CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
AFTERMATH
The scene had shifted dramatically in the days following the invasion.
What had once been a bustling city was now a landscape marked by destruction, uncertainty, and fear. Buildings lay in ruins, their skeletal remains jutting out against the sky. The streets were littered with debris, and the air still carried the faint smell of smoke and ash, a grim reminder of the chaos that had swept through.
News outlets, radio stations, and television channels were ablaze with coverage of the event. Footage of the murderbots’ rampage played on a loop, showing the mechanical monstrosities tearing through the city, their eyes reflecting the horror of the civilians caught in their path. The cameras captured the frantic evacuations, the desperate fights, and the ultimate intervention of the heroes that had managed to turn the tide.
“...and in the aftermath of what officials are now calling the 'Invasion Incident,' authorities are still working to assess the full scope of the damage,” a news anchor's voice filled the room, “Eyewitness accounts describe the sudden appearance of these ‘murderbots,’ as they’ve been dubbed by the public, spreading across the city like a plague. We have yet to receive confirmation on the origins of these machines, but speculation is rampant.”
The camera switched to shaky footage taken from a smartphone, capturing the moment when the sky seemed to split open. A massive portal had appeared, its swirling depths a gateway to something far beyond the understanding of the people watching below. For a brief moment, a huge ship had poked through, and even though the portal had closed as quickly as it had opened, the memory of that moment lingered like a dark shadow over the city.
“This is the most significant event to occur in our city’s history,” the anchor continued, the gravity of the situation clear in her tone. “The destruction left in the wake of these attacks is unlike anything we’ve ever seen. Authorities are advising all citizens to remain indoors unless absolutely necessary as they work to restore order.”
In another part of the city, radios crackled with reports, and television screens flickered with images of the aftermath. Streets once full of life were now deserted, except for the occasional emergency vehicle or rescue worker picking through the wreckage. The fear in the air was palpable, the uncertainty of what might come next weighing heavily on everyone’s minds.
The public was left with more questions than answers. Who had unleashed these murderbots on the city? What was the true purpose of the portal that had briefly opened in the sky? And perhaps most pressing of all, who were the figures responsible for stopping the invasion?
While Wombat and Tiger were known faces, celebrated for their past heroics, there was a growing unease about the events that had unfolded. There was talk of other figures, shadowy presences whose identities remained unknown.
“Heroic Heroes: Wombat and Tiger were on the front lines once again,” one radio host remarked during a live broadcast. “They did what they could to fend off the invaders, but there’s something they’re not telling us. There were others involved, I’m sure of it. We’ve seen glimpses, heard whispers, but who are these mysterious figures? And why are they keeping them hidden from us?”
Speculation ran rampant. Conspiracy theorists took to the internet, spreading their wild ideas about secret government projects, alien invasions, and hidden superhumans. Some claimed that the portal was a doorway to another dimension, a gateway to a world beyond their own, and that the invasion was just the beginning. Others argued that the government was hiding the truth, that there were more heroes—or villains—in the city, working from the shadows to protect or control the population.
The Heroic Heroes—Wombat and Tiger—were hailed as saviors, but even they couldn’t escape the doubts that had begun to surface. In press conferences, they deflected questions about the events that had transpired, sticking to the official story: that they had done what was necessary to protect the city, and that the worst was over, but the public wanted more.
They wanted to know who had built the murderbots, who had sent them, and what other threats might be lurking just out of sight.
As the days passed, the city slowly began to pick up the pieces. Cleanup efforts were underway, and the streets, once filled with chaos, were now lined with workers and volunteers trying to restore some semblance of normalcy, but the scars left by the invasion were deep, and they wouldn’t heal easily.
In the minds of the people, the battle wasn’t over. They were left with the haunting images of the portal, the murderbots, and the monstrous figure of Calta. They were left with the knowledge that there were forces at play far beyond their understanding, forces that could strike at any moment, with consequences that could ripple out across the world.
“We’re living in a different world now,” one survivor said during an interview, her voice trembling with emotion. “We’ve seen things we can’t unsee, things we don’t understand. And I’m scared. I’m scared of what might happen next-”
The TV switched off.
“Hey, I was watching that!” Dang said as he swiveled around to face Tiger, who was holding the remote.
“You’d rather sit in here and watch depressing news all day than come outside and spend time with your friends? Are you even real?” They said in response.
“It helps to know what’s happening in the world,” Dang shrugged. “All we did was stop the invasion, and I’m not complaining, but it sucks not being able to do more than that.”
“Yeah, I get what you mean. Daniel and I have been working non-stop trying to help with the rebuilding efforts in the city. That and helping you rebuild the observatory.”
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“Thanks for that by the way.”
“Don’t mention it,” they tossed the remote to him, “The others are already waiting for us outside. Let’s go.”
It was late in the afternoon, and the sun had begun its transition into evening. Its slow descent painted the clouds with a pretty pinkish-orange and a cool breeze was settling over them.
The group had set up shop outside the observatory, making a campfire and placing a few chairs around it. Dante stationed himself behind the grill, serving up whatever meat had been placed in front of him. Daedalus and Wombat were in the middle of an argument over who the strongest character in an anime they’d both recently watched was.
Tiger turned to Dang as they walked up. “They’ve been shouting at each other for an hour. Daedalus tries to use logic to argue but Daniel just goes ‘nuh-uh’. It’s funny to watch.”
Things were starting to calm down now, as they rested and recovered from their battles with Caden and his forces. At the very least, the only threats they’d had to deal with were stupid kids who thought to use the chaos to commit crimes thinking they’d get away with it, but other than that, things were…quiet.
Wombat stops shouting mid-sentence as he noticed Dang, “Look, who decided to show up! Now get in here, we need someone to settle this argument.”
“Please Dang, you need to hear the nonsense he’s saying.” Daedalus added
Dang laughed as Wombat involved him in the argument, stating his points and trying to win him over. When he was done, Daedalus presented his arguments too. The whole time Dang was laughing.
“Alright, gather up!” Dante called out after a while of the back and forth, “Food’s ready!”
Together they ate, Wombat occasionally still trying to rekindle the fires of the heated argument while Daedalus conceded – only because he didn’t want to argue anymore as it was futile trying to reason with someone as hard-headed as Wombat.
After food, the air around them fell silent as they sipped on their beverages. They knew a conversation was to be had, dreaded as it was.
Wombat, was the first to break the silence. "So, what now?" he asked, his tone casual, but there was an underlying tension in his voice.
The question had been on all their minds since the battle ended, and now it was time to face it head-on.
Tiger, perched on a stool, looked up at the evening sky as it morphed into a night one. "We need to figure out how to get you guys home," they said, "Dante, Daedalus… you both have people waiting for you, and now that the battle’s over, I don’t think there’s anything holding you back anymore."
Dante nodded. The thought of Anthea, his lover back home, weighed heavily on him. "Yeah, I can't leave her wondering where I am forever," he murmured, more to himself than anyone else.
Daedalus was already thinking ahead. "We need to find a way to reopen the portals," he said, his voice carrying a calm authority. "Or at the very least, establish communication with our worlds. There must be some way to reconnect. Even with the Waymaker out of commission right now, I could probably salvage some parts and make some kind of multiversal communicator or something."
“Is that possible?” Tiger asked.
“In theory? Maybe, I’m not sure…but I keep thinking about that fight. How were Caden and Kai communicating with Bellum’s forces even though they weren’t in the same universe? How did they know to get ready for the portal’s opening?”
“Unless it was premeditated,” Wombat said.
“That’s a possibility, but I’m still not giving up hope.”
Dang, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke up. "You'll stay here until we figure it out," he said, his voice steady. It wasn't a question, more of a statement. "We'll work together to find a solution. But until then, you're not alone."
The group fell into a contemplative silence. They were all acutely aware that their time together was uncertain, that the bonds they had formed were both a strength and a reminder of the worlds they had left behind.
Wombat pushed off his seat and walked over to the center of the group. "So, what's the plan?" he asked, his tone more determined now. "We can't just sit around waiting for a miracle."
Tiger nodded in agreement. "Right. We need to be proactive. There has to be something we can do to at least send a signal, let them know we're alive and working on getting back."
Dante glanced at Daaedalus, who was staring out at the horizon. "Daedalus, you're the tech guy. Any ideas?"
Daedalus snapped out of his reverie and turned to face the group. "Well, the technology we used to open the portals was pretty advanced. It's a long shot, but it's worth trying."
The group shared a look of mutual determination. The path ahead was unclear, but they knew they had to try. For Dante and Daedalus, this wasn't just about finding a way home—it was about reconnecting with the lives they had left behind. For Wombat and Tiger, it was about helping their friends, no matter the cost. And for Dang, it was about making sure no one had to face the journey alone.
As they began to discuss their next steps, the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows over the lighthouse. The atmosphere was heavy with both resolve and uncertainty, but there was also a sense of unity. They had been through so much together, and while the future was uncertain, they knew they could face it as long as they were together.
"First things first," Daedalus said, taking charge as he often did. "We need to gather resources. Anything that could help us build the device. We'll need to scour the hospital, see if there's any old tech we can repurpose."
"I can handle that," Wombat volunteered. "I've got a knack for finding useful stuff in the most unexpected places. Plus, the army’s cordoned off that area so, they’ll probably only let familiar faces through."
"I'll help too," Tiger added. "We need to cover as much ground as possible."
"Good," Daedalus nodded. "And while you're doing that, Dante and I will start working on the schematics. We need to figure out exactly what we're building before we start piecing it together."
"And I'll keep an eye on everything else," Dang said. "Make sure nothing else decides to show up uninvited."
They all nodded in agreement, the plan taking shape. It wasn't much, but it was a start. And right now, that was all they needed—a direction, a purpose.
The conversation gradually shifted to lighter topics as they continued to plan. It was a strange contrast, discussing technical details and survival strategies in the same breath as jokes and memories of past adventures, but it was how they coped, how they kept the fear and uncertainty at bay.
As the evening wore on, they eventually settled down around the makeshift campfire near the observatory. The flickering flames cast warm, dancing light on their faces, a stark contrast to the cold reality they were facing.
Dante stared into the fire, lost in thought. He couldn't shake the feeling of being torn between two worlds—the one he had come to know here and the one he had left behind. It was the same for Daedalus, who sat quietly beside him, his mind clearly running through countless scenarios and possibilities.
Wombat, tried to lighten the mood. "Hey, remember that time we fought Arkanis? And how badass it was when Megan and I pulled up?."
Tiger chuckled, the memory a welcome distraction. "Yeah, and then Dang went to steal the show by becoming a shadow demon himself.”
Dang allowed himself a small smile and shrugged "What can I say? I’m just built like that.”
The group laughed, the tension easing slightly. It was these moments that reminded them of why they fought so hard, why they couldn't give up.
As the fire burned lower, the group fell silent again, the weight of their situation settling over them. But this time, there was also a sense of hope.
They had a plan, however vague, and they had each other. That was more than enough to keep them going.
As the last embers of the fire died down, they all stood and began to make their way back to the observatory.
They would rest this night and set out on their individual journeys the next day, but they were ready to face it.
Together.