Hey guys! Here's Chapter Two, hope you like it. We get to learn a little bit about the Last Stand with Imperiac that took so many of our Beloved Legionnaires from us. We also get to see Brogyn punch Querl. Anyway, just wait and see.
I don't own the Legion of Superheroes. And even if I did, I would never do this to them in real life. I'm such a terrible person. :'(

READ it, REVIEW it, but most of all ENJOY IT!!!


FLAMES FADE

CHAPTER TWO:

INJURED SOULS

"There she is." Tinya said softly in the mall's food court. Querl looked over at the table she was gesturing too. A blond girl sat there, laughing, along with a serious dark-haired girl, and a couple of other guys and girls. "Neither of them look like fighters. Much less as though they have powers." Tinya smiled wanly. "Don't underestimate her--you fell for her."

"I still find that highly illogical."

"Oh cork it. We need to talk to her...and here's our chance." Most of the other kids were standing up and leaving, and Brogyn and Lexa sat there, still talking. Tinya stood and dragged Querl over to the other table, both of them having holograms to hide their true identities. Tinya smiled as they stopped. "Excuse me; can we talk to you two for a minute?"

Brogyn and Lexa looked up, conversation at the table dying.

"Um...do we know you?"

Tinya was trying to decide how to phrase their problem when Querl blundered to the rescue.

"We are from the future."

Brogyn snorted rudely, and Lexa just rolled her eyes.

"Brogyn, Lexa, we only need to talk to you. Please...I know you probably won't believe us, but an entire future rests on the two of you."

Brogyn wasn't laughing anymore, and she looked at Lexa pleadingly. Lexa shrugged and motioned for the two to continue on. Tinya sat down, Querl sitting across from her.

"So...any proof that you're from the future?" Lexa asked casually. Tinya shrugged, phasing her hand through the table.

Both girls looked shocked. "Ok, I believe you." Brogyn said. Lexa flipped her hair to the side as Tinya stared for a second--it was a little disconcerting to see her serious friend with a bob cut.

She sighed. "Ok, put bluntly, the future got messed up because neither of you came to the future when you were supposed to. We needed your help then. And we need it now." Querl snorted, making Brogyn glare at him as Lexa looked puzzled.

Tinya jabbed her elbow into Querl's ribs. "Help me out here!"

"I still am highly doubtful of all this."

Tinya growled under her breath as Brogyn cleared her throat. "Look, you're both really nice, but we're just a couple of kids in college. What do we have to do with the future and turning the tide on some super-war?"

No sooner had the words left her mouth then the ceiling of the food court was blown in, scattered pedestrians like leaves in the wind. In flew a large, metallic shape, laser-like eyes sweeping the court. Imperiac had gotten an upgrade from his tiny body to this machine of war.

Brogyn and Lexa's jaws dropped. "Ok, we believe you. Who's that?" Lexa asked quietly. Querl and Tinya were already standing, shifting into defensive positions as the robot flew down. Querl leaned back towards Tinya.

"Tinya, reset the time bubble tech now and get ready to get us back to the future." She nodded, slowly reaching for her pocket.

Imperiac landed in front of them, his voice emotionless. "I have no quarrel with those from the future. Step aside and you will be allowed to exist a little longer."

Querl lifted his mechanical arm, but someone else got there first. Lexa hurled herself forward, crackling with energy and slamming Brainiac back. Fire twisted around Brogyn's hands as she hurled fistfuls of the stuff at the mechanical man, protecting her home and her friends. Tinya finished programming the tech. "Ok, it's ready, everyone in!"

Tinya and Brogyn jumped in, Brogyn practically diving for cover, as Querl hopped in lightly, still firing out. Brogyn looked out. "Lexa, get in!"

The brown haired girl looked at the robot pulling himself up before turning back with a soft smile. "Get back to your own time and stop this idiot from coming here. Then I'll come visit." She hurled a lightning bolt at the time bubble, speeding up its recharge before turning back to the bot, falling to a defensive position, her fists sparkling. Brogyn's eyes widened as she beat the side of the time bubble. "No! Lexa! LEXA!"

The time bubble disappeared as the three travelers saw Imperiac getting up, pointing a laser cannon at the storm-controller...


Light exploded in the middle of the main room as the time bubble reappeared. All three of the adults were thrown out of the bubble into a clump. Brainy stood and dusted himself up as Brogyn sat on the ground, shocked. "Lexa...why Lexa?" She murmured, eyes slightly unfocused. Her hands were trembling, and Tinya knelt down next to her as Querl watched slightly distastefully.

"Brogyn, let me tell you something. Lexa isn't really gone. In the world I'm from--the one we're going to restore, if you'll help--she's happy, healthy and, believe it or not, in love."

Brogyn looked up, her blue eyes refocusing. Tinya saw them harden and take on a steely look she had never seen in them before--instead of their usual gentle blue green, they were now an impenetrable blue-grey. She stood up, fists clenched.

"I don't know what good I'll be in this war of yours. But I'm in."

She walked off after Luornu, head high and expression determined. Tinya felt another pang--even Brogyn was different in this world. The one person she thought could never change...

"Tinya, I hope you know what you are doing." Querl said softly and disappeared down the hall. Tinya looked after him. "I hope so too." She murmured.


"Alright, welcome the newest member of Resistance Squad Alpha--Brogyn Aiden from the 21st century." The blonde girl looked around at the assembled members of the team. Garth was carefully keeping his face expressionless, Luornu looked disbelieving, Reep, Hart, and Val looked curious, and Brin...

...if anything, the wolfish man was skeptical.

"Tinya, do you really believe one additional fighter can change anything?"

The blonde glared at him. "We're going to win this fight, or die trying. And I'll either win with you or die with you."

Everyone stared at her before Garth cleared his throat. "Well. It looks like you'll fit right in."

Brogyn cracked a faintly bitter grin before Brin jumped into action, leading them. "Querl, I want you to get on decrypting the data. Luornu, Reep, get on the monitors for any new traffic. Hart, Garth, report to sparring. Tinya, you and...Brogyn will work with Querl in the lab. I want that data translated as soon as possible. Get on it."


Tinya looked up at the other two silent adults. Brogyn was simply given the job of uploading the data and storing the successfully translated data. Querl was actually doing the translations. They had barely said a word to each other in the three hours they had been there. Really, how had they ended up together in her world? She had never seen Brogyn this silent--or this still. Normally the former 'bubble head' as several legionnaires had fondly referred to as was an expert at starting conversations. The Bgztlan stretched, feeling exhaustion come over her, and there was no doubt in her mind that it may have had something to do with the developing creation in her.

"Um..." She stood, the silence getting to her. "I'm going to head to bed, I'm already exhausted." She started walking out, the silence worrying her. "Don't stay up all night or anything." She said. As she left, a melancholy feeling came over her. She doubted Querl and Brogyn falling for each other in this world.


Brogyn clicked the button to upload more files continuously, bored out of her skull. This was the only thing that Querl had trusted her to do, and she was slightly irked by this fact.

"So..."

She waited for a response, but one never came. He didn't even acknowledge her existence.

"That would be me trying to initiate conversation. Obviously you aren't interested, so I'll shut up now." She said, and he continued to ignore her.

"Jerk."

He finally looked up, frowning. "That word is no longer used. What does it mean?"

She rolled her eyes. "It basically means that you're a stuck-up loser."

His human eye narrowed, and his glowing robotic eye darkened angrily. "You are not much better yourself."

She snorted rudely as he went back to his incessant tapping of keys, eyes focused studiously ahead.

"I don't see how we ever would have gotten along. The whole thing with you and me in another world...I don't see it happening. I don't know if I can believe Tinya in that." At this Querl looked up, seeing Brogyn toying with a small screwdriver.

"Her logic and reasoning are sound. And in any case, regaining the warp key from Imperiac would be an enormous step forward in victory." Querl said mildly. He thought for a moment, choosing to do what others called...empathizing with another emotions. Was that correct? "I do apologize for what happened to your friend. It was a regretful incident."

He got a momentary look at enraged eyes and flaming hair right before...

SMACK!

The next thing the half-meachanoid knew, he had been shoved out of his chair onto his back on the floor, and Brogyn was standing above him breathing hard and glaring daggers. "Not only was that completely rude and off-topic, but you do NOT need to bring that up, thank you very much!" She stomped out of the room, muttering death threats under her breath as Querl stared after her in shock.
He knew that if there was one thing he would never ever be able to process, it would be the workings of a female mind.


Light filtered through the grimy windows of Resistance HQ, and Tinya opened her eyes. She saw the small, simple room, the unfinished cradle in the corner, the black-out curtains that let in only a crack of light due to incorrect closing the night before. She sat up and saw the shaggy red head on the pillow beside her, and she felt a stab of pain along with some strange sense of happiness buried deep inside her.

This world wasn't so terrible, when you thought about it. She looked over at a sleeping Garth again. His metallic arm was on top of the covers, his breathing calm and even. He looked...relaxed. Peaceful. Something she hadn't yet seen on anyone of this world. His jacket was slung over the side of the bed, a little rumpled. It made her smile a little--no matter what world she was in, it looked like Garth would always be messy.

She slipped out of the bed and out the door, noting the Resistance Team's annoying habit to only have one pair of clothes to sleep in and fight in. Lovely.

She entered the kitchen area, and instead of the usual lively chatter and conversation, there were only a few hushed voices and too many sad, scarred faces. She sat down at the counter beside Brogyn, who was looking groggy and disoriented with a cup of coffee in her hands.

"Good morning, Phoenix." Tinya sighed, and Brogyn looked at her sharply.

"I meant Brogyn, sorry. I'm just used to Phoenix."

Brogyn shrugged, nibbling half-heartedly on a bagel. She looked absolutely horrible, and there were dark circles under her eyes Tinya had never seen before. The phaser sat down across from her, picking at her own food. Not being able to stand the silence, she stood up quickly and walked out of the room, down the hall. Turning a corner, she suddenly stopped. There was a doorway she hadn't seen there before. Curiosity rising in her, she walked through to see a totally white room, a single pillar on the other end. Walking down the expanse of the room, she saw that the pillar had names engraved into it.

Rokk Krinn--Cosmic Boy

Chuck Taine--Bouncing Boy

Nura Nal--Dream Girl

Salu Digby--Shrinking Violet

Val Amorr--Karate Kid

Dirk Morgna--Sun Boy

Thom Kallor--Star Boy

Jan Arrah--Element Lad

Tyroc, Blok, Matter-Eater Lad, Colossal Boy...

Gone. All gone.

And Imra Ardeen--Saturn Girl. Tinya reached up and gently touched the name, pain shooting through her at the thought of her closest friend. "Saturn Girl..."

Suddenly the room lit up as Tinya jumped back in surprise. Pictures, video clips, data readings...all of them sliding along the wall. Imra laughing, fighting, saving the day, developing her powers, hanging out with friends....posts of some of the things he had done, all the way back to when she, Cos, and Garth had saved R.J. Brande from his employee Doyle. Tinya sat down on a bench in the middle of the room, the memorial of her friend flying across the ceiling. It continued for a few more minutes until the pictures started to fade, leaving Tinya with a blank wall.

"Here" She turned to see Brainy standing there, a tissue in his hand. She hadn't even realized she had been crying. Taking the tissue with a shaking hand, wiping off her cheeks as Brainy sat down next to her.

"I had forgotten once again--you wouldn't remember this." He touched the side of the wall. "This is the Memorial room for the fallen. I built it. Whenever the name of a fallen one is spoken, the room brings up any of the files I've downloaded and projects them." He looked down as Tinya got control of herself again. She finally caught her breath, taking a deep breath as the tears stopped. "I'm sorry. It's just...it's hard."

"...I suppose I understand." Tinya looked over at the green boy. He looked...almost sad. Meeting her eyes, he ran his fingers through his hair. "This may seem...out of character, but I'm going to go out on a limb and assume that your alternate reality is real. What is it like?"

Tinya stared at him before thinking. "It's...well, not peaceful, but not as chaotic as this world. The legion is still together. We're all happy. We have some new members. My mom ran for her final term not too long ago and won. And..." She wasn't sure how to continue.

"We're all really happy there. The Hall of Fallen Heroes is a lot emptier, I'll tell you that."

He didn't seem to detect her sarcasm, or chose to ignore it.

"And I am...happier there?"

She looked up in surprise to see him looking to her with hopeful, trusting eyes. That was when she realized how much they all wanted to believe her. They wanted desperately to believe that there was something better than this--almost like heaven, she thought offhandedly. She stepped forward and took both of Brainy's hands--robotic and human--closing her eyes as more tears tried to force their way down her cheek.

"You practically float around half the time, you're so happy. You've got a sister who needs you--even though she doesn't know how to show it most of the time--and a woman who loves you to death. The entire world seemed pretty perfect before...before it changed."

He looked down, doubt clouding his eye. "How will we know if we somehow manage to set it right again? What if it isn't right?" He murmured, rubbing his organic hand against his metallic one.

"Well, it can't be any worse than what we've got." Both young adults looked up to see Brin leaning against the door, looking...saddened, but calm. "If we can get the warp key...even if it means making a final stand against Imperiac...it has to be better then continuing to run and hide."

Tinya took a deep breath before standing and nodding. "I'll do whatever it takes. Wherever you need me, I'll help."


Garth subtly walked over to Hart as he watched Luornu, Reep, and Brogyn spar. "So, think she can keep up?" Hart nodded, the former hero's eyes never leaving the trio.

"She's a lot better than we thought she would be. I'd be willing to trust her in a fight. She's a little...erratic, but given the nature of her powers..." He shrugged, apparently willing to fully accept Brogyn onto the team.

Garth nodded. "Alright. Has Querl reported any news from the carrier?"

"Some new targets, plans to hunt down the resistance...and a reward."

Garth turned to stare the shorter man in the eye. "What do you mean?"

"Imperiac is offering a reward for our capture. Anyone who turns us over gets to keep their home planet and any remaining people on that planet." Garth's fists balled up. "Sprock. Some of the resistance and the fugitives don't have a homeworld anymore..."

"But a lot of them do." Hart said quietly, his eyes solemn. "We can't play the waiting game anymore Garth. We have to move to the offensive on our terms before someone tips Imperiac off."

Garth went back to watching the sparring matches. "We might have to."


Querl didn't look up from the adjustments when he heard the door slide open--he had repairs to make and nothing was going to stop him. He did however look up when he heard a sharp intake of breath. Luornu and Brogyn were standing there, the former with an expression of unimpressed boredom, the latter shocked. "What...what..."

Querl looked down at his robotic arm, the metallic innards exposed to the open air as he worked. "I am performing maintenance. It is crucial to keep my arm working at full capacity."

Luornu shrugged and moved on to get whatever it was she needed, but Brogyn jut gawked. He sighed, her watchful eyes distracting him from his work.

"Do you need something?" He asked as Luornu left, leaving them alone. She shook her head, but her eye wandered. His arm, his leg, his face...

"How did...um...how did that happen?" She asked, and he gestured to a chair so she would stop hovering and let him work.

"It was during the last stand with Imperiac. We had gathered as the Legion to..."

"...stand against this evil! We are here today to show him we will never roll over and die! We are the Legion of Superheroes! Now let's fight like we know who we are! Let history remember this day!"
Cosmic Boy stood above the crowd, fist held high in the air. Lightning Lad and Saturn Girl stood behind him, their three ever-present leaders. Brainy looked around--everyone was so strong, so brave. This could be the end--they all knew it, and they all had already accepted it. They would fight to the finish; he knew that much.

"FOR THE LEGION!!!" Cosmic Boy cried, and the shout was echoed.

"FOR The UNIVERSE!!!" Saturn Girl called, and again it echoed back against the dark city buildings around them.

"FOR THE FUTURE!!!" Lightning Lad pumped his fist forward, and the mass of heroes charged forward, taking the streets of New Metropolis by storm and closing quickly on Imperiac's Palace.

It really wasn't a palace--it was more of a dome, built of solid, crystal clear hepatanium. Nothing would get through it without a fight. But as the Legion roared forward, the dome splintered, leaving a gaping hole behind as they charged. The concrete surrounding the building inside of the dome was empty, seemingly undefended.

Until the air shimmered around them, and dozens upon dozens of Imperiac's specialized Doom Bots appeared, lasers at the ready.

But the Legion was ready, and without losing a beat they launched into the fierce battle for everything they knew and cared about--

"Querl!"

He blinked and looked up to see Brogyn snapping her fingers, looking annoyed. "You zoned out. You never answered my question past 'The Legion gathered to fight for their lives', and something about a guy named Cosmic Boy. Isn't there more to the story?"

He nodded with a sigh, passing a weary hand over his face. That's all this was to her, he realized--a story. A fairytale that would disappear when she clicked her heels.

"We were surrounded, outnumbered and hopelessly outmatched, but..."

...the Legion battled on. Fierce, resilient, unyielding.

Cosmic Boy had never been more proud of his team than at that moment. Even as he watched Dream Girl smiled peacefully as she died, he knew that they had fought well. They would be remembered, for what it was worth.

"ROKK!"

He whirled, and saw a sight that would haunt him for the short remainder of his life. Lightning Lad, on his knees, tears streaming down his face as he blasted a circle of destruction around himself and the still form in his arms.

Imra.

"Imra!" Cosmic Boy rushed forward, setting in place a force field around them that would block anything that tried to get in that wasn't organic. Several other wounded Legionnaires paused a moment inside of it. Cosmic Boy brushed a bloodstained lock of hair out of her eyes, feeling his hand tremble slightly.

Imra looked peaceful, although she was covered in her own blood. As his hand brushed her cheek, her eyes fluttered open, and she looked around with understanding eyes.

"You led us well, Rokk." She said softly, touching his hand. "You did more than any other leader could have done. We are all proud of you."

Her eyes moved from his face to Lightning Lad's, and her face softened into an expression of glowing love.

"Goodbye Garth. I lo--"

She suddenly broke off as her heart stopped, and unpredictably violent end to her peaceful goodbyes. Her head fell back, her eyes open and still staring into space. Lightning Lad roared in animal fury and blasted a hole through at least five Doom Bots at once, shooting off into the crowd.

'I pity anything that gets in his way.' Cosmic Boy thought as he covered Imra in a hasty tomb of compressed Doom Bot parts.

It wasn't good enough, and if they lived through this, they would give her a proper burial.

He only hoped they would have the chance.

On the other side of the Dome, Brainy and Shrinking Violet fought side-by-side with Sun Boy, Matter-Eater Lad and Karate Kid. They had formed a protective ring around the injured Bouncing Boy, Element Lad and Star Boy. They were all trying to get themselves together enough to battle on as their teammates protected them.

"NO!"

Suddenly Violet fell, and Sun Boy dropped to his knees to catch her--although he knew she was already gone, the light faded from her eyes. Karate Kid stepped in front of them, fending off blows with his armor and taking hits he knew would kill him to protect them.

And then time seemed to stop for Brainy as a small but terrifying figure rose from the crowd of bots. "Brainiac Five." Brainy put up a defensive shield around them, but he knew it would do no good. Again, as if in slow-motion, Imperiac made a facial expression something like a smile and dropped a small something through Brainy's shield.

When he realized what it was it was already too late.

"AAAUUUGGGHHH!!!"

The explosion ripped across the battlefield, digging out a hole in the concrete and vaporizing the Bots in the area.

Brainy watched as his companions turned to ash around him, and he realized that his shield had contracted to cover only him. Even it was not enough to save him, and he felt the pain rip through him. His arm--no, his shoulder--was burning, agony flaring there even as he felt absolutely nothing from his arm below it. His leg was on fire as well, and he crumpled to the scorched earth. His face was scalding, burning, flaming in pain as he hit the ground.

And then there was nothing but the screams and explosions around him until he awoke in a tiny room underground many hours later, one of the only surviving members of the once great Legion of Superheroes.

"I was the sole survivor of the group I was assigned to lead. They all died, but I survived."

His voice was blunt, but tears were leaking down her face even as he told the story emotionlessly.

"I didn't know...I didn't mean to offend you." She said softly, and he looked at her sharply.

"I am in no way offended. I was merely telling you the way it happened. I do not expect pity or sympathy."

But even as he said it she flung her arms around him, sobbing. "You were all so brave! And all you got was this? It isn't right! It's not fair! Why did they all have to die?!" She cried, and he shoved her away in anger.

"On the improbable chance that you didn't notice, LIFE ISN'T FAIR! Stop living in your fairy world and get back to reality! This is our life and it's not going to change, so either help us do some Sprocking thing about it or die now before you die later!" He shouted, his sudden burst of rage making her stumble back to the extent of tripping on the chair and falling back, landing with a painful CLANG on the hard metal floor. He turned and left swiftly, leaving her to be angry at herself.


So now you know a little more about the end of the Legion of Superheroes. If you lose track of everyone who died, I'll just give you the list of people who lived: Garth, Reep, Hart, Luornu, Tinya, Querl, Brin. That's it. Sad, depressing, I'm a terrible person and I know it.

Review please! But no flames, even though I'm a horrible person for killing everyone!!!!

-Defiance-

In Chapter Three: Tinya feels the pressure of being forced to choose between two worlds, and how can the group possibly survive the battle with Imperiac?