Londyn walked into a conference room. Several commanders were seated around the room. A conversation was already trailing off into whispers and tense silence as she arrived.

“Ah, Madam Director, glad you could join us. Admiral Faulkner, US Seventh Fleet.”

“Admiral Huo, PLA Navy.”

“Admiral Takishima, JMSDF”

“Admiral Kong, ROK Navy”

“Admiral Victorovich, Russian Pacific Fleet.”

Londyn nodded her head.

“A pleasure to meet you all. I wish it were under better circumstances.”

Everyone around the table nodded as Londyn took a seat. She waited for a minute but no one spoke up. She bit back a sigh.

“Do you gentlemen have a plan?”

The admirals glanced around the room but no one spoke up. Admiral Faulkner gave a shrug.

“Do you have any ideas, Director?”

Londyn nodded.

“Aurora Legion can infiltrate the facility and confront Miss Le Blank directly.”

“How do you plan to get them there? They’ll never make it past her defenses. Those beams will shoot them from the sky long before they arrive, and they’d have to break past that shield even if they make it that far.”

Londyn nodded.

“That’s exactly why I picked Aurora. Voidseeker’s powers are a good match for any energy-focused powers or weapons. He can simply drain a portion of the shield long enough for a single craft to pass through.”

“That still doesn’t explain how they’ll get past the beams.”

“It does not. That will be up to you all.”

The admirals glanced around at each other once more. Admiral Huo took the lead this time.

“What are you suggesting?”

“Cause a distraction.”

Silence reigned. Admiral Takishima spoke up with a whisper.

“Do you understand what you’re asking?”

Londyn nodded.

“I do. But you don’t need to just waltz up to her, right? You all have drones and standoff weapons.”

“Will that be enough against that monstrosity?”

“We don’t need to overwhelm the castle. Just the people running it. Voidseeker can also shield Aurora’s transport from radar and visual detection. A light distraction is all they need.”

Silence reigned once more.

“Well, it could work. There’s just one problem.”

Admiral Huo turned to look Londyn in the eyes.

“You want us to leave our fate in the hands of children? It’s my country in the line of fire if we fail, Director.”

Londyn met his gaze.

“I want you to leave your fate in the hands of heroes. They’ve done this before. They will not fail.”

Admiral Faulkner shrugged.

“It’s the first non-suicidal plan we’ve heard today. I’m for it.”

Admiral Huo slowly nodded his head.

“If you truly believe they’re up to this task, then we will give them the chance.”

Admirals Takishima, Kong, and Admiral Victorovich nodded as well.

“Good, then let’s work out the details.”

Onboard an ILS grav-jet, four teenagers sat strapped into the side seats, while one leaned over an elaborate circular pattern drawn on the floor in pitch black ink. Wherever the lines intersected there were depictions of stars, the whole structure forming a picture of the cosmos.

Voidspeaker mumbled to himself as he poured over the formation. Wonder Knight and Pink Star exchanged glances before Wonder Knight turned to the other boy.

“Everything all right, Void?”

“Shh! Let me concentrate, I just need to check this alignment right here…”

“This is the twelfth time you checked it.”

“Eldritch rituals are not something you wing, bro!”

“No pressure Void. We’re just going to die if you fail.”

“Wow Chrono, thanks for the support.”

“U-Um, you can do it, Voidspeaker!”

“Don’t coddle him, Rose. He thrives under stress.”

Icy Rose gulped as the rest of Aurora Legion chuckled.

Was this truly a laughing matter?

The pilot turned her head back to the team.

“Eyes up people, we’re about to come in range of the target.”

Wonder Knight nodded his head.

“Now or never, Void.”

Voidspeaker took a deep breath.

“Ok ok, just give me a moment. Whoo…you can do this…here goes.”

He held his hands out over the circle, closed his eyes, and began chanting under his breath. The area around his eyes began to glow with a dim, purple flame. His voice grew a deep and ominous echo. He began to float in the air as wind stirred up the cabin.

His eyes shot open, glowing with bright purple light.

He and the echo declared.

“SHROUD OF THE ABYSS.”

In the skies above the Pacific, a jet was covered in black, and then vanished from view.

Londyn stood by Admiral Faulkner on the command deck of the Regan. A light flashed on her wrist.

“Aurora’s in position, we’re ready.”

Admiral Faulkner took a deep breath.

“I hope you know what you’re doing. Honestly I exaggerated a bit when I called this plan non-suicidal you know?”

Londyn shrugged.

“Every ILS op is suicidal.”

Admiral Faulkner swore as he grabbed a mic.

“Great, just great. People we’re good to go here. Commence Operation Hoey.”

“Commencing Operation Hou Yi. Admiral Faulkner, please never attempt to speak my language again.”

“Screw you Admiral Huo. Try saying Susquehanna for me!”

“Susquehanna.”

Admiral Faulkner dropped the mic.

“Gosh darn commie jerk.”

Londyn raised an eyebrow.

“Oh don’t give me that, Director. This stopped being a professional military op when we sent a bunch of teenagers to blow up the Death Star.”

One of the officers turned to the Admiral.

“Planes are in the air, sir, both ours and the Chinese. Japanese, Korean, and Russians reporting they’ve launched as well and are approaching from the north.”

Admiral Faulkner sighed.

“Well, no one lives forever. Let’s get this party started.”

“All ships, open fire!”

Londyn watched as trails of smoke and fire towered into the sky. All around them, destroyers and cruisers launched long-range cruise missiles. A monitor swapped to the view from a drone.

“Missiles on approach!”

“Send in the fighters.”

“Copy that. Strike commander you are cleared to engage.”

In the view from the drone, missiles surged forward and fighter jets spun around to keep distance. A fleet of drones filled the sky, following the trails of the missiles.

“Target in range!”

Beams of light lit up the sky. Drones exploded mid-air or fell from the sky. The castle came into view, flashes of light as missiles exploded on its shields. Another wave of missiles roared past the drone.

Soon they could see the castle itself.

“Sir, we’re running out of missiles!”

Admiral Faulkner turned to Londyn, who was glancing at her wrist. She shook her head.

“Keep it up! Don’t stop until we’re out!”

Another wave of missiles passed the drone. More missiles launched from the ships around them.

“Cruise missiles depleted!”

The drone was close enough to see the windows on the ramparts. Explosions continued to blanket the shield, but were slowly growing less frequent.

The drone’s vision was filled with a flash of light, and then cut off.

“Strike commander is reporting they’re out of missiles! Orders, sir?”

Admiral Faulkner turned to Londyn, who was looking at her wrist. A green light flashed and she nodded.

“Aurora has landed on target.”

Admiral Faulkner grabbed the mic once more.

“Package is delivered, let’s get out of here people!”

Gabriel Le Blank grit her teeth. Fools, every last one of them fools! Why couldn’t they see?! Why couldn’t they understand?! This ugly world could not be allowed to continue its unsightly path!

She frowned and gripped her armrests. She closed her eyes, and sent her power into the core above.

A flash of light surged from the castle. The pounding thunder stopped.

When she opened her eyes she saw calm seas and clear skies.

She let out a deep breath.

And then the edges of her mouth curled into a wicked smile.

Time to show them what she can do.

And then she froze in her chair.

Bugs. There were bugs in her home. Dirtying the halls with their unclean boots.

She grit her teeth once more. But then she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

It was fine.

It was all fine.

She had prepared for this, of course.

She focused in and fired up the security system.

…

She fired up the security system.

…

Nothing happened.

She quickly glanced around the halls, sending her power through it to feel every corner.

Nothing.

Nothing but power lines and lights.

She pulled out her phone, scowling as it continued to ring.

“Yes, Ma’am?”

“MINION! WHERE IS THE SECURITY SYSTEM?!”

“Sorry Ma’am, security system was scheduled to be installed next week. I thought Chris had shared the construction schedule with you?”

“FOR THE LOVE OF…Can any of you not be incompetent imbeciles for once?! These blasted heroes are ruining everything!”

“Oh…um sorry Ma’am, let me see…um, if they get to the throne room you could use the core to overpower them?”

“You’re saying I have to fight them myself?!”

“Sorry about that, Ma’am.”

Gabriel Le Blank screamed. Then she hurled the phone into a wall.

Aurora Legion took up formation outside the large, golden doors. Wonder Knight looked around, each member silently nodded. He held up three fingers, pumping his hand and dropping a finger with each motion.

Then he pushed open the doors.

And slammed back into the wall as he took a beam to the face.

"Wonder!"

"DIE!"

The rest of Aurora leapt into action. Voidspeaker and Chronolock rushed into the room, taking cover behind a golden pillar. Icy Rose lifted her hands, a wall of ice rising from the floor. She shrieked as a beam of light pierced a hole straight through the wall, knocking her to the ground.

"DIE! DIE! DIE! JUST DIE!"

Voidspeaker and Chronolock glanced at each other from across the hall. Voidspeaker spun his finger around the side of his head. Chronolock just frowned and shook her head, then made some motions with her hands. Voidspeaker nodded and stepped out from behind the pillar, firing a black beam towards the throne.

Miss Le Blank turned towards the beam and thrust both her hands forward with a snarl. A beam of light blasted away the beam of dark. Voidspeaker's eyes widened as the beam collided into him, sending him flying through the air.

Meanwhile Chronolock sprinted down the hall, leaping in the air towards Miss Le Blank.

"EEK! GET AWAY!"

Miss Le Blank swung her hand, an arc of light surging forward. Chronolock was thrust back, landing on her feet. She barely had time to dodge to the side before a beam of light blasted next to her.

"JUST! DIE!"

Miss Le Blank lifted her hands into the air and the light in the ceiling grew brighter and brighter.

And then a rain of beams fell upon the room.

A pink Ankylosaurus took position over the fallen Voidspeaker, crying out as beams struck its armored back. Wonder Knight dragged Icy Rose back into the hallway, he and Pink Star gritting their teeth as they hid behind the doorway. Chronolock jumped this way and that, barely stopping beams from hitting her.

"DO SOMETHING!"

She shouted into the comms. Voidspeaker leapt to the side and then scrambled for the doorway as the dinosaur fade into pink particles.

"Ugh...that hurt. Bro, tell me you have a plan. Now would be a really good time for a plan!"

"Let me think...Pink, can you do that?"

"Um, I think so. Won't last long though."

"Rose, Void, you good to go?"

"Y-Yea, I think so."

"Ugh no but we have to, right?"

"You two, follow me. Pink will distract her."

Just then Chronolock gave a cry as a beam impacted the ground behind her, sending her flying forward.

"GO!"

Pink Star held out her hands, gauntlets growing bright.

"I choose you..."

The light shone, brighter than ever before.

"Dragon!"

A mighty roar filled the hall.

A beam of pink flames cut through the rain of light, slamming into Miss Le Blank. The light in the ceiling dimmed as Miss Le Blank let out a cry.

A strand of her hair fell in front of her face, burning from the flame.

Her face twisted in a snarl.

"DEAD! YOU ARE SO DEAD!"

A pink dragon leapt into the room, roaring once more. Miss Le Blank thrust her hands forward with all her might, a gigantic beam piercing the air. The dragon let out its mighty breath, a beam of pink flame matching the golden light.

The air hissed and roared as the two beams collided, pink flames scattering around the room.

And then the golden beam began to vibrate in the air.

And the pink flames surged forth once more, enveloping Miss Le Blank’s throne in a pink inferno.

The dragon leapt to the side and the golden beam crashed into the wall.

The dragon slowly approached the flames.

Then a golden flash shot from it.

Miss Le Blank was covered in golden light. Her eyes were wide as they could go, a twisted smile on her face. Her hair was frazzled and singed, ash on her cheeks and hands. She was giggling as she pulled back a fist. Her hand pierced straight into the dragon’s chest.

And then the dragon exploded from the inside into golden light.

Pink Star fell to the ground, gasping for breath. Chronolock rushed to stand before her. Miss Le Blank just looked on the ground, hair covering her face. Her shoulders trembled as she held her hands out.

She began to laugh.

“hehehe…aHAHAHAHAHA! This…you…look at what you’ve done! Ruined…I’m ruined! Ruinedruinedruinedruinedruined! Beauty is ruined! The dawn is ruined!”

She looked up, her eyes wide and her face locked into a massive smile.

“Hehehehe…let’s play little children. Naughty girls need to be punished, ehehe.”

Chronolock grimaced.

“Wonder…any time now.”

Wonder Knight grunted as he gripped on the side of a pillar, Icy Rose hanging from his back and Voidspeaker floating behind them.

“Ready?”

Icy Rose nodded and lifted her hand. A platform of ice grew around the pillar, Wonder Knight and Icy Rose standing on it. They nodded to Voidspeaker.

“EXPERIENCE NOTHINGNESS!”

A dark beam struck the glowing ceiling. Wonder Knight leapt up and slammed his fist in the beam’s point of impact. Cracks formed on the ceiling. Wonder Knight pushed off the wall to land back on the ice platform. There Icy Rose was constructing a giant spike of ice. Wonder Knight grabbed hold of the spike, thrusting it with all his might.

With a crash the spike pierced into the ceiling, shards of ice falling from its sides.

Ice Rose laid a hand on the base of the spike. She began to grunt and sweat, and then to yell. Voidspeaker grunted and widened the beam.

““GRAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!””

Miss Le Blank stopped, dropping her smile. She looked up and her eyes widened even further.

“NO!”

She held out a hand.

And then Chronolock’s fist slammed into her cheek.

Wonder Knight drew back his fist and crouched down. He leapt into the air with all his might, the ice platform where he stood shattering from the force.

He let out a cry.

And slammed into the cracking ceiling with all his might.

The cracks started to spider across the entire ceiling. Voidspeaker dropped his beam, floating over to grab Icy Rose and head toward the floor.

The sound of glass breaking.

The ceiling shattered.

For a brief moment, a second sun shone over the Pacific.

And then all was silent.

Bob shrugged and put away his phone, turning his attention back to his rod. On the other side of the boat Chris turned from his line.

“Trouble with the boss?”

Bob shrugged again.

“ILS caught up to her it seems.”

Chris sighed and shook his head.

“Heroes.”

Bob nodded, and then felt a tug at his line.

Retreats are so relaxing.