B3 (Blue Beetle X OC): The Unchangeable

Chapter 6: League of Shadows? More like League of Loneliness

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Chloe's POV

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I kicked an apple as I walked through Lucas' many apple trees. I noticed a large burn mark in several. He probably wasn't happy about that. I brushed one off and took a bite. Still tastes good. "Have you tried apples yet, Forager? They're incredible!" A girl's voice, heavily accented, exclaimed. I turned to see the other two newbies. One was Prince Brion Markov, from Markovia. He looked as good as the magazines. The other was Halo, who nobody knew much about. Artemis had tried to explain a little bit about her to me, but it went in one ear and out the other. "New Genesis? That's another-" Brion began, but Halo cut him off. "New Genesis is one of two planets of origin to the New gods. The leader of New Genesis is Highfather, who lives on the floating city of Supertown. The surface of the planet is inhabited by a race of sentient bugs, oh like you!" Halo explains as she looks up at Forager. Living dictionary, noted.

"Halo knows much of Forager's world." Forager muttered in awe. "Yes, she does. Halo, how do you know all that?" Artemis asks as she takes a step forward. "I don't know, I just do." Halo mutters in response as she looks down at her large pile of apples. "So, you're an alien. I can't believe I'm meeting a real alien!" Brion exclaimed. "Uh, hello, I'm from Mars, and Conner's half kryptonian?" M'gann stated. "Yes, of course! But Forager is a real alien!" Brion replied, ignoring everything M'gann said. "Brion is the alien to Forager." Forager replied in confusion. "Yes, you would think that, wouldn't you?" Brion said as he laughed. "Forager's life was in danger on New Genesis, so we brought him here for his own protection." M'gann said softly. "Forager is in exile from Forager's home." Forger muttered sadly. "From one exile to another, welcome to Earth." Brion said as he placed a hand on Forager's shoulder. "Forager thanks Brion." Forager replied. "Seriously, Forager, you have to try the apples." Halo said excitedly.

Then all three turned to look at me. I was leaning against a tree, munching on an apple. "Oh, don't mind me, just watching." I said as I took another bite of my apple. "And you are?" Brion asked. "Chloe Crimson, fourth alien here." I said as I stuck my hand out, which Brion shook. "Chloe Crimson, second and youngest daughter of Helman Lord Drager, conquerer of worlds. 107th holder of the Champion, and heir to the throne of Helma. The Helmans have been around for thousands of millennias, and are known for conquering and destroying worlds. They have two mythical figures known as 'Champions' and are guardians of the race. Chloe Crimson is currently the last remaining Helman known to mankind. " Halo said as looked at her apples again. I blinked as I thought of my past. "Of course you know all of that." I muttered sadly. "Conqueror?" Brion asked. "Nope, no, no, no. I don't do that anymore. Now, I'm just Chloe, or Volt, or whatever you want to call me!" I quickly spat out, and he nodded.

"It is good to see Chloe Crimson again." Forager said as he wrapped his arms around me and gave me a hug. I still hadn't gotten over the fact he was a bug, so I gave him a tiny smile and hugged him back, and also did my best not to scream. "Forager thinks Miss. Martian and Miss. Martian's friends are trying to figure out what to do with Forager." Forager said quietly as Violet stacked apples into his hands. "They do that a lot." Violet and Brion said in sync. Before I could tease them about it, M'gann, Conner, and Artemis walked over. "Chloe!" Artemis exclaimed as she wrapped me in a hug. "Artemis!" I yelled back as I accepted her hug. "Is Dick on the way?" She asked after we broke free. "Yup, he just wanted to catch up with Babs." I asked. "So, they're 'catching up'?" Artemis asked as she wiggled her eyebrows. I smiled. "Oh yeah, they're catching up." I replied, and we both grinned. "You two are gross." Conner said as he appeared next to us, and we both laughed.

"Hey, how've you been?" I asked as I gave Conner a side hug. "Good." He replied as he smiled. "How's the Grand Carr Hotel?" I asked, gesturing to Lucas' house. "It's... holding." M'gann said as she came up next to Conner, and I wrapped her into a hug too. Then I noticed it. A shiny, sparkly, diamond ring on her finger. I gasped and looked at her hand, and she smiled as she looked down at her hand. "When's the wedding?" I asked excitedly. "TBD." Conner replied, and I groaned. "Anyway, Brion, Forager, how would you guys like to share your own place?" M'gann asked as she leaned against the red car. I grinned at her idea. "Sleeping in the car?" Brion asked in disgust. "No, not a car." M'gann said as she turned to the ship, and her eyes glowed green. I watched as Jeff came from the garage, where the zeta tubes were, with a big cup of coffee. He had a smaller one in hand, which was presumably the one I ordered. He gasped and jumped back as the car, Bioship, transformed into a larger camper. Jeff spilled his coffee all over the front of his white shirt.