Four teens sat strapped in the back of a plane. A girl twitched nervously, fidgeting with her hands. She gulped, gripped her hands, and then looked up.

“W-Wonder Knight, I, um, I have something to tell you.”

“What is it, Pink?”

“I-I know this isn’t the best time, but if…well…um…I might not have another chance. S-So um…Wonder Knight, I love you!”

“Huh?”

“Please go out with me!”

“Um…that’s…”

Tears welled up in Pink Star’s eyes.

“Is…is that a no?”

“...I’m sorry.”

“Why?! Is there someone else?! Am I not good enough?! Please, what can I do?!”

“No, it’s not that, it’s just…well…”

“What? What is it?!”

“It’s…well…I’m…gay.”

Pink Star blinked.

“Huh?”

“Yea, um, like you’re a great girl and all and any guy would be lucky to have you but, um, it’s not really my thing.”

“I-I see, that’s, well, um, I’m sorry?”

“N-no, it’s not your fault. I’m flattered, really.”

Pink Star stared into the air for a bit.

“Wait…”

She slowly turned her head.

“No. Definitely not. I am straight. Very straight. We are friends. Just friends.”

Wonder Knight stared into the distance.

“Yes…friends…just…friends…”

“Yes yes, they’re just friends, you’re just friends, we’re all just friends. Now that’s out of the way, is everyone good for now?”

“A-Actually, Chrono, I’ve always…”

“Quiet.”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Ok, with that done, CAN WE PLEASE FOCUS ON STOPPING THE APOCALYPSE?!”

“Oh, yeah”

“Right, we should probably focus.”

“It’s not really the best time for this.”

Chronolock held her head with her palm.

“We’re all going to die.”

Rusted doors creaked on their hinges as Wonder Knight pulled them open. The team crept through the abandoned missile silo. The facility was dark, none of the lights were lit, not a creature stirred. Pink Star summoned a small bird to light the way, but they saw nothing but dust and scattered equipment. The team held their breaths as they crept forward, trying not to wince at their own footsteps. Eventually they came to a large open area.

And the world went white.

The teens shielded their eyes from the sudden lights. They heard something like the air being ripped apart.

“Gah!”

Wonder Knight let out a cry as a beam of sickly green light slammed into his chest, knocking him to the ground. Pink Star and Voidspeaker moved to help him to his feet while Chrono stepped in front of them, arms at the ready.

“Welcome, little lambs. I’m glad you could join me for this holy moment.”

They were in a large observation area overlooking the silo through a window on the far wall. All around them were cameras and recording equipment, aimed at the missile preparing for launch. To their left was a wall of large monitors behind desk panels full of blinking lights and nobs. In front of them, a large man floated in the air. He wore a preacher’s outfit with a yellow radiation symbol painted on the front, and his body glowed with a sickly green light. His exposed face and hands were covered in warts and tumors, some of which glowed green.

Chronolock’s eyes narrowed.

“Who are you?”

The man nodded and spread out his hands.

“I am your teacher, your guide. The one who will save this fallen world.”

“Bro! You’re about to destroy the world!”

The man shook his head.

“I am about to baptize it.”

“With nukes?!”

He turned and gazed upon the missile as Wonder Knight stumbled to his feet, Pink and Void supporting him.

“They are not destruction, as everyone fears. They are salvation. I myself was baptized by the holy flame, on that little island so many years ago. It changed me, elevated me, made me something more. I knew then my purpose. I was to prepare the way, to spread what I had learned, to lead others to the light.”

Wonder Knight grit his teeth as he stood on his own power.

“You’re insane.”

The man turned back to them, shaking his head and clicking his tongue.

“Little lambs, have you not seen them yourself? The Dazzling Vulture, the Warped Warrior, the Electron Pirate, all my precious disciples, all fellow recipients of the great gift. They received it with joy and became followers of the way, they basked in the holy light and purified their souls. The world is changing, it is growing, and we must grow with it. Are you not the same? Are you not the proof? Why would you hoard these gifts for yourself when we can gift them to all?”

“Millions of people will die!”

The man clasped his hands together in front of his chest and closed his eyes.

“Millions will be saved. Some of their flesh may fail, but all their souls will be purified, and they will be saved, forever. And those that remain will lead humanity to a glorious future, to our destiny.”

“Bro, I don’t think there’s any reasoning with him.”

“Convincing coming from you.”

“Oh come on! Now?! Really?!”

The man’s face dropped, his eyes dropped.

“So you cannot see it? You do not understand? You would give in to impure desire and selfish ambition? You would oppose love and salvation?”

Wonder Knight raised his fists.

“We oppose you.”

The man looked down to the ground. He spread his arms, floating higher into the air.

“So be it. Then it is the duty of I, the Atomic Herald, to discipline you, that you might yet see the light.”

He thrust his hand forward and a beam of sickly green light shot into the ground, heading towards the Aurora Legion. All four of them scattered to either side as the beam cut the ground between them. Chronolock and Wonder Knight pivoted and ran towards the Atomic Herald from either side, while Voidspeaker and Pink Knight gathered energy into their hands. The Atomic Herald raised his hands, which glowed with their sickly light. Two beams shot forth.

“Gah!”

“Eek!”

Wonder Knight took another beam straight to the chest. He flew back, colliding into Pink Star, sending both to the floor. Chronolock grunted as she raised her arms, a beam of light vibrating inches from her face.

“I…can’t….hold it!”

“Move! Experience nothingness!”

Chronolock leapt to the ground as a black beam shot above her, colliding with the green one. The lights in the room dimmed. The roof tiles began to shake and clatter. Voidspeaker rose into the air, clenching his teeth. Gusts of wind blew about the room as darkness and light attempted to swallow the other.

The Atomic Herald frowned.

“You are one who rejects the light. Who was seduced by darkness. There is no place for such superstition in the new dawn.”

The Atomic Herald brought his other hand to aim at Voidspeaker, adding a second beam to the tug of war. Voidspeaker grunted, sweat dripped from his brow. The green beams grew brighter and brighter, closer and closer. The black beam grew thinner and thinner, shorter and shorter.

A thundering noise rang through the room as a shockwave rattled the cameras and roof tiles. Voidspeaker flew backwards, bouncing twice on the ground before he rolled to a halt, smoke rising from his robes. He did not stir.

“Void!”

Chronolock leapt through the air. The Atomic Herald clenched his arms for a moment, a light flash of light surging forth. Chronolock let out a cry as she was thrown back.

And then there was a mighty roar, and the earth began to tremble.

The Atomic Herald turned to the window, tears welling up in his eyes.

“It is finally here. It is finally time.”

He stretched out a finger. A small beam of light struck a flashing button. The lights turned on. The cameras began to blink red.

“Good evening and welcome to GNN, all you citizens of planet Earth. I’m your host, Brendan Baird. Today we’re going to discuss…”

BEEP

“Your salvation. Greetings, all you lost little lambs of the world. Rejoice, for your salvation is at hand! Even as I speak, the missiles are ready. Soon you all shall be baptized by holy fire, you all shall see the blessed light, your souls purified and your bodies elevated. You will be confused, you will be afraid, but fear not, little lambs. I, the Atomic Herald, will be here, to guide and shepherd you, and lead you into this new dawn. Watch now, your salvation approaches!”

Chronolock ran where Voidspeaker had fallen. Pink Star was already there, checking his vitals. Wonder Knight had limped over, holding his side.

“We’re…we’re too late…”

Chronolock’s eyes narrowed.

“Not yet.”

Wonder Knight shook his head, pointing at the missile.

“There’s no more time.”

Chronolock frowned.

“Then I will stop it. Throw me.”

“What?”

“Throw me at the missile! Do it now, idiot!”

Voidspeaker came to as Wonder Knight picked up Chronolock in one arm, a camera in the other. Pink Star’s eyes welled up and hugged him.

“Void!”

“W-What’s happening?”

Wonder Knight swung his arms. Chronolock soared through the air. She shielded her face with her arms. The window shattered as the camera struck ahead of her. She could feel stinging from all over her arms and legs as she passed by the jagged edges but she ignored it. She gasped as she hit the platform in the silo area, but she thrust out her arms even before she caught her breath.

“GRAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!”

The world grew still.

The roaring stopped.

The missile began vibrating in the air.

The Atomic Herald closed his eyes, a tear falling down his cheek.

“So you cannot be saved. I am sorry little one, but I cannot allow you to delay salvation. May your soul be purified, and find peace.”

He raised his hand.

A green light began to glow.

A sickly, glowing beam shot forth.

The beam approached.

She didn’t move.

The beam passed the window.

She couldn’t.

Wonder Knight opened his mouth to yell.

Pink Star gasped, her eyes starting to water.

Voidspeaker stretched out his hand.

“CHRONO!!!”

She burst into flames.