The call had gone out to all allied planets the Cosmic Legion, greatest of the superhero teams had been looking to recruit new members. The main headquarters was located on the moon of humanity's ancestral home in the Sol System.

You find yourself in what basically amounts to a waiting room. Several other heroes of various sapient races wait with you. Some pacing nervously, some reading or watching some tablets and yet others are even meditating.

A voice came over the loudspeaker:

"Group twelve please come through the doors."

m-Taa stepped through the doors, trying to keep her empathy dampened; the nervous excitement of an event like this could lead to a feedback loop if she wasn't careful.

Rah felt awkward as she waited for the try-out to begin.  Normally, of course, she was strong.  She'd faced the Gargantuas of her homeworld in battle, time and again, until their threat had finally been eliminated.  (Demobilization would have been hard, but she wasn't ready to stop.  And that's why she was here...)

She had confidence in how she'd handle the try-out, of course.  The powers of any of the Titan Corps were formidable, and she was possibly the strongest member of that group, able to safely channel and use the awesome, semi-divine power of the Gargantuas themselves.  Even such an elite group as the Cosmic Legion would have to recognize it!  It was backed by skill, too-- she was experienced, tried and tested.  Her tail lashed in the air as she looked down from her perch at the others...

Well, that was the problem, wasn't it?  She was in the land of giants.  Unless she used the Power, she was a fraction of the size of any of them.  (She was still stronger and tougher than the ordinary giants, by a large margin, but still, they all towered over her.  Their world was gigantic, all around her.

She had a solution... she was actually bigger than most of them when she changed.  But it felt strange, maintaining that form while actually inside a city.  She still had to be careful to not break things, too-- her raw power could easily overwhelm the trappings of the giants she'd come to live among.

But she wasn't going to just go around as a Titan anyway.  Not yet.  Let them see her as she truly was, her real self, and then also see...

...well...

...her other real self.  The power came so easily to her now.  Returning to her small size wasn't a release any more-- it was an effort.  She could still control it, of course, but it was very easy to maintain the power...

...And this was entirely enough introspection.  She stood up, small and proud, and as the speaker called her, she went confidently through the doors.

Inside the room was a large desk with three figures sitting above the three of you in the room.

"This will be rather simple, so put yourself at ease," a male voice said. "We'll pick one of you to start and then run each of you through some tests and ask you some questions."

"We'll start with you," another male voice said. "Please state your name, planet of origin and your powers."

Rah stood forward proudly.  She looked up at the Giants towering above her, attempting to meet their gazes.  This was... difficult.  She'd need to do something about that... well, soon enough.

"I am Zigeru Rah," she said, "and as the last active member of the Titan Corps of Chiren II, I am called Titan!  The Titan Corps, if you aren't familiar with it--" and few were-- "is an elite squad of young soldiers who channel the raw power of the Gargantuas of our homeworld in order to do battle with them.  As for powers... I suppose that it's significant that as a Chiren, I am much, much smaller than you, which might come in handy for stealth purposes at times.  But that's not really what my powers are.
 I am the strongest member that the Titan Corps ever had-- I possess tremendous strength and toughness at all times.  But what you see here now is not the true expression of my power..."

She stepped forward, and was enveloped by a red glow-- and suddenly she was two meters tall, her tail lashing like a deadly weapon, her voice booming.  The three who were judging them were still above her, but now she was at their own level in one important regard.

"This is," she said.  "I am strong and tough; I could easily absorb the firepower of a tank and then pick that tank up and throw it at another.  I can channel the power in me into a blast of power, as well, letting me fight at a difference, or battle multiple foes.  And I am an experienced fighter, having fought in a half-dozen battles.  My senses are also a bit sharper than they used to be; I can see in darkness, or identify people by smell.  I also heal quickly; I don't get sick, and can recover from the most serious of wounds, given time... do you have questions for me?"

The three figures started talking among themselves.

"We have no questions at this time," the first male voice said. "We will then move on to the physical aspects of your tryout."

You can hear a button being pressed and an obstacle course filled with lubes, ladders, nets, all kinds of things appeared.

"You will be timed and judged on your technique as you move through it," a woman's voice said. "You may begin when ready."

(OOC: You will now need to make five different rolls. All of them will be either an attribute, skill or power roll. Each roll must also be from a different one. The difficulty will start at ten and increase by three for each additional roll. Pleas also note by how many degrees of 4 you succeeded or failed by.)

Rah grinned, showing large canines.  A physical test was exactly the kind of thing she could handle, and well-- Titan Corps members were well-trained in such things, and her power made her physically formidable.  She charged fearlessly into the obstacle course, jumping, climbing, tossing obstacles aside or crashing through them, suddenly shrinking down to slow a fall or slip between the strands of a net nearly vanish from sight.

It was easy, and she was able to do it without causing too much collateral damage.

Rolls:
Athletics: 21 (Difficulty 10; 3 degrees)
Shrinking: 23 (Difficulty 13; 3 degrees)
Acrobatics: 31 (Difficulty 16; 4 degrees)
Toughness: 31 (Difficulty 19; 4 degrees)
Lifting Strength: 31 (Difficulty 22; 3 degrees
17 degrees altogether!

The figures talked among themselves when Rah finished, after a few minutes they stopped.

"We would like to take the time to thank you for participation. Once we have tested everyone, we will be announcing who is moving on the next round. Feel free to help yourself to the refreshments in the small waiting room in here," the woman's voice said to Rah. "For now, m-Taa, please begin by stating your name, powers, training, etc."

Rah would have preferred to know... but that was apparently the way that they did things here.  She went to the waiting room, released the energy to return to her original size, and set out to enjoy the feast set out for her.

And shortly thereafter expanded again.  It was too much of a pain to get a drink with Giant-sized utensils...

"I'm m-Taa Talvaar, of Maaline," m-Taa said. "My primary training is as a scientist and technologist, with a specialty in exobotany, and I've also invented some personal defensive devices.  As a species, we Maalinians are all receiving empaths, but I'm one of the rare individuals who has projecting powers as well.  I can use them to disable others as an offensive blast, or for more subtle manipulation."

"You may begin the course when you are ready," one of the male voices said.

While she wasn't out of shape by any means, m-Taa knew she was nowhere near as physically adept as Rah.  Instead, she chose to take it slowly, using her knowledge of science and technology to anticipate the course layout.  At one point she caught a flash of concern from somewhere that alerted her to a trap moments before it sprung.

[OOC:
Science: 10, roll 16, 2 degrees.
Empathy: 13, roll 18, 2 degrees.
Parry: 16, roll 21, 2 degrees.
Dodge: 19, roll 25, 2 degrees.
Perception: 22, roll 26, 2 degrees.

10 degrees.]
This message was last edited by the player at 23:56, Fri 03 Jan 2020.

The shadowy figures began talking among themselves again, eventually one of the male voices said.

"Thank you. You may also go enjoy the refreshments while we test the final group twelve hopeful. Please step forward and introduce yourself."
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:22, Sat 04 Jan 2020.

Rah raised a glass in salute to m-Taa.

"Nice," she said.  "I'm about the direct approach, but that was really well-done for thinking your way around the obstacles."

"Thanks," m-Taa said with a shrug. "I'm not a powerhouse like you, and empathy doesn't do much good against inanimate objects, but I am trained in observation."

"Well, one thing that I've learned is that intel and insight can be pretty important in a fight," said Rah.  "I'm Zigeru Rah, from Chiren II.  Zigeru is my family name."

She extended a hand, cautiously.  The world was so fragile...

"m-Taa Talvera, from Maaline," m-Taa said, taking her hand, while being careful not to accidentally invade her privacy.  One up side to her condition is that she could tune down her reception to a bare minimum, which made it much easier to deal with crowds of aliens, but it took conscious effort.

"Well, I think we have a pretty good chance of getting in," said Rah.  "If we do, let's go out to celebrate..."

She looked down to see what she could see of the other candidates.  What else might happen?

"I am Gredkor of the Haxdor. Mightiest warrior of my system! I am strength personified! Bring on your silly trials!" the massively muscled humanoid with bright red skin and black hair said.

"You may begin when ready," one of the male voices said.

With a mighty bellow, Gredkor charged into the obstacle course and through the obstacle course. It was clear that he was relying on pure strength alone. Gredkor laughed heartily as he finished.

"Please enjoy some refreshments as we will now discus who will remain for further testing," the female voice said.

"They seem to be screening for a minimum level of physical skill," m-Taa said. "I'm assuming there are other types of tests later."

"They may also be evaluating how we approach the obstacles," said Rah.  "Whether we only have one solution to a problem, for example.  Well... with mighty Gredkor there, I'm less concerned about my occasional foray into collateral damage."

"True, but someone with purely mental powers who trips over their own feet probably wouldn't make the cut," m-Taa said. "Which makes sense; it's just instructive to observe."

"If we both make it, we should do something to celebrate," said Rah.  "I don't know if there's a local tradition about that."

"Search me," m-Taa said. "I'd prefer somewhere without large crowds, though."

"Well, all right, we can do that," said Rah.  She was used to having more people around, but she could be adaptable.  There was no actual need for it, after all.

"I haven't tried alcohol around a large group of non-Maalians," m-Taa explained. "Maalinians are trained in not projecting too much, but other species, not so much."

"We, ah, aren't encouraged to drink alcohol," said Rah.  "Even when I'm not transformed like this, I'm very, very strong... and we all had to get our powers when we were young.  They're concerned about our judgment even sober.  A celebration can be a lot of things."

"That's fair," m-Taa said. "What do you mean about getting your powers?"

"Oh, we aren't born with this kind of power," said Rah.  "Back on Chiren, our civilization spent a lot of time under threat from Gargantuas-- gigantic, destructive creatures of astonishing power that were virtually indestructible.  Our military was no match for them, so they developed a process... I think it was drawing on knowledge from the long-extinct original inhabitants of the planet... that transferred power from a Gargantua into one of us.  The process only works on the young, though, and it doesn't work at all with most people... and many of us don't survive the attempt.  But those who do become the Titan Corps, able to grow to the same size as the Gargantuas and channel some of their power."

She shrugged.

"I'm the last generation of the Titan Corps.  Also the most successful.  I can maintain this form almost indefinitely, without strain, and I'm just about as unkillable as the mightiest of the Gargantuas.  But it was a long road to get here."

"Last generation?" m-Taa asked.

"Yes, the program's been shut down," said Rah.  "Once we re-established contact with the Cosmic Union, we were able to get enough help to contain the Gargantuas.  Maintaining powerful force fields and military blockades to keep the Gargantuas confined to an otherwise-empty continent is much safer and less destructive than fighting them, and much cheaper than maintaining the Titan Corps program and rebuilding our re-destroyed infrastructure, and involves many, many fewer dead kids."

"Makes sense," m-Taa said. "I'm just an occasional genetic fluke who can project as well as receive."

She looked over at the course. "We should probably check if they need us."

The loud speaker comes on:

"Will all hopefuls please make their way to the main lounge on the first floor? Those proceeding to the next stage will be announced there."

"There's your answer," said Rah.  "Let's go."

...Walking down hallways in her giant form.  It was still a strange sensation, but it seemed like a good plan for the purpose of not getting stepped on by some giant.  She moved along carefully, oh so carefully.

m-Taa followed her.

As you enter lounge, you see the same thirty odd hopefuls all sitting there, at the head of the table is the three founding members of the Cosmic Legion: Cosmic Woman; a woman from the Andromeda Galaxy able to control and project the background radiation of the universe, Gravity Man; and Earthling with control over one of the fundamental forces and Solar Flare; a non-gendered being from the planet X-J8 with the power to control plasma.

Solar Flare turns to you three as you enter.

"Please have a seat. I will now explain the rest of the process. We will read off twelve names. These twelve are those proceeding to the next round. You will each then be assigned to one of us to do a few low risk missions to see how you respond. After about a month of this, we will decide who if any will then join the Legion. Any questions?"

Rah raised a hand.

"What kinds of things are low-risk missions?  Disaster relief?  Pirate hunting?"

...Why she thought that pirate hunting was low-risk was not clear at all.

m-Taa shook her head.

"Disaster relief is a good example of the kind of low risk missions I am talking about," Solar Flare said. "As for pirates, it would have to be a small crew."

"Ah, fine," said Rah.  "That's fair.  So... I guess we're waiting on the judging, eh?"

"I will now read off all the names of those that are continuing on. Those joining me are: Glenalendra, The Stone, Startsar and The Green Man. Those joining Cosmic Woman are: Blue Fire, White Fire, The Cosmic Hound and Xyn'na Dryxx. Those joining Solar Flare: Titan, 987-2, Empath Girl and The Fury," Gravity Man said. "I want to thank those of you whose names were not called for taking the time to compete in our tryouts. I wish you luck in further tryouts."

Titan gave a pointy-toothed grin and pumped her fist.

"We did it, m-Taa!"

"Excellent," m-Taa said. She remembered to turn up the corners of her mouth; among her race, facial expression wasn't necessary to convey emotion, but other races tend to find this unnerving. "We definitely need to celebrate."

[OOC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roRQ2mNwMMQ]

"Yeah!" said Titan.  She looked around to see if anyone else was nearby who'd been selected.

There were a few others celebrating as those not selected left. It wasn't easy to pick out who was who, except for the two surrounded by aura's of different coloured fire.

Rah waved to them.

"We're celebrating!" she said.  "Join us?"

Blue Fire and White Fire came over.

"How were you planning on celebrating?" Blue Fire asked.

"Eh, go somewhere, have good food, something drinkable, maybe music or dancing, maybe just talking and telling glorious lies of other worlds," said Rah.  "Nothing fancy."

"Or too crowded," m-Taa added.

"There is a small club not too far from here that we like to go to," Blue Fire said.

"That sounds good," m-Taa said.

"I'm in," said Rah.  "Let's go!  Oh, I'm Zigeru Rah.  Call me Rah."

"I'm Psylin'kah and this is my sister Psylin'mar," Blue Fire said.

"I called a ride for us," White Fire said. "It just arrived."

"Cool," said Titan.  "Let's get this low-key party started!"

"m-Taa Talvaar," m-Taa added.

"Well," said Rah.  "Tempted to go look up the Fire girls.  See how they did.  Maybe go dancing."

"the Fury shall go relaxing, it is hard on the Fury to stay embiggened," the Fury said, taking his leave.

"Might as well," m-Taa said.

Rah tried calling them.  Well, one in particular...

"Hello?" White Fire said, answering the call.

"Hey," said Rah.  "It's me.  We just got back, and we're celebrating.  What are you two up to?"

"Oh, that sounds fun. I'm certainly up for it," White Fire said. "Blue's in the shower right now, but I'm certain she'd be up for it."

"Cool.  Same place or new place?" asked Rah.

"The same place'd be fine with me," White Fire said.

"Cool," said Rah.  She linked the others in to the conversation.

"So, Golden Meteor good for everyone?" she asked.

"I'm fine with it," White Fire said.

"Sounds good," m-Taa said.

"Cool," said Rah.  "So, all meet up in an hour?"

"That works," m-Taa said. "I need a soak myself."

"Yep! See you there!" White Fire said.