I'm so sorry it took so long to update. I wrote about half of this back in the Summer, but then had major writer's block. Finally had some inspiration recently and was able to finish it. Hopefully updates will be more consistent and frequent from now on, but I can't guarantee anything. Anyway, hope you enjoy this next chapter.

Imra wasn't sure what to expect tonight. She'd never been to one of the Legion's Game Nights, and despite hearing many things from several Legionnaires, she was still weary of what might go down.

Her fears were confirmed when Bouncing Boy announced the Seven Minutes game and she found herself watching bottles pick the women around her one by one.

This wasn't a good idea. She should have just agreed to monitor duty again. It wasn't like she was very interested in playing games, and she certainly was not liking where this particular game was heading.

But, of course, she wasn't here because she wanted to be. Triplicate Girl had insisted for two whole weeks that she attend, and with that kind of persistence, who was she to say no to a friend?

Nervously, she bit her lip as Dream Girl got up and walked into the hall with Kell-El. Seven minutes went by in a blink and soon the bottle was spinning again.

She let out a quiet groan when the bottle pointed at her. Reluctantly, she stood up and faced the boy's circle. Her eyes momentarily widened when she saw who she'd been partnered with, but then her shoulders sagged with relief.

It was Timber Wolf. At least he was someone she could trust.

He gave her an apologetic smile. "Shall we?"

As they approached the closet, Brin gently placed a hand on her wrist to get her attention. She looked at him expectantly, one of her eyebrows raised.

"I know this is technically against the rules," he whispered, "but if you'd feel more comfortable just walking and talking around the HQ, we could do that instead."

The tension in her body melted away and her shoulders sagged again. She clasped her right hand over his, keeping it on her left wrist. She gave him an appreciative smile. "I'd definitely prefer that, if you don't mind."

He nodded understandingly, and they headed toward the elevators at the end of the hall.

After he pressed the button for the top floor, he looked over at her for several moments, as if figuring out what to say.

Imra decided to help him out a little. "So I heard from Luorno that the two of you had a rather peaceful patrol this morning."

Brin leaned back against the elevator's handrail with a small smile on his face. "Yeah, it was nice. The city is really pretty at night and it was relaxing to be able to just enjoy it without any trouble brewing."

Imra gave him a funny look. "Brewing?"

Brin chuckled quietly and looked down at the floor, slightly embarrassed. "We passed a witch shop. Luorno insisted we check it out for a few minutes. She found this chest full of books from the 24th century."

Imra giggled a bit. "Ah, yes. She might've mentioned it to me." Brin smirked knowingly at her. "She was quite fond of the whole thing. Said she bought two of them."

Brin chuckled again as the elevator doors opened and they stepped out into the small courtyard at the top of the HQ building. "I might have helped her pay for them. They were rather expensive and she––"

Imra gasped incredulously at him, lightly punching his left shoulder. "Brin! You shouldn't encourage her! For heaven's sake, she spends enough already without you enabling her." She shook her head, amused and concerned at the same time.

Brin simply smiled. "It was a gift. And I enjoyed the look on her face when she got to carry them out of the shop."

They walked to the edge of the roof and leaned against the stone barrier. The city blazed with light around them, shimmering and sparkling under the dark sky. Flying cars sped to and fro. The din of millions of people exploring and talking and walking and enjoying themselves filled the air. In every direction, there were countless events taking place, things to do, places to be, wonders to behold. It was a magical city all around––one that was literally buzzing with life and activity.

"I wish we could see the stars here in the city," Imra said after several moments of quiet appreciation. "It's always so amazing to stand out in the woods on my home planet and see the galaxies of stars. I feel so connected with everyone, and the universe doesn't seem so vast and cold. It's almost like seeing the stars erases the distance between them and myself."

Brin nodded in acknowledgment, looking up at the sky with her. After another minute or two, he chuckled quietly. "You know, our seven minutes are probably up by now."

Imra shrugged, feeling too happy and relaxed to care. She turned to him. "Do you want to go back inside? I'm thinking I'm going to go out and walk around the city for an hour or two and just . . . enjoy it."

Brin smiled. "Would you mind if I came with you? I hear there's a late-night showing of that one movie that Bouncing Boy really likes––Tombs of the Pharaohs, I think it was."

Imra laughed. "Oh no! Not you too. Don't tell me you're into that?"

Brin shrugged, amusement glittering in his amber eyes. "Well, I don't know. I haven't see it yet."

"All right," Imra giggled, floating over the barrier with her flight ring and leisurely descending to the street far below, with Brin following soon thereafter. "We can go see it. What time is the showing?"

Brin checked his ring for the time. "Well, it's almost 11:00 PM now, and it's at midnight."

"Well, it looks like I'll get that hour-long walk after all."

Fortunately, when Imra and Brin decided to spend time in the city, they were already in their civilian clothes. Imra couldn't help wondering as they passed by countless stores and theatres and casinos if people on the streets would stare at them if they had their Legion uniforms on. She'd heard from Lightning Lad, Cosmic Boy, and Kell-El that they were often harassed on the streets by overzealous fans (and even critics, sometimes) and tourists from other planets whenever they walked the streets in uniform. As such, she was very glad she blended in with the crowd now. Even Brin did, since so many species mingled in the streets of one of the largests cities in the Milky Way galaxy. Her mind was also put at ease with the way Brin stuck close to her side, always keeping an eye out so that she could simply enjoy herself. It was so nice knowing that he had her back like this.

As midnight approached, they began making their way to the theatre that Brin said was the one with the showing they wanted. But as they neared the entrance, Brin halted abruptly. Imra turned to see what was up.

"Something's wrong," he whispered, pulling her close to him. His nose was twitching as he turned his head in every direction, clearly trying to pinpoint a scent.

"Haven't smelled it before, but there's something off about it." His eyes dilated as he discovered the direction the scent was coming from.

"How so?" Imra asked, nervously glancing around, then focusing on where he was looking.

"There are ten of them," he replied, his ears now twitching. "And they––" He abruptly swung his head around, causing Imra to duck to avoid being hit. His ears flattened against his head. "We need to go."

By now, some people were starting to stare at Brin in bewilderment. A few of them clearly recognized him and were put on edge by his behavior.

Loudly, Brin announced, "I suggest everyone get inside for their own safety."

Those who knew who he was obeyed without question. The rest hesitated but ultimately followed the others inside the theatre.

"Should we split up to look for them?" Imra asked.

"Yes, but make sure the distress button on your flight ring is on. I have a bad feeling about this."
"Perhaps we should contact the HQ?"

He nodded, and they both sent out distress signals to the Legion.

"All right," Brin said, "I'll go south and you go north. Sound good?"

"On it," Imra responded as she flew above the tops of the buildings.

After several minutes of carefully flying around and keeping her eyes peeled, she finally decided to descend to the ground and carry on her search on foot. It was much more likely that unsavory creatures would prefer to sneak among the shadows on the ground.

She checked one alleyway and then another. She did this several times before kicking a pebble on the ground in frustration.

Just then, her flight ring began subtly blinking. She tapped the left side of it twice to take the call.

"Saturn Girl, this is Matter-Eater Lad. What seems to be the problem?"

"Timber Wolf and I are currently out in the city. We were just about to enter a theatre to see a late-night showing when he smelled something unsettling. He said there were ten or more creatures whose scent he couldn't recognize, and he mentioned that there was something very off about them. We've since split up and are searching the city, but we think we should have some backup. We wouldn't want some new species slipping our notice. They could be here to attack or steal something important."

"Agreed. I'll send out two legionnaires for each of you. I just need you and Brin to send me your locations."

Imra was about to reply when something flashed past her in her periphery. Nervously, she stepped as close to the street as she could, wanting to be in as a bright and busy a spot as possible. Her eyes darted around, checking the spot she had been standing in previously. Nothing seemed to be afoot.

"Imra? Imra, are you still there?"

"Something's following me," she hissed, her voice hitching with creeping fear.

"Imra, I can't help you unless you send me your location."

Quickly, she focused on her ring and tapped the right side three times to send her coordinate location, then continued looking around.

"All right, I've received it. If you think it's a good idea, why don't you come back to the HQ and then I'll send legionnaires back to the spot you're currently at right now?"

"Yes," Imra replied shakily, "I think that's a good idea. I don't have heightened senses like Brin does. I don't have any idea where this creature is or if it's––"

Suddenly a small object hurled toward her and embedded itself in her flight ring. It began to beep incessantly.

Shrieking, Imra yanked her ring off and threw it to the ground. She bolted away from it and cried, "Bomb! Everyone run!"

Three seconds later, the device exploded like a powerful grenade. Unfortunately, it had been next to the street and blasted two ground cars going by. Shrapnel went flying everywhere.

But the shock wave from the blast hit Imra and several other passersby with tremendous force. It pummeled them into the ground, knocking several people out.

Imra remained awake, but her head was pounding and her body ached on both sides, one side from the ground and the other from the shock wave.

As her vision faded, she watched in horror as several shadowy figures raced out of a nearby alleyway toward her. Her eyes then closed fully and the last thing she was aware of before everything went black was the sound of their whispery laughter.