Welcome one and all to the first chapter (and first story) of the Legion: Year One. A while ago, while writing Legion Lost, I had a strange dream. In the dream the Legion was unlike anything that I had ever seen. Everything was darker, more dangerous. Beloved characters were warped and changed, leaving fractured reflections of the characters they had once been. So interested I was in the idea I thought about eventually sending it to DC comics for publishing... but you know how horrible that might have gone. So instead I decided to build this universe and write an story for all of you Legion lovers. Beware, this is going to be darker and more mature eventually than the Legion you knew. More of a Five Year Gap short of thing than a... lets say Levitz's work. But under its dark exterior, is a story full of hope and a message that no matter what, work towards the future you want.

I do not own the Legion. They belong to DC and WB. I just borrowed the characters and twisted them around for my own amusement. Please do not sue.

Prolong

Krypton exploded in a fury of green, read and yellow fire. To the silent observer it was not a horrifying sight but a welcome one. She knew this was meant to happen and what good it would bring to the universe.

As chunks of the planet exploded outward, a small golden pod flew away from the planet. Contained within its small form was a young baby boy, Kal-El. The woman knew where his path laid. He would land in a small town, on a small planet where he would become a larger hero than he ever could have on his doomed home world. But it wasn't he that she was there for.

A second pod streaked from what remained of the southern continent. A slicker pod that her cousin's, blue crystals lined the top and the fins of the pod. Even though there was no Kryptonese word for escape that was exactly what the pod was meant for. Inside was a thirteen year old girl name Kara Zor-El and she too was meant for greatness. But it would be for the observer's ultimate goal more than she would ever know.

The observer reached out her hands and gave the pod that contained Kara Zor-El a gentle push with her temperol energies. The pod, programed to deal with any unexpected natural occurrence along the way was unable to fix its course. As it flew at almost the sped of light it shot towards planet Earth. But as it slowed, the path it was now in caused it to hit the asteroid belt that separated Mars from Jupiter.

The observer saw all this happen in the blink of an eye, and knew what would happen next. Kara would go into suspended animation like she would have if she had followed her intended path but this one would last a lot longer. A thousand years. Her cousin would grow up, grow old, and die with ever knowing about his cousin's survival. But when she would awaken in the 31st century she would be inspired by his legacy, by the legacy of Superman.

And they would have their Kyptonain anchor. One that they could call their own.

The woman smiled, looked over her handy work for a moment or two, and then vanished.

Chapter One

Kara Zor-El could still remember the day she first woke up on Earth.

Her father, Zor-El, had pushed her into the pod to save her life. She would protect her cousin Kal from the Earthlings until his own powers matured. They would be the last living legacy of their planet as it was. Even if the mythical bottled city of Kandor really existed. Tears filled her eyes but she climbed into the pod. The last sight she saw was her father's sad face.

During the ride to Earth she was put to sleep. She had no idea how she had gotten off course. What ever happened she ended up in an asteroid belt and in suspended animation. She woke up when a droid knocked the pod from its resting place and she crashed to Earth.

When she woke up she had crashed in the middle of Metropolis, but it was far different than the one she though she was suppose to land in. Her cousin was long dead. her mission in life gone. But in the days and months that had followed she had found a place to belong.

Kal-El's decendence found her and adopted her as one of their own. Even though their DNA was several generations removed from pure Kryptonain they had a good idea of what she would need and what the name Zor-El meant.

She went to school and found the Earth was now equal in intelligence to the world that she had lost. Her thousand year sleep turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Not only as she able to adapt more easily to this Earth, there was other children with powers around her so there was no need to hide who she was, or what she could do.

The only bad side was the knowledge of what she had lost. Her family, her home, everything she had known during her early years. Kryton was long gone, and the only sign that it ever existed was left in the Superman Museum.

It was there that she decided that she would follow her cousin's example. Constructing a similar costume of red and blue she would become Supergirl, and honor the legacy that he had left behind. Besides, she wanted to make a differences in the world. No matter the cost.

Legion HQ

Metropolis

The cream colored building rose out of the center of Metropolis, the gold 'L' engraved on its front told all of Earth and the United Planets who resided in the building.

The Legion of Superheroes was formed only three years ago when three youths from distant planets were inspired by Superman's legacy. They saved the life of a rich bueniess tycoon by the name of R.J. Brande who then went on to sponsor their new group. The three founders were Imra Adreen of Titan, a telepath who had traveled to Earth hoping to make a difference in a troubled universe. Garth Ranzz of Winath who went to Earth in search of his brother but had found something much different. The last founder was Rokk Krin of Braal, who left his home world to make something of his hopeless life. They were the first, but not the last.

They recruited once a year and took as many qualified members as they could. So far they had fourteen members each with their own abilities. But even with all of their members Rokk Krin, who now called himself Cosmic Boy, still looked for more.

The dark haired youth watched the computer monitors as feeds ran from Metropolis's As the World Turns. Two years ago a pod had crashed down across town containing within it a supossive Kryptoain girl. Since then he had (along with the other founders) kept a close eye on her. She had powers similar to Superman not to mention a similar set of morals, and had even became Supergirl.

"If you watch those screens too much you'll go cross eyed," came a light voice and Cosmic Boy turned to see Imra. The blonde haired telepath had decided to go by the name of Saturn Girl, and even had a gold Saturn symbol on the front of her uniform. Even though she was telepathic, and one of the strongest on her world, she never read the thoughts of her teammates unless in absolute need, or to communicate during battle.

"I'm just seeing what the Supergirl is up too," he replied, pressing down a button. The eight screens showed parts of the same image. A fifteen year old girl with blonde hair and waring a blue shirt with the red 'S' emblazoned on her chest with a red shirt and long red skirt, and long red boots finished the outfit. She also wore a simple red choker. She floated slightly off the ground and in her hand was a red headed girl, who looked pissed.

"This is the scene from Smallville earlier today when Supergirl apprehended Alexis Luthor after her failed planet escape," the female reporter said during the voice over. Saturn Girl moved a little closer. "When asked about her possible rival and her connection to Superman's arch-rival Lex Luthor Supergirl said she hopes it doesn't get that bad."

"Maybe she'll lean her lesson after some time on Talkron Galtoks," Supergirl said on the screen, her eyes shining brightly. "Hopefully one day we could be friends."

He shut of the video and rubbed his eyes. "Saturn Girl, we need her on our team."

The blonde telepath looked from the screen to him, her violet eyes for a moment cryptic. Then she nodded and turned to leave the room. "I'll tell Lighting Lad about it. He'll love that."

Garth Ranzz had adopted the name Lighting Lad, because of his powers and perhaps because he hated to be called boy. When ever R.J. Brande called him that he had visibly cringed. Of course he always acted a little immature when in a situation that needed maturity. It was something Cosmic Boy couldn't stand. With a soft sigh he turned away from the monitors and exited the room.

He needed to make preparations.

The Main Lab

Legion HQ

Wires and cords fell away from the transporter as Brainiac Five snipped away the excess. The green skinned Coluain genius preferred to spend as little time with his estranged teammates as he could. Besides, he had to finish preparing the new transporter before their next mission.

The door to the lab slid open with a soft sound and Brainiac Five had to resist the urge to roll his eyes. Luornu Durgo of Cragg was a Craggite, one of a race that could sperate themselves into three separate but identical bodies. Currently though she was singular and in her true form. Short, messy brown hair sat on her head and fell around her gold right eyes and violet left eye. Her uniform was less covering that his other teammates showing off her slender and muscular stomach and legs, and even had real fur on her legs and arms.

"Greetings Triplicate Girl," he said using her taken name, not bothering to hold back his disgust from his voice. He didn't like her, actually he didn't like any of his team mates. But when they came to him he felt he had to answer them.

"Saturn Girl though that you should know that we are recruiting Supergirl."

Oh joy. Supergirl, Kara Zor-El, the last survivor of the planet Krypton that had blown up a thousand years ago. A lower form of life, but one among many. Why had Nor Vox ordered him to join the Legion?

"Alright."

The woman rose a slender eye brow and turned, walking out of the lab. She had a certain fondness for the green skin genuis, even though he was an arrogant, xenophobic bastard at times. He didn't like her at all but then again he didn't like any of the of the Legionaries. She sometimes wondered why she was fond of him but maybe it was because he stuck with his beliefs.

She paused by the door the could be Supergirl's room when she joined the Legion and smiled. Maybe she could learn things from her and perhaps teach her a few things.

Above Smallville

Kansas

Kara had almost gotten use to the fact that she was the last survivor of her home world. She had a family on Earth, although they were so much different than the family that she had known on Krypton. The only thing that she had never gotten use to was the fact that she had been so late in arriving to Earth. She was suppose to guard her cousin while he grew up but by the time she had arrived he was dead and gone.

It didn't make her feel too good about herself. But as she floated above Smallville, feeling the yellow sun against her skin and the wind against her face she could forgive herself. She would save the Earth, just like he had in attempts to make up for missing him.

As she floated above the town, a small metal ball floated up from the trees and floated to her. The smoothed metal form was a communicator ball, and as it came to a rest a holographic image appeared above it. A blond haired woman in a pink and white uniform, smiling at her. She recognized the image on her chest, the symbol of Saturn.

"Hello, Supergirl. I wish I could have given you this message in person but with most of the Legion off on a prisoner run to Talkorn Galtoks some of us had to stay at Legion HQ. We would like you to come to HQ and meet with us."

"What for," Kara asked, floating a little closer to the floating image of Saturn Girl. She was unsure honestly about the Legion. She head a lot of bad things but to her it was the good things the group had gone that made the differences.

"We would like you to join the Legion."

Her eyes went wide and she stared at the see through image of Saturn Girl with disbelief. "You want me to join? Why would you want that? Don't you have enough members without me?"

Saturn Girl smiled at the girl and she nodded her head. "Yes, we would like you to join. Of course before you join, you might want to come to the HQ and see what we are all about. I am sure you have plenty of questions."

"Yes I do, and I would like to come to HQ, just to see what its like. I won't make my decision just yet. I'll met you there."

"Good, I didn't expect you to accept too quickly. Come to HQ and I am sure we can get you set up."

The image faded away and the orb left, zipping down towards Smallville and fading away from even her sight. She glanced around the area and then flew off, heading above the road that led towards Metropolis. The City of Dreams was her cousin's city, and she was well known there has well as Smallville. She really didn't like the city too much but she guessed that if she joined the Legion she would have to get use to it.

It was loud when she entered the city, the afternoon sun shining down into the busy city. It was a city full of people of different races and breeds, different attitudes and beliefs. They came to Earth seeking a new future and as Earth often did it opened its arm and allowed them to come in. She liked that one thing about Earth, its willingness to take in those that were not like them. It made her feel better about herself.

It didn't take her long to find the building, it showed up clearly in the mist of the crystal like buildings. The building looked like it belonged in another century, it used real stones unlike the synthetic glass and metals, but the designs was classic 31st century. She came to a stop in front of the building, landing in front of the statue of the founders when they first formed the Legion.

She looked over the statue, looking over the faces of the three. They looked so full of hope, and courage. She wondered if that hope for the future was still inside of them. But with a soft smile she put her worries aside and made her way towards the doors inside.

The inside of the building was much different than the outside. Gone was all the stone work and sense of past, instead it was replaced with the sensibility of the 31st century. The walls were done were white and blue glass infused with crystal, electronic lights shown from the glass showing different readings and information from the central computer that ran the Legion's HQ. There were a few people about, some Legionnaires about talking to each other. She looked around the room wondering who to approach before she heard a voice close by.

"Hello Supergirl, welcome to the Legion Headquarters."

Saturn Girl stood not to far away, a soft smile on her face. Now that she actually saw her she wondered how anyone could tell she was alien just by looking at her. She had blond hair cut short, falling just a little bellow her ears and bangs hanging into her eyes. Her eyes were a soft violet, bright but cool. She was dress in her normal pink uniform, with a white band going down the front of the top had a golden Saturn symbol on the chest. Around her waist was a gold belt with the Legion 'L' on the front. She walked over to her, her shoes making soft clicks on the stone floor.

"This is the main room, it is where we greet all of our new visitors and fans. The walls can shift to show any images that we want. Legion Histories, members, and enemies. Anything we would want to show. Since you are a possible recruit, we'll skip the tour and I'll lead you to Cosmic Boy."

She spoke in a matter of fact, short of business like tone that Kara wasn't so sure about. But oh well. She followed her down the hall, passing by the Legionnaires that she had seen before. One was a red haired man with green eyes, wearing a uniform of orange and yellow in a kind of flame motif. The other was a girl with black hair going over one eye, the other exposed one a dim gray. She wore a white uniform that clung to her figure. They both looked at her for a moment before the guy smirked and winked, and the woman drug him away. What was that all about?

Finally though they passed into a large circular room where a young man around her age was staring at a wall filled with monitors. On the monitors where images of different places on Earth and even a few on other planets. Mostly it seemed to be a news feed from those different places. When Saturn Girl cleared her throat, the man turned around.

"Good Supergirl, you made it."

Cosmic Boy was a dark haired, dark blued eyed youth. He looked like someone who had seen a lot but had not been damaged by it. He wore a dark blue uniform with four circular patterns on his chest and black accents. He took a few steps forward and looked her over.

"You remind me a little of the images of Alura Zor-El that Superman crafted towards the end of his life. She is suppose to be your mother, correct?"

Once again with the attitude. She nodded her head though and replied, "Yes, Alura is my mother and Zor-El is my father. I am pure Kryptonian through and through."

"Well, I was hoping you were. You see, I need someone like you in the Legion, someone who can really help to ground our Legion. You see, lately I've noticed we've been drifting away from the ideals we founders formed the Legion on. I need some new blood, someone who is purer than the rest. That is why I need you to join. You have all the greatest traits of Superman, and we need those more than ever."

"I don't know. From what I hear the Legion is pretty bad, and they are going in a even worse direction. How could I help that?"

Cosmic Boy smiled, his blue eyes glittering. "Join, and we'll figure that out together. And besides, I think you would like working in a team. You could help more people with us than you can do alone."

Kara thought about it, resting her hand on her face as she did. There was only so much one person, no matter how much power she had, could do alone. She knew that much was right. But all that she heard about the Legion, all those dark things that people were saying. But then again, people were people. They would say anything to make some people look bad. With a warm thought, she looked back up and nodded.

"Yes, I will join the Legion."

"Then your first day starts now."