Tucker and I took nearly an hour to reach the conference tent.

Manhattan was a wreck. Fires were burning all over the place, and tens of thousands of people were huddled on the streets as buildings burned.

I itched to do something. Unfortunately, fire suppression was not one of my skills. At least not yet.

: you’d have made it faster if you didn’t keep stopping

: that was to heal people

: well i didn’t say it was a bad thing

: just try to get to the press conference… it’ll help me to see you on TV

: why? I told you i’m fine

: i’ll believe that when i see it

Tucker led me to a massive tent in the middle of the camp. “Here’s where I leave you, Belessar,” he said. “Uh… good work today.”

“Thanks,” I replied. “There’s one thing, though.”

I pulled out my Laser Rifle and handed it to him.

Tucker took it gingerly. “What do you want me to do with this?”

“It’s yours.”

STANDARD LASER RIFLE ASSIGNED TO PRIVATE EMMETT TUCKER.

Tucker gaped. “I can’t take this, Belessar. It’s not standard issue!”

“Too bad,” I replied. “It’s now DNA-locked to you, so no-one else can fire it. Keep it for your next battle. Or throw it.” I shrugged. “Your call.”

“These things run out of ammo, Belessar.”

“That one’s good for three hundred shots at a time. After that you can just change the power pack. I’ll send you a few.”

“You’d have to send a lot for it to be actually useful.”

I grinned. “How about a hundred power packs? Enough energy for 30,000 shots. That should last you for a while.”

Tucker winced. “Can’t really turn it down, can I?”

“Least I could do. Thanks for helping me through the day.”

“You’re welcome. Good luck in there.”

The conference tent was massive. On the left of the aisle were seats for hundreds of reporters, from every news network imaginable. On the right were seats for the ultrahumans, most of whom clustered in small groups according to their city or country. A massive dais dominated the front, with some of the country’s most prominent heroes and a half dozen generals seated there.

I spotted Lady Lumina, Viking and Soundwave sitting together, and sauntered over. “Evening.”

The heroes looked up at me. Lady Lumina spoke up. “Belessar. Where were you?”

“I was embedded with a U.S. Army infantry platoon. Great guys.”

“Oh.” Lumina subsided. “I thought… never mind.”

“We thought you would be placed with the Tanisport contingent,” rumbled Viking. “When you did not show, we wondered.”

I shrugged. “They asked me if I would go with one of the platoons. I said okay. Worked out well, though. Most of the troops survived.”

“Not much action, then,” muttered Viking.

“I suppose not.” I shrugged. “Where’s The Flying Storm?”

Viking’s gaze turned to fury. “You ask that?”

“Easy, Viking,” muttered Lumina, “he doesn’t know.” She stared at my mask. “The Flying Storm was killed today.”

“Oh.” I hadn’t known. “I’m sorry. I had no idea.”

Viking took a deep breath, then spoke. “Then it is forgivable. You did not tarry from the battlefield of your own choice, nor did you speak words intended to mock or hurt. Be well. But I ask that you allow us our space to mourn the dead.”

“I’ll respect your wishes,” I replied.

Fine, no sitting with the heroes from your city. What was left?

I found an empty chair in a middle row, seated next to a short superheroine in a flaming orange costume with wings.

“Hi,” I introduced myself. “I’m Belessar.”

The ultra looked up at me. “You’re tall,” she giggled. “I’m Mahotsukai.”

“Mahotsukai?”

“I’m from Tokyo. But I love New York. You’re from here?”

“No, I’m from Tanisport. In Florida.”

“Ah! I love Florida! I’ve never been, but I hear it has lovely beaches.”

I smiled. “We do have that. And DisneyWorld.”

“Wonderful! What is your power?”

“Mostly I just bash things on the head with a giant hammer.”

She giggled again. “That’s funny. I fire energy beams at our foes.”

“Ah, you must be a ranged fire specialist then.”

“Yes indeed. And you? Frontliner?”

“I hope so. This is actually my first fight so I’m not sure where to start.”

The girl nodded. “You can always learn from the great Dr. Magnetic. Look, he’s coming on stage now.”

The ultra who stepped on stage wore a spaceman-like helmet and powered armor. On it was emblazoned the sign of a horseshoe.

Dr. Magnetic raised his hands, and the crowd quietened.

“Thank you all for coming,” the inventor began. “New York is my city, and I’m privileged to have been a part of its defense today. I also want to thank all of our fellow ultrahumans who came here today to defend a dream. The dream, as it were, of a city of hope.

“Today, we have banded together to defend that hope. I am proud to say that almost six hundred ultrahumans from across the world came to New York to help us fight off the alien incursion.” He paused. “Also, preliminary analyses confirm that this has been one of the best defenses ever. We have suffered casualties, yes, those that will be mourned - but today is not about mourning but about celebration.

“I am proud to inform you that, due to the courage of our members and the support of the U. S. Army and the Stratospheric Guard, today we have eliminated almost two hundred of the aliens!”

A cheer went up from the audience.

“Unfortunately, no victory comes without a cost, so I ask that you join me in a moment of silence for those who sacrificed their lives so we could stand here safe today.”

The audience collectively rose for a moment of silence.

A thought struck me amidst the quiet. There had only been two hundred attackers? We’d taken out forty-one ourselves.

…. More likely the aliens had retreated once they achieved whatever they wanted to do, and we just got a few of them. Still, it made sense to treat it as a victory. Good for morale.

What would a true victory look like, then?

Perhaps we could get there someday.

As we sat down, Dr. Magnetic continued. “I also want to take a moment to express my condolences to the families of Jin Long and Savasci, who gave their lives in trying to stop the incursion before it breached the shield. Fortress Skyguard is lessened for their loss.”

I’d heard of Savasci, a Turkish superhero who served - had served - on Fortress Skyguard. It was a stark reminder that every alien attack that got through meant that some on Skyguard had fallen. Jin Long, though, was someone I’d never heard of.

“We will now take a few questions,” announced Dr. Magnetic.

Hands shot up across the press gallery. Magnetic picked a lady with the logo of FNN on her jacket.

“Dr. Magnetic, do we have any idea what the civilian casualties are?”

“The counts are still being tallied, Kim. We should have that information by tomorrow."

“Doctor, how does it feel to have this attack hit your home city?”

“Devastating, of course. I’ve lived here for years; I went to the Gershwin theatre last week, for example, and it saddens me that it won’t be the same for a while. Many things will take time to recover.”

I cringed at the mention of the Gershwin. Fortunately, the press had other questions to ask.

“Dr. Magnetic, do we know who have been chosen to replace Jin Long and Savasci?” asked one reporter.

Dr. Magnetic shook his head. “The Sled has just about begun its descent, Tom. As we’ve seen before, it should circle the world three times, which will take about two days. After that, you, I, and the rest of the world will get a clear idea of who the next two members of the Skyguard Fifty are.”

“Doctor, will you be going? You’re at the top of the leaderboards.”

“If I am chosen, of course I will go. It’s a sacred duty.”

“Doctor, do we know which ultrahumans killed the most aliens?”

“I’m afraid that information is confidential, Ted, and you know better. Next?”

“Dr. Magnetic, any comment on the rumours that several USAF jets were shot down?”

“Military operations aren’t my area, Tom, but General Walter Xavier of the US Northern Command is with us here today, and he can comment on that. General Xavier?”

A lean, grizzled man wearing a uniform with four stars and many, many medals stepped up to the mike. “Thank you, Dr. Magnetic. We can confirm that there were sixty-three USAF fighters that engaged with the alien ships. Eight of our jets were shot down, but I’m happy to report that four of the pilots were able to eject in time.”

“General, how many troops were able to reach New York in time for the defense of the city?”

“We were able to deploy elements of the Third, Fifteenth and Sixty-Second Divisions, including tanks, infantry and choppers, in our operations.”

“Could more troops have been deployed, General?”

“I’m confident, sir, that we deployed as many as we needed. We have had full support from the Travelers and the teleportation networks to achieve that.”

“Would more teleportation facilities have helped repulse the attack?” asked one reporter in the front.

Dr. Magnetic spoke up. “I’ll take this question, General. Mr. Varris, the challenge with teleportation facilities is not the buildings; it is the shortage of the ultras needed to create the portals. There are less than three hundred ultras with teleportation capabilities across the world, and most of them volunteer to help during attacks.

“Inventors across the world are trying to replicate the teleportation capability Travelers possess, but no-one has succeeded yet. Whenever we do, it will mark a massive breakthrough in our ability to respond to the enemy.”

After the press conference, I tagged behind the Tanisport heroes as they headed for the portal tent.

Driver Seventeen was waiting there, as were the three Blackhats. Tigerstrike looked us up and down as we reached. “Hail, the conquering heroes. Less heroes than before, I see?”

Viking growled. “Watch your words, animal.”

“Oh, I will. We’re still under truce, after all. Until we get back to Tanisport.”

Driver Seventeen cleared his throat. “May I remind everyone that the truce continues until one hour after your return.”

Tigerstrike nodded lazily. “We’ll be good.” He spotted me at the rear and waved. “Ah, the newbie. Still a virgin?”

I scowled. “None of your business.”

“Don’t worry, newbie. Most ultras don’t make it through their first battle alive.” He shrugged. “Ultragorilla got his date, though, and I got mine for the day. Maybe you’ll manage to kill an alien next time.”

“Enough,” replied Lumina. “Desist from needling the youngster, Tigerstrike, or I won’t be responsible for the consequences.”

Tigerstrike’s tone was contemptuous. “Let him start something if he dares.”

“I didn’t say who’d start it.”

The Blackhat leader subsided.

“Please assemble in the circle for travel back to your city,” said Driver Seventeen. “Thank you for your service.”

I studiously ignored the Blackhats as we settled in our positions. Instead, I focused on my interface - and the gains from the day.

The battle had netted me a whopping 18,700 XP and raised me to Level 8. I had two attribute boosts available and no idea where to use them.

Intelligence, to push up my MP to a level where I could do so much more?

Or Dexterity, improving my ability to hit harder and faster?

Or Strength, making each blow of mine more powerful?

A thought crossed my mind of the Raptor Captain, with 800 HP of health. Future enemies would be tougher, harder, and more difficult to kill.

I needed more advanced materials. Like, say, the Fullersteel Javelin.

I sighed. Intelligence it was.

I added the two Attribute Boosts to my INT score, and watched as my MP rose to 528/528.

It would take time, but I would eventually have to get to the point where I could build weapons and armor powerful enough to fight the aliens on even terms. Not just for me, but also for the forty-two men who fought by my side today.

Because if we kept needing three divisions and six hundred ultras to fight off two hundred aliens, then we were in very deep trouble indeed.