“Not according to Director Nova’s message. I don’t think he is the type of person to cater to one of Hollywood’s whims for viral publicity,” Starmaster said. Typically, he wore his facemask and altered his voice to protect his identity, but being in the league’s private shuttle, his head was visible above the folds of his lowered cowl.
“How are we supposed to fight this dweeb in space?” Wyldfyre asked. “In case you have forgotten, most of us cannot breathe without oxygen, let alone start any of my fires without it. Are we going to open the door and shoot at him like gangsters doing a drive-by, arms out the windows with ray guns?”
“That sounds like fun,” Lykos sat up straighter in his chair, searching the cabin for weapons. “Lock and load.”
“Nothing that dramatic, people. Catalyst has made some space suits for us that will allow us to use our individual powers through them. For example, Wyldfyre, yours comes with a liquid oxygen system that will allow you to create flames in the cold of space.”
“Nice…” Wyldfyre smiled, his brown goatee practically dancing on his face with anticipation. “Fightin’ with rocket-fuel. That’s one for my bucket list.”
Starmaster lifted up his could and engaged his facemask. He pointed at lockers doors which opened just as his digitally enhanced voice delivered his orders to his teammates. “Then suit up. We have a job to do.”
It didn’t take long to put on the sleek space-suits created for them. The micro-mesh and nano-tech garments practically slipped over the bodies of the heroes. Only Chained Angel’s wings remained visibly uncovered, but a shimmering field of force enveloped them and provided them protection.
Starmaster spoke to all of them through their comms units. “I will maneuver us into position.” A thin filament of clear material stretched out to each of them. “This will tether us to one another. Zero-gravity is difficult to navigate, but with my psychokinesis, I can create the force needed to move us. Catalyst is going to coordinate from the cruiser with Prysmatica.”
“Don’t think we won’t be doing our fair share of fighting, Master Star,” Prysmatica said. “I can invoke my lasers through the windows, and I know Catalyst here has some neat gadgets aboard her as well.”
“I still can’t believe we’re fighting Arx,” Chained Angel said, her body swaying gently as if she imagined being moved by a lover. “He’s so dreamy. I’ve seen all his movies at least 5 times.”
“Remember how in The BADGE WARS, he held out against all of the members of the Unearthed. Just him and his co-star, Joanne Scarletson.” The Infinite Tempest said. “I couldn’t believe when he reached into her dead body and pulled out her one surviving clone-baby. I thought my heart would break.”
“That’s the movies, I.T., not real life like this. The powers he’s showing now aren’t done with C.G.I. this time.” Starmaster said. “He almost took out the entire BADGE space station without any resistance. Thank goodness for Gar and Strange Quark. If the station struck the planet, none of us would be here now.”
“Midgardsormr,” Catalyst said.
“Well, he might survive a planet-killing event, but not many—”
“No. There’s Midgarsormr.” Catalyst pointed out the windshield of the shuttle at the escalating battle miles ahead of them. Midgardsormr had grown to massive size and dwarfed many of the other specs of lights that made up the force of space-bound heroes. “And I think that’s Skelanimal.”
“Looks like it’s time to go play, Daddy,” Wyldfyre said. “Can we go outside? Please???”
Starmaster glanced at Chained Angel. “Remind me why we brought him.”
“He’s your friend. We tried to tell you to leave him in North Onnotangu,” she replied.
“Great. Blame me,” Starmaster said with a chuckle. “Let’s go, Star Force. It’s time to show Arx what real heroes look like.”
All but Catalyst and Prysmatica departed the shuttle. Together, Starmaster created a psychokinetic bubble around his league-mates and headed into the silent fray.
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