That last chapter was really long wasn't it? But I don't think it will get much shorter. I'll try but no promises. I've small chatted enough – now for the disclaimer; I don't own Legion of Super Heroes. Well… maybe I did in another life… but not this one. Darn.
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Events
What do you do when all you know is thrown into chaos? What do you do when your life is shattered? What do you do when you suddenly have a past? What do you do when you suddenly become, truly alive?
These thoughts filled Brainiac 5's head as he stumbled blindly through the night. He ran far away from his friends and his team. He ran as fast as he could- not even stopping long enough to think of turning on his flight-ring. He just ran. Pure instinct guided him through the crowds of people. The urchins of the city were out now… taking refuge under the starry night sky. Lowlifes of every kind: those suffering from lack of food, craving addictions, and who knows what else were walking the streets – pale as ghosts, thin as rails… pretending that they were accepted in the real world, at least for the night… But none of them paid attention to the small android as he ran from the tall skin covered building that spiked into the sky.
Brainy ran blindly, realizing vaguely that no one was coming after him. What could Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl, or Superman say? Even Saturn Girl who was really good at this kind of thing wouldn't know what to say… not that he had a very good relationship with any of them but still… he had been working with them for a couple years. None of the DAWIPA would try to come after him either; they didn't know him after all. And as for Trish, he knew she would not come after him. His sister had always felt people had to grasp things themselves…
Brainy stopped running abruptly. 'My sister.' The thought slammed into him like a ton of bricks. A sister. A family. 'I have… a family?' This was one of the things Brainiac 5 had always envied about other civilizations. Coluans didn't have families, only the Collective. Isn't this what he always dreamed of? Something that truly separated him from the Coluans? He finally had a sister- a family- a history even! And he was running from it was fast as he could. "Yeah. That makes sense." Brainy said sarcastically to himself, scaring off a couple of teenagers that were hiding in the bushes. How he had scared them, he had no idea. They were after all much taller than he was. 'Well, that's the great Coluan reputation following me.'
Brainy looked around him to find that his feet had carried him into a quiet densely forested city park. He lay down on a park bench and stared at the sky. He sighed. Everything was so messed up. Even the sky was messed up. None of the starslooked familiar. He closed his eyes, trying to think. There was a slight breeze that rustled the leaves above him.
"Ok Brainy. You have a 12th level intelligence. You should be able to think of something. What are you going to do?" He said to himself. Brainy sighed. "I have a sister. I am not Coluan, I am Eastlandian." Brainy stopped. It didn't sound right. He opened his eyes. It was much harder to take it all in that he thought. "Arrrrgh!" He clapped his hands to his forehead. "Why did I stay and listen? And why can't I think about it rationally? And why am I talking to myself?" He said to no one in particular.
'Because, you never knew yourself and now you're a different person.' Said a voice in his head.
Brainy dropped his hands and straightened up and looked around. He had never heard voices in his head. Sure he thought about stuff but never like this. It was like there a small person talking into his ear. No- a small person talking from inside his ear. 'This must be- like the conscience humans are always talking about.' He thought.
'Well, not exactly, but I'm glad you finally notice me!' Said the voice. 'It's been waaaay too hard to get through all that Coluan wiring they put in your head.'
"Huh?" Brainy looked around. There was no way in heaven his… conscience was talking like this. No. It must be someone in the bushes or something. He was not hearing voices. He was not losing his mind.
'Yeah. A conscience does not talk like this. But, you're not losing your mind. I sitting in it after all.' The voice said.
Brainy just sat on the bench with his mouth open. He couldn't believe this. "No- I'm losing it. That must be the answer. Yeah. I'll wake up tomorrow, at headquarters, to find this was all a dream- yeah. Trish, no that girl, went through the portal and I got caught in the radiation and was knocked out."
'You don't actually believe that do you?' The voice said. 'Hmmm… how can I make this easier? Oh! I got it! Hang on a minute.' Brainy heard something rattling in his head and a few sparks flew out of his right ear.
"Ow!" Brainy clapped a hand to his ear. It felt as though someone was ripping through his internal wiring. Then some wire went loose causing his arm to fall to his side. "Ow." He said again, more annoyed than hurt. "What are you doing in there?"
The voice in his ear laughed nervously. 'Oops. Wrong wire. But now there's a way out!'
"What are you talking about?" Brainy asked. But no sooner had he spoken these words than he saw a green maroon mist pouring out of his ear. The same color he had just seen Alex use in the memory.
The mist moved against the slight breeze to hover in front of Brainy. As it did it slowly formed itself into an off color version of Alex from the memory. 'Cool. So this is what I look like.' It said, looking Brainiac 5 up and down.
Brainy stared at the mist-Alex without speaking. "Oh my God."
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No one had moved after Brainiac 5 had run out of the room. It was dead quiet again. The room was so tense a complete stranger could have walked in and understood what happened. It took about a minute for everything to sink in. Then Tor whipped around to face Trish. "You told me they didn't see you." He said in a dangerously low whisper. "You said nothing would happen." These words were even quieter.
The DAWIPA team members inched their chairs away from Tor. Joe ran under the table and whimpered. Yoom zoomed behind Superman. Speed grabbed onto a disgusted and totally bewildered Lightning Lad. Saturn Girl and Phantom Girl looked from Tor to Trish to the DAWIPA team not knowing what to do. Gantor looked at the others nervously, mouthing 'He's gonna blow!' at the Legion. But it did no good. Tor had already lost it.
Tor could not contain his rage at Trish any longer. He erupted like a monstrous volcano. Spewing spit and strange words none of them had heard before like rocks and ash. 'HASTO JAK GETIR LASD OVI VISNT SJKE WIQUKEL?" (Has-toe jack geh-tier las-did cov-ee vis-nit si-jack-ay wick-quilk?) He screamed. "IAALKTHISJE OCM EEJ WOHT CIEJKNS! TJIEMD ITJKS IWNODK WIKSMEO!" (Eye-ack-all this-ja ah-qu-em ee-juh wo-hunt cy-jeek-uns! Ty-jemd it-jakes eye-wone-duh-k wik-si-me-oh!)
Trish stared back at him, clearly hurt. "JEOK LDUY SKOIE THIJ SKOEHINQ UFDKJEPC THIJ HU? THCOM GESC BANDFJE OWPNC ITKJSN ITJSD!" (Gee-oak lud-see suck-o-kie thi-juh suck-ooh-eh-hind-kee u-fud-kjec-pes thi-juh hoo? Thigh-coom gesk ban-def-jay own-pink it-ku-sons ith-jes-tuh!)
"HISJOE HIKN WIHNDS ASKL TKJSL HIEKNC!" (His-joo-ee hike-in winds-high ass-kill tuck-sell hee-kick-nick!) Tor screamed spit flying everywhere.
Trish responded in more unintelligible words. The two were screaming at each other like banshees. Spit was flying everywhere. The others were slowly rising from their chairs and heading towards the door. Trying as hard as possible to not draw attention to themselves. The Legion members followed suit. Trish and Tor's voices rose to even louder shouts of rage. Everyone else was almost at the door when Tor drew his scythe. Trish's wings burst out of her back and a long silver pole appeared in her hands. Teal bolts of electricity crackled around her. Tor's wings appeared and pointed to the sky. No one moved. Speed was at the door with her hands raised to open it. Superman's mouth was hanging slightly open. He had never seen anyone fight like this.
"Isticso hyta gomeita osoku." (Is-tick-so high-tah go-meh-eeta oh-so-koo.) Tor spat.
Trish pointed the pole at Tor's face. "Oh, danger. Yehi jetrs nuhcrs potkesu estaca." (Yeh-high jet-rus nuh-crus pot-kess-oo es-tah-ka.)
"Jeksh wokej higs!" (Jeck-she woke-jay higs!) Tor shouted.
"Higs?" (Higs?) Trish shouted back. "High mahie thsoc Tor Cylix!" (Higs may-high-ee t-sock tore cy-licks!)
Tor's eyes narrowed. Trish's hands gripped the pole more tightly. Superman blinked and they were gone. Superman looked up at the ceiling to see the two flashes of light shooting around hitting each other and spouting smaller streams of light at the other.
"We'd better get out of here." Whispered Yoom. "No one's safe."
"Why?" Asked Lightning Lad.
"Because…" Speed started. She silently pointed to the two streams of light ricocheting off the walls. Large dents were appearing.
"Let's get out of here!" Yelled Gantor. Speed opened the door as everyone ran out with her. The Legion however, didn't move.
"What are you doing?" Said Yoom. She flitted back in and tugged on Superman's sleeve. "Come on!"
Superman shook his head. "Can't we do something? They're destroying everything." As if on cue, Tor was slammed against a screen to the left. There was a loud sound of breaking glass. Tor fell to the ground, the shards sparkling like snow. One piece brushed against his cheek leaving a trail of red. He pushed himself off the floor with a growl and flew off to where Trish was hovering.
"That's our cue." Gantor reached in and grabbed Lightning Lad and Superman in one hand and Phantom Girl and Saturn Girl in the other. Yoom grabbed onto Superman's hair and was dragged out of the room. Speed hurridly closed the door. She leaned against it and heaved a sigh.
There was a loud bang as Speed leapt away from the door. A large bump had appeared where Trish, or Tor, or possibly a large and expensive piece of machinery had slammed into it. They could sill hear random incomprehensible screams from the two battling Eastlandians.
"Mm-hmm. Let's go oin here." Gantor said. He pointed to another door a little ways down the hall. He walked to it, still clutching the struggling Legion members in his hands. Speed got to the door first and opened it. Everyone entered quickly and quietly. After everyone was safely inside Speed slammed the door shut and, leaning against it, heaved a deep sigh.
"I hate it when this happens." Yoom commented, untangling herself from Superman's hair.
Lightning Lad looked up. "This had happened before." He stated incredulously.
Yoom shrugged her tiny shoulders, "Well, yeah. According to them – Eastlandians are really vicious."
"Yep." Speed laughed. "It's one of those species you don't want to get angry."
Saturn Girl raised her eyebrows. "What do you mean?"
"You saw them fight earlier against the Megs?" Yoom asked. They nodded.
"Well, that's probable about a quarter of their total strength." Gantor supplied matter-of-factly. There was another loud bang as something or someone slammed on the wall across the hallway. "Now, I'd say this is about a third…" He shuddered. "They're out of the main room. This is the door they can't get through right?"
Speed looked the door up and down. "I think so."
"Two of your teammates are off trying to rip each other apart and you're worried about a door?" Lightning Lad shouted.
"Yep." Speed said – still facing the door.
"But-" Superman started.
"But nothing." Said a low-gravelly voice.
The Legion looked around from their vantage point in Gantor's hands for the new arrival. "Who was that?" asked Saturn Girl.
"How dumb are thirds?" Said the voice. The DAWIPA giggled.
"Oh, Joe, shut up." Said Yoom, not laughing.
"Joe?" Superman asked.
"Yeah?" Said the liger. "I can talk… it's just hard."
Speed chuckled. "He was a regular liger but now he has a voice. But he doesn't like to use it. Claims it hurts."
Joe shrugged his hairy shoulders. He walked calmly over to lie by a vent on the floor. "It doesn't matter if they want to fight." He took a deep breath. "They started the group, they're the leaders. Let them kill each other if they want to."
"Oh, so you can become the leader?" Said Yoom exasperatedly. "You've gotta give that up already." Joe didn't respond to this statement, unless you count panting as a response.
Lightning Lad was not impressed by this exchange. "We should be doing something! Calming them down, or finding Brainy, or something." The room went quiet again at the mention of the android.
Speed recovered quickly and walked, slowly and deliberately, to stand directly in front of Lightning Lad. "Look, Trish and Tor both have told us about Eastlandians. Their wars literally turn the ground red and it leaks into the dimensions below it. 'Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning?' That's bloodshed from an Eastlandian battle and it's a warning of what war does. When an Eastlandian gets angry- it doesn't matter if you're a friend, foe, family member, or anything else. If you get in the way of an angry Eastlandian – may whatever god you worship have mercy on your soul." Lightning Lad gaped at her. "Now then," she said turning to the rest of the group, "Who's hungry? I think there are some sandwich fixins' in the fridge."
Lightning Lad's eyes grew to an incredible size and he started to speak. "It's the way we work." Yoom said quickly, preventing any more strained speeches.
Lightning Lad couldn't take any more. "Work? We're sitting here making sandwiches while the others are killing each other and gone who knows where!"
"But think about it Lightning Lad." Saturn Girl put her hand on his shoulder. "Would you want people to be around you if you found out-" her voice faltered, "What Brainy did?" She asked quietly.
Speed shook her head. "I don't believe it. I knew Trish and Tor didn't have any family and something really bad had happened, but I never thought it was something like that."
Gantor shuddered. "No wonder they seem so involved with DAWIPA."
"Guys, we can't just sit here." Phantom Girl said. "I don't think it's a good idea to leave Brainy alone. Even if he would rather be by himself it's not safe. Especially in a big city like this."
Saturn Girl nodded. But that was all the reaction Phantom Girl got. She looked at Lightning Lad – waiting for an order. But he just crossed his arms over his chest and looked down. Phantom Girl looked to Superman, then to Saturn Girl hoping someone would take charge. No one did.
'I can't just sit here waiting for someone to do something.' She thought. 'But why won't someone do something? Someone take charge!' She silently willed. 'Someone… anyone…. Come on!' But her silent pleas went as unheeded at a gnat sneezing. "Ok fine!" She shouted. Everyone turned to look at her. "I'm going to find Brainy. It's not a good idea to leave someone who just found out a life-changing secret alone in a strange city in a different dimension. Saturn Girl – you come with me you can sense his brain waves. Lightning Lad, Superman you stay here in case he comes back. While you wait you can help them do whatever. And you-" she stood up and turned to the DAWIPA who were sitting at the table making sandwiches smirking at her, "I can't tell you to do anything but you should try to calm Trish and Tor down," she shrugged, through her hands into the air, "You can do whatever the heck you want!"
No one moved. Superman had a quizzical look on his face and Lightning Lad had his mouth open.
Phantom Girl shook her head and sat back down. "Sorry." She muttered.
"What are you talking about?" asked Saturn Girl. "That's a good plan. I'm with you- let's go."
"Well you're not going into this city at night without a guide. I'm coming too!" Yoom said. She flew towards them and perched on Saturn Girl's shoulder. Yoom pointed one slender finger to the door. "To the door!"
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Brainiac 5 continued to stare at the mist-Alex in front of him. "Oh my God." He said again.
'That much of a shock huh?' asked Alex. Brainy nodded. 'I would probably react the same way. Wait,' Alex shook his head and shrugged, 'technically I am acting the same way… Since I'm you before and you're me after… Oh!' He clapped his hand to his head, 'This makes my brain hurt!' Brainiac 5 stayed silent – his mouth still open in shock. 'Of course it should be making your head hurt too…' Alex said, ignoring the silent android. 'With everything in your head always clicking and whirring about. This must be mind blowing.' He chuckled nervously. 'Yeah… nothing like learning something truly awful about your race to shatter every memory and though you hold dear.' Alex smiled genially at him. 'Heh heh… heh…' he groaned. 'Come on! Say something! Did I kill you or something? Huh?' He snapped his fingers in Brainy's face. 'Helllloooooooo in there!' Alex waved his hand in front of Brainy. 'Respond already dammit!' With that surprising line he smacked the shocked android across the face knocking him off the bench.
This seemed to be exactly what he needed. Brainy blinked a few times from his new place on the ground. He opened his mouth. No sound came out. He cleared his rather dry throat and spoke shakily, "Who are you?"
Alex stared at him like he was an idiot. 'I'm you. Well, almost. You used to be me – but after the assimilation you just developed without me. While I was sealed in the last true cell in your mind.'
"True cell?"
'The only one that remained organic – not Coluan made.'
"Oh." Brainy mulled this over in his head.
'Bet you feel like the Germans after they found out about the Holocaust thing.' Alex offered a hand. Brainy took it. They both sat down on the bench. Alex leaned back– completely at ease.
"What?" Brainy looked over at the mist-like figure next to him.
Alex laughed. 'The Holocaust. Most of the German people did not know about hoe the Nazi's were killing the Jews and Gypsies until it really increased to a terrifying level. When they found out – well I'm guessing it's like how you feel.'
Brainy stared at him. "How do you know about that stuff? I thought you and Trish were from the 27th Dimension."
Alex laughed. 'Oh, well my sister was obsessed with the 3rd Dimension. She loved all the governments – claimed they were much better than ours – less casualties I think.'
"Huh?"
'Our 'beautiful home' wasn't as peaceful as the memory lead you to believe. We had so many problems…' Alex's words trailed off into nothing.
Brainy looked away from Alex. He leaned back as well and looked at the stars.
'I don't recognize any constellations.' Alex commented.
"Neither do I." Brainy said. Alex grunted. Brainy's eyes slid over to the mist beside him. 'Did I really look like that?' The android had often thought about what he would look like if he were something other than a Coluan. Never had he thought that he could look like that… Brainy could see through Alex to the bench, he still looked so strong, calm… able. Brainy's eyes snapped back to the unfamiliar stars. 'There is no way that I could have looked like that. No way.'
Alex looked over to Brainy. 'I turned into that? He's so small… hmmm…' He thought. 'I can't believe it.' He said aloud.
Brainy continued to stare at the stars determinedly. "Can't believe what?"
'Well think about it… No offense meant, but how on Eastlandia did I turn into you?'
"Eastlandia?" Asked Brainy confused.
'You said 'Earth' well my planet is Eastlandia.'
Brainy grunted.
'No offense.'
"None taken. Actually I can't figure out how I could have ever been you."
Alex snorted. 'Wonderful, we're incarnations of the same person – and we have nothing in common.' He laughed again.
Brainy laughed too. It wasn't something he usually did but he felt so calm and relaxed around Alex. Maybe he was finally losing it…
'Are Trish and Tor still around?' Alex asked tentatively. 'Or do you not know who I'm-'
"They're here." Brainy interrupted. "Back at headquarters."
'Headquarters?' Now it was Alex's turn to be confused.
"For the DAWIPA."
Alex smirked. 'They finally got that going huh?'
"What do you mean?"
'Well the governments of the dimensioned dimensions always wanted an inter-dimensional group to help out. I guess Trish finally got it going.'
"Hmm."
Alex looked over to Brainy. 'So why are you out here?'
"Don't you know?" Brainy asked, slightly irritated.
'No. I was inside your head- that doesn't mean I was in your mind.'
Brainy sighed, he wasn't sure he wanted to tell Alex. "I needed to think."
Alex looked sideways at Brainy. 'I guess I can take that as an answer. Are you done thinking?'
"Not really. But I should get back to my friends. They'll be worried."
'Cause you're the youngest?'
"Yeah, but how did you know that?" Brainy asked suspiciously.
Alex smiled at him. 'You're really short.' He commented.
Brainy opened his mouth to retort but stopped. "True." He admitted.
Alex reached over his hand and ruffled Brainy's hair. 'You're funny.' He said. Brainy had the curious sensation of something cold and slimy sitting on the top of his head. 'If you're don't let's go.' He stood up. 'Which way is it?'
Brainy looked around for the first time since he had sat down. "Uhh… that could be a problem."
Alex looked down at him. 'Let me guess you were walking without watching where you were going and now you have no idea how to get back.' Brainy nodded. 'Ok… we won't get anywhere just sitting- so let's just start walking and see where we end up.'
Brainy stood up to follow. "I'm pretty sure we came from that way." He pointed down a path to the right.
'Great! So tell me about your friends.' Alex said as they started walking. 'Considering you know all about me you really should return the favor.'
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Phantom Girl, Saturn Girl and Yoom had been walking for a long time. They had been wandering the park looking for the android while Yoom had been gently napping on Saturn Girl's shoulder.
"We've been walking for and hour now! You'd think we'd have found something by now." Phantom Girl said. She phased through a rather large tree to peer at the other side, "Brainy! Where are you?" She snapped.
Yoom was startled slightly at the yell, started to fall and grabbed onto Saturn Girl's earring.
"Ouch!" Saturn Girl shook her heads lightly to dislodge Yoom.
"Calm down Miss Pink!" Yom stretched and yawned. "So where are we?"
"You mean you don't know where we are?" Saturn Girl said.
"Nope. But it looks like the park." Yoom said. At that moment two teenagers ran out from behind a nearby clump of bushes. Their hair was mussed and leaves were clinging to their clothes and hair. The guy's shirt was buttoned weird and the girl's shirt was on backward. The man grabbed the girl by the waist and, both giggling, ran down the path and out of sight. "Yep defiantly the park." Yoom shuddered.
Phantom Girl wrinkled her nose. "Well, which way should we go?"
"He's your friend PG." Yoom said. "How am I supposed to know what the little green guy would do?"
Phantom Girl looked around her. "Let's go that way." She said, pointing to the path going right.
"Why?" Asked Saturn Girl.
"Because I said so." Phantom Girl said.
"That's as good a reason as any." Saturn Girl agreed.
"Alright." Yoom shrugged. "Can't really get any more lost than we already are."
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Yay! I have started writing again! The computer is cleared of bugs and now the next chapter is being started. Wish me luck! Hopefully I can get back into the groove of writing. Please read and review! Thanks for staying loyal!