Remembrance

By Churnok

Disclaimer

Gila is the copyright of Marvel and Fox. Specifically, the 1994-1998 Spider-Man: The Animated Series episode entitled the Lizard King. The Legion members are the copyright of Warner Brothers and DC. All are used here for non-profit entertainment purposes only. Beacon and the multi-dimensional organization he works for, along with their powers, technology and abilities are my creation unless otherwise stated, but I've tried to design them so that anyone can use them as long as they send me a copy of the resulting story. Permission is given to anyone who wants to archive this story as long as they let me know first and give me a link to their site. I welcome any comments, questions, and/or constructive criticisms. This story takes place within SupremeStarscream's fan fic Stop. Evil Star Time. At the request of the author.

Ghosts of the Past

"Gila please stop fidgeting," Beacon scolded his young charge as the two seemingly normal people sat down to lunch at McDonalds.

"I'm sorry Father," the young girl replied. Thankful that the voice modifier she wore as a pendent made her sound human. "I'm still not used to wearing so much clothing and these booths weren't designed for people with tails."

Beacon sighed. He had given up on getting her to stop calling him father and, in this case, it actually helped to reinforce the assumption he wanted people to have of them. "You're the one who wanted to be a Shadow. That requires you to blend in with multiple environments."

"Yes, but my image inducer can give me human clothes as well as a human appearance. So why…?"

"What did your teacher tell you was one of the first rule of deception?" Beacon interrupted sternly.

Gila sighed, "The more truth there is in a deception, the easier it is to believe."

"Good girl. You pay more attention in class then your grades would indicate." This comment earned him a glare from behind her sunglasses. "Now eat your food before it gets cold. He began eating his Big Mac before Gila could ask another question. So she followed her adopted father's example and began eating her McChicken sandwich.

Despite looking like a businessman taking his teen daughter to lunch, the gentleman known as Beacon and his human seeming companion Gila, were far from normal patrons. They were both members of an inter-dimensional organization. He was a recruiter, and she was the last surviving member of a race of lizard people that dwelled in the New York City sewer system of a Marvel reality.

Now Beacon was helping her train to become a Shadow. An elite team employed by the organization as scouts and observers.

"Why did you choose this reality to help me train?" Gila asked as she finished her sandwich and checked her face for any stray bits of food or sauce, which was an interesting sight given that her reptile face extended beyond her holographic human one, but the same device that hid her true form from the humans around them, also covered any mess that may be on her face.

"Because this isn't your home reality, nor is it one your instructor has been taking you to, but it is similar, and as a Shadow, you need to be able to understand and be aware of both the similarities and the differences. Otherwise you're going to be limited in how well you disappear into the background.

At that moment, four costumed characters entered the restaurant making as much noise as possible.

"Wasn't that a fun costume party guys?" inquired the guy who seemed to be leading them. He was a large fellow, though not as large as his companion with the green flaming skull, and clad in purple and black with a red star covering most of his face.

"Oh yes. The best part was when me and Carol here walked in and literally everybody thought we were strippers!" said one of the ladies of the group. A gorgeous red head dressed as a fashion model, and clearly comfortable with her own sexuality. Unlike the other woman of the group who clearly voiced her offence at the misconception. Even though her purple and black costume hugged a shapely figure, she hid more than her face behind her purple mask. Still Beacon found her, and the man who first spoke, strangely familiar

"They sure aren't trying to blend in," Gila muttered. Ignoring the rest of what they were saying.

True, but they are being dismissed," Beacon said as he munched his fries and studied both the newcomers and how the other patrons reacted to them. "Look at how no one, not even you, is paying close attention."

"Why should we? I mean they're just four people from a costume party."

"Even the over muscled fellow with the flaming skull?" Beacon asked with amusement. "There are two ways to disappear Gila. The Shadows use this way because it's the best for long term information gathering. Those four villains, on the other hand, are just trying to get some food without causing a panic. So they make an entrance that gets everyone's attention and give their audience a reason to ignore them. It won't last long, as eventually people will start asking questions, but they only need it to last long enough for them to get their food and leave."

"How do you know they're villains Father?"

"Similarities and differences my dear. Similarities and…" his voice trailed off as he finally realized why two members of the group were so familiar to him. "So this is where they sent you," he said in awe.

"Sent who Father? What are you talking about?"

"Something terrible that happened in the organization long before you joined," he replied distractedly. Then he snapped out of it. "I'll tell you when we get back home. Finish your fries."

"Yes Father." they turned their attention back to their food, but out of the corner of his eye, Beacon watched the four villains, Atomic Skull, Volcana, Evil Star, and Star Sapphire, as they gathered their food and left the restaurant. The group of four was too busy being noticed to notice him, and the two he recognized, the two he once called friends, wouldn't recognize him even if he shook their hands. Not after what had been done to them. But he still wished them well.