Document 1278803-4576b

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Entry 35 –

I shall commence at the beginning, as that seems as good a place to start as any, and has the added benefit of being chronologically sound. The confusion began when I was called in to see Saturn Girl the morning after Thaal's visit. Invisible Kid and I had worked late into the night on a project and I had managed to get about three hours of sleep before I awoke, feeling distinctly ill at ease. I spent some time recording the previous day's events, when I was summoned by Saturn Girl.

I quickly responded, and made my way to meet her. I was somewhat disconcerted upon my arrival to realize that Cosmic Boy was also in attendance. The meeting's purpose and proceedings only became more cryptic and unclear from that point onwards.

"Have a seat, Querl," Saturn Girl said. "How are you feeling?"

I suspected this was merely an exchange of pleasantries rather than an actual inquiry in regards to my emotional wellbeing, thus I respond in vague, noncommittal terms. "I am… well," I said after a moment of strained silence. "And you?"

"I've been better," Saturn Girl replied vaguely, exchanging glances with Cosmic Boy. "Do you know why we called you here, Querl?"

"I must confess to being at a total loss," I told her. "Would you care to shed some light on the situation?"

"It's nothing personal," Saturn Girl began, an ominous phrase to set off an already potentially ominous discussion. "We're just worried, is all," she said gently.

"Worried about what, exactly?" I prompted.

"We're concerned by the company you've chosen to keep and what that may indicate about your character," Saturn Girl said carefully, her eyes begging me to remain calm.

"You'll need to be more specific," I said slowly, trying my best to keep an open mind rather than leaping to an unfounded conclusion, "what company have I been keeping that has you so concerned?"

"Imra, enough of this dancing around the issue," Cosmic Boy said suddenly, Sitting up and fixing me with a dark almost-glare. "Querl. Your friend," the word was practically spat from his mouth, distaste evident in his tone, "was only allowed to visit because RJ Brande himself called in a personal favor. Can you explain that?"

I blinked hard, suddenly realizing this meeting was about Thaal. Prior to that time, I hadn't been aware that any sort of real problem existed. I hadn't put much thought into how Thaal had gotten into LegionHQ, I'd been too busy feeling ecstatic that I had the chance to interact with a dear friend of mine. "To be honest," I began speaking slowly after a moment. "I did not ask Thaal how he got permission to visit and he did not find it important enough to warrant a mention."

"Querl," Saturn Girl began. She sounded concerned, but the look in her eyes was almost...suspicious? I couldn't for the life of me figure out why. "Do you even know why he was here?"

In that moment, I felt almost impossibly angry. "Do you?" I replied accusingly, staring her in the eyes until she looked away. I stifled the urge to say something to acknowledge my 'victory'. "You're a Titanian, you would have sensed any malice or threats and you didn't because he's a good person and an even better friend. Why don't you just ask me what you really want to know?"

"I just want you to think about your position here, and the choices you make," Cosmic Boy said seriously. "All right?"

"In answer to your unspoken question," I glanced between the two of them, "No, I am not happy here. Yes, that is why he came. No, I did not ask him to, he volunteered. Yes, he would come again were I to make such a request. In light of this discussion, no, I will not make such a request." I folded my arms in a show of displeasure. "Is this satisfactory for you? Need I continue?"

"I think you've said enough," Cosmic Boy replied wearily.

Saturn Girl's eyes were wide as she looked at me, reaching out a hand and murmuring, "Querl…"

I stood up then, feeling a desperate need to be heard. "No!" I shouted, "Brainy. I am sprocking Brainiac five, do you understand? I am not Querl, I walked away from that name years ago and I've never looked back."

"Querl, be reasonable. You're not him, you're a clo-"

"I am a person!" I screamed, "AND I HAVE A RIGHT TO BE HEARD." Unwilling to wait for their responses, I turned and left, ignoring their cries of 'wait' and 'stop' as though I hadn't heard. Of course, I almost immediately regretted my outburst but I do feel on some level that it was important for me to speak my mind. Following the incident, I finished recording the events I was party to during Thaal's visit.

I was interested to see what could have sparked such a reaction from Cosmic Boy and Saturn Girl, and what I have since discovered in my investigation of COMPUTO's security feeds is eye-opening, perhaps bordering on inappropriate at times, but hardly deserving of the response - at least, that is how I perceive these events from an admittedly biased viewpoint. I will do my best to describe in detail the events I witnessed on the security feed at a later date. I believe I have enough to occupy myself with at the moment.

I admit that as it stands now, I remain rather confused, and if I am being honest with myself, upset. Even angry. I believe Thaal's incredulity at my treatment has given me pause, allowed me to consider my treatment from a third-party perspective, and I am no longer satisfied with my probationary period. I do not know how, exactly, but I will find a way to reveal Brainiac for the impostor he is, and I will overcome any obstacles standing between me and my ability to be myself as a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes.

A/N: Wahoo! Brainy starts to fight back! I'm really excited to see this story heat up (finally), and I think we're moving in to the final third of the story at this point. Only another twenty entries or so to go... .

Anyway, thanks so much to everyone who has stuck with this fic for so long, and stay tuned for more interesting developments!