom."

"I still don't understand why it was so shameful to your family that you had powers. You'd think they'd be proud of your abilities!"

"... Even as late as the 31st century, you'd be surprised how some communities value normalcy and conformity over diversity. Only about 1% of the Earth population have innate powers until now."

IB fell silent as he gazed at the bay. "Come on, walk with me. Let's climb up the fortifications. 1350 steps in all! Great for maintaining our abs."

"Why not? We need to work off that big lunch we had. Need to keep fit for when we hit the beaches!"

IB grinned at Blaze as they trotted off through the streets. Even with modern technology, Montenegro had preserved the old-style feel of Kotor. Buildings were painstakingly restored to how they looked in the mid-20th century. It was a strong source of pride for the governor that they had managed to keep their medieval flavor when so many of their neighboring states had not.

As they walked through the streets, Blaze tentatively steered the conversation back. "When you told me before that your family was so perfectionist and so image-conscious, I didn't think they'd go so far as disowning you."

"I think they wouldn't, though they'd be tempted to do so. It would have been easier. I just spared them from having to make the choice." IB chuckled bitterly. "I still remember seeing the news article of our party. "Multi-awarded graduate tragically slain in freak accident". Earthgov was trying to limit the UP's influence on Earth, so they alleged that extraterrestrial experimentation had vaporized me and injured several guests. I'm sure my family believed them right away..."

"Maybe they looked for you?"

"Truth to tell I didn't want to be found. I'd probably keep hearing them say they wished I never had these powers. I didn't want them either at first, but after Earthgov got me to master my invisibility and laser powers I began to revel in them."

"It does feel good to use our powers. I bet you enjoyed being able to fly!"

"I did. Earthgov groomed me to be their stealth guy - invisibly infiltrating troublesome areas and then taking out the enemy. I would use my lasers to simulate weaponry; other times I'd use my fists. I began to gain confidence. A few months in they told me I was the perfect agent."

"You sound like you enjoyed it so much. But you already told me you planned to escape from the start. Did you ever reconsider?"

"No, I never planned to stay. I began plotting my escape the minute I signed on." IB stopped as they reached the foot of the fortifications. "No more talking first. Come on, race you tot he top!"

The Stone Circles of Senegambia, The Gambia and Senegal
Earth

"Next time, I get to carry YOU in my arms," Blaze pouted.

"Okay, hon. when we head to our next country, okay? My competitive little baby. You're so cute when you lose our card games," IB teased.

"Hmph. Next time let's play Spaceopoly Deal when we need to make a decision!"

IB laughed as they broke through the clouds. "Stop pouting hon. You'll miss the great view!"

Blaze turned to look as they soared over the Rivers Gambia and Senegal. "Oh my gosh! Those stone circles look awesome when viewed from up above!"

"They're even more awesome when you think they're associated with burials," IB added.

As they flew over the vast territory, IB mused. "You know, Earthgov sent me here to take out a local agitator who wanted the countries of Senegal and The Gambia to merge."

"Tsk. What would be the point? All offworld policy is dictated by Earthgov Central anyway. Each nation has internal autonomy only within broad guidelines..."

"Eh, something about celebrating the glory and magic of the ancient kingdom. It wouldn't have been a problem if he hadn't been inciting riots and using some crazy black magic mojo to try to animate these stone circles."

"So what'd you do to him?"

"Just dropped him in jail. They didn't send me on any lethal missions - none of us teen agents were."

"Huh. Earthgov has a heart, after all."

"Yeah, maybe they thought the years below 16 should be relatively benign."

They both fell silent as they arced lower. IB chuckled as he flew over a notably dense concentration of circles. "I had an awful time putting these back in their proper places during the night. Especially since I had to pretend I couldn't bend light in ways other than using it to turn myself invisible."

"I'd like to hear the story of your actual escape," Blaze mused. "Sounds like..."

"Wait, look at that," IB pointed. "Those fences weren't there before."

"Why would that be odd? They're not that high," Blaze noted. "Maybe they're doing reconstruction work?"

"But these are permanent fences, not fence-screens. And the location... Could you check your Omnicom for the Senegal and Gambia country boundaries?"

"I... Oh. I see what you mean."

IB gasped. The fences were right on the boundary delineating Senegal from the Gambia.

"Maybe we have been out of touch too much," IB whispered.

"I'm sure it's nothing. Maybe the governors just want to assert their territory for admin purposes?" Blaze asked, though he sounded doubtful himself.

"I hope so..."

Echmiadzin, Armenia

"I would have visited this on my first Earthgov mission after I'd reached majority," IB pointed to the 2,700 year old Cathedral of Echmiadzin. "The Director told me he had something special in mind for my birthday. The day I'd become a man, so he said."

"I thought the day you became a man was the day you finally let me do... Ouch!"

Blaze frowned in mock pain as IB slapped his shoulder. "Oh, don't go bringing that up again! You had more firsts with me than I had with you!"

"Fine, my abusive boyfriend," Blaze grumbled. "Anyway, what happened? Did you find out something sinister about that mission?"

"Yeah. The Director wanted me to have my first kill."

"Oh."

They fell silent as they walked through the rows of cross-stones dotting the church gardens.

"See, Armenia is proud of being the first world nation to adopt Christianity as an official religion. So some whacko had created a cult of personality advocating a return to the old ways and beliefs. He had collected tons of money and was threatening to lead followers into a mass suicide if the Governor didn't transfer the title to him. Given the imminent danger and the lack of time, Earthgov wanted me to reduce the risk by killing him."

"And I bet you argued against it by promising to find evidence that would discredit him to his followers?"

"Yes, but the Director said it was too risky. Not enough time. So I pretended to go along, but sent a secret tip to the LMB. Remember, I'd kept my other skills hidden. While one of me was at Earthgov's bunker, three of me were gathering evidence, two were watching over the church and the last was just waiting at LMB HQ. As soon as I'd found enough evidence, I transmitted the same, anonymously, to the LMB. They arrived within minutes and played the recordings I'd made of the so-called Messiah's plans. His followers turned on him instantly. The LMB still held great influence among the people."

"Wow, that's amazing! You totally outsmarted everyone. And I bet Earthgov didn't suspect a thing because you told them you couldn't perform the assassination while the LMB was there."

"Correctamundo. And after that I planned my exit strategy. I... hey, look, here's the pagan fire pit they built the altar over."

IB pointed to a sign over the church museum. They scrambled down to an empty room with stone walls. Any ash that may have been there had been swept clean.

"Look, says here the pit was preserved only because... Blaze?"

A mesmerized Blaze stood transfixed in the middle of the pit. Steam began to rise from his shoulders and head.

"Blaze? Blaze, what..."

Blaze's hair transformed into a fiery corona, and cinders fell from him onto the floor below.

"Blaze! Is something wrong?" IB ran to his boyfriend. "Ahhh! I can't go nearer unless I turn to light!"

"Wha..." a shocked Blaze let the fire wink out. "Oh! I'm so sorry... I just felt something in this place. I... it was like the history in this place called me to celebrate it..."

"Does this have something to do with the Order of the Sacred Flame you joined?" IB asked, worried. "Did you feel brainwashed?"

"No, no. I just felt glorious, like how when you stretch out in the sun and revel in the light? It was like that here. I felt I had to revel in the fire."

"Okay... is this the first time this happened?"

"Yes, actually. Maybe it has to do with the Order's origins on Earth. I don't know."

IB fell silent. "Maybe we should investigate YOUR origins more too."

Blaze held IB's hand. "I'd like that. But first let's finish yours, okay?"

Champagne Reef, Dominica
Earth


"I wonder if the water will get us drunk?" IB quipped as he and Blaze swam through the bubbles being emitted by the volcanic vents on the seabed.

"I hope not. We've been building up our alcohol tolerance. Wouldn't want to be taken advantage of when we hit Earth's greatest party spots," Blaze replied.

"We really should hit those soon," IB mused. "Recent news blurbs haven't been very reassuring."

"Yes, but I agree that we should do our web research first. The potentially volatile situation lends itself to caution. Besides, you aren't done telling me about your past yet."

"Fine," IB laughed as he swooped through a particularly strong concentration of bubbles. "Wish the sealife here were a bit more attractive... But then I prefer colorful fish to seahorses, frogfish, squid, crabs and... Ah!"

IB gave a start as the "rock" beside him waved a claw.

"Should I fry that lobster for you, baby?" Blaze burst out laughing.

"Hmph. Just for that I'm going to sic a wild dog at you," IB pouted.

"When we have kids I'm going to tell them we can't have lobster because you get jumpy," Blaze teased.

"At least lobsters aren't quite as dangerous as dogs," IB retorted. "Like that time on the beach when I had to hold both your hands cause the dog was barking..."

"Aww, you're so cute. Now come on baby, tell me how you finally got away from Earthgov."

"I should charge you for this," IB said as he settled on a rock after he'd convinced himself no camouflaged sea creatures were hiding. "After the Armenian incident, I knew I'd have to scoot before the Director sent me on another assassination. Luckily, by then I'd developed my powers enough to have some skill with visual illusions too. I didn't dare tell anyone what I was planning, not even the others my age. They seemed pretty happy anyway, and I always felt I could come back for them if needed. So my next mission was underwater too, we were after a bunch of pirates who'd been terrorizing the Caribbean, going after rich corporate types with yachts."

Blaze nodded as he sat down beside IB. "Mmmm, the hot bubbles feel great here. Sorry, go on."

"I bet you love having the vents blow up your butt," teased IB. "So a bunch of us blitzed the pirate base. I think they wanted blood because the pirates had robbed Cornelius Ricimer, the man who would own Earthgov. Guess I should have realized then just how much influence he already had."

"Don't blame yourself, hon. You did play a part in taking him down."

"Awww, thanks... I guess I did do my part. Like with this mission. I was the first one into the pirates' lair. I set things up carefully and waited for the one pirate I knew had cybernetic enhancements who would plausibly be able to see through my invisibility. You can just imagine the firefight that followed. a few cosmetic explosions later and part one of my escape plan was hatched."

"And part two?"

"I just had to wait for the LMB to arrive. I didn't want anyone dead, so I tipped them off. They arrived just as things were going to hell - the Director was yelling in my ear the whole time so I ditched my comlink. Made it look as though the LMB had arrived just in time to save the pirates. The mission was aborted before any of the other agents had a chance to come in after me. As the LMB left, I followed invisibly. Nobody knew that I'd mastered my light abilities enough to create realistic visual illusions that'd fool any organic being. followed behind the LMBers, and when we finally got back to their HQ I was stoked! I was free at long last. Of course, the Corporate Takeover happened weeks later while I was still working up the courage to stop lurking around. I managed to make my way off Earth and finally followed the team to Legion World, and the rest is history."

"Wow, that seems like one for the holos! I'm really glad you made it through."

"So am I. Else I wouldn't have met you... Huh? Hey! The bubbles around you are multiplying fast!"

Blaze looked up in shock as the seabed around him began to rumble. The volcanic vents shook as the water around churned up. Rock was crumbling all around them.

IB quickly grabbed Blaze by the arm. They bolted for the surface like a bat out of hell, flying up in an arc over the water.

As they exited the water, the rumbling stopped and the sea fell still again.

"Honey..." IB said as he hugged Blaze. "Have you ever controlled magma or lava before?"

"No..." Blaze shook. "It's possible though. Some of the senior Order members could."

"... I think we know where our next stop is then."

Takht-e Soleyman, Iran
Earth

"Landscape looks just like I remember," Blaze whispered as they flew over the sparse grasses mixed with arid soil and scattered rubble.

"How did you get to live in the Throne of Solomon, anyway?" IB asked.

"...Remember how I told you that I lived with my grandparents while I was growing up?"

"Yeah, I remember," IB said as they zipped over a tall mountain that wa surprisingly green. "I always wished I'd known you earlier so I could hold little Blaze while he was alone at night."

"I know... I would have felt a lot less lonely if you'd been there. It was funny. First my big brother went to live with them, but he came back home after a year. Then my big sister went. When it was my turn, I thought I'd come back after a year... but I never did." Blaze turned to look down at the approaching temple. "I rarely saw my mom after that. Five years later, I was brought here."

"The Throne of Solomon. Literally," IB breathed. "It's immensely amazing..."

"You get used to it," Blaze smiled as he led IB in. "I could probably wander around blindfolded and still tell you where each and every one of the sacred fires is."

"So go for it," IB quipped. "I can turn the lights out for you."

"Oh, don't you start! Come on, over here is where they tested me to see if I could join the Order."

"What exactly is the Order of the Sacred Fire anyway?" IB asked as they made their way the scattered remnants of stone pillars.

"We're kind of like what the legendary Green Lantern Corps used to be, although a lot more insular... Maybe a Dark Ages monastery would be a better term," Blaze offered as he leaned down to peer at stray brick. "We don't have any vows, but most of us chose to stay in the temples and tend to the sacred cleansing fires. We always believed that to be near these fires meant our souls would be cleansed. I never really believed all that, which is why I chose to be one of those who'd leave and use our flames to protect the universe."

"My hot little knight. I guess it's good you didn't go for all that purity stuff. I can imagine the things we do in bed aren't exactly your standard sacred purifying acts..."

"Not quite," Blaze grinned as he took off, motioning for IB to follow him. "I can imagine the lashing I - and you - would get if the original elders ever found out. But by our time things had relaxed a lot, and the cleansing was more about letting go of the desires to harm other beings. It was all about using the fire to help others. Ah, here we go... the Zendan-e Soleyman."

"Solomon's Prison?" IB translated.

"Yup. Solomon was supposed to have imprisoned monsters here. To find out if we had the powers, we were supposed to stay here at the rim and stare deep into the maw of the volcano."

"Brrrr. Pretty creepy. How was your test?"

"Cold and miserable and dark. I remember staring at it like... like... UGH!"

"Blaze honey? What?" IB rushed forward, only to be thrown back by a large corona of flame.

"Blaze!" IB screamed as his lover erupted in a large burst of fire.

"IB! I can't stop... I... I... No!" Blasts of flame surrounded Blaze. He clasped his hands ot his face, trying to smother them.

"Blaze! The crater rim! You're... ahhh!" IB yelled as bits of rock began to fall into the crater.

"IB... I... AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!" Blaze's cry followed him as his footing gave way and he tumbled into the pit.

"No!" IB jumped in after Blaze, straining to catch up to him. He used his light powers to get a burst of speed and flew on... on... he reached out to grab Blaze's hand...

... and then the fire engulfed them both.

Nabro Volcano, Eritrea

Invisible Brainiac awoke in the darkness. The last thing he remembered was extreme heat, and then...

He gingerly felt his arms. No burns, no peeling skin. What had happened?

"Blaze?" he called. No answer. He looked around. He was outdoors, but the sky around him was dark. No wonder; smoke billowed everywhere. He would have choked on the ash had he not been wearing a transuit.

The ground glowed an angry red and the heat wafted around him. He began to fly; Blaze could be anywhere. He checked his Omnicom; it had triangulated their position. hey were in Mount Nabro, Eritrea. A volcano that had a history of erupting suddenly when long thought extinct.

Suddenly, the clouds of smoke around him began to whirl. He heard a yell. "Aaaaaaaaaaaargh!!!!!"

"Blaze?" IB asked fearfully. He clambered forward, then stopped in his tracks. Blaze stood in the middle of the smoke, back arched and arms outstretched. "Blaze, what?"

"We teleported through the magma!" Blaze yelled. "We must have been drawn here because it almost erupted! I can stop this!"

"Are you sure? You've never done anything like this before!"

"I can! I have to! How many people live in this area?"

"Wait... my Omnicom says the projected strength of this eruption will not cause any immediate damage to the area. Just throw off a lot of dust. Maybe you don't have to strain yourself like this? I'm getting worried!"

"I can... do this... I... NO!"

Blaze fell backwards as the ground shook even more. Ash and dust flew around them like a tornado. IB could feel his hairs getting singed underneath his transuit. "Blaze, I know you really want to be in control of your powers, but this might be too much too fast! Let's get out of here!"

Blaze looked in horror at the ground around them, then hung his head. He grabbed IB in his arms then closed his eyes, drawing them into the fiery rock below.

The William Tubman Residence, Harper, Liberia
Earth

Invisible Brainiac tread gingerly through the refurbished villa. It had obviously been restored several times; the signs of wear and tear that one would expect in tropical climate were absent.

He was glad this "museum" house was closed for the day. At least they could relax without having to invisibly sneak around. He noted with interest how the rooms reflected Liberia's origins as a home for repatriated slaves from the USA.

IB approached a silent Blaze, who was staring out the top floor window. Palm trees and sugar cane fields dotted the landscape, and the country's preserved rainforests could be seen in the distance.

"Honey..." IB said. Blaze continued to stare. "I've been checking the news. The eruption was contained swiftly with current technology, and it was mostly ash too. No flights were affected and the ash cloud didn't even reach Luxor..."

"You don't understand!" Blaze snapped. "I wanted to be able to control that! I needed to be as strong as you are, don't you see? I can't always be the one who loses control of his powers!"

"But hon! You showed amazing control when we were fighting the Dark Oval! You were able to ignite the bomb at the portal precisely, which is why we were able to close and then reopen it."

"I wanted to save you, baby! After almost losing each other in the War, I want to know that I can keep you safe..."

"Oh honey... you got us out of the volcano. And if you're worried about how we got there in the first place, there's a lot about your powers we don't know yet." IB took a step forward and grabbed Blaze's shoulders, looking at him in the eye. "And we'll discover all that together."

"Ohhhh..." Blaze's eyes began to fill with tears. "I just remembered feeling so helpless as a kid. It wasn't until I joined the Order that I felt like something. And it means so much to me to be able to use my powers to protect you because you're the most important person in my life..."

"Sssshh, I know, I know..." IB held Blaze tightly as both of them began to weep. "Let's figure it out together, okay? For now let's both get some rest. Though, maybe the old house of Liberia's first president who was executed by coup plotters isn't exactly a conducive resting place..."

Gutenberg Castle, Liechtenstein
Earth

"Hey... I just wanted to say sorry for yelling at you," Blaze sheepishly held out a hand to IB.

"I know you're sorry," IB smiled as he hugged Blaze from behind. "Now come on. I know you're worried about losing control, so we're going to do something about it. Viola!"

"Hey, I know this place..."

"You should! You've been pestering me to go to Liechtenstein for months! How do you like the castle? The hilltop's been inhabited since Neolithic times, though of course the castle came later..."

"I've always wanted to live in a castle," Blaze breathed as he strode forward.

"Like a princess, waiting for your prince to come?"

"Like a PRINCE, waiting for his PRINCE to come," Blaze pouted. "Let's go in!"

"We will. In fact, you are going to practice your fire powers in here! Now be quiet, because we're in for a wedding."

They tiptoed through the rose garden, which was decorated in simply. It seemed like the couple wanted the natural beauty of the area to speak for itself. Guests were already seated all around.

"Now," IB whispered, "use your powers on the candles. Your challenge is to make them flare up three times without anyone noticing."

"What!? How am I supposed to do that?!"

"It's windy. If you can keep the flaring small they'll think it's that. Now come on!"

"Wait! What if they see us? I don't think I can manage that much control!"

"Come on, do it while the procession's ongoing! I know you can. At least the four tables nearest us. I believe you can."

Blaze nodded, though his heart pounded. He turned to the tables and felt the fire call out to him.

"Come on, come on..."

One flame flared, then another. Then the third. Blaze began sweating. IB knew it was hard; he'd seen Blaze control larger flames before, but splitting his concentration to handle four was another matter entirely. But he believed Blaze could...

Finally, the fourth candle flared as well.

In front of the tables, the first of the marriage party began walking in.

IB squeezed Blaze's hand gently. That was one.

Blaze squeezed back, and as he did the candles flared a second time. Sweat was pouring from all over him.

Finally, the candles flared up a third time.

IB hugged Blaze as he grinned at IB while steadying himself. IB didn't need to ask to know it had been very exhausting. Smiling, he flew them away so Blaze could rest.

Kifuka, The Democratic Republic of the Congo
Earth

"You sure know how to tire me out, baby," Blaze smiled as they flew through the air.

"Well, you told me about your early training, and I knew that was the test you had the hardest time with," IB smiled. "I think this one will be easier for you."

"What's next, do I heat you up?" Blaze shivered. "It's getting mighty cold up here."

"That's because Kifuka is a hilly place right next to the dense Congo rainforests," IB said as they descended through the clouds. "And it's also the part of the world where lightning strikes are most common. Each each square kilometre experiences approximately 158 lightning strikes per year."

Blaze shielded his face as they descended. IB just smiled as he savored the wind and the rain.

"And with Earthgov having to worry about its budget a bit... climate control isn't fully back on yet, so..."

Both boys closed their eyes as the heavens flashed. Lightning streaked down from the sky onto the dense canopy below. Soon, smoke began to billow.

"Here's your cue," IB gestured to Blaze. "I could trap the fire so oxygen deprivation will kill out, but why do that when we can be more direct?"

Blaze smiled as he looked down. "After tackling a volcano, this should be a piece of cake!"

Blaze flew down into the thick jungle. The smoke parted as they descended.

IB marveled at how Blaze moved right towards the source of the flame. He was really able to become one with it.

Holding out his hand, Blaze slowly began to let the fire burn itself out. It shrank slowly as it consumed all that it could in the immediate vicinity. Soon, all that remained was ash.

Blaze smiled at IB again. "Thank you, baby."

The Karakum Desert, Turkmenistan
Earth

"Are you kidding me?!" Blaze yelled as they approached the burning pit in the middle of the Turkmen desert.

"The Doorway to Hell," IB breathed as they saw the fire dancing in the deep pit. "Legend has it that some diggers suddenly broke into a cavern containing natural gas. To prevent it from leaking and killing everyone in the area, they set it on fire. Who would have thought there'd be enough here to last a thousand years?"

"And you want me to put THAT out? I don;t even remember seeing anyone in the Order who could handle that much!"

"No! We have no right to put it out. I just brought you here to play with it," IB said. "And you can play with the fire, too," he winked.

"Mmmm. In what order?" Blaze teased. "Obviously. I don't want to get sand in our naughty bits. Okay, here goes..."

Blaze stretched out his arm and concentrated. "Mmm, it's a good thing this is just one single flame... should make it easier..."

The fire began to rise, then all of a sudden it jetted out of the pit.

"Good, good," IB whispered encouragingly. "Can you make some shapes?"

"I'm... trying.. to.. spell..." Blaze said, as the fire began to make rings in the sky.

"You can do it," IB whispered encouragingly.

"Ngggh... maybe later... for now..."

The ring widened slowly,then curved in on itself at the top - to form a heart.


"Awwww..." IB said as he moved closer to Blaze. Blaze turned to look at him, smiling.

The fire fell back down into the tip as the two kissed.

The Ilulissat Icefjord, Greenland
Earth

"What if I mess up?" Blaze asked as he shivered in the cold.

"That's why I chose Greenland. It's probably the most sparsely populated region on Earth, though not as much as when it was still part of the Kingdom of Denmark. And I'll be here to back you up, okay?"

"Fine," Blaze said. "Thanks for the vote of confidence. I'm putting it all in your hands, okay?"

"As if there's any part that hasn't been in my hands yet," IB joked. "Okay, so whenever I make a target, you have to hit it with a fireball. But the goal is to do so without melting any part of one of Earth's fastest and most active glaciers, okay?"

"Alright. Let's do it."

IB immediately created a round ring made of light. "Go!"

Blaze threw a fireball that just narrowly missed the target.

"Come on, you can do it! Come closer, closer!"

Blaze snarled as he chased after IB's glowing targets. Fireball after fireball flew from his hands. Those that missed the targets winked out just as they did, to avoid damaging the ice.

"Not bad, hon! What's more important than actually hitting them is making sure you avoid collateral damage!" IB said as he flew around.

Blaze grit his teeth as he flew after IB. "Would be best if I could fulfill both objectives!"

"You're not doing bad," IB said as he called up another half-dozen targets. "You've hit twelve of sixteen so far."

"I can do better..." Blaze muttered.

"And you will, with practice. But remember my first mission? I missed Starfinger and hit Lash's glasses instead! Just glad I was able to reflect my laser off that and take Starfinger's hand."

"But I can't reflect my fireballs," Blaze pouted.

"And that's why we're working on you keeping track of them so you can snuff them out if they miss," IB replied.

"Hmmm. You're right... I shouldn't be so impatient," Blaze smiled. "Er, can we take a break? It doesn't seem right in such a cold place but I am seriously sweating."

"Sure, better keep your energy up cause I'm gonna tire you out tonight. We're going to..." IB was cut off as his Omnicom beeped. "Uh oh."

He quickly flew over to Blaze. "You'll have to forget what I said about patience, hon. We're needed. Actually, you are."

Blaze gulped as IB showed him the Omnicom.

Mount Yasur, Vanuatu

"I can't believe people used to climb these slopes!" IB said as they approached one of the most spectacular volcanoes on Earth.

"But didn't you say that it can be approached safely even when erupting? People used to climb up during the eruptions!" Blaze replied.

"They still do, though they tightened restrictions after some guides brought people too near the eruptions. Oddly enough, they still happen regularly every few hours - which is why I don't understand the danger now," IB shook his head. "Why would they suddenly increase in intensity while people were here? The government has been monitoring the situation for years!"

"Maybe someone slept on the job," Blaze shrugged. "Important thing is we stop it."

"Right, I'll get the people out while you start controlling the lava flows," IB replied. "Keep safe hon. I know you can do it."

Blaze smiled as he watched IB fly off. The illusions obscuring their features remained, of course. Blaze concentrated on the flowing lava. Soon, he was pushing it back into the mouth of the volcano.

He inched forward; maybe he could stop the eruption at its roots. He failed last time, but maybe now he could. He gently sculpted the lava flows, pushing them back into the crater. Then he crept forward until he could peek into it. He prepared to descend.

The lava erupted in his face. Something else else was pushing it forward!

"Get away from here, foreigners!" someone yelled.

Blaze couldn't make out the figure in the distance. "Why are you driving these people away? What have they done?"

"They have threatened to corrupt us. Exposure to the outside world has. And now, leave or I will not hold back."

"I don't think so, pal!" IB flew in and fired a laser at the figure. "Your actions are threatening to hurt innocent people, and we can't condone that!"

"I have hurt nobody. Merely scared them away." Their opponent stepped into clearer view. He was accompanied by an arrogant-looking man about Blaze's age. Blaze's breath caught. He recognized him.

"I am Caster, and you better listen to my buddy here. Calls himself Vulcan," he sneered. "We believe that Earthgov should start decentralizing and letting each nation develop on its own, to prevent another Corporate Takeover. And you two -" he pointed at them - "are in our way. Now, bye bye."

"Not so fast!" IB yelled as he let loose a blinding flash. Blaze quickly followed by solidifying the lava around their enemies' feet.

Caster held his head. "Dammit! Alright, you want to play hardball. We've done our job here. Come on, Vulcan!" The two merged with the lava flows underneath.

"Come on, IB! We're going after them!" Blaze quickly grabbed IB's hand and dove in after them.

Grande Marche du Dantopka, Benin
Earth

Blaze couldn't keep from grunting as the fires spat them out. He and IB landed in a heap inside a darkly lit hut. An odd-smelling flame crackled above them.

He quickly pulled IB to his feet. "We have to catch them!"

The two boys ran after their prey. IB hissed at Blaze as they did. "Oh my gosh. We're in the largest fetish market in Benin!"

Blaze couldn't help but notice the rows of animal skulls, skins and other assorted body parts as they ran after the fleeing Caster and Vulcan. The arrogant Caster was looking behind them and scowling.

"Little guy runs fast for someone who's barefoot," IB huffed as they gave chase. "Say, do you know why he's looking behind him? We're invisible."

"I don't know. Maybe he can sense us. The most powerful Order members could detect living beings by their body heat," Blaze replied grimly as they ran around a crowd of people gathered against a woman who was flailing around. Two more women were dancing behind her, both with white powder smeared all over their bodies. They looked not unlike their skin had been transformed into old bark.

IB looked back in interest. "Damn, if we weren't chasing them I'd love to get a video of these voodoo rituals... hey, wait! They're stoppiing!"

Caster and Vulcan were chatting angrily with a plump woman whose severe stare made her seem like an owl. She was wearing a dress wrapped around her body, and she swayed as she spoke.

She suddenly turned towards where IB and Blaze were coming from, despite both being invisible. With a thunderous glare she pointed her finger at them.

"What's happ- whoa!" Blaze yelled as he was yanked into the air. Beside him, IB struggled helplessly.

The world vanished around them as Blaze watched the arrogant Caster, who had a smug grin on his face.

Scarborough, Trinidad and Tobago
Earth

The two boys fell from mid-air with a loud thud. Not that anyone heard though; music played around them.

"Are you okay?" a shaken Invisible Brainiac asked as he scrambled over to Blaze.

"I... that guy... IO can't believe it!" Blaze hissed.

"I'd like to wipe his smug grin too, but let's find someplace quiet first," IB suggested. "Let's figure out what the heck has been going on!"

"So... where are we? Looks like some place in the Caribbean or Central America or Africa..."

"Omnicom says Trinidad and Tobago. Looks like we're just in time for the Tobago Heritage Festival, a two week celebration of culture. Might as well grab a bite while we think things through."

"How can you say that?! Caster and that kid caused a volcanic eruption!"

"We rescued everyone, and now we're halfway around the world," IB said firmly as he dodged a couple of dancer in colorful dresses. "We should go over what happened, since the danger is not imminent. We've encountered three super-powered humans in two locations now, and we've heard plenty of rumblings of ultra-nationalistic pride. The problem may be larger than we anticipated."

"Fine," Blaze grumbled as he began to walk through the crowd of energetic dancers in multi-hued costumes. IB wondered idly how they could dance so nimbly while wearing such formal clothing. "Let's move fast though. I have a lot to tell you."

They made their way through pockets of dancers and booths selling food with influence from all over the world. IB saw signs offering fried shark, Indian-style rotis, fried chickpea balls, coleslaw, noodle dishes, and meat pies. Any other day he would have gladly sampled several, but his mind was struggling to grasp the implications of what they had just encountered. All reports had said Earth was slowly getting back on its feet. So why...

He stopped. He thought he heard the word "murder". He turned towards a group of locals sitting around a storyteller. She was a young woman, with a bright green scarf wrapped around her head and wearing a green and white dress. She was sitting gracefully in the middle of a circle. Blaze tugged at IB's arm, but IB motioned him to keep quiet and listen.

"And what was freedom? Our ancestors asked that question many times. They were not bound by chains nor by rope. Yet they could not leave the islands. Could not leave the homes of their masters. What was it like to be born a slave, to live your whole life as a slave, to die a slave? To see the sun, feel the wind on your face, watch the birds fly free - and not be able to have the same freedom as these things?"

Her calm gentle voice had an edge to it, one that grew sharper by the minute.

"When our ancestors gained their independence, they swore on their blood that our people would never lose it again! But we did, when Earth was bought. And this has left our homeland vulnerable once more, to those richer and larger than us. But they are not more powerful, and they will not prevail over us!"

"Yes! Trinidad and Tobago for Trinbagonians forever!" cheered a man in the crowd.

"We will live free and die free!" yelled another.

IB's blood chilled. Earth had achieved its unity late in the 27th century only after several bloody wars had been fought. Only a few hundred years later, it was in danger of falling apart again.

"I don't like this, Blaze. I think we should leave," IB whispered. "Let's regroup somewhere else."

Blaze nodded, still fuming over what had happened. IB took him in his arms and they flew into the inght.

Luang Prabang, Laos
Earth

"Laos PDR... Please Don't Rush," Invisible Brainiac muttered as he and Blaze settled into the sleepy cafe beside the mighty Mekong River. "I'm glad that even after a thousand years, Luang Prabang still remains a well-preserved, sleepy and laidback town."

"Perfect place to talk, so let's talk," Blaze replied as he sipped his Black Rimborian.

IB pushed his drink aside. He didn't want to lose his focus. "Okay, we decided to head for Earth after that incident on Raltvee where someone left a torn newspaper article about us visiting. Someone scrawled "Earth Traitors" on our faces. Whoever left it had powers, as we didn't notice anything."

"And we called up Security Office reports that some Earthers who remained during the Corporate Takeover consider those who fled to be traitors."

"Right. But we haven't really seen traces of that here - because tourism is still at a low. Majority of returnees are here to reunite with families or to provide aid. Earthers who stayed behind are generally not rich enough to travel far, and vacationers typically only go to neighboring countries"

"And also because we've generally been sticking to remote, uninhabited or low-population-density areas, until recently."

IB shot Blaze a don't-start-that-again look. "We've also heard news and reports of regionalistic and nationalistic incidents again, with old 21st century borders starting to become closed off as we witnessed in Senegal and Gambia. Events in Vanuatu and Trinidad & Tobago also show that there have been people willing to fan the flames of xenophobia."

"So... what do we do about it?"

IB fell silent as he watched a line of monks amble past. Time was that they'd be followed by tourists eager to participate in the daily alms ceremony. Now there were only two foreigners dressed in scrubs who strode purposely down the street. "There must be a connection. Caster did't seem to be a Vanuatu local, and the fact they escaped to Benin - and were aided by a local women - says a lot. There's also the woman in Trinidad and Tobago who was fomenting discord, and the mysterious person on Raltvee who left the paper."

"So there's some sort of conspiracy here? Why would people who hate foreigners work together?"

"I don't know yet, other than they're taking advantage of negative emotions. Or they could be working together to build divisions. But we definitely need to learn more. Oh, and... you seemed to know Caster?"

Blaze snorted. "I do, sadly. He's a little $&!&^@! who used to be at the Order with me. He was arrogant and annoying, but hardly sinistr. Made my life hell after I advanced a rank and he didn't, despite us joining up together. He stayed behind when the Order fled." Blaze fell silent as he watched the sun go down.

"It would be great if we could find him again. Otherwise, we'll have to hit the worst trouble spots for leads. Like... Oh my gosh."

IB paled as he showed Blaze his Omnicom screen. "Reports popping in from around the globe. We'd better get started."

Blaze leaned back as he downed the last of his drink. "Too much to ask for a little relaxation."

IB hesitated for a moment, then downed his as well. "Might as well enjoy while I can."

The Valley of the Seven Castles, Luxembourg
Earth

"Four... Five... Six... Where's the seventh?" Blaze asked as they flew over the lush green rolling hills.

Invisible Brainiac frowned grimly as they descended. "I don't know, but I'd guess that weird fog and the dozens of screaming people running away from it might give us a clue."

"I really love your sarcastic wit," Blaze grumbled as they landed.

"Wait, hold on," IB said as he tucked his Omnicom into his pocket. He shrugged at Blaze's disapproving stare. "Hey, I'm a completionist. Everywhere we go I take at least one photopraph."

Blaze hmphed as he turned to face the running crowd. Most were dressed like tourists - caps, eyewear, carrying Omnicoms and universal translators. All were terrified. "Sir, sir, what's going on?"

"GHOSTS!" yelled a frightened man without even trying to stop.

"Luxembourg IS known for haunted castles, and Ansembourg takes the cake," IB narrated as they flew towards the source of the fog. "Legend has it a beautiful woman spun her own wedding shroud and leaped to her death to avoid marrying the cruel lord of the castle. You can supposedly still hear here spinning now."

"Brrr. Good thing it's daytime here," Blaze said as they entered the castle gates. The voluminous main hall was empty, though fog still wafted all around. "There," Blaze added, pointing at a shadowy figure hidden in the mist.

"I don't feel colder or damper," IB said as he unzipped his transuit. "Then this must be all smoe and mirrors." He waved his hand, and the fog disappeared. "A light-based illusionist."

The shadowy figure shimmered, then coalesced into an angry-looking young boy. "Offworlders!" he hissed. "Leave our land alone!"

"Why?" IB asked as he approached. "What are you afraid of?"

"That you will take it all away from us! Now get out of here!"

"Not on your life," Blaze thundered as he flared up. "You are going to tell us everything we know, stat! Who are you working with?"

The boy glared and stamped his foot. "There are hundreds of us - and you'd better watch out, or else!" He shimmered again and vanished.

"Uh uh, you aren't getting away," IB said as he waved his hands. "There!"

The boy grit his teeth as he reappeared in mid-stride. He was running towards the door. IB and Blaze dove after him. "Almost got him..." IB grunted as he reached out.

Suddenly, a portal appeared in front of the boy. He ran into it. "Pour it on!" Blaze cried as hey flew onward...

... only to zoom right out the gates.

"Great! Just great! Now how are we going to find him?!" IB fumed.

Blaze shook his head. "Let's just pick another one of the reported disturbances you Squookled up. There's gotta be another dozen of them going on right now."

The Sea around Rangali Island, Maldives
Earth

"I am so envious. I can't believe you were here!" Blaze stared open-mouthed at the massive underwater resort that sprawled out before them. "This is what Atlantis must have been like!"

"Just part of the job," Invisible Brainiac smiled as they made their way to the most sought-after underwater restaurant in the world - Ithaa Restaurant. "Got to pretend to be some corporate bigshot for a while. When this is all done, we can go back here. But first - we have to save the resort from whomever is creating the currents here! Get down!"

IB pushed Blaze down as a couple of sharks were carried backwards. "Uh oh, they're heading towards the restaurant walls!" IB created a light shield around the resort.

"How long can you hold it?" Blaze asked.

"Maybe not long enough. Help with the evac please?"

Blaze saluted and swam straight up. IB concentrated, and his shield expanded until it covered the entire resort from the direction the currents were coming from. It was difficult; the patterns were not natural. Someone was definitely controlling the water movement. He began to form the shield into a bubble, to enclose the resort both below and above the water.

"IB to Blaze. We need to find who's causing this. Am going to leave my shield in place and search... UNFH!"

The water hit his body like a battering ram. No! IB realized desperately that his light barrier couldn't stop his opponent from controlling the water INSIDE the shield bubble!

He quickly formed a second shield inside the first. By making it shrink around the resort, he forced the water in between the first shield outside. Soon, he had created a pocket of air around the resort. Satisfied, he turned to face the cold, forbidding water around. He saw some vague shapes in the distance... there.

He let loose a blinding flare that lit up the area. Vague shapes coalesced into sea creatures of all kinds - whale sharks, great whites, tuna, manta rays, reef fish. And a human girl who glared at him. She looked somewhat South Asian; a Maldivian native, IB guessed. She shot him an angry glare and held up her hand.

IB began choking as his throat constricted. His eyes opened wide as he realized she was controlling the water in his body! How could she be this powerful? IB flailed as he thought she only needed to maintain this for a few seconds before he died. In desperation, he shot a dozen lasers in her direction. She dodged smoothly; water refracted light and IB was too busy drowning to aim well. No... he couldn't die like this...

"Stop it!" Blaze's voice yelled through their teleplugs as he slammed into the girl. IB's hands stopped gripping his throat as sweet air rushed into his lungs again. He quickly created a pole of light that he could lean on.

"Are you okay?" Blaze's strong arms latched onto him. IB nodded. "Thanks for saving me, baby. Our opponent?"

"Opponents," Blaze said grimly. "There was a boy with her - looked Latino. I doubt he's from around here. He touched her, then she battered me back with a blast of water."

IB shook his head. "Maybe the boy can enhance the powers of others. That would explain her ability to choke me with my body's water. Blaze, this is bad. There's definitely some sort of conspiracy going on."

Blaze nodded as he hugged IB tight while pulling him up. "Let's get cracking - after we get you checked out."

The Historic Center of Coro, Venezuela
Earth

"Why is this town a UNESCO site again? It looks just like many towns elsewhere," Blaze complained.

"Site says it's a unique fusion of Spanish Mudejar and Dutch architectural techniques," IB explained. "Only surviving such town in Venezuela. But someone seems to be wanting to wipe out the traces. Look!"

IB's hand shone like a flashlight, illuminating what looked like a young human man with Latin features. Only, he couldn't have been a normal man - he was dangling from the roof of a building by his legs and clawing at a seal carved in the doorway!

"Allow me," Blaze smirked as he flew down, arms on fire. "Okay, stop right there buddy!" The acrobatic man bared his teeth, swinging back up onto the rooftop. He grabbed some stray bricks and tossed them at Blaze.

"Yeow!" Blaze cried as he dodged. He threw fireballs at the man, cornering him near the roof's edge.

IB flew down at the side. "You obviously can't fly. Give it up, pal."

"I do not think so," the man replied as he slashed at IB. He yelled into what IB recognized as a comlink. "Ayudar!"

"Que viene. Un centenar de manos," came a reply. Rifles began firing out of nowhere.

"What? We're under attack?!" Blaze yelled as he threw fireballs into the street.

"There!" IB cried. Both boys stared in horror as a hundred soldiers in uniform began emerging from the street below.

"Stories made flesh," the acrobatic man smiled as he scrambled away. "Not even you can stop those, traitors."

"Ugh... I think I see the source!" IB yelled to Blaze as he shielded both of them in light. "They're coming from the left, over there! I'll spotlight the area."

IB shone his light on a girl in a green headscarf. She was holding a book and had on a serious scowl. "Blaze, the book! But don't burn it, it may be important!"

"Got it," Blaze smiled as he threw a carefully aimed fireball. It hit the girl's sleeve, causing it to burn. She cursed, dropping the book. With a hateful grin, she vanished into the shadows.

The rifles stopped, the soldiers vanishing into thin air. IB quickly zoomed after the girl, but she had vanished.

"She left her scarf, and this book. Stories of Freedom in the Americas," Blaze narrated.

"Blaze... did you recognize her at all? This scarf... it was the girl we saw in Trinidad and Tobago. She must have some sort of summoning abilities."

Blaze's eyes widened. "That proves our theory of an international conspiracy. But... why would all these people work together to create barriers around their countries?"

IB raised a finger to his lips as people began to spill out of houses, drawn by the commotion. "I don't know, but we have to find out."

Sangha Trinational
Cameroon, Central African Republic, (Republic of) Congo
Earth

The air was thick with the living sounds of the forest. Blaze shook his head as they flew over it. "Amazing. I can hardly believe that this survived the last thousand years."

"The three countries represented here have historically had poor governments, at least until the 23rd century's Leap of Africa," IB explained. "A large influx of skilled leaders, and the emergence of an African Union, really helped move things along. The 54 nations of Africa agreed that, for the most part, they'd been divided up wrongly by their former colonial powers. Some ethnic groups were split amongst multiple nations; other nations combined warring groups with little in common. So they decided to form greater political and economic linkages to promote peace and conserve their natural and cultural heritages. I'm glad they did - they saved a lot of rare animals like forest elephants, gorillas, crocodiles, the Goliath tigerfish, chimps..."

"But it looks like someone wants to preserve them by throwing us humans out!" Blaze pointed. Park rangers and scientists were being tossed into the air by thick vines and branches.

"Should be a piece of cake," IB smiled as he began cutting people loose with his lasers. Blaze followed suit with pinpoint streams of fire. "Keep track?"

"Why not," Blaze replied. "12... 13..."

"16... 17..." IB thought to Blaze, Good, let's keep acting cocky, draw out whomever is doing this.

Blaze nodded. "Hey, maybe after all this is over we can go ride an elephant or pet a gorilla... UMPH!" A vine wrapped around Blaze's waist and swung him into the air. "Yeow!"

IB caught the scientists Blaze was saving. They were already unconscious, but thankfully with little injury. This was getting serious. He quickly split into his seven selves. "Blaze, you and me find the source. The other six of me will take care of the people."

"Sounds good." Blaze quickly burned through the vines holding him back. "Down there? Okay to fire at will?"

"I can handle the people. Just be careful not to start a forest fire."

Blaze nodded as he began blasting a path through the overgrowth. "Come out come out wherever you are..."

IB's lasers cut down vines that tried to wrap around Blaze. His eyes searched frantically. Whoever was doing this had to know his or her way around the forest and would be very hard to find. He used his powers to pull in images from all around... there! He made his way to a figure kneeling on the far side of the forest, its palm touching the ground. If he could separate him or her from the ground, he could stop all this.

The figure started as IB approached. IB quickly went invisible and began to pounce.

The living sounds of the forest grew louder, and a storm of leaves rained down. IB gasped; his light shield protected him, but it ruined his visibility. He quickly blasted through the heap of leaves and looked around.

His target was gone.

Well your travels have certainly taken you to some of the most amazing places IB. And I really enjoy the history you have created as you traveled, the 23rd Century African Leap for example.

The international conspiracy sounds ominous - I'm looking forward to finding out more and will it fit into yours and Blazes back story? Also the ghost kid in Luxembourg seems to be a natural foil to your light based powers so am looking forward to you two meeting again.

You have obviously put a lot of time and thought into planning this and it shows! This has built really well, included the most magnificent backdrops, been both charming and exciting and I can't wait to read more, more, more!

Thank you for your kind words, Harbi Blaze and I really do plan to travel the world one day, so the research is a joy instead of a chore. There will definitely be tie-ins to the pasts of Blaze and IB.

The biggest challenge is that I promised myself I'd feature every single country on Earth. I've "cheated" with some by using sites that span multiple nations (Sangha Trinational is the most egregious example!) but it really means I have to plan my plot outline well!

I'm really grateful that you've read it all! Thanks for the encouragement

Mount Titano, San Marino
Earth

"The Most Serene Republic of San Marino," Invisible Brainiac narrated as he and Blaze descended from the sky. "Its people are proud that they maintained their independence from 301 AD, despite being the third smallest country in Europe and being entirely surrounded by Italy."

"I guess someone intends to keep that streak going," Blaze pointed. Soil and rock had begun rising around the territory of San Marino.

"In the absence of any overt threat from Italy?" IB asked. "San Marino currently holds the same status as any of the members that made up the United Nations. Someone is feeding people some bad information."

"Be that as it may, we have to stop the walls coming up..." Blaze replied.

"You wanna take that, while I do evac? San Marino never instituted border controls, and over the past millennium people have just been walking in from Italy."

"Done," Blaze smiled as he kissed IB. He zoomed along the wall of stone that seemed to be originating from Mount Titano's three towers.

He just barely dodged the spray of rock and dirt that erupted from below him.

"Okay, that is definitely man-made..." he muttered. He surrounded himself in a corona of flame and began throwing fireballs around. He hoped this would confuse his attacker. He began flying in a zigzag pattern while heading for the ground - if he was right, and his opponent was on the towers, perhaps he could better hide.

A large rock grazed his leg. Blaze cursed as he felt the scratch. Should he call IB? But he wanted to do this on his own...

He quickly zipped down to street level. His attacker wouldn't want to hurt any of the locals. He searched frantically. There must be something he could use... There.

He quickly entered a restaurant, smiling at the staff and customers huddled under their tables. "Don't worry, everything's under control folks." Facing a lit candle flame, he dove right in.

Blaze flitted from flame to flame inside San Marino, looking for anything out of the ordinary. He was pleased to see the evacuation was going well; IB had things under control and was keeping himself unharmed with a strong light shield. Blaze sent himself to Mount Titano, looking for his attacker.

A young blonde was standing, back to the fireplace. She was obviously concentrating.

Blaze shot out of the fireplace and launched himself at the girl. She screamed in surprise as he tackled her onto the floor. He flipped her around. "I'm going to ask nicely. Stop what you're doing."

She gave him a hiss. "We are not ready to confront you yet." Then she dissolved into the floor.

Blaze sat up, holding his side. Another failure. "Sigh. IB, stopped our attacker. Could you swing by her and help me with the medikit?"

Lake Rweru, Rwanda and Burundi
Earth

The sunlit waters of Lake Rweru sparkled like diamond on a clear day. It was a sharp contrast to the dark atmosphere of the area.

"I don't understand why Rwanda didn't simply absorb Burundi way back," Blaze asked. "Didn't they used to be one territory before they both gained independence?"

"They did, but you have to understand that they were split for the longest time. Beginning in the early 21st century, Rwanda started growing in leaps. Strict rule of law lessened corruption and caused ease of doing business to skyrocket, leading to a massive influx of foreign investment. In stark contrast, Burundi had been mired in poverty and disease and was one of the five poorest countries on Earth at that time."

Invisible Brainiac looked somberly at the waters of the lake. Ships carrying people crossed the border between the countries, but there were far fewer ships now.

"During the Great African Leap Forward, Rwanda had already taken its place as one of the success stories of Africa. Burundi was just getting there. Because of their shared histories, Rwanda was the partner nation assigned to Burundi. Rwanda would help Burundi exploit its cobalt and copper deposits and provide consulting support in strengthening governance. In return, Rwanda would get a small share of the profits and substantial international recognition to boost its tourism sector."

IB and Blaze watched as a ship stopped at the border checkpoint. Officials checked each passenger's papers; those who passed inspection transferred to another ship on the Rwandan side of the lake. Those who didn't were forced to stay on the Burundian side.

"The days of open borders in the area are gone now. With Earth's economy just recovering, each nation is focusing on its own problems. Earthgov is simply too weak to pull the Earth together."

"And we're here because of reported incidents of armed attackers harassing boats crossing from Burundi into Rwanda. Any descriptions of the attackers?"

"Sadly, none. About 3 or 4 only, but they always attacked at night. So we're here to observe, learn the terrain, and see if... uh, if they decide to change their minds."

Blaze turned to look in the direction IB was pointing at, and his mouth dropped open. "Is that... a gorilla????"

"Rwanda was one of only two countries in the early 21st century where it was safe to visit gorillas in their natural habitat," IB explained as he tackled the gorilla just as it was about to grab a frightened passenger. It roared in anger and swung back at IB.

"Hands off my boyfriend without my permission!" Blaze yelled as he singed its fur. It turned around to swat at him, but Blaze dodged its arm.

IB landed beside Blaze, hands glowing. "Just try it," IB said. "I bet you're a metamorph. All people on the ship are safe. You keep attacking and you won't be able to fight for your beliefs anymore."

The gorilla threw one last hateful look at them, then shifted into the form of a bird. "Ah ah, not so fast!" IB called as he and Blaze took off after it.

The bird flew into a portal, which again closed before they could follow it through.

"I'm really beginning to hate this..." IB muttered as he and Blaze returned to the ship to check on the passengers.

Toad River Valley, Canada
Earth

"What a scenic place," Blaze gushed as the serpentine river came into view. "Wish we could take some time off for a picnic here."

"We probably could; we need to keep our strength up to deal with this whole mess," IB said. "Hopefully we can also stop acting like amateurs and actually capture or follow one of these guys."

"So far we've been surprised by all their powers. I think if we play it smart we can."

"Better hope so, because I'm totally stumped at this one."

A translucent dome stood over a good portion of the valley. Traffic had stopped all around the dome, while people trapped inside were frantically pounding on the walls.

"Panic's pretty bad, let's see what we can do," IB said. "Hm. This isn't made of light. I can't absorb it. But I think I can cross it." IB turned himself and Blaze into light and slipped through the dome. "Let's make our way to the center, I bet the creep is inside. They picked their target fairly well; near here is a major highway that could paralyze Canada if it remains blocked."

"Okay, I... uh, I think he found us."

Blaze and IB stared in confusion as a glowing green man started firing energy beams at them. "Traitors!"

"Okay, I am so annoyed at everyone calling us traitors. What the hell did we do that's got you all so mad?" IB yelled as he blocked the blasts.

"It's what you're about to do - encouraging Earth to open up so we'll be vulnerable to aliens again!" spat the man as he pressed his attack. A battering ram of pure energy eaded straight for IB and Blaze. IB countered with a light spear.

"And what made you think that?" IB asked.

"The Corporate Takeover was led by Earth natives, but we know they were supported by offworlders, and... ugh!" The man yelled as a fireball flew into him. He turned to find a grinning Blaze.

"Too much talk, not enough watching your back. I know you're not hurt, but now you're trapped," Blaze smiled as IB encased the man in a light bubble. As he did, the dome around them shimmered and faded.

"Now you're going to talk," IB smiled as the man glared at them.

"I don't think so," he smiled. Out of nowhere, a young girl phased through the bubble and touched the man. The two quickly phased out and dropped to the ground below.

"I don't believe this. How many metahumans are there on Earth now?" IB fumed as they gave chjase. Try as they might though, the couldn't find anything.

"Um... Can we still have that picnic?" Blaze asked.

The Valley of the Kings, Egypt
Earth

IB and Blaze stared in wonder at the centuries-old tombs in front of them. They gleaned in the crisp desert air, standing tall despite their age.

"Now THIS is one location we are definitely going to come back to, when all this crap is over!" Blaze said. "Take a picture of me while things are quiert, hon!"

IB chuckled as Blaze posed. Then IB placed the camera on a platform of light so he could take a picture of the two of them together. "Mmm, I like how we look. You should totally add this to your profile!"

"Maybe later hon, I think I've found why this was marked as a hotspot!"

Blaze pulled IB to the side as gusts of wind sprayed hot desert sand on the walls behind them. A frightened camel reared on its hind legs; the little girl tourist on its hump screamed in terror as she flew through the air. IB quickly caught her and set her down while Blaze calmed down the animal.

IB quickly handed the girl back to her grateful mother. "Please, get out of here now," he addressed the crowd. "This could get worse!"

"It already has," blaze said grimly as the sand in front of them solidified into vaguely humanoid shapes over 10 feet tall.

"Okay, so we're up against a sand-manipulator, and not a wind one," IB muttered. "Good, at least we don't have to worry about asphyxiation. Blaze, let's see how good our opponent's control is."

Fireballs and laser beams flew at the sand creatures, spraying grains of sand everywhere. "They're reforming... slowly, but still too quickly for us to beat them this way," IB said. "You wanna find the opponent while I stall them?"

Before Blaze could answer, a wave of sand washed over them. IB quickly created a shield.

"Man, this guy or gal is really pouring it on..." Blaze coughed. "Ugh, wallowed some."

"Me too, baby. Look, I think I can get at it in my light form but the sand particles will slow me down. Do you think you can decoy?"

"I'll do my best, but you owe me."

"Will this do?" IB kissed Blaze passionately. Blaze smiled back. "Fine, you know I can't resist you." IB dropped the shield as Blaze surrounded his body with flame.

Blaze battered the sand back as IB flew up. Scanning the area quickly, he found a young man on a hill pverlooking the valley. IB sped towards him, hands outstretched...

... until he punched through sand. "What? A decoy?" IB asked. "Blaze, I think he fooled us."

"Are you sure? Because the attack's stopped here."

IB stared open-mouthed. The wind and the sand had stopped and everything seemed to be back to normal, except for the panicked tourists.

"I think they're playing us, baby."

Ventspils, Latvia
Earth

"One of the busiest ports in all of Europe, they say," IB read from his Omnicom. "But what really makes it stand out are the cow statues scattered around the city, holdovers from the 2002 Cow Parade. Some retouched, of course, but still remarkably well-preserved."

"They'd have to be, to do that much damage!" Blaze remarked as he stood in front of a galloping cow statue that, just minutes ago, had been rooted to the ground. It seconds its legs had melted to slag, leaving it still once more.

"Nice job, baby," IB smiled as he laid a hand on Blaze's shoulder. "Minimal damage only. Now we just have to find the other nine - or whomever brought these status to life."

"I don't suppose you could do one of your triangulation tricks?" Blaze asked. "I don't want to race a clock here."

"No, these statues are mobile," IB replied as two more cows ran towards them. "But I can access news reports to figure out which statues are still dormant."

Blaze shrugged as he melted the legs one after the other. "Least we only have seven more to worry about..."

"Two," IB replied. "Five are apparently still statues, if these reports are up to date. They're being activated in an east-west pattern. I know where to intercept the next one, and I bet I'm faster than whoever's doing this. You want to play matador while I hopefully catch the crook?"

Blaze kissed IB's cheek in response and flew off.

In a flash, IB arrived at the sixth statue. Someone was kneeling beside it, his hands glowing. The statue roared to life and charged at him. IB calmly severed its leg below the knee, causing the statue to tumble.

"You're nowhere near as powerful as my friend Kinetix," IB said as he blinded the young man, who fell to his knees with a groan. "I know how to handle you. Blaze, zero in on my location ASAP!"

IB pulled the man to his feet. "You think driving foreigners away from your country's busiest port will help? Latvia relies heavily on trade, and has since before the Middle Ages! Who's been feeding you these ideas?"

The young blonde stared at him angrily. "Latvia has long been oppressed by more powerful neighbors! The three Baltic States have to stand together against Russia. We can impose our demands on them if we unite. They control only a tiny portion of the Baltic Sea."

"Okay, someone has got you thinking alright. But where are your allies? And don't think you can get away from me - all your teleporters so far have done their work through portals. I'm on you like a glove. Blaze, you done yet?"

"Going as fast as I can," Blaze replied. IB saw his halo of flame light up the sky.

"Good. Hey kid, looks like your allies have abandoned you. Maybe they realize you're not getting away. You'll have to talk eventually," IB smiled. "Make it easier on all of us. If you tell us your concerns we can find a constructive way of dealing with this."

"We know all about you, and we're learning more every day," the youth smiled back. "And we think you're all talk!"

IB gasped as his captive's form began to fade into vapor, beginning from his legs. He quickly erected an airtight bubble around them. "Okay, so I was wrong about your allies. Still not getting away."

"Try us," came a distinctly female voice. "I don't think your lungs will like it."

IB's hands went to his throat as oxygen left him. His ears filled with the ringing sound of feminine laughter...

... which were quickly replaced by Blaze's worried pleas.

"I'm awake," IB said weakly as Blaze helped him up. "Our opponents are very well-coordinated. They seem to be watching each site, and can quickly send the right backup. Damn, should have anticipated something like that. Transuit didn't activate quickly enough, or maybe she was already on me."

"It's okay, baby. Just glad you're safe," Blaze smiled as he clasped IB to him. "They didn't want to kill you, for some reason."

"No, and they didn't fight back too hard in Egypt, either. They hit and run. But why, and why don't they stop us once and for all?"

Blaze shrugged. "We'll figure it out. Maybe we should take some time to think. I know you'll want to analyze everything you can about that cute blonde who got away, especially after you wanted to be on him like a glove."

IB glared at Blaze's stuck-out tongue. "Blondes are YOUR type," he muttered as they took off.

Skeleton Coast National Park, Namibia
Earth

An orange and brown expanse stretched out as far as the eye could see. Rock and sand dotted a landscape that was almost unbroken with any sign of life.

"What an appropriate name," Blaze whispered as they descended from the sky.

"Wait until you see the ship carcasses. They're all over the place. Blame it on the dense fog that rolls in. Really creepy and isolated."

"Aw, I thought we'd get to see the cute sea lions instead."

"That's on the list... after we go over what we do know." IB sat down on a large rock that went up to his waist. He leaned back and sighed, enjoying the warmth of the setting sun.

"Well, besides our recap last time, we know these people are everywhere and they can somehow anticipate us. Or at least they can easily get information to one another. Telepath? X-Ray Vision?"

"Micro-cameras hidden in their clothing? We can scratch invisible spies, already checked. I should test for other visual wavelengths then. If it's vision powers, I can block their sight."

"Too many possibilities," Blaze muttered as he gently kicked the mast of what had once been a fishing schooner. "That's because there are so many of them."

"Earth always has been the breeding ground for super powers," IB added, stroking his chin. "We'd suspected the majority of those with powers had been trapped because of the Corporate Takeover. But when the LMB was headquartered here, most metahumans were very weak. Most of those with any measurable power levels joined the LMB. What could have triggered their emergence? Or did they simply hide undetected all this time?"

"Or maybe most of them were in government service, like you were?" Blaze ventured.

IB snapped his fingers. "You're a genius! Of course! I knew there were others, maybe Earthgov was keeping close tabs on all those they knew about. The collapse of the Corporate-led Earthgov left all these guys disenfranchised."

"And someone moved in and took advantage of them."

"Great, then maybe we can use that when fighting them. Sow some seeds of discord."

"Why don't you split into seven IBs again? Trap these punks?"

"Still reeling from the Dark Oval War. Until there's an absolute emergency, I don't want to risk it. Powers might go haywire."

"Then we'll just have to prepare," Blaze said as he sat down beside IB and hugged him. a devilish smile spread on his face as he began to tickle IB.

"AH-HAHAHA NO YOU DON'T!" IB laughed as he strained to extricate himself from Blaze's grip. He squeezed his palms together and thrust his elbows out, knocking Blaze's hands away. In a fluid motion, he had Blaze trapped under him, arms at his sides.

"Val Armorr taught you that?" Blaze laughed as he thrashed from side to side in anticipation of IB's revenge. "Go easy on me!"

"As if. I... Hey, wait!" IB zipped off in a flash. He returned moments later.

"Baby? What happened?" Blaze asked. IB shook his head. "I thought I saw someone. But my search turned up nothing."

"Could it be our opponents?" Blaze asked, worried. "I'm sorry, maybe my tickling caused your invisible cloak to fall."

"Maybe, but how'd they find us? We've checked ourselves time and again, no nanomachines, no plants..."

"Maybe we're just being jittery," Blaze said as he took IB's hand.

"Maybe... but we'd better get to the bottom of this fast. We didn't regain Earth just to watch it tear itself apart."

Blarney Castle, Ireland
Earth

"Did I ever tell you that you were full of Blarney?" IB asked. They were perched atop a tall castle surrounded by the rolling green hills of Ireland. "Ooh, I think there really are 40 shades of green here..."

"That's supposed to be a compliment, right?" Blaze asked. "And I can't tell how many shades of green there are. They're just pretty."

"I can, using my light powers. 48 shades. The ancient Irish were right."

"And since green's your favorite color, you just chose to test that theory. So, why are we here again? People are acting weird how?"

"Avoiding the castle. For some reason, nobody could physically bear to set foot in here. They just can't seem to place a foot in the castle. So how are they being kept out, and why?"

"Someone doesn't want them kissing the Blarney stone and getting the gift of gab?"

"This IS one of the most touristy spots in Ireland. One way of keeping it isolated." IB gestured for Blaze to enter the castle ahead of him.

"My, what a gentleman," drawled a masculine voice with a very think Irish accent. "Perhaps you would let ME in first, hmmm?"

Blaze and IB both stopped in mid-step as a young redhead clad all in green walked through, smirking. "Now maybe you'd be good boys and kneel down, and don't use your powers and don't attack me."

IB and Blaze complied, stunned. "So you have some sort of mind-control powers, then?" Blaze asked.

"I am full of Blarney, and all I have to do is say the word and you'll do it. Oh, won't the League be so envious of me capturing you two traitorous "heroes"," he smirked. "Now to call it in."

"Who, your friendly teleporter? And what the hell is this League you're talking about? The League of Nations hasn't existed since World War II."

"We have a new League now. Working together behind the scenes to save the Earth from itself."

"Is that why you're pushing people apart?" Blaze asked. "Don't you know that the Earth reached its peak because of the free flow of people and ideas?"

"It won't work that way anymore," their assailant said as he checked his reflection in a suit of armor beside the wall. "Not after the Corporations ravaged Earth and large numbers of people fled. No, Earth's nations have to be strong individually first. But no worries, you'll learn all about it after we bring you into our hideout. Once we're there I'll tell you to sit still and behave completely, but for now you can follow me to the roof where we'll wait for our transport."

"I don't think so," IB smirked. He placed something in his ears, then faded from sight.

"What? Get visible NOW!" The redhead was visibly panicked.

"If you think that's scary, watch this," Blaze smiled as he burst into flame. "Earplugs. Very useful tech."

"Fuck off!" The redhead yelled as he ran down the stairs.

"Ah ah, you'll have to say please this time," IB laughed as he grabbed the man. "Now, call it in or else Blaze will make things very hot in here."

"You wouldn't dare," spat the man. "Or maybe you would. Show everyone what fake heroes you are."

"We became heroes because we do the right thing," Blaze smiled as he increased his flame. "And right now the right thing means getting you to do as we say, so we can get to the bottom of this."

"No, the right thing means standing down and letting us do our work!" A man jumped out of the wall and grabbed the redhead they were hanging onto. Both of them phased through IB's fingers and into the ground.

IB and Blaze looked at each other, and IB shrugged. "Well, neither of us really could have stopped a phaser."

The plot thickens! Fab stuff IB, sounds like your league of villains are rather nietchien in their " what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" approachgoverning, and there are quite a few of them we've encountred so far so will you and Blaze need to call in the reserves? Really enjoying this so please don't make us wait for long for more, more, more

Timbuktu, Mali
Earth

"Good thing they rebuilt the shrines after their destruction in the early 21st century," Blaze said as they walked through the looming mosques and sand streets of Timbuktu. "Amazing that they didn't clean up all this sand, either."

"Thank the Great Leap of Africa. Tourism and cultural preservation became part of the aim. Mali, like Ethiopia and Egypt, has some of the grandest and most ancient sites in the continent, so it was an easy choice to keep Timbuktu as authentic as possible."

"These mosques look so fragile, I'm afraid to touch any part of them. If I didn't know better, I'd say there were a child's clay creations."

"Someone doesn't mind risking the destruction of these buildings in order to scare people away, though," IB said as he gestured towards cracks in the city walls. "Tourists have been complaining of loud vibrations..."

"Much like what seem to be rocking the ground?!" Blaze asked. "Even though we're wearing our earplugs, I can FEEL the vibrations!"

"Already on it," IB rose up to the sky. "Let's go." The two turned into rays of light and streaked towards the city walls, where a woman stood, hands outstretched.

Blaze and IB quickly swooped down and pinned her hands to her sides. They didn't stop though; they kept flying out into the Sahara.

"Tell me why you would be willing to damage the very ancient wonders that put your city on the map in order to drive people away?" IB growled.

"These structures can be restored once you foreigners are gone!" the woman gasped. "But we need to isolate ourselves to survive!"

"Don't you know that Timbuktu survived as long as it did because it was a trading town?" Blaze asked. "Who the hell is teaching you people like this?"

"We see the evidence with our own eyes! The Corporations took over Earth with offworlder help. And those who fled Earth never even bothered to return until now. Traitors!"

"That word again. We're going to have a little talk - huh?"

The woman's body vibrated and vanished, sending out a shockwave that caused Blaze and IB to tumble to the ground. Clutching their heads, they gaped at each other. "So she can turn to sound, just like you can turn to light. Great," Blaze said.

"Damn. This is so embarrassing. If we don't get our act together soon, Lardy's gonna make us attend his Legion Academy."

The Demilitarized Zone Memorial, Unified Korea
Earth

As they swooped down on the park memorializing what had once been the border between the North and the South of Korea,IB realized that he had never seen Blaze so giddy before. "When we're done here, please let's go to Nami Island! Maybe we'll catch a shooting, I want to get an autograph of that hunky Korean actor. Oh, and let's go to Love Land - they say there's at least one sculpture of every sex position imaginable. And after that we'll go skiing, and sign up for a tae kwon do class, and..."

IB giggled as he placed a finger to Blaze's lip. "We'll go to all those places, I promise. It's just amazing how excited you are."

"I've always been fascinated with Korea. Their ancient civilization, their communal culture yet the fact that they're so gosh darned vain, and it doesn't hurt that some of their men have such wonderfully handsome features. And their history! Imagine, they were one of the most successful examples of a reunified nation the 21st century had ever seen. The South Koreans, with the assistance of two heroes and several allies, managed to take the North with minimal bloodshed!"

"Yes, the two mysterious heroes who appeared and vanished so suddenly. They exacted retribution on the ruling family and on the generals by giving them a taste of the suffering of their people, or so the story goes..."

"And they helped the South Koreans bring together allies from all over the world! The USA, ASEAN, Japan, Australia..."

"Quite a story. I'm sure the park preserves it quite well, even though they've filled up a lot of previously empty spaces. They did keep large portions of the Joint Security Area."

"IB, I'm pretty sure that barbed wire isn't supposed to be here, though..."

Blaze headed down to where a young Korean man was gesturing towards pieces of barbed wire that were chasing frightened tourists away. He quickly melted through the wires. "Don't tell me you're trying to revive that crazy old country North Korea?!"

The man looked sick. "Why would I want to divide our country? I just want to -"

"We know, we know," IB cut in. "Keep it safe from foreigners." He spared a glance at Blaze, who was eyeing their opponent's face appreciatively. He quickly stepped between them. "You seem fairly sensible. Let's talk, why don't we?"

"If you surrender, maybe we can."

"I don't think you're the one in a position to be making demands. What say we just talk here?"

"And maybe call some of your friends to join us," Blaze added. "We'd rather not go to them just yet."

"I wish I could trust you, but I've heard you can be very crafty," the man said as he gestured towards some tanks on displayed. They flew through the air towards IB and Blaze, like paperclips would if thrown by a child.

"IB, I'd rather not melt these relics," Blaze said.

"Agreed, baby," IB said as he gently caught them in hard light pincers. "Look, no violence here. Let's talk already."

The young man looked troubled for a moment, as if he desperately wanted to trust them. His hands trembled... then he threw them down. "No. You will come to us when you are ready. But for now, I cannot trust you." With a gesture, pieces of wire burst from above, raining towards screaming tourists.

"Blaze! We have to... aarhhhh!" IB yelled as something hit his head. He went down in a heap.

"Baby!" Blaze knelt down and felt a pulse. He quickly turned his fire powers full blast, burning bits of sharp wire before they could harm anyone. After what seemed like hours, he looked around and breathed in relief. Nobody was down. He had melted all the wire.

He gently shook IB, who groaned. "How long was I out?"

"Not more than 15 minutes. Enough time for that guy to get away."

IB groaned again. "Great. Blindsided by a metal pellet or something. Cobie'd be disappointed; he's taught me how to deal with magnetokinetics."

"Eh, you tried to reason with him. And he did seem to want to listen. I suspect he's worried about what the others would think. Too bad; he was really cute. Had such nice dimples. And I'm sure he was checking us both out."

IB sat up. "You can't seriously be wanting us to play with that guy, after he clocked me in the head."

Blaze shrugged. "I'm sure you can convince him to make it up to you."

Thank you for your very kind words, Mrs. B! It's fairly easy to think of new characters since I don't plan to heavily develop all of them. Really glad you're liking it