Adult Legion of Super Heroes: Future Imperfect!
By Lawrence liberty
In the timeline of the “Adult Legion” the team faces an all new Legion of Super Villains and their mysterious leader the Compu-Tyrant!

Prologue:
A green skinned humanoid in a white costume that consisted of a white jumpsuit with a large belt studded with several large compartments sat regally upon a hover chair within a large vessel.
He smiled coldly at a colorfully costumed assembly of weird looking alien beings. He smiled but his expression conveyed no warmth only a sense of smug satisfaction. He guided his bizarre twenty-sided icosahedrons shaped starship with the ease of a typical Coluan who communed with technology like other less brilliant races handled small children or tame pets. However, Gorum Boz the Compu-Tyrant was far from typical in any sense of the word.
“I defied the convictions of my people on Colu or Yod by attaining thirteenth-level intelligence! Lesser beings claim such a feat would cause madness and yet when my newly assembled Legion of Super Villains rules all of the United Planets, it shall be a testament to what a visionary I truly am! While I relied upon my ship’s time travel capabilities to locate and assemble these felons in such a short span of time, planning for this project took me years!” he thought.
He looked over at the sultry red-haired Saturn Queen and her fiery mustached spouse Lightning Lord. The couple cradled a small baby while nearby stood their old partner Cosmic King of Venus. Their reunion had been surprisingly emotional. Cosmic King had nearly perished but the Compu-Tyrant had restored him from scattered atoms. His old partners from the original Legion of Super Villains had been delighted to see him return in all his glory.
Gourm scowled as he recalled the initial exchange he had had with Cosmic King. The swine had showed little gratitude but then such sentiments were for lesser beings. He frowned briefly and returned to the business at hand.
A tall, orange colored humanoid with two antennae sprouting from his skull stood close to Gourm Boz. He had made the mysterious Chameleon Chief his personal aide for reasons known only to himself. Very little was known about the shape-shifter since in spite of the fact that he looked like a Durlan and called himself a Chameleon, he was not from Durlan like his opposite number in the heroic Legion Reep Chameleon Man Daggle.
He had deferred or pretended to defer to the three villains in summoning some of their former teammates to this assembly; however, the other villains were his own selections. Selections? No, rather for an artist of change like himself, they were best called his creations!
He was pleased with his recruits and now through judicious use of teleportation and time travel, he would send his army into battle!
It was thrilling and yet to the Compu-Tyrant, it was all according to plan!

1
Within the spacious mega city block of Metropolis which housed the complex known as the headquarters of the Legion of Super Heroes few structures were more impressive the multi-labs of the brilliant Brainiac 5 (Querl Dox). The Coluian genius spent most of his time in the labs doing research on a variety of topics. Scientific speculation and routinely making what seemed impossible a reality gave him pleasure as did the friendships he enjoyed with the other Legionnaires. He didn’t always extend himself to maintain all social niceties but he valued the others as friends beneath his somewhat distracted and abrupt demeanor. He bit down on the synthotabak pipe he now habitually used as a source of innocent comfort. It was biologically harmless of course. He had another pleasure that was found in an affection for the young woman sitting across from him near one of his many computers. She had green skin and also wore a purple outfit although her blonde hair was long and stylish in appearance. She smiled back at him as she looked up from her own work. She was his daughter and his pupil and he enjoyed teaching her and in his own way learning about family from her. He was an orphan and she was his closest kin. The fact that Querla Dox or Brainiac 6 as she joking called herself at times was in fact a clone copied from his own genetic structure with obvious alterations to produce a young female and not a male didn’t matter to either of them. They thought of one another as father and daughter and their affection was genuine as was their mutual respect.
With her blonde hair and striking good looks, there were those who thought young Querla had not been entirely made from Brainiac 5’s genetic pattern. Some of the Legionnaires thought the girl’s smile or sparkling eyes reminded them of former member Supergirl. Kara had always been special to Brainiac 5 and since time and circumstances kept them apart, perhaps he had manipulated the clone in a manner to preserve some of the Kryptonian heroine’s features in his own child.
In any case, Brainiac 5 loved his daughter and respected her mind enough to use her as a true assistant and not merely a pupil.
“Let’s review the known facts concerning our recent encounter with the Legion of Super Villains as represented by Lightning Lord and Saturn Queen!” he began.
“The two are in fact now a middle aged married couple and have a baby named Riyance. He was spirited off to an alternate timeline. In their efforts to rescue him, they crossed over to this timeline and there they encountered both younger counterparts of some of our own Legion members as well as a younger and insane version of Lightning Lord and an innocent previously unknown version of Saturn Queen. At the end of this encounter, they rescued their infant and returned to their proper timeline where they were brought here by our own LexorMan and Mr. Mxyztic.”
He paused and looked up over the pipe. “As you know the Hunter Law of Time Travel states that a time traveler will become a mere wraith –unseen and unable to make any contact with anyone…should he or she travel forward or backward in time to a point within his or her own lifetime! However, by travelling sidewise to an alternate or divergent timeline a traveler may in fact interact with his or her own counterpart from within that other timeline. This is what the villains and our friends did. That is one reason why doing so has always seemed singularly foolish to me since nothing one does in such an alternate timeline truly changes events within one’s proper timeline. Still, the Villains have used this method on more than one occasion and by doing so they demonstrated a lack of the ability to learn from past errors!”
Querla said, “Fascinating and yet how telling an indication of their refuse to accept defeat. They challenge fate if one accepts the existence of such a force in the lives of sentient beings!”
Brainiac 5 said, “Indeed. Upon their arrival here, the two rookies and retired member Dream Woman vouched for their sincere wish to raise their child in peace and forsake their criminal ambitions. We have since learned that all involved…including myself…were manipulated by Saturn Queen’s super hypnosis. They are now loose and their larcenous intentions are evident by their deceptions.”
Brainiac 6 said, “Anyone could be tricked by such super human manipulations of the mind and heart. You have no need to reproach yourself although I am certain you have done so! The important thing is that you and the others are free from any residual mental alterations and now you may trace the villains!”
He smiled in appreciation of his daughter’s obvious regard for his talents and her concern for his feelings. Being tricked by Saturn Queen had annoyed him greatly.
He said, “I have been working on a means to locate Saturn Queen and her husband over the last few weeks. I have finally found a method that should work. I have given the location to Saturn Woman and she and Lightning Man are in route to their apparent current hideout!”
Brainiac 6 said, “See? You have already outwitted the villains! No one can dupe you for long!”
He puffed on the pipe and said, “I hope the facts will soon support that conclusion!”
2
Saturn Woman (Imra Ardeen Ranzz) didn’t need to use her remarkable mental abilities to know what her husband Lighting Man (Garth Rannz) of Winath was thinking as he piloted their sleek Legion of Super Heroes cruiser through space. The beautiful and brainy blonde knew her spouse too well to doubt that he was brooding over the fact that his villainous older brother the embittered Lightning Lord (Mekt Ranzz) was back in their lives once more and his freedom from incarceration within any of the maximum security prisons within the United Planets meant anyone who crossed paths with him or his possibly more dangerously wife Saturn Queen (Eve Ares Ranzz) could be in peril. Mekt had always resented Garth and Garth’s devoted twin sister Ayla since on a world in which being a twin was the norm, Mekt’s solitary birth status marked him as someone different and inferior merely because he lacked a twin of his own. He had never been able to overcome the rage that governed his stormy nature even before an accident gave all three Ranzz siblings the power to generate bolts of lightning. While Garth and Ayla had used their powers for good, Mekt had turned to crime. His Legion of Super Villains had been a distorted version of the celebrated Legion of Super Heroes Garth, Imra, and Rokk Krinn of Braal had founded years ago.
“Garth, we’ll find them. We’ll stop their plans and get Mekt the help he needs. Honey, you are not responsible for Mekt’s criminal ways nor is it your fault if he harms anyone else! You weren’t even born when Mekt was born. You can’t blame yourself for the fact that Lightning Lord hates you and lashes out at any sentient being who has the misfortunate to get in his way!” she thought. She knew she had projected such soothing thoughts to her spouse again and again since they had clashed with Mekt and his allies over the years. Garth may have understood the sentiment on an intellectual level but being a hero he still blamed himself for every crime his big brother committed.
Garth shrugged slightly and smiled ruefully. “He has a baby now. Is his madness going to ruin that poor kid’s life too? The baby apparently lacks a twin too. Does that mean another generation is going to be scarred and warped?”
Imra said, “Riyance. They said the baby’s name is Riyance. They actually claimed that their baby had been sent back in time and turned into the monster called Validus by the Time Trapper and he in turn had secretly been a villain named Dynamo Boy whom they once betrayed. Can you imagine it? Every time we battled the Fatal Five, we were fighting against Mekt’s poor baby!”
Garth agreed readily. “I can’t believe they would lie about something that tragic. Is Mekt that far gone? “
Saturn Woman continued, “Brainy said it was partially because Mekt and Eve claimed that all they wanted was to raise their baby in some isolated spot and live in peace, that the others allowed them to depart in peace when they encountered them! They used that poor baby and Eve used her super hypnosis to convince our friends that they were telling the truth. She is as twisted as ever! Motherhood has not changed her!”
Garth placed one hand over Imra’s hand and nodded slowly. “Their quest to save the kid took them into an alternate timeline but they managed to return here and Riyance was returned to normal too, Instead of arresting them and turning the baby over to some social services agency, our fellow Legionnaires just let them go!”
Imra nodded and said, “Exactly. Saturn Queen is possibly worse than Mekt. She relished using her mental powers to dominate and hurt others. She is a fluke in her own right. Most Titanians abhor crime since they rightfully grow up knowing that any type of infringement on another person’s rights is abhorrent. A planet of mind readers naturally places an emphasis on respecting the sanctity of human dignity and personal privacy. “
Garth was trained in guarding his own thoughts but he knew his wife would never try to read his mind without permission. She didn’t need to since the couple had been partners and lovers almost since they first founded the Legion of Super Heroes when they were teens. He didn’t want her to know how much he could sense her own pain at the fact that unlike his evil brother and Saturn Queen, they had no children of their own. That was one reason Imra had always devoted so much of herself to the Legion!
He said, “I guess we’ve reached our destination. That barren looking planetoid below doesn’t have a name. I’d say even our former Star Man Thom Kellor couldn’t name this place with all his astronomical data. I don’t know what brought them here but after weeks of experimentation, Brainiac 5 assured me that his chronal tracker indicated they were here. After all, he knew the couple had recently travelled from one timeline to another and still had some residue of chronal energy in their systems that he could trace!”
Imra placed both hands against her temples and concentrated. Her lovely features showed signs of intense effort as she tried to detect the powerful mind of the red-haired schemer Saturn Queen!
“She can’t hide from me. She is just not that powerful. However, I don’t know what is going on. I sense a mind of strong power and definite passion but for every aspect of it that makes me think it is Saturn Queen’s mind, there are just as many sensations that cause me to question myself! I can’t read her thoughts!” said Saturn Woman. “They may be using psychic shields. I definitely don’t sense Mekt’s thought patterns!”
Lightning Man said, “I trust your skills. If you think she’s down there and our resident genius agrees, then I’d say we can rely on that fact!”
Lightning Man landed the cruiser skillfully and he turned from a monitor and said, “There are so many rocky formations I can’t see over the terrain such as it is. Can lead us to where you detected those strong thoughts?”
Saturn Woman frowned and said, “Something is over that ridge. Let’s fly!”
Using their Legion flight rings the two heroes soared upward. They were wearing their famous costumes and the transparent transuits that shielded them from the alien atmosphere failed to conceal Garth’s blue and gold costume with its emblem that depicted twin bolts of blazing lightning or Imra’s pink and white costume with her own famous ringed planet Saturn emblem.
As they flew upward and across the silent planetoid, they looked for any sign of their foes or a vehicle. They were about to descend deeper into one of the canyons when Saturn Woman cried out, “There! I sense her mind below!”
They dropped down and Lightning Man generated a bolt of lightning that illuminated the trench.
“I see her! She’s not moving!” he cried.
He charged forward as Saturn Woman’s keen perceptions allowed her to determine the nature of their peril more clearly.
“Garth! Wait! It’s a trap! That’s not the Saturn Queen we were looking for!” she thought.
As Garth touched the still form of a beautiful young woman he was struck from behind by a strange blob that oozed out of the canyon wall.
He grunted in pain as the creature swallowed him and began to crush him by exerting a squeezing pressure.
“Got to burn it off!” he thought. He concentrated and the energy that had been his to command ever since that fateful day when he and his siblings had been struck by dynamo-like creatures called lightning beast of Korbul, surged out of his body in a crackling nimbus of power! His power was awesome and yet. It had no effect on the blob.
Garth punched and kicked and used his flight ring to soar upward and around the scene but nothing stopped the blob’s relentless attack! He crashed to the ground and remained still.
Saturn Woman had used her own mental power to command the creature to release Lightning Man but she failed as well.
“That thing is so simple minded….so brainless …that it can ignore my power and I can’t pick up any thoughts. I don’t even sense any emotions like I might from a savage beast!” she thought.
The costumed girl at her feet groaned and Imra rolled her over to gaze upon the features of a much younger Saturn Queen! The girl’s long straight reddish-blonde hair framed a lovely face that was innocent although clearly troubled. Her expressive blue eyes were opened wide and her delicate lips framed a silent scream. She wore a tight white leotard with a short blue tunic that ended as a pleated mini-skirt. A blue emblem of the planet Saturn decorated the white leotard that the open tunic revealed below.
“You’re Eve Ares but you’re not the older one we expected! You’re the girl from another timeline! You are the Saturn Queen Lexor Man and the others met during their trip to the alternate timeline where both the Legionnaires and their foes were younger. If you were just a younger version of Eve from our timeline one of you would be a wraith!” she whispered.
As Imra expertly reached out with her superbly trained mind to touch the troubled and somehow silenced mind of the other girl, an electric pain surged through her body and she shuddered before collapsing.
At that moment the older Saturn Queen in her blue and red costume and shorter redder hair, stepped out of the shadows and gestured to a psychic buffer device that rested within her thick hair. It had indeed shielded her thoughts from Saturn Woman’s probes when activated. She had allowed her thoughts to be detected long enough to lure Imra closer to her prepared trap.
She kicked the blonde woman’s body and then rested one boot on her back.
The younger Eve looked at the stunned woman in horror for a moment and then like a terrible puppet controlled by an unseen mistress, she smiled wickedly and thought, “The natives of this place lack any central nervous system or true brains. They are like the Lightning Beasts of Korbul except for one small detail. They don’t generate lightning. They absorb it. Your husband fed that one nicely. His power did nothing but energize the beast. It felt nothing but pleasure nor can it be controlled by mental powers like your own. They made perfect weapons for the Compu-Tyrant and his governing implants which guided the attack from afar! He made perfect use of technology created by the late Jungle King to control animals.”
As the helpless younger Saturn Queen mimicked her older counterpart’s facial expressions and echoed her projected thoughts, the older woman continued to gloat over the stricken heroine.
“Of course the pain she felt when she touched you was purely psychosomatic but transferring it to her pain centers worked since I had twice my natural power with which to attack her!”
She pulled the younger Saturn Queen to her feet and forced her chin up and back.
“ As for this pretty little plaything, her body and mind made an especially effective means of transferring my own mental attack to her strong mind.This precious alterna-Eve is nothing more than a living weapon for my more mature mind to control!”
Although the thoughts came from the older Saturn Queen, her younger self helplessly experienced them too! She had lured her foes into the Compu-Tyrant’s trap and now she would relish seeing the hated couple pay for years of opposition!
Somewhere within her blocked and carefully controlled mind, young Eve Aries thought, “They kidnapped me and brought me here. They’ve muted my powers and turned me into their slave! Will I ever know peace again?” she thought desperately.
Aboard his ship, the Compu-Tyrant smiled once more and watched several monitors.
“Saturn Woman and Lightning Man have fallen! The other Legionnaires will soon join them in defeat… and then my true plan may begin!” he thought.
3
Ferro Man (Douglas Nolan) felt more pressure to succeed than he revealed. Oh, it was true that no observer could detect any emotion or expression at all since his disfigured features were concealed by the metallic helmet he always wore. The Man of Metal was also shy and said little although he never truly felt alone. His late twin Andrew’s spirit seemed to follow him or at least to dominate his thoughts. They had been very close and he mourned the loss of the one being who truly understood him. No one else had ever come close to matching his beloved brother in his eyes. He often brushed away tears even though Andrew had given his life heroically years before when he had been a Legionnaire. The pain was still fresh. He no longer blamed the Legionnaires though. Once he had been manipulated by Saturn Queen into lashing out at them as if the fact that they still lived while Andrew had perished made them responsible for his loss. They also missed Ferro Lad as Andrew had been called. They honored him with a burial at the Cemetery of Heroes- Shanghalla and his heroic statue loomed above Douglas in the Hall of Deceased Legionnaires within their HQ!
Doug often came to the room because it made him feel closer to Andrew. The metal statue was like both Nolans in the sense that when they used their mutant power to turn their bodies into metal they were easily as durable and unyielding as any statue! This power had earned Douglas a place on the team and in truth he was beginning to enjoy being a Legionnaire. It made him feel closer to Andrew. He wanted to honor his brother in how he conducted himself.
He looked over at some of the other memorial statues. He had never met some of them. They had died like Andrew in various heroic ways before he ever joined the team. He looked up at the statue of Chemical King. Condo Arlik of Phlon had also been a mutant and he had also been shunned by many because of his powers to slow or speed up chemical reactions. From what Douglas had been told, Condo had been a kind man who had refused to let his hardships break his spirit or his willingness to give his all for others. He had died preventing a new World War. Andrew had died destroying the Sun-Eater a true cosmic menace.
He knew that while some Legionnaires had died and others had retired, there were others whose fates were unknown! Princess Projectra, Karate Kid, and Invisible Kid were not represented by memorial statues in this wing of the building. They had vanished during a mission years before and no one knew what had become of them. It was a mystery that even the brilliant Brainiac 5 could not solve. Since the regal Princess and the stalwart Karate Kid had joined at the same time his brother Andrew had become a member, Doug felt a real sense of loss for the missing heroes.
He was tired but he knew he had duty to perform. He flew off toward the heart of the city. He was supposed to look into the reported sighting of one of the Legion of Super Villains. A tip had reached the team that Nemesis (Hart Druiter) had been spotted downtown. He was a real killer with the ability to match any one foe’s power or skill. Ferro Man was a bit afraid of him but he would not let Andrew down!
He watched as people pointed and cheered. They honored him as a hero but then again what did they truly know of him? Had they been able to see his shattered visage beneath the metal mask they would have fled in horror. He sighed. He would always be alone with his memories and his grief even amongst the friendly Legionnaires.
As he passed by a crowded street full of shops and stores and tourists of every species, he saw someone that looked familiar! Could it be his target? Nemesis had also joined the Legion as a spy at the same time Andrew joined. Maybe, this was his chance to honor his brother by taking down this Legion traitor. He saw that flash of green and gold again and hurried downward.
He said, “ Stop!” and dropped down to confront that cocky blond in green and gold but his vision grew dimmer and he blinked furiously to make out the figure before him. The costume colors looked right as did the blonde hair but shadows and light passed across his watering eyes again and again. Could he beat Nemesis? Did his powers let him know about Doug’s secret insecurities? If so, Doug would wipe that smirk off his face or die trying!
“Nemesis! Stop! You’re under arrest!” he said as he tensed up and turned to metal!
To his surprise as his blurred vision cleared, he realized his mistake. Now, in his foe’s place stood a lovely woman with cascading blonde hair and a pretty if cruel expression on her pale face. She wore a green body suit and yellow hosiery with matching slippers. She posed defiantly and said, “Disappointed? Did your eyes play tricks on you? You probably don’t know about the chemical reaction called photoisomerization? I’ll save you the big words and just say many chemical reactions occur in the eye. By altering some of them my powers allow me to make people see as little or as much as I wish. I could have just blinded you but this was more fun! Luring one of you Legionnaire punks here was always my plan!”
Ferro Man said, “Who are you?”
She tossed back her long mane of hair and said, “Chemical Queen! Anything your late Chemical King could do, I can do better! The Sorority of Science on the planet Femnaz granted me these powers so I could show up Condo Arlik. Sadly, he died before I could ever do so. Now, I’ve found a healthy outlet for my power. That is it is healthy for me but for you… not so much!”
Ferro Man flew forward and said, “You won’t stop me!”
He grunted as he abruptly changed back to his fleshly form!
She tilted her head to one side and said, “Tsk! Tsk! Didn’t you know your little metal to flesh transformation is a chemical reaction? I can reverse it at will!’
He scowled and said, “I don’t need to be metallic to knock you cold!”
He swung at the smirking beauty but she ducked and connected with a kick of her own. She jumped forward and connected again and again! He staggered backward and fell hard as Chemical Queen knocked him cold.
She wiped her hands on her tights and said, “All of the Warrior Brides of Femnaz know how to fight too! I see you didn’t!”
She laughed but the fallen Douglas Nolan didn’t hear her. This was one mercy he had received from a cruel Fate!
4
Even as other members of the newly formed Legion of Super Villains were stalking their prey or being hunted by the heroic Legion, some of them were in a heated discussion aboard their leader’s heavily shielded ship.
Cosmic King (Laevar Bolto) was a bitter man at the best of times. He had started his career as a promising scientist but his discovery of a ray that altered the atomic structure of anything in its path was not met with the acclaim he expected. The government of Venus declared such alterations to be evil and refused to listen to his defense of his creation. He was in fact branded an outlaw by the authorities when he refused to destroy his creation. Now, the black haired villain shook his head as if trying to wipe away bad memories. What did it matter now? The ray’s power was now part of his own metabolism. He could perform such miracles with one glance of his perpetually angry eyes.
Now, he seethed at the way he had been treated by the so-called Compu-Tyrant. Oh, it was true that the genius had restored his very body after his old enemy Dynamo Boy had used his Time Trapper powers to send Bolto’s powers out of control but what good was that body if it was helplessly bound like a puppet to a most unyielding master! He recalled how his subordinate status had been demonstrated by the mocking Gorum Boz!
(Next section written by DDSwanson and appreciated by me!)
It was time. “Does this arrogant Coluan think I call myself “King” for nothing or that I will take his orders like any other lackey? He has served his purpose, and helped me gather a veritable Legion ofl Super Villains and establish the most powerful force in the universe, but his arrogance exceeds his usefulness! Laevar Bolto, Cosmic King, leads the Legion, and bows to no one!”
Once again, Bolto made the mental effort that allowed him to perceive the universe at the quantum level. With another type of effort, he could cause elementary particles (protons, neutrons and electrons) to rearrange their configurations. Breaking water atoms into their hydrogen and oxygen components was child’s play. Adding the components of those hydrogen atoms to carbon to change it to nitrogen was hardly an effort. Converting the water and carbon in a human body into a cloud of oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen took less than an instant and no more concentration than breathing, and would leave behind only a very small pile of other elements and compounds. Gorum Boz was about to vanish into a cloud of gas, and he would never even have an instant’s clue about what was happening to him. Cosmic King made the tiny mental effort required, and turned his attention to other things.
And was instantly wrenched back to harsh reality as NOTHING happened.At least, nothing happened to Boz.
“I’m surprised that you didn’t work out in advance that you are powerless against me,” Gorum chided him softly. “I have the technology required to separate the minute quantity of your atoms from the atomized remains of a huge medical center and then rebuild your body, almost one atom at a time. It hardly seems likely that I would be vulnerable to an attempt to manipulate my own atoms, does it?”

Cosmic King fell to the floor, writhing violently in agony. His mouth was working as if he were screaming, but he made no noise. And just as instantly, the agony stopped.
“Also, as you are now aware, when I rebuilt your body, I took the opportunity to insert some innovations of my own. I trust our relative positions are now well-established in your memory. You rule the Legion of Super Villains, I rule you. Do you understand?”

When Bolto hesitated before answering, the pain began again. The pain was much less powerful than before but quickly getting worse. After a second or two of silent endurance, Cosmic King nodded. “I understand. You are in command, and I will follow out your orders.”
Bolto’s pain again vanished as Boz turned away satisfied, his thirteenth-level attention already focused on some other issue. Behind him, Cosmic King snarled silently.
“So, you’ve made changes to my body, you arrogant Coluan? Well, we’ll see about that. This isn’t over yet!”
Lawrenceliberty writing resumes here.

He scowled as he remembered the scene. Now, he merely planned his revenge. He would find a way to change things. After all, that was what he always did!
He approached the sullen and silent Chameleon Chief and said, “What is your goal? Do you think you may gain power by being his lapdog? Are you suffering from a case of too much ambition or could it be you merely fear him so much that you’ll crawl and cringe and beg for his favor merely to survive? I won’t forget your loyalty to Gorum Boz or forget your betrayal of me!”
The orange skinned alien ignored him except for a slight lifting of one eyebrow. If the gesture indicated surprise or merely showed disdain, it remained his own reaction to Cosmic King’s angry speech.
Cosmic King lashed out at him with his powers but the beams missed as the silent alien vanished and reappeared behind Cosmic King. He knocked Bolto flat with a blow from an enlarged and expanded fist!
Cosmic King sputtered in rage as Lightning Lord helped him to his feet.
“We do not need to fight. We should work together and enjoy the benefits of teamwork!” he said calmly.
Cosmic King looked at his old ally with disbelief on his own face. “Mekt? You advise caution? You argue for unity? What has become of your legendary temper? Has the Compu=Tyrant tamed your inner fires too?”
Mekt glared at him and then spoke in a tone of voice that was soft but frightening in its intensity.
“I saw myself in a new light. I recently saw another version of myself from another timeline. It was the same timeline Eve’s slavegirl came from and in this reality I was insane. My angry had pushed me over the edge beyond all reason! I won’t become that man. I have a son to raise. Family is everything on Winaath. That is why I felt such hatred when my siblings shut me out of their tight bond of being twins!” he said.
He whispered, “Eve tried to read the Chief’s mind. At the best of times a Durlan’s mind is a mess but she failed to pick up anything from him. He seems to have resources he lacked in the past! Needless to say, Gorum Boz is equally shielded from any mental probing!”
Cosmic King sighed and said, “Fine. We shall be good soldiers…for now. I admit that Boz showed real creativity in using the animal taming technology of the late Jungle King and in recruiting on the never used Warrior-Sisters of Femnaz in Chemical Queen. What of the Star Tsar? He called him an old friend and yet the masked rogue never says a word. Is he another pawn or slave like Chameleon Chief? I don’t like it!”
Lightning Lord shrugged and said, “He is on a mission even as we speak. Boz sent him to take a Legionnaire. That reminds me, I need to see how my captive brother is doing! I wouldn’t want him to feel neglected!”
His eyes flared with energy as he hurried away.
Cosmic King smiled slightly and thought, “The old anger is still burning within you. I may make good use of it in time!”
On Xanthu Nura Nall Kallor the former Dream Woman yawned and stretched with her usual blend of sex appeal and intelligence. She pushed her platinum blonde locks away from her lovely face and reached for a filmy nightgown.
“Thom certainly got up early. That’s not like him since he usually likes to sleep in after putting in long hours at the observatory. His father was the same way. Those Kallor men just love looking at stars!” she said with a laugh.
She really didn’t mind living in relative isolation on the remote planet. She adored her husband and had been quick to secure his affections after their first meeting. After all, he was the man of her dreams and the Naltorian beauty’s dreams almost always came true in one manner or another. Her prophetic visions were more accurate than those of any other Naltorian in history. She had used her abilities along with intensity combat training to create her own effective style of fighting that partially predicted what her opponents would do in any fight.
Of course the only fighting she did now was with Thom and that was mainly in order to motivate the making up that followed any spat.
She moved languidly through their home and enjoyed every sight and sound. She had become domestic in many ways and she relished it. Having lost her mother at an early age, she craved the structure found in a solid family life. She and Thom would have to make their own family eventually!
She assumed Thom was in his office. It connected their home with the Xanthu Observatory which had been founded by and named for Thom’s late father. She padded up the steps in fuzzy high heeled slippers and smiled as she spotted Thom. He turned from his work and smiled broadly. He held out one hand and said, “Darling, you are looking exceptionally beautiful today! You certainly get the most out of your beauty sleeps as the expression goes!”
She took his hand and allowed him to draw her into am embrace. She tilted her head back and as they kissed, she was jolted by a flashing vision that filled her with a physical sickness like an ache!
She glazed up at his normally placid features and noticed how excited he looked.
“You’re not Thom!” she stammered!
He frowned and tightened his grip on her waist but she rammed her knee into his stomach and broke free. She also felt pain as if his body was as hard as stone!
She flew away using the Legion flight ring that she never removed. It was simply too much a part of her identity.
The fake Thom followed and flew after her with speed that eclipsed her own.
Her keen eye for detail noticed another odd fact about her altered spouse or his imposter! He was flying without wearing a ring!
He tackled her and forced her into another crushing embrace. She turned her face away but he persisted and kissed her repeatedly as she struggled.
“Who are you? “she gasped breathlessly.
“I don’t know how you figured out I am not your insipid Thom but I’ll tell you this. I have his powers…. his original powers… and this is his body. Gorum Boz gave both to me when we took him away! He doesn’t know I returned here. He thought I would only become a more useful soldier as his Star Tsar if I had the super human powers your Thom used to possess. He couldn’t give me those powers but he could revive them in Thom and give me his super human body!”
Nura said, “What have you done with him? Tell me!”
He laughed and caressed her angry features as he said, “Tell you what, darling wife, let’s sleep on it!”
Nura’s eyes widened in shock and she fainted in his arms. She swept her up in his arms and began to carry her toward her home. He relished every sensation since he had hated her for years. After all, she was to blame for his brother’s death. She and her Thom killed Kenz Nuhor and now I’m going to make you both pay for that crime. Who am I, sleeping beauty? I’m Yark Althu but you can call me the Star Tsar when I allow you to catch your breath!”
Suddenly, Nura broke free from his grasp as he was lost in thought. She dived for cover and rolled across the room. She hit a panel on one wall and a safe room created from sliding panels of Inertron separated her from her enraged attacker. As former members of the Legion, she and Thom had many enemies and they had equipped their home with security measures. Since Yark didn’t know this, he apparently didn’t know everything Thom did, he somehow merely occupied her husband’s body.
She activated a communications device in her flight ring and sighed with relief as Element Man replied.
“Jan, I need help fast! Yark Althu the brother of the man Thom killed in self-defense all those years ago has somehow possessed Thom! He’s trying to kill me and he has all of Thom’s old comet spawned powers!” she said as the Star Tsar pounded on the barrier that separated them!
Element Man said, “We’re on our way!” He decided to get there as fast as possible even if it meant going with only one other member. The others were scattered around the HQ or all of U. P. space.
He hurried to find Mr. Mxytztic the 5th dimensional imp whose lookalike ancestor had so often plagued Superman as Mr. Mxyzptlk! The heroic and gentle natured Legionnaire wanted nothing more than to make up for his family’s misdeeds!
He looked up and jumped to his feet. He was wearing his customary orange and purple costume with a matching derby hat.
“What’s wrong, Jan?” he said.
Element Man said, “Teleport us to the observatory on Xanthu! Quickly! I’ll explain when we get there!”
The smaller man obeyed and his incredible magic spirited them to the remote planet and its famous landmark.
They rushed inside and confronted a startled Yark Althu who whirled around and gasped in dismay. He was completely caught by surprise!
Element Man hesitated for a moment. He had heard Nura’s explanation but seeing someone who looks exactly like his old pal Thom Kallor as an enemy or threat gave him pause.
The Star Tsar charged at the blond hero who raised his hands and converted the oxygen around the swiftly moving man to a Martian toxin! The Star Tsar coughed and stopped moving for a moment and then slapped Element Man across the room with one super strong punch!
Mr. Mxyztic shouted, “Freeze!” and his magic encased the villain in a shroud of solid ice. He hurried over to where his friend groaned in pain.
“Jan? Jan!” he cried as he tried to revive the stricken hero from Trom.
Nura emerged from the safe room and quickly realized the fight was going to end badly. She didn’t need a prophetic dream to know that!
“Can you restore Thom to his body?” she cried as the encased villain began to smash his way to freedom!
The imp shook his head and said, “I can’t risk it. I don’t know exactly how they took his body or what they did with his brain! I can get you to safety though!”
He snapped his fingers and Nura found herself on Earth in Legion HQ!
Seconds later, the little hero stiffened in pain and he felt a burning brand appear on his brow. A magical glyph of suppression had robbed him of his powers! He couldn’t use them as long as the infernal symbol was etched on his body!
He looked left and right as a petite woman in a red dress and heels appeared out of thin air. She had long black hair but where the locks separated to frame what would have normally have been a small, oval face only consisted of a blinding light!
“You’re from the 5th dimension! I can sense that even without my magic!” he said as he moved protectively close to the fallen Element Man.
She giggled and said, “Now, now! We’re family! My father called himself Mask Man. You may refer to me as Masque while you are still alive!”
She raised both hands and energy enveloped the shocked Imp! He vanished as well and her mad giggling filled the room.
She looked with annoyance at the Star Tsar as he broke out of the icy tomb and she said, “You are in big trouble! The Compu-Tyrant gave you that body and restored its power for a reason. You were to capture Legionnaires for him. You were NOT supposed to come back here and try to play honeymoon games with that aging sex symbol!”
The Star Tsar nodded slowly. “I didn’t expect her to be able to detect how my essence had been implanted in her husband. I mean I left him powerless in my old body back on the Compu-Tyrant’s ship!”
Masque snapped, “I know how the technology Boz took from the late Alaktor works. I’m not an idiot you know!
She said, “Let’s get back to the ship with Element Man. I’ve done your job for you since he and my kinsman won’t be any threat to our leader’s plans!”
The Star Tsar scowled. He knew he owed everything to the Compu-Tyrant had He had been working in a meaningless job on his home planet of Naltor. He had served his time for trying to avenge his brother’s death. He was free but had no purpose. For one who could see small glimpses of what was yet to come, Yark Althu truly had no future! Then, the smug Compu-Tyrant found him and offered him power and a way to hurt those who had murdered his brother years before. He began by capturing Thom Kallor and secretly restoring his old comet spawned powers but he left them dormant until he would return to use a spoken command word to awaken them. Thus, Kallor, with no memory of his brief abduction and no way of access the old powers that were hidden within his body, went on with life as normal. He was a seed waiting for the right moment to ripen at his master’s command. A star waiting to fall or to rise! That moment of ascension had only come after the Compu-Tyrant had secured other allies for his new Legion. It had been all too simple for him to return to Xanthu, secure Thom, use a process created by a deceased villain called Alaktor to transfer Althu’s personality into Thom’s body and then active the dormant comet power within Thom’s body! In doing so he had created the Star Tsar! It was a nice touch of irony since Boz knew another Legion foe named Starfinger had in fact been an enslaved Garth Ranzz. Turning another Legionnaire into a new star named foe was delightful!
Althu didn’t care for irony. He just wanted power and revenge but he did fear Boz and now he wished he had not defied his new master by trying to seduce Nura Nal Kallor. If this went badly for him, he would have one more reason to kill her!
5
Earlier, Cosmic Man (Rokk Krinn of Braal) had been attacked as well by a strange newcomer called Repulse! The Legion founder was incredibly capable and had been known to hand his own in combat against deadly enemies of every type. He was the team leader and he knew he had certain priorities but he simply could not sit around waiting for Brainiac 5 to come p with a lead on Eve and Mekt Ranzz. He had set out to find some of the former members of the Legion of Super Villains and his quest had led him to Winath where he planned to look for any leads as to where Lightning Lord had ended up.
“Garth and Imra were hoping Brainiac 5 could come up with a way to track down the larcenous couple but I figured I’d do some snooping around as well on Mekt’s home planet! He nurses a grudge against the place since most births are multiples here and as a non-twin he felt like an outcast!”
The handsome Braalian had once been a champion at a sport called Magno Ball in which he used his magnetic abilities to great effect. He had actually been born of Braalian parents on Earth and his abilities were superior to those of any other Braalian.
He admired the quiet rural life on the Armarta farming commune on Winath. It was the kind of place he would like to settle down in with his wife Lydda someday. She was the retired heroine known as Night Woman and if she missed her old work with the Legion of Substitute Heroes, she never let it show. They were a happy couple in every way.
Rokk spoke to a few community leaders and strolled around the farm on which Mekt and Garth and Ayla had all been born. Their parents had died years before in a cruiser wreck but they had plenty of other relations on the world where family ties were so pervasive.
He thought of Ayla Ranzz Londo and her husband Brin. The former Light Lass and Timber Wolf still lived on Winath with their three kids but had recently departed for an extended family vacation. That was one reason why Brin had taken temporary leave from the Legion.
He thought of another of his former teammates. Shrinking Violet (Salu Digby of Imsk and her spouse Duplicate Man (Ord Quelu of Lallor) had recently learned that she was pregnant. He was happy for them and he wished them well.
It reminded Rokk that he needed to talk with his own younger brother Pol when he found some free time. They were not as close as they once had been since Rokk stayed so busy with Legion activities and Pol was a busy family man with kids of his own including a son named after Rokk!
He smiled as he thought of the younger Rokk Krinn. The eager boy reminded him of himself when he had been a boy. He showed some real potential too since his own magnetic powers were promising in terms of strength and versatility.
Screams rang out and the natives scattered as an armored figure stepped into view. A farm autobot tractor burned nearby. It had been hurled through the air by the sinister armored man who apparently had magnetic powers of his own!
“Hold it, pal! That’s more than enough property damage!” he said as he braced himself and felt the faint magnetic impulse in the air as he faced another Braalian!
The man in the crimson armor stopped and approached Cosmic Man.
“Rokk Krinn! My name is Repulse! I came here to do more than damage property. I came here to take off your head!” he roared.
Suddenly, his metal gloves became razor sharp scythes that snaked forward as he used his own powers to alter their composition and shape!
Rokk ducked under the blades which he deflected with a quick use of his own power.
“You’ve found me. Now let’s see what you can do! I think you may be a real idiot to wear metal armor around me!” he declared.
He flew forward and twisted to avoid a metal net that spread itself in his path as the villain reassembled his metallic armor in another formation!
Cosmic Man nodded slowly and he accessed the situation!
“Okay, I see what your game is. You like changing that metal armor into a variety of weapons through your magnetic powers. I have a real nice way to counter that but I doubt you’ll appreciate my finesse!” he said with a grin.
He focused his awesome power and the red armor suddenly parted down the middle and revealed the startled man within!
Rokk punched him in the face and he grunted in pain.
“With a face like that you certainly live up to the name Repulse!” he quipped.
Clearly this guy had a few tricks but he couldn’t match Rokk’s fighting skills like his mastery of the Braalian martial art known as ku-jui!
Cosmic Man moved in to finish the battle when Repulse grinned at him and replicated into two other beings. Each looked exactly like the original Repulse and each one resealed his armor and resumed an attack! Caught by surprise by the three way attack Rokk managed to shatter the armor on one foe but fell to defeat at the bludgeoning blows of the other two!
Repulse grinned and said, “I’m half Carggian! I guess you know that now. I can split into two other selves! That’s two too many for you!”
He gestured and the stunned hero floated into the air in response to his magnetic attraction. Cosmic Man was defeated and his friends were falling with equal rapidity across the U. P. space!
Some of the defeats were almost frighteningly swift. Chameleon Man (Reep Daggle) was smart and sneaky and knew how to make the best of his power ot change his shape. He was something of a pioneer and a leader in the field of tolerance and civil rights for Durlans. He had become a symbol of how even a species that many worlds distrusted or viewed with fear because of the nature of their ability to disguise themselves in other forms could produce a true hero.
Reep was a hero and he was a gifted teacher at the Legion Academy also known as the Legion Aixiliary. His pupils learned from him as they tried to master their various powers and eventually gain a place in the fabled team of champions.
No one could fault Reep’s performance in his battle with the evil Cosmic King. The problem was the ruthless villain struck from afar and turned the air around the Durlan hero into a substance called cancellite which temporarily robbed Durlans of the ability to shift their shapes. A second swift strike knocked Reep cold as his shirt transformed into a knockout gas!
PolarMan (Brekk Bannin of Tharr) also met with a swift defeat and there was little irony in that phrase since his foes literally beat him senseless before he could generate the icy cold that was the source of his power and the means of survival for the people of Tharr! A man and woman in matching lilac and white costumes stood over him and gloated. The man wore a jumpsuit while the woman was dressed in a mini dress and boots. They slapped hands together in victory and carried him away at blinding speed! The twin burs called themselves the Tornado Tyrants but they had once been known as Don and Dawn Allen the Torando Twins. That was before they lost their super speed which In turn came from the fact that they were descendents of the fabled hero the Flash! He had been the Fastest Man Alive in his own era and now the Allen Twins had regained similar speed at the price of their values. They had either sold out to the Compu-Tyrant in exchange for the return of their lost speed or he had some unknown hold over them. In either case, they were too much for hapless Polar Man.
Lexor Man (Alexo Luthor) was serious about his desire to be a hero. He didn’t do it for fame since his armor of purple and green concealed his features. Those features marked him as the descendent of the greatest super criminal/ scientific genius of the twentieth century. Lex Luthor had battled Superman the greatest of all heroes and he had matched wits with the Batman as well on his own and with the help of the insane Joker. He had created weapons of every sort and his science had not always been surpassed even by the passage of time. Since he had also threatened the Legion in their own era, he was well-known and his heir had no choice but to conceal his features and his true name from what would surely have been a horrified public! Alexo knew his ancestor had done some good in the world as well by preserving the people of the planet Lexor from more than one threat. He had been hailed as their hero and had married the lovely Adora. Alexo came from that lineage and he used the ancient science of his planet to give himself power over gravity among other marvelous abilities. As Lexor Man he tried to redeem his family honor if not the family name.
He was close to the impish Mr. Mxyztic who had joined the team at the same time he had and who also had a criminal or at least rebellious ancestor in his past. Alexo smiled as he wondered about this odd circumstance. Brainiac 5 also came from the line of a super villain who once fought Superman. Of course, his real ancestor was merely a Coluan boy given to the robotic first Brainiac in order to make his guise as a human seem more feasible. Still, Brainiac 5 was an example of how one could overcome and even redeem a notorious family reputation.
Lexor Man didn’t need his Legion flight ring since he could fly via the boot jets in his armor but he wore the ring with sincere pride in what it stood for to him!
“I must do more for the team! I must not fail them!” he thought.
He never got to finish that thought as he soared over the city of Metropolis.
He cried out in surprise as his armor jet’s failed to respond to his cybernetic command and he slammed into a building. He was stunned but not hurt. The armor was incredibly durable. He ran a systems check and gasped as the interior monitor inside his closed helmet flashed and displayed something other than the data he requested. It shaped itself into a mocking face!
Lexor Man tried to determine the nature of this strange electronic apparition as his armor lurched away from his body and shaped itself into a weird metallic humanoid that perched on his chest!
“Gremlin in charge now, Follicle Deficient One!”he chirped.
Lexor Man raised one hand to make the odd being weightless but to his dismay the entire being and the armor it was apparently composed of exploded and knocked him cold.
A small spaceship emerged from where it had hovered nearby in the shadows.
“Him fun!” chirped the energy being from Teall known as Gremlin!
Color Man a.k.a Color Master or Ulu Vakk of Lupra had the unique ability to change one color to another! He had used this talent as a member of the Legion of Substitute Heroes and eventually as a regular Legionnaire. He was a nice man with few illusions about his power or his ability to make a difference. The element of his personality that made him a hero was the fact that he continued to do his best to serve and protect others in spite of his limitations.
“I can’t shatter steel like Superman or burn like Sun Man but I won’t quit trying to help those in need. I know Superman himself once said using what talents you have to make things better is what heroism is all about! I can’t let myself forget that!” he thought as he searched Tokyo for signs of the villainous Nemesis.
Science police data suggested the villain was back on Earth and his friend Ferro Man had already been conducting his own search for the notorious criminal from the planet Myar!
Color Man had the misfortune to find him first! Nemesis (Hart Druiter) could literally adapt his body until he developed the power or skill needed to defeat any single foe! The exact limits of his power were not clear but as Ulu faced him he wondered what chance he had to best such an adversary!
Moments later, as Nemesis carried a prone Color Man over one shoulder the evidence suggested that the Luck Lords of Ventura were not with the hero!
6
Those same Lord Lucks seemed to perpetually smile on Color Man’s fellow Legionnaire Sun Man (Dirk Morgna of Earth). Dirk’s father was a wealthy industrialist and Dirk himself had been blessed with a keen intellect, good looks, superb skills as a pilot, and energy powers that enabled him to become a Legionnaire. The powers came after one of his father’s disgruntled associates had casually tossed Dirk into a nuclear reactor! Dirk had emerged un harmed and with remarkable super powers like the ability of generate various forms of solar energy!
Now, as he soared over Tokyo, Sun Man’s good luck had led him directly to the Legion villain he had been seeking: Sun Emperor! Nigal Douglas was in many ways Dirk’s opposite number since he also had solar based powers and even copied Sun Man’s costume in an act of defiance! Sun Man had tracked him down through use of one of Brainiac 5’s power signature tracers. To his surprise the cocky criminal was not alone! He was with another member of the Legion of Super Villains called Beauty Blaze! Beauty Blaze was indeed as beautiful as she was hot tempered. She smoldered in more ways than one!
Sun Man grinned briefly as he thought how natural it was that the two villains should be a couple!
“I guess opposites don’t always attract!” he thought.
Sun Emperor was smiling broadly as he tried to impress the woman! She listened but something in her demeanor suggested that she was merely being polite.
“My solar flame can wipe out an entire city! You should see me in action! You’re going to love it!” he bragged.
Sun Man nodded grimly. “I can’t allow him to prove his point by emitting that terrible blast in a crowded city but just maybe I can use his ego to my advantage!”
Sun Man tackled him from the side and began to pound him! The Emperor grunted and ignited the air around his body. Sun Man felt no pain and he realized that he had the upper hand since the Emperor relied far too much on his power and lacked any true combat training! Sun Man flew skyward as they struggled and by use of his flight path brought him down far outside the mega city.
“Can’t risk letting him harm ordinary folks!” he thought.
“Sorry to spoil your date! Maybe you can send each other holo mail from prison!” he quipped.
Sun Emperor roared in anger and his skin tone began to turn bright red! Sun Man waited and then rolled aside in time to let the solar blast miss his speeding body and catch the approaching Beauty Blaze as she drew nearer!
She was not burned but the impact stunned her and she collapsed! A battered Sun Emperor hesitated from a combination of fatigue caused by the release of so much of his energy and from some concern or at least consternation at beauty’s plight!
Sun Man closed in on him and knocked him out. He turned to check on Beauty Blaze who moaned softly. Dirk knew her innate powers had kept her from serious harm. Sun Man had assumed correctly that she would be the only possible bystander to their fight so far from the huge city.
He leaned down to check on her condition when her face and form shimmered and changed before his eyes. He glanced down to see a gorgeous woman with a red and gold crested tiara in her blonde hair and a very brief red and gold trimmed two piece costume that left her arms, legs, and stomach bare. She smiled and said, “Well done, handsome! I suppose you believe you’ve won? I’m afraid not. I’m here to finish you off as they say in your Terran holo films!”
“Who are you? I’ve seen you before!” he said. He knew she looked vaguely familiar.
She smiled in a cruel manner and said, “ I can understand your confusion since the holo projection device I used made me look like that insipid Beauty Blaze! I am in fact Her Imperial Highness The Sun Woman- Queen of Vannar! You may regret not recalling me since my powers which used to be artificial are now innate as you’ll see!”
He frowned as he realized she was unfazed by the heat he generated.
Before he could react she struck with a ruthless efficiency and he fell into her arms. She had attacked with speed and strength equal to that of Ultra Man or Mon-El!
“Solar energy gives me power! My world of Vannar has one side that is never dark. I gain speed, strength, and invulnerability from solar energy. Needless to say the energy Sun Emperor just expended has made me a very powerful woman!” she said as she carried him away. “You had no reason to suspect that your blazing battle with that buffoon merely made me superior in every way!” she laughed.
Meanwhile, back at Legion HQ, Nura (Dream Woman) Kallor had donned one of her old costumes from storage and was rapidly explaining what she knew about the crisis on Xanthu!
Brainiac 5 listened attentively and said, “Clearly, this pseudo Thom had sophisticated help from someone. From what I recall of the Naltorian siblings Yark Althu and Kenz Nuhor, neither had the ability to do something like what you described. Had you not mentioned the fact that Althu was somehow back and in command of Thom’s body, I’d deduce that Saturn Queen had used super hypnosis on him. This odd placement of Althu’s personality in Thom’s body but clearly lacking Thom’s knowledge suggests the old device created by former Legion applicant and reject Alaktor. He once used this device to place Hitler’s personality in Superboy’s body. That left the real Superboy’s essence in Hitler’s comatose body. I can only assume the same thing has happened to Thom but you mentioned that he had regained the super strength and speed he once possessed when energy from a comet altered his body. I could try to track that power given time!”
Nura nodded and said, “You have to find him! If only he had continued to wear his Legion ring like I always have!”
Brainiac 5 said, “That eventuality would have yielded no results since something is blocking the signals from the rings belonging to Element Man, Ferro Man, Mr. Mxyztik, Saturn Woman, Cosmic Man, Sun Man, Polar Man, Color Master, and Chameleon Man. Only Timber Wolf and Mysa who were on leave could be reached! Mysa is on her way here now!” He referred to Nura’s younger sister- the Legionnaire known as the sensational White Witch!
Nura said, “I think Lightning Lord and his wife have reformed the Legion of Super Villains! After all, we know they are loose and as malicious as ever after that stunt they pulled on me!”
Brainiac 5 said, “I concur! I used the photon inverter to send my energy aura back to Xanthu but that form only allowed me to observe and I found scenes of a struggle but no sign of our friends or the villain using Thom’s body! I think we are facing a new Legion of Super Villains that has access to resources used by many of our old foes. The chronal energy residue I used to track Saturn Queen has dissipated and I have lost her trail.”
Nura stood up and said, “We have to find them!”
Brainiac 5 said, “We shall! I promise you that!”
A beautiful woman with long, straight red hair came into the room She wore a brief white dress and slippers and rushed toward Nura. They embraced and then the White Witch (Mysa Nal) said, “I came as soon as I heard what happened! My magic may enable me to bring us to Thom and the others!
The two sisters were close in spite of the fact that Nura was outgoing and outrageous while Mysa was scholarly and demure. Mysa lacked her sister’s prophetic powers but she had studied for years with the wizards of Zerox and had many spells committed to memory. Surely one could help her find her sister’s husband and their friends? She especially hoped Mr. Mxyztic was safe since she had strong feelings for the little Imp who shared her devotion to the magic arts.
She was bashful about her feelings for him but she realized that a secret they shared might just save the day for the team they both loved!
“Nura, Mxyztic and I are bonded! We love each other! I can find him through the heart-link we forged to represent our love! I knew you would not approve so I didn’t tell you!” she said in a soft but breathless tone of voice.
Dream Woman started to raise her voice but she stopped and gently caressed her sister’s hair as she said, “It is okay. I’m not going to fault you when it comes to love. You deserve to be happy!”
Brainiac 5 said, “I have summoned Jo and some of the reserves! Querla just told me that she has also heard from the Science Police in Tokyo. They recovered a stunned Sun Emperor! We may have just found the lead we need to put an end to this mystery! They are bringing him here under heavy sedation!”
Mysa said, “I will retreat to a quiet spot and commune with the spirits! They shall guide me to my love!”
Brainiac 5 said, “I have a few additional ideas! We better start planning a way to end this threat swiftly! If our foes have indeed managed to abduct most of our team then clearly they have remarkable awareness of our movements! I think if they can block communication or detection features of our flight rings they may also be able to track us by them! We may need to make some creative changes!”
He knew his teammates had faith in his abilities but he frowned as he thought again about a possibility he could not bring himself to share with them.
“I may be risking the safety of the entire U. P. by what I’m about to do but it may be the only way I have to save my friends from the Legion of Super Villains!” he thought as he made adjustments to one of several devices on his lab table.
In a small but cozy room Mysa the White Witch sat with her legs crossed and her hands outstretched. She chanted mystic words and gazed down at a large book.
Mysa thought of the Imp she loved and slowly through her efforts she managed to see an image of him! He was branded with a mystical glyph and she knew its significance!
“He is powerless! My poor love!” she whispered.
The vision faded and she stood up swiftly and ran to find her sister.
“Nura! I think I’ve located him! We must hurry!” she cried.
Aboard his cloaked spacecraft the Compu-Tyrant and his assembled team gloated over the captive heroes. All of them were wearing wrist bands that suppressed their powers. They were all too aware of their plight.
Lightning Man, Saturn Woman, Cosmic Man, Ferro Man, Chameleon Man, Color Man, Sun Man, Element Man, Lexor Man and Polar Man exchanged glances at one another. They were helpless but none of them felt hopeless! This belief in the possibility for victory was part of what made them the greatest heroes in all of United Planets space!
Lexor Man was clad in only a purple shirt with green pants. The being called Gremlin had shattered his armor. He knew his secret was now exposed to the villains and he felt vulnerable. He also worried about his missing friend Mr. Mxyztic.
The Compu-Tyrant singled Alexo Luthor out for special treatment.
“How fitting it is that you a hero who resembles a villain are present this day. That circumstance nicely parallels my own plans for you all!” he said.
Lexor Man said, “What do you mean? What have you done to Mr. Mxyztic?”
Masque giggled madly and spun around on one heel before replying, “I put him somewhere safe until we decide to kill him!”
Lightning Lord scowled as he watched his wife holding their infant son Riyance.
“What exactly is your plan? We secured my brother and his friends. Now what?” he demanded.
Compu-Tyrant placed one hand on Chameleon Chief’s arm as the silent alien frowned at the outburst.
“My plan? Well, better by far you say my plans since I have several at work as we speak!” said Gorum Boz.
Cosmic King looked over at where Sun Woman, Nemesis, the Star Tsar, Masque, Chemical Queen, the Tornado Tyrants, and Repulse lounged around the deck of the huge ship. None of them seemed concerned about their leader’s mysterious plans. The tiny ship that housed Gremlin hovered nearby.
“Sheep! All of them are nothing more than mindless sheep!” he fumed.
He shouted, “What of Sun Emperor? Are you unconcerned that the so-called Sun Woman left him to be taken by the Science Police!”
“I thought that was a nice touch!” said Sun Man.
The Compu-Tyrant smiled and thought, “I didn’t not expect Sun Woman to leave him behind but then again I did not realize the lovely Queen of Vannar would prove to be so narcissistic and self-willed! She is not a team player. I may have to demonstrate the fact that the improvements I made to her powers come with certain limitations as well. I can punish any of my allies if I so desire to do so!”
He stared harshly at Cosmic King and said, “I am never at a loss. You would do well to remember that! Our good friend the Sun Emperor shall continue to serve us as needed!”
Lightning Man said, “Mekt! You are a father now. How can you follow this mad man? Is this the kind of life you want for your son?”
Lightning Lord slapped his brother across the face and said, “Do not presume to lecture me about parenthood since you have failed to produce any children!”
Saturn Woman glared at him but she was still in control of her emotions and her keen mind was busy considering one stratagem after another. Imra Ardeen Ranzz was never to be considered lightly by anyone. She was a true heroine.
“I can’t read their minds. He shielded them. I can still communicate with my friends though. We will be ready to act as one when the time comes!” she thought.
Gorum Boz the Compu-Tyrant was reviewing his own plans. He noted with approval the captive Legionnaires and his triumphant teammates. In spite of the Star Tsar’s poor judgment in trying to seduce Nura and Sun Emperor’s capture, all was going well for the villains. All of them had brought back defeated Legionnaires and he was unconcerned about the few active Legionnaires who remained free.
“I shall soon prove my superiority over Brainiac 5. Nura Kallor may have escaped but she was never a target to begin with. I have no reason to worry about the inactive members of the Legion for now. By the time any of them become a peril to me, they shall have been rendered powerless by the fruition of my own plans!” he thought.
7
Mr. Mxyztic was indeed helpless as he found himself tumbling head over heels from one dimension to another! He could not stop himself nor could he look away from the alarming scenes that flashed by as he whirled through time and space.
He frowned as he saw the familiar form of Superman although this Superman’s costume was entirely blue and he flew alongside another Superman dressed entirely in red.

Before he could make sense of the scene he was gone again! He glimpsed a world where an older Superman battled alongside a team of equally aged heroes!
He rubbed his eyes and tried again to wipe the magic glyph from his brow but it was no use!
He found himself staring at a realm of diamond men and women made of glistening faceted gems!
Then when blinding light beings dazzled his already tormented senses, one of the light forms solidified into a humanoid figure who watched him with a bemused expression on his boyish face before reached out and stopped his motion!
“ Welcome to Cintos! What a weird little man you are!” declared the blond boy.
Mr. Mxyztic fought to catch his breath and then said, “Thank you for stopping me. I need your help! I am lost! My name is Mr. Mxyztic and I am a member of the Legion of Super Heroes!”
The boy smiled broadly and said, “I know such beings! Why don’t I take you to them? By the way, my name is Quanto!” he said as he took the hero’s arm and guided him through the dimension of light. In a blinding flash of light, the duo suddenly materialized within Legion HQ!
The White Witch rushed into Mr. Mxyztic’s arms! “Darling, I found you but I couldn’t bring you back! Your location kept changing!”
He placed one small hand on her cheek and said, “You kept me sane! I was helpless until Quanto here rescued me!”
Dream Woman smiled briefly. “Quanto, we owe you our thanks! Are you no longer with Mystelor?”
The light being shook his head. “Alas, no. She and I were too different. I have never forgotten you though!”
Dream Woman had once posed as Mystelor who in turn had been a teammate and potential love interest for Quanto when the two had been part of a criminal gang.
Mr. Mxyztic said, “I fought another native of the 5th Dimension! She branded me and I am powerless while it remains on my brow! What happened to Jan and Thom?”
Dream Woman said, “They’ve been taken captive by a new Legion of Super Villains! All of our friends have fallen to the fiends!”
“Well, I hope I’m still one of your friends!” said a ruggedly handsome man with brown hair and a red and green costume! He entered the room with several other costumed beings in his wake.
“Ultra Man! Thank goodness, you’ve come, Jo!” said Dream Woman.
Ultra Man (Jo Nah of Rimbor) was a reserve member of the Legion of Super Heroes. He and his wife Tinya Wazzo Nah (Phantom Woman) had retired from the team and enjoyed a peaceful life with their two children Arna and Ronn.
Jo worked with the Science Police and still participated in Legion missions from time to time. Since he had the ability to channel ultra energy he had absorbed after being swallowed by a space dragon and use this extra metabolic energy for enhanced strength, speed, flight vision, and invulnerability he was one of the most powerful beings ever belong to the team. He smiled as he thought of Tinya and their kids. She had wanted to return to action with him but she knew motherhood came first.
He said, “I’m here to help and I met some other old friends on my way inside!”
“Some of us former Subs are here to lend a hand!” said a tall woman with balck hair and a pale but lovely face.
Night Woman (Lydda Krinn) was Cosmic Man’s wife and a former member of the Legion of Substitute Heroes. She possessed super strength while in total darkness like that which dominated her home planet of Kathoon. She was worried about her husband but she was determined to do anything she could to save him. She wore a tight black leotard and matching boots. An owl emblem decorated her top.
Behind her came a brown haired man in a brown costume. His name was Stone Man and too had once belonged to the Legion of Substitute Heroes. Dag Wentim of Zwen was a mild mannered man who possessed the ability to turn his body into stone. Originally, he lost mobility when in his rocky state but thanks to Brainiac 5’s help he now could move freely and retain his solidity.
He raised one hand in greeting but said nothing.
The third and final member of the Legion’s support team was a gaunt man with bright red hair and narrow features. Fire Man of Shwar gained the ability to breathe fire after an accident. His true name was Staq Mavlen. He shrugged sheepishly and said, “I’m glad to see you all but I’m sorry to hear about the crisis!”
At that moment Brainiac 5 entered with Brainiac 6 and some of her fellow students in the Legion Academy.
“I reached Brin but he and Ayla are too far away to be of much help. I think we need to take immediate action!” said Brainiac 5 as he glanced around the room and noticed the new arrivals.
“Thank you all for coming! I hope we may receive some additional aid in time. I have also brought our pupils. We may need their powers!” he said.
He gestured to the teen Academy students who clustered around his daughter.
Dimension Lass (Mrtha of Murr) was a petite girl with vivid pink skin and hair that reached down to her narrow waist. She wore a costume of black that consisted of a black and gray jumpsuit with an attached hood. She didn’t speak but like most of her race she communicated through a series of hand gestures.She had the uncanny power to open portals between dimensions and according to Brainiac 5, she might have the potential to transcend time as well.
Quantum Lass (Jazmin Cullen) was something of an enigma. She possessed remarkable powers that enabled her to tap into the quantum field to create stasis fields, fly, and manipulate time and gravity. She was a pretty black girl with a brief costume of purple and black with matching thigh -high boots. While she claimed to have no connection to deceased legionnaire Quantum Queen, Brainiac 5 had speculated that the girl was in fact the Queen reborn or reassembled with a new physical form. He suspected the original Quantum Queen had been a being of pure energy in spite of her blonde good looks and human mannerisms. If this was the case, “death” might have been a temporary state for her and Jazmin Cullen could possibly be the heroine reborn in a new body of her own design.
The final student at the Academy was a young woman called Meteor Maid who now sat in the middle of the room as Brainiac 5 studied a small monitor on a scanning device of his own invention. She squirmed uncomfortably as the device passed over her. Her real name was Mari Nestorr and she wore a pleated purple mini-skirt and matching boots with a purple cape and white top. She was a girl known for being impulsive and it was one such impulse that had led her to pilot her family cruiser directly through the tail of a passing comet on a dare. She had survived the experience but had emerged with super human strength, speed, durability, and the ability to fly. She was hopeful to become a Legionnaire someday.
“I sure appreciate this chance to be of service to my team and to my universe!” she said in a breathless tone of voice.
“This isn’t the Miss United Planets Pageant you know!” said Quantum Lass.
Brainiac 5 cleared his throat and said, “Quanto, may we ask you for some help?”
Quanto grinned and said, “I am always willing to be of service to lesser beings! It is the duty of my people to bring light to those who need help to shine!”
Ultra Man whispered, “He’s as modest as ever!”
White Witch said, “We need to free Mxyztic of the glyph that robs him of his own magic!”
“Can you do it?” asked Dream Woman.
Mysa said, “Yes, but I am not at full strength. I have felt a bit ill for some time. I think it is due to the presence of another magical being of dark power! He or she is like a poison to me in ways I can’t define!”
Nura put her arms around her sister and said, “Strange! I received a brief vision when we touched. It was almost like I was looking into a distorted mirror version of you, honey.”
Mysa said, “I fear you are as accurate as ever. I am aware of a sensation not unlike the spell that bound me when I was under Prince Evillo’s thrall!”
She referred to a time in her young life when she had been transformed into a hag by dark magic and found herself serving the villain called Prince Evillo who ruled a planet known as Tartarus!
Mysa touched her lover and began to chant rapidly. The room grew colder and wind seemed to fill the chamber. Moments passed and she began to sway slightly as if she was losing her balance. She cried out and as Nura caught her before she could fall, Mysa smiled in relief. The magical glyph had vanished!
“I’m free! Thank you, beloved!” cried Mr. Mxyztic!
Ultra Man grinned and said, “With your 5th Dimensional power at our disposal those crooks don’t stand a chance!”
The Imp shook his head ruefully. Masque is my relation and her father Mask Man once killed many of the Legionnaires. Superboy managed to banish him and that restored his friends to life with no memory of what had occurred. My foe is as strong as I am!”
Brainiac 6 raised one hand and said, “Father, the Science Police just brought in the sedated Sun Emperor!”
She hurried out and brought two officers into the room. They steered a hovering cot that held a slumbering Sun Emperor.
“He’s all yours Brainiac 5!” said the older officer.
“Thank you, gentlemen. We shall secure him and find out anything he can tell us about our current plight!” said Brainiac 5.
As Brainiac 6 led the officers out of the HQ, her father examined the stricken villain.
“He was defeated by someone. I believe Dirk must have been the victor since I know the Emperor’s stunned body was found outside Tokyo and that’s where Sun Man was last sighted according to my computer records!
Dream Woman said, “Mysa needs to rest but perhaps Mr. Mxyztic could use his magic to read our captive’s mind?”
At that moment aboard Gorum Boz’s ship, he greeted two returning villains. Echo was an odd being in blue and white with a stark white face. He was a master of sonic forces and he had been a member of the team in the past. Apparently, the Compu-Tyrant trusted him since he had sent him on a solo mission!
Echo spoke in a strange tone of voice that alternated between a wavering vibrato and a resonant bass.
“It is done! The Cosmic Prison could not keep us out. My lovely partner and I freed the inmates as you ordered!” he said.
He bowed slightly and gestured toward a woman in a black shroud whose withered, wrinkled features and gnarled hands marked her as inhumanly ancient.
“Xola Ag is no man’s partner! I am no slave!’ she said with a cackle.
Compu-Tyrant said, “Indeed, you are not a slave…but you do owe what I shall call your liberation to me. I enabled you to take material form all your own when you had previously been nothing more than a dark spell cast upon the virtuous White Witch!
Xola Ag said, “I freed your convicts as you requested. Now, when shall I get the chance to slay the White Witch and claim her body for my own?”
The Compu-Tyrant said, “In good time. She managed to avoid the attack I had planned for her because of some odd fluctuation in time and space surrounding the planet Zerox. That mystical realm defies even science and I had no desire to risk my careful plans by venturing there prematurely. You shall claim her when we capture her and Brainiac 5!”
“Now, please bring our guests in and we shall begin my conquest of the United Planets!” he said.
Lightning Lord said, “Don’t you mean our conquest?”
Gorum Boz said, “Of course but indulge me for a moment. I told you all that Sun Emperor would continue to serve us and I meant that. He has reached the Legion HQ according to remote spy devices I’ve planted around their plaza. Now, just as I altered many of you to enhance your abilities, I made some changes to his body. Those changes will enable me to distract our foes while we resume our efforts here!”
Saturn Queen handed Riyance to her husband and said, “What do you mean to do? Can you boost his power and help him break free? Do you plan to have him lead our foes here to some trap?”
She wrenched the younger Saturn Queen’s head backward as the helpless girl crouched at her feet.
Compu-Tyrant laughed and said, “I shall free him in a manner of speaking. I shall liberate his spirit if you will!”
He adjusted a control on his hover chair and said, “It is done! Nigal Douglous fancied himself a living sun. Well, it is fitting that I have just caused that human star to go nova in the middle of Legion HQ!”
8
Back at Legion HQ, Sun Emperor’s body had indeed begun to glow and emit heat!
Ultra Man said, “He’s going to explode! I better fly him out of the city at super speed!”
Brainiac 5 said, “Negative! Your speed would not shield you when he went nova! Quantum Lass listen closely! Surround his body completely with one of your stasis shields!”
Quantum Lass stepped closer to the glowing being and concentrated. An energy barrier slowly covered him from head to toe.
“Now, keep him in that zone of null time while I take matters into hand!” said Brainiac 5
He hurried to one wing of his lab and then returned with a special container. He sprayed the gleaming Sun Emperor with a foamy substance and said, “Excellent. Release him. I have suppressed his enhanced energies although I wager the alteration to his body will render him comatose. We shall get no information from him!”
Night Woman said, “That was close. I’d forgotten how quickly you can think!”
Quanto said, “My, you Legionnaires have fun!”
Dream Woman placed one hand on his arm and said, ‘Yes, you could say that!”
Brainiac 5 said, “I would not willingly place you pupils in jeopardy but this is a real crisis. I want you each to do exactly what I tell you to do. Do not disobey me.”
The Legion Academy pupils nodded and expressed their agreement. This was their big chance.
Mr. Mxyztic said, “What’s the plan?”
Brainiac 5 said, “White Witch, I want you to use your spell of similarity. I know how it works from your past uses of it. I scanned Meteor Maid a few moments before because I wanted to confirm my past findings about the nature of her powers! They are indeed exactly like those Thom possessed earlier in his career and now apparently has again!”
Dream Woman said, “Right. I could have told you that. The whole passing through a comet thing was a clue!”
Mysa said, “Easy, Nura. Let him finish!”
Dream Woman said, “Sorry, Brainy. I’m worried about Thom!”
Meteor Maid said, “What should I do, sir?”
Brainiac 6 said, “Just do exactly what my progenitor tells you to do!”
Brainiac 5 said, “I’ll explain all of your roles then Mysa will cast the spell on Meteor Maid that will take us all to the one being in the galaxy with the exact same powers: our possessed friend Thom Kallor the new Star Tsar!”
Back on Borum Goz’s ship the captive Legionnaires were each taking stock of their situation.
Element Man and Cosmic Man each looked down at the wrist bands that sapped all of their powers. Each of them knew one moment of power could shatter or transform the bonds that held them but they could not use their powers!
Lexor Man was thinking furiously. He knew his mind was more of a resource than his shattered armor had ever been. He had to think of a plan. Luthor would have done so. He loathed his ancestor’s villainous ways but he knew deep down that no one or very few beings had ever been as smart as Lex Luthor!
Sun Man frowned as he recalled his defeat. “Anything I do will make Sun Woman that much stronger! I’ve got to find a way to counter her powers!”
Ferro Man felt only despair. He had lost. He had been defeated easily. He had failed his late brother. He didn’t deserve a place on this team of champions. Perhaps, all he could do for them…all he could do to honor Andrew’s memory was to give his life for them in some way! He could do so gladly.
Lighting Man was glaring at his brother. “The Compu-Tyrant may be calling the shots but this is all Mekt’s fault. He started the first Legion of Super Villains with Saturn Queen and Cosmic King and his evil dates back to our childhood. Could Ayla and I have done anything different that would have changed him? Is this my fault? Am I to blame for this mess?”
Polar Man studied the scene carefully. “Those Tornado Tyrants were heroes once. I wonder if they are under some kind of mind control? It seems like the Comp-Tyrant can do anything! “
Color Man glanced over at Nemesis who was talking to Repulse and Chemical Queen. He swallowed hard and prayed once more. Did they have a chance for victory? Surely, they would yet triumph. They always did! Plus, he had one advantage none of them knew about except for Imra!
She had been able to read his mind and the minds of all her captive friends. She just couldn’t read the shielded minds of their foes.
She noticed Xola Ag and shuddered. The evil old crone looked just like Mysa had when she was enchanted years ago! Was this witch a corrupted White Witch?
The Star Tsar strutted around the ship. He was relieved that Gorum Boz had not punished him for his disobedience. Then, he stopped and wondered if some penalty was yet to be inflicted upon him by their mysterious master!
Gorum Boz walked over to the captive heroes and said, “Honored guests, you are witness to my triumphant march to total victory. I had Echo and Xola free some hardened felons. You may recognize Black Mace there for example. You may not realize it but you also know some of my allies. Unmask Star Tsar!”
The Star Tsar took off his mask and revealed Thom Kallor’s familiar features. He grinned wickedly.
“Surprise!’ he cried with a harsh chuckle.
Since Element Lad already knew the Star Tsar was controlling his old pal’s body in some way and Saturn Woman had picked up on this data from Jan’s thoughts and shared it with the others, they were not really shocked. They just hated seeing their friend twisted in such a manner.
Gorum Boz said, ‘Just as I implanted Yark Althu’s personality in Thom Kallor’s body and left his own in the comatose body of the original Althu, so have I placed the Allen Twins in the bodies of two of your old foes: Uli Algor and Kasmir of Thieves World! That is why they now serve me with such…vigor!”
Polar Man scowled as he thought, “I’m still aching from the beating they gave me!”
Some of the thugs Echo had freed from prison were unknown to the Legion but as Boz had mentioned they did know the bald enforcer known as Black Mace. He and the others lined up and two of them supported a hover cot that held the bodies of Yark Althu, ulil Algor, and Kasmir.
“I’ve arranged this little reunion because I am about to place all of your minds in the bodies of these esteemed and newly liberated guests. They will use your powers and personas to join my Legion in abducting and switching the minds of the rulers of every U.P. world. The President of Earth for example shall be replaced by one of my new friends. His mind shall be placed in the President’s body while the real leader shall rest comatose in that villain’s body. In that way my army in which your bodies shall place a vital role will dominate first the United Planets and then invade and rule all of the cosmos!” he said.
He gestured to a machine that Repulse brought forth with his magnetic powers. It was a large square device with a monitor screen and indicator.
“When this red light turns green your minds will be trapped in the comatose bodies of my convicts and they will enjoy having your powers!” he said with a laugh.
“Naturally, my Legion of Super Villains will keep their own forms except for Yark, Uli, and Kasmir who already have their bodies of choice. Plus, dear Xola, shall receive the White Witch’s body in time too!” he continued.
He gestured to his Villains. “Leave the chamber until the transfer is completed.”
They filed out and the heroes were left alone with the escaped cons who would soon take their bodies when the machine’s bright red glow turned green!
Suddenly, the color changed to a brilliant green and the Legionnaire’s noticed the convicts collapse to the ground!
Gorum Boz led his friends into the room and deactivated the power dampening bonds. They fell to the floor as the freed Legionnaires exchanged eager smiles.
He said, “Have you any words of praise for your leader?”
Cosmic Man shouted, “Long Live the Legion! Get them!”
Gorum Boz gasped as he turned to his team. “The machine failed! They are still Legionnaires! The machine just stunned the convict but did not switch their minds!”
Color Man grinned broadly. “Yes! I made the colors change so you’d think the machine was working. It had already been ruined by our ally!”
Nemesis jumped forward and knocked Repulse to the ground.
“That would be me!” he said as he joined the Legion in battle!
9
When Color Man first confronted Nemesis the native of the Alchemist Planet startled him by insisting that he was a changed man who wanted nothing more than to make up for his past misdeeds. He explained that the whole structure of his world was based on change and transformation and that this extended to morality as well. He had merely matured to the point where his own transformation had occurred.
“Let me help you! Pretend to be stunned. I’ll take you to my alleged partners and make sure you are not robbed of your powers. When the time is right, I’ll switch sides and join you. Haven’t you ever felt like no one knew the true you or that everyone misjudged you and what you had to offer?” he had said.
The words had struck a nerve and Color Man related all too readily with the feelings of being unfairly judged by others. So many people felt he didn’t belong with the Legion or that his powers were useless. He had to give Hart Druiter a chance. Thus, once aboard the ship Nemesis had been true to his promise and have never activated the wrist band that was to have suppressed Color Man’s powers!
Nemesis seemed sincere! He dropped Repulse with one punch and then dived for Gorum Boz himself!
The Compu-Tyrant deflected the attack with a force shield as his team battled the heroes!
Sun Man flared up brilliantly and Cosmic King staggered backward. “I can’t see!” he gasped as he realized he could not direct his transmutation powers with his vision!
Sun Man grinned and said, “Yeah, that’s what I had in mind!”
Lighting Man closed in on his brother Lightning Lord as the villain handed his son to his wife.
“This has to end! The hatred has poisoned our family for too long!” cried Garth.
Mekt said, “It shall end today with your funeral pyre!”
Echo reeled backward as Lexorman hurled Sun Woman into him.
Saturn Woman had a very precise goal in mind for her first move. She shielded the younger Saturn Queen from her tormenter’s mental might and smiled as the girl’s eyes widened with relief at her new freedom!
The older Saturn Queen felt the disturbance but was too busy with her son to fight it for the moment. She handed the baby to one of Gorum Boz’s nameless underlings and whirled to face her foes.
“Witch! You will regret this!” shrieked the younger Eve.
Caught between two mental attacks the older Saturn Queen fell back and began to fear her defeat inevitable!
Cosmic Man used his power to send the Star Tsar crashing into Masque by repelling him by his metal belt.
Ferro Man charged directly into battle with a resolve to prove himself!
The tiny ship that housed Gremlin blocked his path and the strange energy being tried to possess the metallic hero and shatter him but feedback stunned him and left him dazed within his ship! He had failed to realize that Ferro Man’s metal body was not armor that he could enter and control!
Chameleon Man shifted shape and became a Tigracat. He pounced on Chemical Queen and knocked her flat before she could use her powers.
Sun Woman smiled as he felt her solar power increase as Sun Man blinded Cosmic King. Her elation was short lived as Lexorman used his gravity power to make her too heavy to move even with her increased strength!
Polar Man had coated the floor with ice and that slowed the Tornado Tyrants down as they prepared to attack!
Element Lad had brought the hover chair that housed Compu-Tyrant crashing to the ground by changing it to a heavy metal!
The Compu-Tyrant remained unharmed as Chameleon Chief caught his master.
Masque regained her footing and raised her hands in the air!
“I command you all to die!” she shouted!
Suddenly, all of the heroes including the seemingly reformed Nemesis collapsed!
The faceless woman strutted forward and said, “See? I really don’t need a Legion. I killed our foes by myself!”
Gorum Boz said, “Indeed you did! Now, revive them immediately. I need their bodies and their powers intact!”
Masque hesitated for a moment as if she was going to rebel but finally with one toss of her long dark hair she obeyed her leader and restored the heroes. They gasped for breath in obvious shock from their experience.
Xola Ag said, “Well done! That little pretty has power that would make dread Mordru shudder!”
Lighting Lord said, “This was too close to a defeat by far! Restore Cosmic King’s sight and secure the heroes! We can not afford any more errors in leadership!”
As Repulse kicked the weakened Nemesis, Gorum Boz said, “I did not expect him to betray us. That was my fault. I will not make that mistake again! Kill Nemesis and secure the others!”
At that moment Brainiac 5 appeared aboard the ship along with his assembled team, the Academy kids and oddly enough several colorfully costumed beings. A weakened Saturn Woman projected a summary of who the villains were and what had happened into his mind! He instantly understood and analysis the situation.
“13th level intelligence would drive any sentient being mad!” he said.
Gorum Boz said, “Lesser men consider their superiors to be mad because their puny minds can’t understand how they think!”
Ultra Man glanced at Brainiac 5 but the genius shook his head.
“Follow the plan!” he said softly.
The battle resumed but the Legionnaires didn’t engage their foes. They rescued their fallen friends and at Color Man’s urging, Nemesis!
Dimension Lass opened a portal and teleported all of them away from the ship while the villains grappled with the unknown beings that had accompanied the known Legionnaires!
Only Brainiac 5 remained behind with these odd beings.
Saturn Queen probed their minds but even her keen mind failed to understand the meaning of what she saw!
“Mystery Lad, Unknown Boy, Sir Prize, Miss Terious, Marvel Lad were all mere disguises used by various Legionnaires in the past! Element Lad was Mystery Lad and Jan Arrah had been right here. That can’t be him in the Mystery Lad costume!” she thought.
The villains were equally confused. They clashed with the newcomers but didn’t know what to do to exactly counter their mysterious powers.
Finally, Gorum Boz raised one hand and fired an energy beam at Brainiac 5. The beam created a crackle of static and Brainiac 5 seemed to shimmer.
“He’s not real. It is some kind of energy projection!” cursed Boz.
Brainiac 5’s projected quanta entity image had come from the remarkable device called the photon inverter that allowed the user to project an energy double across space. The double could see and hear but could not touch or be touched. It allowed him to see and hear everything aboard the enemy ship without risking capture or harm.
Cosmic King said, “What are this things? They are solid enough!”
Saturn Queen said, “They are mindless. They are not living beings but something else entirely!”
Gorum Boz nodded slowly. “They are solid light projections created to occupy us! I am in contact with every part of my ship! Our foes teleported here and out with our captives, revived them, and returned to another section of the ship!”
The villains rushed after their leader as he led them through the spaceship in search of their foes!
Elsewhere in the ship the Legionnaires conferred hastily and thanked Quanto for his aide. He had crafted the solid light beings in the shape of the former Legion alter egos like Sir Prize at Brainiac 5’s urging to fool their foes long enough for the others to rescue their friends and board the hidden ship via the White Witch’s spell that brought them to Thom Kallor’s body which had the same energy powers as those Meteor Maid possessed. The similarity spell had succeeded!
Ultra Man said, “Okay. We freed everyone. Now, let’s get those goons!’
The real Brainiac 5 agreed. He had arrived moments after his energy double faded for view.
“They know where we are. Boz is linked to his ship like Brainiac once was. The battle will begin in moments! Masque must be stopped first!”
Dream Woman said, “What about Thom?”
Mr. Mxyztic said, “We’ll free him and get his body back but we do have to stop Masque first!”
“Too late!” cried the faceless woman as she appeared before the heroes!
“I command you to…!” she began before Mr. Mxyztic silenced her with a spell.
“I can’t hold you long but I defy you and your claim to power! Your father hid behind the name of Mask Man and you hide your name and face! You are no kin of mine. You are nothing!” he shouted.
As she broke free of the cloak of silence spell, she flew forward and shouted, “ Nothing? Nothing? I am Ms. Mxyzptlk! I am your superior! You are the black sheep of the family!”
“Now!” shouted Mr. Mxytic!
Quantum Lass used her limited power over time to force the Imp to relieve the last seconds backward! She flew backward and her previous shout came out in reverse! As she spoke the name Mxyzptlk it came out as Kltpzyxm and to her horror she was banished to the 5th dimension for 90 days!
“Good work! You tricked her into saying her name and then had Jasmin reverse time so it came out bacxkward!” cried Meteor Maid!
Quantum Lass said, “I can’t do that again! Messing with time drains me!”
Mr. Mxyztic said, “You’ve done your part! Now, to handle the other villains!’
10

At that moment Gorum Boz’s resonant voice echoed all through his ship.
“Attention Legionnaires, while you have robbed me of an ally in the form of the lovely but lethal Masque, you have not won this battle. You have a choice. You may continue to oppose me and my Legion or you may save Earth from destruction!”
Element Man said, “I don’t think he makes idle boasts!”
Lightning Man agreed rapidly. “No, he’s dangerous!”
Brainiac 5 said, “I concur! In fact I feel I err in bringing the students here! Having liberated you and given us a chance to gain needed information about exactly who we are facing, I think Dimension Lass should take our pupils back to their training facility on Mars!”
The teens knew better than to argue. In an instant Dimension Lass, Meteor Maid, Quantum Lass, and Brainiac 6 had vanished through one of the space warps created by the powerful pink haired girl.
Gorum Boz continued as they prepared to face his Legion.
“The monitor to your left shows Earth. Notice what approaches it from afar!”
The screen showed a small planet moving through space via some type of sophisticated propulsion system that enabled it to move while retaining atmosphere and not disrupting the orbit of the planets it approached!
“The Lost World! I thought it vanished from known space years ago!” said Chameleon Man.
“It did but it also contained ancient weapons deemed too dangerous to be allowed to remain in U. P. space!” said Cosmic Man.

Gorum Boz said, “Precisely. I secured that planet and those remarkable weapons. You may stay here or stop its relentless march toward Earth!”
Ultra Man said, “We have to go!”
Cosmic Man said, “Right. You, Mxyztic and Jan and I will go after it. The rest of you can deal with the Villains until we return!”
Mr. Mxyztic agreed and with a snap of his fingers he mystically transported the heroes away from the ship of the Compu-Tyrant.
At that moment, the swift Tornado Tyrants charged into view at raced at the heroes.
Lexor Man raised his arms and sent them crashing to the ground with his gravity manipulation. They vibrated through the floor and emerged behind him to attack again!
He grunted in pain but fought on. He concentrated and increased his own mass by internalizing the power. He connected with a blow that knocked Don Allen out and the flurry of blows rained upon him in a blinding blur of motion by Dawn Allen failed to harm his now super dense form.
Repulse send a barrage of jagged metal raining down on them but Sun Man, Fire Man, and Lighting Man destroyed it before it could connect!
As Sun Woman flew in glowing with newly acquired power taken by the sun based heroes she was confronted by Night Woman who put both hands on her hips and defied her old foe.
“You look like the years have been hard on you, Majesty!” she said.
The arrogant Sun Woman stopped and moved closer to the woman who defeated her years before and said, “You can’t defeat me again. This ship has bright lights and you are helplessly in light! Are you stupid enough to forget that weakness!
Lydda Krinn smiled again and suddenly an inky blackness surrounded her body. She was plunged in total darkness as she ran forward and wrestled Sun Woman to the ground. She flipped her over and began to pin her arms behind her back.
“How? “ stammered the shocked Queen as Night Woman knocked her out with a carefully delivered nerve pinch.
Night Woman slipped one of the power dampeners that had fallen from the other Legionnaires back on the deck of the ship and activated it as she bound the cocky woman.
“Brainiac 5 invented a belt that would generate a field of total darkness that shuts out all ultra violet radiation in proximity to my body! It’s like his force field belt but it only shields me from the light that robs me of my super powers! I only wish he had thought of it earlier!” she mused.
Dawn Allen stopped pummeling Luthor’s dense form and her eyes opened wide as her brother moaned from where he had fallen!
“I’m free! I’m myself again!” she gasped.
Luthor was smart and he quickly realized she was telling the truth. Someone had switched the personas for the heroic Tornado Twins back into their own bodies! He wondered if the same thing had happened to the Star Tsar and Thom Kallor!
Dream Woman had worked swiftly to do exactly that. She was far smarter than strangers ever suspected from her somewhat shallow demeanor. She had repaired the machine and made the switches while the others were engaged in battle.
Star Man (Thom Kallor) embraced his wife eagerly and said, “Nura, it was Yark. He ambushed me!”
She placed one finger on her husband’s mouth and said, “I know. Just kiss me!”
The fallen Yark Althu had been rendered comatose by the expertly rewired machine. Even as Nura kissed Thom, she stopped and wondered once more at exactly how she had been guided in fixing the machine. Could it really be true?
Saturn Woman’s keen mind had also detected the secret source of their aide. Her calm demeanor remained unchanged but tears filled her eyes as she scanned the scene of battle.
“It really is them!” she whispered in amazement.
Stone Man had charged at Repulse as the Carggian replicated into three forms and tried to use his magnetic might against the hero. Every razor sharp projectile or blunt instrument he formed from his armor bounced off the durable Stone Man who knew he had a chance of victory if he could close in on his foe.
“You can’t be serious? I can’t lose to Stone Man!” cried Repulse.
Stone Man battered the bigger man’s closest body as Chameleon Man delivered a stunning attack on the other two as a huge Cyberian Metal Eater! He chomped through the armor and revealed the all too vulnerable villain within!
Repulse screamed, “I surrender!” as the Legionnaire forced him to merge back into one form and Stone Man bounded him with power dampener.
Sun Man faced Xola Ag as the old hag chanted some arcane spell!
The air around him became a toxic gas but he held his breath and dived at her before it could harm him.
She shrieked and fled from him as he refused to give her time to cast another spell. She ran directly into the White Witch who stared at her with a look of fear and horror.
“You are the source of my weakness! You aren’t real! You certainly aren’t me!” she whispered as she struggled to cast a spell of her own!
Xola Ag screamed in mortal terror and dropped to her knees before the dainty heroine. “Do not harm me, Great Master!” cried Xola Ag!
The White Witch’s spell broke the spell into magical particles that dissolved at her slipper clad feet. This version of Xola had never been alive. She was merely raw magic given form like a mystical golem!
White Witch said, “What stopped her like that? She just fell down and didn’t put up a fight? Something filled her with great fear!”
Lighting Lord was crackling with energy as he grappled with his brother. They were merely fighting in a physical manner even thought their bodies gleamed with power.
“Garth, you were always an arrogant punk! You’ve had this coming since we were children!” hissed Lighting Lord.
Lighting Man resisted and met superior power with greater skill and precision.
“Anger clouds your judgment. You can’t win if you can’t think clearly!” he declared. He connected with a series of punches and crackled with power and drove his older brother backward.
Gremlin had never recovered from his attempt to animate the living metal Ferro Man and his tiny ship hovered over the battle without moving.
Echo stood over Ferro Man as his sonic bursts brought the hero down.
“You can’t win! Even in that metal body you can hear and see!” shouted the weird villain.
Ferro Man groaned and lurched to his feet. He was dizzy and he was hurting but he thought of Andrew and fought onward!
Echo blinked in surprise as the battered hero relentlessly moved closer and closer and finally connected with a desperate blow that flattened the other man.
“That was for you, Andrew!” he whispered as he dropped to his knees to rest.
Gorum Boz also had plenty of ordinary criminals as his gang. They fired laser pistols at the heroes but one by one they fell as Polar Man, Fire Man, Stone Man, and Lexor Man subdued them with ease.
The battle raged through the ship and finally the main deck contained only Cosmic King, Chameleon Chief, Saturn Queen, and a badly beaten Lighting Lord.
The Compu-Tyrant faced Saturn Woman, Lightning Man, Brainiac 5, the younger Saturn Queen, and Nemesis with his few remaining allies!
He remained calm even defiant in what appeared to be certain defeat!
“It is over!” declared Saturn Woman!
He smiled at the pretty Titanian and said, “Is it? I admit you’ve thwarted my use of the persona machine and in time your friends will undoubtedly stop the Lost World from destroying Earth but you forget that you are badly outmatched by my power!”
Lighting Man said, “Are you joking? Mekt can barely stand. Saturn Woman can’t handle Imra and her younger self!”
The younger Eve Aries glared at her tormentor with a look of hate. If she could get out of this nightmare she would make certain they could never hurt her again!
Saturn Queen placed one hand on her husband as she glanced over to where a servant held their son Riyance.
“They are winning! Are you too arrogant to see that?” she hissed.
Gorum Boz said, “Hold your tongue, woman! I am hardly in the mood for your rebellious ways!”
Cosmic King shouted, “What do you mean? My eyes have not yet fully recovered from that infernal light being’s attack!”
“I believe he means me!” said Quanto who suddenly popped into view.
Brainiac 5 said, “We offer you a chance to surrender now!”
The Compu-Tyrant was mad. Brainiac 5 knew that in acquiring 13th level intelligence he had clearly damaged his mind. Still, he was certainly not stupid. Why was he so confident in what appeared to be defeat?
Gorum Boz placed one hand on Chameleon Chief’s arm.
“You poor deluded fool. You can’t beat me until you beat my most devoted ally!” he shouted,
Lightning Man said, “The shape shifter can’t beat us all. He’s lost time and time again!”
Gorum Boz said, ‘Don’t be fooled by the guise he wears. He is not Chameleon Chief and as you’ll soon see….he has NEVER been beaten!’
Imra still could not read any of their minds but her own expression of shock and horror made her feeling all too clear for anyone else to see as Chameleon Chief’s orange skin alien form shimmered and became a handsome humanoid in a legendary red and blue costume and cape!
“Superman!” she gasped in dismay!
11
“That can’t be Superman!’ said Lightning Man.
Gorum Boz laughed and said, “No, he is not but you’ll forgive me for having a little amusement at your expense! You do know him though or someone like him. He has been called the Composite Superman among other names! I plucked him from the past and enlisted him as my aide. He posed as Chameleon Chief at my request!”
Saturn Queen said, “You’re the alien with all of the power our foes possess!”
The fake Superman’s form altered once more and he changed to a humanoid whose body was roughly divided in half with one side dressed like Batman and the other still resembling Superman. His skin was a bright green.
“He is a human named Joe Meach and he is very susceptible to my will since when I restored his powers I also removed one of the Legionnaire statues from which his powers originated! He lacks Brainiac 5’s intellect and in fact perhaps due to the fact that he is channeling powers copied from so many alien beings, he is very obedient to my will!” said Gorum Boz.
Gorum Boz said, “Your friends won’t disturb us. I sealed the deck from them. After we finish with you, we shall eliminate the others!”
Lighting Lord smiled bitterly. “Excellent! Now, let’s end this little game!”
Lighting Man said, “Fine with me!”
At a nod from Gorum Boz the Composite Superman flew forward with blazing bolts of lighting and solar energy radiating from each hand!
The Legionnaires dodged the initial attack but his speed was incredible and he was upon them in seconds even as the other villains closed in from all around the deck.
Nemesis jumped forward and grabbed him.
“I can counter his powers!” he declared. Amazingly enough the reformed villain’s own body became increasingly invulnerable in response to the foe’s powers.
He pounded back as they exchanged blows and Joe Meach switched abilities and grew to a larger size. He also replicated into two other bodies via his Triplicate Girl powers and each hulking form battered Nemesis!
“Your powers do not work on more than one attacker! Just as the original Duo Damsel once beat you by this ploy so shall my loyal Composite Superman!” gloated Gorum Boz as Nemesis fell beneath the merciless assault!
Brainiac 5 projected his force field around the inured native of Myar but he knew this could only buy him a few moments at best.
Saturn Woman projected her own mental might at Cosmic King and managed to cause him to release a beam of power in the path of the Compu-Tyrant but the alien’s own force field shielded him.
Lighting Man again faced off with his warped brother in a duel of blazing bolts of lightning!
The Composite Superman passed through the force field and ignited Nemesis with Element Man’s powers!
“Your new ally is dying! He picked the wrong side of this battle!” gloated the Compu-Tyrant.
Quanto used several of his solid light forms to occupy a furious Cosmic King.
The younger Saturn Woman focused all of her power on her evil double and the wicked woman buckled under the strain.
Suddenly, four amazing figures appeared and joined the battle! Friend and foe alike gazed at them in wonder. Imra had detected their thoughts before but even she was moved but the sight of three previously lost friends!
Shadow Woman had perished saving the Science Asteroid from a Khundish Death Drone but no body had been found after the explosion and Queen Projectra, Karate King, and Invisible Man had merely vanished while on a routine mission years before. They had never been located in the years since their mysterious disappearance.
Now, all four Legionnaires were on the ship and battling the Composite Superman.
Brainiac 5 understood it all but he was moved as well as his friends were. Clearly, all four of them had been plucked from precise moments in the past and brought here!
Gourm Boz scowled at the new development.
“How can this be? You all died long ago!” he said.
Karate King lashed out at one of Composite Superman’s bodies as his wife Queen Projectra used her powers of illusion to slow another of the bodies.
“We just found ourselves here. Jeckie concealed us and we helped as we could! Lyle fixed that body switching machine and helped Nura use it on Thom and the Tornado Twins! He also broke into the ship’s controls and halted the Lost Planet for now!” said Karate King.
Gorum Boz shouted, “It would take a true genius to do all that!”
Brainiac 5 smiled and said, “Lyle Norg is a genius! I should have said that more often to him!”
Invisible Man smiled back and said, “Thanks, Brainy! That means a lot coming from you!”
Brainiac 5 said, “I took a risk and sent a probe into the time stream!”
Gorum Boz watched as Lighting Lord began to falter before his sibling’s skillful attack and Saturn Queen reeled to one side on her high heels as Imra and the younger Queen began to wear her down.
“I intercepted your S.O.S. to the past! The real Superman and Supergirl won’t be coming here to save you!” he said.
Brainiac 5 said, “I never said I sent my probe into the past. I sent it to the end of time and that explains how our lost friends were plucked from the past and brought here to thwart you!”
Cosmic King said, “What are you saying?” He looked a bit pale as he spoke.
“He means he send a message to me and I answered by bring the lost legionnaires through time to this moment. I did it for amusement since I plan to beat you all myself, old friends!” said a newcomer who popped into view.
He was a dark haired man in a purple hooded robe.
“The Time Trapper! Vorm the Dynamo Kid!” hissed Mekt as he recognized the villain he and his partners had stranded in time once before. He had gained amazing powers over time and used them to punish the three villains in various ways.
“Yes, you recall me. You betrayed me and I am here to make you pay. First, Meach, you lose those powers if you don’t recharge them in a certain period of time. I just made that time run out for you! You are a plain human again”! he said.
The Composite Superman shuddered and changed into a frail and frightening looking man.
‘Where am I?” he whispered.
“Rather, ask when are you! You are back in your proper time with no memory of this little detour!” said the Time Trapper as he sent the confused man through time.
Gorum Boz gasped as the world became a blur around him.
“I slowed his reactions down. He can not think, speak, move or do anything except at a fraction of normal speed. He may as well be dead since all of time is now a speeding blur to his dazed senses!” said the Time Trapper.
He turned to the others and waved one hand.
The younger Saturn Queen vanished.
“I sent the poor dear back to her timeline and granted her a private request I sensed in my mind!” he said.
The Legionnaires helped the badly injured Nemesis as best they could as their friends broke into the deck at last and gazed in shock at the sight of their rescued allies!
The Time Trapper raised both hands and energy surrounded Lightning Lord, Cosmic King, and Saturn Queen!
“I banish you three to the ends of the time stream as you once tried to do to me!” he said with a laugh.
They vanished seconds after Saturn Woman secured Riyance. She held the baby in her arms as his mother and father and Cosmic King vanished helplessly!
The Time Trapper turned to the heroes and said, “We shall meet again and it shall not be as allies! There is no rush for revenge on my part since I have all the time I need!”
He vanished as well and the heroes took stock of the situation.
“Monitors show Element Lad, Cosmic Man, Ultra Man, and Mr. Mxyztic managed to divert the Lost World by using their combined powers to reduce its size.
Shadow Woman’s eyes widened with pleasure as she looked at the monitor screen that showed the returning heroes!
“They had some help! Mon-El joined them!” she cried.
Indeed, Mon-El the heroic Legionnaire who devoted his life to space exploration and received a summons and responded in the neck of time. He would be thrilled to be reunited with his own lost love Shadow Woman!
As Brainiac 5 looked at the motionless Gorum Boz, he said, “Fascinating. I shall try to cure his condition. It will be a real challenge for me and Brainiac 6!”
Lighting Man joined his wife and looked down on the small baby in her arms.
“Imra, we have to take care of him. We can’t let him turn out like his parents! It may be my way of making up for how Mekt went so wrong!” he said.
Imra nodded as she gazed down at the small infant. There would be hope for his future.
LexorMan said, “What about the Time Trapper? He could strike at any moment!”
Brainiac 5 said, “Whenever he returns, there shall be a Legion to oppose him. I don’t need Nura’s powers to know that!”
Epilogue
Later, Lightning Man and Saturn Woman waved goodbye to their friends as they boarded a small flyer with Riyance.
“With Jeckie, Val, Lyle, Tasmia, and Lar back on the team, they won’t need us. We owe it to Riyance to make a real life for him away from peril and strife!” said Imra.
Garth nodded and said, “Plus, Rokk says Lydda is joining the team too!”
“All the Villains have been secured and Brainy said his sensors found no trace of Mekt, Eve, or Cosmic King. They really were lost in the time stream!” said Imra.
“Nemesis will recover too. He may become a real hero in his own right!”
“Thom is not rejoining the team even though he regained his original powers. I wish him well though. He and the Tornado Twins had a rough time. Perhaps, one of the twins may join the Legion now too!” said Garth.
They looked back at the Legion Plaza and smiled at one another.
“Like Brainy said, people may come and go but there will always be a Legion of Super Heroes!” said Imra.
The End