Another Time, Another Place
-Prologue-

The springtime air was crisp and cool, the sky was blue and marvelously clear. The wind whipped at everyone's faces as they hurried about from one building to the next. Two of the humanoid bodies that rushed across the veranda were out of place. One was green-skinned, clothed in black and purple. The other was pale and dressed entirely in black. Though out of place, these two were completely capable of fitting in-- and better than most people…even those who had been at work here for most of their lives.

Panting for breath, the pale one in dark clothing heaved open a heavy door, grunting as he did so. While the two figures had chosen to run, the looks on their faces showed how greatly they regretted that choice. The pale kid -Lyle- shoved the door closed once the green humanoid entered after him. Smiling, he leaned his upper body against the door and turned to his friend. "I can't believe you got us in here," he chuckled breathlessly, shaking his head. After all, the last time Brainy had been at this event he'd been banned for life. This was due to his constant heckling of the inventors and scientists. Still, while only seven people in the whole universe could afford to buy their way into this showing, Brainy had somehow managed to get them in for free …even after he was banned.

The smallest of cocky smirks graced the lips of the green teenager. "Please, it was the very least the United Planets could do."

Lyle rolled his eyes but didn't say a word. The United Planets could have done a lot less for Brainiac 5, especially since his bout with insanity a year and half back. Lyle still had a hard time believing this same period of mental breakdown had caused Brainy to become the first one-hundred percent organic Coluan in over 900 years. However, the Legion had learned two very important things that day.
One, that the scariest place in the universe was next to Brainiac 5 when he was agreeing with you. And two, that if you make the U.P. 16.2 trillion credits a week on throw-away patents --all for inventions that have no practical use for the Legion, of course-- they will take the excuse that you were having a bad day and might have overreacted.

"Chemical king is mad I'm blowing him off for the day to hang out here." Lyle said after a moment, grinning. "He also said it's not fair that he has to deal with my parents… while I get to run off and hang out with Mr. Level twelve."

The small smirk on Brainy's lips vanished at the mere mention of Lyle's parents. Brainy went to great lengths to keep Lyle's abusive dad as far from Lyle as he could. "Chem can't blame anyone but himself," Brainy snorted. "I believe I warned you that informing your parents as to the existence of your child would only make them want to be near it."
Lyle's dad had backed off when he learned Lyle had a child, but that didn't mean Brainy appreciated Lyle's parents anywhere near his friend.

Lyle pushed himself off the door and started down the hallway. "He just wants Danni to have an understanding of where he comes from."

Brainy sighed, walking ahead of his friend. "And why can't you just talk to Chem's--"

"Oh, get this; Chem's parents are dead! …the lucky bastard," Lyle murmured, catching up with his friend. "Besides, I think he wouldn't be so upset if I was with anyone else."

Brainy rolled his eyes, then turned and grinned at Lyle. "He still thinks I want to sleep with you? I can't believe it."

Lyle shrugged. "What's not to believe? After all, I was the one who convinced you to join the legion… even after every one else had already tried. We spend a lot of hours working in the lab together. Like Chem and me used to-- before we started dating. This whole thing might actually be cute… if it wasn't so annoying."

Querl frowned. " 'Cute'? Not in the least. I can't believe C.K. thinks my standards are so low that I would actually want to sleep with you."
Lyle glanced at him curiously. "What do you mean?"
"Lyle, look at me," Brainy smirked. "Now look at yourself. I'm not only better looking and smarter than you, half of the girls on our team are dying for the chance to date me. Face it, I'm so out of your league that we're playing different sports." Querl sounded truly offended at the insinuation that he and anyone would be on the same level. "In fact, I would have to say that you are merely a destitute man's consolation prize."

"Thank you for that," Lyle snickered, "I'm sure Chemical King is going to be glad to hear that he settled for the poor man version of you. That's really going to improve your relationship."

Brainiac 5 shrugged slightly, but didn't say anything more on the topic. Nor did he say much more after Lyle tried to start up another conversation. Lately, Brainy's personality had been off. It wasn't the prelude to "crazy, over-stressed Brainiac 5 who can't wait to rule the universe with an iron fist." It was just that… well, things were different. Small things that most would only notice if they were paying close attention. He no longer twitched at the sight of someone not using a coaster, and he no longer fought the pilot of the cruiser during missions.

Saturn girl was observant enough to notice the difference, and so was most of the core team. They had had asked what was wrong with Brainy, but he had insisted nothing was wrong. Saturn Girl attempted to pry some information out of him, but all she learned was that Brainy did NOT like someone messing around in his head. After that incident, they hadn't spoken to each other in a month, verbally or mentally. Lyle was actually somewhat impressed at how long Brainiac 5 had kept it up. He was especially impressed considering the fact that Saturn Girl was now their "Fearless Leader" and that meant she needed Brainy's advice, or help, or something every twelve hours or so.

Brainy stopped and Lyle was jerked from his thoughts, watching as his friend whipped out a small key card and swiped it past a sensor fixed to the wall. Before them stood a large door. When Brainy had flashed the key card in front of the sensor, the lights above the door flickered from red to yellow. On the other side of the door, a wall panel slid open to reveal a ten number keypad. Brainiac 5 rapidly punched in a twenty-five number code and stepped back. The lights above the door flickered blue, and a scanner above the lights whirred to life, aiming in the direction of the two young men. After a moment, the lights above the door flickered from blue to green.
"Finally!" Lyle muttered as the door swooshed open.
Both guys entered the room and froze, momentarily stunned by the visual assault of the room. People were lying in awkward positions, looking like so many discarded dolls. Some were obviously unconscious, some were bleeding, others were just cowering behind whatever they could find. Inventions in various states of disrepair were scattered hither and yon, and in the exact center of the room stood a tall man in dirt-covered robes. His fingers and wrists were wrapped in decaying cloth, and his face was hidden in the shadow of his cloak.

The Time Trapper, for it was obviously he, stared back at Brainy and Lyle for a moment, unmoving. "Legion," he snarled, flicking his wrist in the direction of the two teens.
Brainy and Lyle flew headlong into the room, crashing into the wall opposite from where they had stood a mere moment ago. Both were pinned against the wall, incapable of movement. The time trapper glanced at Lyle and, smirking, watched as the pale boy crashed to the floor.

"LYLE!" Brainiac 5 shouted, the word barely escaping his lips. Scowling, he struggled uselessly against the force that had him pinned.

The time trapper flicked his wrist again, and Invisible Kid rose from the floor, only to slam back down a moment later. Lyle made a small grunt, though he didn't cry out. Instead he glared at the Time Trapper as though daring the villain to get a scream out of him. Still Brainy struggled against his invisible bonds, and still he remained unable to move.
Once again, the Time Trapper drove Lyle to the floor. This time a loud crack echoed through the room, and Lyle involuntarily let out a shrill cry. The Time Trapper smirked at Brainiac 5 and lifted Lyle from the floor one more time.
"Stop it!" Brainy shrieked.

The time trapper paused what he was doing, and floated over to where the green humanoid was struggling futilely against his invisible bonds. Smirking, he turned Brainy's face so he could see Lyle better. "No, you worthless little Clouan."

Lyle was slammed against the wall, and then the floor. There was another loud crack from Lyle's body, and the boy groaned.
The Time Trapper flicked his wrist again, but Lyle didn't move from the ground. His grip on Brainiac 5's face tightened suddenly and he leaned closer until he was face-to-face with the green-skinned genius. "How are you doing, this you insignificant brat?!" he demanded, claw-like hands digging into Brainy's jawline. Suddenly, the Time Trapper glanced down and glared at Brainiac's belt, where he finally noticed the light glowing faintly on one the compartments. Angrily, he ripped the belt off of Brainiac 5's waist and dashed it to the floor. The belt light blinked and went out. The time trapper released Brainy's face and snarled, "You're too damn clever for your own good, boy."

Lyle voice spoke from just behind the Time Trapper. "Of course he is! You, however, are nowhere near as bright!" As he spoke the words, Lyle grunted and swung a heavy bit of equipment down on the Time Trapper's head.
Yelping, the Time Trapper clutched his head and Brainy dropped to the floor, managing a much better landing than his friend. Quickly he snatched up his belt and wrapped it around his waist before whirling around to face his nemesis.

The Time Trapper spun around angrily to face the two heroes. "I'm done here," he snarled, and lowered his head slightly. A whirling portal opened behind Lyle, who eyed it anxiously and moved away from it. The time trapper lifted his head a bit and another portal opened behind him. From below his cowl, the villain's eyes glinted viciously. "Now, little Coluan, a choice. Will you be following me?" Smirking, he flicked his wrist and Lyle yelled in surprise, flying backwards into the first portal. "Or him?"