Thorn tapped on the panel. “Horax, we need a full complement of battle-ready enforcers.”
His deep voice filled the kitchen. “Where should I deploy them, Commander Firoza?”
Everyone turned to Viera. Betsy’s hand covered hers. “How sure are you that we should go to Chicago?”
Viera nodded. “Very. I can’t explain it. I can sense the krottel like I’m somehow connected to the hive. Not fully connected, but if they’re an ocean, I’m a boat floating on their currents.” She rubbed her temples, not sure she was making sense. “They’re furious. They feel betrayed and lied to. They want to punish? I think.” She shook her head. “I’m not positive, but I know it’s Chicago.”
Thorn tapped the panel. “Millennium Park, Chicago. When the images of Chicago flashed, I saw the Bean in the background.”
“Got it, Commander Firoza. I’ll contact all the leaders. They have to have seen what’s going on. It’ll probably take a few minutes. Get yourself ready. I’ll transport you in ten minutes. I’m transmitting your uniform to your room now.”
“Send something for Betsy as well.”
Viera bit her lip. “Me, too. I may not know much about fighting, but I want to be there.”
Thorn’s eyes narrowed as she seemed to look into Viera. She finally nodded. “Viera, too.”
“Got it.”
After he signed off, the three headed to Thorn’s room and found the tactical outfits. They changed quickly.
Determination poured from Betsy. “Viera, I know you have a lot of power in you, but I want you to let others do the fighting. You’re new to this world. The rest of us have done a lot more training. You're the backup, okay?”
The words felt like a punch in the gut, but she nodded. She knew her friend was right.
Once dressed, they only had a few minutes to wait until Horax, or someone on the ship, sent them to the park. As soon as they landed, Viera could feel the invaders. The city was filled with more than what the cameras were picking up.
All around her, Viera saw Thorn’s people appearing and getting in line. Flower Prancer, Horax, and a couple of the other qynad from the ship also appeared. Viera knew this was the right spot, but a bud of fear blossomed in her gut. What if they all had come to the wrong city on her word?
Several of the krottel lifted shimmering black poles at least three feet long—or would the aliens measure it as a meters?—focus Viera, that’s not the point! A beam came out of one of their weapons, flying towards a group of chanzii.
Viera thought her heart would stop, but the chanzii saw the attack and got out of the way. But the encounter was on. The qynad took to the air, fire erupting from their mouths, and the battle-trained chanzii fought back.
As the combatants spread out, Viera watched and backed up until she hit the Bean. She found Betsy in the crowd throwing some magic, and realized the other Pillars were near her doing their part. Several of the krottel exploded into their individual bugs, scurrying into the ground, some of them being destroyed in the process.
Bystanders not affiliated with the battle ran, screaming in fear. Viera laughed a bit hysterically as some of them squished the bugs under their feet in their haste to escape. Cars on the road screeched on their brakes to stop from hitting random people or other cars. Others held phones, obviously recording everything.
Of course they are. If you don’t get video, it didn’t happen. Her laughter got a bit higher in pitch.
The acrid smell of fire filled the air, and a shiver ran down Viera’s back at the zapping sounds the silly laser sticks made.
Trembling, a feeling deep down shuddered within Viera each time a krottel was destroyed. Small pinpoints throughout her body. She saw a large red qynad flying above the city, shooting fire down to the street. As she watched, the fire disappeared behind the building. Pain traveled down her back. The shot must have been successful. She took a breath, trying to stay on her feet.
She scanned the sky but didn’t see Horax’s blue form anywhere above.
Viera closed her eyes, trying to block out the krottel. Deep down, she felt a glee coming from the bugs, despite the number of them not surviving the fight. How many of Thorn’s people aren’t making it? A lump developed in the back of Viera’s throat. I wish I could help, but I’m not built for battle.
Digging deeper, she found an image … the image that had brought them to Chicago. Viera opened her eyes. She’d seen a building with two noble lions standing sentry. She’d been on enough field trips with the school to know exactly which building that was. She ran.
Everyone seemed frozen as her super speed got her to the front of the Art Institute of Chicago in mere moments. But it was too late, the bomb was already sitting on the steps. “No! Stop!” She held up Gandalf’s walking stick, which, as always appeared when she needed it, and threw up the biggest time bubble she could manage.
All around her, silence rang. The battle froze. She trembled as she rotated. Behind her a beam from a krottel weapon was inches from her back. Two other krottel and four chanzii fought in the street behind her, frozen where they stood. Weapons raised, ready to shoot.
There were humans holding their phones, recording everything.
The Pillars’ hope of keeping the aliens in the closet has obviously come to an end.
With a sigh, she dropped her head back. Above her, the dragons had stopped moving as well. Viera shook with the power she’d expended. She turned and walked to the lion on the left. Next to it, on the steps, was a bomb engulfed in fire.
What do I do now?
She walked up to one of the chanzii. “What do you think? Should I carry you away like one of the superheroes in the movies?” She bent her knees and tugged. “Yeah, just what I thought. Stopping time doesn’t suddenly give me super strength.”
After a nervous chuckle, she held out the staff. “How about you, stick? Any ideas?” She waited a beat. “Didn’t think so.”
The magic drained from her, but she knew that bomb would take out half if not all of Chicago. This was too important. Flower Prancer, why is this so hard? You need to teach me better!
That’s right! She’d call Flower Prancer. He’d know how to help. She walked back to the bomb. ‘Flower Pracer, Flower Prancer, Flower Prancer!’ Each unanswered iteration of his name was louder than the last. Betsy had said she could talk to others this way, and he could hear her the best. ‘God damn it, why haven't you ever taught me about telepathy? Damn it! Flower Prancer.’
‘Quiet yourself, Ms. Kor, you are being impertinent. What is the matter? Telepathy is a skill which requires fine control, which you clearly do not possess.’
Viera bit back a snarl. ‘I’m looking at a bomb that’s already gone off. Here is my location. Please hurry.’
‘I may not have your speed—yet—but I do understand urgency, Ms. Kor.’
It didn’t take long for him to get to her. “I can’t disintegrate it once it’s gone off, it’s too late. This is your city. What are you going to do?”
“Okay, I can do this.” Viera closed her eyes and dug deep. With a bit of what they’d been practicing, she reversed the time for the bomb while trying to hold everything else in stasis. They both watched as the fire receded. As soon as the bomb casing was whole, the yonat did his magic … literally. The bomb disintegrated, turning to gray dust.
