Invasion
Spotlights flash to life, revealing the stage. WordGirl strides out to the microphone.
"Hello? Hey! Today's word is..."Influx!" An influx is the sudden arrival of a large number of people of things. Thank you."
WordGirl bows, and then leaves the stage.
Chapter 4- Influx
Captain Huggy Face tried the communicator again, but to no avail. Becky wasn't answering. Was she really still that mad? Huggy sighed, and went back to dusting, glancing back to the crackling monitor every once in a while.
This was a message that WordGirl definitely needed to hear.
Huggy paused when he heard something outside, something clanging against the ship's hull.
A voice came from outside. "This is it. The Lexiconian ship we picked up on scanners."
"Is it still functional?" asked another voice.
"I don't know."
"Any life signs?" "No, but Lexiconian ships are designed to resist precise scanning. We should check it out."
"Right, if we find anything in there…"
Huggy gulped.
"…kill it."
Huggy eeped and quickly dove into a storage compartment, burying himself beneath excess stuffed animals. Whoever these guys were, they meant serious business.
Chuck was busy crafting a Reuben sandwich for a nurse when something caught his eye; someone had left a teddy bear unattended near the lunch counter.
Maybe it was that Billy kid, Chuck thought as he finished the sandwich and handed it to the nurse. "Hey," Chuck called to his co-worker, "I think that kid from the Children's Ward left a stuffed animal here."
The co-worker pointed. "Well, take it back to him. It's just down the hall to the elevators, and the Children's Ward is on the third floor. I'll cover for ya."
"Really?" Chuck asked. "Are you sure? I don't want to get in trouble…" Chuck's co-worker waved it off. "It'll be fine. Just go!"
Chuck took the bear and hurried off.
WordGirl flew above the city, dejected. She sighed as she floated past buildings, and over cars and pedestrians, all of them unaware of what was coming. No one would listen to her warnings. She was beginning to feel like "the girl who cried alien!" She brightened a little once, thinking, hey, maybe there was no invasion, maybe it was all a hoax orchestrated by Tobey, but then she slumped, remembering, no, she was never that lucky.
She sighed. Maybe I should go back to the Hideout. I've punished Bob enough for today…
She was about to turn around when she saw Scoops walking down the street, ready to report on anything newsworthy that crossed his path.
Yes, Scoops! He'll listen!
WordGirl landed in front of Scoops, who jumped slightly, but then regained his composure, putting his pen to paper.
"Hey WordGirl," he said cheerfully, yet professionally. "Out fighting crime once again?"
"The interview can wait, Scoops," WordGirl said quickly. "I need your help."
Scoops shrugged. "Sure. What with?"
And the heroine began to explain her case.
Huggy held his breath, cursing mentally in monkey-ese as the intruders ransacked the freshly clean spaceship hideout. He couldn't see them, but he could hear them; they were breathing heavily; as if through some sort of Darth Vader-esque apparatus.
"What the heck is this?" one asked, probably holding something up.
"The Earth files say that that's a…unicorn, I think."
"Hmmph." Huggy heard a crash, the unicorn figurine shattering.
Huggy's lungs felt like they were going to burst, but he kept holding his breath and squeezed his eyes shut, wishing that WordGirl would show up soon.
The elevator doors opened, and Chuck stepped out into the colorful world that was the Children's Ward. Murals of ocean life were painted on the walls, giving the area an "Under the Sea" theme. Everything was cheerful and bright, even the sharks had smiley faces.
A nurse left the nurse's station and approached Chuck. "Can I help you, sir?"
"What?" asked Chuck. "Oh, yeah. Uh…what room is Billy in? I think he lost this." Chuck held out the teddy bear.
The nurse nodded and smiled. "Oh yes, he's been looking for that, worried sick. Right this way."
The nurse took Chuck down the hall and into the last room. Billy sat upright in his bed, finishing his peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
"Chuck!" he said, lighting up. "You're sandwich was great!"
"It was just peanut butter and jelly," Chuck shrugged. "Oh, and I think you left this in the cafeteria." He handed the teddy bear to Billy.
"Teddy!" the boy cried. "Thank you, Chuck!" Billy turned to the nurse. "I told you that's where it was!"
The nurse chuckled. "Yes, you did."
"Well, uh, I have to go back to work…" Chuck said. "Keep a closer eye on your bear, Billy.
"Bye, Chuck!" Billy exclaimed as Chuck turned to leave.
Alamanakian Lord High Commander Antagon stood looking out Mr. Big's office window, as Mr. Big and Leslie stood in the background, whispering.
"I still don't think this is a good idea, sir." "All we have to do is give these guys some good PR, and we're in the clear!" "…Except for the part where the human race is enslaved…"
"Leslie! The man wants to use my head as a hood ornament!"
They were interrupted by the sound of laughter. It was deep, hollow, and disturbing. They turned to see Antagon at the window arms outstretched.
"What's so funny?" asked Mr. Big.
Antagon turned and smiled.
"We have arrived."
Then the entire room began to shake.
The Butcher was "robberizing" the bank when the ground began to rumble. Everyone looked around in confusion, the Butcher even stopping in mid-meat attack.
The tremors shook the copy shop taking all within by surprise. Dave's coffee was spilled, and Beatrice Bixby, a.k.a. the copying villainess Lady Redundant Woman, rushed over to the copy machine, attempting to protect her "baby."
Dr. Two-Brains stood on a stepladder, welding a new ray-gun. His hideout began to tremble, causing the ladder to buckle beneath him. The mad doctor fell to the floor. His henchmen rushed to his side.
"Are you okay, boss?"
"My spine…"
Ms. Question rushed around her lair, picking up falling objects as they rattled off their shelves.
"What's going on? What's with all the shaking? Is it an earthquake?"
Scoops had been writing everything WordGirl had said, listening intently to every word.
Finally! WordGirl thought.
And then the earth began to hum and shake. An impossibly huge shadow swept over the block. Scoops and WordGirl looked up.
A large spider-like ship was hanging in the air above Fair City. A quick scan of the skies revealed several more like it. The invasion fleet had arrived.
"Well," said Scoops, "I don't think you'll have any trouble convincing people now…"
