The man reporting the news spoke in a professional, but sorrow filled tone. “So far, over seventy-eight world leaders have been assassinated in less than six hours. Prime Ministers, judges, governors, and ambassadors are among the dead. We have not received a count yet, but we know that many of these people have had their homes attacked, killing everyone inside. This unprovoked coup, led by World Corps heroes, caught everyone off guard. The same words are ringing from every corner of the world. BADGE save us! Two hours ago, the United Nations officially declared all outstanding warrants against BADGE and their associated heroes nullified and have called for aid from the organization deemed criminal just a few days prior. We at the International News Network also call for BADGE. Please, if you can hear us, Director Nova, we need your heroes.”
Chase cut off the sound and looked back at the people sitting at the stations with the robots, then she looked at Gar. “Come on, everyone, down to the mess, immediately.”
It was a quick rush down through the station to the main hall, where most League leaders were currently waiting for their answer. The ultimatum was given less than a day ago, and they were sure it was time. On tablets, small screens, and mounted televisions, the same horrible news echoed through the halls of BADGE. Heroes stood in stunned silence at the sight of such merciless killing.
Chase pushed through the crowd and stood on a table. She pressed a button on her comm and all the screens went silent.
“Everyone! I’m sure you have heard the news.”
“LET US GO DOWN NOW!” Hotwings demanded.
Chase gave him a nod. “I see no reason...”
There came a great blue flash of light behind her and she knew the color of it as it reflected off everyone’s eyes. Turning, she let out a yelp of joy at the sight of Director Nova, Strange Quark, EB, and an odd man in red armor.
Nova stepped up, giving everyone a surprised look. Finally, he said, “well, what are you waiting for? Save the Earth!”
A jubilant cheering broke out as portals were opened and people rushed back to their duty. Strange Quark joined the transportation and helped zap heroes back down to the planet.
Chase called out, “head for portals and teleporter heroes, don’t use the shuttles. No time. Go, go, go!”
Turning back to Nova, Chase slowly stepped down. She just about said something when EB rushed at her and jumped up, latching on with one of his famous hugs. “I’ve missed you sooooo much. I love Nova, but he’s a stick-in-the-mud. I needed my hot babelicious Chase.”
Chase hugged him back for a moment. “You know, I kinda missed your inappropriate flirting.”
“Dawwww!” He was nuzzling her.
“Okay, enough.” She dropped him.
Nova approached, “I’m so sorry for handing you this job so suddenly. But you kept everything in one piece.”
“All I did was follow your plan. Keep the heroes away from going to war against the World Corps. But...I didn’t know what to do after that.”
Nova said, “you did exactly what you had to. The world stopped trusting us. They turned to another source of protection, not realizing they had gotten into bed with the vipers. What we needed was for the world to see the enemy for who they were. By not engaging the World Corps directly, we gave them enough rope to hang themselves. They expected an all-out war against BADGE, but we didn’t give it to them. Once the world, as a whole, turned back to us and asked for our help, it would be time.”
“But why wait for the world to need us, to call for us? We aren’t always welcome, but we always do our job.”
Nova said, “if we had retaliated when the World Corps wanted us to, we would fight not only them, but the armed forces of their new allied nations, against the forces of the United Nations, against the media, and against public opinion. Now, we have only one enemy, the only true enemy we had from the beginning, the World Corps.”
“So, is this it? Is it now over? There is little chance the World Corps has the manpower to fight the combined forces of BADGE and the military forces of the world,” asked Chase.
The man in the red armor said, “not by a long shot.”
Chase cocked her head at him. “Who are you?”
Nova smiled and said, “pardon me, introductions are in order.”
EB hopped around, “oh, this is sooo cool. He’s...”
The man shoved EB away as he slowly walked toward her. “Chase...it has been so long.”
“Do I know you?” She paused and gave him a closer look. “Wait, I think I do know you. No...it can’t be...but...”
“Yes, Chase, I’m Nova from a distant future.”
“Sir?” She looked at Director Nova.
He nodded, “yes. He and I are the same person, just around 1300 years’ distance between us.”
“How...why...what?” Chase could not form a logical question now.
General Nova huffed, “we don’t have time for all this.”
“Come on, let’s head for operations. We’ll explain everything there.” Director Nova guided them toward the lift. His future self seemed a little misty as he looked around, but hid it as well as he could from them.
***
A blurry light covered the plane, and it stopped falling from the sky. In the distance, on that brick wall, three people held out hands and cast this telekinetic field to save the plane. A different man held up his hands and ten people flashed next to him, the occupants of the plane. Once they were safe, the plane was allowed to fall to the ground.
The two augments rushed the wall. The moment they got within ten feet of it, everyone quickly covered their heads in foil, including placing the same hats on their rescued people. A little girl holding a small doll looked up and her eyes went inky black. Both augments held their heads and screamed in pain. They turned and raced far away.
A man in uniform met the rescued people. “Welcome to North Onnotangu.”
“Oh, thank you, thank you. I’m General Bigos, head of the Mokash Military. We have the president’s family with us. The president was murdered by…”
“We know. It’s an old story by now. You’re safe here.”
Their new guests were escorted off the protective wall around the nation.
The general knelt down and smiled at the little girl. “You did well. I hope you gave them bad dreams.”
She toyed with her doll. “They will wet their beds for a long time.”
“I hope...”
“Sir, there is someone approaching. He’s running through the trees near the wall.” A man held a hand to his head, sensing this with his powers.
The general looked over the wall. “I see him. Ari, get him up here before we’re attacked by another augment.”
A woman with unnaturally long legs jumped down and grabbed the man and jumped back up. He landed near the general and was wobbly for the trip.
“Welcome to North Onnotangu, who....YOU!”
Dr. Osteen looked at the general. “Hello, I really need to talk to your leader right away.”
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