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#3

"Confrontations"

By Dave Marshall

 

Metropolis, Earth. Legion Headquarters

The Legionnaire known as Shikari clung to the shadows as if they were a path she chose for a journey. She waited patiently for two Science Police officers to pass before moving on. She felt dirty for doing so, like those her Legion teammates brought to justice. But there was no other way. This Metropolis was different and she was unable to make sense of the differences on her own, though her ancestors knew she tried. Never before did she feel more like a Lonestar, the name Enkenet, the matriarch of her tribe, branded her with.

The world she knew ceased to exist when the Persuader's Atomic Axe exploded. One minute she and her Legion teammates were with the Teen Titans from the twenty-first century and the next reality changed. Along the way she was separated from the Legion.

Her gut instinct assured her the Legion was still alive. It wasn't like when the Progeny deleted Kamlos and Reos for being variants. She felt them cross the distant threshold of their final path. The Legionnaires took a different path and were still alive. Somewhere.

Even her powers seemed confused by the new Earth. And it was Earth - the same magnetic field, the same axis, even the lay of the land seemed to fit. However it wasn't quite the same either. She retreated from the city to the Great Wild of the north to make sense of the world in which she was stranded. She understood less each day.

From time to time she ventured into the city for information. However, her forays into civilization confused her even more. She knew so little about her own Legion and their world even before she was separated from them. Her limited knowledge of the world she left behind complicated matters when it came to understanding her new surroundings. What was normal?

On her first visit to Metropolis she encountered a pleasant-looking Science Police officer who seemed intrigued by her anatomy. Shikari explained that she was Kwai. He said he knew of no tribe called Kwai. She recalled the look of disgust on his face though when she asked about the Legion. He called them a pack of underage troublemakers and warned her to stay away from them or share in their ultimate fate. She wandered the city for some time without finding a single person with anything positive to say about the Legion. She was careful to choose public servants too. She recalled from her limited Legion training to seek out those in authority when faced with unfamiliar contact situations. Except sometimes when... when...

Why couldn't she remember all the rules? And why did the authorities distrust the Legion? Could the authorities be dangerous? Or was the Legion a criminal organization in this world? Did she miss paths in contact with others and with the environment that should alert her to danger? Questions mounted faster than answers.

In all, she made three trips into Metropolis during the hibernation season. She heard the Legionnaires were troublemakers and often clashed with the Science Police. She learned they weren't respected. And it was said they disrespected their elders and those in authority. Most troubling was the young Bisbian whose parents warned him about the Legion and their destructive ideas. He couldn't wait until the Legion overthrew the United Planets in a great war. He seemed excited by the prospect of war and espoused a romanticized summary of how such an event would unfold. He admitted his family prevented him from joining the Legion, but that he supported them secretly. As he walked away he instructed her to find an authority figure and tell him to 'Eat it, Grandpa!"

Shikari wasn't sure what a grandpa was or what it was it was supposed to digest but thanked the young man for his information. Was it true? Did the Legion seek war? Could they really be so naive as to think it was the answer?

Shikari knew better. War was never as great as the Bisbian believed. The Kwai were once a race of warriors eons before they followed their first feral star to a new brief-home. Entire tribes bathed in the blood of their enemies until it ran beneath their feet. She also saw the remains of the Sumal after the Progeny deleted them from existence. Surely the Legion wasn't so deluded. She had to see this Legion for herself. The young man told her where to find the Legion, not that she needed his help, but he seemed to believe that he converted her to his belief system and insisted that she join the Legionnaires outside headquarters. Whatever that meant.

Heartbroken and more confused than ever, Shikari retreated for another season to gather information. The season passed and she knew as little as she did the previous one. However, one thought haunted her during her time in isolation. She spoke to everyone about the Legion but the Legionnaires themselves. The answers were in Metropolis not the Great Wild North. It was time she confronted the Legion.

Creeping in the shadows was not for Shikari Lonestar. She done nothing wrong and had no reason to hide. Metropolis was a very large city and it would take days to reach the Legionnaires on foot while seeking refuge in the shadows. She would risk being spotted. She took to the skies and beat her dragon-fly wings as hard as she could against the currents. It felt wonderful to stretch them!

The Metropolis she flew over wasn't anything like the one she knew. Though a different world, it shared many similarities with "her" Metropolis. People went about their daily lives in much the same manner. Most commuted to a task of some sort in the morning to earn credits to provide for their clan. After a third of the sun's daily cycle passed, they returned to their nest to enjoy time with their kin. Wildfire told her humans of Earth long believed in what they called "living the dream".

There was something about the phrase Shikari never quite understood. Why would anyone wish to live in a world of dreams when Earth offered so many wonderful alternatives? When she asked Wildfire about it, he laughed and told her she was a special lady. He said the phrase wasn't meant to be taken literally, but that it was a figure of speech. Of course that term was just as confusing so she dropped it altogether. Why did humans employ such a bizarre tongue?

At last she arrived at the one spot in Metropolis she avoided so long - Legion Headquarters. The building was altogether different than the one she was familiar with, but the flag flapping in the breeze above it was unmistakable. Perhaps the most unexpected sight was the crowd gathered outside on the plaza.

Shikari had no time for the crowd. She wanted to see the Legion and as a Legionnaire herself wasn't worried about the protocols involved. She landed and paused outside the door.

"Hey!" someone cried from the crowd behind her. "Did you see that? That bug lady is going inside!"

She recognized a device by the door as a DNA encoder. Her Legion used such a device to admit visitors to headquarters. By placing the palm of one's hand on the device a recording was made of the visitor's DNA and used in the event of an emergency or as backup for legal reasons. Agreeing to allow a DNA sample was what Wildfire called a waiver of financial responsibility for any accidents that may occur.

Shikari wasn't worried about accidents. She placed her palm on the encoder and the main entrance door opened. As she walked inside the buzz of the crowd disappeared.

She was met by the Legionnaire she knew as Umbra. "And just who the nass are you?"

Mordru's Castle, Avalon.

"What is the meaning of this, General?" Mordru barked. "Your instructions were to set up a base on Earth at the exact coordinates I gave you. The base was to serve as my receiving room. Are you telling me the pathetic United Planets military thwarted my best Advance Shock Troops?"

The General fell to his knees before the Dark Lord. "No, sire. It was no military that defeated us. The coordinates you gave us..."

Mordru backhanded his General. "You dare insinuate this failure is somehow my fault?"

The General picked himself up and crawled back before Mordru. "No, sire. I accept full responsibility for this failure."

"Are your men not well-equipped for any task I assign?" Mordru asked.

The General nodded. "Yes, sire. You are most benevolent to your troops. There was a building built upon the coordinates. The United Planets had an army waiting there."

"An army?" Mordru asked. An old familiar feeling churned in his gut.

"Yes, sire," the General answered. "A most effective one. It shames me to admit they were but pups."

Mordru grew angrier but his attention was no longer directed toward his General. If his suspicions proved correct, his military could no more stand up against them than a rat against the serpent that devours it. "Did this military unit of pups have a name?"

The General nodded. "Aye, sir. The called themselves Legion."

Raw, untamed power exploded out of Mordru's being. The arcane energy blew a hole in the roof of his castle. The General was a brave man. Though the explosion sent him flying, he quickly prostrated himself once he got his bearings. Most men would have run like a whipped animal.

Mordru knew whom to blame. "Time Trapper! What have you done?"

The lockbox that housed his prize possession appeared before him. He didn't wait for it to slide open. The lockbox shattered, allowing the necklace to fall into Mordru's open hands. He clutched it by the chain and held it up to the light.

He didn't understand. The Time Trapper was still inside, looking every bit as resigned to his fate as before. Mordru willed another lockbox into existence to replace the one he smashed, but then quickly destroyed it as well. He placed the chain on his neck. Perhaps it was best to carry it on his person.

Mordru calmed himself and closed his eyes. If there were any other beings with the power to create a Legion out there he would find them. Other than the Time Trapper, only she could wield such power but she didn't exist in this new universe. Did she?

Mordru searched for signs of manipulation by Glorith but could not find her signature. He clutched the necklace in his hand and held it up to eye level. "It was you! Wasn't it? I don't know how you did this, Time Trapper but I swear you'll pay! I would destroy you now, but I want you to see how feeble your manipulations truly are! First I will wipe this pathetic Legion from the universe as I did the others and then I will destroy you!"

Legion Headquarters, Metropolis 2963

Superboy stepped off the starcruiser and headed straight for his quarters. What the hell happened? Everything within him screamed that things weren't right. Ferro Lad was killed when he flew a neutron bomb into the heart of the Sun-Eater.

There had to be another way! Wasn't there? Not that it mattered. The deed was done. Poor, brave Ferro Lad proved himself the greatest hero of them all. Superboy thought back to the day he was inducted into the Legion. The founders told him that he would be the greatest among them all. Somehow their words rang hollow in light of Andrew Nolan's sacrifice.

Superboy was met at the entrance to Legion headquarters by Matter-Eater Lad. "Superboy, is it true? Andrew is coming back isn't he?"

Superboy shook his head solemnly. "No, Tenzil. He's not."

The Boy of Steel pushed his way past the throng of Legionnaires gathered to question those on the mission about the terrible news. They lost one of their own and unlike when Lightning Lad passed some years before, there was no hope that Ferro Lad would return. His body was blown to smithereens across the galaxy in the explosion that destroyed the Sun-Eater.

Superboy found his quarters and entered with a heavy heart. Was he that kind of hero? The kind that would give his life if need be? It was easy to say yes, when one was invulnerable to harm. But deep down he knew something the others didn't. He was scared when he took Tharok's neutron bomb in his hands. Powerless due to the influence of the red sun energy in the Sun-Eater's core, he finally understood what it truly meant to be human. Faced with his own mortality he was able to touch that place inside himself that made him more the son of Jonathan Kent than the son of Jor-el. It was the feeling experienced by those he rescued when they stared down the barrel of a pistol or were trapped by a raging fire - unadulterated humanity!

With one mighty blow of Ferro Lad's iron fist, he also understood seconds later what it meant to truly be a hero. Superboy's jaw still ached but not nearly as much as his heart. Ferro Lad knew he would not return from the explosion and surely he felt the same reservations Superboy did. Didn't he? What was it that allowed him to rise above them?

Superboy was ashamed to admit that while he wrestled with his fear, Andrew Nolan took his own by the throat and forced it into submission. He would save the galaxy even if it meant he would have to die. Where did he find that deeper courage?

The Boy of Steel knew he was changed forever. Being a hero no longer meant having the power to make a difference. It meant making a difference with whatever power he had. It was one thing to hurl oneself in front of a speeding bullet when you knew it couldn't harm you. It was another to do so knowing it would take your life.

A loud beep alerted Superboy that someone was outside his door. A glance with x-ray vision identified the visitor as Luornu Durgo, a Carggite who lost one of her three bodies in battle with Computo the Conqueror. No longer Triplicate Girl, she was now Duo Damsel.

"Come," said Superboy.

The door whooshed open and Luornu stepped into the room. There was something between the two of them, unrequited feelings that neither had the nerve to explore. She wasn't the prettiest Legionnaire or the most powerful, but she was certainly the one who interested the Boy of Steel the most. Perhaps it was her childlike curiosity and sense of awe. He often felt the same when he flew among the stars and viewed the heavens in their natural beauty. But like so many things in Superboy's young life, perhaps it was tragedy that connected their souls in some way - she with the loss of one of her three selves and he with the loss of Krypton.

Whatever the attraction the two shared, neither admitted it openly. The closest they ever came to a relationship were a few smiles and playful games of eye tag during Legion meetings. He tried to talk to Mon-el about it once, but Lar attributed it to her ability to split into two girls and laughed it off. It was one of the few times Superboy ever felt let down by the friend he called a brother.

"I'm so thankful you're safe," said Duo Damsel.

"It should have been me," said Superboy. "I was the one who was supposed to carry that bomb into the Sun-Eater's heart."

Luornu sat beside him on the bed. "The red sun exposure would have killed you."

"Andrew had no chance," said Superboy. "I could do nothing to stop him. In my weakened state, he slugged me and used his flight ring to propel himself into the Sun-Eater. Tharok didn't have time to design a propulsion system or a trigger of any kind. I'm supposed to be the great hero, Lu. Why didn't I die?"

"Because I was praying to whatever gods that would listen to keep you safe," Luornu answered. She put her arm around Superboy and hugged him. "You can't save everybody, you know."

For a boy who could move planets from their orbits such helplessness was difficult to accept. Superboy looked into Luornu's eyes and was unashamed of his tears. "Then what good am I?"

Luornu ran her fingers through Superboy's dark, curly hair. "You're good enough to be Andrew Nolan's hero. He told me that one day not long ago. All he ever wanted was to live up to your standards. All you can do, any of us can do, is to honor Andrew's heroism with our actions and deeds and to keep on living. He would want it that way."

Superboy regained his composure and wiped his eyes. He pecked Lu on the cheek with a kiss. "You're going to make some lucky guy happy one day."

"I should go," said Luornu. "Before someone gets the wrong idea."

Superboy nodded, although for once he didn't give a damn what anyone thought. "I suppose. Thanks."

"Anytime," said Luornu. She left Superboy alone once more.

Superboy listened for her footsteps to fade down the long corridor but could hear her breathing on the other side of the door.

"You stupid nass-head," Lu said. "If you weren't the true hero Andrew thought you to be, you would be the one getting lucky today."

Metropolis, Earth. Legion Headquarters

Shadow Lass eyed the strange girl who stood before her. She didn't recognize her species. It looked like someone crossed a dragonfly with a humanoid. She was definitely someone Shadow Lass would remember if she noticed her among those who made Weisenger Plaza their home since the Terra Firma incident. Of course she didn't mingle with the masses as often as Invisible Kid, Brainiac Five, or Cosmic Boy, but still it's hard to hide a human insect.

The girl bowed her head slightly in deferral. "I mean you no harm, Dark-Legion."

"What the sprock? I'm Shadow Lass."

"I will respect your wishes, Dark-Legion" the bug-girl replied.

"Look kid," said Shadow Lass. "The two credit tour doesn't start for another half an hour. Why don't you come back then and we'll show you some of our trophies? I believe Triplicate Girl is doing the tour today."

"You don't understand," the stranger argued. "I too am Legion and must speak with the Founders-Legion."

Shadow Lass was losing patience with the bug girl. "Of course you are, honey. We all are, but the Legionnaires outside do not have clearance to come inside anytime they please. We're all Legionnaires, but we do have protocols and right now your breaching them. I don't mean to be bitchy."

"I do not understand," said the bug lady.

"Ok sweet wings," said Shadow Lass. "I've tried to do this the nice way but you're leaving me with little choice. I will remove you by force if you don't leave."

"You are formidable Dark-Legion," the bug answered. "But if I must get by you to speak with the Founders-Legion I will not stay my hand in combat."

Shadow Lass smiled. "I was hoping you'd say something like that."

An exo-skeleton whisked into place to protect the bug lady. Claws grew from her hands and feet.

Shadow Lass met the challenge and enveloped the bug lady in absolute darkness. Perhaps she could frighten the girl by blinding her and end the altercation before it began. Cosmic Boy wouldn't look favorably on her beating the stuffing out of one of a ...

A razor sharp claw found Shadow Lass's right cheek and sliced it with the precision of a nano-surgeon. Either the bug lady was very lucky or she could see as well as Shadow Lass in the dark field. But that was impossible! No one could see through....

The bug lady's clawed foot caught Shadow Lass in the gut and forced the air from her lungs. The stranger was quicker than she looked - much quicker. And apparently could see inside the Talokian's dark energy fields.

Shadow Lass tried to sweep the bug lady's feet from under her but her damn dragonfly wings lifted her into the air. It was almost as if the bug lady knew where she was going to strike before Shadow Lass even thought it.

"Please stop, Dark-Legion. I don't wish to hurt you," said the bug girl.

"Spare me your concern," Shadow Lass spat through gritted teeth. She attacked once more and finally struck a blow! A vicious uppercut from the heel of her hand struck her opponent under the chin and snapped the girl's head back. Still it wasn't clear who took the worst of the blow. Striking the bug girl's armor was like punching steel.

"Now the kid gloves come off," said Shadow Lass. "You will not play me for a fool again."

The dark force energy dissipated and the two girls circled one another carefully and searched for an opening.

Shadow Lass was impressed. The bug girl was well-trained, a true warrior.

The two girls met one another head on and locked hands. Each searched for some opening, a tiny fraction of leverage the other missed. There was none to be found. At last the bug girl made an error. She shifted her weight too far forward on her left foot. Taking advantage of the opening, Shadow Lass pulled the girl toward her and allowed herself to fall to the ground. As she fell she placed her right foot in the girl's gut and flipped her onto her back.

The bug girl was stunned by the unexpected move and stayed down long enough for Shadow Lass to flip onto her and pin her. She pounded the girl's face but it hurt her own fist more than it did the bug girl. "Sprocking armor! I'll peel it off you if I have to!"

The claws of the bug girl's feet wrapped around Shadow Lass's neck. How did she do that? No one could bend their legs in such a manner. Shadow Lass cursed her luck. Leave it to her to pick a fight with the one humanoid species in the galaxy able to do so!

"You'll find my armor is not so easily removed, Dark-Legion!" the bug girl answered.

"Stop calling me that!" Shadow Lass ordered. Her hands fought to free her from the grip of the bug girl's taloned feet. "What the nass is wrong with you? I told you my name is Shadow Lass!"

"Your struggle is useless Shadow-Legion," the bug lady replied.

Shadow Lass rolled so that even though she was still caught in the girl's talons she was now on top. It gave her more leverage to break free. She was surprised by the girl's strength. Her appearance was definitely deceiving. Her legs were like being caught in a vice. Still she was slowly breaking the bug lady's hold. A few more seconds and she would be...

"What the sprock is going on?" yelled Cosmic Boy.

"Founder Legion!" the bug lady cried. She released her grip and stood to meet Cosmic Boy. Her temperament changed immediately as if she hadn't even fought.

The last fleeting remnants of dark energy dissipated into a vaporous wisp.

It was a dirty blow and she knew it, but Shadow Lass took advantage of the situation. She trapped the girl's knee and forced her to the ground.

The bug girl leaped on her once more. Again they fought for an advantage neither of them could find.

"Grife! Enough of this!" Cosmic Boy ordered. "What the sprock are you doing, Shady?"

"This person is trespassing on Legion property," Shadow Lass explained. "I warned her and ... and...well, she started it." She doubted her explanation sounded any better to Cosmic Boy's ears than it did to her own.

Karate Kid joined the scene. He undoubtedly watched the whole sorry fight on one of the security monitors. Shadow Lass hoped there was enough Dark Energy floating around to hide her pitiful performance from him. She didn't want to hear for weeks on end how she was squashed by a bug.

"Who are you?" Cosmic Boy asked the bug girl.

Her armor receded and she curtsied before Cosmic Boy. "I am Shikari. I too am Legion like you. I am lost."

Several other Legionnaires gathered in the headquarters lobby. Shadow Lass wanted to die. Did the whole sprocking team watch a human dragonfly kick her butt?

"You have a talent for understatement," said Brainiac Five.

The gathered Legionnaires turned to their resident Coluan super-genius.

"Care to explain, Dox?" Cosmic Boy asked.

"She doesn't belong in this universe," said Dox. "Her presence here threatens reality itself."

"Exaggerate much?" Ultra Boy asked.

Brainiac Five retrieved a gadget from his lab coat. Some of the others seemed to recognize it. Shadow Lass wished she spent more time in the lab. Maybe she would recognize it too. Whatever the device was, Brainy scanned Shikari with it.

"I wish I was exaggerating," Brainiac Five answered. "The so-called fabric of reality contains an uncanny design that is remarkable only in its consistency of quantum soup. Every universe contains matter that vibrates at slightly different rates. It's similar to how Phantom Girl's powers operate, yet her Bgztl belongs in this universe. Even matter that is very different in nature shares certain properties with the rest of the matter in the universe. This consistency binds this similar matter into the patchwork we perceive as reality. Such limitations in the vibrational properties of a universe's matter dictate the physical laws of the universe itself. The much-speculated alternate realities would require the same consistency but the basic makeup and laws that govern matter would be different for each. This young woman is not consistent with..."

Brainiac Five's explanation was cut short by a familiar boom.

"We can ponder the mystery later," said Cosmic Boy. "Right now we need every available Legionnaire outside! Brainy, Triplicate Girl, and Atom Girl will get the Legionnaires on the plaza to safety! Saturn Girl will coordinate my orders! Everyone else hit something - and hit it hard! Mordru's back!"

Shikari grabbed Cosmic Boy by the arm. "What about me? I will help."

"I'm not sure if it's wise given Brainiac Five's explanation. Perhaps it would be best if..."

Shadow Lass heard enough. She grabbed Shikari by the arm and drug her along into the battle. "Eat it, Grandpa! This Legionnaire's with me!"