This particular morning, Violet Haze decided to put Tawny Bimbo and Tangerine Mistress through some extra training.

"Work harder," demanded Violet. "You need to build those muscles. You can't always rely on your mental powers in a fight."

"I'm trying," strained Tawny on the weight set. "It's just too much!"

"Nonsense! You have to push yourself. No pain, no gain."

"I can't!" Tawny collapsed, causing the weights to fall back with a crash as her arms fell to her sides.

"You're pathetic!" shouted Violet. "You're weak and useless! You wouldn't last five minutes on the battlefield!"

Outraged, Tangerine Mistress jumped off the treadmill to confront her comrade.

"Back off, mister!" engaged Tangerine. "You already push us too hard as it is."

"Neither of you know anything about being pushed too hard," shouted Violet in response. "You both have it easy compared to the thousands of men I have trained and sent into combat."

"Listen here, you stupid jarhead," pointed Tangerine. "We're not one of your soldiers. We're not preparing for war. And I'm not about to let you treat Rajilot, or anyone else on the team this way anymore."

"I don't see what you can do about it!"

"Why it's simple. We can leave." And with that, Tangerine teleported Tawny Bimbo and herself out of the gym.

Back in the break room, Violet Haze explained the morning's events to Team Rainbow team leader Ebon Huntress.

"I don't understand it," Violet questioned. "I don't really think I have pushed either one of them any harder than normal. And I have never seen Janyx ever get so angry about anything before either."

"It is strange," replied Ebon. "But you need to remember that we aren't a platoon of soldiers as she said. Most of our success comes from planning and working as a team. We're not trying to invade other worlds, or overthrow corrupt overlords. We're bringing criminals to justice."

"I know," Violet sighed. "Sometimes I miss those days though. Objectives were clear and precise. And you always knew what you were fighting for."

"And you don't now?"

"Sometimes I am not sure," admitted Violet. "Don't get me wrong. This is important work. It's just; sometimes the line drawn by the law gets grey."

"It does indeed," agreed Ebon. "But justice never does. And in that, we shall always prevail."

"Yeah, you're right. It's a pity you were never one of the generals I served under in my previous campaigns. I bet nothing could ever stop you."

"You are too generous," smiled Ebon. "But I would never want to command more than a platoon, and right now I do. I lead the platoon known as Team Rainbow, and you are its master sergeant. It's your job to make sure I have a happy and able team."

"You're right again. I'll go track down Janyx and Rajilot and see if I can make amends."

Violet Haze spent several minutes checking the rooms for Tangerine Mistress and Tawny Bimbo. It wasn't until he walked into the library that he was shocked to find the two of them passionately making out on one of the couches.

"What!" stammered Violet? "What are the two of you doing?"

"What does it look like we are doing?" smiled Tangerine in response.

"But, you can't... I mean, you're both... you know..."

"Lovers?" giggled Tawny.

"Teammates!" shouted Violet in response.

"So," replied Tangerine. "What's that have to do with anything? There's no rule against it."

"We'll see about that. I'm going to report this to Darna immediately." Turning with a huff, Violet Haze stomped out of the room.

In the briefing room, Ebon Huntress found herself faced with a crisis she never expected to handle.

"First off," started Ebon, "I want you to know I don't believe either of you have done anything wrong. What goes on between two consenting adults is strictly their own business. That being said, I am forced to agree with Lazlo on this issue."

"What?" questioned Tawny and Tangerine simultaneously.

"But you said..." began Tangerine.

"That what you do in your personal life is your business," interrupted Ebon. "But the problem is you are both members of Team Rainbow."

"I don't understand," pondered Tawny.

"To make this simple, we can't have team members involved with each other on such a personal level. Suppose an adversary was to take one of you prisoner. I am sure the other would run off half cocked to save the other without thinking about it."

"You don't know that for certain," scowled Tangerine.

"Perhaps not. Nevertheless, if it did, you could be putting yourself, as well as the entire team at risk. You might reveal team secrets. Or even worse, you could possibly sacrifice another teammate to save each other."

"But we love each other," said Tawny, nearly sobbing.

"I understand, Rajilot," Ebon sympathized. "I really do. However, I have to think of the team first. And I'm going to have to forbid you from seeing each other as long as you are a part of this team."

"Then that settles it," announced Tangerine Mistress as she stood up from the table and walked over to console Tawny Bimbo. "As of this moment, you can officially take our names off the team roster."

"You can't be serious," stated Violet.

Back in the briefing room, Ebon Huntress gathered the remaining team members together for an important meeting.

"I know that it has been hard on everyone to see Janyx and Rajilot leave," began Ebon. "However, we need to think to the future, not only for the team, but for the world we have all vowed to protect."

"What do you suggest?" inquired Emerald Guardian.

"Perhaps it is time to recruit some new members," replied Ebon. "Certainly we are not the only beings with special abilities on this world, and certainly not in the universe."

"Recruiting from other worlds would be difficult at this time," informed Avenger.

"I still have my military contacts," piped in Violet. "I could easily get a couple recruits in here in a pinch."

"That's the last thing we need," smirked Crimson. "Another one of you."

"Simmer down, Raynor," scolded Ebon. "Personal comments aside, you may have a point. Lazlo's recruits may be no better than trained police officers. We need members with personality and diversity. John, I need to you to put together a list of potential candidates that are within a reasonable travel distance. Lazlo, it'll be up to you to evaluate the candidates for possible recruitment."

Ebon was taking a break in the game room in the early afternoon to unwind from some of the previous day's stress when Captain Crimson and Azure Maiden came to visit her.

"Darna," interrupted Crimson. "Alize and I have something we wish to tell you."

"Allow me to guess," replied Ebon. "You think it was a mistake to let Janyx and Rajilot go."

"We're sure you did what you did for the right reasons," assured Azure. "However, that's not what we are here to discuss."

"You see," stuttered Crimson. "Alize and I have also been seeing each other."

"And now you are going to leave too," responded Ebon shaking her head at the floor.

"No," affirmed Crimson. "Alize and I have talked about it, and we both want to stay on the team. We both love being a part of Team Rainbow."

"And we don't want to leave any of the friends we have made here," added Azure. "In fact, to me, you are all more like my family."

"Why, thank you," Ebon said, trying to hold back her tears.

"We just wanted you to know we had been seeing each other," acknowledged Crimson. "And we have agreed to stop now for the sake of the team."

"Raynor, you have come a long way since I first met you and brought you on the team. I'm very proud of both of you for your decision."

"We've had a great example to learn from."

Catching her breath and taking a moment to compose herself, Ebon headed into the break room for quick refreshment where she found Chromed Avenger and Emerald Guardian deep in a conversation.

"Don't tell me the two of you are dating as well," joshed Ebon as she sat down at the table to join them. Avenger and Guardian paused for a moment to look at each before facing their team leader.

"Kryss is a plant," stated Avenger. "I am a machine. Other than a love of science, we have nothing really in common with each other."

"Besides," informed Emerald, "My days of budding and blooming are years past."

"Relax, you two," laughed Ebon. "Raynor and Alize just told me that they had been seeing each other. They have both agreed to stop."

"This is very disturbing," warned Avenger. "I am familiar with the brotherly love that seems to manifest itself among comrades in arms, however half our teammates seem to have been romantically involved."

"It was bound to happen sooner or later," Emerald pitched in.

"But the probability would have been later rather than sooner. Mathematically, this is well beyond the limit of accepted odds. Are you by chance emitting any special pheromones we don't know about, Kryss?"

"Easy there, John. After all the time you have spent on this planet, you still haven't seemed to grasp that nature has a way of always defying the odds."

"Then perhaps we should reconsider acquiring new members."

"What?" blurted Ebon nearly spraying her drink everywhere.

"Well, if Team Rainbow is going to become a breeding ground..."

"I think what we have are a couple of isolated incidents," assured Ebon. "I will not abandon any hope that this team can rebuild itself. This world needs us."

The creature swam up to the shore and surfaced before Violet Haze. To his surprise, the creature was a boy, barely a teenager by human standards.

"Can I help you?" asked the boy politely.

"Are you Nahl Shilari?" inquired Violet.

"Yes, and you are Violet Haze of Team Rainbow, are you not?"

"I am. Listen. This is probably a mistake, but we are currently recruiting new members, and your name is on my list."

"Why do you think it's a mistake?"

"Well, look at you? I doubt you are even old enough to drive."

"I have never liked vehicles that much. They are too confining. I like the water. It's fluid and tranquil. I love swimming in the ocean. It reminds me of my home world, a beautiful ocean planet. It only has one continent, and it is small. Our people built a spaceport there. And the beaches are always crowded."

"Wait. You live in the water?"

"For the most part, I was born and raised in the oceans of our planet."

"So, you are an aquatic."

"Actually, on this world, it would be closer to say that I resemble an amphibian."

"I see. But you can breathe underwater."

"As easily as I breathe the air we are speaking in."

"Well, you have talents we actually could use," spoke a surprised Violet Haze. "And you act very well mannered. How would you like to visit our headquarters for an official interview?"

"Please, don't take this the wrong way, but what interest would I have in joining Team Rainbow?"

"Amazing. You're the first person I have talked to today that hasn’t jumped at the chance."

"Well, it's because I love the freedom of the oceans and the lakes and the places they can take me. One day I will have explored all the water of this world. And then I will be ready to move on to the next."

"Then why not spend it with us. Team Rainbow isn't always about fighting the bad guys. We're heroes too. Think of all the people you could save in diving or deep-sea accidents. That would allow you the time to explore as well."

"Interesting, I had not thought of that. Still, I really do not like being confined to any one space."

"Well, I can not force you to become a member of our team. However, I implore you to please think heavily and consider it. I will let our manager know to expect you should you change your mind."

"I will consider it," replied Nahl. Taking a last moment to watch Violet Haze continue on his journey, Nahl sighed deeply and dove back into the water.

After a long day of prospecting potential teammates, Violet Haze met Ebon Huntress in the briefing room to discuss his results.

"You only found one?" Ebon asked surprisingly.

"And I can't even guarantee him," sighed Violet. "Almost everyone I interviewed seemed too eager, almost like a groupie, or not proficient in their skills. Some didn't even really have any skills at all."

"And this was just a local sampling of the possible candidates. Expanding the search could take days, weeks, possibly even years."

"I don't think I could survive that long," groaned Violet. "And I am certain the criminal element would never allow us the time either."

"I concur. It is fortunate that the only major crisis we seem to be having right now is our own. So, tell me, do you think he'll show?"

"I don't know, Darna. I hope so. However, even if he does, and he agrees, that's only one replacement member. There will still be one vacancy."

"Then I suggest you get a good night's rest Lazlo, and plan on several more. By the sound of it, you're going to need it."

Across town the next day, Rajilot Gygliou and Janyx Laroux were moving into their new home.

"It's beautiful, Jan," shouted Rajilot as she jumped into Janyx's arms.

"Calm down, Raji," Janyx laughed. "I might as well carry you in."

"You are such a sweetheart. I don't know what I would do without you."

After taking several hours to unpack and settle in, a very exhausted Janyx and Rajilot sat down at their kitchen table to relax and catch their breath.

"I never thought we had that much stuff," spoke an exhausted Rajilot.

"You have forgotten about all the stuff you brought from your home world that has been in storage all this time," reminded Janyx.

"You're right. I forgot about that stuff."

"I know. It was easy to forget about my past once I joined Team Rainbow."

“It seemed we always had something to do. There was never a moment's rest."

"But we had a lot of fun times as well."

"You had a lot of fun, you mean. All the little practical jokes you and Raynor used to pull."

"Yeah, well, I always knew you were in the corner ready to calm everyone down if things got too out of hand. And if I'm not mistaken, you usually had a smile on your face."

"It was funny to watch," giggled Rajilot. "You always could make me laugh. That's what I love about you." Rajilot paused to for a moment to shift her eyes down at the table. "Jan, I really miss not being in Team Rainbow. Do you think it was a mistake to leave?"

"My sweet, Raji, I didn't want to leave. But I also didn't want to give up the relationship I have with you. I don't fault Darna for the choice she had to make."

"I could never be angry with her either. I just wish there had been someway we all could have stayed together."

"Me too, Raji," spoke Janyx as she got up to put her arms around Rajilot. "Me too."

Several days passed when a surprise visitor arrived at Team Rainbow's front door.

"May I help you?" greeted Winston Morris, Team Rainbow's house manager.

:"Yes, sir. My name is Nahl Shilari. I was invited by Violet Haze to interview for a position in Team Rainbow."

"Yes, young sir. Your name is on the guest list. Please take the stairs to the fourth floor, and enter the briefing room through the first set of double doors. I shall inform Violet Haze and Ebon Huntress that you are here, and they will be with you shortly."

It wasn't long after Nahl sat down at the briefing room table when Ebon Huntress and Violet Haze entered the room, followed by Chromed Avenger and Emerald Guardian.

"Thank you for coming," greeted Ebon Huntress as she sat down at the table.

"I wasn't sure if you would ever show up," informed Violet. "What changed your mind?"

"I spent a lot of time thinking about what you said a few days ago," started Nahl. "I still wasn't convinced that joining Team Rainbow was in my best interest. Then yesterday, while I was swimming in the ocean about 100 miles off the coast of Pleasantview, I found a ship that had sunk to the ocean floor. It appeared some kind of explosion was the cause of its condition. Searching through the remains I found cabin after cabin filled with the dead decaying bodies of the passengers and crew, people that apparently never had a chance to escape."

"The catastrophe of the Lady Maria," informed Avenger. "It was a luxury vehicle carrying over 100 passengers. Reports from what few people survived indicated a malfunction in the engine room caused a massive explosion in the hull, capsizing the ship within minutes. Very few people survived."

"I couldn't help but think that if I had been there, I could have helped save them," said Nahl with a sigh. "I realized I would not have been able to save them all myself. And then I remembered Violet talking about being part of a team, and I figured that a team would have been able to save every last one."

"A noble sentiment," assured Emerald. "However, I would not feel comfortable that you would want to join out of a sense of guilt."

"No," assessed Nahl. "I don't feel guilty. What's happened has happened. However, what really led me to consider joining are the skills I could learn being a part of your team. There's only so much I could do as one person."

"Violet Haze was right about you," affirmed Ebon. "For being such a young man, you are very thoughtful and compassionate. My only question at this point is what concerns do you have about joining?"

"Would I have to live here?"

"Well, all members are supposed to be on call 24 hours a day. You never know when an emergency is going to arise."

"That's not what I was trying to imply. Please don't take this the wrong way. I'm not claustrophobic, but I don't really like closed in spaces. I want to feel the ocean waters around me as much as possible."

"It would be possible to construct a submerged tunnel or conduit that would lead from the ocean into our swimming pool," informed Avenger. "A secure entry system could be devised to only allow members of Team Rainbow access."

"You would do that for me?" asked Nahl in surprise.

"Of course we would," acknowledged Ebon. "We have very few actual rules for membership. Mostly we strive to achieve goals that we set to make ourselves better people and the world a safer place. There is a lot of training and hard work, but I believe the rewards are worth the effort."

"I never would have expected any of this. Most of the people I have dealt with were selfish and interested only in personal gain."

"From our point of view, we would be gaining a valuable new member to our team."

"Still, your intentions are more noble than most."

"We try to be. We don't always succeed."

"No one is perfect."

"This is true," responded Ebon slightly dropping her head to gaze briefly at Violet. "In any case, we can always discuss the merits of society. If there are no objections from the other senior members, I would like to officially offer you a position on Team Rainbow Super Force. Will you accept?"

Several minutes passed as the members of Team Rainbow waited patiently for a response. A thin layer of sweat was begging to form on Violet's brow when Nahl finally spoke.

"Alright, I'll do it," agreed Nahl. "I will join Team Rainbow." With almost a sigh of relief, Ebon Huntress walked around the table to greet their new teammate properly.

"Congratulations and thank you," said Ebon shaking Nahl's hand. "You don't need to start immediately. It'll take a couple of days for John to get everything set up."

"John?" asked Nahl.

"Chromed Avenger. Now that you are a member of our team, you'll learn all our real names. Just remember not to use them in public."

"I believe that goes without saying."

"And the same shall apply to you. You will need a uniform, and I'll have Kryss, Emerald Guardian, design something that will work well spending most of your time in the water. Last but not least, you will need a name, so allow me to be the first to welcome you to Team Rainbow Super Force, Cyan Aide."

Ebon Huntress and Violet Haze watched as Cyan Aide left the room with Chromed Avenger and Emerald Guardian, already deep in discussions over the designs and materials to be used.

"One down, one to go," said Violet as he got up from his chair to face his team leader at the front of the room. "For a minute, I didn't think you would be able to convince him to join."

"Don't make the mistake I convinced him to do anything," acknowledged Ebon. "I think all he really needed to do was convince himself."

"His heart certainly was in the right place."

"So were Janyx and Rajilot's hearts. But now they are gone."

"Did they really have to leave?"

"Lazlo, you are the last person I would ever expect to ask that question."

"I know. However, I've been thinking a lot recently, about some of the things you said to me a few days ago. Maybe I have been being too hard on the junior members of the team. Maybe I should stop trying to run this team like it's a platoon of ground pounders during an invasion or siege. Maybe I should take a step back and realize exactly what I have in front of me."

"Lazlo, what are you saying?"

"That we are a family, Darna. Sure, we're dysfunctional, but what family isn't. At least we can be proud of the fact that we don't have a weird uncle."

"Lazlo, those are very noble sentiments. But I know you. There is something more to this. Please, tell me what it is."

"Darna, what I want to say, I could never bring myself to say. It is something I have never said to anyone, ever."

"Please, tell me."

"Darna, I am in love with you," said Violet as he got down on one knee.

"Lazlo," whispered Ebon. "Oh, Lazlo. Somehow, I knew. I think I have known for sometime now."

"You have? And you've said nothing?"

"How could I? You see, I'm in love with you too."

"Darna, I have always admired strong women. But you are by far the strongest woman I know."

"Lazlo, I have always gained strength and comfort from the confidence you have in every situation, even when there seemed to be no hope."

"So, what are we going to do now?" Violet asked while standing back up.

"What do you mean?"

"We have just revealed our feelings to one another."

"I don't know. It would be inappropriate for us to have a relationship and be teammates."

"Why?"

"Lazlo, didn't you listen to what I said to Janyx and Rajilot? We could be putting ourselves and the entire team in danger."

"I did listen to you, Darna. However, I've also been thinking. As I said before, we're more than teammates. We're family. And family always takes care of each other. And with the amount of love in this family, together we can overcome anything."

Ebon Huntress leaned over to give Violet Haze a simple kiss.

"I don't think I could ever say no to you," Ebon whispered sweetly.

"So, what do you say?" Violet asked smiling softly.

"Alright, I'll rescind the policy. You're right. We are family. Even John would have to see the logic in your argument. Call Raynor and Alize back in here. I'll let them know they can start seeing each other again if they wish. After that, I'll track down Rajilot and Janyx and ask them if they would like to come back as well."

Arriving in the briefing room, Ebon Huntress explained to Captain Crimson and Azure Maiden Team Rainbow's new policy towards fraternization.

"Are you sure?" inquired Crimson reluctantly.

"Yes, Raynor," assured Ebon. "It's alright. Just make sure anything the two of you do stays in private. I will be making the same request of Janyx and Rajilot."

"You're going to ask them to come back?" asked Azure in anticipation.

"Yes, Alize."

"Cool. I'm going to go get their rooms ready. I can't wait to see them again."

Walking inside, Ebon found herself quickly greeted by Janyx.

"Darn... I mean, Ebon Huntress," greeted Janyx. "What a great surprise to see you."

"It's alright, Janyx," assured Ebon Huntress. "From the look of things, I doubt anyone is eavesdropping. Feel free to call me by my real name."

"Thanks, Darna. It seems like forever since we last saw each other. I know it's only been a week, but both of us have really missed you."

"Your absence has been noticed as well."

Janyx led Ebon Huntress on a short tour of the house. Ebon was amazed at how well it appeared the former members had adjusted back to normal life. She soon began to wonder if her former companions would even want to return. Sitting down at the kitchen table, Ebon Huntress and Janyx began to reminisce about their adventures as Team Rainbow.

"Janyx, how would you like to come back to Team Rainbow?"

"Darna, please don't ask that of me," replied Janyx becoming very serious. "I meant what I said before, that I never want to leave Rajilot's side. I love her. And there is no way I would rejoin Team Rainbow without her."

"Janyx, I am sorry I didn't make my self clear. I would like both of you to come back to Team Rainbow?"

"Now you must be joking."

"No, I'm not. After some consideration, I admit I was wrong to ask the two of you to leave in the first place. I should have realized how much more than friends we are now. I should have supported both of you, and found a way to allow you both to have your relationship as well as be members of the team."

"Then you would allow us to have our relationship and still be members of the team?"

"Yes. In fact, it turns out you two weren’t the only ones. Raynor and Alize have also been dating. And now, it might be Lazlo and me."

"Well, it's about time," smiled Janyx. "Raji has known how the two of you have felt for months now. How did it happen? I want details."

"I think you would have appreciated it the most," laughed Ebon. "It was very touching and very beautiful. Lazlo really does have a very warm heart under all that hard exterior. You should have seen him down on one knee in the briefing room..."

"The briefing room?" laughed Janyx as she nearly fell out of her chair. "Darna, I'm sorry. But if I come back, I am going to give the two of you dating lessons."

"You might at that," laughed Ebon. "Wait, what do you mean if? Are you saying you still might not want to come back?"

"Darna, Raji and I have talked about nothing but how much we miss being on the team. Believe me, we would love the chance to rejoin and become a part of Team Rainbow again."

"I sense a but in there."

"I think it's best if I show you," Janyx said as she got up from the table. "I didn't want to disturb her while she was resting, but I can tell she's up now." Janyx led Ebon Huntress back into the living room. "Raji, we have company," Shouted Janyx into the other room. "Come say hi to Darna."

"I'll be right there," replied Rajilot from the other room.

"Darna, I really would love to rejoin Team Rainbow. Raji would love to as well. There's just one small problem."

"Hi, Darna," smiled Rajilot as she entered the room. Ebon was about to reach over and give Rajilot a hug when she noticed what the small problem was, and brought her hand to her forehead as if in mental agony.