Heroes Rising Fiction: Dea Ex Machina Part 23 Finale

 Krystal Fae approached Santa, a worried look on her face. “I have never seen you so somber. What has happened?”

Santa looked up at Queen Isadora. “There is a hero among us who gave his life to protect millions. However, he is not dead, just frozen in permanent ice. I have tried all my powers to free him, as has my friend EB. Both of us are powerful magical users, but your power is far greater than ours.”

Nova spoke before the Queen. “Arx?”

EB nodded, “He gave Adrianne a kiss so that she would stop fighting. It froze them solid. They are like a statue on the plains of Africa. It’s so... sad.”

Queen Isadora said, “I cannot. I am afraid my power already wanes within the confines of this world. I am a Summer Pixie, my power over that which is cold is limited, and here, in this realm, even more limited. I am afraid that only a Winter Wizard could hope to aid this situation, and none exist any longer that we know of.”

Nova said, “We will find a way. I am sure.”

Krystal said, “Right now, I want to see my husband and baby again. Please. I am sorry, your highness, but I...”

Queen Isadora smiled and held out her hand. Krystal took her hand and bowed low. The Queen said, “I understand. Go see them. Bring them to me. Then, we shall go.”

Krystal looked at the Queen, their hands gripped. There was a silence between them, and then she finally nodded. “I will. Please excuse us.”

***

As they walked toward Nova’s room, Krystal paused and looked at Strange Quark. “Do me a favor. Bring my friends here. I wish to see them.”

“Here?”

She held a hand out toward the mess hall. “Yes. First, I see my family, and then I want to see them.”

“Okay. Sure, no problem. Will take a moment.” He vanished away.

EB asked, “What was that about?”

Nova spoke, “You will find out.”

Krystal looked at him, exchanging sad glances. There was a message between them, and an understanding that they both shared. He knew what she needed. Finally, he said, “Go to the infirmary and see your husband. I will bring the baby down.”

“Thank you.” She walked with Santa toward the infirmary while Nova left.

In a few moments, Nova walked into the infirmary where Krystal stood next to the bed with Alex. He now sat up on the edge, looking far healthier than he had earlier. Krystal hurried over and took her baby and held her close. She scrunched up against Alex, their baby between them.

“You are much better.” Nova said.

Alex, holding his family in his arms, said, “In a flash, I felt my strength return. Pixie magic?”

“Yes.”

“Director... oh, I see it’s true. Krystal is back!” Justin came in with a big smile.

EB said, “Yup, the Pixie Queen helped.”

“The... who?” Justin asked.

Nova said, “I’ll explain later.”

Justin asked, “How... are you back? I thought you were gone.”

Krystal, still holding her baby, said, “I was. That sphere took me in, altered me. It was pain beyond anything I have ever endured. However, it couldn’t change me like the others. My own magical nature resisted, and the sphere trapped me in a cycle of agony as it tried over and over. However, I found an escape when Drocha created that computer simulation. A pocket of reality formed around Alex’s mind, and I could slip inside. However, I wasn’t entirely there; it was like being in a dream. I knew it wasn’t real, but I also couldn’t completely think for myself.”

Alex said, “I accidentally created that reality, and it gave me the ability to have the happiness I thought I had lost forever.”

Justin said, “It was a boon unlike anything else. You could save us all. We would all be dead if you hadn’t disrupted the simulation’s programming.”

Krystal said, “As it fell apart, I became more and more aware. I could feel the program, see Drocha’s workmanship. Alex let himself be taken deep inside the programming, and we were together, in a way. It wasn’t like we could talk, but we could feel each other’s presence.”

Justin asked, “Were you the one who led us along with that strange signal from within Drocha’s programming?”

Alex said, “Yes. At first, I was trying to help you stop him. Interrupt his plans. But Krystal realized something horrible, and we had to shift our plan quickly.”

Nova asked, “What did you find?”

She looked at him with somber eyes. “Near the very end of Drocha’s plan, just before he was about to upload himself back into that abhorrent mother-ship, I sensed the people in the spheres. The greater the power in them, the more they were ready to escape. They were in eternal pain. It was tearing their souls apart. They couldn’t control their actions or thoughts; they would forever watch their hands rip and tear apart innocent people. I tried to free their minds. The only one I could almost free was Adrianne, but even she was tormented beyond anything any human should endure.”

Alex said, “So, we realized what we had to do. We helped Drocha realize his plans. Sent him to his ship, along with my mind and Krystal inside one of his spheres. We then made certain all his spheres were near him.”

EB jumped up and gleefully said, “You blew the crap outta Drocha’s spheres! Super fairy for the win!”

Krystal said, “I knew I could unleash my power, which included all the corrupt enhancements he tried to force into my body. It was a weapon of mass destruction, and I would direct it at his work. I expected to sacrifice myself. Fortunately for me, I survived. And all those poor souls are now at rest, no longer in pain.”

Alex said, “And Drocha is weak and running for his life. I hope he crawls under a rock and dies.”

Nova said, “Sadly, creatures like him always find a way to return. However, it will take time for him to regain any power, and next time we will be ready for him.”

Both Alex and Krystal jerked, and their bodies buzzed with a strange energy for a moment. Krystal nearly fell over as Justin caught her arm.

“Krystal?” Dr. Henderson rushed over.

She held up her hand. “I’m okay. I’m afraid... it’s time.”

“What is she talking about?” Dr. Henderson asked.

Nova controlled what appeared to be tears as he said, “Come, they should be gathered by now.”

***

Nova led Alex and Krystal into the mess hall of the station. Dr. Henderson, Justin, EB, and Santa joined them.

Strange Quark had gathered dozens of heroes. Former members of BADGE and current league heads filled the room. Gargoyle walked up with Chase to join the command staff. Chaz Hamilton was ready with his tablet to write anything that might be newsworthy. Instructors and BADGE agents arrived last.

From inside the arboretum walked out Torrik with his unit of warriors. The pixies carried out Queen Isadora. The magical folk came as a great surprise to many there.

Krystal stood before everyone and had tears in her eyes as she looked around the room. “Friends, fellow

heroes, everyone. You have meant everything to me. We have fought together, laughed together, and cried together. We have faced apocalyptic challenges and overcome them. Time itself broke, and we fixed it. We have seen friends pass on, and fresh faces arrive. This world is a better place because of you, and I am pleased to have been a part of that. We faced a challenge that seemed insurmountable, and today we stand on a hill of victory. I...” she held back tears and struggled for a moment.

Alex took her arm and held her as he said, “We both are thankful that you have been in our lives. And, we hope that the memory of us will forever remind you to love one another and fight for a better tomorrow every day.”

Queen Isadora said softly, “It is time.”

Krystal nodded and wiped her eyes. “Drocha took my humanity from me and corrupted it. I destroyed that part of me so I could destroy his creations. The magic in my husband and myself is not stable in this universe. We have to leave...” she struggled to speak as several people began to cry at the words she spoke. She managed to say, “We love you all and will forever cherish your memories you have given us. Thank you for being our friends.”

The pixies and satyrs created a large portal behind them and marched into the magical world where they came from. Krystal Fae Murphy and Alex Fae Murphy, along with their small child, bid their last farewell and joined the magical kinds in a new life.

It took time for many to truly comprehend that they would never again see Krystal or Alex, but that at least they got to live.

***

Quiet filled the station, a dark silence that seemed to know that terrible loss had come as the price for peace. The world below rebuilt itself, and the heroes returned to their work with heavy hearts once more. Time would mend the wounds, but those who lost friends and family during this time would never fully heal.

Nova stood at a window that looked into a glass enclosure built for one purpose. Adrianne and Arx were now stored in a place where this unique cold wouldn’t hurt anyone. Their fateful kiss a permanent reminder of their love.

“Nova, you wanted to see me. I was about to head back to the North Pole.” Santa walked up behind him.

Nova looked at Santa through his reflection. “Yes, I was hoping you could help me with a problem.”

“Problem? I don’t have an answer to free Arx.”

“I know. That is not the issue.” Nova turned and asked, “What do the Vexillians know of The Malevolence?”

Continue the Story

Heroes Rising Fiction: Dea Ex Machina Part 22

 Fleagle and Downton Don both ducked as Master Monolith flew over the ground and slammed into a hill. They jumped up and avoided a beam of purple energy from the creature as it tore through a small village in the English countryside.

“LEAVE US ALONE!” Fleagle jumped up and Downton Don gave him a quick boost with a blast of air from his hands. Fleagle landed on the back of the red creature and bit down with his fangs into the things shoulder.

It struggled and fought, but then fell to its knees. It weakly grasped at Fleagle before it finally fell face down in the dirt.

Fleagle jumped off and frowned at it. “Uh... guess I hit a soft spot.”

Master Monolith stomped over and looked at the fallen creature, “Did we get it?”

Downton was about to say something when they all saw the creatures body glowing bright. “Aw, crap. It’s gonna explode!” He turned and ran.

The trio got about ten yards before the creature exploded into a cloud of red dust that evaporated on the air. There was no shockwave or heat, it was like a shadow being chased away.

“What the hell?” Fleagle stated.

“The sky!” Monolith pointed up.

The eerie dark skies grew brighter as the clouds in space drew back. The distant sun could finally be seen once again, setting on the horizon. A warmth returned in a breeze that whisked across the heath, dancing the soft grasses around.

Fleagle smiled, “Is it finally over?”

“This is Ivanka Hoffman with INN. As of 3 P.M. Easter Standard Time, the Legion creatures have all been destroyed and the strange clouds that blocked the sun from space are gone. The Renn Tech spheres are unaccounted for, and a dangerous starship in orbit has disappeared. BADGE has issued an official announcement that the situation is at a turning point for the better. At the same time, reports came in across the globe of a strange purple light that bathed the western hemisphere for a short period of time. What this was is still a mystery, and we hope BADGE will shed light on that situation soon. The United Nations has issued a caution to be ready for the worst, but to begin returning to our cities and homes where possible.”

Director Nova walked into the infirmary with Strange Quark behind him. He found Dr. Henderson leaning over a biobed with Alex Fae Murphy lying in it. She ran a scanner down his body and then checked the readings.

“Doctor?”

She looked up with a smile. “Sensors picked up life signs from the morgue unit where we had his body stored. I had him moved here immediately. He has a pulse, he is breathing, and there is definite brain activity.”

“How?” Strange Quark asked.

A weak voice whispered, “Where’s my baby?”

Everyone looked to see the tired eyes of Alex looking at them with his head slightly turned. Nova walked over. “Your baby is sleeping in my quarters in a crib.”

Alex managed a gentle smile and closed his eyes.

Dr. Henderson quickly looked up at the readings; a flash of tension in her quickly evaporated. “He’s resting. I’ll keep a close eye on him.”

Quark said, “Doc, there’s another patient you might need to look at.”

She said, “I’m sure there are many.”

“This one is... different.” Quark gave off a comical smile.

Nova walked through the station to the Arboretum, which had the largest glass dome that looked out into space. A glorious purple light bathed the trees and grass around him. He looked up at the giant Krystal Fae still floating in space. She looked to him.

“Can you hear me?” Nova called out.

She gave a gentle nod.

“Your husband is recovering, and your baby is fine.”

A comforted smile graced her face.

Nova said, “Can you return to your normal self?”

She shook her head, her hair flowing as if in water.

Strange Quark walked up to Nova, holding a daiquiri. “I think she’ll need larger quarters.”

Nova huffed at the humor. “Can you help?”

“I can.” Quark took a sip of his drink.

Nova looked at him, giving him a commanding glare until Quark realized this wasn’t a question but a request.

“Oh, right. Okay, gimme a sec.” Strange Quark sized her up and then considered what he would do. “Okay, spatial dimensions are right, and... HERE!” He pointed next to Nova.

Krystal winced with pain, and her body buzzed with blue light. She remained in space and enormous.

“Welp, that didn’t work.” Quark said.

“Obviously,” Nova retorted. He looked up at Krystal. “We will find a way.” After she nodded in understanding, he turned to leave the arboretum.

“Whoa! What’s that?” Quark spoke just as a siren announced a warning.

“Unregistered teleportation incoming. Alert.”

Nova looked around, ready for a fight in case Drocha had one last gimmick up his sleeve. A bright purple and black portal opened up in the middle of the arboretum. What came out was nothing he expected. Five men walked out, each six feet tall and had enormous black and white monarch butterfly wings on their backs. After them came a unit of ten satyrs. Torrik Treeleaf was in the lead of the Satyrs.

“Torrik?” Nova approached the magical warrior.

“I know you told me to go home, that I had done enough and needed to return to my world. But this world was in a state of confusion and danger. I couldn’t just turn my back on you. I gathered a small army to return and help fight your enemies. However, we just sensed an incredible surge in fairy magical power that caught our attention.”

“I believe that is what you sensed.” Nova pointed up.

Torrik looked to see Krystal. “Oh, so that explains the power. Krystal is alive... I can’t believe it.” He turned back to Nova. “The war with Drocha — is it still raging?”

Nova shook his head. “Krystal thwarted Drocha’s plans, and she destroyed his minions. He was crippled and fled deep into space. We are free of him.”

“Good. I have an army ready to enter your world. But I suppose you do not need them.”

Quark asked, “I thought you weren’t magical enough to sense across the barriers between worlds?”

“I’m not, but Queen Isadora is.” He turned and then bowed.

Another team of the butterfly-winged men approached while an older woman in a silk dress, with withered butterfly wings on her back, sat on an open-topped litter being carried by four of the men.

The old woman smiled as she gazed upward. “Ah, a fairy. But she is in pain. Oh, dear.”

Nova approached her. “Greetings, I am Director Nova of BADGE.”

She looked at him and cocked her head. “A powerful creature indeed, and an old one. Fascinating. I am Queen Isadora of the Summer Pixies. I am the eldest and most powerful of the living Fae kinds in all of Yohan. I sensed great distress in fairy magic from across the barriers and came to offer aid.”

Nova asked, “What aid can you provide our friend?”

Queen Isadora smiled. “I am glad you call her a friend. It does you well. There is much I can do with the help of the others. Come, come, all. Aid me in this effort.” She held out her arms.

The other pixies fluttered their wings, which glowed, and the satyrs held up their hands, crafting green glowing magic.

Isadora said, “Come to me, Fae. Stand with us. Be in pain no more.”

Krystal glowed extra bright and then her body turned to energy and flowed down through the glass and to a single point of light between all the magical creatures. The light formed into a person, finally becoming Krystal Fae once more, dressed in a beautiful gown of flowing colors and light. She had fairy wings on her back and a pearlish glow to her skin.

“Krystal. I am so glad to see you.” Nova walked over to her. She jumped over and gave him a great hug.

“Nova. How can I thank you for watching my baby?”

He actually hugged her back. “It was a blessing. And I knew I would put her back in your arms one day.”

Queen Isadora spoke in her regal, gentle voice. “Ah, my friends.”

Nova let go of Krystal and looked back just as Santa and EB came into the room. They both had wide eyes and then quickly walked over and bowed before the queen.

“Queen Isadora.” Santa acknowledged her.

EB bowed to the grass. “Your Majesty.”

Quark asked, “You know her?”

Queen Isadora smiled and tapped each with her hand so they could rise. “Long ago, I met many Vexillians when they visited our world. These two wore different faces then, but I know the magic within them.”

Santa said, “That was a time before the fall of our world. We call this place our home now.”

“I am sorry for your loss, General. But I am glad you seem to have found good company.”

EB said, “We have found GREAT company. This world is awesome and fun and happy. These people are just the nicest, and they have some cool stuff. You gotta try chocolate. It is AMAZING!!!”

Santa put his hand on EB’s head to calm him down. “Pixie Queen, since you are here, may I ask for your help?”

Continue the Story

Heroes Rising Fiction: Dea Ex Machina Part 21

 The Legion capital starship dwarfed the BADGE space station five times over. Behind it, still swirling in the firmament, was the wormhole that had deposited this behemoth on Earth’s doorstep. Countless spheres ascended above the atmosphere and surrounded the ship like ants protecting their precious hill.

There were no heroes to defend the station. Only a few weapon platforms were currently buzzing with energy, waiting for the command to fire. The platforms appeared like gnats ready to strike an elephant.

On the command level of the ship was a throne room right out of a horror story. Dark and foreboding ancient alien technology flickered with power and was ready for use. An eerie green glow bathed the room, emitted by a series of tanks, each holding the naked body of the same person, tethered by cords and tubes that processed the body's needs.

One such tank drained of the fluid inside and the person within weakly moved for a moment before one of the attached tubes sent a bolt of energy that seemed to cause intense pain, but then he gained the strength to reach up and tear out the cords and tubes. The front of the tank opened, and he stepped out. A beam of light hit him, and a strange uniform made of fibers and metals covered his body.

“Computer, is the program online?” He asked.

The computer answered, “Artificial intelligence program fully uploaded and integrated. Waiting for your command, Lord Drocha.”

He smiled with his greenish-yellow lips, elated by the deference from the computer. This was his ship, his throne from which he would rule the universe. All will call him Lord or suffer annihilation.

“Computer, prepare to activate all spheres.”

“Yes, Lord Drocha.”

He walked up to the command console and pressed a button. A massive window opened that spread across the room, revealing a spectacular view of Earth, with the BADGE station and Arena floating right before him. However, it wasn’t the station or the planet that caused a frown on his alien face.

“Computer. Explain!”

“Please elaborate.”

Drocha held out his hand. “Why are the spheres up here? Send them back and THEN open them.”

The computer did not immediately respond, and nothing happened.

“COMPUTER!”

“Spheres not...zzzzzzzzz” The sound buzzed and then came music faintly in the distance.

“COMPUTER, RESPOND!” Drocha’s hands flew over the controls, but nothing seemed to get the computer to answer him. He then saw that the comm channel was open, waiting for him to respond. “Nova.” He spat out the name. “What game are you playing at now?” His hand slammed the control.

“You’re strangely calm for the end of the world.” Quark stated as he and Nova stood in the Operations center of the BADGE station.

Nova casually looked up at the monitors that were all focused on various views of the spheres and Drocha’s command ship. “The end hasn’t come yet; there is still a chance.”

Quark snapped his fingers, and a tall mixed drink appeared in them with a frilly umbrella straw. “Do you think Drocha will just leave and give us time to prepare for a response?”

“No. I think he will flee soon enough.”

“You’re either horribly optimistic or delusional,” Quark quipped.

“I am certain.” Nova stated and then smiled when he heard a beeping sound from the comm station. “And so we begin this game.”

The screen activated without his request, no doubt under Drocha’s hacked connection. Drocha glared at him from inside his command room, the clone tubes behind him.

Quark covered his eyes. “Ew, naked Drochas... not what I wanted to see.”

Drocha's eyes seethed with confident fury. “It is over, Nova.”

“I expected as much. I will accept your surrender. BADGE will allow you a full trial in accordance with international agreement 548 section...”

“I AM NOT SURRENDERING! I WILL SUNDER THIS WORLD AND MAKE IT MY FOOTSTOOL!” Drocha’s face darkened as he screamed.

Nova said, “It is over, and you don’t even realize it.”

The music in the room grew with voices singing.

Drocha had an irritated look in his eyes as he said, “What plans you have to distract me, to fool around, will not work.”

“I’m doing nothing.”

Drocha pointed at the screen. “When the time comes, I will have every one of my creations tear you apart. The mighty Nova might be powerful, but even you will not survive that.... TURN THAT MUSIC OFF!” He looked around.

Nova smiled, “That is not from my system.”

“Don’t be immature, Nova. This is not up to your tactics. Now turn that racket off!”

Nova calmly said, “It isn’t racket, it is Tempus est iocundum, and I am not playing it. It is coming from your system.”

“Impossible! This system responds to my commands, my whims and wishes. I didn’t ask for music, therefore it isn’t from me.” He grew increasingly irritated by the volume of the music. “TURN IT OFF!”

Nova got closer to the screen, a confidence in his posture. “Listen, Drocha. Listen closely. That music is not playing because I wanted it to. Do you not know who you took? Do you realize you made a foolish mistake that will be your undoing?”

“I MAKE NO MISTAKES!”

“Perhaps the real Drocha could claim that, but you are just an imitation. Drocha’s plan was brilliant. You captured morphon-infused humans and aliens and tainted them with powerful doses of corrupted morphons aligned with their affinity. But you made a fatal mistake when you chose one of your people. She is not human, she is not a morphon user; her strength came from something else, something stronger than you can possibly believe.”

“STOP IT!” Drocha pounded at his controls to stop the music.

Nova said, “You not only took her, but you took her husband, and you forced them to abandon their child. I fear what she is about to do to you.”

“WHO, DAMMIT, WHO!?”

Nova looked up just as the finale of O Fortuna exploded in the music. “DEA EX MACHINA, The goddess in your machine!”

A sphere nearest Drocha’s ship exploded in a massive purple eruption of power. The impact destroyed several spheres near it. A bright purple light remained in the center of the explosion. From it expanded two massive fairy wings that spread out for miles. They were like stained glass, with incredible colors and energy flowing from them.

In the middle of the wings, an enormous fairy woman appeared, Krystal Fae in her pure fairy form. Opening up her arms, she sent a massive wave of energy out that split more spheres, destroying them in a single, unmitigated strike of pure magic and rage. The ship rolled to the side as its shields flickered and buzzed, barely keeping it safe from her attack. The station and Arena were completely unaffected by the energy that passed right by them.

Krystal Fae held out her arms, her body a bright light that was casting a glow across half the planet below. From her emitted another wave of energy. As it moved through the cloud of spheres, several more exploded. Then another wave came from her, destroying more spheres.

“NO! Computer, respond! Weapons! I need weapons!” Drocha screamed as he fought his controls. The computer was flickering on and off, and the Carmina Burana’s grand finale continued to ring around him.

There was a surge of power, and one of the clone tanks exploded, spilling the liquid across the ground. The figure inside screeched, and surging power ripped apart its body. Then another tank broke, and another. The horrid biomatter that would have been a cloned Drocha lay on the ground, dead.

“Stop! Computer, someone! HELP!” Drocha beat the controls with his fists.

A holographic face appeared in the middle of the room, using the same projector he once used to give commands. Alex Fae Murphy looked at him. “You lose, Drocha.”

“You! This is not possible! The program ended and deleted you, turning you to digital ash! HOW!”

Alex laughed, “How it pleases me to see the mighty tactician flummoxed.”

Drocha slammed both fists onto the console in a fit of rage. “I will destroy you. I will punish…”

Alex’s face grew as he yelled over the fuming Drocha. “I will punish you! You took my wife, you threatened my daughter! I will make you pay in ways even Legion never imagined. We will make you pay!”

Drocha looked up at the windows, seeing the enormous face of Krystal staring at him as she used all her incredible strength to bring down what the entirety of Legion could break a thousand years ago.

“I won’t go down like this! You don’t have the power. This ship is mine! It only thinks for me, for my goals. I will... stop you... damn it!” He fought the controls.

Alex smiled. With each syllable, thousands of voices echoed, doubling, tripling, and multiplying his voice as he spoke. “You crafted this AI out of the minds of billions. You tried to extract their thoughts from their feelings. We are human. We are compassion, love, mercy, and unity. We are the HUMAN RACE.” The computers flickered off, and several screens exploded. A light blinked as a siren screamed, warning that the shields outside were failing. “Your army is defeated, your ship is naked, you will succumb to death once and for all, Drocha. You will suffer for what you did to us.”

Drocha staggered and stumbled as he ran back toward the throne in the middle of the room. “No one will destroy me at the brink of my ultimate victory!”

Alex laughed, “Your throne won’t save you.”

Drocha grabbed the armrest and ripped it open, revealing a control station. “In fact, it will. I am Drocha... I always have a plan.” He pressed a command into the throne and the computers all went dark, including the hologram of Alex.

A different computer voice announced, “Retreat engaged.”

Nova watched the screen with absolute glee as Krystal battered the ship with all her power. Then, in a flash of light, the ship sped backwards and entered a warp rift, vanishing from sight.

Quark asked, “What just happened?”

Nova said, “My guess is a tactical retreat. I never thought I’d see the day Drocha would run with his tail tucked.”

“Is it over?”

“I think it is.” Nova said as his comm buzzed, he clicked it on. “Nova here.”

Dr. Henderson’s voice came through. “Sir, you will not believe this.”

Continue the Story

Heroes Rising Story: Dea Ex Machina Part 20

 Nova yanked the massive sword out of Drocha’s chest and made a massive swing at his neck. Drocha fell forward and tumbled to the side. He shot out a blast of green energy from his hands, which met Nova’s blade. They were locked in a fight for a moment, but Nova fell back a few steps before regaining his stance.

Drocha quickly returned to his feet and held his chest. “Why... why isn’t this healing?” A trickle of greenish-yellow blood flowed from the hole in his body.

Nova raised his blade, expanding his angelic wings. A hard slam to the ground caused white energy to cut across Drocha, flipping him back and sending him flying across the street before he jarringly slammed into an abandoned building.

Drocha coughed for a moment while a long gash in his body, running from face down to the side of his chest, smoldered. Looking up at the confident Nova, Drocha quickly slammed his hands into the ground, and a wave of earth rolled quickly, a spike of rock jutting up right under Nova’s body. The rock spike caught Nova and launched him. He quickly recovered in the air, gliding down on his wings, his sword ready for another strike.

Clapping his hands together, Drocha summoned the corrupted element of tech within him, and all the technological items in the area swarmed at Nova. He dodged cars, a bus, and two lampposts. Parking meters barraged him, throwing him off course, and he tumbled across the pavement.

“VINCULA LIGA!” Drocha called out, and purple magical chains sprung out of the air and wrapped around Nova’s midsection, his legs, his wings, and one of his arms.

His hands held out with the power in them controlling these ethereal chains, Drocha approached the bound Nova. “You can’t win. You might be able to hurt me, but I control the morphons better than any hero. Tech, magic, strength, all of them... they bow to my will!”

Nova turned his icy gaze onto Drocha. “You have no power, Drocha. The morphons you control are corrupt, vile, evil.”

“They are power, and that is all that matters. You don’t have any idea what I intend to bring into this universe.”

Nova said, “You intend to recreate The Malevolence. You do not know what kind of power you are toying with. It will consume you.”

“I know exactly what I am dealing with. I was there when it was first discovered by Legion.”

Nova said, “I was before Legion ever came to be. I had one mission, one goal in this universe.”

Drocha came close, his confidence soaring at the sight of Nova’s struggle. “What would that be?”

With a hard snapping sound, the chain around Nova’s right hand shattered, and he swung his sword to break the chains on his legs. Soon, he had shattered them all and was ready to cut Drocha to pieces. “Fight corruption.”

Drocha reached up to fight, but the light that came from Nova’s wings pressed him down. Nova raised his sword, his wings spread wide with light exuding from them. “Do you not know why your healing wouldn’t work?”

Cowering in agony, Drocha cried out. “Make it stop!”

“Because with every strike, I destroy another corrupted morphon power in you.” Nova slashed down, cutting across Drocha’s chest, then across his side, his right arm, his left leg. Soon, very little of Drocha remained, yet he still had life in his eyes.

Nova aimed his sword at Drocha’s head.

“Stop!” Drocha rasped.

Nova hesitated. “Why would I?”

“Because you should know that this is utterly pointless.”

Nova asked, “Why?”

“I am a clone; my body is just a manufactured object. My mind... it is being uploaded as we speak.” Drocha smiled, with a wicked flicker in his eyes. “You and your heroes failed, as they were always destined to.” He laughed, and then his eyes rolled back in his head, and he fell against the ground.

“Failed?” Nova turned around to see the heroes, including Santa and EB, still trying to destroy the box. He realized what Drocha meant. “Oh, no. RUN!” He ran and then took flight toward the box. “RUN, RETREAT! MOVE!” Diving toward the heroes, he shoved as many out of the way as he could while Santa and EB evacuated the others.

An enormous explosion followed a flash of light.

Once the waves of destruction finally passed and the fireball had finished rising into the sky, Nova stood with Santa among the heroes watching the crater burn.

“What happened?” Santa asked.

EB said, “You killed him. Right?”

Nova shook his head. “That was never possible. Drocha... he was always ahead of us. The same tech as the ship in orbit constructed this box, his computer storage. Legions finest couldn’t destroy that. We never stood a chance. His upload was inevitable.”

The Gentleman asked, “Why put us through this fight then? Why defend it as if it were so important?”

Santa looked up at Nova. “It was you. He wanted to kill you.”

Nova nodded. “I underestimated his knowledge. Drocha knows I am a threat to him. At least, he believes that. He hoped to keep me here long enough for that explosion to kill me.”

EB said, “Well, jokes on him, you’re still alive and he’s dead and... ew... in pieces.” He saw the remains of Drocha scattered around the street.

Nova said, “No. That was just a body. He has an army of Drocha clones on that ship. His mind connected to the upload. He is waking up there in a fresh, new body.”

Santa added, “In a ship that controls these spheres and a new era of Legion is about to be born.”

Strange Quark appeared in a flash of blue light. Actually, a large blue platypus appeared, standing for a second before flopping over, swearing, and then finally transforming into Quark. “Sorry, in a hurry. You gotta see the news. Check your comms.”

Everyone quickly flicked on their comms to the INN breaking news. They saw a shaky cellphone video of silver spheres flying upward. A voice from the desk spoke, “We are receiving reports from all over the planet. The Renn Tech spheres are ascending into the atmosphere. Every country is showing the spheres are leaving. The Legion creatures that are in combat with BADGE heroes remain and the fight continues, but the spheres are leaving. Governments are still trying to activate their nuclear arms in response to the threatening vessel in orbit. However, the sight of the spheres leaving is raising optimism among the population, though at this time we are uncertain as to the reason or outcome of the spheres removing themselves from our cities. We...”

Nova cut the comm. “This isn’t right.”

EB asked, “You think this is maybe, possibly, hopefully, a good thing?”

Nova shook his head. “Until we are certain Drocha is dead, any action taken by his tech is a threat. But, something is odd about this.”

Santa said, “Why remove his army from our planet?”

“Precisely,” Nova said. “What is his game? Damn it, I hate being behind our enemy at every step.”

Quark asked, “What do we do?”

Nova said, “You get me back to the station. Santa, heroes, get out there and stop those Legion Creatures we are still fighting. We may be behind him, but we are still going to put up a worthwhile fight.”

Santa said, “We will prove you right. This world is protected.”

EB said, “Hey, you hear something?”

Turning back around, Nova frowned. “Yes. I hear something. It sounds like... music?”

Tri-Blade pointed to the comm. “It’s coming from there.”

Nova held up his comm. “It can’t be. It isn’t... on.” Putting it to his ear, he frowned. “I hear it.”

“Something wrong with the comm channels?” The Gentleman asked.

Nova had the hint of a smile on his face before he said, “Nothing to worry about. Just do your duty. This day is not lost yet.”

In a flash of blue light, Quark transported Nova back to the station while the others left to fulfill their orders.

Continue the Story