Chapter 10 Web Lass
The last applicant stepped forward and drew wide eyed gazes from all the Legionaires. The candidate was female, a female child, with long blonde hair worn in twin pigtails, appearing to be approximately ten years old.
Hart started to rise and move to greet her, but was stopped by Projectra's hand catching his. "I've got this , Hart." She squeezed his hand familiarly and smiled. "Woman to ummm woman, sort of."
The small girl was standing with her feet planted wide, determination on her face, when Projectra approached and spoke, "Hello, and who might you be?"
The voice of the young girl was not as child-like as Projectra had expected. "My name is Alana Zax-Pak," the girl informed Projectra in a loud firm voice.
Projectra smiled. "Nice to meet you Alana," she greeted the girl then added, "Sweetie, you do know this is a club for teenagers, right? How old are you, Alana."
The small girl stamped her foot in frustration, and then with a deep sigh, reached into her pocket and withdrew an identification chip. Without a word, she held the chip out to Projectra and then stood there with her hands on her hips.
Projectra plugged the chip into her Omnicom and then read the data displayed. Her eyes grew wide. "Seventeen," she whispered to herself. She turned to Hart and Andrew. "She's seventeen."
Identical looks of disbelief swept across the boys faces.
"How…." Projectra stammered briefly before regaining her composure. "How is it you appear much younger than your true age?"
Alana spoke in a voice that more than hinted at her frustration level. "I'm from Coronak. Due to the distance from our star and the slower rotational speed of the planet, our people have developed a slower physical growth rate. We mature much slower, physically, than most of the galaxy."
Out of the corner of her eye Projectra noticed both boys frantically keying their Omnicoms searching for information on Coronak. She smiled at Alana. "Well you are definitely a teenager, so please proceed with your demonstration."
The small girl threw off her white cape to reveal her costume, a very short red mini-dress, trimmed in black with white knee boots of a style once known as go-go boots. When she lifted her arms, a sort of lacey webbing hung from the sleeves of her dress. The outfit was a bit disconcerting to the Legionaires, because the wearer appeared to be a pre-teen girl. Alana flexed her hands and then, in quick succession, flipped her hands in Andrew's direction and then Hart's.
Each boy found himself bound by a sticky glowing reddish-pink netting, or webbing. The two boys began struggling as Projectra watched and shared a smile.
Hart activated his ability and began secreting an acid-like sweat which promptly burned through the netting. Even after transforming to his metal form, Andrew didn't have the strength to break free and continued struggling.
"That's impressive Alan," Projectra told the girl truthfully. "How long does it last?"
The teenager skipped over to Andrew and placed her hand on the glowing webbing. "I can dissolve it," the webbing faded and Andrew was free, "If I don't, it lasts for about twenty minutes."
"Not bad," Hart joined the two girls. "That would be long enough to bind any enemies securely."
"Or I could just renew the webbing." Alan boasted proudly.
"How large a creature can you net?" Projectra asked.
Alana hopped up and down. "On Coronak I caught a medium sized terrasbra."
Andrew clicked his Omnicom an few times. "A terrasbra is a large lizard-like creature native to Coronak. Sort of a dragon, I suppose."
"That is impressive," Hart put in. "Might not hold Validus, but impressive nonetheless."
Projectra smiled broadly. "Boys I think we may have a winner."
Alana began clapping her hands and jumping up and down causing her pigtails to fly about in an alarming manner.
Projectra cautioned. "Of course the final decision isn't ours alone, the entire membership will have to vote on approval, but you've got our recommendation. right boys?"
"For sure," Andrew agreed. "I think she'd make a great Legionaire.
Hart nodded his approval, "Sprockin' right!" he added.
Projectra frowned at his language then smiled at Alana. "Where are you staying?" she asked, "So we can contact you."
Alana blushed and looked at her toes which were scuffing the ground. "I….I don't know," she admitted. "I wasn't sure how this would go. Can you recommend someplace nice?" She was almost pleading. Her voice dropped to almost a whisper and she added, "and cheap?" A single tear rolled down her cheek.
Projectra slipped her arm around the smaller girl's shoulders. "I'm sure we can find something." She looked at the boys for assistance.
Hart shrugged. Andrew thought for a moment then nodded. "Brainy," he offered, "Let's ask Brainy."
"Right," Projectra agreed. She began walking toward the clubhouse, Alna in tow, with Hart and Andrew trailing behind.