Bubble Boy

Morning sunlight filtered through the high glass panels of the Legion Tower's war room. The great round table gleamed in the soft light, etched with the insignia of every founding member. Around it sat the best of Earth's defenders, some armored, some cloaked, all waiting.

At the head of the table sat Troy, Bubble Boy no more. He wore a dark, form-fitting field suit with the Legion crest on his shoulder, his posture straight, expression calm but firm. The boy was gone. What sat here now was a leader.

To his right stood Starman, arms folded, cape flowing slightly in the gentle draft of the room's vents. To his left, Michael in his black suit, stood like a sentinel, stoic and unwavering.

Starman stepped forward.

"This mission is not for the faint of heart," he began, voice steady, carrying through the quiet. "Xypho is not a battlefield. It's a tomb. It's where wars begin and legends go to die."

A few of the younger heroes shifted uncomfortably in their seats.

"We've fought Xyphorites before," he continued. "We've stopped invasions. But this time... we're going to them."

Murmurs rippled around the table.

Starman raised a hand.

"After much deliberation, I've selected the team personally. These aren't just powerful individuals, they're the ones who've proven they can adapt, survive, and make the impossible happen."

He turned slightly, eyes scanning the room.

"Shadow," he said, nodding toward Jace, who stepped from the shadows at the far end of the room, arms casually crossed, blue eyes gleaming beneath his mask.

"Bolt," Starman continued. Billy raised a hand, sparks crackling at his fingertips even as he tried to suppress a grin. "Knew it."

"Construct," Starman said. Charlie gave a nod, his arms behind his head in a relaxed pose. "Let's build something they'll never forget."

"Seaman," he added. Zack, still dripping saltwater from his early morning swim, gave a two-finger salute. "Xypho's oceans are uncharted," he said, smirking. "Guess I'm the map."

"Gladiator." Kaia stood without hesitation, her armored suit gleaming under the lights, her blade already magnetized to her hand. She didn't speak. She didn't need to.

"And me," Starman said simply. "I'm leading the team."

Another silence.

Then Bubble Boy stood, looking at each of them in turn.

"This mission isn't just about strategy," he said. "It's about trust. Every one of you is here because you've earned it. You've bled for it. And if this is the start of a war, we need to strike before it reaches our doorstep."

He looked to Michael.

"Backup forces stay here. The Legion holds Earth while we make contact, gather intel, and if necessary... end a threat before it begins."

Michael nodded once. "We'll keep the planet safe."

Jace looked around. "So... when do we leave?"

Starman glanced at the clock embedded in the wall.

"Gear up. We launch next week."

As the chosen ones filed out, the rest remained seated in silence, understanding the weight of what had just begun.

This wasn't just a mission.

This was the beginning of something bigger.

And not all of them would return.

Later at...

The Nova Plaza was alive with light and sound.

Massive screens flanked the stage, broadcasting the event to every corner of the world. The Legion's crest shimmered above them all, suspended by drones that buzzed like stars in motion. Banners rippled. Music soared. It was equal parts rally and ritual, equal parts hope and fear.

A line of camera drones hovered in the air, capturing every movement. Media crews narrated breathlessly while children on shoulders waved Legion flags. Civilians packed the square, shoulder to shoulder, the magnitude of the moment etched into every face.

And in the crowd, near the front, stood Zoe.

She wore her training jacket, the shoulder still torn from sparring, but she didn't care. Her eyes were locked on the stage, wide and bright, reflecting the armored gleam of the heroes above.

Her grandfather stood at the center.

Starman looked like something out of a myth, silver and black, calm as a mountain. To his left stood Gladiator, Bolt, and Seaman. To his right: Construct, Shadow, and finally Starman himself again, cast in the glow of the morning sun.

He stepped forward, raising a hand for silence.

"The world has always known war," he said. "But now it knows who will stand between it and the stars."

Applause thundered through the plaza.

"We go to Xypho not to conquer," he continued, "but to prevent another war before it begins. To end something ancient. To face a threat that has whispered in the dark too long."

Cameras zoomed in on his face.

"These six," he said, gesturing to the team behind him, "represent more than power. They represent sacrifice. They know the weight of the choice they've made. And still, they made it."

One by one, the heroes stepped forward as their names were called again. The crowd roared with each.

"Shadow, our eyes in the dark."

"Bolt, our lightning."

"Construct, our architect."

"Seaman, our tide."

"Gladiator, our shield."

"And me," he said, last, voice soft now. "I go as the spear."

Zoe's heart beat faster. She barely noticed the tears on her cheeks.

Around her, people clapped and whistled and shouted words of love and farewell. But she was quiet, still, eyes locked on the man she once called Grandpa, the man who now stood not as family but as legend.

He caught her gaze.

Just for a second.

A flicker of warmth crossed his face. A knowing smile.

And she smiled back, even through the tears.

They both understood.

This wasn't goodbye.

This was legacy in motion.

This was the beginning of the end.

And maybe if they were lucky, the start of something greater.