Gomen nasai, minna. I've been in such a slump, but i think i can plow on ahead because...this year...I'm finally...TURNING SEVENTEEN!(flames shoot up from behind her) OH-RYAH!
I'm finally turning that age where I will find a half-assed job that pays little to nothing, try to snag a good, well-groomed and well-payed boyfriend, and try my attempts to forget about yaoiand move on with my life!
...
But, if I did that, you guys would come after me with torches and pitchforks, trying to get me to finish all my stories, right?(sweatdrops as audience nods, ropes and pitchforks handled idly)
(sighs) Well, it can't be helped, right?
Anyway, let's review whats happened so far, okay?
In chapter one, Cham experienced the pang that alerted him to his bloodline, the mysterious Durlan Turner lineage, which gives Durlan males the ability to produce offspring. In chapter two, Cham's body became a mimicry of human, making him attractive to his human, and alien, co-legionnaires. In chapter three, Chamgets used to the feeling of his new form, but, SHOCK!, his father wants him out of the Legion! He runs, and he and Kell-el end up bonding in chapter four. But, another surprise!, Ron-Carr has appeared again, this time to join the good guys!
What will come of this new development?
Who is the mysterious woman, who seems interested in Cham's new found condition?
Find out...Now!
Chaptah!
STARTO!(fanfare)
"...And as a member of the Legion, I will fulfill my duties, to protect the innocent, and the secrets of my fellows. I am...Ron-Carr." Reki, Cham, and Kouji were there, clapping the loudest as Ron-Carr stepped off the elevated platform. Cham sprang forward as soon as the new legionnaire landed, catching him in a tight embrace.
"WOOHOO! Now you're officially on our side!" Reki and Karate Kid cheered their agreement, even when the others looked away in slight embarrassment. The four soon found their joy was short-lived, as the doors opened to reveal Brande. Cham froze at the sight of his father, who had the slightest bit of anger on his face. Reki and Karate Kid shifted so they were standing in front of the other two.
"...I hate to break up this happy moment, but we have a type three mayday transmission from a nearby planet." Brande said as he strolled past the four, not even bothering to look at them as he did so. This, however, just made Cham feelworse and Reki even madder than she'd been.
"It's coming from Ivivion V, which was just recently made an independent planet. It seems they have a strange creature running about destroying the housing and food-storage buildings." Brainy stepped forward, a small amount of resent traced in his two-toned eyes.
"Has anyone been hurt, or injured in the attacks?" Brande shook his head.
"It seems the attacks only ever happen when the area is completely clear. For some reason, they think it's trying to attract the Legion by random destruction." Brainy frowned.
"Well, Ivivion V is a very rural culture, founded only about two-hundred years ago. They need every scrap and piece they have there, and even if the beast isn't attacking the people, it's still causing enough damage to warrant an investigation. Therefore, I- what are you three looking at me like that for?" Ron-Carr, Reki, and Karate Kid were giving him blank stares. Cham started to snicker quietly, then stopped and gave them his best 'leader's stare'.
"He means, we're going on a mission." The three suddenly made a collective "Ooh..." and Brainy restrained himself from going over and hitting their heads together. Reki imagined a large tick mark on her brother's face, as though in an anime scene. She giggled mentally.
A few minutes later, the teams had been prepared. First, Brainy's team, composed of Reki, Cham, Karate Kid, Kell-el, and Bouncing Boy would land and begin questioning the villagers. After they got information, the second team, made of Superman, TimberWolf, Saturn Girl, Phantom Girl, and Lightning Lad would come in as well, and help to trap, and contain the beast. Ron-Carr was to stand by, as it was his first mission.
"All right, minna, let's do a good job today!" Reki cheered with an exaggerated expression. Though the others humored her, and, tossing up their fists into the air, chorused "YAH!", which made her giggle.
((((((Reki's P.O.V)))))))
The drop was a success, thanks to the newly modified flight rings. I had to use my magic for a few moments, when the turbulence threatened to knock us off course. We landed near a village that, to me at least, resembled the warring states era village from Inuyasha.(A/N: Shameless advertising. Go watch, it's an awesome anime!)
"Ah, offworlders!" A shambling old man, who had pale blue skin, large pointed ears and a very long gray-blue beard, cried out as our group landed, trying to hobble away. I reassuringly patted his knotted shoulder.
"Excuse me, but we were told about the monster that's been demolishing your huts?" I made my voice as tipsy as I could. The sound of my childish voice seemed to gain more trust than my no-nonsense voice did. The old man scratched his head, which gave me the opportunity to notice that he had several scars on his arm.
"Oh, well why didn't ya say so? M' names Old Man Brisby, justcall me Brisby, don know where the Old Man part comes in!" I just barely bit down on the hiss of laughter that followed that statement, and stepped back as Brainy stepped forward.
"We are members of the Legion of SuperHeroes. We were told that a strange beast was destroying the village here, but it was acting very unusual. As such, we immediately immobilized to assist in the creature capture." Old Man stared at him, then turned back to me.
"What da hell this guy say ta me?" I let the bark of laughter escape, mostly because Cham and Karate Kid had already started laughing behind me. Brainy gave us a glare that would normally make grown war veteranscry, but I firmly stood my ground.
And by stand my ground, I mean give him my best pouty face.
"What my brother meant to say, is that we were told about the thing that's been wrecking everything, andwe wanted to see if we could help." I said as soon as I had recover from the giggles. Old Man scratched his bald head again, which had patches of a darker blue than the rest of his skin. I guessed they were like liver spots on old humans.
"Oh, ya'll must be talking about Nasinga. The mythical beast that's been rumored to have attacked Piko village the other day." I nodded. When Brainy opened his mouth, probably to point out that since it was mythical, it probably didn't exist, I slammed the tip of my elbow into his side, effectly shutting him up.
"Nasinga?" Bouncing Boy asked, eyes wide in terror. Those damn horror movies of his.
"Nasinga is rumored to be an ancient earth dragon that flew into the stars and made its home here. He supposedly lives in Mount Veralas, and he creates an ash that helps crops to grow. But, a few days ago, when we expected the ash, this strange red powder started blowin' in. The stuff killed every plant it touched, and pretty soon almost all the plants had died."
"How awful. Your villages really are in trouble." Karate Kid remarked.
"That's not even halfof it. Now, these idiots think they've seen Nasingaprowling around the villages at night, destroying the storages without a sound! The nerve! I've never seen Nasinga, but I know he'd never, ever harm our way of life." Old Man was purple in the face, andthere was a bit of wet around his eyes.
"It sure doesn't sound like a very clear story. It's more like everyone's trying to blame something else." Kell-el said. Old Man lifted his cane, which I noticed had a pink oval stone embedded in the hook, and pointed it at us.
"I don't really know you people, or care all that much, but you've gotta clear Nasinga's name! The villagers have been real upset, andI've heard around the cord that some guys were going to the mountain to challenge Nasinga." I gritted my teeth. Brainy suddenly had this look, the kindhe got when he came across something...interesting.
"Old Man Brisby?(M' name's not Old Man, dammit! And what?) Are there any deposits of this strange powder you were talking about?"
"What does it look like, Reki?" We were standing at the top of a hill, which overlooked a...well, what used to be a field, now a graveyard of rotten vegetation. There was a large mountain nearby, covered in dead brown and black trees and bushes. I held up a stalk of a dead flower, and turned to Brainy, face completely serious.
"It's dead, Jim." Bouncing Boy popped up behind Brainy, who facepalmed, while holding up a sign that read 'LOL XD'
"Please be serious." He pulled out a small analyzer scoop, and pulled a bit of red dust from the underside of what almost looked like a banana leaf. He frowned as the data began to stream across the panel in his forearm. Cham had turned into a giant wasp, andwas carrying Karate Kid around for surveillance.
"Well, it is unfortunately the same for miles around us. All plant life is dead, and the animals are scarce." Karate Kid reported sadly. He held the belief that all life was sacred very high in his mind. They landed a bit quickly, and Cham turned back and sat down, panting slightly. I looked at him worriedly.
"Are you okay Cham?" He held up a hand. He recovered his breath and stood back up.
"I think...I should have stayed on the ship. I think I'm being affected by the dust." He swayed, and Karate Kid reached out to steady him. I frowned, and opened my mouth to say something, when Brainy's scanner shrilled. We gathered around him.
"It looks like the dust is made of some kind of toxin compound that affects plant life, and a bit of tissue cells in animals. This would explain the animals condition, but why aren't the locals affected?" Brainy's frown got bigger, and we knew he was technically talking to himself at this point.
We didn't have anymore time for explanations, though, as a sudden surge of wind kicked up the dust, which swirled about us. I shrieked as th gail got stronger, and I reached out to grabbed onto Brainy.
"IT'S A DUST STORM!" Being from Kansas, Clark and I were familiar to these things, so I pulled as many as I could to the treeline. It was a while until I could see even a tiny bit, and I paled when I realized-
"Where are Cham and Kell-el?" I shouted, getting dust in my eyes.
The aforementioned duo were currently struggling in the dust, trees, and wind battering them. Kell-el tugged on Cham's wrist, just barely getting sight of a cave opening. He pulled again when the wind threatened to separate them, and dove in, arms clasped around Cham middle.
"We-we should be okay in here, while the storm dies down." Kell-el panted. He sat up and Cham slid around to sit beside him. They stared out into the red storm, hoping that their team-mates were safe. Cham curled up when a boom sounded in the distance. Kell continued to sit in a lazy sort of fashion.
"W-When do you think it'll be over?" Cham squeaked as another boom, louder, shook the cave. He turned his attention to his fellow. Large arm muscles, covered in a skin-thin special latex suit, rippled as Kell shrugged.
"We might be in here a while. The storm sounds pretty strong." He twitched as he felt a warm body suddenly cling to his side as a thunderous BOOM shook the tiny hole in the mountain. He looked down at the shivering orange-haired changeling. He reached up, then his hand faltered, then strengthened as he put his large hand on the orange-red locks.
"It's okay. I'm sure the others are either in a cave like us, or Brainiac 5 put up a shield around them. Everything's okay." Cham's shivering began to calm when another boom made him practically jump into Kell's arms. Though the warmth was unexpected, and slightly awkward, Kell wrapped his arms around the Durlan.
"I-I'm sorry. This m-must look so s-stupid to you, me being a baby like T-THIS!" Cham squeaked out the last word as the wind picked up, howling against the open mouth of the cave.
"It's probably just...uh...the dust. You said it was affecting you earlier, right?" Kell was definitely uncomfortable now. He had been created to fight, not to make friends or have intimate embraces like now. He moved Cham's head back from were it had been planted against his shoulder.
He gently felt the skin under Cham's bangs, noting that he was a bit warmer than usual...wait, since when did he know how warm Cham usually was anyway? He shook his head, more confusion flooding him.
"You're a bit warm, but I don't think you'll die." Cham was known as the drama king. He was a bit cute, actually, curled up in Kell's arms like this, like he was meant to- DISCONNECT THOUGHT TRAIN! Kell almost screamed in his head. He was very confused right now, and these kinds of thoughts-
"Kell?" Cham was staring at him with a look Kell couldn't identify. Then...
He felt a warm pair of lips cover his own.
FWAHAHA! Cliffhanger of doom!
Yes, I'm extremely evil leaving you all right there. But, it's three am, I'm going on a week long trip on Monday, and I'm need sleep!
Yes, I parodied Star Trek. Shut up.