LSH: The Battle For The Universe
By Bruce Wayne
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, I'm just borrowing then for a while.
The characters are owned by DC Comics and I'm writing this just for the fun of
it.
CHAPTER 5 - A MISSION FOR THE LEGION
Back in Metropolis at the Legion clubhouse, Invisible Kid, head
lowered, was charging Sun Boy, who was creating blasts of brilliant light
in an attempt to stun and stall Lyle's attack.
The Legion "Gladiator Games" were on, a planned event for the
Meet. Billions of viewers across the galaxy thrilled to see these modern
teenage gladiators battling one another to sharpen their fighting skills.
It was not, of course, a battle to the death. The rules were that
the Legionnaires would pair off, round robin, and each try to gain a point
over their adversary, while Shrinking Violent kept score.
It would be a point if any Legionnaire could get close to his
opponent to "tag" them. The "tag" was usually a hard, good-natured slap
to the opponent.
Sun Boy continued to try to blind and stun Invisible Kid. But
Invisible Kid used his power so that Dirk wouldn't know where in the
room he was.
Because he couldn't see Invisible Kid anymore, Sun Boy decided
to throw a little heat into the room. The temperature shot up to about
140 degrees (F) pretty quick.
But it wasn't Invisible Kid who responded to the heat. "Knock it
off, Dirk! I can't take it in here, it's too damn hot!" Violet yelled at him.
Sun Boy turned to reply to the girl and that was all the distraction
Invisible Kid needed when he turned visible once again and was just about
to "tag" Dirk when ...
"Hold it, you two!" rang out a voice as two additional figures ran
into the room. "Save your fighting for Tazz, the Invader."
Looking at the video camera, Brainiac 5 waved. "The show's over.
Sign off, the Legion has a mission."
"But listen ..." protested Invisible Kid. "We promised a full hour's
program. Brainy, think about the disappointed audience across the galaxy --"
"I am thinking of them, all right," retorted Brainiac 5, "And mainly
the people on Earth. There won't be anymore video programs to watch
again ... ever ... unless the Legion handles a certain emergency without delay.
Now, don't ask for details until the video is off. We don't want to cause a
panic."
Invisible Kid went to podium and announced that an emergency
had come up and that the "second half" of their Meet would be shown at
a later date.
When the video camera was off, Invisible Kid faced Brainiac 5
and Ferro Lad. "Out with it, Legionnaires. This must be a top priority
emergency."
Ferro Lad, his power turned off, extended an arm and brushed
some red dust off his uniform. "It's top priority, all right," he said.
Brainiac 5 then explained the situation. The other Legionnaires
listened with widening eyes.
"And so," Andrew said, "we've got to defeat Tazz, the Invader
and -- well corny or not -- save the world."
"Hmmm," said Lyle. "You told us he refused to tell why he wanted
to destroy Earth. But just how is he going to do it? Any idea?"
"That superelectromagnet of his must have something to do with
it," Brainy answered. "But just how it could destroy the Earth is anybody's
guess."
The communicator on the desk in front of Invisible Kid buzzed.
It was a message from the Legion Communications Room. Lyle pushed
the button, "What, Tinya?"
Everyone in the Council Room heard Phantom Girl's voice tell
Invisible Kid: "A Doctor Thomm Polton of the Kirk Interstellar
Observatory wants to talk to you, Lyle."
"Put him through on the viewing screen, Tinya, thanks." A few
seconds later, the main view screen in the Council Room was filled with
the image of an older man with a gray beard. "Dr Polton, what can we
do for you?" asked the Legion leader.
"I thought you Legionnaires should hear this before I released it
to the Earth authorities or to the public. An amazing celestial phenomenon
has occurred ..."
The scientist paused, as if still overwhelmed by what he had to
say. "A giant comet has suddenly appeared from the remote regions
beyond the solar system. It is racing toward Earth and gathering
tremendous speed. If it strikes Earth ..."
He took a breath and went on calmly -- too calmly: "Collision
with the giant comet would cause worldwide earthquakes and destroy
half the planet. And at its fantastic rate of acceleration, it will arrive within
ten days."
His voice changed to a bewildered huskiness. "The whole thing
is against all cosmic chance. It upsets all the laws of astrophysics, all
theories of galactic events. I know you will think I'm overimaginative, but
its almost as if that comet were being -- well, being drawn toward Earth
by some powerful force."
"Thank you, doctor, for the warning." Brainiac 5 said.
"Wait! There's more!" the scientist exclaimed. "We're seeing at
least two other comets going off their projected courses. But they're not
heading for Earth. We haven't calculated where they might hit yet."
"Okay, Doc," said Invisible Kid. "We're on it." Lyle let out a
long sigh and faced the others. "There you have it. Tazz's supermagnet
must be pulling down that giant comet. That's the way he plans to destroy
Earth."
"So what are we waiting for?" demanded Colossal Boy. "We go
to Mount Everst, defeat Tazz, wreck his magnet, and stop the comet.
Simple as ABC."
"Yes, except D through Z," warned Brainiac 5, "which will be
all the unknown superscience tricks he may still have up his sleeve. It'll
be tough, with a capital T."
"Just the way we like it," said Invisible Kid, drawing himself
up from his chair, his eyes smoldering. "The Legion has never been
defeated -- and never will!"
"Corny," said Sun Boy, "but true. Let's go."
Invisible Kid stared at Sun Boy frostily. "I give the group
decisions around here, Dirk. But since I can't think of anything better
to say" -- he clapped Sun Boy on the shoulder -- "let's go!"
Violet spoke up, "Shouldn't we get more help?"
"We're the only ones here, Vi." Lyle punched the button on the
communicator and ordered, "Tinya, transmit a call back for all Legionnaires.
We're going on a mission to the Himalayas. You and Karate Kid stay put
here until we come back or call for help."
The six Legionnaires strode out of the Council Room and down
a corridor then they went out a door which took them outside. Nearby,
close to the yellow and red clubhouse, which looked like the inverted
bottom stage of a rocket impaled into the ground, was the Legion's space-
port. Here rested three Mark III Legion Cruisiers. These ships, which
took off and landed vertically, were specially designed to transport the
Legion anywhere on Earth or beyond.
Within the craft, each Legionnaire went into their seats. Sun Boy
sat at the pilot controls, with Colossal Boy as his co-pilot. Dirk Morgna
looked at the computer readout of the automated check-out devices. "All
systems go," he said. He programmed the proper trajectory into the ship's
navigation system. Destination -- Mount Everest.
Making sure everyone was ready, Sun Boy pushed the main engine
button. With a roar, the fiery engine burst forth, shoving the craft vertically
into the sky.
"All systems go," said Colossal Boy. "Oxygen, green. Thrust ,
nominal."
"Yaw, pitch and roll errors negative," took up Sun Boy. "Ship
going into proper pitch-over angle into level flight, at ninety miles altitude.
We're on our way."
Looking down through a big bottom-side window, they could
see the broad sweep of the Earth's curvature below, and portions of the
surface through banks of fleecy clouds.
It wasn't long before Sun Boy warned everyone: "Five minutes to
landing. What's our course of strategy, Lyle?"
"I've been mulling it over," the Legion leader answered slowly. "It
doesn't pay to reveal all our forces at once -- we should hold some in
reserve. Tazz already has Ferro Lad's number with his rust-ray; so Violet,
Brainy, Colossal Boy and I will confront our enemy first. Then, if
reinforcements are needed, Sun Boy and Ferro Lad will join in.
"Always robbing me of glory," grumbled Sun Boy. "What if you
four don't need help?" He knocked his knuckles against his forehead as
if chiding himself. "What am I worried about? Insect Girl, Elephant Boy,
The Brain and a guy who turns himself invisible ... how can they win
without help? So just call on ... " He looked at Violet up and down,
... the hottest thing in the universe ..."
She made a face like she just smelled something bad.
"... And," he continued, "I'll save the day. You can help too, Rust
Pot."
Ferro Lad said nothing, wincing at the word "rust."
Witheringly, Shrinking Violet spoke up, "You really think you're
hot stuff, don't you, Dirk?"
"Like I always say, babe -- if you got it, flaunt it."
"Yeeech!" She replied.
If the others, thought Brainiac 5 to himself, had met Tazz, they
would not be bantering so light-heartedly. They would find out soon
enough what they were up against ...
To be continued ...
By Bruce Wayne
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, I'm just borrowing then for a while.
The characters are owned by DC Comics and I'm writing this just for the fun of
it.
CHAPTER 5 - A MISSION FOR THE LEGION
Back in Metropolis at the Legion clubhouse, Invisible Kid, head
lowered, was charging Sun Boy, who was creating blasts of brilliant light
in an attempt to stun and stall Lyle's attack.
The Legion "Gladiator Games" were on, a planned event for the
Meet. Billions of viewers across the galaxy thrilled to see these modern
teenage gladiators battling one another to sharpen their fighting skills.
It was not, of course, a battle to the death. The rules were that
the Legionnaires would pair off, round robin, and each try to gain a point
over their adversary, while Shrinking Violent kept score.
It would be a point if any Legionnaire could get close to his
opponent to "tag" them. The "tag" was usually a hard, good-natured slap
to the opponent.
Sun Boy continued to try to blind and stun Invisible Kid. But
Invisible Kid used his power so that Dirk wouldn't know where in the
room he was.
Because he couldn't see Invisible Kid anymore, Sun Boy decided
to throw a little heat into the room. The temperature shot up to about
140 degrees (F) pretty quick.
But it wasn't Invisible Kid who responded to the heat. "Knock it
off, Dirk! I can't take it in here, it's too damn hot!" Violet yelled at him.
Sun Boy turned to reply to the girl and that was all the distraction
Invisible Kid needed when he turned visible once again and was just about
to "tag" Dirk when ...
"Hold it, you two!" rang out a voice as two additional figures ran
into the room. "Save your fighting for Tazz, the Invader."
Looking at the video camera, Brainiac 5 waved. "The show's over.
Sign off, the Legion has a mission."
"But listen ..." protested Invisible Kid. "We promised a full hour's
program. Brainy, think about the disappointed audience across the galaxy --"
"I am thinking of them, all right," retorted Brainiac 5, "And mainly
the people on Earth. There won't be anymore video programs to watch
again ... ever ... unless the Legion handles a certain emergency without delay.
Now, don't ask for details until the video is off. We don't want to cause a
panic."
Invisible Kid went to podium and announced that an emergency
had come up and that the "second half" of their Meet would be shown at
a later date.
When the video camera was off, Invisible Kid faced Brainiac 5
and Ferro Lad. "Out with it, Legionnaires. This must be a top priority
emergency."
Ferro Lad, his power turned off, extended an arm and brushed
some red dust off his uniform. "It's top priority, all right," he said.
Brainiac 5 then explained the situation. The other Legionnaires
listened with widening eyes.
"And so," Andrew said, "we've got to defeat Tazz, the Invader
and -- well corny or not -- save the world."
"Hmmm," said Lyle. "You told us he refused to tell why he wanted
to destroy Earth. But just how is he going to do it? Any idea?"
"That superelectromagnet of his must have something to do with
it," Brainy answered. "But just how it could destroy the Earth is anybody's
guess."
The communicator on the desk in front of Invisible Kid buzzed.
It was a message from the Legion Communications Room. Lyle pushed
the button, "What, Tinya?"
Everyone in the Council Room heard Phantom Girl's voice tell
Invisible Kid: "A Doctor Thomm Polton of the Kirk Interstellar
Observatory wants to talk to you, Lyle."
"Put him through on the viewing screen, Tinya, thanks." A few
seconds later, the main view screen in the Council Room was filled with
the image of an older man with a gray beard. "Dr Polton, what can we
do for you?" asked the Legion leader.
"I thought you Legionnaires should hear this before I released it
to the Earth authorities or to the public. An amazing celestial phenomenon
has occurred ..."
The scientist paused, as if still overwhelmed by what he had to
say. "A giant comet has suddenly appeared from the remote regions
beyond the solar system. It is racing toward Earth and gathering
tremendous speed. If it strikes Earth ..."
He took a breath and went on calmly -- too calmly: "Collision
with the giant comet would cause worldwide earthquakes and destroy
half the planet. And at its fantastic rate of acceleration, it will arrive within
ten days."
His voice changed to a bewildered huskiness. "The whole thing
is against all cosmic chance. It upsets all the laws of astrophysics, all
theories of galactic events. I know you will think I'm overimaginative, but
its almost as if that comet were being -- well, being drawn toward Earth
by some powerful force."
"Thank you, doctor, for the warning." Brainiac 5 said.
"Wait! There's more!" the scientist exclaimed. "We're seeing at
least two other comets going off their projected courses. But they're not
heading for Earth. We haven't calculated where they might hit yet."
"Okay, Doc," said Invisible Kid. "We're on it." Lyle let out a
long sigh and faced the others. "There you have it. Tazz's supermagnet
must be pulling down that giant comet. That's the way he plans to destroy
Earth."
"So what are we waiting for?" demanded Colossal Boy. "We go
to Mount Everst, defeat Tazz, wreck his magnet, and stop the comet.
Simple as ABC."
"Yes, except D through Z," warned Brainiac 5, "which will be
all the unknown superscience tricks he may still have up his sleeve. It'll
be tough, with a capital T."
"Just the way we like it," said Invisible Kid, drawing himself
up from his chair, his eyes smoldering. "The Legion has never been
defeated -- and never will!"
"Corny," said Sun Boy, "but true. Let's go."
Invisible Kid stared at Sun Boy frostily. "I give the group
decisions around here, Dirk. But since I can't think of anything better
to say" -- he clapped Sun Boy on the shoulder -- "let's go!"
Violet spoke up, "Shouldn't we get more help?"
"We're the only ones here, Vi." Lyle punched the button on the
communicator and ordered, "Tinya, transmit a call back for all Legionnaires.
We're going on a mission to the Himalayas. You and Karate Kid stay put
here until we come back or call for help."
The six Legionnaires strode out of the Council Room and down
a corridor then they went out a door which took them outside. Nearby,
close to the yellow and red clubhouse, which looked like the inverted
bottom stage of a rocket impaled into the ground, was the Legion's space-
port. Here rested three Mark III Legion Cruisiers. These ships, which
took off and landed vertically, were specially designed to transport the
Legion anywhere on Earth or beyond.
Within the craft, each Legionnaire went into their seats. Sun Boy
sat at the pilot controls, with Colossal Boy as his co-pilot. Dirk Morgna
looked at the computer readout of the automated check-out devices. "All
systems go," he said. He programmed the proper trajectory into the ship's
navigation system. Destination -- Mount Everest.
Making sure everyone was ready, Sun Boy pushed the main engine
button. With a roar, the fiery engine burst forth, shoving the craft vertically
into the sky.
"All systems go," said Colossal Boy. "Oxygen, green. Thrust ,
nominal."
"Yaw, pitch and roll errors negative," took up Sun Boy. "Ship
going into proper pitch-over angle into level flight, at ninety miles altitude.
We're on our way."
Looking down through a big bottom-side window, they could
see the broad sweep of the Earth's curvature below, and portions of the
surface through banks of fleecy clouds.
It wasn't long before Sun Boy warned everyone: "Five minutes to
landing. What's our course of strategy, Lyle?"
"I've been mulling it over," the Legion leader answered slowly. "It
doesn't pay to reveal all our forces at once -- we should hold some in
reserve. Tazz already has Ferro Lad's number with his rust-ray; so Violet,
Brainy, Colossal Boy and I will confront our enemy first. Then, if
reinforcements are needed, Sun Boy and Ferro Lad will join in.
"Always robbing me of glory," grumbled Sun Boy. "What if you
four don't need help?" He knocked his knuckles against his forehead as
if chiding himself. "What am I worried about? Insect Girl, Elephant Boy,
The Brain and a guy who turns himself invisible ... how can they win
without help? So just call on ... " He looked at Violet up and down,
... the hottest thing in the universe ..."
She made a face like she just smelled something bad.
"... And," he continued, "I'll save the day. You can help too, Rust
Pot."
Ferro Lad said nothing, wincing at the word "rust."
Witheringly, Shrinking Violet spoke up, "You really think you're
hot stuff, don't you, Dirk?"
"Like I always say, babe -- if you got it, flaunt it."
"Yeeech!" She replied.
If the others, thought Brainiac 5 to himself, had met Tazz, they
would not be bantering so light-heartedly. They would find out soon
enough what they were up against ...
To be continued ...