Ah, here we are at the promised big explosion. Now go read.

"But there was something in the object's path."
Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle, Lucifer's Hammer

Weapons core, Project X, Secret conduit, Sol System

"Put him down, you monster..."

"Ah, glad to see I have your attention, your 'majesty.' Excellent," Lodj smiled. "Now, I do believe you will leave this weapon, or the prime minister of Kaijex will retire... permanently."

"You wouldn't dare..." Nazz rasped.

"Wouldn't I?" the Zygran chuckled. He jabbed the knife slightly closer, drawing the tiniest sliver of blood from Edd's neck. "I am a mad soldier with his back to the wall. I'm quite capable of anything."

"Finish the procedure..." Edd rasped as he struggled to escape.

"Double-D, I can't..." Nazz said.

"You must! The needs of the many..."

"Quoting Star Trek at a time like this really doesn't help, dude," Nazz groaned. "Look, Lodj is it...? Double-D didn't do anything to you."

"Yes he did. He helped in our humiliating defeat on Kaijex. He stopped our ground invasion of Earth. But, worst of all... he's a Kaijexian."

"Propaganda and brainwashing rears its ugly head once more..." the monarch thought to herself before clearing her throat. "All right, Lodj. If you promise to give me Double-D right now, I'll undo the sabotage."

"Nazz, no..." Edd begged.

"A viable proposal," Lodj said as he brought the blade down warily. "You may begin your repairs."

"Nazz, how could you sell out SIX BILLION people!" Edd cried. "The people we fought alongside to get this far, Indira... OUR FAMILIES!"

"Because I have to, Double-D. And, well, I guess when it comes to being eye to eye with fire, sometimes you have to duck down and avoid being hit." Edd blinked, as he noticed the very subtle stressing of "eye to eye," "fire," and "duck down." A realization came to him, and he feigned fainting in despair. Lodj laughed.

"Your brave 'Double-D' needs a backbone, it seems."

"And you need new eyes."

"What nonsense is--" Before Lodj could finish, Nazz whirled around and fired her third eye's laser full blast at his face. The burly Zygran yelled in rage and clawed at his face. Edd dropped to the floor and immediately scurried to Nazz's side.

"You actually thought I could sell everyone out like that?" Nazz scowled. "Double-D, I don't know if I should laugh or kick your butt for that."

"Er, perhaps we should wait until the threat of extermination has ended," Edd offered as he got to his feet.

"Oh, c'mon, no sweat," Nazz said with a dismissive wave of her paw. "The jerk's blind, he ain't gonna..." She trailed off as Lodj suddenly brought his hands down, revealing an unburned face and perfectly intact eyes. "No... no. That's impossible," she sputtered. "I hit you full blast, you should be blind."

"Should?" Lodj asked, almost amused by the question from the tone of his face. "Perhaps, your highness, perhaps. However, I clearly am not."

"How could you..."

"You could say, I suppose, that I've been... enhanced. Now, if I recall correctly, Nazz'Tara," Lodj continued as he calmly tore a piece of heavy piping away as if it were paper, "you called me a 'jerk?'"

"Um, calm down, dude, just kidding..." Nazz hemmed.

"Again, perhaps. And yet again, clearly I am not." With that, he batted Edd and Nazz across the room as if there were softballs.

Bridge of the Kcramsib, Earth orbit, Sol System

"Have all of our forces left the system?" Katarn asked as she finally got up from her fallen father's side. In lieu of his death, Lodj's disappearance, and the mutiny of the bridge after their general's murder, the Kaijexian decided to take the initiative and take command.

"All of our space-based units have withdrawn, Ms. M'lotsa," an officer replied. "However, our ground-based forces have not. And a large contingent of allied forces have joined the humans in mopping up operations across the planet."

"A bloodbath..." the former Zygran muttered under her breath. She shook her head. "Are they at least taking prisoners?"

"If someone invaded your world, leveled your cities, and killed loved ones, would you?" Ed asked pointedly. Katarn fell silent.

"Look, I have a question," Vicky said. "Let's say those two don't succeed, and the Death Star makes it... what can we do?"

"Well, can we get a weapons lock?" Katarn asked as she went to the engineer who had helped them earlier.

"No. Even if we did, at this range, it would scald the entire half of the planet facing the weapon if it were still active. And the rest would freeze from the nuclear winter created by the debris flung up into the air."

"Then all shall be lost if go-go Nazz girl and brainy Ed boy fail!" Rolf wailed. "Oh, Nana, we have failed you!" Katarn hanged her head for a moment in thought, then raised it with grim determination. "I didn't catch your name..." she asked as she placed a hand on the engineer's shoulder.

"Gelan, ma'am," the young woman said quietly.

"Hi, Gelan. Does the tub still have engines?"

"Yes, I believe so, why?"

"And, at what point does destroying the activated weapon in normal space damage Earth in any way?"

"A quarter of the distance between the planet and its moon..." Gelan answered, confused.

"And you know where it's going to exit the conduit?"

"Yes," Gelan answered in semi-frustration. "Ms. M'lotsa, will you please tell me what you're going on about?"

"Send all power to the engines. Prepare them for ramming speed at my order," Katarn replied softly. The bridge fell deathly silent.

"...you can't be serious," Ba'Lan blinked. "Kam, tell her!" she urged to her equally shocked friend.

"Have everyone abandon ship. There's no need for you or our countrymen to die without their even knowing."

"Ms. M'lotsa," N'lam begged from communications, "you have no ties to this planet. Why such a rash action?"

"We on Kaijex failed them by not realizing the plans against their world earlier. They're utterly helpless. Preventing their total extinction is at least one small way to atone. I'd advise you to send out the order to abandon ship, sir."

As N'lam numbly did so, Katarn walked to the helm, allowing the stunned officer to vacate the seat. She sat down and began typing coordinates into the machine.

"Kat, don't do this..." Jatala begged. "I don't want you to die..."

"When I tried to kill Nazz, I also gathered intelligence," Katarn replied. "Even if it was blocked, I am party to this disaster. I must. Now, get off the ship."

"I'm not gonna leave you!" Jatala snapped, hugging her sister tight. Katarn growled, but realized it was a waste of valuable time to argue.

"Fine... those on the bridge may leave as well, then. I only need myself to do what's needed," Katarn called as she swung the huge ship towards the closed conduit.

"To where, our execution for betrayal? We're dead anyway," Ba'Lan replied.

"Okay, fine. Those from Earth and Kaijex should leave..."

"Uh, maybe you forgot but that planet's kinda ours..." Marcus replied. Katarn groaned and massaged her face. "Then you should all start praying they succeed."

"I'm on a ship of fools," Katarn thought to herself as Jatala remained clamped on. "Brave, self-sacrificing fools."

Weapons core, Project X, Secret conduit, Sol System

"Ow!" Edd and Nazz said as one as they slammed against a bulkhead.

"'Ow?'" Lodj scowled. "I just swatted you aside like flies, and the best you can manage is 'ow!' I should have expected as such."

"I really, REALLY don't like you dude," Nazz hissed as she helped Edd stand up. "Now, why don't you answer me how you're able to do that, Babe Ruth?"

"'Babe Ruth?' Is that one of Earth's warriors?" Lodj asked curiously.

"...sure..." Edd said, rolling his eyes.

"Do not make me destroy you, worm," Lodj hissed with a jabbing talon. "However, we digress, don't we?" he continued. "As you can imagine from what I've done since our meeting, I am no ordinary man. I have been, shall we say... enhanced."

"Enhanced?" Nazz asked, confused.

"How have you been enhanced?" Edd added.

"No concern of yours, Kaijexian," Lodj replied in mock politeness. "I will only say it relates to something on my arm. This small device," he continued as he revealed something under his armor, "is delivering a very powerful stimulant to my bloodstream. It enhances my natural abilities and allows for ones we have yet to achieve as a species."

"A Zygran superdrug?" Edd asked, confused.

"Marie mentioned it in an intel briefing a few months back, but we both thought it was a rumor. But, you're still gonna ramble, aren't you..." Nazz sighed.

"Yes. Since you will both perish, I see no reason to hold my true background from you any longer. I belong to a group far higher than Command, and certainly the army. We call it... the Order, in your simplistic grunting. We are the ones truly in control of Zygra."

"The Order?" Edd blinked. "What does that do?"

"Crush dissent. Secure policies. Ensure people are in the places we want them, that sort of thing..." Lodj said almost casually.

"An alien Gestapo or KGB..." the black Kaijexian muttered.

"Yes. Now, those were great men, your 'Hitler,' your 'Stalin,'" Lodj said in admiration of Earth's most hated tyrants. "They knew what they had to do! Crush the weak! Smash those that could rise against you! Why do you think we invaded Kaijex? You're inferior. And Earth... you humans may be a barbaric, primitive people, but when you get focused and allied... we can't have that. I will see to it that humanity's destiny is ash on the trash heap of time, and not the forger of the conquest of Zygra. And I won't stop with Earth."

"You won't?" Nazz gulped, getting a sickening feeling her stomachs.

"No. Kaijex is next. Your people will pay for their insolence. We already have it planned. Blockade after poisoning your food supplies."

"No!" Nazz cried. "You monster!"

"You're going to be dead soon, Nazz'Tara. I fear you have no choice in the matter. Biser will be easier. I hear that if you destroy their capital of Kroywen, the entire planet will explode from a geological chain reaction."

"Barbarians!" Edd screamed. "Genocidal maniacs!"

"Yes, yes, quite. That gets old, you know," Lodj scoffed.

"Dude, your brain is messed up!" Nazz spat. "I dunno what the hell they did to you, but..."

"Ah, yes. Now I recall what we were doing, I was killing you." Lodj dove for the aliens, but the smaller Kaijexians easily jumped and avoided him.

"Forgot we had wings, huh?" Nazz giggled. Lodj reached up and grabbed both by their feet, dragging them down.

"Forgot I'm much stronger than you weaklings, huh?" the Zygran replied. He began to clack their heads together. "I figure I'll just do this until your heads break open," he smirked. On his third attempt to make them collide, Edd bit down on his finger. Lodj yelped, dropping him. Nazz pulled herself free, and the two ran away, going invisible. "So, you wish to make a game of it? Why not. I enjoy a good hunt." With that, Lodj began to search for them.

"This seems quite dire," Edd whispered to Nazz.

"To put it lightly. I have no idea how to fight Mr. T1000 here," she replied. If you have any ideas, dude, I'd love to her them."

"I... fear not," Edd blushed. "I am also quite stumped."

"Oh, great. Just great. And we still have to blow this stupid thing up in the next ten something minutes, don't we?"

"Well, yes. I am rather fond of my parents, y--" Suddenly, Edd screamed out and fell to the floor face first. Blood was bubbling freely from his clothes.

"Double-D!" Nazz cried, holding him tight. She looked around, seeing nothing but empty space. "How did--" Nazz yelped as her right wing was slashed.

"You're not the only one who can cloak now, Nazz'Tara," a voice admonished behind her. Not wanting to give him another chance to attack, she scooped Edd up and ran.

"Double-D, speak to me..." Nazz begged, shaking him slightly in her arms.

"...what do you wish to converse about?" Edd croaked with a weary smile.

"Perhaps your imminent destruction," Lodj suggested as he walloped them from behind with the broken piece of piping from earlier. The two spilled to the floor, backs throbbing and bloody.

"You're really a jerk..." Nazz huffed.

"A jerk? Oh, I'm so hurt..." Lodj scoffed. "After I kill you, thereby taking revenge for my people's humiliation on Kaijex, I shall send this weapon against Earth, killing the humans like the animals they are. Then... who knows?" As he slowly approached, the wounded aliens noticed just what part of the weapon core they had been knocked in front of.

"Despite all your fiery bluster, I fear you've made a fatal mistake, Edd smiled slyly.

"And that is...?" the Zygran growled. "Not even the Oracle can save you now, my friends."

"You talk too much, dude," Nazz replied. With that, she pressed the last button to activate the short circuiting of the core. Lodj boggled.

"You insolent fools! You insolent, insolent..." His rant was cut off by a geyser of steam and sparks exploding between the three, throwing them back. Behind them, the chambers channeling energy into the weapon went dark, and the main core began to vibrate angrily. As they staggered to their feet, the massive craft began to jerk back and forth as klaxons sounded. Lodj roared in anger, having not heard the delicate cracking sound on his arm.

"Aw, is the widdle baby's WMD wroke? I'm sowwy!" Nazz giggled.

"This isn't over Nazz'Tara. I will see you again someday. I swear it." With that, the Zygran fled the room. A minute later, the craft shuddered once more as the shuttle cast off from its mooring and fled the self-destructing mass. A second explosion caused the weapon to shake further.

"Perhaps we should follow Mr. Leetik's action!" Edd called over the orchestra of destruction. Nazz nodded and the two ran as best they could down the corridor to their own shuttle. They screeched to a stop at what they saw; the airlock blown open, only an emergency forcefield keeping them inside.

"Our shuttle! It's... it's..." Nazz sputtered.

"I'm sorry, Nazz..." Edd sighed as he hugged her tight. Nazz, tears welling, tightly returned the favor and locked lips as Project X continued to disintegrate around them. They were, however, too busy focusing on each other to notice.

"My mistake, 'highness,'" Lodj grinned as he blasted the Kaijexian shuttle apart, "but it seems it is over after all, and I won't be seeing you again." He was just starting to gloat over his victory when an explosion from the hull of the weapon came forth, knocking his shuttle out of the conduit and sending it hurtling towards Earth.

Paris, France, Earth

Jacques Roye, or at least his family, had seen their fair share of violence in the City of Lights. A relative in the Napoleonic Wars, a grandfather in the French Resistance; they knew violence against their beloved Paris. But nothing like this. Nothing like this at all. The Eiffel Tower was damaged, its apex collapsed; the Louvre's famous pyramid was shattered; the tallest towers in the city battered and still smoldering. He felt like he wanted to cry.

He found himself wandering along the Champs-Élysées, abandoned now except for Parisians taking their anger out on downed Zygran quadpods nearby. Next to them were two Biserians and a Zardazian, helping the beleaguered Paris police to maintain order. They'd been wary of the new arrivals, but they had definitely meant it with "we're here to help;" reports were coming in across the globe of the four races fighting alongside humans and tending to the wounded and trapped. Perhaps there was hope for human alien relations after all...

"Oh, God, they're coming back!" a man cried pointing upwards. Jacques looked up in time to see the object come to a rough landing in front of the nearby damaged Arc de Triumph. A hatch popped open, and a large Zygran flopped out, cursing in his native tongue. Jacques and several other Parisians moved towards him, growling.

"It's one of THEM!" a woman cried angrily. The friendly aliens moved to deal with the problem when a second man stepped up to them.

"This one's ours," he said with an insistent shake of his finger. The trio nodded and stepped back, almost pitying the alien that had fallen out the wreck. They were confused to see him at first smirking confidently, then his eyes widening in terror as he felt along his arm, as if something were missing. Checking, he gaped at the soaked scales and shattered glass. He then looked numbly at the humans advancing on him.

"You've ravaged our beautiful city..." a woman said with tears in her eyes.

"Now, we're going to kill you like the animal you are," Jacques promised.

In the last moments before the mob of enraged humans fell upon him, Lodj Leetik reflected on the bitter irony of his own words being used against him, then faded out under the blows of dozens of fists, feet and makeshift clubs.

Earth orbit, Sol System

Now deactivated but still self-destructing, Project X lurched out of the conduit hiding it, hull scorched and heavily damaged. It lolled over for a moment, drifted roughly to where Earth's furthest satellites orbit, then exploded, showering North America with an impromptu fireworks show. Nearby, dozens cheered at the craft's destruction before it donned on one of the celebrants something was terribly wrong.

"Hey! Where's Double-D and Nazz?" Eddy cried. The celebrating stopped.

"...oh no," Marie managed before the bridge fell silent.

"Sara," Jimmy squeaked, "they're okay, right?"

"Sure, Jimmy," the red Kaijexian gulped. "Sure..."