Perimeter Fires

A Tale of the Legion of Super-Heroes

by Phil Hartman


DISCLAIMER: They're all DC's. Please don't sue. Feedback, as always, is appreciated.


Prologue

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A Brief History of the Fires Arc;
  or
What Has Come Before:
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The 30th century has seen Earth step beyond its cradle, maturing into the centerpiece of a galactic civilization known as the United Planets. Several of these worlds have native races who possess metahuman powers.

And several of those native-born have come together to defend the United Planets as the Legion of Super-Heroes. Young - some would say frightfully young - teenagers, the Legion has already overcome remarkable odds in the three short months of their existence.

Their founding members, Rokk Krinn of Braal, Imra Ardeen of the Saturnian moon Titan, and Garth Ranzz of Winath, saved industrialist R.J. Brande from death at the hands of would-be assassins in Jenuary 2999. The Legion's membership quadrupled in the space of a month, to include representatives from Carggg, Bgztl, Colu, Earth, Aarok, Imsk, Durla, Xanthu, Aleph and Daxam (as detailed in Youthful Fires).

But salvation is not without loss. Earth's first representative to the Legion, Lyle Norg, died in a freak accident on a mission to Earth's past, which resulted in the placement of the legendary Valor in the Phantom Zone. The Legionnaires saved the outpost world of Aarok, and Earth itself, from a warhost of the Khundish Empire, but the battle orphaned Jenni Ognats of Aarok and cost Garth his right arm.

The Legion's membership continued to grow, even as Rokk faced murder charges and Ayla Ranzz, Garth's sister, departed for an unknown destiny. Rokk was cleared after the Legion faced their deadliest foe, the power-mad Time Trapper, but a horrific price: the Trapper's pawn, Roxxas, murdered almost the entire populace of the planet Trom, leaving BrandeCo. employee Jan Arrah an orphan (in Melting the Lodestone).

Rokk faced a crisis of faith, but time with his family and the other Legionnaires' belief in him helped restore his confidence (in A Day Off The Pole). Meanwhile, Ayla adapted to her newfound antigravity powers, and rescued a native of Zuun, Brin Londo, from imprisonment in a monstrous form (in Fire Hair and Furry Rugs).

Things have grown quiet as April 2999 dawns.

The silence is about to be broken.

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4/1/2999: Legion Headquarters, Weisinger Plaza, Terra: 04:23 hrs local:
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She shrieked herself to wakefulness, sitting bolt upright in her bed.

"Sprock! Nura, what -!?" Jazmin Cullen, AKA Kid Quantum II, yelled, bursting into her dormmate's bedroom.

The platinum-blonde-haired Naltorian girl threw back her covers and sat at her desk, writing rapidly, until she finally shook her head and stared at her omnicom.

"By the Seers," Nura Nal whispered, letting Jazmin turn on the light. "It's...this makes no sense."

"Let me see," Jazmin frowned, taking the onmicom from Nura's hand. She peered at the writing and began to read.

"What," Jazmin asked Nura doubtfully, "the nass is THIS?"

Nura examined the poem, then gave a small gasp.

"Polestar... lightning...by the Seers, Jazmin - this is a map of the Legion's destiny!" Nura exclaimed. "We have to tell the others, quickly - we'll need to find these future Legionnaires to battle this coming 'Night'!"

She started to dress, as Jazmin set the omnicom down and yawned again.

"Precogs. Can't live with 'em, too curious to get rid of 'em," the dark-skinned Xanthian time-manipulator groused.


  Chapter 1

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4/1/2999: Legion HQ, Weisinger Plaza, Metropolis, Earth: 07:15 hrs local:
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"...I'm telling you, he snuck out again last night."

Chuck Taine sighed, watching his girlfriend set up the leader election hypertext link program through the Legion's omnicoms, and asked, "Luornu, what can we do? Dirk's a legal adult."

"He's using his fans, Chuck!" Luornu Durgo growled. She triplicated, motioning her purple and orange selves to help her finish her work, and added, "Dirk is a sex addict. He's been running around almost every night since his father died and left him the Morgna family fortune, and I don't want the Legion to get splattered with the nass once the tabloids get wind of 'Sun Boy's Hot Escapades'."

"Have you talked to Mr. Brande or Colossal Boy?" Chuck asked.

Luornu-Neutral sighed, reintegrating as she replied, "No. Mr. Brande's been having his own problems, you know - Cham - and Gim's been slacking off these past few days, happy as can be that his stint as Legion leader is almost over. I don't mind playing Legion secretary, but playing cleanup after his bureaucratic slop is getting a little tiresome."

Chuck rubbed her shoulders and said, "Purple's showing."

"She'd show you a lot more if Orange and I didn't keep her in line," Luornu grinned lasviciously. "You're so sweet..."

"And you're three times the fun," Chuck smiled.

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"Grmmm..."

"Dirk? It's 7:30."

"NASS! Thanks, babe!" Dirk Morgna yelled, leaping from his latest conquest's bed. He ran into her sonic-shower, scrubbing fast under the auditory assault, and grabbed his Legion costume and belt before kissing the girl goodbye.

"B-but what about breakfast?" she called, tears welling as Dirk dressed.

"Call me!" Dirk yelled from the door. He slipped on his flight ring and took to the sky, not noticing the girl's sudden glower.

"You...you lech!" she sobbed. "You used me...nobody uses Sarya Daivan and gets away with it!"

She rose to get cleaned up, ignoring the green glow under her bed.

It flickered, as if blinking over some great eye, and vanished.

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"What do you MEAN, it's not your problem!? It's ALL our problems!!"

Nura Nal glared at Gim Allon as the size-boosting Legionnaire shrugged from behind the leader's desk and said, "Dream Girl, in under half an hour I'm going to be a rank and file Legionnaire again. I admit your visions have been very helpful, but I can't force the Legion to act on a dream when I'm a lame-dirj official."

"Gim, this isn't about your leadership," Nura snapped. "This is about direct symbolic connections to each Legionnaire on the team and several who are yet to join. We have to gather these people NOW, before this 'Night' menace I foresaw manifests in the physical plane. This isn't pseudoscientific claptrap, this is a dire need!"

"Hey, I respect Naltorian powers as much as the next person," Gim said. "Bring it up at the meeting, and we'll see what we can do from there."

"Fine," Nura sighed. "But -"

She froze, smiling, and said, "Well, what do you know...two of the missing are already back."

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They exited the cab, lugging bags, and started to walk towards the upside-down rocket ship. The dark-haired boy smiled hopefully at his red-headed female companion, who gave him a nervous wink.

"They'd be nuts to turn you away," the boy smiled. "You're the sister of one of their founders, for Grife's sake!"

"So much has changed, though, Brin," Ayla Ranzz sighed. She degravved her bags and knocked on the Legion's front door, adding, "It's been almost two months...I want to rejoin the Legion, but do they have -"

"Ayla? AYLA!!!"

Ayla shrieked with laughter and joy as Garth gave his twin sister a huge hug. "Grife, I missed you!" the red-headed Winathian lightning-caster whooped. "Are you OK? What's with the new powers? Where've you BEEN!?"

"I missed you too - let me get in the door, OK!?" Ayla laughed. Garth set her down, looking at her, then glanced at her companion.

"Garth Ranzz, AKA Lightning Lad, meet my friend Brin Londo of Zuun," Ayla smiled. "I helped Brin get over a little mutation problem - he's got enhanced regenerative abilities, hypersenses, enhanced reflexes and some enhanced strength. He'd make a great Legionnaire."

"Nice to meet you, Brin," Garth said softly. Brin shook his hand, nodding as he and the twins entered the Legion's front hall.

"Same here," Brin said cautiously. "Sorry...I'm still used to the outdoors. Nice place y'got here."

"We try," Garth grinned. He looked at Ayla and said, "We really do want you back, you know - and Brin can try out. We're holding another tryout today, with another set of planets entering the UP."

"Mother-God! How many members are we up to?" Ayla smiled. She gasped when they entered the meeting room to see it overflowing with costumed teens.

"AYLA! Sweet Mistress, it's been FOREVER!" Tinya Wazzo cheered, phasing through people and chairs to hug her friend. "You're staying, right? Luornu's triplicates keep buying up all the good stuff - I need you to help me fight her off when we go shopping."

"Like you're not too busy necking with Jo," Ayla grinned. "Imra! Keeping my brother in line?"

"Always - welcome home, Ayla," Imra Ardeen, the blonde Titanian telepath codenamed Saturn Girl, smiled. She rose to hug Ayla, as the Legion looked to see who was standing at the door.

"Oh - guys, Brin Londo of Zuun. He's got enhanced senses, regeneration, reflexes and strength," Ayla said, motioning Brin forward. "He helped me out when I got lost in the wilds of Zuun, and I helped him get cured of this whole werewolf mutation thing. I'd like to nominate him as a member...?"

"Uh...hi," Brin waved shyly. He found a seat beside Ayla, as Gim stood with a polite smile.

"As my last act as Legion leader, I'll accept Ayla's nomination of Brin as a probationary member," Gim said. "Any seconds?"

Garth's cybernetic right hand rose, and he smiled at Ayla as he said, "I'll second."

Ayla gave him a look of pure gratitude, then squeezed Brin's hand and whispered, "You're in. Trust me."

"I really appreciate it, Ayla. I won't let'cha down," the Zuunian boy whispered back. The room lit up with green lights from the omnicoms, and Gim turned to them with a smile.

"Welcome to the team, Brin," the sizeshifter said. "Any requests for a codename?"

"Er...Timber Wolf sounds good," Brin shrugged. "Any rulebook or anything?"

Ayla handed him an omnicom and said, "Just read this. Thoroughly. And get ready to vote for a new Legion leader - press the blue button to scroll through the names, then the red one to vote."

She blushed and added, "Uh...guys, I forgot. I didn't exactly request reinstatement..."

"We never filed your resignation," Rokk Krinn called from across the room. "Dream Girl said you'd be back, so we just put you on the reserves."

"Thanks Cosmic Boy, but who's Dream - Nura? You joined after all, huh?" Ayla smiled, waving at the Naltorian girl.

"Trust me, Ayla, this is where we're both supposed to be," Nura waved back. "I'll explain in a minute - Light Lass."

Ayla sighed and said, "I guess that's as good a code-name as I'm gonna get...what's next, Colossal Boy?"

"My official resignation as Legion leader, and a call for elections for both leader and deputy leader," Gim said, sitting down with relief. "Garth -?"

"Oh, yeah," Garth said, rising at an elbow from Imra. "I resign as deputy leader. Luornu, you ready?"

"Let the elections begin," Luornu called. The sound of buzzing omnicoms filled the air, as footsteps pounded their way into the room beneath a red and yellow blur.

"Sun Boy, present," Luornu muttered darkly. Dirk found a seat beside Jo Nah, who handed the pyrokinetic an omnicom with a smirk.

"Bad boy again?" Ultra Boy teased his friend.

"Hey, just 'cause you're monogamous doesn't mean we all gotta sit on our nasses," Dirk grinned. "Hmm...who to vote for..."

The holotank chimed as the last votes rang in, and Luornu blinked at the results. Her eye twitched as she coughed, "I... by the Trinity...HIM?"

"Lu?" Chuck asked, standing to take the Cargggite girl's hand. "Are you OK?"

Luornu wheezed, "Winning...MATTER-EATER LAD?"

The entire room went very quiet as Tenzil Kem stood with a silly smile.

"Well...wow," the Bismollian boy finally said. "I really appreciate it, folks. Looks like this month's gonna be interesting. Say, anyone got some spoiled milk to celebrate?"

Luornu sat down, her head in her hands as Chuck put an arm about her shoulders. "This is April Fools' Day, isn't it?" she pleaded. "Chuck, I love Tenzil like a brother, but this HAS to be a prank..."

"Well, the deputy leader's going to be interesting," Chuck gulped as the results changed.

"I...thanks, everyone," Rokk said, seeing his image appear beside the deputy leader vote.

"Well, now that that's settled," Nura said, standing, "I have some serious business to bring before the Legion. I had a prophetic dream last night, the results of which are Agenda Item A on your omnicoms. The poem is a transliteration of what I foresaw."

The holotank shifted, displaying the poem.

"Fascinating," Querl Dox called. "Brainy" stood, continuing, "There are definite reflections of existing Legionnaires in the piece. For example..."

He pressed a few buttons, drawing out passages of the poem as images of various Legionnaires flashed by.

"That leaves 10 unaccounted for at present," Brainiac 5 concluded. "Although, the missing 'son of right' could be an alliteration to Valor, whom we know remains in the Phantom Zone."

"And all of the rest are future Legionnaires," Nura said, turning to Tenzil. "The dream wasn't specific as to their identities, nor that of the 'Night' which is coming. But it's real, Matter-Eater Lad. We can't wait to let it come for us."

Tenzil nodded, taking a deep breath and looking around. Finally, he said, "Is there anything in the bylaws about maybe trading places with my deputy leader?"

"Aw, c'mon, Tenz! You aren't gonna wuss out now, are ya?" Jo called. Tinya rolled her eyes, but the Rimborian youth continued, "You can eat anything, but you ain't got th' guts t' face this?"

Tenzil smirked and said, "A born leader knows when to lead and when to eat out of the way, Ultra Boy. And I'm no born leader. Ohhh, ROKKY, DAH-LING...?"

"OK, OK," Rokk half-smiled. Tenzil tendered his resignation as leader, and the Braalian boy took Tenzil's place at the leader's seat.

"Well, if all those we don't have ID's for are going to be Legionnaires, maybe we should hold tryouts," Rokk suggested. "Maybe we'll attract the people we're looking for."

"Now there's some initiative," Nura smiled. "You're right, Cosmic Boy. 'Try out, and they will come.'"

"The movie was about baseball, Nura, not saving the universe," Zoe Saugin laughed, rolling her green eyes as she telekinetically played with her hair.

"Trust me, Kinetix," Nura winked, returning to her seat, "baseball is where this'll begin."

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He stepped off the orbital shuttle, smiling hopefully as he played with the baseball in his left hand.

#Metropolis,# the brown-haired boy thought. #If I'm gonna make a name for myself anywhere in the galaxy, it's here...#

"STOP! THIEF!"

The boy turned to see a misshapen figure bolt away from one of the convenience stores, and he concentrated. Greyish energy flickered about the youth's hands, dragging the thief down to the ground.

"Nice, kid - gravity intensification?" one of the Science Police officers who cuffed the thief asked.

"Yes, ma'am," the boy smiled. "Thom Kallor, baseball star and former superhero with the Xanthu Amazers."

"Former, huh?" the young red-haired woman said. "You know, baseball's fun, but there's another game in town you might want to try out for..."

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She parried his blow, crafting a wall from thin air as they weaved, bobbed and sparred before their hosts.

"OK!" Rokk called, nodding as the young white-haired girl and her gi-clad, dark-haired male sparring companion bowed to the collected Legionnaires.

"Her Majesty Jeka Winzorr of Orando, and Val Armorr of Earth - you've each demonstrated control of your powers or learned abilities, and fairness, honor and courage in combat," Legion founder R.J. Brande beamed. "I'm proud to announce that both of you have been selected as Legionnaires."

Jeka's face lit up, and she curtseyed to Val as he bowed to her. "An honor indeed, brave knight," the Orandan princess said.

"You do me honor, m'lady," Val said, taking her hand as they walked to meet their new teammates. "Mayhaps I might ask a boon?"

"Only if I get to spend more time with you," Jeka smiled.

Val's eyes lit with hope as he breathed, "You know my secrets before I dare speak them, Your Majesty."

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"NO! NONONO!"

"Tasmia..." Vazhor Mallor sighed, watching his daughter pace the floor of the Meeting Hall of Talok VIII. "You're the planetary champion, and -"

"Send Grev," Tasmia demanded, her blue skin blushing violet as she played with shadows. "Father, I'm needed HERE! There are serious threats to Talok VIII, the Legionnaires can defend the galaxy!"

"I think she just doesn't want to leave home," her cousin Grev chuckled. Tasmia shot him a deadly look, but saw her father's determination and sighed.

"OK," the girl muttered. "For Talok. But I don't have to like it."

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"Reroute the secondary power flow..."

"Burroughs, if you'd shut UP for a moment, I'd do that!" Dr. Zyrtak Vrasyk growled to his lab assistant. The magnetic field holding their antimatter plasma rippled, and the boy manning the emergency station blinked.

"Sir," Drake Burroughs called, "the field -"

"Is going through a variance," Vrasyk said, waving his hand. "It's -"

He screamed horribly quickly as the field collapsed.

"Oh my Grife," Drake moaned, seeing energy come for him.

The satellite imploded a second later.

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She gasped, the space about her folding for a heartbeat.

#Great Spirit, where -!?# the yellow-clad, umber-skinned girl thought in surprise. Metal surrounded her as her wings beat, and she found herself facing unfamiliar stars.

#One second I was looking at that spatial anomaly near Starhaven, and now...now I'm lost,# she thought, looking below her at the unfamiliar world. #And -#

She repressed a second gasp as an orangish ball of energy approached. It seemed to ripple, and the girl slowly nodded.

"Well then, my enigmatic friend, Dawnstar greets you - whatever you are," the girl tried to smile.


  Chapter 2

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4/1/2999: Legion HQ: Monitor Room: 09:00 hrs local:
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"Sweet sprock..."

"Tinya!?" Rokk exclaimed, blushing, as the Bgztlian girl called up a list of the emergencies appearing on the various monitor screens.

"Well? We've got that exploded science station at L-3, this report of a Khund incursion near Xanthu, two MORE applicants - three, pardon me - downstairs, and this Mistress-forsaken THING running around," Tinya groused. "I miss the days when the worst we had to worry about was Tenzil's stomach rumbling, Cos."

"We've all got to grow up sometime, Tinya," Rokk smiled. "And we've got teams working on all the problems - Imra took Ayla and Timber Wolf to see if they can help the SPs with that exploded satellite, and most of the new recruits are going with Kid Quantum to investigate the Khund attack."

"No offense, Rokk, but is sending Karate Kid, Sensor Girl, Star Boy and Nemesis Kid a good idea? They've been members for under an hour," Tinya asked.

"They're all competent - otherwise they wouldn't be Legionnaires," Rokk said confidently. "We have to have faith, Tinya. Otherwise, all the new members in the world won't -"

"Make a difference?" Brainiac 5 called from the entrance. Rokk and Tinya turned to see Brainy standing behind them with a stern look, Laurel looking over one of his shoulders.

"That 'thing' is incredibly dangerous," the Coluan genius said darkly. "Long-range sensor scans indicate it is somehow composed of hydrogen, with a rudimentary nervous system composed of pure energy. Such a life-form could only exist upon either hydrogen-rich interstellar clouds, or upon stars - extinguishing them in the process."

"But we can stop it, right?" Laurel asked her boyfriend.

"We have to, Laurel," Brainy said, looking up at her. "Because it is riding magnetic currents from the heliopause in a reverse direction."

"The heliopause - what system's heliopause, Brainy?" Rokk asked, feeling a knot form in his stomach.

"This one," Brainy said.

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~Oh, Lords - guys, hurry up with that search,~ Imra called from the Legion cruiser investigating the debris of the exploded science satellite. ~We've got to get back and help deal with a serious threat to the entire solar system.~

~On it, Imra,~ Ayla thought back. She looked to where Brin was pointing, and said over their telepathic earplugs, "What is it?"

"I swore I saw somethin' movin' out there - not driftin' like the metal," Brin frowned. The Legionnaires gasped as an umber-skinned girl with long black hair and a yellow costume approached cautiously, angelic wings on her back.

She regarded the Legionnaires with a quizzical smile, then extended her hands palm upward. Ayla repeated the gesture, calling, "Imra, can you make psi-contact? I don't think she's from around here."

"I can - oh! Don't worry - she's definitely a visitor, but she's not malevolent," Imra called. "Her name is Dawnstar - I've explained the Legion in a nutshell, and she needs a telepathic earplug."

Ayla complied, handing Dawnstar a spare earplug, and smiled as the girl said, "Thank you. I'm glad to see someone besides that ball of energy out here - may I ask where I am?"

"In the Sol system, in the Orion Spiral Arm of the Milky Way Galaxy," Ayla replied. "I'm Ayla Ranzz, or Light Lass, and this is Brin Londo, also called Timber Wolf. We're Legionnaires like Imra -"

"It's nice to meet you both," Dawnstar said. "Sorry for the interruption, but that odd ball of energy is approaching."

The teens watched as the orange-colored energy sphere approached, but Imra called, "It's sentient! Lords, it - it was the assistant researcher out here! Somehow the blast turned him into coherent anti-energy!"

"Whoa!" Brin yelled, watching the ball enter the Legion cruiser's opening cargo bay. "Sure we can hold that critter, Saturn Girl?"

"His name is Drake Burroughs, Timber Wolf," Imra called, somewhat coldly. "He's not a critter. Now, let's get going - Dawnstar, I'd like to invite you to come with us, until we can help you find a way home if you want."

"Thank you," Dawnstar said. She followed Ayla and Brin aboard the cruiser, smiling softly.

#Return home? When there are incredible research opportunities among you? I don't think so, my new friends...#

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"The good news is, we can deal with the 'Sun-Eater,' as the wags at the Metropolis Xenozoological Research Center have termed it," Brainy told the assembled Legionnaires remaining on Earth.

He held aloft a silvery sphere studded with sensors and a control panel and said, "This absorbatron bomb will release a surge of neutrons designed to interfere with the fusion reactions powering the Sun-Eater. The problem lies in getting it inside the creature."

"Or gettin' someone close enough t'deliver the bomb, right, Greenie?" the newest Legionnaire chuckled from beneath a metal mask. The others turned to see Andrew Nolan stand and continue, "Sounds like you need someone for a long bomb."

The others groaned, and Tenzil muttered, "I gotta help this guy with his dialogue..."

"Seriously, Ferro Lad, we're planning to have Andromeda fly the bomb into the Sun-Eater while Sun Boy runs interference," Brainy replied acerbically. "They, with Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad and yourself, will rendezvous with Saturn Girl's team at the asteroid belt to intercept the Sun-Eater and exterminate it."

"D-doesn't it bother you, Brainy, killing something like that?" Violet called, swallowing hard.

Brainy gave her a sympathetic look and said, "Normally, Violet, I would do what I could to trap the creature and study it. But the Sun-Eater poses far too great a threat to the galaxy to -"

He was cut off by a horrific scream.

"Nura!?" Luornu gasped, her triplicates trying to comfort the shivering Dream Girl. The Naltorian shook her head, motioning Luornu back, and she rose.

"The Sun-Eater is the first manifestation of the Night I foresaw," Nura said, forcing herself to relax. "And...a Legionnaire will not return from this mission."

Murmurs swept the room until Rokk called, "OK, people - we can't stop now. I respect Dream Girl's power, but we have to stop the Sun-Eater...no matter what."

He lead the way to the hangar, trying not to hear Dirk mutter, "Well, at least leader-boy's not hidin' behind a desk..."

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INTERLUDE THE FIRST:
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#He used me. Like an old rag...#

She stood, letting power flood her, as the orb floated above.

#Well, Dirk darling, no one throws away Sarya Daivan...#

Emerald energy danced across her, reshaping and strengthening.

#Or, as you'll learn...#

Her eyes shot open, purest verdant rage.

#The Emerald Empress. And her friends...#

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INTERLUDE THE SECOND:
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"You heard me," the shadowed figure told the gathered criminals. "I want you to kill the Legionnaires headed to kill the Sun-Eater."

"Are you NUTS?" the half-man, half-robot leader of the group asked their client. "If the Sun-Eater isn't stopped -"

"You can use the absorbatron bomb the Legionnaires are carrying," the client replied hastily. "Just kill their founders, and the rest shall follow."

"Tharok's got a point," a black-skinned being with ornate clothes and a glowing right hand said. "We'll have to time this just right if we're to kill those brats."

"C'mon, Mano! We ain't the Fatal Four for nothin'!" a towering, masked man with a glowing axe snorted. "We're one o' the best rackets in th' assassin biz, right, Mordecai?"

The towering stone-like humanoid in the background grunted incoherently, but Tharok just nodded.

"The Persuader's right, Mano," the cyborg slowly grinned. "Although I must confess, I never expected to be hired to kill the U.P.'s living symbols -

"Madame President."

Trana Cho stepped from the shadows and smiled coldly.

"Oh, trust me, Mr. Tharok," she said, handing him a bag full of credits, "this is just the beginning."

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The stargate rippled open, allowing the Legion cruiser to approach Xanthu at a slow speed.

"Hailing Xanthu - Monstress? Atmos?" Thom Kallor, now also known as Star Boy, called over the comm system. "Nass! Nothing, Jazmin!"

"When is there anything, Thom?" Jazmin Cullen, AKA Kid Quantum II, sniffed. She adjusted the autopilot and called, "Everyone OK back there?"

"A bit cramped, but otherwise well," Val Armorr - Karate Kid - replied. "The rations were far better than what I have been subsisting upon during my travels."

"I am glad, also, of a variety of foods," Jeka Wynzorr said, smiling at Val. "I was hoping to be treated the same as any Legionnaire, and I am."

"Well, I hope you're getting used to it, Jeka," Jazmin half-smiled. "We're -"

The cruiser shook, and a cry from the rear cabin made Thom and Jazmin look behind them.

"You can get used to pain, Legionnaires," Nemesis Kid smiled evilly, standing over Karate Kid's motionless body. "I feigned the Khundish alert from Xanthu - but they are coming. And when I deliver you to the Khund High Council, I will have a planet to rule."

He snorted as a giant snake loomed over him, punching through it to strike Sensor Girl down.

"Foolish, Your Majesty," the blond boy spat at the moaning white-haired girl. "I can adapt to any one power, and defeat its wielder -"

He gave a bellow as a leg slammed into his stomach.

"I wield no power, traitor," Val coughed, rising from the floor. "All I have is skill. Let us see if you can adapt to THIS."

"Take him - uh-oh," Thom gulped as a shape filled the viewscreens.

A Khundish battlewagon loomed over the cruiser, while grunts and the sound of fists on flesh filled the cabin.


  Chapter 3

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4/1/2999: Somewhere between Earth and Mars: 09:30 hrs Metropolis time:
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"We've matched speed and trajectory with Imra's cruiser," Garth told Rokk. The red-headed boy sighed and added, "I can't get Dream Girl's warning out of my mind..."

"I know. It's not bad enough we lost Lyle and James, but to have this whole 'Night' prediction floating over our heads...it kinda sprocks," Dirk muttered from the com station.

"And who here would know more about sprocking?" Garth grinned at the pyrokinetic. "What's her name, pal?"

"This week?" Dirk grinned back.

"It's not exactly something to be proud of, you know," Rokk frowned at Dirk. "It's dangerous, Dirk. There are diseases -"

"And cures, big man," Dirk said confidently. "There ain't the babe alive who can take -"

The cruiser shook as a flare of emerald light appeared before it, and Garth hit the retrorockets. "Holy nass! There's a girl out there!" he yelled.

Laurel and Andrew ran into the cockpit as a female voice filled the aether with a cold laugh. "Miss me, Dirk? Or am I too different now that I'm not just another flunky along your road to fame?" the voice spat.

"Sarya...?" Dirk gulped.

The others gasped as he vanished in a flare of green light, and the chuckle returned.

"Go ahead, Legionnaires. Don't let me keep you from saving the Earth," the girl laughed. "I've got a business proposition to attend to first. But don't worry - you'll see Sun Boy again. In what condition, however, I won't promise..."

The cruiser shook as the green light vanished, and Garth yelled, "Holy nass! We're right on top of the Sun Eater! But what about -"

"No time now, Sparky," Andrew interrupted. "Without Dirk to light up the night and draw Big, Gaseous and Ugly out there away from the sun, we'll hafta stop it here before it gets any closer. And that calls for the toughest Legionnaire to do the job!"

He grabbed the absorbatron bomb, arming it, and opened the nearest airlock. "Come back for me when the smoke clears!" Andrew yelled, slamming the hatch shut.

"ANDREW! NO!" Rokk yelled. He tried to open the airlock as the sound of its cycling filtered back to the remaining Legionnaires, but a firm hand grasped his arm.

"Cos, think! If you tear open the 'lock now, you'll space yourself and Garth!" Laurel pleaded. "Ferro Lad's already -"

"Mother-God, no," Garth called. Rokk and Laurel ran into the cockpit, watching a metallic figure fall into the Sun-Eater.

A flash of light filled their field of view, and the Sun-Eater quaked. Pinkish gas started to spew from it, and a final flash ripped past them.

"Grife... Garth, is there...is there any sign?" Rokk asked, watching a second Legion cruiser approach off the port side.

"N-nothing," Garth whispered, going ashen. "The Sun-Eater's gone...but so is Ferro Lad."

---------------------------------------------------------

He awoke to agony.

"OK, I gotta admit you're effective, but d'ya gotta make him scream like that?" a grunt of a male voice filled Dirk's ears.

Something grabbed his hair, making him give a moan, and green eyes and hair filled his field of vision.

"Dirk likes screaming, don't you, Dirk?" Sarya spat. "Scream for the Emerald Empress and her new friends, Dirk."

And he did.

---------------------------------------------------------

"S-sweet Mother-God..."

Brin held Ayla close as the Legion gathered around their main table, the image of Ferro Lad hanging in mid-air from the holoprojector.

"Good Grife, what is this!? The sprocking 'shortest-membership' contest!?" Jo snapped. "First Lyle, then James betrays us, and now Ferro Lad suicides!"

"He died for a reason," Rokk said hollowly.

#Sprocked if I know WHY, but he died for a reason,# the magnokinetic tried to convince himself. #And...#

He took a deep breath and called, "Guys...we still have to find Dirk."

"Is there really a reason?" Luornu-Purple muttered, hugging the distraught Luornu-Orange while Luornu-Neutral put an arm around Chuck.

"He's still a Legionnaire!" Garth insisted, letting Imra squeeze his organic hand. "I know he's a jerk, but he's OUR jerk! We've lost one too many Legionnaires today as is!"

"Oh, I wouldn't say THAT..."

The Legion looked up to see the holo-image shift to show a bald, male, half-organic, half-robotic face leering at them.

"Tharok is my name," the being sneered. "My associates and I were cheated of fulfilling our contract on you Legionnaires' lives. However, our newest member has allowed us to proceed under a slightly different arrangement."

The image shifted to show Dirk hanging from a wall in a tattered version of his uniform. He shrieked as a green glow surrounded him, and a green-haired girl in a skimpy costume filled the field of view with a wicked smile.

"Hi, Legion-jerks," she smiled. "We're the Fatal Five. Consider us your worst nightmare. Tharok's the head of our little group, and I'm the Emerald Empress - Dirky-poo's ex. Then there's Mano, the Persuader, and Mordecai."

The image switched back to Tharok, who smiled unnervingly and said, "The Old Quarter of Metropolis. Noon. Bring as many Legionnaires as you like. But come, or your pal ends up in pieces."

The holo switched off as Gim yelled, "Nass! I wasn't able to get a lock on the source!"

"It doesn't matter," Rokk said, coldly. The others looked at him as he stood, pacing, and gazed back at them.

"I know we're hurting from Ferro Lad's...sacrifice," Rokk began. "And that Sun Boy can be conceited, chauvenistic and arrogant. But Dirk's still one of us, like Garth said. And the Fatal Five aren't going to stop with just us...unless we stop them. I won't make any of you come with me, but I'm going to try and rescue Sun Boy and stop the Fatal Five -"

The room filled with raised hands.

"I think I speak for all of us, Rokk," Imra said with a small smile.

"Let's go kick some nass."

---------------------------------------------------------

"Well," Brainy said, checking the suit, "how's that, Mr. Burroughs?"

"Name's Drake, Dox," the mobile mining suit replied with a snort. "It" rose from the med-lab table, then flexed "its" gloved hands and looked in a mirror.

"Or Wildfire, I guess."

"A suitable code-name for a being of living anti-energy," Brainy nodded, scanning Wildfire as he stood.

Burroughs looked at Brainy and growled, "Let's get something straight, you cold-hearted Coluan bastard. I'm not ALIVE. And I'm not some damned science experiment. I want my body back, and until you find a way to fix whatever the hell happened to me, I'm stuck in this suit. So don't get too possessive of me, got it?"

Brainy arched an eyebrow as Drake stormed out of the lab, finally replying, "That went well, didn't it, COMPUTO?"

[BREEP: As well as could be expected, Creator], a nearby computer replied.


  Chapter 4

WARNING: Violence...hey, they ARE the Fatal Five...

-------------------------------------------------------
4/1/2999: Somewhere in Metropolis' Old Quarter: noon:
-------------------------------------------------------

"What a sprockin' dump," the Persuader snorted. He paced the floor of the warehouse, ignoring the moans coming from the guards sprawled on the floor.

"y...you'll never...get - GYEEEEEAAAAAAAGGHHH!"

#Damn, she's nasty when she's riled,# the Persuader thought, flinching behind his mask at the screams coming from the back wall.

The Emerald Empress floated serenely off the floor, giving Sun Boy a critical glance before sneering.

"You sap. You went for hours when I was poor little Sarya," the Empress spat, slapping Dirk across the face. "Now, you're just like most other men: weak and quick, in and out like a light."

#That,# the Persuader thought, trying to ignore the next round of screams, #is not a lady I wanna get -#

"Wake up, axe-boy," Tharok ordered, walking by quickly. "I'm picking up -"

He bellowed as lightning blasted in through the skylight, cascading into him.

"HOLY NASS!" the Persuader shouted, looking up to see Legionnaires flood the warehouse. "Empress, do somethin'!"

"Oh, with pleasure," the Empress grinned evilly. The Emerald Eye swung upwards, but its mistress screamed with rage as the Eye's blast was blocked by a different green energy field.

"The Jolly Green Dirjette is mine!" Kinetix shouted, grappling with the Empress.

"Take a target, any target, people!" Cosmic Boy replied, pulling at the Persuader's Atomic Axe with magnetic force. "Remember, hard and fast!"

"Y...you're...meat, punks," Tharok snarled, starting to stand. He bellowed again when a red and green blur slammed into him, hurling something black and white his way.

"Not in this life, scrap-man," Phantom Girl hissed. She phased through Tharok, sending him to the floor in a fetal position while Ultra Boy blasted the cyborg's metal joints with flash vision.

"Fused solid," Jo grinned at Tinya. "Yo, Andromeda! Need any -"

Mordecai's scream of pain made even Wildfire flinch as he struggled with Mano.

"Grife, Laurel, did you have to send the big guy through the roof?" Light Lass winced.

The blonde Daxamite gave Ayla a vicious grin and replied, "I'm in a mood. Losing Ferro Lad to the sprocking Sun-Eater is the last loss we're gonna chalk up today. Speaking of which - EMPRESS! YOU'RE MINE, YOU WITCH!"

"Not - yet, Laurel!" Zoe called, forcing the Empress' hands to her sides. "Give it up, Empress!"

"You little FOOL! The Emerald Eye of Ekron possesses powers you vapid little UP cheerleaders can't even dream of!" the Empress raged. "Eye, KILL KINETIX!"

Zoe looked behind herself, going pale as the Eye's unblinking gaze pierced her very soul.

And drifted to her side, wringing a scream from the Empress.

"YOU'RE MINE! YOU PROMISED ME!" the Empress howled. "STOP THIS!"

~Eye am no one's, Sarya Daivan,~ the Eye replied in both Zoe and Sarya's minds. ~Perhaps Kinetix deserves Eye more? She is the stronger...~

~Yes...~ Zoe thought over the rapport, closing her eyes. Emerald seemed to flow through her mind, caressing her in ecstasy...

"ZOE! FIGHT IT!"

"Huh?" Zoe said, her eyes snapping open as Sarya struggled free of the Legionnaire's telekinetic grasp. The Empress flew away, grinning.

And screamed in agony as flame consumed her.

"YOU SPROCKING DOG!" Dirk screamed, flying up to punch Sarya in the jaw. "No one tortures ME! You good for nothing little - GRN - AIE - AAAAAAAAAAAGH!"

The Eye flew back beside Sarya, encasing her in green light as she kicked Dirk between the legs. "Suffer...little man..." the Empress panted, her burns regenerating rapidly. "This...isn't over...unlike you after a few Silverales..."

"Y-CHAGK - you're no great ride either, dirj," Dirk wheezed, falling to the floor.

"Lover's quarrels. Gotta love'em," Wildfire sniffed, blasting Mano across the room. "Come on, glow-boy! Gimme a challenge here!"

"You pathetic little FOOLS!" Mano cackled. He swung his hand over a box covered with red emblems and called, "Empress! Strategic retreat! And Legionnaire flambe!"

"Agreed," the Empress nodded, emerald light flaring from her and the Eye to consume them, Tharok and the axe-less Persuader. A similar glow surrounded Mano as he touched the box, bringing a look of horror to Rokk's face.

"Someone stop Mano! That's a fusion powersphere!" Rokk shouted -

- as the entire building filled with flame..

-------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile, back along the Khundish frontier, and about
three Terran hours earlier (or, with the Legionnaires
your humble narrator FORGOT about last chapter - WHOOPS!):
-------------------------------------------------------

"Traitor!"

"Fool!"

"Guys, the Khunds have us in their tractor beam!" Star Boy yelled back to the brawling Karate Kid and Nemesis Kid. The Legion cruiser shook with resistance as Kid Quantum took the controls, her face twisting in defiance.

"Those sprocking animals won't take us if I can help it!" Jazmin snarled. "Thom, get that backstabbing Druiter down!"

"As if he could," Hart Druiter sneered. He ducked Karate Kid's foot and grasped Thom by the throat, grinning as the Xanthian boy started to glow and gag.

"Almost Daxamite in your powers, aren't you?" Nemesis Kid sneered. "Wait - what -"

"Let'cha...counter my...comet powers," Thom spat. "You - GAUUGH - forgot my - GRNN - grav-power!"

Val and Jeka watched, shocked, as Nemesis Kid glowed an eerie gray and fell through the suddenly-buckling floor of the cruiser.

"AAUGH!" Thom moaned, hitting his knees as the auto-repair systems kicked in. "I think...he erased my...strength an' flight an' invulnerability an' other powers I got from the comet."

"The Khunds're breaking off and going after Druiter!" Jazmin called triumphantly. "And that leaves their backsides exposed! EAT PLASMA, NASS-BAGS!"

The cruiser shook with the launch of raw superheated matter, slamming into the rear of the Khund battlewagon. The Khundish vehicle started to visibly spark, and limped off as Jazmin turned the Legion cruiser towards Xanthu.

"Nice shooting, Jaz," Thom smiled. "Sorry about interrupting the fight, Val..."

"There will be a next time, Star Boy," Val said, finding a seat beside Jeka. "And I am just glad you are all right. But what do we do now?"

"Get home - and I don't mean Xanthu," Jazmin said, checking the com. "We've got some serious problems back there...and Ferro Lad's dead..."


  Chapter 4

---------------------------------------------------------
4/5/2999: Legion HQ, Metropolis: 09:00 hrs local:
---------------------------------------------------------

"Oh, I don't know, Dirk - attempted murder is probably grounds for dismissal, at LEAST!?"

Dirk flinched under Gim's sarcastic remark, but Rokk held up a hand and called for order in the meeting room.

"Gim, that was out of line," Rokk frowned. "Dirk was the victim of torture, and we can't hope to judge whether he was under duress or not. We weren't there."

"That doesn't mean," the Braalian continued, giving Dirk a concerned look, "that we can condone trying to kill foes, even if they do horrible things to us. The Legion isn't about revenge, Dirk."

"I ... understand, Cos," Dirk mumbled.

"Good," Rokk nodded. "Now, Dream Girl - you had a report?"

"We're approaching a nexus point, Cosmic Boy - the Gathering of the 30 must take place in the next 24 hours, or all is lost," Nura said, standing. "The final three members we seek are rapidly approaching, but I can't see beyond midnight tonight."

"You mean something is blocking your foresight?" Brainy asked.

Nura pierced him with a nervous stare and replied, "I mean, something of such cosmic significance will take place tonight that I cannot see past it. Or ... time may simply cease after tonight."

The collected Legionnaires shuddered or mumbled.

And then the lights went out.

---------------------------------------------------------

"DANIELLE!?"

Jacques Foccart watched in horror as his younger sister dug around in the exposed terminal access on the outside of Legion Headquarters.

"This artificial intelligence is just fascinating, Jacques!" the dark-skinned girl smiled over her shoulder. "I really - whoops. Environmental controls went off. There we go -"

"WHAT are you two doing?" a stern voice asked the teens.

Jacques repressed a groan as Colossal Boy approached, looming over them with a cold stare.

"Pardon, m'sieu," Jacques began. "My sister has a pathological addiction to computers."

"Probably stems from my cyberkinetic power," Danielle said apologetically. "We're the Foccarts - we came to apply for Legion membership?"

"Oh," Gim said, shrinking. "Well, you'd sure fit the bill as far as uniqueness, Miss Foccart. What about you - I'm sorry, your name?"

"I'm Jacques, and this is Danielle. We met at Lyle's funeral," Jacques said, shaking Gim's hand.

"Oh! I remember now - you're Lyle's spy friend," Gim said. "Sorry - we've just had a lot going on."

"Totally understandable," Danielle said politely as Gim escorted the Foccarts into the headquarters. "We heard about that Fatal Five mess - lucky your telekinetic shunted the explosion into the atmosphere."

"Luck had nothing to do with that," Gim smiled. "Zoe - Kinetix - is one of the most powerful members of the team. We're lucky to have her - Cos! You remember Jacques and Danielle Foccart?"

"Welcome to Legion HQ," Rokk said, greeting the newcomers. "We had a little hiccup with the power, but I think things are back to normal."

"Actually, that was my fault," Danielle said softly. "I'm sorry. My cyberkinesis got a little out of hand."

Rokk's eyes widened as Jacques faded out of sight, reappearing with a sheepish smile. "And my invisibility power has some odd side effects," Jacques added.

"You know, we could use both of you," Rokk said softly. "Let me -"

"Them! Cosmic Boy, they're two of the three we're missing!"

The Foccarts looked oddly at Dream Girl, who came running up with a large smile. "You don't know me, but trust me - you're both needed to help save the universe," she told them.

"Well ... with a sales pitch like that, how can we refuse?" Danielle smiled.

"I would if I had a choice," a bitter voice replied. The Legionnaires and the Foccarts turned to see a blue-skinned girl enter the room, a contemptuous sneer on her face.

"Tasmia Mallor, AKA Shadow Lass, Legionnaire from Talok VIII, blah blah blah," the girl muttered. "Where do I sign in?"

"Yes, we need her too," Nura shrugged to Gim as the size-shifter looked pleadingly at her.

---------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile ...
---------------------------------------------------------

She ducked another spell-globe, keeping to the shadows as she approached the portal chamber.

#Depraved old nass-head,# the red-haired girl thought. She repressed her anger, weaving a magickal countersign against the door-guards, and entered her husband's transport system.

#I'll give him this - he respects my body, if not my emotions,# the girl thought. #But I'll not allow his plans to harm others. And besides, he's more than 1,000 and I'm 13. I want MY future, thank you!?#

She found the proper portal, whispering the correct password, and stepped through it.

And somewhere, far above, a winged hat was placed upon a white-crowned head.

---------------------------------------------------------

"Trust me," Nura said, looking over the Legionnaires, "this is it."

The teens had gathered outside Legion HQ, trying to ignore the media and the gawkers who had assembled to watch them prepare for whatever it was that Nura had foreseen.

"Nura, the prophecy was pretty vague," Rokk asked. "I mean, you've been right before, but -"

"Cosmic Boy, trust me," Nura insisted. "The final piece is almost in place. This is it."

The air rippled, and the Legionnaires turned to see a white-robed, red-haired girl step amidst them.

"Well, this isn't Zarrox anymore," she said in oddly-accented Interlac, looking around. "I'm Mysa Nal - I was wondering if you know a good lawyer? I need a divorce."

"MYSA!?" Nura shrieked joyfully.

"NURA?!" Mysa shrieked back.

They ran to hug each other, drawing looks of surprise from the Legionnaires.

"Oh my Grife - my sister's back!" Nura cried, laughing. "She's the final person we need!"

"SISTER!?" the other Legionnaires yelled.

"Well, Grife, who else're we gonna let join?" Tenzil smirked. "Yeti Lad?"

"Seriously, Tenzil, Mysa is a white witch - a magic-user who works along the forces of light and goodness," Nura insisted. "And since her powers are learned, they qualify as innate."

"We could use a mystic," Rokk nodded. "But, Mysa, you mentioned needing a divorce?"

"Oh, yeah - from him," Mysa winced, pointing to where a vast transportal flashed open over Legion HQ.

The crowds ran screaming as one giant foot descended, crushing the central part of the headquarters and permitting a towering figure to stride into Weisinger Plaza.

He wore black pants and a purple tunic, various amulets and necklaces adorning him. A long white beard descended from his face, with white hair curled up under a tall winged hat. Purple eyes took in the Legionnaires with a glare of contempt.

"WHERE IS MY BRIDE!? I DEMAND SHE STICK TO THE PRE-NUPTIAL AGREEMENT!" the immense mage demanded.

"You'll never get the Eye, Mordru, you overgrown egomaniac!" Mysa yelled back. "Ekron is no power to go messing with!"

"Ekron - you've got the Emerald Eye!? But I thought Sarya Daivan was the Emerald Empress!" Kinetix cried.

"What? Oh - that must be the second Eye," Mysa shrugged. "The one I know about, I locked up in a pocket universe just in case Tall, Insane and Lacking Fashion Sense ever got the nerve to try and conquer the galaxy."

"What," Tenzil shuddered, "is with that hat? It's bad enough Mordru stepped on our headquarters, but to do it in that hat? That sprocks!"

"YOU SNIVELLING BISMOLLIAN WHELP! HOW DARE YOU INSULT MY POOR, DEFENSELESS HAT!" Mordru bellowed. "TASTE COLD MAGICKS!"

The Legion scattered as force blasts leapt from Mordru's fingers, but Mysa grinned wickedly.

"You want the Eye, Mor-dud? You GOT the Eye!" the girl taunted. She made complex motions with her fingers and whistled, nodding as an Emerald Eye appeared from thin air to blast the towering wizard with verdant energies.

"Awright, Mysa!" Chuck cheered, watching Mordru start to shrink. "Er - can the Eye do it alone?"

"No. We need to entomb him - he won't suffocate, but his claustrophobia will leave him in a trance," Mysa said. "Your headquarters would work, but -"

"But it's almost pure inertron," Laurel frowned. "I've had a nass of a time even denting the outside. And maniac there steps on it!?"

Nura snapped her fingers and said, "'Lost son of light' - Mysa! We need a Spell of Summoning! If each of the Legionnaires gave a little life-force -"

"It would work," Mysa agreed. "But why a Spell of Summoning?"

"Trust me," Nura smiled, whispering in Mysa's ear before turning back to the Legionnaires and saying, "We need a hero of legend now. And one person fits the bill."

Mysa shrugged, looking as the Legionnaires joined hands and formed a circle around her. "Well, if you insist," the young mage said.

She began to chant, the Legionnaires glowing with every word. Mordru bellowed, swatting the Eye away, but stepped back from the light the circle started to generate.

"Hear me, O Lost Son of Daxam! Come unto us in our hour of need!" Mysa shouted. The light leapt into her -

- upwards -

- and struck the sky, flaring bright as a ssupernova.

"How droll, child," Mordru sneered, starting to grow again. "Fireworks -"

He roared as a red and blue streak slammed into him, forcing him downward.

"By the Trinity ...!?" Luornu gasped.

"It isn't POSSIBLE ..." Brainy mumbled.

Dirk gave a horrific curse and fainted.

Mordru struggled to his feet, looking at the youth kneeling before him in a red and blue outfit.

The boy looked up, blue eyes narrowing at the sight of the wizard, and stood defiantly.

"Your name, my foe," Mordru sneered.

"Lar Gand, evil one," the boy replied, steel in his voice. "You can call me Valor."

Mordru went to make a gesture, but was sent flying back by one punch from Valor's hand. He turned to look at the Legionnaires, smiling in recognition, and called, "You guys OK?"

"Are we OK!? OK!?" Luornu wheezed, prostrating herself at Valor's feet. "You're BACK! It's the Second Coming!"

"Oh Grife," Valor winced. "uhm - can this wait until after we've beaten the bad guy?"

"Quickly, Valor - wrap him in the ruins of the headquarters!" Nura called. "We have to entomb Mordru before he regains power!"

"Ah, a quaint - wait - my hat!? WHERE IS MY HAT!!!" Mordru raged, rising.

He screamed at the sudden sound of chewing.

"Mmmm ... felt," Tenzil said, blushing as he belched.

"INFIDEL!!!" Mordru raged. He stretched out his hand -

- and roared as inertron started to surrounnd him.

"Jan! Fuse it solid!" Rokk yelled to Element Lad.

"You got it," the Trommite orphan nodded. He blasted the sphere with grey energy, turning it to pure inertron as Valor kept adding chunks of debris.

"Yes ... yes ... YES! He's out like a light," Mysa smiled. "It's over! And the best part is, I can get an annullment and he can't do anything!"

"But ... our headquarters," Violet gulped. "It's flat ..."

"Not as flat as this hat - BLECCH," Tenzil groaned. "Anyone got any salt?"


---------------------------------------------------------
Finis ;)
---------------------------------------------------------