See Chapter 1 for the Disclaimers.
Summary: A series of bad dreams already has Leo/Trezo on edge, so what happens when it becomes true?
Power Rangers Galactic Justice
Episode 5
A nightmare come true
By Lucas Harrell
Leo sat in the middle of what seemed to be a war zone, using his strength to basically hold his broken arm together. Around him lay his friends and teammates in the Justice League. A shadow suddenly passed over him and he looked up to see a fist coming down.
PRGJ
Leo sat up with a gasp, gulping for air and sweating like crazy. "Shit, I haven't had that dream in years," he muttered as he got out of bed and headed out into the kitchen to get a drink of water, which he gulped down thirstily. 'What in the world could it mean? It can't be back.'
"Leo, what's wrong?"
Leo turned and saw Amanda watching him anxiously. "Sorry I woke you, Mom, and it's nothing you have to worry about," he said, "I just needed to use the restroom and thought I'd get a quick drink while I was at it."
"Are you sure?" Amanda asked.
"I'm sure but thanks for the concern," Leo said.
"Hey, just because you're grown and a superhero doesn't mean I can't worry, especially since Mike…" Amanda began out to point out, but her breath hitched. Though she was done being frozen in grief, it still hit her hard sometimes and her pregnancy didn't help.
"I know and really, I'm okay and you can head on back to bed," Leo said. Amanda nodded and turned to head back into her room. He sighed. He'd almost told her about the nightmare, but he still didn't know what it meant and she had enough to deal with.
"A quick patrol should help me clear my head and burn enough energy for me to go back to sleep," Leo muttered before activating his nanite gear then portal shifting up to Shedquarters.
PRGJ
The next morning, Amanda was surprised to find Leo still asleep. 'What's with him lately?' she thought as she headed for the kitchen to make some breakfast for herself and to leave for him and most likely Kendrix. 'He's usually up and having made a couple of patrols around the colony by now.'
Amanda wasn't too surprised when the door to the apartment opened when she was about to sit down to eat and Kendrix came in. "Hey, Amanda," she called when she spotted her, "Do you know where Leo is? I checked Shedquarters and he wasn't there."
"He's in there still asleep," Amanda answered.
"Really?" Kendrix asked, frowning.
"I'm worried," Amanda said, "He didn't want me to know, but I've noticed that he's been getting even less sleep than usual the last few days."
"Yeah, I know," Kendrix agreed. Leo had actually fallen asleep on her the other night when they were watching a movie with the gang at hers and Maya's apartment. "Do you think it's about Kal getting grabbed by Lobo? That really shook him and I know he's still reeling from M… Mirinoi."
"I don't know but I'm worried," Amanda admitted, "I mean, he's only got you and me to talk to about his superhero life here on Terra Venture and last I knew, they didn't have any professionals to talk to about grief with even back on Earth."
Kendrix nodded. "All we can do is be there for him and hope he can find a way work whatever this is out," she said.
Amanda nodded. "I've got to get to work but please tell me if he says anything about what's bothering him," she said, "There's plenty in the microwave for both of you."
"Gotcha and thanks for the food," Kendrix said. Amanda washed her plate and grabbed a few things before heading out.
It was a couple of hours before a groggy Leo came out of his room. "Morning," he said as he came over and gave Kendrix a kiss. He frowned when she chuckled. "What?"
"Leo, it's a little after noon," Kendrix pointed out.
"It is?" Leo asked then glanced at his watch, "Shit and we were supposed to meet for breakfast, right? I'm so sorry. Give me a few minutes to get ready and we'll go get lunch instead."
"It's okay, hon, and there's some food in the microwave as I'm sure you're starving, but is anything wrong?" Kendrix asked, "Amanda said you haven't been sleeping much."
"I'm fine," Leo said, "You know how Mom can blow things out of proportion sometimes. All Moms do."
"It's not just that, though," Kendrix said, "You've been acting really odd and run down even for Kryptonian standards for the last few days now and even fell asleep on me the other night. If this is about Kal or Mike…"
Leo sighed. He knew Kendrix wouldn't drop this. "I've just been having this reoccurring nightmare more and more recently, like every time I try falling asleep," he said, "It starts out like a memory of a fight I was in with a ragtag Justice League team I was part of but unlike the actual event, they're all dead and it seems to end with me dying as well."
Kendrix nodded but before she could say anything, Leo's watch went off. He opened the virtual display on it and his eyes narrowed. "There's some kind of temporal rift opening in the forest dome," he said, "We need to get up to Shedquarters and maybe call the team because there's no telling what could come through."
Kendrix nodded and made the call as her and Leo stepped through a portal he made to Shedquarters. The other Galaxy Rangers weren't too far behind. He was quick to explain things as he began dialing up an image on the main screen.
The rift started as what seemed to be a pinprick but expanded in no time. It didn't take long when some Infantry Commander Stanton had dispatched to check out the rift arrived on the scene, milling about as they tried to figure out just what it was.
When something stepped through the rift, Leo backed away from the monitor, his eyes wide and panicky. It was a hulking grey skinned creature with what seemed to be bone protrusions coming out of its skin.
"It can't be," Leo whispered, "They told me it was somewhere even it couldn't escape from." 'That must be what my nightmare's been about, sensing it was coming back,' he realized.
"Trezo?" Johnny asked, "What's wrong? Do you know what that thing is?"
That snapped Leo out of his funk. "We don't have time for me to explain," he told the Galaxy Rangers, "Suit up, portal down there, and get the infantry evacuated before they do something stupid and get it mad at them, which is the last they'd want.
"No matter what happens, do not engage the creature or even just seem threatening," Leo added, "Nothing the Infantry has will be able to scratch that thing and neither do you. You're not ready for this. I need to make some calls. We're going to need some major backup."
Kendrix was concerned. She'd never heard or seen Leo so scared. "Sweetie, what's wrong?" she asked softly after the others portaled out of Shedquarters, "What aren't you telling us? You're scaring me here."
"You should be as I'm scared out of my mind," Leo admitted. Kendrix reached over, squeezed his hand reassuringly and was shocked to find him trembling. "That thing damn near killed me and the team I was part of the first time it appeared. It took Kal sacrificing himself to stop it.
"The second time, we got very lucky the Linear Men had no choice but to step in and send it to the end of time as it was even stronger," Leo admitted, "From what Waverider told us after that, they can't do that again and only stepped in then because it would've destroyed a focal point in universal history if they hadn't."
"Wait, killed Kal…" Kendrix began, her eyes moving back and forth as that struck a memory that she couldn't quite remember. Suddenly, her eyes went very wide as they locked onto Leo's. "Oh God, that's Doomsday?" He had told her some of the horror stories they'd found out about its history, so she now understood why he was so frightened.
Kendrix even remembered the titanic battle but there had never been any clear footage of the creature which was why her, Johnny, Damon, and Kai didn't know what it looked like.
Leo nodded. "Go help them evacuate the infantry," he said, "I have to call the Justice League to see if I can get Kal, Kara, Diana, J'onn, and as many of our other heavy hitters as I can get hold of to head this way and knowing Doomsday, even that might not be enough.
"Remind Johnny not to engage Doomsday, but to keep eyes on it only," Leo added, "It can and will kill you all without hesitation but only if it perceives you as a threat. Once I put the call out, I'll come confront it and at least try to slow it down until help arrives."
"Won't that be dangerous?" Kendrix asked.
"From what we know of Doomsday, it'll seek me out because I'm Kryptonian whether I go or not," Leo answered, "My best shot is to confront it there where there aren't any civilians around so I shouldn't be more than 10 minutes depending on how soon I can get hold of Vic, Kilowog, or sooner if no one can come help.
"I've kind of got an idea about how to stop or at least slow it down for now in case I can't get help to come ASAP, but it'll take time to set it up and I can't just let it roam free or people will get killed," Leo reasoned.
Leo quickly went over his plan to bring Doomsday into Shedquarters then seal it in the Phantom Zone. Kendrix nodded as it sounded like a good enough plan and used her watch to portal out.
Everything was backed up in a nanite mainframe in Leo's apartment closet, so it was no big loss if he ended up doing this, but he hated the idea as he'd already come to think of it almost as much his home on Terra Venture as the apartment and it would take him forever to recreate.
"If all you're going to do is just stand there and keep to what you told us about noninterference, you can leave now, Ryder," Leo called out. He hated to be rude as they'd been friendly enough last time around but with a threat like Doomsday, he didn't have much time to get working on what he needed to.
A man with gold and black skin and flame-like energy coming out of its head stepped out of the shadows. "I'd sure love to know how you do that, Trezo," he said, "No one's supposed to know when we're near them when we're phased out of the timeline."
"You and Batman both," Leo said with a chuckle, "Look, you know I appreciate you helping last time but I have to hurry. The Galaxy Rangers are not the least bit prepared for Doomsday and I don't even know if I can beat it, so I need some major heavy hitters. Oh and just how the Hell is it not dead at the end of time where we dumped it?"
"From what we can tell, Time Trapper was too curious for his own good, went out to see an anomaly in the entropy, and sent it away recklessly when it proved to be too much to handle," Waverider explained.
Leo nodded. He'd helped the Legion often enough that he knew about how annoying the Time Trapper could be sometimes. "I can't help directly but I was told to keep an eye on the situation and to give you advice," Waverider continued.
"Well then, what can you advise me to do?" Leo asked.
Waverider hesitated. "Your plan won't work for very long and I don't think it's worth it," he said.
"All I need is a reprieve until we can figure out something better and the Phantom Zone is all I have access to right now that could slow down that monster, even if it wouldn't be for very long," Leo responded.
"Then you might be good, but be careful not to underestimate Doomsday," Waverider warned.
"Oh, don't worry, the little ragtag team I was part of the first time and I found that out very quickly," Leo replied, "Speaking of which, I don't guess you can tell me if putting out the All-hands-on deck signal will help save me trouble?"
"It won't help at all as you won't be able to reach Mr. Stone since they're dealing with something on Earth," Waverider replied, "At most, all you'll get right now are a couple of Green Lanterns."
"Not bad idea as it never hurts to have a Green Lantern or 2 on our side, especially against Doomsday," Leo murmured. After Hal's rampage a while back, the GLC was mostly comprised of rookies. "All right, so get hold of Kilowog?" Waverider nodded.
Leo quickly made the call to Oa. It didn't take long to get hold of Killwog, who promised to send a free ring, one of their nomadic members that didn't like to be tied to a particular sector, that was nearby and see if Soranik Natu was free as it was her assigned sector.
Leo was pretty good friends with Soranik as him and Cassie had gone on a bunch of double dates with her and Kyle Rayner and was glad it was a Green Lantern he knew. He'd heard from her and the Earth-born Lanterns that the free ring, T'm's 'l'v'r, was friendly but very aloof.
With that, Leo portaled out to the forest dome he was reading the Galaxy Rangers in to find the infantry had been evacuated with some bad injuries but no fatalities. All in all, not the worst first encounter with Doomsday. "Backups on the way," he promised, "Everyone all right?"
"We're fine, Trezo," Johnny said. His voice sounded shaky. Leo didn't blame him one bit. Even if you didn't fight Doomsday directly, it still instilled fear by the sheer destruction it caused.
"Just keep back and let me try to handle Doomsday," Leo said, "As long as you don't attack it, it shouldn't lock onto you as a threat and trust me, you don't want to be that threat, understood?" He tried not to look in Kendrix's direction as he knew she wouldn't like those orders. They all reluctantly nodded.
Taking and releasing a deep but shaky breath, Leo slowly made his way over to Doomsday. It seemed confused by him, tilting its head one way and then the other. "Remember me, asshole?" he asked, "Ring the bell, it's time for round 3."
With that, Leo hoped he could surprise Doomsday by launching himself at the creature with an attack similar to the one he'd hit Furio with on Mirinoi but while it had sent that idiot flying, it had no discernible effect on this opponent.
However, Leo didn't give Doomsday time to react, hammering it as hard as he could as fast as he could. It just stood there, taking each blow, for several minutes before it caught one of his fists effortlessly and pulled him forward and Spartan kicked him in the stomach, sending him flying halfway back to the Galaxy Rangers.
Leo winced as he got back up. That had bruised his ribs and sternum something awful. "Stop!" he exclaimed with a sharp gesture to the Galaxy Rangers, who had started to move towards him.
'You can't go toe to toe with Doomsday, you idiot,' Leo chided himself, 'Not even Kal could match it either of the times we've fought it. It doesn't know about portal shifting yet, so use that to your advantage.'
With that, Leo portal shifted behind Doomsday, landing one Hell of a double ax handle blow to its neck. It roared, spun, and tried to hit him but he was already portal shifting away. This time, he grabbed the creature by the shoulders and monkey flipped it high up into the air and crashing back down with another roar.
However, Leo knew all this was doing was making Doomsday madder but that didn't matter. He just had to keep it from killing anyone or destroying anymore than it had until backup arrived. As long as he didn't get hit too often, he could keep this up for a while.
Leo kept up the constant portal shifting and attacking Doomsday for nearly 20 minutes before he was in trouble again as it was able to trip him up. It was furious and slammed him down to the ground, knocking the wind out of him and breaking a rib or two.
Leo tried to get back up, but Doomsday stepped on him, roaring. He heard his friends gasp and it sounded like Kendrix was sobbing. He didn't have to look their way to know they'd started moving forward. "STAY BACK, NO MATTER WHAT! DO NOT ENGAGE!" he yelled when he could.
Doomsday laughed in triumph as it raised its arms to go for what Leo knew would probably be a killing blow. 'I'm so sorry you had to witness this, Kendrix,' he thought, 'Take care of Amanda.'
All of a sudden, Doomsday was hit with two huge beams of green light that sent it flying. Two hands came into Leo's field of view, one pink and one a dark blue. "Are you okay, Trezo?" Soranik asked as her and Th'm's helped him painfully get back to his feet.
"I've been better but surprisingly all right for a fight with Doomsday," Leo replied, "Thanks, you two. Good to see you again, Soranik, and it's good to finally meet you, Th'm's. I've heard good things about you from Soranik and the Earth-born Lanterns."
The tall, slender, handsome Lantern with dark blue skin, long flowing braided locks, and glowing golden eyes without pupils nodded. "As have I about you, including some funny tales from Gardner," he replied.
"I'm guessing you know not to believe half of what Guy says, right?" Leo joked. Th'm's grinned as he nodded.
The Galaxy Rangers joined them and introductions were made all around. "Are you all right, Trezo?" Kendrix asked. Leo could tell she was most likely still crying under her helmet and was surprised her voice wasn't cracking having just seen him get nearly killed.
"I'm fine, Pink," Leo lied. Truth was, he was in agony from busted ribs and had a feeling one of his lungs was bad off as he was feeling very lightheaded. "We need to know where Doomsday landed. It couldn't have flown very far and it'll probably be heading back this way as it knows who and what I am."
"Don't worry, my ring's searching for its unique biochemistry, so we'll know shortly," Soranik promised, "And you are not fine, Trezo! My ring is showing that you have at least two…"
"That's enough, Soranik," Leo said, "Whatever injuries I have don't matter. We have to stop…" Suddenly, his eyes rolled back in his head. He was so dense and heavy that it took the Green Lanterns to keep him from falling.
"Damn it!" Soranik swore.
"He's got at least two what?!" Kendrix demanded.
"Broken ribs and a collapsed lung," Soranik reluctantly admitted, "I can usually use my ring to fix almost any injury, but I know from helping him, Superman, and Supergirl that it won't work on a Kryptonian."
Kendrix was barely able to focus her eyes through her tears to open a portal to Shedquarters. "Come on, we don't have much time and we can't do anything here," she said as they rushed through, Th'm's floating Leo through. They carefully put him down on a table.
"I'll try to make him comfortable, but I still can't do anything about his internal injuries," Soranik said.
Kendrix closed her eyes, tears still streaming down her cheek. She knew she shouldn't do this, but it sounded like this was the only way to save Leo. "I'm so sorry, Leo," she whispered as reached over and touched his chest, "Blue Kryptonite mode."
The rest of the Galaxy Ranger team gasped as Leo's nanite gear rippled away, revealing that their close friend was also their Kryptonian teammate. They'd all suspected it at some point or other but to have it confirmed was a whole different story.
Suddenly, Leo's eyes shot open as he began screaming and writhing in pain. "Oh God, oh God, oh God, I have to deactivate it," Kendrix sobbed and began to reach for his chest again, but Soranik told her to stop.
"I know he's in a lot of pain, but if what you did means what I think it does, this is the only way to help him," Soranik argued, "I won't lie and and say this isn't going to be bad, but I can get him out of immediate danger." Kendrix nodded reluctantly and after a moment, Leo was out cold again.
"You Galaxy Rangers need to go see if you can find Doomsday and keep an eye on him," Soranik continued, "As Leo said, do not engage. You are just to be our eyes and ears on it. Th'm's, try to see when our other backup can be expected and also try to raise the League."
Th'm's and most of the Galaxy Rangers nodded and Johnny opened a portal back to the forest dome. Most of the others headed through the portal but Kendrix stayed next to Soranik. "Are you coming, Pink?" the Johnny asked as he was right at the threshold of the portal.
Kendrix shook her head. "I'm sorry, Red, but I'm not leaving Leo," she said. To Johnny and Soranik's surprise, she powered down and deactivated her nanite gear before grabbing Leo's hand in hers, kissing the back of it. With the others now knowing, she had no reason to hide her love for him.
Johnny nodded as he knew he would absolutely be doing the same thing it was Maya lying there and he wouldn't be handling anywhere near as well as Kendrix. "Good luck, buddy," he murmured before stepping through the portal and closing it.
"Is there anything I can do to help?" Kendrix asked.
"Your good right there for now but please try to stay out of my way as much as possible," Soranik said as she began using her ring to conjure what she needed, "I feel a little silly calling you Pink, so what's your real name if you don't mind me asking?"
"Kendrix Morgan," Kendrix answered.
"Ah, so you're the mythical, legendary Kendrix herself, huh?" Soranik asked, "I had a feeling. You should probably know you've got at least half of the ladies in the Justice League jealous of you as handsome as Leo is and how much he's talked about you. Good to put a face to the name."
Despite her worry about boyfriend being in such horrible shape, Kendrix couldn't help smiling. She knew Soranik was just trying to take her mind off the situation. "Including you?" she asked. The other woman just grinned and winked instead of a verbal answer. "He's talks about me a lot?"
"Well, talked in the past tense in my case as I haven't seen him in a couple or so years but oh yeah, you couldn't get him to shut up sometimes about the stuff you 2 got into back in the day," Soranik answered, "I don't think I've ever seen someone as in love with someone than he is with you."
Kendrix couldn't help but beam at that. Leo had told her Soranik was a good person and easy to get along with and she was glad to find out he was right. Th'm's was also very friendly though quiet.
It took a while but Soranik was able to re-inflate Leo's lung and set his ribs to where they'd start stitching themselves back together but that could only happen on its own. "I've done all I can do," she told Kendrix, "The rest is up to Leo now."
"Thank you so much, Soranik," Kendrix said, finally able to relax a little now that the worst looked to be over for now. She deactivated the Blue Kryptonite mode and reactivated Leo's gear. Thankfully he seemed to be resting easily enough now.
"You're very welcome, Kendrix," Soranik replied.
Th'm's hadn't been able to get hold of the Justice League but had gotten hold of the other Green Lanterns Killwog sent, who were quick to arrive. They were currently doing their best to help the Galaxy Rangers distract Doomsday away from heading into Terra Venture's city.
However, eventually Doomsday caught on and would no longer be deterred. "Oh God, it's coming for Leo," Kendrix said, "He said that thing can sense Kryptonians and searches them out."
"Do you know what Leo had planned?" Soranik asked, "He mentioned he had something planned to at least keep Doomsday imprisoned momentarily when he called Kilowog, but he couldn't go into detail. We need to start setting it up."
Kendrix nodded. "He planned to trick Doomsday into coming here and send Shedquarters into the Phantom Zone permanently," she explained, "It won't last long under that thing's assault and even the Phantom Zone will only hold it for so long, but he was hoping between the two, it'd give him enough time for a better solution."
"It sounds like a good plan that should work," Th'm's agreed.
"It won't," a voice whispered in Kendrix's ear, "That's the problem with Kryptonians, always feeling sad and overthinking things." She turned her head and got a very brief glimpse of a man that matched Leo's description of Waverider out of the corner of her eye, but he disappeared before she could fully turn her head.
Kendrix gasped as the meaning of Waverider's hidden message kicked in and she suddenly shot up off the stool and after giving Leo a brief kiss, she rushed over to a bunch of drawers and cabinets, yanking things out haphazardly. "Damn it, Leo, where'd you put them?" she muttered.
"What are you looking for?" Th'm's asked with an amused smile as he walked over.
"Leo's overthinking this, we all are," Kendrix said. She laughed with triumph as she took a box out of a cabinet. Inside were watches just like the one she was wearing, backups in case anything happened to the ones the team was wearing, as well as a few backups for Leo's suit and gear.
"What, you want me to wear one of those in case I have to go into the city?" Th'm's asked. He'd heard about the image inducers the watches used to mask their any kind of basic identifying features.
"From what we know of Doomsday, it was originally Kryptonian," Kendrix explained, ignoring Th'm's question. "While that was millions if not billions of years ago, I would think it would still mean it has one very important weakness."
"Kryptonite," Soranik said, realizing where Kendrix was going with this.
"Exactly," Kendrix said. She picked out one of the El family shields in the bunch as she put the box back down. "This is a backup for Leo's suit, which also means it has Blue Kryptonite Mode built into it as well. I'm pretty sure if we get this thing on Doomsday and get it activated, it's over.
"But this still isn't an easy fix as activating it once it's on its chest is still a problem," Kendrix continued, "One of you two could probably use your rings to get it on its chest, but someone has to physically touch it to activate the Blue Kryptonite mode, meaning this would most likely be a suicide mission."
"Maybe for anyone else but hopefully not for me," a pained voice interjected softly and they turned to find Leo carefully sitting up, holding his midsection with a grimace on his handsome face.
Kendrix rushed into Leo's arms after he hopped down off the table, throwing her arms around his neck as she knew his ribs were still bad. "You scared the shit out of us," she said, "Don't ever do that again, you hear me? I can't lose you. Amanda and her baby can't lose you."
"I'm so sorry you were there to see that, Kendrix," Leo apologized, "I thought I had the upper hand on Doomsday but all I did was make the same mistake my team the first time around made and got too cocky." He kissed Kendrix soundly. "Now, are you sure this plan will work?"
"We'll never know until we try and as Damon likes to say, science is all about experimentation," Kendrix pointed out, "Besides, a little black and gold birdie led me to this solution." Leo was surprised to hear that but couldn't help but grin and nod.
"Then we've got our plan," Leo said. He looked at Soranik and Th'm's. "Thanks for patching me up, Soranik." She nodded. "As Kendrix said, one of you will get it on his chest, it'll go into the basic suit mode, and I'll portal shift in and activate Blue Kryptonite Mode before Doomsday can react.
"Hopefully I can hit it and it'll kick in quickly enough to make Doomsday vulnerable before it can get me," Leo added, "My own suit will keep that one's Blue Kryptonite Mode from affecting me so any hits it tries will only hurt it."
"Are you sure you can move quickly enough with busted ribs?" Kendrix asked.
"I don't know but busted ribs or not, I think I'm still our best bet," Leo pointed out, "I mean that with all due respect, you two, but I know from past experience Doomsday can tear through Lantern constructs like paper, so your personal shields won't help. Now, let's go."
With that, Kendrix morphed then opened a portal to where the others were, just outside the tunnel connecting the forest dome to Terra Venture City. The Galaxy Rangers were holding back as ordered while the Green Lanterns kept their distance while fighting Doomsday.
The Galaxy Rangers turned as the quartet portaled in. "Are you all right, Trezo?" Johnny asked, happy that his buddy was up and about again even if he was in obvious pain and clutching his midsection.
"I'm about as all right as I can be having gone head-to-head with that thing, Red," Leo replied. They quickly explained the plan.
"What do you need us to do?" Johnny asked.
Leo knew what was being asked and Johnny looked to be ready to argue if he told them to stay back and let him and the Green Lanterns handle it. 'He's feeling useless, which I know he hates, but this is different than anything we've faced together so far,' he thought, torn on what do do.
"You have to trust us," Kendrix whispered to where only Leo could hear her and he turned to look at her, "I'm with you 'til the end no matter what, but you can't keep pushing them away like this. We're supposed to be a team and your fear of Doomsday and what it can do has made you forget that."
Leo nodded and looked back at Johnny and the other Rangers. He knew Kendrix was right as always. She was his rock, his heart and soul, his entire universe.
"Keep your distance… but please help them keep Doomsday distracted until we can move forward with the plan," Leo said, looking at Johnny first then sweeping his gaze over his team, including Kendrix.
"Use your Quasar Launchers to keep safe distance, constantly stay on the move, always keep an eye on it… and most of all, be careful," Leo added, "I don't want any of you hurt."
Leo could tell Johnny was grinning as he nodded. "Thanks, buddy," he whispered. The Galaxy Rangers turned and made their way to the battle. Kendrix looked at her boyfriend.
"Be careful," Leo said and Kendrix nodded before following the others. He didn't have to turn to know who the presence behind him was. "Thank you for the help, Ryder, and I'm sorry I was so hostile earlier. I hope you don't get in trouble."
"Word came down from on high that while I couldn't do anything directly, I could point her in the right direction like I did with you since you were still out of it," Waverider said as he stepped up alongside Leo.
"But this still won't be easy," Waverider warned, "You have less than a tenth of a second to activate it before it strikes again and make no mistake, if that happens, you will die and the others shortly after."
"I know," Leo said.
The battle felt like it lasted a lifetime as the Galaxy Rangers and Green Lanterns worked together circling Doomsday, attacking when they could. It was roaring as it flailed around crazily. Finally, Th'm's was able to get the nanite shield on the creature's chest.
"Go time," Leo whispered and closed his eyes for a moment, letting out a deep breath… then portal shifted to be right in front of Doomsday. It roared and took a swipe at him, but it was a clumsy attempt he easily ducked under, reaching forward and pushing the spot where the El shield had been placed. "Blue Kryptonite mode."
The nanites rippled along Doomsday's body and his pupil-less eyes flashed blue. It reeled back for a moment, then roared and went for another punch… and like it had done to him earlier, Leo caught it with no effort an inch from his face.
"You're finished, Doomsday, and I'm finished being scared of you," Leo said, "No more nightmares that you're going to come back and kill us all. In fact, I won't give you a second thought from now on. To me, you'll be less than nothing."
Leo didn't think Doomsday could understand him, but it roared as it tried to yank its fist out of his grip to no avail. It tried punching him with the other hand, but Soranik and Th'm's stopped that, also pulling back the other arm behind it as the young Kryptonian let go.
They summoned a Sciencell for Doomsday, also restraining it. Not that they thought it could bust out but for fear it'd use one of its bone protrusions to kill itself, which might evolve it past the effects of Blue Kryptonite.
Leo turned to the Galaxy Rangers as they approached. "You all did a great job," he congratulated them and they nodded. He glanced at Kendrix for a moment. "I'm sorry I forgot that we're a team for a while there, but please know that it was only because I didn't want you to get hurt or especially killed by that monster."
"We understand, Trezo," Johnny replied, "We get it, you've been doing this for years and are bound to have seen things we could only begin to imagine, good and bad, but we're still in this together. We've got your back no matter what happens." He held out his hand.
"And I've got yours," Leo said, taking the extended hand in his own.
Leo was surprised when although all of the other Green Lanterns left with Doomsday, Th'm's stayed behind and approached him and the Galaxy Rangers. "I would like to travel with you and see more battles alongside you, Trezo and Galaxy Rangers," the Green Lantern said.
"Well, traveling with us isn't up to us," Leo replied, "You would have to make that request to Commander Stanton and the others in charge of Terra Venture. If he gives the okay…" He looked at all of his friends, who nodded. "You'd be more than welcome to join our team."
Leo extended his hand, forgetting for a moment that Th'm's might not know the gesture though he did figure it out a minute later and shook his hand. "I can only hope to continue to be of use to all of you," the big man said.
"I have no doubt that you'll continue be an amazing help," Leo replied.
"But where would you stay?" Kendrix asked.
"Well, we've got the guest room at our apartment," Leo offered, "But that would be somewhat short term as we'll eventually need it for a nursery. I also still have the room I made for Lobo when he stayed here for a few days if that sounds better.
"I can also make you a nanite shelter like Shedquarters but that'll take time," Leo continued, "It took Vic and I the better of the month before launch to work out the nanite configurations to Shedquarters."
"I don't want to be too much trouble," Th'm's said.
"I owe you for your help in subduing Doomsday, so it's the least I could do," Leo reasoned.
PRGJ
It didn't take long for Th'm's to get permission to stay aboard Terra Venture and Amanda was quick to permit staying in their apartment until something else could be arranged.
A few days later, Leo called the Galaxy Rangers and Th'm's to Shedquarters. He glanced at Kendrix, who nodded. "I think it's time," she whispered. They'd talked extensively about this ever since coming back from Mirinoi.
"So, what's up, bro?" Johnny asked.
"I brought you here for one simple reason, to formally apply to the Justice League," Leo replied.
This shocked everyone but Kendrix, who been talking to Leo about it since he dropped the idea on her back when they first started dating, and Maya, who not being Earth-born only had a vague idea what that meant. "Are you sure?" Kai asked.
"Yeah, I mean, this is huge," Damon added. Johnny could only nod.
"I wouldn't be making the suggestion if I wasn't sure," Leo answered, "I've been watching your performances and even recording them for my reports to the rest of the League. I think and they agree that you are ready for probationary membership."
"Probationary?" Johnny asked, "What, we're going to be your sidekicks?" He didn't quite know what to think of that as he was feeling both elated at the chance to join such a prestigious team but annoyed that he'd just be a sidekick.
"Officially, yes, but all of you are much more than that to me," Leo said, "Normally, each member only has a maximum of 3 probationaries at a time, usually only 1, but since I'm the only official longstanding League member stationed on Terra Venture, I will be overseeing all of you."
Johnny nodded as that made sense. "I… well, we won't let you down, buddy," he said after a quick glance at the other Rangers, who all nodded.
"That was never in question," Leo replied.
"And what about me?" Th'm's asked.
"Your case is different as it's technically out of my hands," Leo answered, "I've spoken to Soranik Natu, Kilowog, and the Guardians as well as the other Justice League members and they've permitted me to offer you full membership, without a probationary period."
"I'd be honored," Th'm's said.
"Now, as a new member, you won't officially have probationaries right away, which was why I mentioned being a longstanding member, but I'd appreciate it if you could help me oversee the rest of our team through their probationary period," Leo requested.
"I'll need you to report in regularly and I will also be copying recordings your nanite gear makes while here on Terra Venture," Leo said, "Don't worry, it'll only be battle-based info as your private life is none of my business as long as it doesn't compromise anything."
Th'm's nodded. It was about what he expected given the secretive part of the Justice League's nature. "I appreciate you allowing me to join the League and travel and fight with you," he said.
"It's the least I can do for your part in stopping Doomsday," Leo said. With that, the team went their separate ways for the day.
PRGJ
Just as Doomsday's fist almost hit Leo, a hand stopped it in midair. He looked up into the mirror that was Kal-El, who knocked the creature away. "Are you all right, bro?" he whispered, extending his hand.
Leo smiled up at Kal and nodded as his brother helped him to his feet, careful not to jostle his arm too much. 'That's more like it,' he thought. He looked around and was relieved to see his old teammates merely unconscious or wounded from their fight with Doomsday. "I'm good except for my arm, Kal. Thanks."
"Anytime, bro," Kal replied. With that, the sons of Jor-El turned to their dangerous new enemy as Kara also appeared on the scene and in the real world, Leo got his first good night of sleep in almost a week.
To be continued…