12/05/09
Christmas on the Enterprise
AUTHOR'S NOTES! PLEASE READ!
Darkj3 requested this story in return for drawing me awesome Legion of Superheroes and Star Trek pictures for Christmas. :D
I am sorry for the long pause between updates of my usual stories, but between my new job, trying to concentrate on my novel, and sleeping I haven't had much time for fanfic writing. I couldn't resist the idea of a Legion of Superheroes and Star Trek crossover though.
Moreover, I am currently reading Uhura's Song, which introduces the Federation's President as a woman. Seeing as the United Planet's President is also a woman, AKA Phantom Girl's mom; I think they could be one and the same.
This story takes place within season one of Legion of Superheroes and a few months or so after the movie Star Trek: 2009 takes place.
In addition this story had no connection to my other stories. You will most likely not see anything about Coluan scents or bonding but who knows, I may change my mind or alter it to make it fit better to this story.
Also, I must point out, that even though I've been a Star Trek fan my entire lifeI am, by no means, an expert on how the Federation works or anything like that. I may make mistakes, especially when trying to combine it with the Legion of Superheroes universe where I am also, by no means, an expert.
This story will, of course, contain SLASH/Yaoi! My usual Superman/Brainy and my fave Star Trek pairing Kirk/Spock, also known as Spirk/Spork and a naughty word. X'D
If I'm lucky I'll have this story finished by Christmas...
The copyrights go to the people who own them, which is sadly not me. :'(
Here goes nothing….
Chapter 1
New Metropolis, when it snowed, looked so much like the Metropolis Superman remembered from when he visited the city for his internship interviews back in the 21st century.
With everyone bundled up in coats and scarves it was next to impossible to distinguish the aliens from the humans, and even when he could note the differences it didn't make the city look any less like a Christmas card. The fairy lights streamed across the buildings, up street lamps and the next-to-impossibly large Christmas tree in the center of the city – which was decorated with more lights, beads and ornaments representing the many planets in the United Planets and their allies – only made the familiar seasonal warmth grow within Clark's chest, adorned with his own shield.
"Among the planet ornaments there are also those representing Earth's past heroes,"
Superman turned to Brainy as he spoke, taking in the differences to his usual attire.
Despite Brainy's claim that Coluans better tolerated the cold then most humanoids, though not up to par with Superman's own tolerance, of course, he altered his uniform during the winter months to accommodate better insulation, though it looked no thicker than normal, and longer sleeves. He also tolerated the knitted purple hat that had flaps to cover his ears, and which condemned him to be festive with its design of white snowflakes and a ball of white fluff on top that Saturn Girl always forced on his head before letting him leave headquarters.
"There are two for those heroes that originally hailed from other planets," Brainy continued, either not noticing Superman's gaze or disregarding it. He lifted a bare hand to the tree's branches to gently cradle a red star with six green points; which made it look more like a crystal than a star. "This one is yours."
There was a small, if not sad, smile on Brainy's face as his thumb caressed a snowflake off one of the ornament's points.
Not really thinking properly, Superman raised his hand and cupped it around Brainy's from behind to examine the ornament. He could still feel the chill in those hands, but there was an undeniable warmth where their skin touched as well.
When Superman looked up, he noted that Brainy's cheeks were a little greener than normal and that he was, quite pointedly, not looking at him.
"Alright," Saturn Girl's voice called, making them all turn to her.
Her own Legion uniform was a little thicker than normal, but by no means bulky looking. There were little white decorated puffs around her wrists from her white gloves, as matching ones adorned her pink scarf and a similarly pink headband warmed her ears. There was a note of seriousness in her eyes and a tone of seriousness in her voice that made Superman see why Lightning Lad, Bouncing Boy and Phantom Girl occasionally joked that she was the mother of their group.
Pink eyes focused on Brainy. "Hands up."
In a rare moment in which Brainy didn't think before just doing, the Coluan pulled both hands forwards and up in an 'I surrender' gesture which inadvertently pushed the Krypton ornament off the tree.
It shattered in half on the ground, also losing a couple of its points. There, by his feet, Brainy stared at it, his eyes marginally wider than normal.
"They have several backups for all the ornaments," Saturn Girl reminded him as she slipped a pair of purple gloves onto Brainy's stilled hands – while Superman wondered where she had found a pair with the Brainiac insignia stitched onto the back.
"It wouldn't be the first time a Brainiac destroyed it anyway," Brainy mumbled, barely audibly.
Before Superman could question this statement, the rest of their group joined them around the tree.
"You guys done ogling the X-mas tree yet?"
Lightning Lad crossed his arms, having refused to adjust his uniform to the cold with the exception of the blue wool hat with yellow lightning bolts. Saturn Girl had snuggled it gently onto his head when he had been caught off guard by her under the mistletoe at R.J. Brande's Winter Holiday Party they had just left.
"It's a Christmas tree," Superman corrected with an eye roll.
"Same difference," Lightning Lad defended.
With a roll of her own eyes, Phantom Girl – in her black-and-white ghosts scarf Timber Wolf had given her for Halloween and white earmuffs – mockingly hit Lightning Lad's shoulder and suggested behind them with her thumb.
"Well, Mr. Culturally Sensitive, we should go before Triplicate Girl turns Bouncing Boy into Bundled-Up Boy."
Off a little to the side, the three Triplicate Girls, in their matching short snow jackets that imitated the style of their usual uniform with their usual boots switched to snow boots with white fluff along the tip and tassels, bustled around the blushing Bouncing Boy. Together they giggled and pleaded 'Pretty please Bouncy': their way of getting him to wear a black jacket, gloves, hat and blue scarf.
"I don't know," Lightning Lad chuckled. "It would make for a good picture."
"Do you seriously want Bouncing Boy plotting revenge against you?" Timber Wolf asked, dressed no different with the exception that he was wearing gray boots.
These boots were specially ordered by Phantom Girl to fit his feet perfectly, having a special seal on the side that allowed him to peel them off rather slide like regular footwear. He said he only wore them because they didn't inhibit any of his feet's movements and felt just like being barefoot, only warmer.
That, and because Phantom Girl had pouted and sighed dramatically until he had put them on. Though the rest of the Legion were supposed to pretend that they hadn't seen any of that due to death glares and threatening claws.
After a moment of weighing his options, Lightning Lad suggested they head back to headquarters, and lead the others away from the tree.
Just as they were about to leave the ground in favor of going by air, Superman turned back and saw Brainy kneel down to pick up the pieces of the broken Krypton.
-----------------
"Only ten more days until Christmas," Phantom Girl announced, drinking the hot chocolate that was complimenting her breakfast.
Most of the Legion – with the exception of Brainy – celebrated some form of winter gift-giving holiday from their home planets, so they had agreed to call their future joint celebration 'Christmas' rather than the ten or so names they each had, since they were celebrating on Earth.
Phantom Girl, in her excitement, had started counting down the days and announcing her results at breakfast: since Brainy absolutely forbid her from announcing it every hour on the hour like she had on December 1st.
"My little girl still gets excited about the holidays I see," said a familiar warm voice.
On the small view screen behind them on the counter, which was only used when they weren't near Computo's mainframe or on the Legion Cruiser, was the image of Phantom Girl's mother, Winema Wazzo, President of the United Planets.
It took great effort for Superman not to call the woman 'Your Highness' again as he had only a month or so previously.
"Mom," Phantom Girl whined, covering her face with her hands and bending over to practically lie upon the table.
"Now Tinya, I didn't call to embarrass you," Winema half-scolded.
"Why did you call, Madam President?" Brainy asked diplomatically.
The sparkle Winema Wazzo had in her eyes when she teased her daughter was replaced by the look of a woman grieving, but trying hard not to show it.
"As you know, the Federation's Starfleet has been," she paused, looking downwards. "Under-manned, under-supplied and short a few fine ships since the Narada Incident."
Superman, it seemed, was the only one who didn't know about said incident as his fellow Legionnaires' faces soon mimicked Winema's sorrow in varying degrees. Brainy shook his head at him in a way that clearly stated, 'Later'.
"There are many who argue the… casualties would have been lighter if Starfleet would have asked the Legion for help," Winema continued.
"Damn straight," Lightning Lad snapped.
"Lightning Lad," Saturn Girl hushed him, eyes close to welling up.
The President, for her part, acted like she hadn't heard him.
"So that such an oversight won't be made again, we'd like Starfleet and the Legion to strengthen their ties; beginning with the New Vulcan colony."
"We'd be honored to do all that we can to help," Triplicate Girl nodded with a trembling lip.
The video conference went on a little longer, with a list of what the Legion would have to bring with them, how long Winema thought it would take, and a heartfelt wish that they enjoy the winter season even though they'd be working.
When the screen darkened, the room became silent. Lightning Lad tried to joke that they would be finally be freed from Saturn Girl forcing winter clothing on them but, though a few lips twitched, no one smiled or made a sound.
"So…" Superman trailed off, barely managing to look at his friends' grim faces.
"You have questions," Brainy more stated then asked, for which Superman felt an instant warmth grow in his chest in appreciation for his friend.
He managed to nod.
"As you well know, our government is the United Planets but it is also, officially, called The Federation of United Planets; depending on who you ask. People in Starfleet – that is this time's form of the military – typically call it the Federation while civilians and many alien worlds refer to it as the United Planets," Brainy began. "These are, by no means, universal categories; simply a generalization.
"Though sanctioned by the United Planets, the Legion is not a government institution. We are, as you know, privately funded by R.J. Brande and some of the patents for my inventions."
Brainy ignored Lightning Lad's comment of, "Besides the ones the government takes to look past all the damage and shit you put them through."
"So Starfleet is run by the government and the Legion isn't," Superman summed up, managing to smile when Brainy nodded.
"And though Starfleet does consist of many alien races, they rarely accept members with extraordinary abilities, with the exception of super intelligence –"
Brainy again ignored Lightning Lad when he commented that "Super-brainy pain-in-the-butt-ness" was not a power.
"– greater than human strength, and degrees of telepathy. For example, Starfleet would accept an average Titan or Winathian," he nodded towards Saturn Girl and Lightning Lad respectively. "But they would hesitate to accept Lightning Lad due to his lightning ability. Then, the fact that we don't accept non-super powered members has put much strain on the professional relationship between Starfleet and the Legion.
"Also, while the Legion handles trouble with other super-powered beings, such as the Fatal Five, Starfleet usually handles more diplomatic issues, exploration, and wars. However, there are times when our roles overlap – such in handling natural disasters and attacks on our allies. Neither group, unfortunately, ever feels the need to call the other, even when one group could use the other's help. For example, we did not call Starfleet to assist us in handling the storms on Winath last week and they did not call us – merely a month before your arrival – when Starfleet received a distress call from Vulcan."
Here Superman hesitated.
"The colony?"
Again the room was filled to beyond the brim with silence and tension.
Not even Brainy could quite look at Superman when he said, "No, not the colony. Vulcan was a planet then."