by R. L. Ullman
“Are you sure about that?” the Herald says, amused.
“What’s happening?”
“You did not store enough power. And you have drifted too far from your power source,” the Orb says. “You have lost your ability to—”
Oh. No.
Suddenly, I drop like an anchor.
“Take his power!” the Orb yells.
But I can’t focus. I’m plunging towards the ocean from thousands of feet in the air! From this height I’m gonna hit the water and scatter into a million pieces! I can’t breathe! I feel like I’m passing out!
Then, my momentum stops.
How?
Drops of water pitter onto my face and my entire backside feels wet. I look down, and realize I’m being held up by a giant plume of water.
Not again.
Suddenly, I’m lifted into the air by a green-caped man with a dragon emblem on his chest. “So, we meet again,” Green Dragon says.
The Rising Suns!
“Listen,” I say. “Thanks for the lift, but I really don’t have time to fight you right now.”
“We are not here to fight,” says Zen, suddenly appearing beside us. “From our last encounter, I was able to share everything I discovered inside your mind. We apologize for before, isn’t that right, Green Dragon?”
“Yes,” Green Dragon says begrudgingly. “I … apologize. We now know that you are who you claim to be. And this fire man is our joint enemy. We are here to help you.”
I turn to see the Herald holding off Tsunami, Silent Samurai and Fight Master. And then I realize with the Rising Suns here, I have more powers I can borrow.
“A lot’s changed since the last time we met,” I say. “And the best way you can help me is by sticking around for a while.”
I close my eyes and pull in Zen’s Meta 3 psychic abilities, Green Dragon’s Meta 3 super-strength, and Tsunami’s Meta 3 energy manipulation. Then, I grab their powers of flight.
Now, it’s show time.
I pull away from Green Dragon, and fly over to the Herald.
“Little hero,” the Herald says. “You have returned. Have you sorted out your problem?”
“Nope,” I say coldly, “you’re still here.”
He smiles. “Still with the sharp tongue, I see. I think it’s high time I rip it out.” Then he extends his arms and sends a blast of fire my way.
I use Tsunami’s powers and block it with a wave of water, then I push it back towards him using Green Dragon’s strength, dousing him in ocean water. The Herald flickers out for a moment, and then flames back on.
“You are stronger,” he says. “But not strong enough.” Suddenly, he erupts into a bright ball of fire, blinding me. The heat is so intense it feels like my skin is melting! He’s trying to vaporize me!
“Now,” says the Orb, “negate his power permanently!”
I want to do it, but something tells me it’s not the right move. Instead, I tap into Zen’s psychic power and reach into the Herald’s mind.
A series of images flash before me: A green world with yellow, puffy clouds. An image of a pointy-earned woman. Children playing.
“What are you doing?” the Herald cries. “Stop!”
This is incredible! I’m seeing things exactly as the Herald saw them! He’s inside a space shuttle drifting into a nebulous, green mist. He’s pushing commands on a bomb. But then, his ship is pulled apart around him. He’s trapped inside a … a cocoon? Then, he’s bathed in fire …
No freaking way! I pull out of his head.
“You tried to destroy Ravager,” I say.
He looks at me angrily. “Yes,” he says, powering down. “Once upon a time.”
“But I don’t understand. If you wanted him dead, then why are you helping him destroy other planets?”
“It is … complicated,” he says, putting his head in his hands.
“Try me,” I say.
“Once I was a scientist,” he begins, “an astrologer, who made a remarkable, yet fateful discovery. There were holes in the universe where my ancestors had mapped planets. It seemed as if entire worlds on the far side of the galaxy had disappeared. I did not understand how this could be possible, so I brought my discovery to the Federation, but they did not care. With the ongoing wars, they said they had higher concerns than my lost worlds. But I knew something was wrong.”
The Rising Suns surround the Herald, but I raise my hand, stopping them from attacking. “Go on,” I say.
“I knew what was happening could not be natural. Something was causing it to happen. I studied the phenomenon for years, until one day, my equipment caught the perpetrator in the act. It was a strange, undefined mist that was swallowing planets whole, and then destroying them. I knew if this cosmic predator was not dealt with, one day it would come for my world, my family, my children.”
A fiery tear streams down his face.
“I built a nuclear warhead, and said goodbye to my loved ones. I knew I would never see them again. Years passed before I finally came upon the monster, descending upon a small planet in the Oberon system. As I watched it in its ephemeral form, I realized my weapon was useless to destroy it. At least, until it solidified. So, I flew into its center and waited. But, as you saw, I did not destroy it, it destroyed me.”
“What happened?” I ask.
“It transformed me,” he says, “into this. A servant to hunt habitable worlds for it to consume.”
“But why?” I ask. “Why are you doing this?”
“Because, it made me a bargain I could not refuse. In exchange for my service, it offered to spare my world—to save my family.”
“But you helped it murder billions.”
“Yes,” he says, looking down. “I have not thought of my family for a long time. I saved them, but in the process destroyed many, many others. I … I have lost sight of what matters most. Life. All life.”
“Destroy him!” the Orb says.
My fingers twitch and I feel the urge to take all his powers away. To punish him for what he’s done, but I can’t.
I need him.
“Look, I know what it’s like when you’re willing to do anything to save your family,” I say, “but with the decisions you’ve made, you’ve only let them down. You’ve let yourself down. This is your chance, maybe your only chance, to redeem yourself and do what’s right. You’ve got to help me destroy Ravager, before he comes to Earth. You have to help me save billions of lives. Do you understand?”
He hesitates for a moment, and then says, “Yes, I understand.”
Suddenly, the sky darkens, like someone threw a blanket over the sun.
“But I am afraid it is too late.”
I FACE THE ULTIMATE EVIL
Under a blackened sky, the first tendrils of a menacing green fog descend slowly towards Earth.
My nightmare has come true.
Ravager is here.
“What is happening?” Tsunami asks.
“Just the end of the world,” I answer cryptically, hypnotized by what’s unfolding before my eyes.
The green cloud rolls in thick and fluffy, almost inviting. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.
While I’ve had nightmares about Ravager attacking Earth before, the sheer terror I’m feeling at this moment is more intense than I ever imagined. As Ravager fills the sky, it dawns on me we’re only occupying one tiny section of the globe. If it can swallow entire planets, it must be absolutely huge!
How am I ever going to find its brain? It’s going to be impossible—like finding a needle in a haystack. I mean, it could take years! Clearly, I don’t have that luxury. And besides, how does a creature made of mist even have a brain?
Suddenly, warning bells go off in my head, and a million reasons why I shouldn’t trust the Watcher’s advice come to mind. First off, he’s batty. Second, Ravager is his child. I mean, does he really want to off his own kid? Third, he hates me. After all, I have the Orb of Oblivion, the only weapon rumored to be capable of taking d
own his precious Ravager.
Maybe he’s sending me to dig my own grave.
Something tells me he’ll get his wish.
Hazy, green waves drift past my face and I gag. Yuck, this stuff smells like rotten eggs. Then I notice something strange. The wispy green particles are covered with small, shiny flecks. At first, they look like they’re falling alongside it, like snowflakes from the sky. But then I realize the flecks are somehow attached to the green mist, riding down with it.
That’s weird.
“Little h—,” the Herald starts, but then stops himself. “Epic Zero, I hope you understand the impossible odds before us. I have seen countless others attempt to stop Ravager. Scientists. Soldiers. Superheroes. All have tried, and all have perished. What makes you think we are capable of succeeding where others have failed?”
“Because I have this.”
I watch the Herald’s eyes widen as I hold out the Orb of Oblivion. “So, it is real,” he whispers.
“Yes,” I say, “and if we’re going to use it, I need you to take me to Ravager’s brain. That is, if it actually has a brain.”
“It does,” he says. “I can take you there. But I fear the journey will be treacherous. We will need to intercept the beast in the harshness of space. You will not survive.”
“That’s not a problem,” I say. And then I concentrate hard, tapping into the Herald’s power, copying every iota possible. As I draw in his abilities, I can feel my cells expanding, crackling with energy.
And then I burst into flames.
“Tsunami, put him out!” Fight Master cries.
“No, it’s okay,” I say quickly. “I’m not hurt. I’ve simply duplicated the Herald’s power. Now I must go and slay the dragon.”
Green Dragon raises an eyebrow.
“Sorry,” I say. “It’s just an expression. What I mean is it’s time for me to destroy Ravager, before he destroys us.”
“Epic Zero,” Zen says, “the fate of mankind is in your hands. Good luck.”
“Thanks,” I say, swallowing hard. Talk about pressure! This is it. There’s no turning back now. I take a deep breath and say, “Let’s do this.”
Without a word, the Herald takes off. He’s fast, but this time I’m right there with him.
The Herald cuts through the fog like a flaming knife, leaving a blazing trail in his wake. Suddenly, I realize we’re flying straight through Ravager’s body. It’s like he’s a ghost, like he’s not really there. I only wish that were true.
One thing that is there though, are those shiny flecks. They’re everywhere, pelting lightly against my face. What are they?
“I was wondering the same thing,” the Orb says. “I sense a cosmic energy about them. Something familiar.”
“For such a know-it-all, you sure don’t know much,” I say.
“Don’t worry, I’ll figure it out,” it says. “Speaking of ‘knowing,’ you do know what to do once we reach Ravager’s brain, right?”
“Yes, I’m going to blow you up.”
“Wrong,” it says. “When we reach Ravager’s brain, we will take control of Ravager. After we master the beast, the entire multiverse will bow before us. Imagine the power you’ll have. Imagine the respect you will earn.”
Yes, that would be something, wouldn’t it? I’d be unstoppable! I can just see Grace’s face when I swing by the Waystation with Ravager on a leash. Boy, will she be sur—
“Hey!” I shout, “Get lost!”
The Herald stops. “Excuse me?”
“Sorry,” I say, embarrassed. “Just having a private conversation.” Suddenly, I realize we’ve left Earth’s atmosphere altogether. We’re floating in space! I’m floating in space! But my excitement is short-lived when I catch full sight of Ravager.
It’s like there’s no end in sight. The creature extends from deep space all the way to Earth! And he’s covered half the globe already! We’re running out of time!
“Where’s the brain?” I say, panicked. I’m looking around for something, anything, but there’s nothing. “We need to get there! Now!”
“But we are here,” the Herald says. “Look.”
I follow his outstretched hand, which is pointing to a cloudy area that is subtlety darker than the rest. It’s the size of a football field, expanding and contracting.
“That’s the brain?” I ask.
“Yes,” he says. “But it is in transient form. If you try to destroy it now, it’s molecules will simply scatter and reform again. If you want to ensure its demise, you must wait until it solidifies.”
“Okay,” I say. “So, when will that happen?”
“When it fully swallows your planet.”
“Whoa,” I say. “So, you’re saying I need to wait for it to start pulverizing Earth before I can destroy it? I can’t let that happen. It’ll kill billions!”
“That,” the Herald says, “is the only way.”
Suddenly, there’s a THUNDEROUS BOOM.
“What’s that?” I ask.
“Master!” the Herald screams.
The brain shakes violently, and out comes something that is not so much a voice, but a rumble.
“YOU BETRAYED ME.”
“No, Master,” the Herald says. “I was just … bringing this boy here … to witness your mighty power.”
“DO YOU TAKE ME FOR A FOOL? THIS IS NO ORDINARY BOY. HE IS THE ORB MASTER. AND YOU BROUGHT HIM HERE TO DESTROY ME.”
“Now!” the Herald screams. “Destroy it now!”
I reach into my mind to activate the Orb’s power, when—
“Wait!” the Orb says. “It’s not solid. It won’t work.”
I hesitate. The Orb is right. Based on what the Herald told me, using the Orb’s power now wouldn’t do any good.
“FOR OVER A CENTURY YOU HAVE ACTED AS MY LOYAL SUBJECT. BUT NOW YOU HAVE CONSPIRED AGAINST ME. OUR BARGAIN IS TERMINATED. YOUR WORLD WILL BE RAVAGED AND NOW YOU WILL BE PUNISHED!”
“No!” the Herald cries, dropping into a begging position. “I’m sorry, Master! Please, let me make it up to—”
Just then, the Herald’s fire is extinguished.
For the first time, I see the man beneath the flames—his skin is white, his eyes are gold. He stares at me desperately, and then clutches his throat.
He can’t breathe! Without his powers he can’t breathe in space!
“Herald!” I cry, moving towards him, but the green mist between us thickens, forming a barrier. I try pushing through it, but the fog has solidified! I can’t break through! I’ve lost sight of him.
Just then, the fog dissipates, and as it creeps away I see the Herald’s body floating before me. Limp. Lifeless.
He’s gone.
Suddenly, I panic. My power source is gone!
“Don’t worry,” the Orb says, “this time you’ve stored enough juice to last a while. But don’t dilly-dally.”
That’s a relief. But as the Herald hovers there, all I’m thinking is here’s another senseless death. Another life I’m responsible for. My blood is boiling. All I want is to destroy Ravager—to end this nightmare. But how?
“I REQUIRE A NEW HERALD.”
“You’re going to need more than that,” I say, “after I blow you into a gazillion pieces.”
“HOW ABOUT YOU?”
“What?”
“YOU ARE STRONG. DETERMINED. I WILL TAKE YOU AS MY HERALD, AND IN EXCHANGE I WILL SPARE YOUR WORLD.”
“Um, is this a joke?”
“SERVE AS MY HERALD. SCOUT THE MULTIVERSE TO FIND HABITABLE PLANETS TO SATIATE MY HUNGER. HELP ME AND YOUR WORLD, AND ALL OF THOSE YOU LOVE, WILL LIVE. THE OFFER HAS BEEN MADE, THE FINAL DECISION IS YOURS.”
I DETERMINE THE FATE OF EVERYTHING
My head is spinning.
Ravager just offered Earth a get-out-of-jail free card. There’s just one catch. To cash it in, I need to become his new Herald.
My gut tells me to say ‘thanks but no thanks.’
But my head tells me it may be an offer I c
an’t refuse.
I mean, everything I’ve done up to this point has been for the sole purpose of preventing Ravager from eating Earth. All of my adventures flash through my mind: getting captured by the Rising Suns, traveling through wormholes to another universe, wrestling Elliott 2 on Watcher World, fighting with the second Orb of Oblivion. It’s been an insane whirlwind.
Now, if I just say ‘yes’ the whole threat is neutralized. My family will be spared. My friends on the Freedom Force will survive. My planet will be left alone. It’s an amazing deal.
But not for everyone.
I think about my old friends on the Zodiac: Gemini, Taurus, Aries, Sagittarius, Pisces, and Scorpio. They’re all orphans, the last of their kind, all because of Ravager’s hunger pains.
Then, my mind turns to Grace 2 and her family. Their world won’t be safe either. One day, Ravager will come for them too.
I remember how sad the Herald looked when I confronted him about his actions. Even though he thought he was doing the right thing, he knew he was as guilty as Ravager in the slaughtering of billions.
I can’t do that.
I could never do that.
“Are you nuts?” the Orb says. “This is the chance of a lifetime.”
“No, I don’t think—”
“Listen, dummy,” it interjects. “This is your one chance to save everyone you care about. I know you think you can use me to blow that monster up, but what if it doesn’t work? You’ll be responsible for what happens next. Don’t doom everyone you love because of some silly moral code. Step up and show them you’re the hero you were meant to be.”
Maybe the Orb is right. If I screw it up, Earth is lost. Maybe this is my one shot to save my planet. Plus, who knows what’s going to happen with the multiverse collapsing.
But if I become the new Herald, I’ll be responsible for hurting so many innocent people. I … I don’t know what to do. How come I’m always stuck making these decisions? I’m sure Dad or Mom would know what to do. I bet even Dog-Gone could make the call better than me.
“DECIDE, EARTHLING!” Ravager rumbles.
“Do it!” the Orb says. “Before it’s too late!”
I rub my thumb along the smooth surface of the Orb. Great, so here I’ve got the most powerful weapon in the universe, but no clue how to use it. The Watcher said to take the Orb to the brain of Ravager, and then blow it up. He didn’t provide any instructions after that.