Legion World Forums LEGION OUTPOST Bits o' Legionnaire Business Legion Worlds Three (Completed 4 October 15)

Yargotha City State, Khundia Prime

Inferno, Sandy Anderson of alternate reality Earth, fire generation and manipulation

The room was pitch dark and Sandy could feel her panic rising.

She could hear someone moving not far from her and without thinking flames burst from her hands throwing the small subterranean room into stark relief. Before her cowered an alien of a species she had never seen before: pale green skin with a triangular head with two huge black eyes and a small slit-like mouth, slender body with four arms, long thin legs and a mane of dark olive green around its neck.

“The Mancha’s hunting... you hide your flames or they find us...“As it pleaded she looked around. They were in a room only three metres wide and the same deep, the ceiling was only just above her head. In the darkness it was a claustrophobe’s nightmare!

Outside they could hear a buzzing as one of the cyborg mosquito flyers buzzed along the alleyway. They both turned towards the wall where the door had been and waited. The buzzing receded but returned and this time appeared to be circling.

“The Mancha’s! You hide your flames... oh merciful stars!” The being before her seemed genuinely terrified, not by Sandy’s fire but by the ‘Mancha’s’...

“Why did you save me? ...Who are you?” Sandy felt better for hearing her own voice as her flames ebbed and the room returned to the darkness.

“Mancha’s coming soon... we...”

“Who are you?” Sandy could hear the edges of panic in her voice.

“This one called Dee Vee 7-0 Fay. You called Inferno... good name for pyrokin...” As it said her code name the flames erupted out of her fingers again.

“How do you know me? What the sprock is going on?” She shouted out as she approached the cowering being. Her hands had become flaming silhouettes of heat.

“Not ‘how’ or ‘what’, you need ‘why’... We to leave now. You needed elsewhere.”

Even as she stood over the cowering pale green being feeling the fires within bursting for release she could hear another buzzing, then another and another. There was no escaping now as the cyborg militia had found them! Heavy metal shod feet could be heard just on the other side of the wall. Voices... then the sound of a blaster, a crash and a shouted curse.

The room started to spin and colours erupted...

Xanthu astronomers cluster, Xanthi system, 24 light minutes due galactic East of Xanthu.

When the call came through from Harmonia on Legion World no-one was really surprised.

Nura had began hugging people and wishing them well, telling them they were invited back any time they liked several minutes before the Holo arrived. A few of the non-legionnaires, unused to dealing with pre-cognitives had been visibly startled though the Legionnaires knew that something was about to put an end their happy day. Several of Yera’s friends from the entertainment field were heard to mutter about how rude their host had turned until Sun Boy, with a glorious smile, spoke to them about Naltorians tenuous grip on the here and now. Titan, Ferro and Thunder were next to him as he spoke so they didn’t argue, even if they still thought Dream Girl was being less than polite as she kissed everyone goodbye long before the celebrations were due to end.

Colossal Boy whispered to his wife that if she wanted to re-join the team right then he would be fine with that though... if she didn’t there was a suite waiting for them in the Hilton-Max on Ventura. Yera looked a little crest fallen but said that perhaps they could have another honeymoon afterwards. He smiled as he agreed, obviously relieved that she had chosen to join their team mates.

The holo of Harmonia breeped into existence, asking for Jan. The new Legion leader sighed and walked across to the holo-plate and spoke with his predecessor.

“Jan, I’m so sorry to interrupt. Brainiac 5 left earlier with Andromeda, Invisible Kid and his sister on a non-urgent mission to Earth but their cruiser has not registered with the Poly-screen docking control and we can no longer raise them on any frequency...” As well as listening to the message Jan Arrah was aware that Harmonia’s hands were clasped before her and she was gently tapping her flight ring. He was certain that this subtle signal was meant for him to see. She was telling him something was very wrong and could not speak openly for fear of being overheard.

“Okay Harmonia, we have Dawnstar with us so we’ll get hunting for our missing genius. Is there anything else we need to know?” He knew it was risky to ask but perhaps she could give him a hint.

“Hmmm... Danielle has been out of sorts so I assumed they were taking her home. I’m sorry but I don’t know too much more Jan. If I can think of anything I’ll let you know.”

‘Okay’, he thought,’...so Danielle was onto something and must have alerted Brainy... so what had she found out that had motivated Querl to leave his laboratory?’ Element knew that whatever it was Brainiac 5 would most likely need some back up and the team he had with him was probably about as tough as it could get so without anything other than thanking Harmonia he called for the Legionnaires to be ready to leave in two minutes. The Legion leader called over to Nura and asked for a quiet word before the team left. She smiled as she joined him by the holo-plate.

Gim and Yera hugged his parents and her cousin goodbye promising that they would hold a proper party in Metropolis when they got back. Phantom Girl, Mon El, Chameleon Boy, Wildfire, Dawnstar, and Dr Shakespeare hastily said their good-byes to the Science Police officers, Amazers and Star Fleet officers that looked confused by the situation. Everyone asked if they could help but Mon El smoothly declined, adding that it was probably one of Brainy’s experiments gone wrong again so they had nothing much to worry about. Everyone laughed though no-one believed him.

Thom Kallor followed his former teammates up to the upper level where their cruiser currently docked and looked ready to join them. Phantom Girl turned back from the team and smiled as she approached him, thanking him for his hospitality and reminded him that with Nura being into her second trimester his priorities were to look after the mother of their child. She kissed his cheek fondly and turned away, phasing through the bulkhead of the mark ix cruiser with a cheery wave goodbye.

Loved the conversation between Tinya and Nura... just like two good old friends... and Nura asking Tinya to make sure Thom stays behind, and Tinya really making sure.

Brrr, Harmonia and Brainy not being able to speak openly just makes things so real.

I'm definitely hooked, Harbi!

Harbi another great batch of installments. i'm loving where all of this is going.

Tinya and Nura was very touching.

I really want to know what Henry and Adym are hidding.

also i'm pretty sure but did Inferno and that creature just enter the time stream?

Hey IB and Omni, thanks again for your kind words.

Tinya and Nura are fun to write as I never saw them as friends but they have enough professionalism and natural empathy to get along.

Omni, you guess will be answerred in the next batch of posts as things go from bad to worse for poor l'il Sandy.

Legion Cruiser Alpha Foxtrot 7-1, currently in hyper-space approaching the Khundian Empire.

Element Lad – Team Leader, Jan Arrah of Trom, elemental transmutation
Sun Boy – Deputy Leader, Dirk Morgna of Earth, generation of intense light and heat
Chameleon Boy – Espionage Squad leader, Reep Daggle of Durla, shape changer
Titan, Nasir N’Cube of Titan, telepathy, with the Shazam abilities – immense strength, speed, indestructibility, space flight, wisdom
Mon El, Lar Gand of Daxam, incredible strength, speed, stamina, senses, laser vision, space flight, invulnerability
Ferro, Douglas Nolan of Earth, can assume invulnerable iron isotope form
Phantom Girl, Tinya Wazzo of Bgtzl Dimension, intangibility
Wildfire, Drake Burroughs of Earth, composed of sapient anti-energy, extreme strength, speed, durability, space flight, anti-energy blasts
Dawnstar of Starhaven, space flight, incredible speed, tracking
Chameleon Girl, Yera Allon of Durla, shape changer
Colossal Boy, Gim Allon of Earth, increase personal size and mass at will
Thunder, Cecelia Becks of 21st Century Earth, immense strength, speed, indestructibility, space flight, wisdom
Dr Richard Kent Shakespeare -Impulse – Chief medical officer - enhanced strength, speed, durability, stamina


Yera and Gim helped Dr Shakespeare set up properly in the medi-bay.

They smiled a lot, stroking and patting each other as they passed by. Dr Shakespeare smiled to himself. Watching the Allon’s as they playfully flirted with each other helped distract him from the worry that Jan Arrah was struggling. Element Lad had looked like he wanted to punch something as they got onto the cruiser and it had worried the doctor though it had not been the time or place to ask what was wrong. Jan had his own responsibilities and ways of coping when they built up and until he asked for help Richard Kent Shakespeare would stay away and respect his choices.

Gim gave a little alarmed ‘yeep’ as Yera nipped his backside and they both laughed.

“Okay you two, thanks for your help I can manage from here...” Both laughed, said their goodbyes and with a muscular arm around his wife Colossal Boy led them out of the medi-bay. In the corridor they bumped into Ferro who was carrying a large container.

“Hey guys, Nura gave us these supplies, said we should take them before they went off, you wanna help carry them to the galley?”

Yera stretched her neck up and peered into the container and laughed.

“It’s a dozen bottles of champagne and our cake! Oh Nura is so thoughtful!”


“So what did Nura have to say?” Reep stood beside Jan as he asked. They were both looking at the monitor screen at the back of the command deck that currently showed Dawnstar, Wildfire, Mon El and Titan flying ahead of them.

“She was a bit vague but I got the impression we’re away to walk into something big. One thing she stressed was Brainy needs to meet with the Dead Brain. Those two have something important to do.”

“Anything else Jan? You look a little shaken... can I help at all?”

“It appears ECHO are involved. I hate time travel, y’know that? It scares me Reep, we could do so much damage and never know...”

“Should we tell Yera? That Adym tried to manipulate her, asked her to spy for him.”

“Yup, I know... actually I don’t know. Let’s wait and see.” Element Lad shook his head. Chameleon Boy had known his Trommite colleague for over fifteen years and was concerned for him. Jan Arrah looked worried, his shoulders were bunched in stress and his jaw was clenched. One thing was certain, whatever Nura had said to Jan before they left had been enough to alert him that whatever they were away to face would take a heavy toll.


“Are you sure Cece?” Sun Boy was sitting in the astro-nav station with the timespun heroine at his side.

“Yup, definitely. I’m good at lip reading. Nura said to Jan that unless we save Brainy the entire Khundian Empire would be destroyed. That is pretty serious isn’t it?”

“What did you expect when you volunteered to join us? This is what we do. Save the universe and look terrific for the holos afterwards. Or at least that’s always been my ambitions...” He chuckled to himself though Cecelia Becks could see the strain of trying to put on the devil may care facade. Thunder could read Sun Boy like a child’s book and right now, for all his best attempts at levity, he wanted to be anywhere other than flying into battle. She gave a small smile to herself and thought that the universe was so lucky to have this team of adventurers who would deny their basic instincts to flee from danger to ensure the masses had a peaceful, better existence. Cecelia Becks watched as Dirk’s fingers flew across the hard light controls and felt incredibly proud to be part of the team.

The Distant Suns of Rastasmar.

Duplicate Girl – Deputy Leader - Luornu Durgo of Carggg, can create multiple identical duplicates of herself
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 that allows tactile transformative magicks
Kinetix, Zoe Saugin of Aleph, telekinetic animation
Academy Student - The Voice, Thelma Haruth of the Sen Salgowyn Beta Chorus Collective, vocally induced hypnotic manipulation

There were seven stars that when observed from a certain angle appeared to make a circle.

The mid-25th century was a wild time when humanity finally reached the edges of the Great Northern Arm of their home galaxy. The area of space called Rastasmar was named after an explorer that claimed them as his own and planned on setting up an empire. Ivor Rastasmar was a multi-billionaire ego maniac who shipped his family and a few thousand excited, desperate and ultimately unlucky other people who had volunteered or been press ganged into setting up colonies without knowing that the circle of stars had been formed around a trans-dimensional warp. The colonies were to fail within a decade of being built, with only several dozen of the original settlers managing to escape and reach safety.

It took a further two centuries until a team of Coluan Temporal Assessors reviewed the evidence and decided to launch an investigation. The found something that had until then only been theorised. The temporal wake left behind from a black hole evaporating through dimensions. A black hole from an alternate reality was bending its own time-space to such a degree it had warped this region of space. The fluctuation spectra of this region of space were somehow beyond classical calculation, depending entirely upon the rules that governed the alternate reality where the black hole existed. Monitoring posts were set up around the region and the Coluan scientists returned to their home world to analyse their data. Over the following centuries they noticed erratic ebbs and flows of these effects often coinciding with heavy metals being introduced to the vicinity of the centre of the anomalies. Somehow these triggered ripples that would cause strange alterations to space-time.

It would most likely be quite surprising to the Legionnaires on board their mark ix cruiser if they were to learn that Timber Wolf knew all this. After he had returned from this region with Laurel a couple of months ago he had researched this little known region of space and come to the conclusion that he never wanted to return as it was just too strange and dangerous.

And even with that knowledge Brin Londo was happy to be here, this was where he had been with Laurel before and if they could find her father here then it was all worthwhile. Before leaving he had double checked that Brainy had fitted the cruiser with force field capability that could temporarily negate the effects the metals of their cruiser would have, hoping that somehow they wouldn’t need to use it.

Somehow he knew though that without it they would most likely be lost.

Legion World, Sol system, 2.5 light minutes due galactic north of Saturn.
Glorith of Xerox, manipulation of magical energies
Otaki, Bina Nawoti of Earth, mindsense
Backlash, Mrruaw M’Nau of Simballi, enhanced strength, speed, senses, absorbs kinetic energy to boost own size and mass

Glorith missed Danielle.

She had been studying the lore of Earth for several hours this morning then meditated for a further hour before realising she had not eaten. She tried to contact Danielle but was told her friend had gone to Earth with Professor Dox, her brother and Kara.

The mystics’ friend had only left a couple of hours prior and already Glorith realised that there were very few people on board the station that she really liked to spend time with. Hadru could be too brash, Grava was friendly though often proved difficult to keep up with as she spoke too fast, Nura had left with Thom, Jacques was away with his sister, Reep was away on a mission, and Professors Li and Dox.... well, they maybe weren’t friends as such but they didn’t need all that superfluous chatter that so many of her colleagues seemed to enjoy. That only left one person that Glorith could think of that it may be worth to... what did Hadru call it again... ‘hang out with’. Glorith was studious and often quiet though like most young people she enjoyed company and right now she had a need for it.

Glorith asked her flight ring to direct her to Bina Nawoti. The psychic had a quiet and studious nature much like Glorith that meant they could be around each other and not need to fill the space with unnecessary noise. The ring led her to one of gyms on the lower levels, rarely used. Glorith meekly popped her head around the door and peered inside. Bina was lying on a bench pushing weights above her head.

“Hey Glorith, you wanna join us for some exercise?” Bina didn’t take her eyes from the weighs that she held on trembling arms above her.

“Oh Bina, please excuse my interruption... I only meant to ask if perhaps you were not busy... we could...”

“It’s alright, give me a minute or two to stretch and shower and I’ll be right with you, okay?”

“Rrrr... hello Glorith...” Backlash’s deep voice rumbled from behind the door. Glorith stepped through and turned to face the massive Tigerram. He sprawled unselfconsciously in the corner; his head was raised with a huge grin splitting his face.

”Bina asked me to push her... she does not enjoy these weight regimes so I was to provide motivation. I fear I wasn’t very good as a gym instructor.” He stood up, stretching his back in a sinuous arch as he did.

“He doesn’t understand the machines so fell asleep...” Binas voice echoed through from the side room where she was showering.

“Rrrr... very true. It is delightfully warm here, though the floor was hard.” The smile remained on his broad face as he turned to Glorith. “So... are you bored Glorith? I am and that one...” he nodded towards the side room where Bina could be heard humming to herself as the water cleaned her, “... well we all need a little excitement so I suggest we ask Henry for warp to somewhere exciting. I’d like to visit the forests in the Indian highlands where my ancestors once roamed. What do you say to that? A day trip to the old home world... hmmm?”

In less than five minutes they had made their way to the warp control room which held the giant mushroom shaped console that contained Henry’s personality. The three young Legionnaires had called Luornu Durgo on the Mission Monitor Board to explain that they were only taking a few hours down time and could be reached if needed. She agreed that so long as they remained contactable she had no problems. Surprisingly she added ‘have fun’ before breaking the comm. Bina raised her eyebrows though none of them said anything.

The holo-man called Henry was waiting for them and within seconds a swirling violet warp appeared before them. They each heard the three ‘pings’ as they walked through but it wasn’t immediately obvious what had caused them.

“Hey Henry, this is too far up the hills!” Otaki shouted as the cold air struck her. Around her the peaks of the Himalayas rose, a blizzard blowing between them. “Gods it cold! The eco-protect should... hey, where’s my flight ring?”

“Wait! He didn’t teleport our rings...”

“Mrrrr... This is not good, we appear to be stranded here...”

On Legion World Henry smiled, now there were three less Legionnaire's to worry about including the chrono-manipulating witch.

Unkown

Inferno, Sandy Anderson of alternate reality Earth, fire generation and manipulation


Sandy Anderson sat up and looked around her.

She was sitting on a silver disk that appeared to be floating over a metallic river that flowed through the dark skies, starlight twinkling through its liquid form. At various places spheres of metal and rough looking rocks covered with plants and trees hung in the spaces between where the river meandered into the distance, a few disks carrying beings of a variety of shapes and sizes floated gently between these. A string of globes that resonated to different colours appeared and disappeared along the banks of the metallic river. There didn’t appear to be a nearby star or planet yet atmosphere, gravity and light all seemed to be present.

“You’re friend Querl Dox designed this place... or he will. It can be so confusing knowing the exact when’s and wherefore’s of this place even for me. It is said it transcends the multi-verse itself. When I found it tapping into the Bleed...”

“What... where am I?”

“You’re safe now, that’s all that’s important.”

“Uh huh, ummm... I kinda disagree with ya on that one y’know. Like, being kidnapped really pissed me off, so... Where... Am... I?” As she spoke Inferno wrapped herself in incandescent flames and turned towards the speaker. She was momentarily startled to find it wasn’t the four armed being she had met on Khundia. Instead she saw a being at least as tall as the Legionnaire known as Titan and just as broad wearing deep blue armour with golden arm bands and boots, a white kilt and cloak.

“Your fire is impressive but it won’t hurt me. So Sandy Anderson I will answer your question if you answer mine first. I want to know why you will murder the Khundian Empire?”

“You are shitting me! I have no idea what you are speaking about... though if they treat all their guests like they did me it won’t be such a loss will it?” As she spoke Sandy’s mind raced. She didn’t know where she was or who was stood before her, neither did she know how she got here or if she could get back without this beings help... she understood she needed answers though so, remembering some of the training she had received at the Academy she knew she had to appear strong, confident yet not immediately threatening... With a little concentration she withdrew her flames and faced the being before her with her chin up, staring him fully in the eyes.

“So... I don’t know why or what or how as it ain’t happened, that’s your answer. I was on that damn planet for a couple of days and then only as Gates wanted my help. His people... the Vyrgans of this realilty... they were freaking him out and as funny as that might be to watch the Bug is my friend...” She stopped for breath, realising that she was beginning to get hysterical. She stared at the being again and nodded as if finished.

“So where am I?”

“This... it was once the flagship of the people who called themselves the Sheeda. They called it Castle Revolting until they too died out. Your Brainiac 5 discovered it and spent fifty or so years investigating and altering it. Then he too died... “

“Whoah... not Brainy...”

“After your races perished or evolved it spun adrift through the outer skin of the timestream for aeons beyond counting until I found it.”

“And who are you anyway? You know me but I still know jack about you.”

“Why, I am Marjak Nix the Monitor. It is my role to watch out for and eliminate multi-reality anomalies, like you.”

The plot thickens!

Loved seeing Gim and Yera flirt playfully, Kent's understanding of Jan, and Jan worrying about time travel. Also Cece's lip reading and observance of Dirk not actually wanting to rush into battle.

The region of space Timber Wolf's team is visiting is fascinatingly scary.

Uh oh, Henry means business...

And Inferno chancing upon a Monitor, yikes!

Mission: Search for Andren Kent (Shield’s father)
Duplicate Girl – Deputy Leader - Luornu Durgo of Carggg, can create multiple identical duplicates of herself
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 that allows tactile transformative magicks
Kinetix, Zoe Saugin of Aleph, telekinetic animation
Academy Student - Voice, Thelma Haruth of the Sen Salgowyn Beta Chorus Collective, vocally induced hypnotic manipulation

Brin could see the tension.

Zoe stood next to Gahaji as he spoke though it was obvious to everyone present that the tracker did not want her there. She had followed him around for most of the flight and at one point M’Windaji had locked himself in the upper deck bathroom for ten minutes just to get peace and quiet. Lu had laughed and said to Brin that she used to be like that with Super Boy back in the day... young love was such an awkward thing. Brin muttered that Gahaji and Zoe weren’t lovers, it looked to him like there was something else she was after, though neither thought about the matter further as the young tracker returned to the command deck to announce where the trail of Shield’s father led next.

“We need to get closer to the distortion, that’s where the trail leads....”

“Can we Brin? Luornu...?” Laurel looked from her boyfriend to the mission leader, her eyes wide in anticipation.

Before Lu could answer Brin explained about the force field technology that Brainy had fitted the cruisers with after their last mission here. He told Laurel and the team how heavy metals seemed to trigger the spatial distortions so had asked Brainiac 5 if he could fit a shield of sorts that would limit the effect their presence would have here. Laurel hugged him and turned to Lu to ask if they could go further into this strange area of space.

“Right team... It seems Mr Londo is one step ahead of us so there’s no excuse to dally.... good work Brin, good job....” Luornu Durgo turned back towards the nav control and flew the ship slowly towards the region of space that M’Windaji had indicated.


As they nuzzled forward into the damaged area of space the sensors ran full sweeps but couldn’t find anything.

“He is here!” M’Windaji looked momentarily angry as he insisted that they were exactly where Shield’s father should be.

“If I may... please excuse me but I feel we are overlooking something important.” The student Thelma Haruth spoke up, “We are shielded from the effects of the fracturing of space-time within this vessel. I doubt if Laurel’s father had that capability so perhaps we should switch off the shield and allow ourselves to be swept to the place where he now is....” She looked embarrassed at having spoken out loud to the more senior members present though both Brin and Zoe immediately agreed with her idea. Everyone turned and looked towards their mission leader, Duplicate Girl.

Luornu Durgo considered their words for a few seconds before nodding.

“Okay, let’s do it... switch off the force field please Brin, we’re going in.”

Legion World, Sol system, 2.5 light minutes due galactic north of Saturn.


“Henry, can you assist me please?”

Harmonia spoke into her flight ring. Within seconds a holo of the man from five thousand years in the future appeared.

“I’d be grateful if you could deliver this to Circadia Senius on Naltor. You will find him in the Time Institute there, I’m expecting a reply so are you able to leave a holo-avatar to bring me word as soon as he as an answer please.”

The ancient elemental remained cool as she made her requests. Querl had asked her to keep Henry busy so she intended to do just that and this rather ridiculous request was just the start of what she had planned. The Academy trainees would need to go on an exercise that would demand they were separated, she intended on increasing the monitoring of the dimension where the Dark Circle imposters originated from and... well... after those she could think of a few more tasks to hopefully distract their supposed ally from the future. She only hoped it would be enough.


Hadru Jamik read through the hard light displays before him and felt the anger that had been eating into him slowly dissolve away. They had been researching the Legion’s history and had just reached the part about Star Boy’s expulsion from the team. One of Luornu Durgoes dupes was taking the class and she had asked the group to decide how they would vote. Was killing in self defence ever justifiable? Hadru had been a straight A science student with a little bit of a side interest in design, though history was something he’d always considered to be boring and worthless. As he read through the file it was obvious that Thom Kallor acted entirely appropriately yet the team censored him because of it... the urge for self preservation was hard wired into every organic being alive, it was quite literally as old as bacteria. Yet even as he gave this answer to the class his mind wandered to what appeared to him as a far more pressing matter...

After a couple of sessions with Dr Kabbo – part of the re-education program that had been set by Jan Arrah - Hadru knew his dislike of Jazmin Cullen stemmed from two main sources, he knew it from the start though it had taken those two hours of psychically induced truth for him to say them out loud: He was scared of her abilities for one, she could neutralise his catalytic alterations with a wave of her hands if she wanted to and his abilities meant the world to him. His father had almost lost everything by giving him the gene-mod treatment and for all his flippancy and apparent over-confidence Hadru was very grateful for that. The other reason was more social... Jan had been so supportive of him for the first year he’d been part of the team and then he’d been dumped, or what Hadru imagined being dumped felt like. He’d never been in a relationship with anyone so could only imagine.... And Hadru needed to have his clique, his own little gang as they helped prop up his self esteem. So on those two front, powerwise and socially, the damned Xanthuian intruded on his turf and Hadru realised he had acted without thinking, intentionally sabotaging any chances they had of becoming proper functioning teammates. Well, he thought, unless she gave him a good excuse to murder her then he’d have to suck it up and deal with her from now on more professionally. He’d witnessed how Jan interacted with the more senior members and perhaps it was time Hadru Jamik, from distant Phlon, started exhibiting to the team all the skills Jan had shown him.

Now if only that bloody woman would give him a valid excuse to stop her heart... he chuckled to himself at this ridiculous thought, then stopped as he came to the realisation that while they would never ever be friends, not after she had publically humiliated him in Shakes... but by the Eternal he would show her and everyone else that he deserved his flight ring! Hadru Jamik, Chemical Kid made a promise to himself that day that he would do everything he could to deserve the opportunity he had to be here and no time-stopping self obsessed Xanthuian would hold him back.


Harmonia asked Henry to assist as she monitored each of the six Beta-level students. She had sent each of them to a different planet and given them one hour to make shelter and discover whatever they could about the world’s they were on.


Jazmin Cullen felt embarrassed.

She burned with her shame. It was incandescent within her, it felt like something somehow bigger than her body that had been squeezed into her skin. For the last couple of days her gaze had remained steadfastly groundward. She knew all the students knew about her. They must have heard about the Academy graduate who blew her chances while on the main team... and for what? To smack a little scrote like Hadru flamin’ Jamik? What a joke! What a damn idiot she’d been... She should have listened to Bina, Nasir and Zoe, they had warned her to stay away from him and they were right... Well she’d show them and everyone else that she could put this behind her and rise from it to make a success of herself in the big league.

When the fourteen day probation period was over she’d be the best damn Legionnaire imaginable.

Not that the damage hadn’t already been done. James had sent a holo-blip last night, just a repeating twenty second loop of his mouth as he roared with laughter. Roared! Damn and blast that little snot Hadru Jamik and damn and blast her stubborn competitive hyper-sensitive nature. Chemical Kid wasn’t her brother so there wasn't ... there hadn’t been years and years... there was no reason to react as she did. She had blown it and now, with the entire galaxy most likely well aware of her flaws, she would need to keep her head down and prove to them... to James! That she could succeed, the only other option was to return to Xanthu and right now Jazmin would probably rather eat her own flesh.

Head down, Jazmin Cullen studied the text before her and used the memory techniques she’d learned all those years before in the Xanthu military camp so she could recall the subtle differences in planetary laws that she would be tested on the next day. She would make sure she'd ace the test,and every other one that they threw at her.

The Acchuuter settlements, Northernmost Reaches of the Khundian Empire

Legionnaire on secondment to the Khund Battle Brigade:
Gates, Ti’Julk Mr’Asz of an alternate dimension Vyrga, creation of spatial warps

Khund Battle Brigade:
The Dead Brain, Leader, Warlord H’Rathakk of Khundia Prime, incredible intelligence, cybernetic enhancements
Shootskin, Sha’Dito Skik’Arr of Nu-Vyrga, heightened senses, durability, strength, acid secretion
Wrecker, Goundak D’skyu of Faith-in-Arms, enhanced speed, strength, durability, awareness of flaws or weaknesses
Wraith, Baron Ur Kan Galchachk of the Galchachki Protectorates, personal density control

The Dead Brain had sent his deputy Spyke back with the rest of the team to Khundia Prime under orders to find whatever had caused the problems there and they were not to fail... under any circumstances! The team that had left included Dreamkiller who had incredible empathic skills, Death-by-Stealth who could read minds and possess any living being, and Far Reach, the teams’ long distance tracker. Between them he had little worries that they would be able to deal with what looked like a small terrorist incursion in Yargotha City. If the Emperor himself had not asked for the Battle Brigade’s involvement the Dead Brain would never have allowed his three psychic subordinates to leave as their skills could be put to far better use here. The Dead Brain was certain they would find the cause of the explosion in the Challenge Courts to be little more than some long running feud between the castes.

The team that had remained with him had skills he could use and no matter how uncomfortable the damned Legionnaire felt about not being in the team returning to Khundia the Vyrgan bug would stay here until he was not needed. As far as the Dead Brain thought, if Gates had wanted to find out about the Khundian Empire and his insectoid peoples place within it he should have applied for an Academic travel visa, not to be seconded to the Battle Brigade. The Dead Brain wiped his forehead with a stump hand, he had far more important things to consider than one insectoid’s feelings right now. The important work was happening here in this distant desolate system, not on Khundia Prime where some stupid feud or illiterate terrorist with a lingering death wish was giving the Emperor the jitters.

The stumpy warlord leader of the Battle Brigade hovered over the ruins that had been discovered by accident. The materials were primitive, the layout of the rooms was unremarkable and so far they had found no source to the mysterious messages that warned of the Khundian Empire’s imminent destruction...

The Dead Brain had ordered an exclusion area of an AU from the asteroid were the strange ruins had been discovered and set about looking for any others that could hold clues to what was happening in this remote area of space. All of the miners, excavators and engineers that had been based nearby happily took the opportunity to flee. The Dead Brain’s rank allowed them legal exemption to renege on their bonded servitude to the other warlords that were using their labour.

Gates and Shootskin were on a nearby asteroid scanning it for any signs of a hidden apartment. They didn’t expect to find anything but the Dead Brain had sent the teams out to search so off they went. The muscular woman known as Wrecker had taken it as an opportunity to prove her strength by pulverising asteroids while Wraith had dematerialised and phased through the floating space rocks that littered this region of the system. Shootskin had offered to burn his way through the asteroid, his acidic secretions being more than strong enough to burn most substances, but Gates had countered that they didn’t want to destroy any evidence.

Gates felt doubly frustrated. He had asked Sandy Anderson to join him on Khundia Prime less than an hour before the order had come through to investigate this damned system so was unaware where his friend was now. Hopefully Henry had warped her into his apartment as requested... though the thought of what Sandy would do while there alone for a few days made Gate’s legs twitch in anxiety... Gates had initially used the opportunity of being stuck out here in this distant section of the Empire to ask Shootskin about the Vyrgans in this reality. He knew that the Khunds had saved millions of his people from the Dominion though still was unsure why, almost 15 hundred years later they were still so subservient to Khund Empire. He had learned that the acid secretion warrior from this alternate reality of his people was not really the deepest thinker or the most knowledgeable on his species history. The blatchin’ machiavellian Khundian Empire and it’s Death Squad had taken this warriors sense of pride in his own race and history and screwed them out of him, and over the centuries of servitude he assumed the culture of his people had been taken too.

These dark thoughts were interrupted by the warrior’s call.

“There’s something coming, I can sense a warp engine nearby...”

Shootskin waved a limb in the direction. As Gates looked around the horizonless sky he saw the burst of light as a space craft materialised out of hyper-space and into the Einsteinian universe. Gates almost cheered! It was unmistakable; a Legion cruiser blasted to halt not a klick away from them.

Unkown
Inferno, Sandy Anderson of alternate reality Earth, fire generation and manipulation


“So... you had your four armed freak bring me here just so you could kill me? Why didn’t you just leave me on Khundia, the .... what did Vee-Dee call them? The Mancha would have gotten me soon enough wouldn’t they?”

Marjak Nix the Monitor nodded quietly to himself.

“Dee Vee 7-0 Fay brought you here because I wanted it. His kind, the Shuirdiquin are loyal to me, they are bred to be...”

“So what’s with this game of twenty flippin’ questions? Are you gonna kill me or not?” Sandy didn’t know why she asked as when faced by some Big Bad like the guy before her any additional seconds of breathing were a bonus she thought.

“Are you that eager to die? I understood it was rather final for your kind.”

“Yeah, there is that... so why did you bring me here?”

“It is my role to monitor this reality from incursions and protect it from invaders that could damage our integrity. I needed to see you in the flesh to decide if you are the one that is pre-destined to destroy one of the major Empires in this galaxy. I simply wanted to be sure before I terminate you.”

“That’s reassuring...” Sandy looked away from the being before her. She knew that no matter how much fire she created he would not be hurt. She wouldn’t be able to intimidate him. She also knew that he was not attracted to her so unbuttoning her top and batting her eyelids wouldn’t work either. There was nowhere to hide here, wherever... whenever... here was. Her mind raced as she tried desperately to think of a way out of this situation. There was only one way she could think of to buy some time but it was risky and potentially more dangerous than doing nothing but it was all she could come up with.

“You know I’m not the only one from my reality that’s in this one though, doncha?”

Hey IB, thanks again for your support, it's always appreciated!

Inferno and a Monitor, hmmmm.... you know things won't be pretty don't you? More next time as things start to get a bit more intense for our favourite pyrokinetic Legionnaire.

Brin, Lu and co are away to go somewhere weird, and hopefully solve a mystery or seven in the process.

Jan, Kent and that team will pop up next time too as they get an unexpected visitor, kind of...

Thanks again, there'll be more next week for you.

Loving Harmina's plans to keep Henry busy. Lots of different stories to tell and people to meet!

Love Jazmin and Hardu's moments. its funny, how much they are alike considering they both came to the same conclusion.

Jealousy is such a powerful motivate.

As power hungry as Zoe's seeming I hope she's not going to have her history repeat itself.

Inferno's a spit fire. i love it. So its possible it was predestined for her to come to this reality. if it is in fact her.
But why terminate her if its predestined? shouldn't he want to keep her alive?

I hope Gate's finds someone to talk to soon about his people. He needs that connection. and i hope it before the possible Great Inferno.

Hmmmm the Legion arrives....hmm whats Sheild's father doing in the Khudian Empire?

Can't wait for more!!

I am loving how both Hadru and Jazmin are becoming more determined, your exploration into their shame was very well done, very realistic.

Oh Zoe, I shudder to think what will happen when she gets the Ruby of Life. I do empathize somewhat, I always have such high standards for myself as well.

Shield's father... The Voice had such a good suggestion, hope we will see more of her. I am a bit scared though, for where our Legionnaires might end up!

And poor Gates, I can imagine his frustration at what happened to his people in this reality.

Smart thinking of Inferno's, but I can also imagine how Gates might react to Inferno "outing" him like that!

Legion World, Sol system, 2.5 light minutes due galactic north of Saturn.

While Henry transported soil, seeds and three beehives for her gardens along with collecting the reports from the students she had sent to diverse locations Harmonia Li went in search of Tellus. The telepathic Legionnaire had taken to his methane sea filled recovery chamber two days prior and she hadn’t seen him since. It was known that the golem called Mordecai that the Emerald Empress had brought to Legion World had taken up residence with him in the chamber so along with the request she had for Ganglios, Harmonia was interested to see what was happening with it. The air lock opened and she spoke into the comm. system, requesting access. Before she had completed her sentence the silky telepathic voice of Tellus invited her within.

The flight ring she wore provided eco-support as the chamber she waited in filled with the green tinged sea. As the door before her spiralled open Harmonia kicked off from the floor and swam gracefully into the large chamber where Tellus was recuperating from the damage his system had endured while trapped in the 21st century. The Hykraian waited for her just beyond the threshold and gracefully spun in a circle around Harmonia, telepathically welcoming her into his suite as the pods on his back shone in rainbow hued greeting.

The golem that called itself Mordecai sat inert against the nearby wall, apparently oblivious to her joining them. Harmonia was curious about the creature but right now it was not the time to think about that. Firstly she hE an important task for Tellus.

Within the methane filled chamber Tellus didn’t wear the mask that allowed him to breathe on most of the oxygen rich worlds they travelled to, so used his natural telepathy to communicate, which was something Harmonia had been banking upon. She need to get a message to Jan and Reep while they made their way to the Khundian Empire. Harmonia desperately wanted to let them know what they may be getting involved in without using the technological channels that Henry, and therefore Captain Adym of ECHO could monitor. Between Tellus’ prodigious psychic abilities and Titan’s telepathic abilities, on Element Lad’s current mission team, Professor Harmonia Li was certain they could circumvent the technological route that the team usually used to communicate and get a message to Jan that their fears around ECHO had come to fruition.

The Acchuuter settlements, Northernmost Reaches of the Khundian Empire

Brainiac 5 – Legion World manager, Professor Querl Dox of Colu, 12th level intelligence
Andromeda, Kara Zor-El of Krypton, incredible strength, speed, stamina, senses, laser vision, space flight, invulnerability
Invisible Kid, Jacques Foccart of Earth, invisibility
Danielle Foccart –Kid Computo – Technical support - technopathic communication and control over advanced technology

Legionnaire on secondment to the Khund Battle Brigade:
Gates, Ti’Julk Mr’Asz of an alternate dimension Vyrga, creation of spatial warps

Khund Battle Brigade:
The Dead Brain, Leader, Warlord H’Rathakk of Khundia Prime, incredible intelligence, cybernetic enhancements
Shootskin, Sha’Dito Skik’Arr of Nu-Vyrga, heightened senses, durability, strength, acid secretion
Wrecker, Goundak D’skyu of Faith-in-Arms, enhanced speed, strength, durability, awareness of flaws or weaknesses
Wraith, Baron Ur Kan Galchachk from the Galchachki Protectorates, personal density control

The holo of Professor Dox appeared before the short Khundian warlord.

“Warlord H’Rathakk, my apologies for our unexpected arrival though I believe our missions may overlap.”

“Querl my friend, why didn’t you just call?” The Dead Brain smiled with warmth as he replied. The Khundian Warlord had never met anyone as intelligent and approachable as the Legion’s Brainiac 5 and felt genuine warmth towards the Coluan. Within his own culture the sharing of knowledge to the degree that Dox was prepared to do was anathema, it would be seen as suicidal to give another an advantage that one could keep for oneself. Warlord H’Rathakk had long understood that this simple selfish stupid outlook was what had probably kept the Khundian Empire’s technology virtually stagnant since they had stolen it from the Dominators all those centuries ago as they fled their slavers.

“Thank you, I’ll join you soon with my companion.”

On the command deck of the cruiser Brainiac 5 asked Danielle to remain on board while Jacques invisibly examined the ruins below them... Danielle smiled and quietly said that the Dead Brain knew they were onboard already – his cybernetic enhancements had already scanned their cruiser.

Both Brainiac 5 and Invisible Kid asked her to explain further, shocked that the Khundian warlord that ran the Battle Brigade could use sensors on their craft without tripping one of the security beacons. Danielle’s hand reached out before her and her fingers twitched as if playing an unseen harp – a sign Jacques knew that she was uncomfortable with the attention. He hated seeing his sister like this but they needed to know and afterwards he would make it up to her...

It was Kara who reminded them that the Dead Brain and his team were waiting on the asteroid below.

“You two are staying here, Kara and I can deal with this.” Brainiac 5 said, turning towards the corridor that ran to the airlock.

Below the cruiser Gates and Shootskin had joined the Dead Brain. Brainiac 5 and Andromeda flew down to them and Querl shook hands with the Khundian warlord. The Vyrgan Legionnaire introduced the much larger insectoid from his race and chittered excitedly.

“Andromeda, it is my pleasure to meet you. May I formally extend the abject apologies of the Empire for the massacre at Rifnell ii. It was never sanctioned and Warlord F’Gakkakch was severely... in fact terminally reprimanded for his atrocious actions against your people’s settlement.”

Kara was momentarily surprised as she had assumed that the warlord would have been told of her real identity, not the cover story that the Legion had issued saying she was the only Daxamite survivor from the outpost a renegade Khundian Warlord had decided to test Nega Bombs on. It took her a second to realise that perhaps the Dead Brain hadn’t shared that knowledge with the rest of his team so was pretending for their benefit. Querl had warned her that he could be tricky and here, she realised, was proof. Inside her mask Kara Zor El smiled as she understood now why Querl liked this dwarfish Khundian.

“... thank you.” She replied quietly, “I... I appreciate that.” He gave her a slightly humorous expression as a reply, twinkling with mischief, and nodded before turning back to Brainiac 5.

"So, what brings you here Querl?" The Dead Brain's voice was once again all business as he asked his question. As much as he enjoyed teasing the Legionnaires the situation would be rather desperate for them to risk an interstellar incident by flying here to the outer edge of Khundias space during this time. The short warlord was rather excited by the prospect of whatever it was that his Coluan friend was away to tell him.

Legion Cruiser Alpha Foxtrot 7-1, currently in hyper-space within the Khundian Empire.

Element Lad – Team Leader, Jan Arrah of Trom, elemental transmutation
Sun Boy – Deputy Leader, Dirk Morgna of Earth, generation of intense light and heat
Chameleon Boy – Espionage Squad leader, Reep Daggle of Durla, shape changer
Titan, Nasir N’Cube of Titan, telepathy, with the Shazam abilities – immense strength, speed, indestructibility, space flight, wisdom
Mon El, Lar Gand of Daxam, incredible strength, speed, stamina, senses, laser vision, space flight, invulnerability
Ferro, Douglas Nolan of Earth, can assume invulnerable iron isotope form
Phantom Girl, Tinya Wazzo of Bgtzl Dimension, intangibility
Wildfire, Drake Burroughs of Earth, composed of sapient anti-energy, extreme strength, speed, durability, space flight, anti-energy blasts
Dawnstar of Starhaven, space flight, incredible speed, tracking
Chameleon Girl, Yera Allon of Durla, shape changer
Colossal Boy, Gim Allon of Earth, increase personal size and mass at will
Thunder, Cecelia Becks of 21st Century Earth, immense strength, speed, indestructibility, space flight, wisdom
Dr Richard Kent Shakespeare -Impulse – Chief medical officer - enhanced strength, speed, durability, stamina


Titan doubled back and flew towards the cruiser.
In hyperspace before him Mon El spun and followed the new Legionnaire. Dawnstar and Wildfire continued leading the cruiser towards their goal. The two men flew through one of the force field barriers that shielded the lower docking bay. As they touched down Lar Gand turned to Nasir N’Cube and began to ask what the problem was but could see that the young Shazam empowered psychic was obviously in some discomfort.

“We need to find Jan... quickly.” And he was gone in a blur of super speed. Mon El sighed before accelerating through the ship to find out what was going on.

On the command deck Element Lad, Chameleon Boy, Thunder, Sun Boy, Phantom Girl, Colossal Boy and Chameleon Girl were all listening as Titan broadcast a telepathic message from Tellus and Harmonia on Legion World.

“...as been compromised. I’m sorry to report that we discovered everything we do is being reported directly to Captain Adym of ECHO who has tampered with Henry’s warp control. Our Flight Rings and AI’s are most likely being monitored. We cannot rely on Henry’s support. I urge you to proceed with extreme caution as we know ECHO are particularly interested in what’s going on within the Khundian Empire right now and I fear Querl may have walked into a trap. If Henry appears you must act with prudence. From what we have heard we believe he cannot directly act against us though he may compromise an order once given.”

“Titan, can you tell Harmonia that we have received and understand her message?” Jan said.

“Done. Now what?” The young Legionnaire asked.

“Now we go see what’s so bloody important that Captain Adym would risk blowing his cover for it in the Khundian Empire. I also believe it’s time you told us what you know Yera...”

All eyes turned to Chameleon Girl.

Unkown

Inferno, Sandy Anderson of alternate reality Earth, fire generation and manipulation


“Tell me more.” The Monitors eyes glowed as he turned to face Inferno.

“Well... her name is Jenni and ...she came through from my world and can run really fast....”

Even as Sandy spoke she could feel the presence of this alien being in her mind scraping through her memories for more information. She struggled against it, trying desperately to imagine a barrier between her thoughts and the intruder: an inerton wall with atomic barbed wire wrapped around it... just as they taught in the Academy, but with little success as before her eyes her memories of the speedster known as XS appeared.

“She uses the Speed Force... interesting. That may prove to be the catalyst. Thank you Sandy Anderson, it has proven to be most interesting having you here.”

As the Monitor turned away from her Sandy dropped to the ground. She knew that Jenni might stand a chance against this guy as she was on Legion World with the team around her – they should be able to knock him out or something... and if nothing else she should be able to run away, she was the granddaughter of the Flash after all...

And if not it at least would buy Sandy some time to look around this place and find a way back to her... her place wherever or whenever that was, and hopefully give her the opportunity to kick Gates for putting her in this bloody situation.

Legion World, Sol system, 2.5 light minutes due galactic north of Saturn.

Duplicate Girl - Deputy Leader, Luornu Durgo of Carggg, creation of multiple identical duplicates of herself
Cosmic Boy, Rokk Krinn of Braal, manipulation of magnetic fields
Dragonwing, Marya Pai of Earth, breathes Dragon fire and acid

Luornu was ten minutes from finishing her shift on Monitor duty when Rokk walked in.

The Braalian appeared particularly cheerful and smiled broadly at the Cargggite as she talked him through the current board status. Marya barged through the door with a minute to spare. Protocol stated that a Legionnaire should be at the Monitor Board five minutes before a shift so the Legionnaire on duty could give a hand over, though the fire breathing young woman merely said “Hi, have I missed anything?” before settling into a chair, one leg hanging over an arm and reached for ther auto-chef to order a Meesha-soda. Rokk and Lu exchanged a glance.

“Nice of you to turn up Marya... did we interrupt anything interesting?” Lu said sweetly.

“... no, ah.. sorry, so... umm what have you got for us?” Marya Pai sat up straight and looked at her senior teammates.

“Actually, we have a mystery. There are three flight rings showing as in the warp control room though the Legionnaire they belong to are no longer there. Speculation?”

“They’ve gone off grid because there’s a party happenin’... It’s what we’d do.... umm if I was that way inclined of course... urrr...”

Rokk gave a small smile though Lu remained po-faced as they listened to Marya’s suggestion. After she had finished, slightly blushing, Cosmic Boy activated the holo-control for the Warp room and they watched on a screen what had happened twenty minutes earlier as Henry opened a warp and Backlash, Otaki and Glorith stepped through.

“I think we need to ask Henry...” Rokk said. Lu nodded and Marya slurped quickly on her soda.

“Henry,” Duplicate Girl said into her flight ring. A holo of the future man appeared before them.

“Yes Luornu?”

“Can you show us where you transported those three please?” She pointed towards the holo-screen they had been viewing.

“It would be my pleasure.” He smiled as he spoke. The three Legionnaires looked up at the screen expectinmg a holo-feed to appear there. There was a roaring sound and a vortex opened up below them. The blizzard that raged at the other side of the warp sucked them through in a heartbeat, dumping them roughly on a remote Himalayan hillside. On Legion World their three flight rings dropped uselessly to the floor.

Omni and IB, thank you again for your support, it's always great to read responses from you.

More Brin and Lu next time as we try to find out where Shield's father has been. Zoe, poor love, she does try to do the right thing doesn't she?

Hadru and Jazmin were overdue a bit of character growth, we'll see them get into action in the next arc.

Henry... ah well, who said he could be trusted? Not me! I've been working towards this since his first appearance in LW1.

And Omni, sorry it wasn't clear but it was Brainy's team that arrived at the Khundian outpost. We'll definitely be seeing them next time as they try to sort out what exactly they have. And thank you for the phrase 'the Great Inferno', I'm going to use it!

Thanks guys,, you are stars.

Wow Harbi! the plot thickens!

Looking forward to seeing what Yera knows, and happy to see that you are tackling this plot threads introduce in the published series.

Smart of Harmonia to think of Tellus and Titan.

Well, I expected Inferno to give up Gates, but giving up XS was brilliant! And yes, she is in a better position to escape from this Monitor than Gates is.

Nice to see Brainy's team hooking up with Gates. And I am liking the Dead Brain a lot, glad to see he also genuinely likes Brainy!

Hey IB, thanks again.

Glad you liked the XS twist, am glad it wasn't what you expected.

More Yera next time - I wrote that section out fully this morning so it's ready to go once I've completed one of the others I want to post at the same time. Hopefully I'll manage tonight, if not then tomorrow.

I like the Dead Brain too, though don't be fooled by his mischievousness, he is a high ranking Khundian Warlord for a reason.

Thanks again, more coming soon.