Legion Clubhouse, MetropolisThe Legion Clubhouse, usually filled with a bevy of activity from its super-powered teenage inhabitants, was oddly quiet. The Monitor Room, a control room with screens showing various disasters across known space, was empty as the newly-created COMPUTO handled these duties for the Legion now. Though Brainiac 5 claimed he had only created the robot for his own selfish purposes, the truth was that the Legion had never acted and worked so methodically, so organized.
And order was needed right now. Only six weeks after the deaths of two members, the Legion was in a state of disrepair. The United Planets continued to assert their authority in the Legion’s actions, which was a problem in and of itself, according to Garth Ranzz, but it was the only thing keeping the Legion going. Somehow, the life and vitality of the Legion just couldn’t find itself again. Though the team had prided themselves on their accomplishments, the one thing that had made the Legion great was their unity, their family.
The room continued to operate in silence.
Suddenly, a ghostly white figure shifted through the ground and flew up into the air before solidifying and landing underneath the giant monitoring station.
Tinya Wazzo had begun to grow very accustomed to this room. After every mission, she would slip away from her teammates, and just come here, in the only place where no one would look, and lie down on the cool metal to cry. Her boyfriend had died, her mother arrested for possible actions against the U.P. with that murderer Universo, and she could still hear the soundless screams of those three million people, scraping at the back of her mind.*
“God… someone please make it stop…”
*See Legion of Superheroes, vol. 1 #1*****
Across the Legion Clubhouse, in the living quarters, Garth looked out his window to the brimming Metropolis. A city that he had called home for over a year had never seemed so… hollow.
When Garth had joined the Legion, he was abandoning his family. His brother was on the path to madness, his sister was constantly crying, and his parents… well, his parents were not the type of people who dealt well with stress. They were hot-heads, like Garth, and they couldn’t understand their oldest son, Mekt, without calling him an abomination. Garth had been the center, the focus, the balance and it had taken everything from him.
When he ran away to Braal, he expected a life of street-living and scraping for creds, and instead he became a superhero. He fell in love with a girl and met the greatest friend he would ever now. They would fight and laugh and cry together and Garth had more fun than he could ever imagine. The times had just never seemed brighter or more full of hope.
Garth crackled softly with a surge of electricity as wet tears fell down his skin and evaporated in small puffs of steam.
The door to his room slid open, with a hiss that made Garth jump and charge up with voltage.
“Hey, Lightning Lad, we’ve got a mission for once,” Nemesis Kid said with a sneer as he strutted into the room. “The UP just put out a zeezee that Chemical King is attacking a military outpost in LA. So let’s save the world and stuff!”
Garth looked up at Nemesis Kid with a look of disgust that made Nemesis Kid grin.
“We don’t take missions from the UP. We act on our own now,” Garth said stubbornly.
“Ha! Are you serious? You’re still on that? Come on man, you know that’s just stupid. We obey the UP because they know that’s good for us. Sprock, I mean, if you don’t like it, then I can step up and take your leadership position. I’d be happy to work with-“
Garth stood up and bumped his shoulder into Nemesis Kid’s, knocking the wind out of him for a moment and interrupting his thought.
“Let’s get going,” Garth said harshly before stopping in the hallway and turning around to Nemesis Kid. “And Hart, if you think I will ever let you become leader of the Legion, you are a bloody nass-head. You’ll become leader of the Legion when I’m dead.”
Garth went ahead, crackling with electricity as he walked along, unable to see the small smile that came to Nemesis Kid’s face.
“We’ll see.”
*****
Brainy stared at his monitor screen, noiselessly scoffing at the pathetic figure that Phantom Girl had become. There was a point in time where he had actually feared her for her abilities; his inventions would be unprotected by any movement she might have made against him. Now though… he had nothing to fear.
Dox sent a message to Garth about Phantom Girl on his ring and then moved to focus on more important matters. His time displacement, singularity would have to wait. As would all of his inventions.
Time to carry out his mission.
*****
Eight weeks ago, Brainy’s Lab
The revelations surprised Querl Dox, shocked him enough that he had to sit down in reaction, his amazing brain initially too startled to begin processing all the ways it could be useful.
“Brainy, are you-“
“Shut up. I am thinking.”
Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad and Emerald Dragon were all in his lab with him, assured that they would be unheard by anyone, even the UP. Though he found their meddling in the affairs of the Legion bothersome, he hadn’t actually thought them to be an active problem until now.
“You are sure this information is sound?” he asked calmly, in a flat tone.
“Saturn Girl is one of the top telepaths alive right now, you can trust the information she got us,” Cosmic Boy said with a grim nod. “And, I’d trust anything she said.”
“What’s the big deal? So the Dominion has got their grubby little hands in the UP. We just take those frakkers out and put someone who knows what they’re doing in the President’s seat,” Lighting Lad said with a smile.
“You are a bloody idiot, you know that?” Brainiac 5 said with a sneer. “The United Planets is the most powerful acting body in the entire universe right now.
“They are filled to the brim with politicians, military officials, and other, unspoken and unlimited resources. The Dominion is the most dangerous race in the known galaxies right now, without any of that. We reveal what we know now, and it’s over. The might of all those military forces will come crashing down on us like permacrete on glass.”
“Bloody nass,” Lightning Lad said with a sigh.
“That’s why we need your help, Brainy,” Cosmic Boy said, reassuring Garth with a hand on his shoulder. “The Dominion hasn’t made any moves yet, but they will. We’re too busy with Universo to give it our full attention, but-“
“I am capable of doing over eighty-nine hyper-calculations at once with ease, as I am currently. You want me to take over the investigation,” Brainy said with a nod. “I thought as much.”
“Exactly. I don’t like thinking the UP is corrupt, but we have to assume the whole organization’s been compromised. We need to deal with this carefully and covertly,” Cos said to Brainy.
“Understood,” Brainy said with a pedantic nod. “To be honest, I already had an agent investigating McCauley before I knew about this Dominion conspiracy. With our friend’s help,” Brainy said with a nod to Emerald Dragon who gave Brainy a nod back. “I will take care of this with efficiency and grace.”
“Knew we could count on you, Querl,” Cosmic Boy said with a pleased smile that Dox couldn’t help but visibly admire for four picoseconds. “Two things though, watch out for Nemesis Kid. Garth and I are certain that that guy is here simply to throw us off and keep tabs on us for the UP.”
“Affirmative.”
“Second, you’re getting a partner,” Cos explained to the immediate protests of Brainy. “Now, don’t be too rash, Brainy, after all, you wouldn’t want to offend.”
At that moment, Lyle Norg appeared next to Garth and Cos, offering a smile and a handshake to his fellow scientist.
“Invisible Kid. Nice to meet you.”NowIn almost the exact same spot he stood about eight weeks ago, Lyle Norg appeared in front of Brainy, a grim look on his face.
“What do you have to report?” Brainy asked.
“Problems.”
*****
Blok and Sun Boy sat and silently ate their food in the dining hall. Blok had stopped trying to reassure Sun Boy after his best friend’s death, and Sun Boy just didn’t want to talk to anyone, period. The only person who he opened up to lately was Dawnstar, and he couldn’t be sure she was trustworthy. According to Garth, all the new recruits were just UP traitors and rejects anyway.
Dirk Morgna had once been known as the biggest playboy of the Legion. Any Legionnaire would gladly say that. (I mean, what are friends for?) Blok would have added that he had a talent for making an idiot of himself.
Now though, Sun Boy couldn’t remember the last time he’d given a hot brunette the fiery eye.
“It seems like things have been real quiet lately,” Blok said softly.
“Not really. Garth, Vi, Imra, Dawny, Nemesis Kid, and Colossal Boy all just went to capture some Chemical King guy in LA,” Sun Boy answered simply, not looking up from his soup.
“I didn’t mean like that,” Blok said with an uneasy smile.
“I knew what you meant,” Dirk answered, still not looking up.
Blok frowned as he considered how he had been trying to dent Dirk’s guard for days now, but Dirk wouldn’t bite. The only person who he seemed to be talking to was Dawnstar, but Blok didn’t trust her. She seemed so… violent at times, and Blok worried for Dirk’s safety. The new recruits couldn’t be trusted after all. That’s what Garth said…
“You can’t hold onto Brek’s death, Dirk, he would have wanted-““You know what!? You don’t know what he would have wanted! He was my best friend, not yours!” Dirk shouted as he suddenly sat up, slamming his now melting fork onto the table. “And another thing, I’m not your son or your little brother or something! We’re the same age! I don’t need you looking out for me or anything, got it?”
Blok raised his hands in protest, but was cut off by Dirk’s yelling.
“I don’t know why you have this weird, stupid fixation on me but, frakkin, just leave me alone! Okay? I’m fine!”
“Dirk, stop!” Blok pleaded, not knowing where this anger was coming from.
“What’s the matter with you? I just wanted to help! You’re my friend!”“Really? ‘Cause last I checked, friends trusted each other to know what they’re doing! You think I don’t know what you told Vi last week? You said that Dawny was violent! That she shouldn’t be trusted!”
“She is!”“YOU DON’T KNOW HER!!!” Dirk shouted, slamming his hands onto the table and melting it in half. “YOU DON’T KNOW HER! YOU DON’T KNOW BREK AND YOU DON’T KNOW ME!”
Dirk stood panting as he realized that he had gone so hot that Blok was even starting to feel the heat. Looking down at the pile of slag that was previously the table, Dirk realized how awful he looked right now and immediately powered down.
“Blok, I-“
The door the Dining Hall slid open as Colossal Boy burst in.
“Where’s Brainy?!”
*****
Imra Ardeen sat down, focusing carefully on locating Brainy in the clubhouse, but somehow she was unable to locate him. She figured he must have found some way to mask his presence from her, but Imra had to keep searching or else she would go crazy from simply waiting. Shrinking Violet lay on the infirmary table, severely injured from their mission.
Garth sat down with his face in his hands, trying his best to stop the beating from his ears. Every sound seemed like an angry echo, screaming at her.
Or maybe that was just guilt.
“Nice going, Lightning Lad. Didn’t know you were such an effective killer,” Nemesis Kid said with a scoff.
Imra tried her best to keep focusing, but the onslaught of anger that suddenly erupted from Garth was like an air-raid siren in her temples. Garth rushed at Nemesis Kid, only being helped back by Imra just in time before he was able to lay a second punch on Nemesis Kid’s face. Druiter lay on the ground with visible surprise on his face and a bruise growing on his cheek.
“Garth, sit down,” Imra verbally and mentally commanded, causing the Winathian to sit down in his chair again, visible distress on his face as he fought against Imra’s orders.
“Me? You didn’t tell me Vi was in Chemical King’s armor! You ordered her to jump onto his armor! You ordered her to knock him out covertly! You never told me about those orders!” Garth shouted in a blood-curdling rage.
“I wasn’t aware I had to report to you,” Nemesis Kid said as he slowly stood.
“I’m the field leader! In the field, I give the orders!”
“As field leader, you shouldn’t be so brash to attack the enemy.”
“I’ll kill you!”
“GARTH!” Imra shouted, silencing him immediately. “Shut up, okay? Gim found Brainy.”
At that moment, Brainy arrived in the infirmary, with Gim Allon close behind him, and he approached the still form of Salu Digby. He immediately whipped out a monitor from his Legion belt, and took a reading of the Imskian Legionnaire’s vitals.
For three minutes, everyone in the room held their breath.
“She’ll be fine. There was some distress to her central nervous system that must have been amplified from the stress of her powers, but she’s fine. Recovery time is twelve days,” Brainy said simply before giving a smug smile. “I’ll have her back up by three.”
Garth gave a large sigh of relief as he thanked Brainy who gave him a curt nod. Brainy tried to leave the infirmary but was stopped as Garth held onto his shoulder.
“All Legionnaires report to the Central Meeting Room. Now.”
*****
The Legionnaires gathered together in the meeting room, where missions were assigned and debriefed, and agendas discussed. Today, the room was filled with tension as the team took their seats. Dirk and Blok sat on opposite ends, avoiding eye contact, while Phantom Girl stood in the corner, looking down at the ground. Emerald Dragon offered her a seat next to him, but she silently ignored him and stood near Colossal Boy. Nemesis Kid was next to Dawnstar, avoiding the looks of everyone in the room. The only ones absent were Vi and Brainy, who were in the infirmary.
“All right, it’s time that the Legion get proactive. We’ve been having some problems and we need to deal with them,” Garth said with a tone of finality. Imra looked up at him with hope, but felt it dashed away when he continued.
“Everyone who votes that Nemesis Kid be kicked off the team, raise your hands.”
Nemesis Kid bounced up from his chair, stared around the room, and silently dared anyone to raise their hands.
Dirk, Blok and Tinya all raised their hands with Garth. Garth gave Emerald Dragon a significant look but his featureless faced mask betrayed no emotion. Lyle simply shook his head, embarrassed for Garth,
“All opposed?”
Nemesis Kid, Dawnstar, Gim, and, surprisingly, Lyle, raised their hands.
“And the rest of you abstain?” Garth spit with disgust. “What’s the matter with all of you? HE KILLED ROKK!”
“ENOUGH!” Nemesis Kid shouted. “I won’t be attacked anymore! Who votes that Garth be impeached from his role as leader, raise your hands!”
“You can’t do that!” Garth shouted at the room. “You don’t want me as leader anymore, fine, but wait until the next elections! If you vote me out now, he gets full power over the Legion! That’s what he wants!”
“Well maybe it’s time someone took control of this mess of a team,” Nemesis Kid said with a taunting smile.
“It sure as frak won’t be you! You set me up, didn’t you? Tricked me into hurting Vi so you could sway the team to your side!”
“Oh please, no one respects your leadership. There’s no conspiracy against you Garth. The UP, me, your brother, you’re always blaming people for your problems, but maybe the problem is you. You’re just not good enough. I don’t need to sabotage you. All I have to do to impeach you is ask for a vote,” Nemesis Kid said with a laugh.
Garth Ranzz simply stood silently as the truth started to sink in. It was true. The team had been falling apart for weeks since the destruction of Titan. He had failed the Legion. Garth’s world started to spin as he slowly leaned against the table, unable to face his teammates and friends.
“Now, all for Lightning Lad’s impeachment?”
