by Drew Hayes
By the time Earth realized it was in danger, the conquest would already be done.
In his life, Ivan had seen a great many things. He’d gone briefly to the stars, wandered other worlds, and walked many realms hidden within their own plane. Yet even with his wealth of experience, the sight on-screen caused his heart to hammer. This wasn’t just big, wasn’t just bad; it was raw, absolute destruction.
Ivan could recognize his metaphorical kin when he saw them. An invasion was one thing—it had certain goals and plans, most of which centered on keeping the planet intact overall as it was being overtaken. This was different. These aliens weren’t planning to leave more than a used-up husk behind. They didn’t care about losing resources in the name of efficiency. The Wrexwren weren’t coming to take over Earth, they wanted to strip it down to the studs.
“Given the new situation, it’s safe to say the AHC are not prepared for what they’ll actually be facing.” Wade was still somehow calm, despite the rundown he’d just delivered on the threats currently en route to Earth. “Most of our people are already planning to be on the ground in the event Wrexwren troops start landing—nothing changes much on that front. The bigger question is what we do about this new intel. While I recognize that we and the AHC are not on our best terms, protecting the planet we live on generally supersedes such momentary grudges.”
“You want to tip them off?” Morgana proposed.
“Fuck that. After what Apollo pulled? It’d be good for the AHC to get publicly pantsed again.” Xelas, despite her harsh words, didn’t sound particularly passionate in her pettiness. “I’m on board with helping keep Earth safe, but we’re not their spies or messengers. Let’s not start acting like it.”
Wade changed the screen, revealing a series of images showing various terrains with specific sections marked. “I’m with Xelas on that front. If they want our help, then they’ll at least have to acknowledge it happened. Currently, we have several space-capable weapons locked on the approaching fleet. Attacking preemptively is still an option—break their formation and make them panic. But it risks them turning tail, only to come back better prepared, and again, the AHC can spin things as they see fit. Alternatively, we could sit on our weapons until the ships arrive, then add our firepower to the fray. We won’t have the advantage of surprise, however, so active defenses will cut down on how well the attacks work.”
It was forming, no matter how Ivan wished it wouldn’t: the path to victory, the way ahead, that determination to come out on top that had helped him survive his eighteen straight years of hell. There was a plan coming together, spurred on in no small part by Janet’s words still ringing through his mind. “The surprise is obviously for Lodestar. They’re hoping to take away Earth’s superhero before any sort of duel could officially start. Professor Quantum would never put himself in a position that vulnerable, so he won’t step up. Quorum might, but he’s also the weakest of the three in combat. They’ll either send in someone tough enough to buy time, or give up on the duel entirely, focusing on the armies themselves.”
“Tracks with their historical tactics.” Gork nodded her large gray head solemnly as she agreed. Her people lived far, far below the planet’s surface, meaning that this invasion wouldn’t impact them for quite some time. But in a planetary-wide looting, sooner or later, every stone got turned over.
“Seems Ivan and I had a similar train of thought,” Wade added. Another slide clicked over, this one showing tech-specs that went sailing right over Ivan’s head, but that garnered a whistle from Xelas. “I’ve reached out to every extraterrestrial contact we have and begun work on a welcome gift for our visitors. Assuming it’s completed in time, I would still need proximity to use it. If we were to send our own envoy, along with a champion, it would be a perfect distraction while I put our new tool to work.”
Loud slurping from Arcanicus and his oversized mug momentarily broke the tension. He glared right back at several of the looks he received. “What? Does anyone actually think I’m the one getting tapped for this? It’s obviously a task for Xelas or Gork—possibly Morgana, if these things have blood.”
“I’d prefer to have Xelas with me—should cut down on how long we need.” Wade pointedly didn’t look at Ivan as he continued. “Whoever we take should be able to withstand some damage. We don’t have a firm idea of how strong the Wrexwren are, but it’s safe to assume we’ll get one of their best, considering the stakes.”
When Ivan stood, the room went silent. Now Wade was looking in his direction, old friends staring at one another, trying to figure out what the other was thinking. “There’s only one choice. We need someone who can endure, can hurt, can survive against nearly any odds. Remember, technically, we’re still betting the planet on this fight. Makes sense to try and win.”
“Are you sure about this?” Wade asked. “Working as Pseudonym in the shadows is one thing—everyone in the world will be watching when the invasion comes. The AHC will absolutely have some sort of video gear with them; they’d never let PR like this pass undocumented. Depending on what happens and how much is caught, this is a fight where the identity could be easily compromised.”
“Then it’s a good thing I wasn’t proposing Pseudonym take them on.” Ivan shut his eyes, not trusting them to remain human in that moment. What Janet had said was true. People weren’t scared of him anymore, not of some dusty old monster from the past. They were getting bold enough to come for him, and his children. White-hot rage spiked in Ivan, and he didn’t cool it down so much as set it to the side. Fury had ample uses in the right moments, and it seemed he’d be getting such a chance very soon. Because if the world thought they didn’t need to be afraid, then he’d just have to remind them why that terror had existed in the first place.
“If they decide to try to step around Lodestar, then the bastards can face Fornax instead.”
Chapter 95
Tori found the guild in a lively state upon her arrival. Since the move, she’d been seeing her fellow villains sporadically; it wasn’t quite the default clubhouse the old location had been. Yet today, as she helped herself to a breakfast burrito, it was impossible not to notice all the faces, both new and familiar, dotting the halls. Heading to grab some coffee, she found herself in line behind a pair she knew quite well.
“France? You really want to wait in France? Just because they always go for the Eiffel Tower at some point in the movies doesn’t mean the real ones bother with landmarks.” Johnny Three Dicks rapped a knuckle against Thuggernaut’s sizable shoulder, the closest Johnny could get to reaching his head. “You want the biggest population centers you can find. Absolutely going to be a target, and if you don’t find any cool alien stuff, there’s always looting the normal stores in the chaos.”
“You use whatever tactics suit your needs best,” Thuggernaut replied. “I’ve been wanting to visit a good open-air market for weeks. This is a chance to go early and knock out two errands in one trip.”
Johnny grumbled, but Tori would bet that when the dust settled, they’d both end up in France. For as much as Johnny talked, he was smart enough to stay near his much larger, more intimidating friend.
Since she saw an opening in the conversation, Tori coughed loudly before asking, “Did someone say aliens? Are the Grzzniltans coming back?”
Thuggernaut and Johnny both turned, expressions softening when they recognized who was speaking. Johnny’s sour mood quickly shifted into a mischievous grin. “Well, well, if it isn’t Pseudonym’s old apprentice. Decided to take a break from being the damsel du jour?”
“I really fucking hope so.” Tori’s response came out a bit more honest than she intended, so she hurried onward. “Next thing I invent might be a giant firebomb I keep with me at all times. Be a fun surprise for the dumbfucks that try to grab me next.” Actually, that wasn’t a half-bad idea—she made a mental note to see how viable it was. “Anyway, what was that about aliens?”
While Johnny feigned a confused look, Thuggernaut merely nodd
ed. “Given the potential danger of the outing, only the more experienced members were initially brought up to speed, but I expect that to change soon. The guild has been tracking several alien ships heading toward Earth. We suspect there’s an invasion afoot.”
The shock on Tori’s face was both evident, and completely ignored by Johnny as he took the chance to reinvigorate their prior debate. “That’s right, a whole swarm of new marks bringing their favorite goodies for us to snatch. Which is why we should go bigger. No telling how long before they wise up and flee. Have to grab as much as we can while it’s here.”
“Hang on... are you guys kidding?” Much as Tori wanted to hope for that outcome, both seemed serious, or as serious as a man named Johnny Three Dicks could manage.
“Not in the slightest.” Finally, Johnny seemed to register the uncertain fear in Tori’s face, his own smile growing wider in response. “Oh my, are you worried? How fun! It’s been so long, I’ve kind of forgotten how that feels. Pulse racing? Starting to get the sweats?”
“Enough.” Thuggernaut’s voice was calm, but brooked no objections as he silenced his friend. “Sorry. Sometimes, after you’ve been in this world for so long, you forget what it’s like to be new. Johnny is right in one regard, though, you really don’t need to worry. Ever since we first learned aliens existed, both the AHC and the guild have prepared for these possibilities. It’s not even Earth’s first attempted takeover.”
He was right. Tori had read up on the prior attempts for herself here and there. Forcibly, she took control of the terror that had reared its head, shoving it aside until she could think more clearly. Her view had been that of a civilian, if not an outright human, fearful of this newly discovered threat. She’d reacted like prey rather than recognizing what else the aliens represented: opportunity. As a predator, what she could see was something slithering in, unprepared for the native beasts already lying in wait.
“Is there a betting pool for how long before they go screaming off into the night?” Tori asked.
“Oooh, look at our optimist here.” Johnny stepped forward, the coffee machine finally opening up as he jammed his mug underneath. “The Wrexwren making a successful escape is currently one of the long shot bets, so if you’d like to toss some money on it, I can give you decent odds.”
Tempting, though it was always better to have things spelled out to the letter with Johnny. “What defines a successful escape?”
“Retreat with greater than fifty percent of the original forces.” Thuggernaut didn’t even have to mentally dig around—he had that tidbit ready to go, a subtle tip-off that perhaps Johnny had been trying to coax others toward this wager, as well. “In this case, we’ll be counting whatever they land with.”
“There’s also decent money to be made in the twenty-five to fifty percent range,” Johnny added. He moved over to the sugar station, grabbing a handful of various artificial sweetener packets seemingly at random. “Once you get lower than that, we leave the long shot area, and you’ll see a steep drop in payout.”
While Thuggernaut took his turn at the coffee machine, Tori flipped the situation around in her head. At the end of the day, it was a question of who she thought was stronger: the Earth and its metas, or this extraterrestrial force coming toward them. It was always possible they were outgunned, but if that truly were the case, if these things could overtake people like Lodestar and Fornax, then there was no fight to be had. Earth would be wiped out, likely in a day, and no amount of Tori’s fretting would change that. Power at those levels was beyond her ability to deal with, currently.
“Any advice for someone who’s apparently about to go through her first invasion?” It seemed prudent to get some guidance from those who’d been there before, and her selection in that range was deeply limited.
Surprisingly, Johnny’s expression shifted, turning almost serious. “Be on your guard, and with people you trust. Us being collectively stronger doesn’t mean each of us can defeat each of them. Use every advantage, and take nothing for granted. Don’t ruin the fun by making us have a funeral after.”
His gravity was jarring, enough to remind Tori that these stakes were still life and death. Having powers and the guild didn’t change that; they just gave her a better chance to survive. “I’ll talk to Glyph, Pest Control, and Bahamut. Guessing they’ll be in the same boat, and we can watch out for one another.”
“A fine idea,” Johnny agreed, instantly softening back to his usual countenance. “The next step would be to determine where you want to wait out the invasion. Somewhere cool and hip—say, the middle of downtown New York—or out in a big, open area with a giant metal art display.”
“Your lack of appreciation for art doesn’t remove its inherent value.” Thuggernaut and Johnny were back in their fight, absentmindedly wandering away from the machine as Tori filled her mug.
As if her week hadn’t already been slammed enough, now she had a potential alien invasion to worry about. Part of her wondered why Ivan hadn’t told her yet, before realizing that she’d probably stumbled on the very reason they were here today. At least if Wade didn’t have time to meet, she would definitely know not to take it personally.
Even for a genius like Doctor Mechaniacal, countering an invasion was one hell of a side project.
Ridge City Grinders was slammed. Chloe had no idea if it was the new Electric Conga Cappuccino they were shilling that month or just an especially caffeine-demanding Monday, but her morning had rapidly turned into a blur of grinding, pouring, and handling customers. Most were coping all right with the excessive line, others less so.
“Still waiting on that large latte.” The watch he was tapping against the counter cost easily more than any car Chloe had owned, and he definitely knew its value. From suit to shoes, the whole outfit was meant to convey wealth and authority, personality traits that had evidently drifted into his capacity for polite waiting, as well.
Glorious as it would have been to work some small errors into the order, that would only delay things further; he was absolutely the type to kick up a fuss. Putting the final touches on the foam, Chloe set the drink down directly in front of him, motioning to the accessories as she did. “Thank you for your patience, sir. Sugar is on the table, as are lids and straws.”
“Lids,” he scoffed, grabbing the drink roughly. “I’m not a child or an imbecile. I think I can handle—”
It was truly perfect. Mid-sentence, the cup seemed to suddenly slip in his hand, tipping over toward him. All down the silk shirt and tailored suit the near-boiling coffee ran, drawing screams of both pain and horror from him as he suddenly leapt back. The coffee cup, now all but empty, clattered to the ground in front of him, one final nail in the coffin of his humiliation.
Despite knowing better, Chloe couldn’t resist. “There are also napkins, in case you have a spill.”
The laughter was quick and contagious, rippling outward like a mocking stone dropped in a lake. There was barely enough time to see the rage and shame in his eyes before he bolted from the shop.
“That guy is definitely going to beat an intern before lunch is over.”
That voice was familiar, though unexpected here. Chloe glanced up and realized that Ike and Ellie were in line, the former still chuckling to himself.
“He seems like at least the type to call a manager. If he complains, let us know. We can attest that you were nothing but professional,” Ellie added.
“Thanks, but there’s cameras all over since the Ridge City Riots. I’m sure we’ve got footage that shows him spilling on himself.” Even as the words left Chloe’s mouth, she found herself doubting them. The way he’d lost control of his cup was very strange, almost like someone had moved it while in his grip, causing the container to go tumbling over. “That is what they’ll see, right?”
Ike met her gaze without hesitation, offering little more than a shrug. “Sure what it looked like to me. Certainly what the dude deserved, right?”
At his side, Ellie leaned slightl
y over Ike, turning suspicious. “I suppose, in that case, we could call it karma. Karma that in no way should be emboldened by this and start doing it frequently.”
“I doubt it will be an issue. Seems to only happen when people are dicks to someone I like.”
“You don’t like anyone,” Ellie pointed out.
“I like Chloe. She shoots straight and doesn’t take bullshit. More people had that attitude, I might not be such a misanthrope.” Ike punctuated the statement with a wink, a gesture that Chloe might have found less endearing several minutes prior.
“Says a man who refuses to just admit what he really feels,” Chloe replied.
That earned an actual laugh from Ike, along with a snap of the fingers. “See what I mean? Even after that, she refuses to let me skate. Great stuff.”
“Sorry about... all of this.” Ellie looked back to the sizable line still stretching out behind them, and the other baristas working hard to clear it. “We should probably order and get out of your hair.”
“Hope you’ve still got some warm fuzzies in our direction, because this order is massive.” To his credit, Ike wasn’t overselling the list he pulled from his pocket; it filled up the front and back of a large sheet of paper.
Looking it over, Chloe noted that since the drinks were built over function rather than form, she could make the bulk of it in batches. There were a lot of high-potency drinks on the list, though, stuff generally only ordered by the true addicts, like Tori.
