Sorry for the two-month long hiatus. The remaining chapters will update once a week. Since you have been such good sports, I added some Phantom Girl/Timber Wolf fluffiness that wasn't in my original drafts. Phantom Girl's affection toward Brainy and Chameleon Boy is strictly platonic. She's just concerned about her teammates' wellbeing. Her affection toward Timber Wolf is…something quite different.

"Ah, sprock!"

Timber Wolf jerked his hand back from the wire that had just singed him. His fingers were speckled with black singe marks and bald spots. Timber Wolf had taken the floorboard of the mini cruiser apart. He had burned himself several times trying to strip the wires, but he kept going. He left no wire unstripped. He was meticulous in making sure that he diverted every last bit of the mini cruiser's energy to help Brainiac 5.

Chameleon Boy sat in the front passenger's side studying his teammate. Timber Wolf may act callous, but Chameleon Boy could tell that his furry companion was worried about Brainiac 5. He guessed that Timber Wolf could be a big softie when he wanted to be, especially around…Phantom Girl? Chameleon Boy thought about it for a moment. In the short time he had been in the Legion. He noticed the way she would playfully poke Timber Wolf or lean on his shoulder. Phantom Girl could invade Timber Wolf's personal space in a way that no other Legionnaire would dare! Speaking of which…

"Do you think Phantom girl is mad at me? You know, for damaging the mini cruiser?"

"Doubt it."

"Are you mad at me?"

"Yes."

Chameleon Boy felt his stomach knot up. He changed the subject.

"So, if we didn't have these flight rings, we would be dead in space."

"Pretty much."

"Are you always this-"

"Yes."

Chameleon Boy threw his hands up. "Oh, forget it!"

Frustrated, Chameleon Boy stared into space. Another spark singed Timber Wolf's fingers, and he cursed under his breath. Chameleon Boy smirked. Ha! Serves you right!

He then went back to staring into space. Besides the twinkling stars and the occasional shooting star, everything seemed so still. It felt like they were the only ones in space. Chameleon Boy didn't know how long he had zoned out, but the tranquil scene was having a hypnotic effect on him. His head started bobbing as he tried to fight off sleep.

Your companion doesn't trust you, Shapeshifter, no one does.

"Huh?" Startled, Chameleon Boy shot up and looked around. "Who said that? Timber Wolf, did you hear-"

"Shhh. Keep it down. I'm almost done here."

For a moment more, Chameleon Boy looked around. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Feeling somewhat relieved, he plopped back into the seat and rubbed his forehead. What's wrong with me? Did I imagine that? Maybe I'm just letting Timber Wolf get to me. Yeah, that's gotta be it!

Timber Wolf closed the panel he had been working on. He turned on the communicator in his flight ring. "Phantom Girl, that's all we can do. What's our status?"

"We're at 24 percent."

Timber Wolf's eyes widened. He almost looked like someone had just hurt his feelings. "All that work…and that's it? What about Brainy?"

"Still no response."

Timber Wolf gnashed his teeth and raised his fist. Chameleon Boy scooted to the other side of his seat expecting some kind of outburst.

Timber Wolf relaxed. "O-okay. We'll meet you in the cockpit."

Chameleon Boy was alarmed by the flutter of emotion in Timber Wolf's voice.

"It's going to be okay, big guy." Chameleon Boy didn't really believe that himself but he wanted to at least say something, no matter how lame.

"It's not me you should be worried about. Let's go."

Chameleon Boy stayed a couple of steps behind Timber Wolf. By the time the guys got to the cockpit, Phantom Girl was already there.

"Guys, we're at 24 percent and falling. The mini cruiser's power is failing and there's still no word from Brainy. I looked at the escape pods. There's no structural damage, but their engine cores are missing. Aw, man, this is a disaster!"

"That's quite the understatement."

Ignoring Timber Wolf, she sat down at the controls.

"Some mission leader I turned out to be. This is my fault."

Timber Wolf put a hand on her shoulder. He then looked directly at Chameleon Boy even though he was talking to Phantom Girl.

"Actually, it's mine. You were just trying to make the new kid feel better because I brushed him off. You wanted to make him feel like a part of the team, as any good leader should. That's more that what I've done."

"Thanks, Timber Wolf." She reached behind her and put her hand on top of his.

Chameleon Boy's elf-like ears perked up as if making sure he heard what he thought just heard. Of all the things his companion could have said, he wasn't expecting that.

That wolf guy was just full of surprises!

"You're part of the team now, Cham." Timber Wolf smiled.

"Yeah? I mean, yeah! That means you are so stuck with me, Timber Wolf. You and I can team up from now on."

Timber Wolf's smile faded. He started to say something, but Phantom Girl clapped a hand over his mouth.

"We wouldn't have it any other way." Phantom Girl grabbed Timber Wolf by the ear. "Right, Timber Wolf?"

As if afraid of Phantom Girl, he nodded his head quickly.

"Oh, I get it now. How long has this been going on?" Chameleon Boy smirked. There was no way he was letting Timber Wolf off the hook. "You really are a big softie. I knew it!"

"Go check on your father!" Timber Wolf avoided looking into Chameleon Boy's probing eyes.

"Sure, T."

"It's Timber Wolf."

"Whatever you say, T."

"CHAM!"

"I'm going, I'm going."

Chameleon Boy just couldn't bring himself to be afraid of Timber Wolf anymore, not after what the young shapeshifter had just seen. He wanted to toy with the big lug some more, but there would be another opportunity. Right now, he really needed to check on his father. He whistled as he left the cockpit.

Timber Wolf sighed and rubbed his temple. He couldn't believe that he was letting that rookie make fun of him like that. Then again, he knew that what Chameleon Boy had said wasn't entirely untrue. When the young Legionnaire was out of sight, Timber Wolf turned his attention to Phantom Girl. His eyes searched hers. An unspoken question hung in the air. She sensed it and responded.

"I'm alright, Timber Wolf, really."

"No, you're not." He put both hands on her shoulders.

"You know, Cham's right. You really can be a big softie when you want to be."

"Hmph!" He stepped back and crossed his arms.

Phantom Girl stood up and walked toward him. He started growling like the animal he was named after. Strangely enough, he uncrossed his arms to allow Phantom Girl to come closer. She leaned her head on his chest. The rumbling from his growling tickled her cheek. She was a bit disappointed when his growling ceased. Phantom Girl felt his body relax as he reached up and put an arm around her shoulder. The other arm went around her waist.

"Case and point." She smiled against his chest. For that moment, they forgot all about their predicament.

Chameleon Boy practically swaggered as he walked towards sickbay. I know a secret. I know a secret. He thought in a sing-song voice.

And I know your secret, Changling. You are despised. All shapeshifters are. You will fail this mission. Before this is over, you will beg me for you death.

"Wha- who said that?"

That scratchy, annoying voice kept coming back. Get a hold of yourself, Cham.

He hurried along to sickbay. When he was inside, he leaned against the wall and panted.

"Is that you, Reep? Come over here where I can see you."

President Brande was lying on one of the beds. He didn't turn his head, but just stared at the ceiling. Chameleon Boy straightened himself up. Relief washed over him as he walked toward his father.

"Dad? I'm glad you're awake!"

"Yes, I have been since you found me." Brande's voice was raspy, like an old man who was out of breath. "I may be stuck in this human form, but I'm still a Durlan. A normal human wouldn't have survived that shock. It paralyzed me, but I was still conscious. I'm regaining some movement."

He gasped for more air. "I heard Timber Wolf say Brainiac 5 went after that drone, but I didn't hear what happened afterwards. What happened to Brainiac 5?"

"Um, he's fine."

"Liar."

"Okay, he's using his body to power the ship."

"God bless that boy!"

"Dad, w-what if we don't survive?"

"We will. You are Legionnaires. It's what you do."

"I think I made a mistake joining the Legion. I'm no hero. I've never been in any real danger before."

Brande smiled. His eyes crinkled as he strained to put a hand on his son's head. Chameleon Boy lowered his head.

"You'll find your courage, Reep. You didn't join the Legion just because I wanted you to. You joined on your own terms, just like Phantom Girl. Ask her why she joined the Legion when you get a chance." He started gasping.

"Hey, don't overdo it." Chameleon Boy took his father's hand and squeezed it. Brande squeezed back.

"If gasp I were 35 years younger, I would…never mind. Now, gasp go back to your teammates and leave an old man to his delusions of heroism."

"You'll be okay?"

"Yes gasp."

Brande shifted on the bed to get more comfortable. As Chameleon Boy left the room, his father called out from behind him.

"Gasp I'm proud of you. Your mother would be proud. We both believe in you."

Chameleon Boy wanted to smile, but he just felt worse. He wanted to believe that he was a hero, but he just couldn't let go of the feeling that he was just a fraud. When he was out of sickbay, he bent over and put his hands on his knees. He took several deep breaths. When he felt better, he started back toward the cockpit dragging his feet as he walked.

Fraud! You are no hero, Boy. Everyone knows it. Your father is patronizing you. You and your father will die.

Chameleon Boy tried to block out the voice.

"I'll pick on Timber Wolf some more. That'll cheer me up!" He beamed at the thought.

Another voice, a familiar one, echoed throughout the ship. "Phantom Girl? Phantom Girl! Timber Wolf? Do you read me? Come in."

"That's Brainy!" Chameleon Boy forgot about the other mysterious voice and ran into the cockpit.

Timber Wolf and Phantom Girl had broken away from each other. There was an image on the screen. Though the image was distorted, the green, purple, and black color schemes were unmistakable.

"Brainy!" Phantom Girl pressed her hand to the screen. "Oh, thank grief!"

"Forgive me for not contacting you sooner. I had to focus my energy on transmitting the distress signal, and I couldn't contact you until our signal had been acknowledged."

"It's okay! It's okay! I'm just so glad to hear your voice! Who attacked you? Are we really are dealing with the Controller?"

"It would seem. Those were definitely his drones."

"This guy gets a kick out of watching suns explode! What could he possibly want from us? What does he have to gain from all of this? Why hasn't he attack us? What is he waiting for?"

"Inconclusive, Phantom Girl."

"All this time and he still hasn't attacked us yet," she said pensively.

"You almost sound disappointed. We should be thankful for small favors," said Chameleon Boy.

Timber Wolf finally spoke up. "Trust me when I say that he's not doing us any favors. He's either using us as bait or he's just toying with us. Either way, it still doesn't make any sense."

"I don't know what his motivation is or why he hasn't attacked yet. What's important is that we maintain a defensive position until help arrives. The mini cruiser should have had enough power to maintain 85 percent efficiency. I had originally planned to disconnect from the Legion cruiser once you showed up, but I didn't factor in Chameleon Boy having a head on collision with an asteroid."

"How did you know about that?" Chameleon Boy asked.

"I downloaded the ship's internal logs."

Chameleon Boy pressed on. "The logs told you what happened, but I don't think that they told you which one of us was flying. How'd you know it was me?"

"Who else could it have been? Phantom Girl and Timber Wolf would know better."

Chameleon Boy pressed his lips together to keep from saying something he would regret.

"Anyway, the cruiser did not have enough power to maintain even 25 percent efficiency. We may have a fight on our hands. I've expended too much energy. If I were to disconnect now, I wouldn't have the strength to fight. I could draw power from the ship, but we need every bit of it. Forgive me for not being more useful."

"Brainy, you protected the President and left yourself vulnerable. You are keeping the ship powered and you got a distress signal through. You've done more than enough. Just focus on powering the ship. We'll take care of the rest," said Phantom Girl.

Suddenly, Brainiac 5's eyes widened.

"Brainy, what's wrong?" Timber Wolf asked.

"He's on the ship. Great paradigms of Colu, he's already on the ship! He's here in the engine room! I can't…"

The image distorted and blacked out. The lights started flickering.

Phantom Girl reached into her belt compartment and pulled out Brainiac 5's backup disk.

"Take this, Cham, and stay in sickbay. If the intruder gets though us, you are our last line of defense. Protect your father and Brainy's backup. Timber Wolf, let's go!"

She grabbed his arm and phased them both through the floor. Chameleon Boy looked at the small object in his hand then hurried to sickbay. He went into an unoccupied cabinet next to his father's cabinet.

Chameleon Boy waited quietly. He was as small as a mouse because he had morphed into one. As a mouse, Chameleon Boy had to resist the urge to start nibbling on Brainiac 5's backup disk. He found himself holding his breath listening for any sound. Even the slightest noise could be one of those drones coming to get him. He stood there, hiding in the shadows, for what seemed like hours, but only minutes were passing. He kept thinking any moment the intruder would come find him and finish him off, but nothing happened.

He switched back to normal form and ever so cautiously opened the cabinet and looked out.

"Phantom Girl? Timber Wolf?" What was that ancient saying? No news is good news.

Chameleon Boy stared at Brainiac 5's backup disk. "Brainy, can you hear me?"

He hoped and prayed that Brainiac 5 could communicate with him like he'd done before through the ship's communications system. Brainiac 5 likely had more pressing troubles to deal with though.

"I don't know what to do. I know you and the Legion do this sort of thing all the time, but this is new to me. What am I supposed to do? Why am I here? What was I thinking? I wish I hadn't gone to Legion tryouts. I don't think I deserve to be a Legionnaire."

Chameleon Boy was so entrenched in self-pity that he almost didn't hear the metallic, clanking footsteps. He shot up. The footsteps stopped. He tightened his grip on Brainiac 5's backup disk. Chameleon Boy listened very carefully, but still heard no real threats. The usual ships' humming sounds were frightening him, all false alarms, but, so far, nothing had appeared.

Suddenly, something punched through the wall behind him. Chameleon Boy tried to turn. Something grabbed him from behind. The intruder threw him across the room. Chameleon Boy hit the wall face first. He fell backwards onto the floor. He tried to roll over and get back to his feet. He was dragged backwards and flipped onto his back again. Caught! It all happened so fast that Chameleon Boy couldn't get a good look at his opponent. With one foot, the intruder pinned Chameleon Boy to the ground. Still clutching Brainiac 5's backup disk, the rookie Legionnaire pushed against the foot that was now crushing his chest.

As a shape-shifter, Chameleon Boy had the ability to be just about anything or anyone he wanted to be. He could have easily morphed into something that was bigger and stronger than his opponent. Somehow, that bit of logic escaped him. The fear of death robbed him of all rational thought.

His eyes were shut, afraid to look up at his opponent. He tried to yell, but the foot on his chest pressed harder and harder forcing the air out of Chameleon Boy's lungs. He couldn't scream nor was he able to inhale. He called out for his teammates, but no sound came.

Chameleon Boy struggled to get air in his lungs. He felt himself getting lightheaded. At any moment he expected his life to flash before his eyes. Instead, the image of Ferro Lad's statue flooded his mind. At least Ferro Lad went out as a hero, saving the galaxy and quite possibly the universe. The image of Brainiac 5 having his life force drained out of him also haunted Chameleon Boy. Brainiac 5 would be remembered as the one who gave his life energy to sustain his friends.

How will I be remembered? Squashed like some insect or death by suffocation? This is it. This is how it ends. I'm going to die. His tightly shut eyelids could not hold back the tear that now ran down his cheek.

In all his excitement and zeal about joining the Legion, he never once thought about the consequences. He hated himself for realizing too late what was at stake.

I shouldn't have flown the minicruiser. I never should have left Durla.

He now understood that a mission, no matter how seemly trivial, has risks. When you left for one, there was always the possibility that you might not come back.