On a small island in the middle of the Atlantic stood a mighty fortress, flanked by air defense towers. Smoke could be seen rising above its walls, explosions and shouts heard even at a distance.

Within the site itself…

Men in black military uniforms and fully enclosed helmets took up positions, rifles firing. With them were drone tanks with silver hulls, the golf-cart sized robots launching fireballs from their cannons. The men ducked as the turret of a tank flew through the air, smashing the drone beside them.

To their front…

A mighty triceratops roared as it bounded through the facility, knocking over men and trampling on tanks. Three figures sat upon its back. In front, a girl in pink, eyes moving in sync with the dinosaur. In the middle, a girl in yellow, holding out her hand to stop bullets and fireballs until the trio moved out of their path. In back, a boy in black and purple robes, firing black beams at turrets and tanks. To their side, a boy in a red suit and a blue cape kicked men into walls and ripped the turrets off of tanks.

The Aurora Legion had arrived.

The trio leapt off the dinosaur as it faded, joining up with Wonder Knight as they walked past burning metal husks and groaning minions. They entered the large, cylindrical building in the center of the facility.

The inside of the building was mostly hollow, with a large device held on three metal beams. The device was shaped like a giant jet engine, and was firing a massive beam into the Earth. Standing in front of the beam was a man wearing a red cape with a black mask and suit. He turned to them, showing off the volcano painted on his chest.

“The Aurora Legion themselves! Here for humble old me, I am truly flattered! But you are too late! You cannot stop the Herald of Ashes!”

“Seriously bro, another Herald? How many of you are there?”

“I blame you.”

“Me?! What do I have to do with this?”

“Heralds of doom trying to destroy the planet is pretty cult-y”

“Oh come on! We are totally different! Blowing up the world is NOT inexorable doom!”

“Really? I don’t really get it, what’s the difference?”

“Not you too, Pink!”

Aurora Legion took up positions. Wonder Knight stepped forward, fists at the ready.

“It’s over, Herald of Ashes, surrender now!”

The man grinned and spread out his arms. The device behind him quieted and the beam died down.

“Over? Yes it is truly over! My drill has already penetrated deep into the core! Once my Geo-Oscillator reaches the interior it will excite the magma across the globe! On every landmass, every continent lava surges will breach the mantle! And the Herald of Ashes shall rule the world, reshaped in my image! Minion, release the Oscillator!”

Silence.

“Ahem, minion! Release the Oscillator!”

Aurora Legion exchanged glances.

The Herald of Ashes turned his head to the control panel.

“Minion?”

There was nobody there.

“Um, is something supposed to happen?”

“There’s no one else here.”

“You ok, bro? You might be seeing things.”

The Herald of Ashes turned forward.

“Oh.”

He gulped.

He and Wonder Knight both turned and ran for the panel. The Herald of Ashes threw out a palm and a ball of lava shot towards Wonder Knight’s chest. Chronolock slid in between them and stopped the ball midair, and a pink kangaroo landed in front of the Herald. It leaned back on its tail and planted both feet on his chest, sending him to the ground. He raised his hand and summoned the heat.

And nothing happened.

A black beam washed over him, sapping his strength and the warmth from his body. He could do nothing but grunt as the kangaroo landed on top of him.

“No!”

Wonder Knight smashed the terminal.

“You fool! You activated the Oscillator! It will kill us all!”

The device in the center began to vibrate at tremendous speeds. The team stumbled as waves surged through the floor of the facility. Lava began to bubble up out of the hole in the center of the room.

“Oops.”

“Let’s get out of here!”

The Aurora Legion fled the collapsing building. Wonder Knight punched the Herald in the face and then slung him over his shoulder on the way out. The central building went up in flames behind them.

Meanwhile on a boat sailing away from the island…

Bob shook his head as another explosion rang out.

“Cutting it real close, aren’t you? You just have to show up at the last minute, don’t you? Heroes are so annoying.”

Bob took out his cell phone.

“Bob!”

“Markus.”

“Did you get it?”

“The blueprints are secure, do you have any leads?”

“Here’s one. Ex-supervillainess, evil genius inventor type. Adopted a kid and went straight, currently working as a supplier for the military and the CIA.”

Bob nodded his head.

“I think I know who you’re talking about, the German lady, right?”

“That’s the one.”

“Hm, she’s definitely smart enough, and has incentive not to shake the boat. That should work.”

“Should I set up a meeting?”

“No, if she’s trying to stay clean, then she won’t bite if it’s from EL. I’ll check with one of my contacts, send it through the government.”

“Will that be all right?”

“I’ll strip the prints first, remove the weaponizable parts.”

“Aw, that’s no fun.”

“Neither is tectonic collapse.”

“Says you. You know there’s going to be interference though? CIA likes her but not that much. A lot of profits at stake here.”

“Can’t you do something about that?”

“Well I could but I’d have to actually talk with my dad, so no.”

“You probably should some day.”

“But Boooobbbbb, if I deal with my issues and become emotionally healthy, who will run the bank of Evil?”

“Ivan.”

“Ivan? Really Bob? You think he’s the type to handle paperwork?”

“Doesn’t he already?”

“What, you think I drop my work on him or something?”

“Yes.”

“Hahaha you’re right. But seriously, my dad’s just one player. Takes more than one player to overturn the game.”

“Let me think.”

“I can't wait to see what you come up with.”

Bob took out a notepad and flipped through it, rubbing his chin as he scanned the pages.

“I have an idea.”

“That's what I love to hear.”

“Approve funding for applicants 151805, 165091, and 173892.”

“165091? Seriously? YES! FINALLY! Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for that one? I was afraid he was going to give up.”

“I’m glad you’re pleased.”

“Come on, Bob, live a little. You can’t tell me you’re not even a little excited to see that go down.”

“...I have to make another call.”

“Hahaha I knew…”

Bob hung up the phone.

Xiong Huang yawned as she leaned back on the couch, eyes on the television in front of her.

“You came all this way just to ask for more minions? Bob, are you trying to court me or something? Didn’t think you were the type to use lame excuses.”

Bob shook his head.

“Not the usual deal. I want you to send an Inner Disciple. Maybe even a Core if you can manage it.”

Xiong Huang muted the television and turned to Bob. She narrowed her eyes as they stared at each other in silence.

“Wait, you’re serious?”

“I’m always serious.”

Xiong Huang looked straight into Bob’s eyes.

“You want a real Eternal Night member to kowtow to some mortal kid with delusions of grandeur?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because he needs to succeed.”

Xiong Huang held the brow of her nose.

“That’s not a simple favor, Bob. There are rules to this, even for me. And there will be consequences for that kind of humiliation. And I know you aren’t suggesting I do it myself. I’m still disappointed in the last time.”

Bob shrugged.

“It’s hard finding you good opponents.”

“And who’s fault is that?”

“Are you complaining?”

Xiong Huang sighed.

“No, it’s just, a lot more boring than I thought it would be. But seriously, Bob, I can’t just order this without a reason.”

Bob took out a package from his pocket. Xiong Huang raised an eyebrow. Bob simply nodded, and Xiong Huang took the package, slowly unwrapping it.

"What the crap is this?!"

“I trust that will suffice to motivate a volunteer?”

“No crap it does. Even I would lick a mortal’s boots to get a Thousand Star Ice Heart, if it were past me at least. By the heavens, where do you find this stuff, Bob?”

Bob simply smiled.

“You’re kind of annoying sometimes, you know? Well, whatever. You’ll have your volunteers, I can promise you that. But seriously, what is this kid even doing?”

“Changing the world.”