Legion of Super Heroes #16
“Man of the Hour”

By Rouge2




“You’ve got to be Sprockin’ kidding me!”

Freshly minted Science Police Chief Kimball Zendak stared calmly at the indignant young woman in front of him.

“I assure you Officer Erin, I am quite serious.”

Shvaughn Erin slammed her fists into Zendak’s desk, her nostrils flared and her eyes were wild with anger.

“But sir,” she cried, “I was just awarded a medal of distinction for my efforts in the Earthwar!”

“Yes, for working with the Legion to stop Mordru…”

“Then why punish me by saddling me with those sqajs’ anymore than--”

“Officer Erin,” Zendak interrupted sternly, “The United Planets have chosen to recognize the Legion’s efforts in the Earthwar by granting them official status as a sanctioned Crisis Response Unit. As such they require a Science Police Liaison. Given your recent history, there is no one more qualified…”

“But Sir--”

“That is enough, Officer!” Zendak stood to face the hot-headed young woman. “I could frankly give a flying nass about your opinion in the matter. I have an entire planet that is under reconstruction, an Earthgov that’s all but wiped out and a decimated Police force to rebuild. I could care less about my predecessor’s problems with the Legion. I’ll take all the help I can get right now, and you’ll facilitate that. Are we clear?”

“Yes sir.”

“Good. A Legion representative will meet you in the lobby. Dismissed.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Shvaughn grumbled to herself the whole turbo-lift ride to the lobby. This was not the plumb assignment she had envisioned herself getting. While she grudgingly admitted to herself that the Legion had fought well and even bravely against the forces of Mordru, they were still little more that a band of under-aged hooligans. This new affiliation with the U.P. wasn’t sitting well with the rank and file members of the Science Police, and she was definitely not going to get any favorable treatment being the officer assigned to baby sit them.

The lift came to an abrupt halt, and she exited the tube. It took her exactly one nanosecond to identify her contact: he was the one everyone in the lobby was keeping a minimum of forty feet distance from. He was also the only Durlan within several light years’ distance.

“Chameleon Boy,” she said curtly.

“Ah, Officer Erin. Nice to meet you,” the alien said jovially extending his hand.

Shvaughn recoiled slightly. Despite time spent with these delinquents, she still couldn’t come to grips with their pre-disposition for actual physical contact with other individuals. She took a deep breath and clasped his hand in a perfunctory manner as briefly as possible.

The Legionnaire was nearly as tall as she was, although the orange antenna protruding from his forehead technically made him taller. His face was smooth and nearly featureless except for the pointed ears and wide, toothy smile. His costume was a mix of red and purple, with the exception of the black band around his right bicep. An affectation all the Legionnaires were sporting to remember the sacrifice of their fallen comrades in the Earthwar.

Of course, his appearance was all a façade, as the shape-shifting alien could look like anything it wanted. Even its clothing wasn’t real. Shvaughn shuddered slightly. She had just shook hands with a naked alien.

“Shall we go? A sky-jumper will be picking us up outside.”

“Yes, of course.”

As they left the lobby to stand outside, the few people that passed gave them a wide berth, with looks of obvious disgust directed at the Durlan. He seemed oblivious and chatted away with the officer.

“I know many of your colleagues are probably upset with our new affiliation,” he commented, “and obviously this hasn’t gone over well within our membership either, but I’m really looking forward to working closely with the S.P.”

Shvaughn frowned. “Really, why is that?”

“I personally respect keepers of Law and Order. Coming from a world as chaotic and lawless as Durla, I can greatly appreciate the role a proper police force can play in society.”

Noticing Shvaughn’s raised eyebrow, he laughed. “We’re not raving anarchists, you know. Well, not all of us, anyway.”

“Funny - you seem intent on bringing the entire fabric of the U.P. down.”

“Not true. We’re trying to break the oppression that under-agers face and foster a new, more open society.”

“Not everyone would see that as a distinction.”

“What about you, Officer Erin?”

Shvaughn chewed her words over a little and against her judgment stated her actual opinion. “In the Science Police, we train long and hard to be able to interact with others on a daily basis. You people not only do it openly and often, you seem to really enjoy it. Doesn’t that strike you as unnatural and just not very… wholesome?”

“Just the opposite. It’s been years of social conditioning that have led people to avoid interaction and meaningful relationships. The tipping point is coming when Earth will swing back to a more tolerant and interactive society again.”

Shvaughn shook her head and was about to respond when a sky-jumper roared into the plaza area coming to a screeching halt before them. The doors to the small transport vehicle opened and they stepped inside.

Triplicate Girl sat at the helm, the navigation console and the communication station. One of the three identical triplicates of the young Carggite turned to the newcomers.

“Hi Cham. Officer.” The addressing of Shvaughn was dripping in sarcasm and disdain. Shvaughn barely had time to strap in before the sky-jumper roared back into the sky, roughly jolting the Science Police Officer around.

“More open and tolerant my a**,” she grumbled.

“Where are we heading, Lu?”

“Time Institute. Brainy’s meeting with some suits about the Supergirl situation. Cos wanted us there in case something goes wrong.”

“Are you expecting something to go wrong?” shouted Shvaughn over the Engine roar.

“Its Brainiac 5 in a laboratory. Odds are something will explode,” chuckled Cham.

“Besides,” responded one of the Triplicates, “I’m sure Cos wants to look important with the election coming up and all.”

“Election?”

“Our annual Leadership Election is coming up, and Cosmic Boy’s popularity took a hit after he accepted the deal from…. you people.”

“Wait, your going to change leaders? Based on a vote?”

“You got it.” Snarked Triplicate Girl, “Maybe we should call you Brainiac.”

“But who’s running against Cosmic Boy?”

“Just about everyone. Why don’t you ask the Legionnaire next to you.”

Shvaugn turned to Cham. “You?”

Cham grinned sheepishly.

“But will people actually vote for… you know… a Durlan?”

“I can think of no better way to change the image of my race than to take such a prominent role.”

Shvaugn sighed. This was going to be one hell of a report to fill out.

They arrived at the time institute - a sprawling techno-city unto itself. It had miraculously survived the Earthwar more or less intact. The Legionnaires disembarked from the jumper and entered the complex.

The reception area was a massive atrium, easily the size of a football field with turbo lifts and transport tubes snaking their way off to distant parts of the Institute. In the centre of the foyer was a large golden statue of Rip Hunter, father of Chronal Theory. He seemed to stare down at all visitors with a warm and inviting smile.

“Legionnaires,” squawked one of the Avian receptionists, “the Chronarch is waiting for you. Please take Transport Tube B”.

Chameleon Boy, Triplicate Girl and Officer Erin entered the capsule in the tube and were immediately whisked through the bowels of the institute, coming to rest almost instantaneously in the main lab of the Institute’s Chronarch, Circadia Senius. The insectoid administrator was currently conferring with Brainac 5 and Cosmic Boy in the centre of the Lab. Supergirl, Kid Quantum and Lightning Lad were milling around to the side. Cham and the others sidled up to Supergirl’s crew.

“What’s the news?” asked Cham.

“It’s hard to say,” grumbled Kid Quantum. “Between Brainy’s techno babble and Garth’s incessant campaigning, I haven’t been able to understand a sprockin’ thing.”

“Hey,” said Lightning Lad, “I was just telling Jasmin how if I were elected--”

“Save it. Please,” groaned Kid Quantum. “If I have to hear it again I’m going to go into meltdown.”

“They ran a bunch of tests,” said Supergirl. “I think they’re trying to sort out the results.”

“K-K-K-Quite K-K-correct, Supergirl,” responded Circadia, turning to face the group. “It would appear Supergirl’s K-K-K-Chronoton Levels are K-K-K-consistant with the jump forward in time she took-K-K-K.”

“So does that mean you can get me home?”

“It’s not that simple,” replied Brainaic 5, “In the past thousand years no one’s been able to reproduce Rip Hunter’s work and create any sort of consistently viable form of Time Travel. In fact, in the last two hundred years, no one’s been able to move anything through time at all.”

“Oh,” Said Supergirl sadly.

“But,” he continued, “no one of my unparalleled intellect has tackled the problem, either.”

“Oh, grife!” moaned Kid Quantum.

Supergirl smiled. “Thanks, Brainy, that’s sweet.”

Brainiac 5 turned quickly back to his console to hide his blushing.

“But more important is the other signal,” said Circadia.

“What other signal?” asked Cham.

“Supergirl has an excess of K-K-K-Chronotons, but they are cirK-K-Kcling her in a repeat pattern.”

“Meaning what, exactly?”

“Circadia and I have theorized that the Chronoton pattern attached to Supergirl is actually the original target of the Time Travel attempt.”

“Original target?” frowned Supergirl. “Brainy, you’ve lost me.”

“I believe that when you were… attacked, your body was actually reduced to Chronoton particles. They would have eventually responded to Entropic forces and drifted towards the end of time, except there was an unusually strong Chronal Event near your location at roughly the same time. Your particles were attracted to the signal and attached themselves to it, in a way, displacing the original. That’s why Computo was so surprised to see Supergirl. He had expected something else entirely.”

“Wait,” interrupted Cos, “So what happened to the original time traveler?”

“It’s linked to Supergirl. The signal’s weak, but it is possible to re-constitute it.”

“So there’s been a time traveler living in my body these past few weeks?”

“In a manner of speaking, yes.”

“Kal…” said Supergirl under her breath.

“So how do we find out what this signal was…?”

Brainiac pushed a button on the console and turned to face the others. “We pull it out.”

A sphere of electrical energy formed in the centre of the Lab.

“Brainy, wait!” shouted Cos. But all of their voices were drowned out by the roar as a huge discharge shook the room. Portions of both the north and south walls collapsed and several pieces of equipment began to spark.

“Are you out of your mind?” shouted Cos, “You have no idea--”

“A heartbeat!” cried Kara, racing towards the southern breach. She frantically pulled rubble off of the man who was just thrown through the wall.

“Unhhh…” he groaned.

“Here, let me help you up,” she said, holding out her hand.

“S..S… Supergirl?” said the costumed figure, surprised.

“Hourman?” said an equally dumbfounded Supergirl.

“K-K-K-Chronoton readings off the scale,” chirped Circadia.

“What, the heck’s that?” said Rick Tyler, trying to gain his bearings.

“It’s okay, he’s friendly.”

“But where are we? What’s going on? They said you were dead….”

“They did? Oh no. Listen, it’s a long story. What’s the last thing you remember.”

“I was with the JSA in the Siege Tower and I was fighting…. Uh-oh!”

At the opposite end of the room a second figure emerged. His cold dispassionate eyes scanned the room as he sized up his situation.

“Little worm,” he growled, “I don’t know where you’ve taken me, but I thank you.”

Suddenly the equipment in the room began to move, seemingly of its own accord.

“You’ve given me so many tools to kill you with.”

Before the Legionnaires’ eyes the technology around them began to morph and mold into threatening constructs.

“Robotican?” asked Cos.

“No, this is something different,” responded Brainiac 5, “He seems to be animating the technology with his mind.”

“His name’s Baron Bedlam,’ said Hourman, “He’s one of Darkseid’s lackeys.”

“Then we shut him down, quickly!” said Supergirl clenching her fists.

“Let’s go Legionnaires!”
_____________________________________

The Legion of Super Heroes:

R CJ Cosmic Boy - 45
R Unl Supergirl - 108
R Chameleon - 30
R Triplicate Girl - 35
Shvaughn Erin (R Science Police) - 14
V CJ Live Wire - 50
E Brainiac 5* - 52
E Kid Quantum** - 61

R Hourman - 65

* w/ Brilliant Tactician - 20
** w/ Stunning Blow - 10

Total: 490

Vs.

Baron Bedlam and Automatons:

Baron Bedlam (R Av Captain America) 95
Transport Automaton (V Robot) - 92
Crusher Automaton (E Robotman) - 82
Fiery Automaton (Toro) - 64
Flying automaton (E Sentinel Trooper) - 25
Automaton Sentry A (E Dreadnought) - 36
Automaton Sentry B (E Dreadnought) - 36
Automaton Sentry C (R Dreadnought) - 30
Automaton Sentry D (R Dreadnought) - 30

Total: 490

Map: STAR Labs (Time Institute - 30th Century)

Oooooh, finally had the time to read through all the stories. Awesome!! I smell a crossover!!

Here be me rolls:

Init: 4, 5
Objects: 3, 6

Anyone wanna villain for me? Pwetty Pwease?

Not a problem. I will villian for you.

Initiative 2,3=5
Objects 5,5=10

I am going to assume that V Robot was supposed to be V Robotman.

Nope, Robot from the Invincible set.

Cool, thanks for villaining ALC!

I'll pick the top..hopefully the maps are the same on Cyberboard as on the creationmatrix ones...if you're using creationmatrix...just let me know if you are or not

_____________________________________

The Legion of Super Heroes:

R CJ Cosmic Boy - 45 B14
R Unl Supergirl - 108 B13
R Chameleon - 30 B12
R Triplicate Girl - 35 B16
Shvaughn Erin (R Science Police) - 14 B17
V CJ Live Wire - 50 B15
E Brainiac 5* - 52 B11
E Kid Quantum** - 61 A14

R Hourman - 65 A15

* w/ Brilliant Tactician - 20
** w/ Stunning Blow - 10

Total: 490

Vs.

Baron Bedlam and Automatons:

Baron Bedlam (R Av Captain America) 95
Transport Automaton (V Robot) - 92
Crusher Automaton (E Robotman) - 82
Fiery Automaton (Toro) - 64
Flying automaton (E Sentinel Trooper) - 25
Automaton Sentry A (E Dreadnought) - 36
Automaton Sentry B (E Dreadnought) - 36
Automaton Sentry C (R Dreadnought) - 30
Automaton Sentry D (R Dreadnought) - 30

Total: 490

HO: J15,
LO: J10, N16

Map: STAR Labs (Time Institute - 30th Century)

Well . . . as much fun as charging across that vast emptyness at your team would be (wonder where Hourman is?). I think I will have to be a bit more subtle than that.

The Legion of Super Heroes:

R CJ Cosmic Boy - 45 B14
R Unl Supergirl - 108 B13
R Chameleon - 30 B12
R Triplicate Girl - 35 B16
Shvaughn Erin (R Science Police) - 14 B17
V CJ Live Wire - 50 B15
E Brainiac 5* - 52 B11
E Kid Quantum** - 61 A14

R Hourman - 65 A15

* w/ Brilliant Tactician - 20
** w/ Stunning Blow - 10

Total: 490

Vs.

Baron Bedlam and Automatons:

Baron Bedlam (R Av Captain America) 95 X9
Transport Automaton (V Robot) - 92 W8
Crusher Automaton (E Robotman) - 82 X8
Fiery Automaton (Toro) - 64 X7
Flying automaton (E Sentinel Trooper) - 25 W7
Automaton Sentry A (E Dreadnought) - 36 X5
Automaton Sentry B (E Dreadnought) - 36 X6
Automaton Sentry C (R Dreadnought) - 30 W5
Automaton Sentry D (R Dreadnought) - 30 W6

Total: 490

HO: J15, K8, H5
LO: J10, N16, I9

Map: STAR Labs (Time Institute - 30th Century)

Actually, Robot's a double based figure, so which two squares did you want him to be in?

Make it

Transport Automaton (V Robot) - 92 W8-W9

Okay cool..here comes my first turn:

Turn 1A

1. Cosmic Boy will fly to I10.

2. Hourman will run to C14.

3. Supergirl will pick up Hourman and fly to I14 to pick up the HO in J15 and finish flying to I11, placing Hourman in H11.

4. Live Wire will fly to I9

5. Triplicate Girl will pick up Shvaughn and fly to J10, placing Shvaughn in J11.

The Legion of Super Heroes:

1. R CJ Cosmic Boy - 45 I10 @
2. R Unl Supergirl - 108 I11 w/HO @
3. R Chameleon - 30 B12
4. R Triplicate Girl - 35 J10 @
5. Shvaughn Erin (R Science Police) - 14 J11
6. V CJ Live Wire - 50 I9 @
7. E Brainiac 5* - 52 B11
8. E Kid Quantum** - 61 A14

9. R Hourman - 65 H11 @

* w/ Brilliant Tactician - 20
** w/ Stunning Blow - 10

Total: 490

Vs.

Baron Bedlam and Automatons:

1. Baron Bedlam (R Av Captain America) 95 X9
2. Transport Automaton (V Robot) - 92 W8/W9
3. Crusher Automaton (E Robotman) - 82 X8
4. Fiery Automaton (Toro) - 64 X7
5. Flying automaton (E Sentinel Trooper) - 25 W7
6. Automaton Sentry A (E Dreadnought) - 36 X5
7. Automaton Sentry B (E Dreadnought) - 36 X6
8. Automaton Sentry C (R Dreadnought) - 30 W5
9. Automaton Sentry D (R Dreadnought) - 30 W6

Total: 490

HO: Supergirl, K8, H5
LO: J10, N16, I9

Map: STAR Labs (Time Institute - 30th Century)

Turn 1b
1) Transport Automaton (Robot) Perplexes his movement to 11, picks up Baron Bedlam and moves to Q6-P5, setting the Baron down in P6.

2) Automaton Sentry B (E Dreadnought) moves to T8.

3) Automaton Sentry C (R Dreadnought) moves to R8.

4) Automaton Sentry D (R Dreadnought) moves to W12.

The Legion of Super Heroes:

1. R CJ Cosmic Boy - 45 I10 @
2. R Unl Supergirl - 108 I11 w/HO @
3. R Chameleon - 30 B12
4. R Triplicate Girl - 35 J10 @
5. Shvaughn Erin (R Science Police) - 14 J11
6. V CJ Live Wire - 50 I9 @
7. E Brainiac 5* - 52 B11
8. E Kid Quantum** - 61 A14

9. R Hourman - 65 H11 @

* w/ Brilliant Tactician - 20
** w/ Stunning Blow - 10

Total: 490

Vs.

Baron Bedlam and Automatons:

1. Baron Bedlam (R Av Captain America) 95 P6
2. Transport Automaton (V Robot) - 92 Q6/P5 @
3. Crusher Automaton (E Robotman) - 82 X8
4. Fiery Automaton (Toro) - 64 X7
5. Flying automaton (E Sentinel Trooper) - 25 W7
6. Automaton Sentry A (E Dreadnought) - 36 X5
7. Automaton Sentry B (E Dreadnought) - 36 T8 @
8. Automaton Sentry C (R Dreadnought) - 30 R8 @
9. Automaton Sentry D (R Dreadnought) - 30 W12 @

Total: 490

HO: Supergirl, K8, H5
LO: J10, N16, I9

Map: STAR Labs (Time Institute - 30th Century)

Sorry for no story posts...if I had more time, I'd write something. Hopefully later I will.

Turn 2A

1. Chameleon will move to H10

2. Brainy will move to H12

3. Kid Q will move to H9

4. Hourman will push to run in place. He takes a push click and powers up.

Oh and all of the wildcards will copy the JSA TA and copy Triplicate Girl's 17 DV.

The Legion of Super Heroes:

1. R CJ Cosmic Boy - 45 I10
2. R Unl Supergirl - 108 I11 w/HO
3. R Chameleon - 30 H10 @
4. R Triplicate Girl - 35 J10
5. Shvaughn Erin (R Science Police) - 14 J11
6. V CJ Live Wire - 50 I9
7. E Brainiac 5* - 52 H12 @
8. E Kid Quantum** - 61 H9 @

9. R Hourman - 65 (6/7) H11 @@

* w/ Brilliant Tactician - 20
** w/ Stunning Blow - 10

Total: 490

Vs.

Baron Bedlam and Automatons:

1. Baron Bedlam (R Av Captain America) 95 P6
2. Transport Automaton (V Robot) - 92 Q6/P5 @
3. Crusher Automaton (E Robotman) - 82 X8
4. Fiery Automaton (Toro) - 64 X7
5. Flying automaton (E Sentinel Trooper) - 25 W7
6. Automaton Sentry A (E Dreadnought) - 36 X5
7. Automaton Sentry B (E Dreadnought) - 36 T8 @
8. Automaton Sentry C (R Dreadnought) - 30 R8 @
9. Automaton Sentry D (R Dreadnought) - 30 W12 @

Total: 490

HO: Supergirl, K8, H5
LO: J10, N16, I9

Map: STAR Labs (Time Institute - 30th Century)

I don't have a lot of time now either, so I understand.

turn 2b.
1) Fiery Automaton (Toro) moves to T7.

2) Flying automaton (E Sentinel Trooper) picks up Crusher Automaton (E Robotman) and moves to T6. Setting Crusher in T5.

3) Automaton Sentry A (E Dreadnought) moves to S8.

The Legion of Super Heroes:

1. R CJ Cosmic Boy - 45 I10
2. R Unl Supergirl - 108 I11 w/HO
3. R Chameleon - 30 H10 @
4. R Triplicate Girl - 35 J10
5. Shvaughn Erin (R Science Police) - 14 J11
6. V CJ Live Wire - 50 I9
7. E Brainiac 5* - 52 H12 @
8. E Kid Quantum** - 61 H9 @

9. R Hourman - 65 (6/7) H11 @@

* w/ Brilliant Tactician - 20
** w/ Stunning Blow - 10

Total: 490

Vs.

Baron Bedlam and Automatons:

1. Baron Bedlam (R Av Captain America) 95 P6
2. Transport Automaton (V Robot) - 92 Q6/P5
3. Crusher Automaton (E Robotman) - 82 T5
4. Fiery Automaton (Toro) - 64 T7 @
5. Flying automaton (E Sentinel Trooper) - 25 T6 @
6. Automaton Sentry A (E Dreadnought) - 36 S8 @
7. Automaton Sentry B (E Dreadnought) - 36 T8
8. Automaton Sentry C (R Dreadnought) - 30 R8
9. Automaton Sentry D (R Dreadnought) - 30 W12

Total: 490

HO: Supergirl, K8, H5
LO: J10, N16, I9

Map: STAR Labs (Time Institute - 30th Century)

Well lets see what you have.

Hello? Anyone there?

Ack! Sorry was gone for the whole weekend then had to go out of town for work on Monday and Tuesday. Will post in a few....

Turn 3A

1. Brainy will push to fly to M15.

(free) he'll outwit Toughness on Sentry B

2. Triplicate Girl will pick up Shvaughn and fly to M14, placing Shvaughn in N14.

3. Cosmic Boy will TK Supergirl to S9.

4. She'll take a swing on Sentry B. AV 9 vs DV 15. Roll is a 4, 4. That's a hit for 5 clicks and the Sentry's knocked back into the wall for another click and the KO.

[8]The Legion of Super Heroes:

[]1. R CJ Cosmic Boy - 45 I10 @
[8]2. R Unl Supergirl - 108 S9 @
[]3. R Chameleon - 30 H10
[]4. R Triplicate Girl - 35 M14 @
[]5. Shvaughn Erin (R Science Police) - 14 N14
[]6. V CJ Live Wire - 50 I9
[]7. E Brainiac 5* - 52 (4/5) M15 @@
[]8. E Kid Quantum** - 61 H9

[]9. R Hourman - 65 (6/7) H11

* w/ Brilliant Tactician - 20
** w/ Stunning Blow - 10

Total: 490

Vs.

Baron Bedlam and Automatons:

1. Baron Bedlam (R Av Captain America) 95 P6
2. Transport Automaton (V Robot) - 92 Q6/P5
3. Crusher Automaton (E Robotman) - 82 T5
4. Fiery Automaton (Toro) - 64 T7 @
5. Flying automaton (E Sentinel Trooper) - 25 T6 @
6. Automaton Sentry A (E Dreadnought) - 36 (6/6) S8 @
7. Automaton Sentry B (E Dreadnought) - 36 KO'ed!
8. Automaton Sentry C (R Dreadnought) - 30 (5/5) R8
9. Automaton Sentry D (R Dreadnought) - 30 (5/5) W12

Total: 490

HO: Supergirl, K8, H5
LO: J10, N16, I9

Map: STAR Labs (Time Institute - 30th Century)