Val Armorr, the Karate Kid, stepped out of the shower and dressed in his orange/tan karategi and brown boots. He paused to tie his black belt around his waist and just before he left his dorm style room he pulled on his soft brown gloves. He thumbed the pad beside the door and it silently slid open. Val strode into the hallway and headed for the lift, his mind occupied with thoughts of bacon and grits.

The door to the lift opened and Val stepped into the doorway only to have a figure exiting the lift crash into him, hard. A box the other was carrying flew up into the air and Val deftly caught it before it hit the floor, but not before the figure in blue and white crashed to the carpeted hallway floor.

Val recognized the boy as Ferro Lad, they had been accepted into the Legion at the same time, along with Princess Projectra and Nemesis Kid. If he remembered right, Ferro Lad was a year or so younger than Val, maybe 14.

Val reached down with his free hand and caught Ferro Lad's hand, lifting him to his feet. "You ok kid?" he asked concerned.

Ferro Lad began brushing off his uniform, then a look of panic passed over his eyes, the only part of his face uncovered. He began looking frantically on the floor. "yeah, I'm fine…Val right?" he answered softly.

"Right, and you're Arnold?"

The lad straightened. "Andrew, actually. Hey have you seen….?"

Val held out the box he held clearly marked 'DONUTS'. "Looking for this, Andrew?" Val glanced at the box. "Man you must really like donuts."

"Oh hey, thanks." Andrew reached for the box. "Not really these are for….." he trailed off to nearly a whisper, "Chuck."

Val laughed without thinking, and then sobered up quickly. "Seriously? Bouncing Boy made you go get him donuts?"

"Well yeah," Andrew answered defensively, "It's a tradition; new recruits have to get breakfast for the senior members."

Val frowned. "Andrew, there's no such tradition. Chuck's just pranking you because you're the new guy."

Andrew's eyes widened behind his iron mask. "No," he breathed. "I can't believe I fell for that two days in a row."

Val burst out laughing. "Two days, come on man, you're smarter than that." He put his hand on the younger boy's shoulder. "You don't see the rest of us running around like errand boys, do you?"

Andrew straightened his shoulders. "Well it's the last time, that's for sure."

Val grinned. "There ya go, don't fall for that stuff. Well I'm off to breakfast." He bowed at the waist and then turned and entered the lift. He watched Ferro Lad stomping off down the hallway and as the lift doors closed he muttered, "putz."

After breakfast Val entered the recreation room of Legion Headquarters and spotted fellow new Legionaires Princess Projectra and Nemesis Kid. The Princess was sitting in a comfortable chair reading a book while Hart Druiter lounged across the room from her, trying not to appear to be staring. Val crossed the room, nodding to the Princess before dropping onto the seat next to Hart.

"You must be as bored as I am," Val chuckled, "nothing better to do that drool over a pretty girl?"

Hart's eyes snapped to Val's face and he blurted, "I wasn't staring, or drooling." He quickly wiped his mouth, just in case while Val chuckled.

"You know, I thought this Legionaire gig would be more exciting." Val half-complained to his friend. "It's been almost a week and we haven't been on a mission yet."

Hart turned his attention to Val and grinned. "I heard that Nolan kid went and got donuts for Chuck yesterday, does that count?"

Val returned the grin automatically, and then frowned again. "And today, and no, that does not count. It makes it worse."

"I guess since Triplicate Girl lost a body…or whatever," Hart reasoned, "they're reluctant to let us get too involved in the rough stuff."

"Man," Val leaned back on the couch and sighed deeply, "I was made for the rough stuff." He grinned and elbowed Hart. "At least it gives you time to drool over the pretty girl."

"You think she's pretty too?" Hart's eyes widened, and then flicked to the Princess and back down into his lap as he blushed. "Not that I was looking."

Val rolled his eyes, "Oh no, of course not." He laughed. "But seriously dude, I want some kind of action."

Hart's eyes had returned to Projectra so he answered kind of absent-mindedly, "Uh huh, yeah sounds good."

Val punched his new friend on the shoulder and chuckled. He raised his voice and called, "Hey Princess, what about you?" he asked, "You ready for a mission or what?"

The Crown Princess of Orando raised her eyes from the book she held and gazed across the room to the two boys. She smiled a dazzling smile. "Sure Val, I mean, I love a good book by the fireplace, but it is getting a little monotonous." She rose and moved over to the boys and took the seat next to Hart. She put her feet on the table where his rested and playfully push his feet off with a grin and a wink.

Hart grinned back at her, and blushed just a little. "You would think they could find something for us to do," he told his teammates. "It's a big galaxy, there's got to be someone who needs defending, or rescuing."

Val leaned back and put his hands behind his head. He sighed deeply.

Projectra looked at the two boys and smiled. "As a Princess of Orando, I'm used to the 'hurry up and wait' atmosphere of court, but I did hope things would be a bit livelier with the Legion."

The relative silence of the red room was broken by a single tone from the loudspeaker. "LEGIONAIRES KARATE KID, PRINCESS PROJECTRA, FERRO LAD, AND NEMESIS KID; REPORT IMMEADIATELY TO THE MONITOR ROOM."

The three young heroes rose from their seats as one.

Val thrust his fist into the air. "Yeah!"

Projectra closed her book and lay it on the table. "Sounds like things are about to get more exciting."

Hart nodded and then a worried look crossed his face. "I hope Ferro Lad isn't on another donut run for Chuck."

The two boys burst into laughter while Projectra just looked confused. The three teens left the rec room and headed for the monitor room.

The newly renamed Duo Damsel was manning the Monitor board and chatting with Invisible Kid as the newest Legionaires marched into the room, Nemesis Kid, Karate Kid, and Princess Projectra arriving together, soon joined by Ferro Lad. The four youngsters stood at attention and faced the older members.

Luornu Durga hid a grin and busied herself with the Monitor Board. Lyle Norg faced the four recruits and shook his head. "Nass, guys, relax," he grinned. "This is not the Legion, not the Science Police."

Hart, Val, Projectra, and Andrew all relaxed, a little, and looked at the floor in embarrassment.

Lyle began pacing in front of them. "Well guys, how is life as a Legionaire suiting you?"

Projectra nodded once.

Val muttered, "it's ok."

Andrew nodded enthusiastically. "It's been great," he added, then spotted and brushed some powdered sugar from his uniform and frowned a bit.

Hart's mouth dropped open and he stared at his teammates. Then he turned his attention to Lyle. "It's been boring as sprock," he almost barked, then blushed and added, "with all due respect."

Lyle and Luornu both grinned. "Well the first week or so is always an adjustment guys, it will get better." Lyle told them.

Hart, emboldened, continued. "Don't you have anything for us to do? ANYTHING?"

Lyle smiled calmly. "As a matter of fact, the four of you have been chosen for a very special duty," he informed the quartet. Luornu turned to the Monitor Board, putting her back to the conversation.

All four Legionaires eyes lit up. Hart blurted, "It's about time." He realized almost immediately what he had done and quickly apologized. "Sorry Lyle."

Val and Andrew exchanged a 'high five' and Projectra smiled regally.

Lyle laughed. "it's alright Hart, I know you've been anxious, but I think this is right up your alley."

Hart, electing himself groups spokesman, asked, "Ok, what do we have to do? Rescue trapped citizens? Fight the Fatal Five?" He looked almost hopeful of the last one.

Lyle smiled and Luornu sounded like she was choking for a moment before she regained control. "No, it's much more important than any of that. You four have been chosen to help select the possible next Legionaire. Tomorrow morning, you four will oversee this month's Legion Tryout."

The four selected teens looked at one another in a bit of awe. "Really," asked Andrew, "Do you think we are ready for something like that?"

Luornu choked again and muttered, "No one ever is…." She quickly rose from her chair and sprinted for the door. "Watch the board, Lyle," she called over her shoulder. Before the door closed behind her, the sound of hysterical sobs, or possibly manic laughter could be heard.

Lyle shook his head. To the bewildered quartet he simply said, "Lu's always been the emotional sort." He smiled again and continued, "You guys are ready, believe me," he told them, "You'll do fine. You four will report to the courtyard at 900 hours tomorrow." He snapped to attention, which caused all four teens facing him to do the same. Dismissed," he barked.

Val, Projectra, Hart, and Andrew filed from the Monitor Board room quietly, each lost in their own thoughts.