Legion World Forums LEGION OUTPOST Bits o' Legionnaire Business Re: Legion Worlds Six - updated 20 Oct 20

This story begins three weeks after the events in Legion Worlds 5.

Here's a little bit of the back story to fill you in before proceeding:

Previously, the Legion had left Earth and based themselves on a planetoid they had taken from the Dark Circle, orbiting Saturn. This base was called Legion World.

The team captured a Tyrrazian battle planet and called it Legion World Two (LW2), moved onto this planetoid as their main base and had the academy set up on the planetoid they had previous captured from the Dark Circle.

When we left the team at the end of the last fic Phantom Girl had just started her second term as leader, seven Academy students had joined the teams ranks, and the Legion had announced that they were leaving Sol Space on the battle planet they had captured and called LW2. When the Legion took control of this battle planet they learned that there are twelve other Tyrrazian mobile planetoids within the Milky Way. The Senior Team expanded the teams remit to capture more of the rogue battle planets thereby stopping the Tyrrazians from invading other worlds and also to increase the number of mobile bases they have available.

This was several weeks ago.

As we join them, the team have captured one more mobile planetoid. They have also changed the names of these bases.

The Legion Academy is based on the planetoid that was taken from the Dark Circle (in the first Legion Worlds fic). It is positioned in Sol Space and currently runs three month long semesters for all meta staff from the UP armed forces and Science Police alongside a cohort of students wishing to be fast tracked to full Legion membership. They have been joined by several tutors from the Science Police with meta capabilities.

They have renamed the Academy's planetoid as HOME BASE.

Former Legionnaires who are Academy staff based on Legion World Home Base in Sol space:

Triplicate Girl - Luornu Durgo of Carggg, able to split into three identical duplicates (part of Duplicate Girl)
Cosmic Boy – Rokk Krinn of Braal, manipulation of magnetic fields
Night Girl - Lydda Jath of Kathoon, incredible strength and durability out of direct sunlight
Colossal Boy - Gim Allon of Earth, increase personal size and mass at will
Wildfire - Drake Burroughs of Earth, composed of sapient anti-energy, extreme strength, speed, durability, space flight, anti-energy blasts
Invisible Kid - Jacques Foccart of Earth, invisibility
Chameleon Girl - Yera Allon of Durla, shape changer

Science Police training staff:

Jumping Jack - Science Police Senior Training Officer Jaxi Delgrado-Hynd of Morshesh 5, hyper awareness, reflexes and agility
Ms Big - Science Police Officer Erikka Chowdrey of Venus, increase her own muscle mass at will
'Brain Girl' - Science Police Officer Ella Drottmi of Titan, telepathy and telekinesis
Dream Boy - Pre-Commando Sergeant Rol Purtha of Naltor, precognition
'Tues El' - Science Police Officer Vae Loct of Daxam, incredible strength, speed, stamina, senses, laser vision, space flight, invulnerability.

Support Staff on LWHB:

I.Z.O.R. - Gear ii – infrastructure manager - nannite collective being, technomorph
Henry – Anti Lad – Spatial warp controller
'Numbers Guy' - M’Rissey of Earth, super efficient business management skills
Dr Boom - senior physician and United Planets envoy - Danii Schwartz-Geltt of Myar, physician and alchemist

Phantom Girl and her junior deputy leader Thunder have taken half of the team out into the United Planets in the first Tyrrrazian battle planet. This is now called FIRST BASE.

Their remit is to actively defend the United Planets populace so this part of the team stay very much within the UP's sphere of influence and generally are on high profile missions. As the team suffered badly as a result of the negative media manipulation by Psyche from the Dark Circle ruled alternate reality they are now inviting journalists to report on some of the missions from this base.

Legion World First Base (previously LW2):

Phantom Girl – Team leader, Tinya Wazzo of Bgtzl Dimension, intangibility
Thunder - Deputy leader, Cecelia Becks of 21st Century Earth, immense strength, speed, indestructibility, space flight, wisdom
Sun Boy – Senior Team member, Dirk Morgna of Earth, generation of intense light and heat
Duplicate Girl - Senior Team member, Luornu Durgo of Carggg, creation of multiple identical duplicates of herself
Lightning Lass - Senior Team member, Ayla Ranzz of Winath, electrical generation and manipulation
Tellus - Ganglios of Hykraius, telepathy and telekinesis
XS - Jenni Ognats of an alternate dimension Aarok, phenomenal speed
Kid Quantum - Jazmin Cullen of Xanthu, creation of temporal quantum bubbles, flight
Comet Queen - Grava of Extal colony, spaceflight, comet gas extrusion
Ferro - Douglas Nolan of Earth, can assume invulnerable iron isotope form
Dragonmage - Xao Jin of Earth, manipulation of magical energies using dragon forms
Kinetix - Zoe Saugin of Aleph, telekinetic animation
Backlash - Mrruaw M’Nau of Simballi, enhanced strength, speed, senses, absorbs kinetic energy to boost own size and mass
Andromeda - Kara Zor-El of Krypton, her identity is kept hidden from the greater galaxy, incredible strength, speed, stamina, senses, laser vision, space flight, invulnerability.
Comet King - Drinchnar Lamment of Extal colony, spaceflight, comet gas extrusion
Atom Girl - Sylva Nrilsan of Imsk, can shrink herself to microscopic size


Newly promoted from Academy student to full membership (Mentor in brackets):

Ultra Girl - Li-Fahn Qiong of Xanthu - incredible strength, speed, indestructibility, spaceflight, and projection of force blasts, effectively limited to one at a time (Thunder)
Polar Girl - Mel Lassar of Tharr - cryokinesis (Lightning Lass)
Friction - Jadee Whittakka of Xanthu - manipulation of friction (Sun Boy)


Science Police meta-squad seconded to Legion World First Base:

'Captain Heavyweight' - Captain Tuk Shir of the Science Police from Daxam, Senior Team liaison, incredible strength, speed, stamina, senses, laser vision, space flight, invulnerability
Replicator - Science Police Officer Tarev Jusool of Talok viii, can mimic meta-abilities of those nearby for limited periods of time
Gravity Kid - Science Police Officer Tel Vole of Earth, manipulation of personal or nearby gravity
Power Boy - Science Police Officer Jedidiah Rikane of Earth, personal density control

Other seconded members currently based on Legion World First Base:

Gazelle - J’izl Dtutuu from the Khundian Battle Brigade, of Khundia Prime, enhanced strength, speed, agility and metabolic control
Cosmic Kid - Po Miman, Justice Legionnaire of alternate dimension Mars, energy manipulation and flight

Support Staff on Legion World First Base:

Brainiac 5 – Senior Team member, Legion Worlds Operational Manager and chief scientist - Professor Querl Dox of Colu, 12th level intelligence
Dr Richard Kent Shakespeare -Impulse – Chief medical officer - enhanced strength, speed, durability, stamina
I.Z.O.R. - Gear iii – infrastructure manager - nannite collective being, technomorph
Danielle Foccart –Kid Computo – Technical support - technopathic communication and control over advanced technology
Drura Sehpt - Infectious Lass – medical officer - containment and control over bacteria and viruses
Henry – Anti Lad – Spatial warp controller
Ming Sul - Amp Girl - investigative officer, hyper-enhancement of her own sensory capacities
Silver Shaman - Shardwurd Gandussen of the Ten Peaks from Avalon - biokinetic healing
Science Police Psychiatrist - Doctor Anje Falkner, alpha-level telepath

Tyroc has taken the remaining team members with him onto the latest battle planet captured from the Tyrrazians. This is called SECOND BASE. Their remit is a bit looser than the team on First Base in that they do not necessarily have such high profile missions and they are not fixed within the United Planets.

They do not invite journalists onto their missions.

Legion World Second Base team:

Tyroc – Deputy leader - Troy Stewart of Marzal city pocket dimension, sonic control
Duplicate Girl - Senior Team member, Luornu Durgo of Carggg, creation of multiple identical duplicates of herself
Mon El – Senior Team member, Lar Gand of Daxam, incredible strength, speed, stamina, senses, laser vision, space flight, invulnerability
Dawnstar of Starhaven - Senior Team member, space flight, incredible speed, tracking
Dragonwing - Marya Pai of Earth, breathes dragon fire and acid
Chemical Kid - Hadru Jamik of Phlon, catalyzes chemical reactions
Glorith of Zerox, manipulation of magical energies
Monica Sade of Rimbor, strength, reflexes, line of sight teleportation
Lexikon - Princess Daheenisha of Tamaran iv, enhanced speed, strength, durability, flight, omni-linguist
Otaki - Bina Nawoti of Earth, mindsense
The Spear of Artemis - Amynta of Nostos ii, incredible strength, speed, invulnerability, space flight, carries magical weapons
Karate Kid – Mithindrivithis Ngandraffa of Lythyl, strength, reflexes, mimetic motor learning giving incredible combat skills
Thirteen – Dann Hortra of Naltor, line of sight probability manipulation
Babbage- I-45ENG/Nth Series, of the Robotica Confederated Worlds, strength and durability, internalised weapons, hyper awareness and analytical skills.
Sister Eclipse - of Rhoohanisett iii, durability, heightened senses, physical possession of any living being.
Starkling – telepathic swarm-being composed of indestructible ball bearing sized components
Retro - Deen Toro of Ventura, limited reversal of personal timeline

Newly promoted from Academy student to full membership (Mentor in brackets):

Bouncing Boy ii - Stoor Chamble of Pasnic, creation of personal spherical force field (Tyroc)
Southern Lights of Starhaven - spaceflight, magic user (Mon El)
Atomsmasher - Ergus Wraithcat of Betelgeuse, spaceflight, invulnerability, hyper senses, telepathy, radiation manipulation (Dawnstar)
Kid Pulsar - Neel Koduah of Earth, incredible strength, invulnerability, projection of explosive blasts (Duplicate Girl)

Science Police meta-squad seconded to Legion World Second Base:

Captain Phantom - Senior Team liaison, Science Police Captain Gryal Vrizza of Bgztl Dimension, intangibility
Power Lass - Science Police Officer Nel Duwi of Daxam, incredible strength, speed, stamina, senses, laser vision, space flight, invulnerability
Magno - Science Police Officer Dyrk Magz of Braal, manipulation of magnetic fields
Changer - Science Police Investigative Officer Urill Yagthal of Durla, shape changer

Other seconded members currently based on Legion World Second Base:

Green Lantern - Dkyun Mu of Xudar, wearer of a Green Lantern power ring

Support Staff on LWSB:

I.Z.O.R. - Gear iii – infrastructure manager - nannite collective being, technomorph
Henry – Anti Lad – Spatial warp controller
Hethuk Bran Drommsi - Smith from the Green Rift Forge of Talok viii, weapon maker and engineer
Dr Shoodixi Singh - Science police medical officer, bio-empathic

Also, in an unknown location and assumed to be with the Wanderers:

Timber Wolf - Brin Londo of Zuun, enhanced strength, speed, agility, reflexes and senses
Shield - Laurel Kent of Earth, physical invulnerability, tactile psychometry
M’Windaji - Gahaji of Kiringyaga, super tracker, carries the Ruby of Life allowing tactile transformative magic


Officially missing (Espionage Squad mission):

Chameleon Boy – Espionage Squad leader, Reep Daggle of Durla, shape changer
Spy (Former team counsellor) - Dr Noah Kabbo - Heightened awareness and limited telepathy
Prescience (Former Academy student) - Gord Eno of Naltor - precognition, specialising in short range visions for combat situations


Other teams affiliated to the Legion at this time:

Weber’s World ambassadorial team:

Quislet, . of Teall dimension, able to animate inorganic matter though this then causes the matter's destruction
Gear i, Chief Maitre D', nannite collective being, technomorph
Oodoo Shanair of Lallor, empath
Sentinel of the Khund Battle Brigade, strength, durability, manipulation of magnetic fields
Princess Shooradel of Tamaran iv, enhanced speed, strength, durability, flight, omni-linguist
Proty iii, shape changer, telepath

The League of Super Heroes (Former Academy Students):

Kid Dynamo - Ja Vlo of Dryad - incredible strength and invulnerability
Ballistix - Crishtrakrek 714 of Zuun - synthezoid with great strength, speed, durability, stamina and spaceflight
Magno Lass - Josi Rista of Braal - Magnokinesis
Kid Nimbus - Kendall Mekensy-Wolff the Fifth of Dryad - assume gaseous form
Flipside - Drannananna Otticolli of Grathvarth V - fast, agile, manipulate personal gravity orientation
Slingshot - Prince Alfon Gundrix Maunheesta of the Grindlaw Colonies of System Mondarsh - hyper-charge kinetic potential of objects by touch


Legionnaire on secondment to the Khund Battle Brigade:

Gates, Ti’Julk Mr’Asz of an alternate dimension Vyrga, creation of spatial warps

Academy Student currently within the Khundian Empire:

Inferno, Sandy Anderson of Earth, fire generation and manipulation

On long term leave:

Star Boy (Parental leave), Thomas Kallor of Xanthu, induce mass
Dream Girl (Parental leave), Nura Nal of Naltor, precognition
Matter-Eater Lad (Medical leave), Senator Tenzil Kem of Bismoll, mega-omnivorous consumption
Shadow Lass (Personal leave), Tasmia Mallor of Talok viii, summons and manipulates the Darkfield, access to ancestral knowledge
Polar Boy (Personal leave), Brek Banin of Tharr, cold control
Element Lad (Medical leave), Jan Arrah of Trom, elemental transmutation
Harmonia (Personal leave), Professor Harmonia Li of Earth, manipulation of the natural environment
Titan (Medical leave), Nasir N’Cube of Titan, alpha-level telepathy
Loutrahim Mango (Personal leave), ‘Death Boy’ - Professor Li’s laboratory assistant, exemplary bio-chemist, sweat activated neuro-toxic palm secretions

Three weeks later.


...Breaking news! Cliver Orabuto is in our Earth Studio with Breaking News!...

"A group of Legionnaires have just saved the city of Strellusoriaville on Ventura as the Golden Gorge Dam cracked after an unexpected earthquake led to panic on the streets of a potential flood that could have swept the city away. For more on this story we’re live with Zynthia Moreloveine... Zynthia?”

“Cliver... hi. Yes, I’m here in Strellusoriaville on the northernmost continent of Ventura where Phantom Girl just led a team of Legionnaires and a dozen or so of the students from their Academy to save the population after an unexpected tectonic slip shook this city to its highest towers. The Golden Gorge Dam, a local tourist attraction that holds back the fierce Wuhabii River and generates the power for the entire city state, was seriously cracked leading to mass panic and calls for evacuation. We witnessed the team of Legionnaires help evacuate the area nearest to the damaged dam while it appeared that the new girl from Xanthu they call Friction held the dam together while everyone's favourite red head, Sun Boy, used his plasma blasts to fuse the damaged holding walls into place. I have to say it was all very impressive! Cliver., it seems that when Phantom Girl took back her leadership three weeks ago and accepted the meta- Science Police squad into the Legion she really was the new broom the team needed. She did promise that her team would get back to their roots of helping ordinary people in need and we're happy to see she wasn’t kidding.”

“Indeed Zynthia, this is the ninth time this month that we’ve seen the super team in action saving civilians. And according to the feed coming out of Ventura High Commission it seems Tinya Wazzo has offered the Venturan's her Legions help to rebuild any homes that were damaged by the quake.”

“Yes Cliver, that is the breaking news here on Ventura. It’s believed that Sun Boy and XS have...”


CLICK!


The laboratory lights came on as the holo switched off.

First Base, somewhere out beyond the Proxima Prime Oort Cloud.

“The charm offensive is working, isn’t it?” Mon El smiled as he spoke to Brainiac 5.

“Of course. There was never any doubt that they wouldn't fully support us again. Tinya announcing we were going to fight for the common being helped too... I’m glad she listened to my advice on that.” The Coluan genius replied.

"How's Reep doing? I haven't heard anything since the renegade arm dealer's cache exploded two weeks ago on Rimbor. Have there been any more developments?" Mon El said, changing the subject before his Coluan comrade could talk about all the good advice he'd given over the years.

"Of course not. His squad are officially no longer Legionnaires so by necessity keep contact to a minimum. Reep is an accomplished espionage agent so we can assume that they are perfectly within operating parameters."

“How about Brin and Gahaji, any news? Do you know if they met up with Laurel and the rest of the Wanderers?”

Brainiac 5 turned to Mon El and lowered an eyebrow and grimaced in a dismissive gesture as if to ask “why should I care?” before returning to the hard light screen before him.

"Okay..." the Daxamite said, "I guess we'll hear from them when we hear from them."

As he spoke Mon El took the opportunity to leave the room. The Daxamite knew that he needed to get out into space, go back to the planetoid where he was currently based and look for a mission. Lar Gand felt he needed to see something beyond the limits of the planetoid they now called First Base before he became too restless. Perhaps he should drop by Tasmia Mallor on the way back to Legion World Three... or Second Base as they now called it. It would only involve a slight detour of a hundred light years or so.

Well, the Daxamite Legionnaire thought to himself, he wasn't due back to Second Base for another eighteen hours so if he hurried he'd have plenty of time.

It was at that point when Duplicate Girl's holo appeared in front of him and asked if was leaving First Base, as, if he was, there was a mission he could lead starting soon from Second Base. For a second the Daxamite contemplated simply not replying, but ultimately he knew that Lu wouldn’t disturb him unless it was important. After his grudging affirmative to her request Luornu's holo broke into a relieved smile and waved him off before popping out of existence.

Second Base, In orbit around the rare Blue Dwarf star HRGR1010001898900003235, though often called Flannigan's Star.

Floor 31, Central Gymnasium


Chemical Kid watched as the Comets spun around a training exercise in the central gymnasium.

The AI generated task had them fly around something that looked somewhat like a 25 metre high metal totem pole with extendable arms and weaponry. Their task was to release a trapped prisoner at the top while achieving separate objectives at each section prior to release the force fields that separated each level.

Grava giggled as Drinchnar somersaulted over a suddenly extended spike covered arm. Comet King gave a wide lopsided grin and swooped in to kiss his queen lightly on the cheek before blasting past to release the switch to open up the next level on their task. With an explosion eruption of noxious gas the two Comets spun past a pair of grappling arms and reached the next level of their training challenge.

Hadru smiled as he watched the couple. He had just finished his final circuit of the weights plan and had a twenty minute break before combat training with Science Police Officer Tarev Jusool of Talok viii would begin. These training sessions were part of his recovery program. During the fight for the Tyrrazian battle world they now called Second Base Hadru had suffered badly at the hands of two of the red skinned raiders. He had become separated from the squad he had been assigned to after a brutal ambush had made the Legionnaires turn and run for their lives. Had Backlash not led Lightning Lass back to find him when he did it was certain Hadru would not have survived.

Chemical Kid was not the only Legionnaire that was injured that day but he was definitely the most hurt. It had taken two days of treatment by Dr Shakespeare and the healer Shardwurd Gandussen from Avalon that had just joined the medical team before the Phlonite was allowed out of the stasis tank...

And three weeks later he was still suffering for it. The physical injuries had mostly healed but Hardu's sparky confidence had been lost. He had become somewhat nervous of new surroundings and wary of strangers in a way he had never even considered before the Tyrrazians had brutally kicked him around. As part of his recovery process Tyroc had insisted he attend counseling three times a week and daily sessions in the gymnasium - hand to hand combat training had become Chemical Kid's favourite form of therapy. He had initially arranged combat training with Duplicate Girl as well as joining in with several Academy classes but so far he had most enjoyed - and felt he had gained the most from - having this training with SPO Jusool. The Talokean used his ability of meta-mimicry to copy and then neutralize Hadru's catalytic abilities. Initially Chemical Kid had been terrified but after a couple of sparring sessions he had come to realize this was exactly what he needed: The chance to hit back against someone without resorting to the trickery that his powers could bring to a confrontation. It was just himself and his wits and his fists against the opponent.

Chemical Kid smiled as he watched the Comets pirouette and dance in the air around their mechanical training opponent. All the while, behind this façade a small and primitive part of his mind screamed that he needed to run, cover himself, hide... Hadru planned on doing everything he could to achieve the very opposite, he planned on shutting down that voice once and for all.

Hadru Jamik would never allow himself to be anyone's punch bag again.

Captain Tuk Shir of the Daxam Science Police was tired.

Not physically tired, of course, not in a star system with a nice yellow sun to warm his Daxamite skin... not even as he raced around the Oort cloud of Sol in a personal challenge to test his super speed... no, the Science Police Captain was feeling worn down by the endless  performing that was involved in being the chief liaison officer between the Science Police meta-team on the Legion. He had quickly come to understand why Brainiac 5 had locked himself away in his laboratory whenever he wasn't out on a mission.

The Daxamite Captain continued his solitary flight around the edges of Sol space, enjoying the few free hours he had before the Senior team of First Base met to discuss their plans for the coming week. He knew that if he completed his circuit as planned he should have time to check his anti-lead stats before the meeting. He wasn't due another dose of the vile tasting serum his planets government had concocted to protect him from his planetary allergy to heavy metals for another 16 to 18 hours but he like to keep safe.

The Senior Team of the Legion, along with the majority of the rank and file members, had been pleasant enough since his squad from the Science Police Meta-Division had joined them on their planetoid base. Everyone knew that in the aftermath of Psyche's poisonous influence over the Science Police and Star Fleet that the organizations needed closer ties to stop something like that happening again. Most had been very friendly actually, though whether that was due to his wife's sunny disposition winning them over was something he didn't like to consider too deeply.

It seemed that in the weeks since he had joined the team as the Science police liaison officer everywhere he went there were crowds chanting his name and people of all races eager to touch him or speak to him or applaud him. On Daxam people were far more reserved so the attitude of over-familiarity that the UP Inner World's general population took was at best strange and at worst damned inconvenient and rude.

He always suspected the Legion was really a group of attention seeking glory hunters but after working alongside them for just the last three weeks he had come to realise that the majority of them felt exactly the same way as he did. If anything, their fame was a hindrance to their mission...

His wife, Dr Anje Falkner, the teams new counsellor, found it all to be utterly hilarious.

For some reason her humour, which he had always found to be a great comfort and pick-me-up in times of stress, somehow made it seem even worse. It was okay for Anje, he thought, she wasn't on missions with the team in the full glare of public curiosity and media scrutiny. Day in and day out she sat in her cavernous office on Legion World First Base and chatted to the team when they felt a little blue... he chided himself even as he had that thought, knowing full well that his wife's role was far more complex and essential than a mere morale officer... even so, how would she know what it was like to suddenly wake up to find a holo of you flying over Nu-Vegopolis in the Centauri cluster in a badly torn uniform - after a particularly horrid battle with a team of xeno-terrorists no less - and find it had inspired headlines about his lack of a defined six pack. "Captain Heavyweight to the rescue"! He wasn't fat, he just wasn't a skinny child like the majority of the team. He had the solid torso of a grown man who had spent his entire adult life working damn hard within his planetary police force with no more fat on it than a Suandarian Flea. And a lot more muscle than most on the team...

His wife had howled as she read the headline, her laughter echoing around their apartment.

It was not a laughing matter!

Captain Heavyweight indeed!

At least, he thought with a sigh, the Legion had a decent enough reporting structure and hierarchy to keep the various members in some sort of semi-organised cohesion that almost met with his standards of control. That was an unexpected surprise. If only the junior members followed it and stopped sniggering at him when they saw him in the corridors... did they not understand he had super hearing?

Duplicate Girl stood before her class, both hands on her hips and a slightly disdainful look on her face.

There were one hundred and fifty two beings from a multitude of planets and races before her each giving her their full attention.

"I'm sure I misheard that question, could you repeat it please?" She had a slight twist of a smile on the edges of her lips that had the asker of the question known her better would have recognized as a definite warning sign.

"Ma'am, thank you. My question was that as a officer of the Lallorian Science Police, why should we be subjected to these Legion propaganda history classes?"

Luornu Durgo-Taine smiled and nodded and for a second there was a flash of sympathy in her eyes for the young man that had asked the question.

"Indeed, I understand that you may full well wish to return to your home world, right? It incidentally has a decent meta-team that protects your home star system from threats. So, you're planned career choices may be to avoid meta activity despite your own prodigious mutant abilities. Perhaps that may be the case. And even so... since the Legion was initially formed we've known of hundreds of worlds, much like Lallor, that have had to deal with meta-incursions and planetary invasions. Sometimes it may be from an unknown source though often it is an identifiable threat. These sessions are to familiarize yourself and your fellow students with threats we have faced and to look at how they were defeated. These propaganda history lessons... as you call them... are to hopefully give you and your fellow students an opportunity to learn from our mistakes as much as from our victories. My genuine hope is you never find yourself in these situations, though if you do perhaps something you learn here today will help keep you alive in the future. We all have meta abilities in this room and often they might solve a problem but more often than not it'll be brains that'll save the day. This class today is to give you some information so you can hopefully make informed choices. I hope that answers your question Officer Nor."

There was silence in the amphitheater for several long seconds afterwards.

"Thank you, yes ma'am..." the young SPO from Lallor said finally before sitting back down.

The class went smoothly after that and almost three hours later Luornu dismissed the students fifteen minutes early of the arranged time. As they left the cavernous lecture hall she signaled for the young man from Lallor to remain behind.

"Is everything okay Officer Nor? You were sent here by your homeworld to train with us but if there's a problem with that we can easily send you back if you'd prefer?"

"I'm sorry ma'am. I... I just hate my mutation... being a meta is the worst." The young man looked down to the ground with an expression of deep self loathing.

"You have the ability to take on the properties of any matter you are in contact with. That's fairly special..."

"Lallor doesn't have a good history with shape changers ma'am." The young man gazed away from the academy's headmistress as he spoke, obviously uncomfortable with the conversation.

"Ah... Beast Boy... I met him only once though other legionnaires who met him more said very positive things about him. If I remember right he had quite a dry wit about him. Was he a relative of yours Rish'ha? "

"Oh... umm... yes, he was my uncle, my father's younger brother, but there's no need to stick up for him... I barely knew him."

"Listen, one thing you should have learned by now is that I'm not going to 'stick up' for anyone that doesn't deserve it. Whatever happened at the end of your uncle's life doesn't cancel out the incredible good he did during the rest of it. You need to think this through for yourself Rish'ha. If you don't want to be here we can send you back, and if you don't want to use your abilities - which would be a sad waste as they are pretty amazing by the way - then don't. But please, whatever you choose make sure it's because you really want it, not because of what happened to someone else or what you think other people want from you. Because whether they have their opinions through good intentions or ignorance you living your life to please them'll only keep them happy, not you. And in fact it probably won't even keep them happy, just smug... I'll be waiting to hear from you once your mind's made up. You'll have my full support, whichever way you decide."

Luornu watched the young man leave the training room and shook her head.

It broke her heart that so many of the meta population struggled to come to terms with their abilities due to cultural or familial ignorance. But whatever Science Police Officer Rish'ha Nor decided, Luornu Durgo-Taine would keep her eye on him. The young Science Police Officers potential was off the chart and it would be such a shame for his home world and the greater galaxy if he squandered it.

Xanthu, private event hosted by Elsgard, Rumpleto and Masons

Kinetix, Kid Quantum, Amp Girl and the Amazer called the Monstress had met up several hours earlier for a mission of the utmost importance.

The night before Candi had let her friends in the Legion know that Elsgard, Rumpleto and Masons - the design outlet for the stars themselves! - was having a one day exclusive hort-couture bonanza. As Candi's father had never cancelled her account with the store after supposedly disowning her when she joined the Amazers she was still on their mailing list so had an invite waiting to be picked up... if anyone wanted to join her.

The four women joyfully attended the gala.

Throughout the entire event Zoe, Ming and Candi swigged champagne while Jazmin reminded them at every chance she got that she was on rota from 1800 for a fifteen hour stint so couldn't have any alcohol beforehand just in case any missions came up. Her friends gave her the sympathy that she expected, which is to say none what so ever.

The show had been quite splendid but had finished earlier than they expected. After mingling with the guests and models for twenty minutes or so the four young women sat in a private booth as they finished off another free bottle of expensive fizz.

"So... Ming," Candi begun, "Tell us please, does that delightful Lallorian you slipped away with at the wedding..."

"Him? He dumped me already." Min Sul said flatly, "Left a holo saying his work commitments meant he wouldn't have free time for the foreseeable future... we know what that means.”

"What a creep!" Monstress said belligerently.

"Really? You call him back to check if everything's okay?" Jazmin asked. Her friends all turned to look at her as if she were mad. "Well... we work in a dangerous field, y'know? C'mon we know how hectic things can get..."

"On Lallor? Really sweetie? Stray cows on the roads maybe? The school run getting too busy?" Candi replied sweetly, batting her long green lashes.

"Hey, I'm only saying we need to look out for each other. They're real close to both the Dominator and Khund border..." Jazmin said, crossing her arms as she did to signal the end of the conversation.

"Yeah," Ming said, desperate to end the conversation, "I suppose he was sweet and all but if it isn't gonna be then best we end it now, eh? Just like Zoe and tracker boy..."

"Don't bring me into it, that was months ago." Kinetix frowned as she spoke, obviously distracted by this sudden line of conversation. Kinetix threw back two glasses of fizz in quick succession.

"Zoe, darlin', are you okay? We know how upsetting it was when you found out he'd ben unfaithful..." The large green skinned Amazer said softly.

"Gahaji wasn't unfaithful, he wasn't, okay?" She stood up and drunkenly pointed at Candi, "If you must know he was really sweet to me. His relationship to Cassanda was purely business, not about love... not like that anyway. He was just ashamed by his home planets silly misojjij... missoh... woman hating....nistic laws. You don't know what happened between us, none of you do..." Kinetix coughed then suddenly started to sob. Her three friends each made to comfort her

"I only went with him because that Ruby of his anyway... never really wanted him, not really, I just used him... and he was sweet to me and I was the user not him." Zoe wailed the last part as she started to cry in earnest.

Jazmin stepped back as Ming hugged the petite red head. It now made sense to Jazmin Cullen - she had known Zoe since they were in the academy together and she would never have paired her friend with Gahaji, it was an odd set up from the start. But his Ruby of Life.... well... Zoe had always been attracted to pretty jewelry and a magical gem would be right up her flight path. Their relationship finally made sense.

"But sweetie, if he was so nice why didn't he tell you he was married to start with?" Candi asked softly.

"I didn't care! I just wanted that magic ruby of his... I never really cared about him... not to start with. Not as much as he did for me." With that Zoe wiped the tears from her eyes and sat up straight, brushing off Candi and Ming's hands that were on her shoulders. She sniffed and wiped the back of her hand across her eyes to stop the tears. "But I grew to care... he was so sweet to me, really was and now I miss him!"

Zoe started to sob again though tried to pull herself together and gave a determined grin as she faced her friends.  

"I'm owe Gahaji the biggest apology. He prob'ly only went on that stupid mission with Brin 'cause we were so mean to him. I hope he gets back soon and forgives me." With that Zoe started to sob again, much to her friends embarrassment and confusion.

Harbi! this is on my reading list for tonight. so happy you’re writing again!

Oh Harbi, I adore the realism with which you write!

"Captain Heavyweight" is my new fave character! A nice jab at our modern society, where even top athletes have headlines written about their lack of defined six-packs. And yes, even the most confident of us (in such an image-conscious society!) would get annoyed. I can so relate to poor Captain Shir. He and his wife Dr. Falkner are a treat!

Poor Hadru. In the canon comics I thought he was an arrogant snot, but you have given him quite a bit of depth. I enjoy watching him grow under your writing.

Go Luornu, she is an amazing teacher. She handled Officer Nor's question well, and immediately guessed at the underlying problems behind it. Officer Nor is a nice touch too, a way to re-examine the legacy of Beast Boy and the cultural milieu on Lallor - and beyond. Even though the 31st century is way ahead of us in many ways, "humans" being human there are still many places where differences aren't treated kindly...

The new friend quartet of Zoe, Jazmin, Ming and Candi is inspired. Zoe and Candi both love fashion in canon, and you put your own spin into it and have made the four such a solid group. Nice to see Zoe grow up a bit and admit her selfish role AND show understanding of Gahaji's situation - even defending him to the others.

As always, more, more more; despite there not being much action you have totally whet my appetite. Your exploration of social themes and individual character personalities is amazing as always.

Great start to the next chapter. It makes so much sense that a group like the Legion would continue to expand and pass on their expertise to greater numbers, not stay static at 25 members.

Is Zynthia Thom Kallor's original blonde girlfriend?

I love how Mon-el is not overwhelmed by Brainiac 5 - he's got his number down and knows when to make an exit before Brainy starts on about all his accomplishments. You give a good sense of Lar's power/speed when he decides to take a quick detour "of a hundred light years".

Yeah, poor "Captain Heavyweight". Like being good-looking among the outstandingly beautiful. Interesting that he was relieved that their was some structure and hierarchy to the Legion - it would probably be less rigid than the Science Police. In the comic, in Shvaughn's time, it must have seemed very loosey-goosey, but that was never addressed.

Someone who hates his super-power! I hope we see more of Officer Nor and learn if he comes to terms with his ability.

And I wonder if Zoe was all that attracted to the magic ruby. She doth protest too much....

I was very excited to see new Legion Worlds stuff!

For someone who spent so long out of the Legion spotlight, I think Lu really is one of the better developed characters in the Legion mythos and you have used her here really well

Put me down as a fan of the Captain Heavyweight idea as well...the idea of a Superman stand-in who isn't a superhero archetype is gonna be interesting to see play out.

And I am ALWAYS a fan of more Candi....she is one of the characters I would love to be able to come up with an excuse to incorporate in my own fic as a regular character but the scenario hasn't really presented itself

We all liked Captain Heavyweight - post-holiday extra pounds sympathy?

Putting it that way, I can certainly see myself in him

I think y'all may be misunderstanding the meaning of the word "heavyweight".

Anthony Joshua, World Heavyweight Champion

Alejandra Jimenez, WBC Female Heavyweight Champion

Ooh, I like Lallorian SP Officer Rish'ha Nor's power! Marvel has gotten some use out of the 'matter mimicry' powerset with the Absorbing Man (and now Fuse, of the current West Coast Avengers), but DC has only had the Amazing Man, and, kinda/sorta, Metamorpho, maybe, with that powerset.

It's already pretty versatile with just solids like rock, metal, wood, plastic, ceramic, bone, etc. but if it extends to matter in a gaseous state (like air) or liquid state (like water) or even a particulate state (like sand), or energy (form of... a hologram! shape of... a lightning bolt!), it gets even groovier!

Lallorian mutants are a huge untapped resource for potential metas, and potential Legion recruits! (And, unlike Titanians, Braalians, Imskians, Coluans, Naltorians, Bgtzlns, Carggites, Durlans, Daxamites, Zwennites, Tharrans, etc. they are explicitly all unique!)

Harbinger Welcome back~

So volume six! wow and I'm ready for this ride with not one, but three Legion Worlds!

I find it interesting that there is a Triplicate Girl on the academy that is apart of Duplicate Damsel. Now I know they are a part of her and they share a mind. But with the separation from the Sol system and Duplicate Damsel on LW2 will that change her? Could it cause Triplicate Girl to become fully separate from Lu prime?
I like the other teachers as well and so happy that is where Chameleon Girl is. She is going to make a great teacher.
I do wish you had listed some new cadets that we might see. But I'm sure we'll see them soon enough.

I'm interested in getting to know all of these new recruits from the Science Police and military Especially the ones from world's we've never seen before.
Dream Boy has arrived! I look forward to what you're going to do with him. Jumping Jack and Ms. Big are two I'm super curious about.


Ok, the mission statement for LW2 and them being the public face of the Legion and having the high profile missions makes so much sense. Journalist on missions? This could go either way. we could get some great moments and maybe even a new member for someone who shows their worth. But I can see this ending very badly.
Why is Brainy support staff? has he always been listed as Support staff and I hadn't noticed?

Captain Heavyweight's moment was entertaining and getting to learn about his and his wife dynamic. I like that she kinds of teases him. Its also super refreshing to see someone whose not at ease with the hero worship the Legion gets. So many of them accept it as part of the job that we never really get to see that aspect. I also like that we have another character who isn't physically perfect but still in good shape. Maybe him and Thirteen could have a moment at some point and talk about body image?
It's also interesting that there isn't a cure for the Daxamites led posing but that they have to take a vaccine every few days. I like that little wrinkle. I like how you've shown case that Daxam through his uncomfortable he is with the touching and adulation. I never imagined Daxam as reserved like that and then how he compares it to the inner worlds speaks volumes about his culture.
I like that he yells at himself for even thinking that what his wife does is menial and knows how important it is.

Power Boy and Gravity Boy are still here! yay!

LW3 the choice of whose there is interesting. These are definitely some of the rougher around the edges members of the Legion.I like that we'll see a different side of the Legion. But I wonder if ths separation will cause changes within the Legion itself, especially if they don't all operate the same. I'm seen it happen in corporate stores that are far apart. Each having their own way of dealing with the day to day as well their own views on how to enforce the rules of said organization.
Atomsmasher a fav and I can't wait to see Starklin and it interact.

I'm curious what Timber Wolf, Shield, and M’Windaji will find with the Wanderers.
The espionage squad looks promising. But I would have added the hologram projector Magnus from the last volume. unless he's at the academy...?

Will we head back to Weber's world? I'd be interested in seeing this team take on a threat.

The League of Super Heroes looks to be a pretty powerful group. Hopefully they won't get in over their heads too much. lol.
I'm sad Harminia and Death Boy won't be around. But maybe we'll see them again.

Brainy and Mon-el's moments was funny. I agree that they have this chemistry and a good working relationship with each other. Mon-el's restlessness and being stationed on second base? I wonder if that means they are placing this team on the back burner until their reputation is repaired?

Comet Queen and Comet King are so cute together.
I love that Chemical Kid isn't content with relying on his powers and wanting to get stronger. I hadn't realized he was injured that badly. It makes sense that he would change those and become more cautious. But i hope he won't go over board and forget his powers when they are most needed.

Lu had come into her own pretty well and agreed with everyone else that he response to Officer Nor was really well done. It's always best to know ones history.
Officer Nor's ability is rather cool. hopefully he'll learn how to like, maybe even love it.
Maybe my memory is failing me but what happened to Beast Boy?

Monstress! this is a fun little group and Zoe does protest too much. The ruby may have been what started it but I don't think it's what kept her there.
I like that Jazmin brought up that should check up on him... Something else else tells me Lallor is going to play a bigger part in this volume.

Can't wait for more!

Thank you everyone for your very kind words. I'm in Southampton tgis weekend for a family do so dont have much time but do have a sliggt hangover so will need to keep this short for today.

I see Captain Heavyweight as built like a solid rugby player as opposed to a more athletic soccer player like the majority of the team:

https://www.ruck.co.uk/15-reasons-to-fall-in-love-with-a-rugby-player/

Rather than

https://www.thoughtco.com/best-soccer-players-in-the-world-3557613

Anyway, got to dash, got a hotel breakfast to catch.

Thanks again

C

Harbi, just read the Recap-slash-Primer (much appreciated, BTW) and the scene with Mon-El and Brainy and Lu. I like this new, more down-to-earth direction for the team, and I laughed out loud at the unctuousness of the clueless newscasters. Will read more soon. Keep up the good work.

I read the Hadru and Captain Tuk Shir installments last night. Both excellent. I especially like the way you bring across how seriously hurt and troubled Hadru is without info-dumping or melodramatics!

All caught up now.

As so many facets of your writing have improved with each Legion Worlds epic, the real constant has been your peerless approach to characterization -- non-judgmental without Mary Sue-ing or Gary Stu-ing anyone, affectionate without favoritisms, and even the flattest characters from the comic book iterations show hidden depths.

I would say that as much as I enjoyed all the installments of LW6 to date, the last one, the Ladies Night Out that goes from funny to poignant without missing a step, is my favorite. Bittersweet in the truest sense -- like real life.

Looking forward to the next bunch of chapters, Harbi.

interlude one:


His name had once been Tarre-Roch Le Stour vii of Zadron.

Back then his family had been wealthy way beyond the norm and he believed that his privileged position was deserved purely by dint of birthright.

He had attended the finest academies, travelled extensively into the nearby United Planets as well as several Fringe Systems, studied under personal tutelage of the most renowned lecturers and professors and, of course, shown himself and any that doubted him that his place in the universe was appropriate and right. He was top of his field in whatever area he turned his prodigious mind towards. The intelligence alongside the utter lack of empathy meant that he knew that he deserved his personal fortune. Of course he did! Did those filthy masses not realize that there was a reason he had access to only the finest of the great galaxies bounty while they scrambled around in the dirt? He deserved it as he truly was more gifted than the rest.

That was until the financial crash of 2989 wiped his families fortunes away when it came to light that his parents were living on borrowed credits. Very quickly the family were required to pay these debts and lost everything. At 19, and never having had to even consider working a day in his life, this shock was almost too much to bare.

In his shame at his parents apparent betrayal he quickly realized that scrambling around in the dirt was not always a choice, it could be a matter of pure survival.

With his exemplary knowledge of AI, his talents in gadget making and a ruthless lack of empathy he became a thief that rather quickly gained a reputation for meticulous planning.

The ignorant animals that had fenced the original haul he had taken from a space dock warehouse on Sallunian iv had misheard his name when he slipped up and answered their question honestly... he suspected they simply couldn't remember more than two syllables at a time as they focused on trying to rip him off. In their ignorance they called him Tharok.

He took to using this new name with pride.

For more than a decade he stole to order for anyone that could match his price. He stole for pleasure too, of course, though those events became fewer and fewer. More often than not his clients would be wealthy socialites desperate to get back some family treasure they had somehow lost. He never asked though often they would produce a convoluted tale to justify their use of his servicers. He didn't care so long as they paid. Those who didn't pay often lost more than the object of their desire when he came a-calling on their debt - something his early criminal collaborators had taught him was to never allow anyone to take advantage or the reputation that could take a decade to cultivate would be lost. In some strange way the pleasure he took in mutilating the loved ones of those that had tried to avoid paying him was only matched by the disappointment he felt that people that could afford his services somehow thought that he didn't deserve paying.

Once or twice he worked for those in the arms trade and he always learned a lot from these jobs - not just about the people who hired him but also about the tools of their trade. He became adept at weapon making from the most mundane of materials.

He learned that the obscenely rich and the horrifically poor had much in common - something that the sprawling middle classes overlooked in their sheep like docility - both would do anything they possible could to get more without caring who they had to tread on to get it!

He knew there were great risks with the job when he took it, but by then it was those sort of jobs that appealed to him the most. He had recouped his families fortune and then some so he mostly only continued to do the work for the sport of it.

His home world had once tried to compete with the major markets of the UP and had set itself up with an exchange that dealt with more than the stocks, shares and bonds of the more regulated worlds. It was through this dubious trading that his family had originally made and lost their money. After the crash of 2898 the worlds government - as part of the support deal that the United Planets had offered - had stamped down on the illegal trading that had been so lucrative for them only months before.

The planetary economy went into free fall and within two years a military coup had executed the many governmental officials of the previous regime and set about taking charge of their planet that nestled so snuggly on the edges of civilisation. The new dictators introduced strict laws with draconian edicts to take control of virtually every aspect of daily life. They ensured that the much hyped public humiliation and even execution of opponents kept the rank and file in place. They also started on a weapons program to discourage any of their fringe world neighbours from getting any ideas about too close.

The thief now called Tharok looked forward to returning home to steal an experimental weapon. Something else else his employer would pay greatly for...

It was a simple enough job.

He stole the Solvent Bomb as planned and had hid out for three weeks before trying to leave the planet. He had to deliver the stolen goods within the next few days to make his money so with a precision that had made him so renowned within his field he timed his arrival at the planets only space port to the second.

He stepped out of the robo-taxi and casually strolled towards the doors. To all the world he looked like a business man. It was a simple misdirection that had worked many times in the past.

He didn't notice the armed security service agents until it was too late and in his eagerness to escape he bolted along a walkway that, if he were only marginally faster, would have taken him to the private airfield where he knew he could steal a craft to escape.

The security forces behind him got a lucky shot off that exploded the prototype bomb in his briefcase.


end interlude one

Duplicate Girl - Senior Team member, Luornu Durgo of Carggg, creation of multiple identical duplicates of herself
The Spear of Artemis - Amynta of Nostos ii, incredible strength, speed, invulnerability, space flight, carries magical weapons
Starkling – telepathic swarm-being composed of indestructible ball bearing sized components
Retro - Deen Toro of Ventura, limited reversal of personal timeline

Newly promoted from Academy student to full membership (Mentor in brackets):
Kid Pulsar - Neel Koduah of Earth, incredible strength, invulnerability, projection of explosive blasts (Duplicate Girl)

Science Police meta-squad seconded to Legion World Second Base:
Captain Phantom - Senior Team liaison, Science Police Captain Gryal Vrizza of Bgztl Dimension, intangibility


Svernus Three - investigate kidnapping of 36 children

Encyclopedia Glactica: Svernus Three follows a stable orbit around the red giant star Svern Centauri. Settled in the 25th century by population groups from Eastern Europe and Northern Africa it has had recurring contact with the outside worlds since though the indigenous peoples do not use technology created post-25th century, claiming they live at the perfect stage in technological evolution where man can be self sufficient if required. Even then, some technologies that would have been common place at the time of settlement have been disavowed, for instance the use of artificial intelligence is illegal. Svernus Three has five major continents, each of which inhabited were initially claimed and by different peoples. The coastal cities all appear to be highly organized trading points with rural communities fanning out from each. Over the last five centuries the forests that were planted by the original settlers have spread to cover the majority of the land masses and it holds an abundance of flora and fauna that are now rare if not extinct on Earth. The political landscape is not so harmonious, in fact it could be called fractious with shifting alliances and regular betrayals by neighbouring city states being relatively common. The state of Grobelchevnik is, as of the start of the 31st century, seen as the most dominant of the current states ruling over eight major cities on the continent of Slavva and three more on the Horn of Morlan on the northernmost edge of the neighbouring continent. In total almost quarter of the planets 8 million human population currently fall under this city states jurisdiction. All of this could easily change and the Science Police advise extreme caution be used by any visitor or trader that lands on this world.


The kidnappers had not been terribly clever at hiding their trail.

That being said, as lo-Teckers they probably were not aware that the Legionnaires could easily track movement of such a relatively small amount of people through the dense jungles that led up to their base in the foothills of the mountain range that ran north to south across this landmass.

The children had been marched out of their exclusive school on the outskirts of the wealthy suburb of the city of Muoshtra in the southern provence of Grobelchevnik and onto waiting trucks by an gang of heavily armed men that drove them as far as they could travel into the forest before the roads became too dangerous. That had been two days ago and the kidnappers had made the children walk ever since as they cut their way through the dense undergrowth.

A statement had been broadcast by the kidnappers that unless Grobelchevnik ceased sending tax collectors to the Horn of Morlan the children would be the first to suffer.

It was now the small hours of the next morning and under the overcast sky the forest was dark and eerily silent. Luornu planned on taking Kid Pulsar, Starkling, and the Spear of Artemis with her and fly in to confront the armed gang. Retro and Captain Phantom were to sneak in and release the captives safely while their colleagues dealt with the kidnappers. Both Deen Toro and Captain Gryal Vrizza's flight ring and belt distorters were set for maximum camouflage - the two men weren't actually invisible as such but that didn't make them easy to see either, especially in the darkness and undergrowth that surrounded the forest camp.

There were nine tents in a circle with guards stationed at each which surrounded a large central tent.

It was in the central tent where the majority of the children were being held into which the Science Police Captain from Bgztl, Gryal Vrizza phased through the canvas.:

"Ladies and Gentlemen, we are Legionnaires and we want to get you out of here alive so please line up and we'll escort you back to civilization and safety." Gryal Vrizza said loudly as he switched off his distorter. He had just phased through the tent wall not far from the only flap. The two guards inside the tent ran at him armed with clubs but he simply allowed them to phase through him and punched them both soundly on the backs of their heads as they stumbled knocking them both unconscious.

The children were huddled around a central fire pit sharing only old rugs and blankets to keep warm. Some squealed as the Bgzlter appeared while others tried to hide.

Retro pushed aside the thick canvas tent flap and smiled broadly. "Hey y'all, you want to get home or not? Come on, we're the Legion and we're going to get you home safe... just be quiet so we don't get caught, okay?" The more friendly approach, and been seen to enter via the obvious entrance made Retro less threatening to the already scared and exhausted children. About a quarter of the kids stood up and others tried to wake their sleeping companions.

It took a couple of minutes to get all the children standing up and quietly waiting for the Legionnaires to lead them out to safety. They could all hear crashes and screams and thumps from the ring of tents around them. several children wept while others looked defiant and even happy to hear the violence erupting outside the tent.

'Right, captain if you could lead..." Retro made a show of smiling confidently as he ushered the children towards the tent flap. The Bgztln had graciously bowed in response before cautiously leading the childen out into the night.

Starkling swarmed around one of the tents where the kidnappers rested and slept and with a sudden Whooomp! constricted its component parts to grab everyone and everything that was inside into a tight bundle caught up in the canvas that had seconds before provided their shelter. With a single violent motion the composite being lifted the contents three feet into the air before battering it down onto the hard earth. This was repeated until the kidnappers stopped making any noise and the composite beings telepathy confirmed their unconsciousness.

Several tents along from that the Spear of Artemis had strode into a tent - right through the canvas wall, splitting it with a loud rip at the stroke of her goddess given spear - and within seconds there were half a dozen loud cries of alarm and painful sounding crashes before she strode out, wiping her hands as if to clear them of dust and dirt. Had anyone been watching they would have seen the smile on the Amazon warriors face.

Several more tents along from that Kid Pulsar hovered outside the door to the tent he had been assigned to and pointed a finger at the central support bar. It exploded dramatically and the canvas collapsed onto those inside. A few bolts from energy weapons flew out but Neel Koduah was too quick to be hit and simply swooped down and punched out the figures struggling under the collapsed thick canvas tarpaullin that had shot at him. The new Legionnaire looked around as a stream of bullets streamed off his back. The kidnapper that had run out of the next tent and shot at him froze and dropped the automatic rifle he held and slowly raised his hands in surrender. Neel Koduah smiled as he strode up to him and slapped a set of incapacity cuffs onto him. As he did this four more kidnappers came out of the tent, they didn’t stand a chance.

The uproar as these three attacks happened brought guards running from the other tents still left standing. Kid Pulsar's blasts of explosive energy made sure that the ground underneath their feet erupted around them while Starkling swarmed in on any that tried to take fire on its comrades. Fast moving fist sized balls of its diamond hard components swiftly knocked these opponents into unconsciousness. Meanwhile, the Spear of Artemis appeared to have a rather jolly time as she virtually skipped around the camp casually thumping anyone that got within arms reach of her.

As they did this Duplicate Girl targeted the tent that obviously held the kidnappers leader. She wanted that one herself. A guard popped their head out of the front flap, his face obscured by an archaic pair of infra-red goggles. Luornu karate chopped him on the back of the head and pulled him outside onto the dirt. She split into three, one of her selves knelt down to place incapacity cuffs on this mans wrists. Another scanned the tent with her flight ring and brought up a hard light screen - there were three more people inside. Well, she thought, lets see if they like dealing with a competent adult rather than children.

One of Lu's selves strode through the tent flap. Inside, a middle aged man desperately worked at a lock on a strongbox while two young girls cowered. Lu could immediately see that the two girls were not in there out of choice.

"Just stop now if you have any sense and give up before I beat you bloody and humiliate you in front of these children."

The man stood up quickly and pointed a dangerous looking rifle at the Legionnaire's face but before he could pull the trigger he was kicked in the back of the head by another of the Cargggite's selves that had squirmed under the far edge of the tent while her sister self distracted those inside.

"Bloody idiot..." She muttered darkly before turning to the two young girls and putting on the friendliest smile she could muster, "Well, right then girls, lets get you home and..." As she spoke both girls had ran towards the Cargggite Legionnaire and wrapped their arms around her in tight hugs of gratitude.

In under five minutes twenty two kidnappers had been brought to justice while all 36 children were safely led away to the encampment towards the camouflaged local police force's shuttles that had been hovering silently under half a klick away.

Duplicate Girl had made sure her team were aware that they were not to make political statements or question the motives behind the kidnapping with local townsfolk or the local police force. It was not the Legion's job to qualify other people's lives, certainly not when, according to the deep scans they had made before coming here, there appeared to be a relatively decent standard of living and contentment amongst the vast majority of the common folk on this world. Whatever the tax problems where that had led the kidnappers to risk such an appalling move against their ruling city state it was not the teams business... today they had saved 36 children from a potentially awful fate and they could chalk this up as a victory!

On Interlude One:

It's about time that a character who's been around as long as finally got an origin story. And I think it's an excellent one, Harbi. Very insightful about the environments and circumstances which drive far too many people to extreme measures, without any glamorization, nor cheap sentiment. Very timely, as well, given the precarious situation of the modern world.

On the next installment proper:

Again, frighteningly believable and timely.

Gods, I love the Spear of Artemis. Such a bad-ass. I know I've sung her praises more than once in the past, but I had to do it again.

And I am greatly liking your tough-but-tender Luornu. She's not an easy character to write, but you're doing just fine.