Previously on
CRISIS
The forces of good finally go on the offensive. Now that they have Superwoman and the core of her Justice League on their side, they move to obtain more allies for the coming battle against the ultimate evil that is Darkseid.
Time is against them, however, for there is no rest for the wicked. Already they plan to take another world, one that Darkseid believes to be the crux to defeating the forces of good once and for all.
And in the crossfire, another world finds itself entering the fray...
-/-\-
The White House, (W)Earth, the day after
"You wished to speak with me, Mr. President?" Atvar inquired, still internally flinching at the forced respect in his tone.
"Naturally," President Johnson replied, gesturing to the empty chair before his desk. "Please, take a seat."
The Fleetlord did as told, sliding into the plush cushions. Tosevite manufacturing had improved drastically from their already impressive levels in the forty Home-years he had spent on the planet. If what Kirel told him was true, then they were beginning to mass produce devices that could alter themselves on the molecular level, if only slightly. Nanotechnology, the Tosevites were calling it.
"Now," the President continued, "we have been more than lenient with your presence within our territory, which has earned us a great deal of flak from the other power blocs, especially the UE and East Asian countries. We've been trying to shy away from the pre-war dogma of realpolitik ever since it nearly cost us the war, but there are plenty of politicians who have no love for the Race."
"Which is why we are preparing the evacuation of the Colonization Fleet as soon as we can manage," Atvar replied, absentmindedly digging his claws into the armrests. "Within the month, the entire Race population on Tos- Earth will be nearing the heliopause."
"It is not that which concerns us," another voice said.
Turning an eye turret, Atvar saw the weathered face of Harpanet studying him intently over the desk. Serving as an advisor to every President since the war, the old fi' had proved to be fairly progressive and lenient. Now, however, there was something... apprehensive about him.
"?" the Fleetlord coughed.
"Despite my advice, the Herdmaster has not made you and your fithp part of his own," Harpanet replied. "Neither has he crushed you into atomic dust. The American fithp are merciful and kind to you; it would be wise to be completely honest."
"Now, now," President Johnson continued, "let's not jump to conclusions here."
"What is he talking about?" Atvar demanded. "We have given you everything, even the bannership the Emperor himself granted me to come here."
"It's not an accusation we are leveling at you" the President said. "The global situation is getting tense enough as it is with what's happened; we just wish to ask you a question."
"Which is?"
"Atvar, the records aboard your ship appear to be complete, but there's no way we could be 100% sure about that; I know I'd hide important details from the enemy on the chance they managed to steal some databanks. Is it possible that there are historical records omitted from your shipboard computers, especially regarding other alien species? I know that you have sent probes to other worlds, even ones you didn't mark for conquest."
"Your fithp have looked farther than any other," Harpanent added. "That may change, but it is the truth for the moment."
"Yes, we have sent probes to more than a dozen worlds," Atvar replied. "Tomess, Tarsev, Jasumasz, and a few more. Interstellar probes were never my specialty, however. Why do you ask me this?"
The President leaned closer, ever so slightly, and Atvar saw that the Tosevite was actually nervous. A quail of terror swelled up in the Fleetlord's liver; if even the might Tosevites and their allies were worried, then it was a grave concern indeed.
"Have you encountered other spacefaring species before coming to Earth?"
"If we had, we would have never made it here," Atvar replied, more than a little venom in his voice. "Our illusion of superiority was only shattered when we arrived here, Tosevite."
President Johnson leaned back in his chair. "So, you're just as much in the dark about it as we are."
"About what?"
"It is confidential information," Harpanet replied. "Though, considering how well amateur observations have developed, it will not stay so for long. We discovered it just half an hour ago, higher than geosynchronous orbit. The other power blocs have discovered it as well, and are starting to enter a frenzy that makes mating heat seem mild in comparison."
"Hard to blame them," the President added. "A spaceship more than six miles long just appeared out of nowhere."
Atvar's blood turned to ice. "That's... that's even bigger than your warships..."
"It has eighty times the volume of Message Bearer," Harpanet finished. "Our fleet would be hard-pressed to destroy such a large mass."
"Have communications been attempted?" Atvar inquired, his mouth dry. Part of him desperately hoped that the President was just making a poor joke, but he could tell by the look in the Tosevite's eyes that it wasn't the case.
"We did that almost immediately after it appeared," President Johnson replied. "We haven't gotten anything back, and prior experience tells us that silence from a giant alien spaceship is never a good thing."
"Are you saying that it may be hostile?"
"I'm saying that they're being quiet for a reason," the President replied, "and I have a bad feeling as to why."
S
Aboard the Red Dwarf
"You fried the entire communications array?" Dragon asked, dumbfounded as she stared at the vast field of ruined cables. "This ship is bigger than most cities! How the hell could you have managed to do that?"
"Well," Lister replied, rubbing the back of his head, "I accidentally left the tap running in the bath for a few years. One day I was just making some vindaloo, and suddenly I was going thirty down the hall in a wave. Holly short-circuited, and I guess a bunch of other things went down as well."
"That'd be hilarious if we weren't in our current situation," I said.
"I could get communications running again in a half hour, if there's nothing to divide my attention," Dragon sighed. "Judging by the ships moving in low Earth orbit, however, I'm not sure if we have that long before this whole thing goes sour."
"Can't Louis and his group use their ship's radio?" I asked.
"They lost it when the Ringworld try to fry them with an X-ray laser," came the reply. "Their flycycles don't have the power to go through two miles of metal and the additional hundred thousand to Earth, either. If we want to talk before they try to blow us up, we need something else."
"Maybe Godzilla could stand on the outside with a giant white flag?" Lister offered.
"No," I murmured, "but I think I have an idea..."
-/-\-
The White House
"Alright then," the President then, hanging up on the phone and turning to Atvar. "That was the Russian President. One of their spy satellites managed to get a good look at the ship in question before we could; it appears that it's not armed."
"I find that my discomfort has been only slightly diminished," the Fleetlord replied. "Even assuming that it has no visible weapons of war, I find that a craft of such size is..."
"Is what?" the President asked. "Is something wrong, Atvar?"
Slowly, Atvar pointed at one of the windows, and the President turned to look at the strange sight before them. Harpanet also shuffled over, trunk curled in consternation.
Unless Atvar's old eye turrets were deceiving him, a female Tosevite was floating in midair near the window, giving him and the others a small wave. She was tall, taller than most other Tosevites, and had a muscular physique that indicated prime condition. Unlike the more conventional clothing of the other inhabitants of the mad planet he was forced to live on, this one wore a blue bodysuit that appeared to be armored, with a bright red cape draped over her shoulders. A broad diamond-shaped sigil covered her chest, with what appeared to be a stylized 'S' on it.
The Tosevite drifted (drifted! By the Emperor, the thing could fly!) forward and knocked on the window.
"Are you going to let me in?" she asked.
The President opened his mouth as if to say something, then discreetly pressed the silent alarm button under his desk. Atvar heard the door to the office slam open as Secret Service agents poured in, weapons at the ready.
"Is that Superman?" one of the agents whispered behind Atvar.
"More like Supergirl or something," another muttered in reply.
The Tosevite sighed. "Is this really necessary? And it's Superwoman, by the way."
"It's a matter of precaution," the President replied.
"I already know you have seven point-defense lasers pointed at me, and several agents down below are preparing heavy weaponry. Trust me, Mr. President, it won't work."
"We can't be sure of that. For all we know, you're just an-"
Suddenly, she was inside the office, a faint gust of wind heralding her arrival through the door. One of the agents overcame his shock in time to fire, only for her to catch a trio of bullets between her fingers. Sighing, she pocketed the still-steaming bullets and folded her arms across her chest.
"I'm here to help, Mr. President," the Tosevite said.
Atvar found himself transfixed in place as he gawked at the impossible Tosevite before him. A fly buzzed dangerously close to an eye turret, but he paid it no attention as he tried to find the power to speak. Dimly, he noted that Harpanet had a similar look of shock on his worn face.
The President rose from his chair, then turned to the agents slowly, as if carefully weighing his options.
"Stand down," he finally said.
Reluctantly, the agents lowered their weapons. The Tosevite glanced at them, then folded her arms. Briefly, she looked Atvar's way, studying him with unnaturally blue eyes, and swept over to Harpanet before turning back to the President
"Sorry about the scare," she said, her voice friendly. "Our radio broke; something about leaving the tap on for too long."
"B-by the Emperor," Atvar managed to finally squeak. "H-how..."
The Tosevite smiled at him. "I'm Superwoman; I can do anything."
That finally proved to be the breaking point. Atvar wobbled slightly, feeling the office spin around him as he drifted into unconsciousness. The last thing he was aware of was the feel of the carpet hitting his face.
S
Some time later
"Thanks for the privacy," I said, taking a sip from the tea graciously left by a Secret Service agent. We had moved to the diplomatic meeting room inside the center wing of the building, where most people actually thought the Oval Office was. The only other ones in the room were the sleeping form of the reptilian alien, and the other alien that kind of looked like a baby elephant.
(Still can't believe we're in the White House,) Marco murmured, buzzing near the door.
(This structure is too large to reasonably call a house,) Ax said. (Humans and their inaccurate descriptors.)
And six special flies on the wall.
"You know, I used to read Superman comics when I was a kid," the President said. "Imagine my surprise when I saw you out the window."
"Everyone keeps on mentioning that," I said.
"Keeps on mentioning what?" the President asked.
"The comics. Superman. It's kinda surreal when I hear about that stuff and note some similarities. Last member of an advanced alien race, raised by good parents, sets out to do good... there are some differences, though."
"That sounds like a good conversation for later," the President said. "Now, it's pretty clear that you're connected with that giant ship in orbit."
"That's the Red Dwarf. Long story short, we're all people from other universes."
(Way to break it,) Marco commented. He wasn't broadcasting publicly, but I could still hear it, somehow.
(Shut up,) Tobias said.
The President froze in the middle of drinking his coffee. Slowly, he set the mug down, studying his drink intently for some time. Based on the neuron activity in his brain, I could see that he was mulling it over.
"Other universes," he finally said, his voice forcibly calm as he looked back to me. "As in brane theory. I remember reading some paper about it; a lot of scientists are convinced that there's an infinite amount of realities. It's true, isn't it?"
I nodded. "It must be pretty hard to take in. I grew up knowing about it, back where I came from."
"I've grown up with a lot of things that would've been hard for older generations to swallow," the President replied. "The fact that we're not alone in the universe. The fact that at least some of the folks in it want to take over Earth. This news just seems like a logical progression at this point."
"Indeed," the elephantine alien said at the President's side. "We have all received great shocks in our lives; perhaps we are becoming numbed to them."
(Someone seems to still be taking it rough,) Jake said, flitting over the reptilian alien's sleeping form. (Is he alright?)
(Superwoman isn't worried, and I think she'd know,) Cassie offered.
"So, you and some others have arrived here in that ship of yours," the President continued. "I'd imagine there'd be quite a strange crew, if what you've said about other universes is true."
"You don't know the half of it," I said.
"Obviously you demonstrate great strength," the elephantine alien said. "My child has told me of this 'Superman' from the stories he reads with his friends. Are you to bring us within your herd?"
"What?" I asked, furrowing my brow. "I'm not here to conquer you or anything like that."
"Harpanet, didn't your kid tell you that they don't do that in comics?" the President asked.
"I'd assumed that a different species like so-called 'Kryptonians' might demonstrate that behavior," Harpanet replied. "I had discussed them with Takpusseh."
Marco couldn't contain himself at that. At first he began to giggle uncontrollably, then he broke out into hearty guffaws, unconsciously broadcasting it for everyone to hear as he practically rolled on the floor in fly morph.
The President looked around for the source of the laughter. "Is that coming from upstairs?"
"Doesn't seem like it," Harpanet said. "And who laughs at Takpusseh's name anymore?"
The laughing redoubled at the second mention of the name, and I had to stifle a laugh myself. The other Animorphs were fighting a similar battle, and only Ax was winning.
I sighed. "Everyone, demorph."
At once, the Animorphs began to morph on the floor of the office, rapidly growing in size. In less than a minute, they were back in their normal forms, sheepishly glancing at the President.
(I never thought I would reveal myself to such a high authority figure,) Ax mumbled.
Thankfully, the President took it well. He straightened at first, and I could hear his heart hammering against his chest, but soon he managed to calm himself.
"Friends from another universe?" he asked.
I rubbed the back of my neck. "Yeah. We also have crazier stuff on the ship."
"One thing at a time, please," he said, managing a weak chuckle. "Now, why are you here, anyway?"
"To be honest?" I asked. "We need your help."
"Help with what?" the President asked.
"They know it best," I said, gesturing the Animorphs. "Tell him."
A
Aboard the Red Dwarf
"Got any threes?" Toji asked.
"Go fish," Louis replied, his countenance betraying nothing as he spoke. Two centuries of life as a carefree Flatlander had perfected his poker face to levels unheard of on other Earths.
"Superwoman and the others are taking a while," Shinji said softly, glancing down at his own hand.
"It must be, otherwise we wouldn't be passing the time with such a banal game," Speaker muttered, whisking his tail impatiently. "I itch to fight the enemy, not engaging in human trivialities."
"You're only sour because we decided not to play rummy," Louis retorted.
"What does flavor have to do with my mood?"
"Another human idiom, I suppose," Nessus offered. "Do you have any twos?"
"Go fish."
"WELL, THIS IS GETTING PRETTY FUCKING BORING," Bjorn declared, stepping into view. "I'VE BEEN WATCHING YOU FUCKERS PLAY AN ANCIENT GAME FOR TWO HOURS ALREADY. THAT MACHINE-SPIRIT WOMAN AND HER BAT-BOYFRIEND ARE FIXING THE VOX, AND THE KIDS WITH SWORDS ARE TOO BUSY HANGING OUT WITH GODZILLA AND THAT GIANT TURTLE-THING TO TALK TO ME, ALONG WITH JUST ABOUT EVERYONE ELSE."
"What could they even be doing that's so entertaining?" Kensuke asked.
A
Godzilla broke the surface of the water tank, jaws clamped on the tentacles of a despair squid. The massive cephalopod wriggled and writhed against him, but it only delayed the inevitable as he brought his teeth down on the creature's mantle. With a sickening crunch, the squid fell limp in his jaws, and the kaiju king set about enjoying his meal.
"Now that's an impressive clean-up," Lister said.
A
"PROBABLY JUST WATCHING SOME CRUMMY MOVIE," Bjorn boomed.
"That does remind me of something," Kensuke said. "We seem to be fictional characters to each other, right? Some of us have books or movies about each others' adventures, or at least somewhat."
Shinji glanced up at his friend, then averted his eyes, his face paling.
Louis finished a gulp of whisky from a flask he brought with him. "Seems about right. It does open up a lot of opportunities for learning, if you think hard enough about it. Imagine if there's an Earth where Chaucer finished his Canterbury Tales, or if Dostoevsky completed his trilogy for The Brothers Karamazov. Think of the countless religions and philosophies that could develop or change from world to world, and how that would affect our culture."
"Does that mean there's a universe where the Star Wars prequels were good?"
They all stopped their game, eyes staring out into space.
"WOULDN'T BET ON IT."
"How do you even know what Star Wars is?" Speaker asked.
"I GREW UP BEFORE THE IMPERIUM TURNED INTO THE CESSPOOL IT IS NOWADAYS," came the bellowing reply. "I WATCHED A FAIR SHARE OF ANCIENT MOVIES IN MY TIME. HARD TO SAY THE SAME FOR YOU, XENO. HOW DO YOU KNOW OF THEM?"
"As a diplomat, I had to learn a few things about ancient human history," Speaker begrudged. "It's a shame the Empire came crumbling down at the hands of the Rebels."
"LOOK AT MR FUCKING EDGY HERE. I BET YOU HATE UNIVERSALLY LOVED STORIES ON YOUR ICEBALL OF A HOMEWORLD."
"You are quite crass for an honorable warrior, Fell-Handed."
"IT COMES WITH BEING OLDER THAN MOST CIVILIZATIONS," Bjorn retorted.
Before the argument could heat up any more, a bell chimed over the intercom.
"This is Dragon. We have repaired the ship's communications array, and are currently talking to our friends back on Earth. Thankfully, it appears that things are going well with this world's variant of the United States. They are giving us permission to land a Starbug in a special area in Utah, where they will assist us with equipment repairs and the such. Make your way to Hangar Three in thirty minutes if you desire to go planetside."
"ABOUT FUCKING TIME; I WAS STARTING TO GET A BIT CLAUSTROPHOBIC BEING COOPED UP IN HERE."
"Aren't you in a sarcophagus all the time?"
"SHUT UP."
A
Race Free Zone, Utah
Lister let in a deep whiff of the breeze coming off of the Great Salt Lake. "Ah, it's good to be back on Earth."
"Yes, good to be on Earth with pretty horrible living conditions," Rimmer commented dryly, his nose crinkling. "For one thing, they still have a Utah."
"Could you try not being a smeghead for a few minutes?" Lister asked, exasperated. "We're back home! Home! Did you ever think we'd see it again?"
"I now regret that we have," Rimmer muttered.
"Smeghead."
"Oh, I'm the smeghead? Tell me, who allowed these hooligans to basically hijack our ship just because they promised him a ticket to Fiji?"
"Perhaps we should regroup with the others," Kryten offered. "Those hooligans are waiting for us."
"Humph."
"I can't wait to see what kind of ladies Earth has to offer," Cat said, sniffing at some cologne he had sprayed on his wrist. "Now let's get this stupid stuff out of the way so I can get started."
With that, they made their way to the rest of the group.
S
There was a sizable complex overlooking the lake, close to the 'Race Free Zone' that housed the last remnants of one of this Earth's invaders. It was a crowded area, now that two hundred starships the size of aircraft carriers had landed, depositing what I had been told was a colonization fleet. Now, it served as a temporary meeting ground between us and this world's American government.
"I feel like I've stepped into a comic convention," the President said. "Superwoman, Batman, Godzilla... I didn't imagine I would be involved in this when I was sworn into office."
"It must be really overwhelming," Dragon said. "We can let you calm down a bit before beginning discussions-"
"No, no, that's fine. I can handle space aliens; I can handle this. Now, what those kids told me is the truth, isn't it? There's some ragtag group of powerful beings going around and conquering realities, led by what I believed only an hour ago to be a comic villain."
"That's pretty much the truth," I replied.
"I think it'll take a few hours with a nice bottle of scotch before I can really get used to saying that," the President said.
"Truth," Atvar said. The 'Fleeltord' of the former invaders had woken up from his fainting spell, and was now in the room with us. He was still uncomfortable; I could hear his heart beating like an hyperglycemic jackrabbit, but he seemed to have mustered control over himself.
"Thank you, by the way, for letting us regain some strength here," Dragon said. "Hopefully, it won't be long before we head off again."
"To save the multiverse," the President deadpanned.
"It sounds crazy, but sometimes fact can be stranger than fiction, I guess," I offered.
"ESPECIALLY NOW THAT WE'RE APPARENTLY FACT," Bjorn added.
"Now, I understand that you need our help in the fight," the President continued. "That much you told me before we decided to come here."
"The enemy has access to at least one powerful warship," Colin said, folding his arms over his chest. "Most likely more, considering how they were able to hammer down their previous target from orbit."
"The enemy is also quick to limit our own moves," Yama said. "I do not know how, but this... Darkseid that the young ones speak of can block off entire worldlines from us. He seems to have limits, however, otherwise he would have closed them all off."
"That's why you're coming to us, instead of some other universe with bigger guns," the President said. "We're your only option."
"Essentially."
"This is where things get... problematic, then," the President said. "Officially speaking, I am stretching my legal powers just by granting you a reprieve here in American territory. The situation's been bad enough as it is ever since we took in the Colonization Fleet and gave them time to head back to Home."
"I can validate his claims," Atvar added. "The other nations wish nothing more than to reduce the Fleet into radioactive powder; they have yet to forgive us for the war."
"International tensions have been at their worst since the Cold War," the President continued. "Many in India and Sahara view us as traitors to humanity for giving them a safe zone, which is not a good thing when both nations have access to nuclear weaponry. Our fleet is one of the few things keeping things from getting hot. If we give you the fleet, then there could be attacks on the civilian colonists, which would also entail attacks on our own soil."
"That's it?" I hear Eren snarl from the corner of the room. "You're going to let everyone die because of some petty alien politics?!"
"Officially, I've done all I can to help you," the President said.
My ears perked up at the way he said 'officially'. Colin and Dragon did the same, as did Bjorn and Yama. They had the experience or technology to pick up the subtle change; the others seemed oblivious.
"I can't let the fact that the entire universe is at stake to risk war on just one planet, after all," the President continued, his voice shifting slightly. "That's why it would be a bad idea to tell you that about the two museum ships from the war, the ones with minimal security. They're very easy to rearm with your capabilities, after all, and I wouldn't want you to get any bright ideas and take them."
Ax shifted, as though to say something, only for Marco to elbow him into silence.
"Thank you," I said, smiling softly.
"Thank me for what?" the President asked, a smile of his own forming.
"You will have my help," Atvar said.
"THAT'S A PLEASANT SURPRISE," Bjorn said.
"If everything is indeed under threat, then that means Home is in danger," the Fleetlord continued. "My army is weak and demoralized from the war, their numbers vastly depleted. But I will not stand idle while the Emperor stands at risk, not while I draw breath."
"It's good to have you onboard, then," Dragon said.
"One last thing," the President interjected, turning to face me and Colin. "Could I have your autographs? It's for my kids."
Colin and I glanced at each other for a brief moment.
"I'll get a pen," I said.
==/*\==
Lunar Orbit, one hour later
"I never thought we would fly to the moon," Asuka murmured, face glued to the porthole as she looked out at the silver landscape below them.
"Why does that sound familiar?" Shinji asked softly, his shoulder gently pressed against hers. "I know I've heard something like that before, but I can't really remember what it was."
"Wasn't there some popular song about that while we were fighting the Angels? It was the hit craze for a while before it petered out." Asuka let out a long sigh, eyes focused on the lava plains and craters coming into view. "It feels like it happened a long time ago, doesn't it? Everything was just batshit crazy, with the Angels and the giant monsters and the other universes... and now everything is just..."
"Crazy again?"
"Heh. You know we've lived weird lives when normal is strange," Asuka said, pushing herself off the bulkhead. "You think we'll ever get used to it, once we save everyone? Living like normal people, I mean."
"Maybe," Shinji replied, turning away from the porthole to face her. "We've done enough for a lifetime, and we can't even buy drinks yet. Maybe a normal, non-explosive life is what we get to make up for everything that happened. I think I'll join that garage band Kensuke and Toji made, once this is all over."
"Destroy All Monsters? Of course a baka like you would think that's a good idea," Asuka said, a faint smile on her face, only for it to disappear. "What's wrong?"
"W-what do you mean?" Shinji stammered, backing up a step.
Asuka folded her arms. "What do you mean what do I mean? I'm your girlfriend; I know when you're upset about something. Spit it out, baka."
Somewhere, there is a boy with a typewriter, Shinji found himself thinking.
"Nothing," he replied.
"Hmph." Asuka uncrossed her arms and sighed. "Come on, let's go see what the others are doing."
With that, they walked down the hall together. A few moments passed, then Shinji took Asuka's hand into his own.
S
"We're within a few hundred miles of the ships the President told us about," Colin said, hands dancing over the console. "This bucket's observation equipment is rather subpar, but we should be able to get a good look at them."
"I already see them," I replied.
It was a rather impressive display, I had to admit. The two ships were easily a mile apart from each other, connected by thin struts that would be nearly impossible to see from a distance if you didn't have eyes like mine. They had been arranged as if to make it look as though they were locked in mortal combat with each other, complete with fake missiles suspended in space as they forever arced towards their targets, but never hitting.
The two ships were as different as night and day. One was a compact and heavily armed vessel; it was clear that the engineers had only one intention in mind when they hastily pieced it together. A pair of massive turrets, ripped straight from old WWII-era battleships, were attached to either side, along with an assortment of smaller guns and missile launchers. The amount of radiation coming from its heart was barely above background levels; they had removed its fuel, propellant, and warheads. Which, in this case, were all the same thing.
The other ship made it look puny in comparison. The thing was a cylinder a mile long and a mile wide, with designs unlike anything found on earth, from the bolts holding it together to the massive fusion engines that had carried it across the stars. It, too, was disarmed, but there was something still intimidating about it. While the human-designed ship was meant for space combat, this was meant to carry an entire people and conquer a world for them.
"The Archangel Michael and Thuktun Flishithy," I heard Atvar say. "The two most important vessels of the war."
"And it appears that they are trying to contact us," Dragon added. "I'm patching them through right now."
Peering deeper into the ships, I saw that they were indeed manned by a skeleton crew of old-looking fithp. Veterans of the war, most likely; they would know how to keep it running better than anyone else. Focusing my senses, I managed to actually tune into their message before Dragon managed to. Hearing radio waves can be a nice perk at times.
"We surrender. I repeat, we surrender to your fithp. Message Bearer and the Michael are yours, as are we."
"That was faster than expected," Colin murmured. "Were they secretly ordered?"
"No," Atvar replied. "The fithp surrender when they believe themselves to be outmatched. They will be as loyal to you as they were to their former leaders."
"We shouldn't force them into this," I said. "I'm not going to let a reflex make them into unwilling fighters."
"If what you say is true, then this is everyone's fight," Atvar retorted. "They will help you restore the ships better than anyone else."
"BESIDES, IT'S NOT LIKE YOU'RE ENSLAVING THEM OR ANYTHING," Bjorn added. "WELL, IT IS KINDA LIKE SLAVERY, BUT THESE XENOS FIND IT NORMAL."
"Way to change my opinion," I muttered dryly.
"Either way, they'll be loyal to their defeaters. Perhaps we should let them decide whether to help," Colin offered.
"Alright," I said. "But we can't strong-arm them."
S
"We shall serve your herdmaster to the end," the leading fi' said, rolling onto his stomach.
"My herdmaster?" I asked.
"Yes," came the anxious reply. Unfurling a bifurcated trunk, the fi' pointed behind me.
Turning around, I saw he was pointing at none other than the massive form of Godzilla. The kaiju, along with his motley crew of fellow monsters, was watching the discussion keenly from the back of the massive hanger that had taken in both ships.
"Why do you believe him to be the herdmaster?" Speaker inquired, looking more than a little confused.
"Why else would such a ship be massive? It is for such large beings like him, and it is clear that he is the strongest of them all, with how they seem to defer to his presence. You must be his Breakers."
Breakers. The thought send a chill up my spine. Did they really think I was supposed to make them adjust to serving the others?
"No Breakers," I said. "They are not needed."
"Strange, but not entirely so," the old fi' admitted. "As I fear to have such a large foot as his on my chest, would someone else perform the ceremony?"
There was a pregnant pause, then Speaker stepped forward and pressed his padded foot down on the fi's chest.
"Now, we shall fight for you," the fi' said, getting back on his feet. "I am Defensemaster Rufutzonth-nimp. We are we to go?"
Ω
Elsewhere
"At last," Darkseid rumbled.
Barachiel and the White Woman stood at either side of the New God, staring through the massive plasteel window at the structure before them. The new Yeerk Emperor paced behind them, occasionally glancing at the awesome sight before him.
It was as though God himself had produced a ribbon hundreds of millions of miles long and encircled a sun-like star with it, like the rim of a wheel around an axis. The sheer size of the structure was beyond any words to describe, it simply was. Walls a thousand miles high graced each edge of the ring, and between them lay continents and oceans bigger than entire worlds, occasionally hidden from view by jet-black squares thousands of miles on each side. Deserts that could fit thousands of Saharas, oceans that could swallow the Earth, jungles and forests that made even the Amazon seem like a speck of green; they were all laid out on the interior of the ring, a task that could keep surveyors occupied for millions of years.
"I've... I've seen Eldar craft worlds before," Barachiel murmured, awe clear in his voice as he spoke. "Massive ships the size of small moons, drifting through the void... this makes them look like children's toys."
"Incredible," the White Woman said. "I never knew the hands of Man could ever create something on such a scale."
"Three million Earths could be laid out here, and they would barely be able to cover this structure's area," Darkseid said. "This was once the mightiest thing in the galaxy, a triumph of engineering and science. But pride cometh before the fall, and the people of this world fell indeed. They are scattered now, primitive tribes occasionally wielding advanced relics of their lost zenith."
"Even with primitive levels of technology, they must be numerous," Barachiel muttered. "Trillions of them, even."
"Hundreds of trillions," Darkseid rumbled. "Unable to defend themselves, easy to break and subjugate. There are enough slaves and subjects and hosts here to serve our needs."
(My empire could have a population explosion for decades, letting our already massive numbers grow, and we would still be hard pressed to use even a fraction of the people here,) the Yeerk Emperor said. "This could serve us for millennia."
"That will not be necessary," Darkseid replied. "We need only take enough to defeat our enemies once and for all. Then we can sweep from world to world, unstoppable, until the entire multiverse is under our heel."
"This is the crux to the war," the White Woman said. "Our key to complete victory."
"It is called the Ringworld," the New God said, a smile creeping on his stony face. "And it shall be ours."
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CRISIS, Chapter Six: Race Against Time