Quasar held a meeting in Solarman’s quarters, along with Ken Connell, the Star Brand. There were two problems that had to be addressed at the next Space Flight meeting. The first was Kayla Ballantine, Wendell’s secretary at Vaughn Security Systems, telling the tale of a ninja called Shiro Hanada wanting information on Wendell Vaughn, Quasar’s secret identity. The other was directed by Connell of the problems he had of the Old Man and the Star Child wanting to be separated from him. There was a time when they were separated and it was just disastrous. *

(*See New Universe #12- Star Gregg.)

It was at that moment that Judge Justice entered the room. He looked concerned over his friends’ and team-mates’ problems lately. Then, a hologram of the Old Man appeared in front of Ken Connell and the assemblage and he was wearing his usual attire that he was wont to wear.

“Old Man,” Ken Connell said, almost screaming at his enemy. “What do you want now?”

“The Star-Child has allowed me to separate from you, Connell. We are tired from being locked up in that infernal prison of your mind and body. We are holed up in a space ship, similar to the Comet Ship. You will join us there, so that we can put an end to you, once and for all.”

“Are you crazy, Old man,” Ken asked, as he felt his body discorporate into nothingness. Ken didn’t just discorporate but was transported aboard the apace ship. He faded away.

Judge Justice raced over to where Ken was standing and fell onto the ground. Ken and the Old Man hologram was gone. ‘Well, what do we do now, people?” he asked.

“Now,” Quasar said, “that I find out about my girlfriend Kayla and what she is doing, selling secrets to Shiro Hanada, that ninja businessman.”

“Good plan, Quaze,” Solarman said. He flew out of the room to find the Space Flight.

“Are you sure you won’t be joining us on this one, Wendell?” Judge Justice asked.

“No, I have other pressing matters at hand to do first.” Quasar banged his quantum bands together and flew out the window of the room on his way to Vaughn Security Systems. It was there that he would find Kayla Ballantine, traitor to Quasar.
Judge Justice was left all alone in the room. This looked to be a tough mission. The Old Man, the Star-Child, alien space ships… it was all getting to be a bit daunting for him and what he was used to in his world.

SoHo, New York. The door to the building that houses the SoHo Court House slams close, its ultimate throng reverberating like the sounding of a grand church bell. Out from the majestic justice and legal hall walk out stiffly and sternly David Landers and Stephanie Harrington. Stephanie licks her lips, trying with all her might to calm herself, at the same time that she brushes through her long blonde hair. David, on the other hand, turns around, seeing Stephie’s ex-husband-- Chuck-- hurrying behind them.

As David ignores him, Chuck bursts out in anger. "Don't you dare turn your back on me!! You don't just storm into the court room, blaming me, poor l'il me, for bribing the judge, and then, take your leave?! You won't get away with this, David!!"

Landers faces his brunette, former love rival, snickering as his nostrils flare and his lips crinkle. "First of all, the justice of the peace told me herself last week that you yourself gave her a few thousand American dollars to throw the case in your favor. Further more, she got on tape what you did next. You hired a couple of government agents to offer her a proposition that she just couldn't refuse. She may herself face charges brought up for accepting the bribes in the first place. But, what I'm going to do is sue you for all the money that was involved in the two bribes, which is almost a million bucks. Not only am I going to win my money back but I'm going to take everything that you own. In a couple of months, you're gonna be penniless and on the streets, begging for anything that you can get your dirty hands on, where you rightfully belong." A deep smile spreads across his face.

Chuck's rage builds up within him, like the negative emotions were being soaked into a sponge. "Aaahhh!!! I'll kill you for this, David."

Swiftly, Landers slaps his hands on to Chuck's hirsute cheeks. "You don't have to thank me just yet, Chuck."

Consequently, he is left there, standing dumbfounded and completely unresponsive.

A few hours later, a very dark non-descript rented Plymouth Reliant pulls into a winding, narrow street in SoHo, New York. The road goes on for about a couple of miles and on each side, tall, green trees flourish the otherwise dull scenery. The automobile makes a complete stop on the right side of the gutter and pulls into park.

David Landers takes out the key from the ignition and pockets it within his jacket. He then, smiling, turns to Stephanie, who seems a little bit on edge. "Well, here we are."

"Yeh. We are."

"If you haven't noticed, I'm in such a great mood today. A mood for burning Chuck and for something else." Unbuckling his seat belt, he moves over closer to her, slinging one arm around her shoulders.

"Oh-- okay." Stephanie wiggles her body, trying all her best to find the most comfortable position she can. Scant seconds later, she closes her eyes romantically and tilts her head back, puckering her lips. Then, David touches his smooth lips to hers. She remains completely still, as her boyfriend curls his mouth all around her.

"What's wrong, Stephanie?"

"Nothing. No, that's not true, it's-- oh, I don't know. Maybe I'm just plain-old depressed but I actually-- mind you-- feel sorry for Chuck." She wipes the crust from her blue eyes.

"What, are you crazy?! Were you listening to me when I told him all the insane things that he did to you and at my trial?! He's a crook, straight and true. And I mean to bust his butt to the floor. A guy like that doesn't even deserve a nice comment on his suit. He's slime, believe me."

Stephanie lolls her head to the left side. "Even if we win the trial, do you realize how much of his life you'll take? He'll have nothing left."

“That's the whole point, Stephie. I don't think you really understand, really know who Chuck is. When we got married, it was love at first sight. It was even more magical than the romance we-- you and I-- displayed for each other. But as the years dredged on, we found ourselves growing apart. The love, the flame was being extinguished. You decided to get a divorce but something in him snapped. He didn't only want to get separated, hhe wanted everything that you had when you were married. Your money, your self-esteem, your self-respect. I'm only doing onto others, as others do unto me."

“Two wrongs do not make a right."

“Oh, Stephie, don't hand me that cliche crap on me. That may work on kids, but not on me. I'm a grown man."

“David, oh please, I--" She hesitates in mid-sentence, her ears attuning to the background noise all around them. "Someone's coming."

"Stay right here, I'll check it out." Hearing the metal door slam close behind him, Landers scans the road for any strange persons. He finds nary a one.
Suddenly, Dave sees two things; three figures descending from the heavens and one lone jeep pulling up onto the parking lot. The three figures are Ken Connell, the Old Man, and the Star Child, separated from their host. The Old Man had tried this before but this time, it looked like he succeeded.

Ken Connell walked over to Dave Landers and Stephie Harrington. “I’m sorry, Dave, but could you tell Judge Justice that I will be leaving the team for a time? I and my others elves are going exploring space and the universe, as it were. I have to come to terms with the great responsibility that comes with the Star Brand power. I am just too powerful to remain on Earth with my other selves. We are going to decide what we are going to do with this tattoo that I have in the palm of my hand and our imaginations are getting bigger.”

“I wish you the best of luck, Ken,” Dave said. “I know that it must have been something important to come away from destroying Pittsburgh, after the Old Man created the White Event.”

“I wish you luck, also, Ken,” Stephanie said, hugging Ken tightly, her glitter energies encasing him for a moment.

“I will miss you guys.” With that, Ken Connell, the Old Man, and the Star Child flew under their own powers to the heavens and space above them.

A Native American man approached Dave and Stephie. “I guess that’s my cue,” Gene Proudhawk said, shaking Dave’s hand. “I’ve had my soul searching time across the country and have found myself lacking. If it is all right with Judge Justice, I will like to rejoin the team.”

“It will be like you never left,” Dave said. “C’mon, you can follow us in your jeep.”

Even though Ken Connell has left the team temporarily, Dave Landers felt that this was a home coming of sorts.

THE END