Legionnaires: Star Boy

Burning Hatred

by Libbylawrence

Dirk (Sun Boy) Morgna smiled as he caught Robyn staring at him. He considered giving the pretty secretary a wink but at that moment Dean Olinger opened his office door and greeted the young Legionnaire with his customary warmth.

“Mr. Morgna, please come inside. I appreciate your willingness to stop by like this. I am well aware of how busy your schedule is!” said the benign looking old man.

Dirk shrugged and said, “Well, unless the Khunds decide to invade or Mordru pops up, things are rather calm right now!”

He slipped into an office chair with his normal ease and grace and leaned back confidently to hear Dean Olinger’s reason for summoning him.

“Say, I hope this isn’t about the media again! I figured my skipping the doctoral ceremony on Friday would reduce the chance that Marella Tao and the others would swoop down and mess things up for the other graduates!” he said with a concerned look on his handsome face.

Dean Olinger shook his head and said, “No, nothing like that. I’m just sorry your celebrity status will interfere with the just and proper celebration of your academic achievements. You’ve been a remarkable student and you’ll be a real credit to the field of nuclear physics, Mr. or should I say, Dr. Morgna!”

Dirk grinned and said, ” Dr. Morgna still sounds a bit odd to me. Having fans is a rather pleasurable benefit of being a Legionnaire. Of course, the real reward is just being of service to normal folks across the cosmos!”

Dean Olinger said, “And you have been of great service. You know, your personal record of service as a Legionnaire is impressive. You’ve served with the highest of honors and still do so! That’s why I asked you here. You see one of our students has vanished. The young man in question literally disappeared!”

Dirk said, “I hate to risk eroding your fine opinion of me but I’ll confess as a student I was known to pull a few disappearing acts in my time. Perhaps, he is just having a bit of harmless fun!”

Dean Olinger said, “No, Dirk. This young man is very serious about his studies. He is a Venturan orphan and academics mean the world to him. He once tried out to join your Legion in fact but he failed in that endeavor. You see he has rather curious super powers all his own!”

Dirk said, “Would you be talking about Energy Boy? Sharles Gluck did try out but he was shown up by our own Polar Boy and left humbled and more than a bit dismayed. Later, I was glad to see him around campus. We try to get those applicants who fail our auditions to consider other worthy pursuits like going to college or public service! What exactly happened to Sharles?”

Dean Olinger sighed and leaned forward in his chair.

“Dirk, young Sharles can generate remarkable nucleo-energy which is manifested by a sphere-shaped object. He can’t control it as well as he’d like. His mind needs to project the power in a geometric pattern with which he is comfortable. I’m sure one of our staffers in the Meta-human department could explain it more directly. Anyway, he is studying nuclear physics, much like you did, in order to grasp his power and increase his potential in using it. He has never failed to attend any class nor has he ever slacked off from his internship. That is why; we became alarmed when his professors and his employer contacted us to say that Sharles failed to show up for either class or work!”

Dirk said, “I’ll be glad to do some checking. The nature of his powers makes it feasible for us to trace him through some detection devices I could get from our Multi-lab.”

Dean Olinger said, “There’s one other reason I wanted to speak to you in particular. Sharles was an intern at your father’s company!”

Dirk stood up and said, “I didn’t know that. Dad has so many employees. We’ve come a long way from the days when I was one of his aides along with the soon to be infamous Zaxton Regulus!”

Dean Olinger said, “Regulus was responsible for your own powers wasn’t he? He was a disgruntled employee of your father’s who tried to kill you by locking you inside a reactor!”

Dirk said, “Right. The media covered it in every grim detail. Instead of killing me, the reactor gave me my power over fire and light. I used it to become Sun Boy and join the Legion. As for Regulus, he experimented on himself until he gained powers of a similar kind. His proved to be temporary in nature though. That’s why he often has had to rely upon armor or robotic weapons but then again you knew that didn’t you? A full briefing on my potential foes was included in my student file. I guess your staff figured having a Legionnaire on campus could also make the college a target!”

Olinger nodded and said, “Dirk, I appreciate this. Will you look into the matter for us? I hesitated to call in the science Police since there is, as you said, the remote possibility that Sharles is merely shirking his duties!”

Dirk said, “I’ll be in touch.” He exited and gave Robyn the wink he had been considering. She blushed and dropped her compu-pad as the hero departed!

***

Sun Boy was true to his word and soon returned to Legion HQ. He now wore the bright red and yellow costume that had made him famous.

He saw Shrinking Violet, a pretty dark haired girl in a green mini-dress, and an older man with a heavy head of curly reddish-brown hair.

“Salu, I thought you were on leave. I guess you can’t stay away from me, huh?” he joked.

Salu rolled her eyes and said, “That’s exactly it, Dirk. Your raw animal magnetism drew me here. I even had Dad come all the way from Imsk so I could use showing him around HQ as an excuse to stalk you!”

They laughed in a good-natured way as Arn Digby stepped forward. “Nice to see you, Dirk. We met once before you know. My little Salu here is helping her old man get accustomed to life on Earth!” said the rugged and handsome ex-miner.

Salu took his arm and said, “Dad’s finally agreed to relocate here. He is going to do some mineral work here for the U.P.”

Arn Digby nodded and said, “Sure. I figured there was nothing to keep an old widower on Imsk since the company could offer me work right here near my daughter!”

Sun Boy said, “I hope you’ll like it here although it will make it that much harder on me and the rest of the dazzled males who adore her!”

As he departed, Arn said, “Salu, I can’t understand why you don’t go out with a fine boy like that. He’s a real go-getter! That Duplicate Boy of yours has all the power in the cosmos but lacks the good sense to use it!”

Salu elbowed her father playfully and said, “Dad! I’ve told you not to knock Ord. Dirk’s a big flirt but all that charm doesn’t hide the fact that he never sticks with one girl for too long! Besides, he and I are just friends.”

By this time, Sun Boy had entered the Multi-Lab to try to put together a device that might help him trace Energy Boy’s own nucleo-energy.

“I’m not exactly Brainy when it comes to this type of thing but I think I can whip up something that will do the trick. It’s not like Earth is saturated with nucleo-energy outside of controlled environments like the Power Spheres or Dad’s plant!” he said.

Before he could continue with his work, he was stopped by the entrance of a stunningly beautiful blonde woman in a short fringed pink dress and heels.

“Flavia! It is good to see you! What brings you here?” he asked as she embraced him and kissed him warmly on both cheeks.

She ran one hand through his hair as she said, “Now, Dirk, what kind of mother would I be if I didn’t come to see my boy get his doctorate! Salu and her adorable father told me where I could find you.”

Dirk ignored the urge to correct his stepmother since she was the nicest of all of his father’s former wives.

“Flavia, I’m thrilled you came but I thought you were hitting the galactic spa circuit with your friend Gleanna!” he said.

Flavia smiled and said, “I had to cancel that trip. You know hoe easily I get bored on my own. Well, Gleanna never showed up. I looked so silly standing there at the space port all by my self!”

Dirk concealed a smile as he thought, “Knowing Flavia’s combination of looks and charm, she would not have been alone for long!”

He turned to his work and said, “I’m just working on a case involving another disappearance. Say, this may be a long shot but where is Gleanna from originally?”

Flavia sat down on a lab table, crossed her legs, and frowned in concentration. “Gleanna’s from Mars or at least that’s where we met. She used to do an act at Nix Olympia. The tourists loved the girl!” she said.

Dirk shrugged and said, “I’ve known a few showgirls in my time. I’d say she was just being flighty. Maybe, she found a better offer. No offense!”

Flavia said, “That sounds like the dear girl. Wait, Dirk! Come to think of it, she actually was born on Ventura! Her family did an act at one of the big casinos!”

Dirk said, “The man I’m looking for also comes from Ventura! Sit tight! I think I’d like to talk to our Science Police contact for a moment! Computo, Science Police link – Officer Erin.”

Dirk’s spoken request was heard by the HQ’s sentient computer system and in seconds, a holographic image of the lovely blonde Officer Shvaughn Erin appeared.

“Sun Boy, what can I do for you? Jan mentioned you were graduating soon. Did you need to coordinate security for the ceremony?” she asked.

Sun Boy said, “Nothing quite so simple as that, I’m afraid. Shvaughn, could you do a check for me to see if your records indicate an increase in missing sentient cases involving natives of Ventura?”

The pretty blonde nodded and after a brief wait, she replied, “Dirk, you may be on to something. By doing a cross reference with the United Planets law enforcement system, I find an alarming number of Venturans have vanished. Most of them were either on Earth when last seen or were believed to be in transit here!”

Sun Boy said, “Are there any common factors linking them other than their place of birth? Do any of the missing people work in the field of nuclear science?”

She said, “No. I mean I see one or two are in the sciences but nothing that indicates the field you’re speaking of. In fact, the missing people differ in gender, age, income, occupation, and duration of their time off planet. If something obvious links them beyond the fact that they were born on Ventura, I can’t find it!”

Sun Boy said, “Thanks, Shvaughn! I’ll have Jan give you a big kiss for me.”

She smiled and signed off as Sun Boy turned to his stepmother. “Flavia, would you mind terribly if I took care of some business for a while? Computo can guide you around HQ until I return or maybe, you’d like to hit the stores for a while?” he asked.

The radiant blonde said, “I can take a hint! You do what you have to. I’ll be just fine! Perhaps, I can find some amusing way to pass the day!” She glanced toward the lab door and smiled playfully.

Sun Boy nodded and flew out of the lab. “I’ll try the tracking device later. I’m going to look into this other lead first. I think it’s possible that Sharles vanished because of his planet of origin not because of his super powers!”

***

Meanwhile, a cruiser drew closer to Earth as a worried man sat in deep thought.

A pretty woman sat nearby and she leaned closer to the dark haired young man as she said, “You know, you didn’t have to make this trip personally. I could have handled things for you. I’m always glad to help you. I know this is painful for you!”

He nodded and took her hand in his own. “Thanks, Deena. You are the best partner a man could want. Still, it is precisely because of my former connection to the Legion that makes it necessary for me to handle the matter personally. I can not allow the voters to view me as being so pro Legion that I would ignore their interests to protect my old pals!”

He sat back in the chair and stared vacantly into space. Clearly, he was a man suffering from a sense of conflict and divided loyalties. In spite of his denial, Deena knew her partner cared deeply about the Legionnaires and was worried about what his mission would mean for his old friends.

***

Sun Boy knew that while Shvaughn Erin and Gi Gi Cosimano were far prettier, no one at Science Police HQ knew more about data gathering than Officer Qimdak. Thus, Sun Boy had swiftly flown to the Metropolis Science Police HQ and questioned the huge alien from Bolovax Vik II.

Shortly, afterward the hero had flown across the city to the huge and teaming Metropolis Space Port where new arrivals to the planet could be found.

“Officer Qimdak said that a search of travel permit requests indicated that out of all the recently missing Venturans, only one woman, Lynda Delin, had loved ones who were currently on their way to Earth to look for their missing family member. Sharles was an orphan. Gleanna was single too. Others either have already come here to look for loved ones who were among the first Venturans to vanish. Thanks to his data and my Legion flight ring, I’ve managed to get to the port just in time to spot the family in question!” he thought.

He waited out of sight behind the rows of flags that covered the Space Port docking center. He knew exactly what the Delins looked like since Officer Qimdak had pulled up their holos from their travel permit records. Thus, Sun Boy soon recognized the elderly Brynk Delin and his heavy wife Sao.

He watched them check in and nodded in approval as they walked away from the port in search of a taxi.

“The passenger service air cars that work this part of the city are easy to recognize for a native like me; however, the Delins don’t know that air car taxi registration scans can be faked! The one they are getting inside does not have a scan that matches any of the ones used by the companies I know about!”

He flew in silent pursuit and remained high above out of sight of the vehicle. “I think I just witnessed an abduction in the making. The driver did not pick up some tourists who tried to flag him down. He ignored them and deliberately swerved into the path the Delins were taking. He also knew who to look for and that means he either has access to the same permit data I used or he got their descriptions from their missing daughter!”

***

Sun Boy followed the vehicle to a large facility near the part of the city known as Hamilton Park. He landed and peered through a skylight to see a shocking sight. Dozens of helpless people were locked in two big rooms while some type of medical lab was located in the third chamber. He did not see any guards except for one muscular black man and a very fat man with a shaven head.

“The missing Venturans are being held here! It makes sense to me. The criminals are grabbing Venturans on Earth or in transit and bringing them here. They are using data taken from their captives to also grab their friends or family members when they show up to look for them! I even saw Flavia’s pal Gleanna down there!” he thought.

He said, “I’m going to alert the Science Police via Computo’s link in my flight ring and then I’m going to go down for a closer look! I think I can handle two thugs easily but I won’t risk the captives being hurt just so I can grandstand!”

He transmitted the message and then exerted enough heat to melt the skylight before flying inside.

The fat man gasped and pointed at the hero in desperation while shouting to the bigger black man. “Bal Gaard! A Legionnaire! Kill him! Kill him!” he shrieked.

Bal Gaard smiled coldly and said, “Relax Andam. His body will decorate your mantle in a few moments!”

Sun Boy said, “I admit it takes a lot of nerve and skill to hold dozens of people captive when it appears like its just the two of you but no matter what hold you’ve got on them, you’re dealing with the Legion now!”

Bal Gaard laughed harshly. He stepped into the light and Sun Boy noticed the big black man wore a sleeveless blue tunic over white pants and blue boots.

“We have no hold over the Venturans except for the same hold we’re going to exert over you, Sun Boy! My raw power keeps them in line and it will suffice to end your career like a setting sun!”

He flew into the air and slapped Sun Boy with enough speed and strength to send Dirk crashing to the floor.

He groaned and forced himself to stand even as his hand wiped blood away from his face. “No visible means of flight. Brute strength on a level with Ultra Boy or greater and enough speed and strength to keep dozens of captives under your thumb! I think I’ve got your number now!” he said.

Bal Gaard did not follow up on his attack immediately. He merely grinned and landed to walk slowly toward Sun Boy.

“Got me figured out, do you? Good. I’m proud of my heritage even though there aren’t many like me back home!” he said.

Sun Boy created a golden nimbus of fire and blasted the cocky man with enough power to knock most men cold!

Bal Gaard said, “Turn on your juice, punk! Give me all you got. Come on, show me what makes you such a big man to the sheep who love the Legion!”

Sun Boy smiled and said, “Your wish is my command!”

***

He suddenly altered the energy field he had generated until it changed color from yellow to red! The red solar energy surged around him and Gaard as he darted forward and punched Gaard in the nose.

He followed up with three more rapid blows as the other bigger man gasped and staggered backward in dismay.

Sun Boy ducked as Gaard swung at him with far less speed and power than he had initially displayed. ” What are you doing to me?” yelled Gaard as Sun Boy stepped closer and delivered a final stunning punch.

“You’re from one of Daxam’s colony worlds. Your heritage is mixed enough that while you’re not hurt by lead, you still gain super powers under Earth’s sun. However, once I saturated you with red solar energy, you lost all that power and became nothing more than a cocky thug with a glass jaw!”

He turned to see the cowering form of the fat man named Andam cringing in the corner. “Please, do not hurt me!” he cried.

Sun Boy smiled as he heard the sound of approaching Science Police cruisers. “Don’t worry. I won’t hurt you. No doubt the Science Police will be able to search your computer there to figure out exactly what kind of leak you used to locate the Venturans. Now, tell me one thing. Why did you and your super powered henchman kidnap these people? If you just wanted credits you could have taken people from any planet. Why Venturans?”

Science Police officers entered the building and started to free the prisoners as Sun Boy gave them directions and continued questioning Andam.

Andam sighed and said, “I needed Venturan blood! You see, Ventura is not only the gambling center of the United Planets but it is also fabled to be the home of the Luck Lords themselves! I realized that I could sell Venturan blood in small vials to the superstitious natives of planets like Avalon where every kind of myth and urban legend is held to be true! They would believe the blood capable of giving them good fortune!”

Sun Boy said, “You’d kill harmless people for your own enrichment? You’re sick. Well, you’ll pay for your crimes and so will Gaard there when he wakes up!”

A pretty Science Police Officer stepped forward and said, “Sun Boy, we’ve secured Gaard. The special cuffs Brainiac 5 gave us for such cases worked like a charm. He’ll be helpless until we can get him to Labyrinth! Considering how extremely stringent emigration from Daxam and its colony worlds is now days, I’m shocked to find a native here unaccounted for!”

Sun Boy nodded and said, ” I’d say that is due to the fact that Andam here has a pal in either the customs division or the immigration department. He’ll be happy to name names for you so he can be on his way to jail before his captives decide to take a bit of his own blood. Won’t you, Andam?”

He glowed brightly and stepped closer to the fat man who perspired profusely and said, “Yes! I will talk. Noha Reybold of the customs division gave me the data in exchange for a bribe!” The female Science Police Officer smiled and had him led away as Sun Boy drew closer to her.

“What about the captives?” he asked.

She said, “They are frightened but otherwise unharmed. He’d been bleeding them regularly but none of them have died. That is a blessing!”

Sun Boy nodded and said, “Thank goodness. It’s bad enough that the vampire put them through this kind of senseless ordeal.”

She nodded and said, “You really care about people don’t you? I had the idea that you were just a thrill seeking glory hound who thought he was richer, smarter, and more powerful than normal folks.”

Sun Boy said, “I do care. My powers came from a murder attempt. I know exactly how lucky I am just to be alive much less to also have super powers! I don’t take any of my blessings for granted!”

She said, “My name is Megan Lynard. Would you be free for dinner tonight?”

He smiled and replied, “Let me give you a call. I may be occupied for a while!”

She said, “Sure. Do you have Legion business to take care of now?”

He shook his head. “Not exactly. I’ve been watching the captives file out and the man I originally came here to find is not among them! I’ve still got to figure out what happened to Sharles Energy Boy Gluck!”

***

Sun Boy returned to Legion HQ and spent the next few hours working in the Multi-Lab. He had been pleased to see Flavia’s delighted expression upon her reunion with her old friend Gleanna. The Venturan woman’s normal high spirits had returned immediately upon her rescue. He had also noticed his stepmother’s obvious affection for Arn Digby. The two Legion parents had been together most of the afternoon and Dirk hoped that the stalwart ex-miner would not be overwhelmed by the flamboyant Flavia! “Salu didn’t look too pleased about the way her father seems to have been drawn to Flavia. I know we’re all adults but I’d hate to see anybody get hurt. Arn may not realize Flavia is well-meaning but decidedly flighty!” he thought.

He lifted a small device from a lab table and nodded in approval. “This device should help me locate Energy Boy via his unique nucleo-energy.”

He flew over the city and frowned as the device led him directly to his father’s plant. “Weird! Either this device is picking up some residual energy signature left from Gluck’s time here as an intern or the reactors are setting it off. I may need to have Brainiac 5 look it over when he gets back!” he thought.

The Morgna Nuclear Institute had expanded over the years to become a truly intergalactic concern with divisions that dealt with many aspects of commerce and science beyond nuclear energy. Morgna had become something of a brand name.

He smiled with pride as he saw the distinguished form of his father Derek. “Dirk! I’m happy to see you. Are you going to be free this evening? If so, we could have dinner at the house,” said the elder Morgna.

Dirk touched his father on the arm in greeting and said, “I think I’m going to be busy. I’m looking into the disappearance of one of your interns. A Venturan named Sharles Gluck is missing!”

Derek frowned in concentration and stroked his graying mustache. “The man you need to speak to is Auric. He pretty much runs things these days. I mean he handles this facility. I’m still carrying the load for the entire company of course!”

Dirk grinned, “Sounds to me like you’ve been slipping off to the moops ball finals again and leaving some poor employee to hold down the fort!”

Derek laughed loudly and clasped his son by the shoulders.

“I have at that! Luckily, I don’t have to retina scan a time card!” he said as he lighted a cigar and began to puff away.

He took Dirk to an office in which a smug little man with a brilliant blond head of hair sat at a large desk.

“Auric, this is the heir himself! You’ve never met my lad but he’s here to seek help from you about one of our interns!” said Derek as he hurried into the office without knocking.

Auric jumped to his feet as a look of mild disgust crept across his features. “Certainly! Certainly! What can I do for you, Dirk?” he asked.

Dirk extended his hand and shook hands with the thin man.

“Nice to meet you. Auric, I’m looking into the Sharles Gluck case. Did he work for you personally? Who were his closest coworkers?”

Auric said, “Gluck? Oh, yes, Gluck. He was a promising worker. He was eager to please. I liked the boy!”

Sun Boy said, “You speak of him as if he was dead!”

Auric said, “Forgive me. Stupid habit. He was mainly doing very routine work. I would have offered him a job after he graduated. He was…is reliable to a fault!”

Derek said, “I’ll leave you two to sort it out. If I can help, give a yell!”

Sun Boy nodded and said, “Thanks, Dad!” He turned to face Auric and said, “You must be very comfortable around Dad. Usually, his Rimborian cigars make folks cough!”

Auric said, “I don’t notice them anymore!”

Sun Boy said, “You were telling me about Sharles.”

Auric said, “Of course. Sharles worked with Devin Karr below in the lower offices. The lads called it the inferno as way of a jest!”

They dropped down a pneumatic tube and Sun Boy noticed the man’s landing sent a rather heavy blast of air upward.

“For a small man he sure landed heavy. Weird, the smoke from Dad’s cigar didn’t bother him either. His name even makes me start to suspect something about him may mean serious trouble!” he thought.

He followed Auric into a hallway that ended in front of a closed room.

“The old reactor down here is being dismantled. Excuse the mess!” said Auric.

He opened the door by punching in a code on a wall panel and then the two men entered the huge chamber.

When the doors closed behind them Auric turned and swung at Sun Boy but the hero dodged the blow and delivered one of his own!

“You’re a robot! I can tell from the way it felt when I hit you! You’re a humanoid designed robot! The way you ignored the cigar smoke and how heavy you are proves it! Plus, I’d wager that name taken from the Latin word for gold even means your maker is my old enemy Dr. Regulus!” He generated a blast of intense heat that caused Auric’s flesh to melt and reveal a solid gold robotic body!

“Clever! Still, all your wits can’t stop us now!” said the dissolving robot.

Sun Boy turned to see a man in golden armor emerge from deep within the room. “Zaxton Regulus! I thought I recognized the smell! You’ve learned to make your clunky old gold robots remarkably lifelike! How long have you been hiding out here? I’d say planting Auric here and having him secure you your own lair within Dad’s complex is pretty daring even for you!”

Dr. Regulus was a balding man with a mustache. He glared at Sun Boy and ignored the hero’s heat rays since he too could generate intense energy at will through his armor. “Dirk, I didn’t expect to avoid you. I’m prepared for this meeting. You see this armor is merely decorative in many ways. It is nothing more than the outer trappings of the triumphant warrior! I have regained the power to melt flesh from bone! I am once more your superior! The power of the sun rests within my body!” he said.

Sun Boy said, “That’s what this is about isn’t it? You knew you couldn’t count on regular visits to drain the power of the Arion star that first gave you innate powers. That’s why you kidnapped Sharles Gluck! You’re tapping into his personal nucleo-energies! Where is he?”

Dr. Regulus laughed and said, “I am doing far more than that! I created Auric and had him infiltrate this complex months ago in order to secure a base in which I could rest and work! He did so. Your arrogant father never questions his loyal aide. I could have used this plant for any number of projects; however, I decided to concentrate on regaining my personal power first! Auric learned about Gluck’s unique power and combined with the talents of another Legion reject, we’ve turned that young man into a living energy source that is better than any distant star!”

Sun Boy said, “Another Legion reject? Golden Boy! You mean Golden Boy! His unique power to transmute items into gold makes him a perfect source for your experimental devices! You always did like to use radioactive gold to fuel your armor and weapons!”

Regulus laughed loudly and said, “Good thinking! You have brains, boy! It is a shame I have to splatter them across this city! I did indeed capture the hapless Golden Boy and he and young Sharles have become my personal human batteries! Infinite amounts of gold and radiation are mine now!”

Sun Boy flew around the gloating rogue and spotted the helpless young men. They were chained within a weird machine that combined elements of a reactor with a more biomedical device. Golden Boy even still wore a version of the yellow body suit which he had once hoped would make him famous.

“I’ll have you free in no time!” Sun Boy said in a reassuring tone.

Sharles said, “Sun Boy! We’re not helping him willingly! We’ve both tried to resist him but he’s too powerful!”

Golden Boy said nothing. He merely looked at the Legionnaire with sorrow etched on his features.

Sun Boy whirled to face Dr. Regulus. “Let them go! I’m the one you want. I’m the one you hate!” he said.

Dr. Regulus glowed with a fiery radiance as he shook his armored fist. “I do hate you! That hatred kept me going on many a night during my time locked away on one prison world after another! Well, that burning hatred will do more than slay you. I’ll turn Metropolis into your personal funeral pyre! One brilliant blast of radiation and fire will light the night and mark the spot on which Sun Boy met his final fate!”

Sun Boy said, “You’re feeding off their powers via that armor! It is linking you to them via bio-implants! The power may be channeled into your own body through a bio-link but that armor still regulates it. I see it all! I see also that you are as mad as ever!” He stepped forward and said, “I dare you to attack me! You are nothing but a cowardly old man who hides behind stolen power!”

Dr. Regulus yelled, “I’ll prove you wrong! I’ll burn that infernal cocky smile off your face!” He clutched his fists as heat and energy crackled around him.

Energy Boy said, “Sun Boy, don’t taunt him! He’s tapping our power and we can’t resist him!”

Sun Boy shouted, “I don’t want you to do so! Do what I tell you. Let him have as much power as you can! Don’t even try to resist!”

They obeyed him as Dr. Regulus glowed ever brighter and even Sun Boy found himself growing worried. If his plan failed, he might die along with much of Metropolis!

Still, even R J Brande himself, Legion founder and star-maker, had once underestimated Sun Boy’s grasp of nuclear physics. Plus, Sun Boy knew more about Regulus than anyone. Countless battles had given him that kind of personal data.

Sun Boy took advantage of his foe’s preoccupation to adjust the bio-link device and then shatter a control dial!

Dr. Regulus whirled to knock Sun Boy to the ground with a fiery fist!

“You meddle with your betters! Well, your futile efforts can’t stop me! I’m burning like a human star! I will melt the city and then rule this planet!” he yelled as even his eyes gained a pale yellow glow!

Sun Boy rolled aside and stood up. “All that power is yours now but it comes with a price. I shattered your dampening link. You can’t control or regulate the energy flow anymore! You’re getting the power whether you like it or not!”

Dr. Regulus smiled broadly and said, “Are you mad? Of course, I want it! I want it all!” Before he could continue speaking, Dr. Regulus vanished!

Sun Boy jumped forward and deactivated the device draining the two young men and helped them to their feet.

Sharles Gluck panted for air and leaned heavily on Sun Boy as Golden Boy staggered behind them. “Did we kill him? Did all that nuclear energy burn him to molecules?” he said.

Sun Boy shook his head. “Nope! I modified the intake of nucleo-energy and radiation so he received a massive dose of what I’d roughly call quantum energy for lack of a more precise term. The raw feedback tossed him through the quantum zone itself. Should he ever emerge, it will be thousands of years from now! He may be lost in the zone forever!”

Golden Boy said, “Amazing! He captured me right after I returned to Earth. I am through with the heroic life. I thought I wanted to try to audition for the Legion again but now I just want peace!”

Sun Boy said, “Don’t worry, you and Sharles will be fine! Zaxton is long gone because of his own greed!”

Epilogue

A few days later Sun Boy entered the office of Dean Olinger where he was startled to see the smiling faces of his father, Flavia, and several of his Legion pals. “What’s all this? I just came to pick up my degree!” he said.

Derek Morgna hugged his son fiercely and said, “We came to be here with you. A private ceremony may be necessary to keep the fans away but your friends and I had to be here to see it!”

Flavia kissed him and said, “Dirk, we’re all so proud of you!”

Arn Digby came forward and said, “I hope you don’t mind my coming here. Salu and Flavia insisted! Flavia and I are dating now!”

Sun Boy glanced over to where Shrinking Violet stood. She gave him a slight smile as if to say she was accepting her father’s new romance.

Element Lad (Jan Arrah), Shvaughn Erin, Star Boy (Thom Kellor), Dream Girl (Nura Nal), Colossal Boy (Gim Allon), Chameleon Boy (Reep Daggle) and Cham’s wife Elwinda stood around the desk.

Dean Olinger presented Dirk with his doctoral papers and they all cheered.

Dream Girl slipped up behind Dirk and turned him around to plant a kiss on his lips. She released him and smiled confidently.

Dirk caught Star Boy’s eye and the bearded hero nodded. Sun Boy grinned and then pulled the platinum haired beauty closer. He swept her off her feet into a passionate kiss before dropping her to the floor.

The others laughed as Star Boy helped the slightly dazed Dream Girl back up.

“You got what you deserved! Nura, you’ve pulled that kind of ambush kiss on the Legion men too often! I’m glad Dirk had the nerve to give you your own medicine!”

Dream Girl said nothing but flounced away in mock annoyance.

Colossal Boy slapped Sun Boy on the back and said, “Dirk, Year would have been here too but with the baby due any time, she wanted to play it safe!”

Sun Boy nodded and said, “Give your wife my regards!”

Element Lad said, “Dirk, we’re all happy for you!”

Before Sun Boy could reply, the door opened and three Science Police Officers entered along with a pretty blonde woman and a young man with dark hair. “Tenzil Kem? Don’t tell me Bismolian politics could spare the former Matter-Eater Lad long enough for you to come visit your old Legion buddies!” said Sun Boy as he shook hands with the solemn looking Senator.

Tenzil shook his head. “Dirk, I’m sorry. This is not the way I would have wanted a reunion with you all to go. My duty as a senator on Bismol forced me to come here. I had to handle it personally in order to avoid hints of being partial to you all!” he said.

The blonde woman with Tenzil stepped forward and handled a document to Derek Morgna. “I’m Tenzil’s partner Deena Coe. Maybe, it will be less painful if I explain. We’re here to take Mr. Derek Morgna in for questioning regarding crimes committed on Bismol.”

Derek Morgna roared, “What in the blazes? I’ve never even been to your world! The place is an ecological nightmare!”

Deena said, “Be that as it may, sir, it doesn’t prevent ruthless industrialists like you from plundering what resources we have!”

Morgna said, “Young lady, I’ll have my lawyer do my talking!”

He turned to Sun Boy and said, “I thought this Matter-Eater Lad was one of your team? What kind of hero makes these crazy accusations?”

Tenzil Kem said, “Mr. Morgna, I am deeply proud of my association with Sun Boy and the other Legionnaires. It pains me to have to put you through this. We have evidence that certain recent raids on Bismol’s mineral resources were accomplished with equipment from your company. We secured one of the mining devices used. Your company made it. It is not even on the market yet. The design patent shows Morgna Industries holds the only one.”

Element Lad said, “Tenzil, perhaps, during his time here Dr. Regulus created it or his robotic servant Auric. Mr. Morgna would not even have known about it!”

Morgna said, “Good thinking, lad! Exactly! I admit that I don’t know for certain that some of my company resources were not used without my awareness while that rogue Zaxton was hiding here with his robotic lapdog.” He looked at the design sheet Officer Dvron handed him and said, “I’ve never seen anything like this thing. It is a real improvement on the Carsons we use to mine ore!”

Shrinking Violet stepped forward and said, “I’m afraid there’s more to it. I can tell from Tenzil’s expression. You’re still one of us. This doesn’t change that. You can trust us with the details, Tenzil!”

Tenzil nodded and looked into the eyes of the girl he had once dated.

“Salu, I came personally because, tests on the device used prove Mr. Morgna had direct physical contact with it.”

Science Police Officer Dvron said, “Sir, you need to come with us. You may contact your lawyer.”

As Derek Morgna was led out of the Dean’s office, Sun Boy exchanged worried glances with his friends and hurried after his father.