New Terra was starting to turn into a warzone.

Chimera felt her not heart clench as she stared at the carnage below them as they flew over the city.

The Iguana was breaking through the barrier of the Hero’s League, and smashing right into the walls, which caved under its weight.

The business district's shield was still active, and Chimera could see that many of the people were safely making their way towards it.

The Iguana was too distracted with the destruction around the plaza to notice them thankfully.

However, it wouldn't be long until it moved towards those poor people.

Meghan’s helmet popped over her head, shielding her from the wind as she spoke to them all.

“Alright, looks like someone's got to deal with the reptile. Seeing as all of you have business with ChemTech, I’ll take care of Scaley while you head to fight.”

“I will join her! The power of science shall triumph!” Copymera smiled as she flew alongside Meghan.

“Then, me, Sarah, and Clone will make our way towards ChemTech. Mimi, can you look for Aden and the others?”

Mimicera flew up to them, not with wings, but a makeshift broom and a large brow hat on her head, the wind parting from her as she nodded.

“I’ll get our brother back.”

Chimera nodded, “you all have your missions, let’s carry them out and make it back alive.”

She flew in front of them, “that’s an order… okay?”

Chimera felt warm as she saw them all nod, Meghan giving her a thumbs up.

“It has been a privilege knowing you all. Let’s stop this and save the city, all of us.”

““Right.””

Chimera, Sarah and Clonemera glided down to the business sector, while Mimicera, Copymera and Meghan broke off to deal with the rampaging lizard monster.

Never knowing if it would be the last time they saw each other, Mimicera looked over at the others in worry, a small tear drop running down her cheek as she imagined what would come next.

Her body, born from the magical energies that made up one of the greatest heroes in New Terra, thrumbed with power and promise.

She would save their family, and heaven help those who got in her way, because she was bringing hell with her.

…

Meghan was feeling pretty emotional.

A couple of months ago, she had been a boring normal human with an aversion to humans and a brain that worked like a well oiled machine.

Now…

She looked at her suit that was now plated with incredibly dense metals from a safe that Chimera and her clones provided.

What was inside the safe was an absolute gift as well.

Gold, real gold, in bars that added up to around fifty in total.

Meghan could almost feel the newly created power cables running through her suit, and the energy within promised performance and destruction to her enemies.

It was strange at first, the feelings of all the different minds she had access to, knowledge from.

She was always an introvert, only allowing those few people she could truly call friends and family into her life.

Now though, with the thousands of Bottys, her invaluable Printy, and her assistant Jade…

Is this what extroverts feel all of the time?

She felt connected with everyone, and she felt their love and devotion to her in return.

She felt like she could take over the world with her friends by her side.

Most of all though, Meghan felt complete.

Like the final thing she had been missing in her life had finally slotted in, and her gears and cogs, which had been unmoving for so long, finally started up again.

Meghan felt alive.

And now, she was going to kick a massive Iguana’s ass for wrecking her warehome.

“Attention Bottys converge on my position. We’re taking the Iguana down.”

Roger, Creator!

We Will Prevail.

For the Creator!

Meghan had sent most of the Bottys into the city to search for their missing people, but after confirming that they did not find them, Meghan realized there would be only one place they could be at.

The League’s headquarters.

She did think of it at first, but she did not want to lose any of her Botty’s to the place’s defenses.

There had been plenty of mad scientists that thought they could take down the headquarters of the Heroes, only to lose and have their tech stolen.

Actually…

Meghan felt a greedy thought come to her as she smiled down at the once pristine building dedicated to heroism.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Well, if they’re just going to leave it there out in the open, I might as well grab a few pieces of tech… heh.

She sent a signal to her Botty’s to grab any tech from the headquarters that they could find.

“After we deal with the Iguana though, we can't have that thing breaking our new toys.”

Of course Mistress!

We wouldn’t allow this rapscallion to hurt potential friends and comrades!

Death to the scaly one!

Meghan readied herself as the Iguana came into view.

“Engage!”

ROGER!

…

Chimera along with Sarah and Clonemera, stepped down on the roof of the ChemTech Building.

The sounds of screams and worrying people rose over the faint sounds of sirens and emergency personnel doing their best to stop a panic from rising.

Chimera looked over the edge to stare down at the folks below.

“No heroes… not one is down there. What is going on?”

Sarah looked over the ledge, “the headquarters is under assault, surely they would be there…”

Chimera could feel the worry in their connection, as if Sarah was trying to convince herself that was what was happening.

And not that the heroes simply abandoned the humans below to their fate.

Clone spoke over to them, trying to get a hatch on the roof ot open.

“Maybe… *huff* they have something *hoof* to do with it?”

Chimera and Sarah turned to Clone as she finally opened the latch.

“Phew... got it.”

“What do you mean Clone?”

Clonemera set the latch down to the side as she nodded towards them.

“What if it's Pox and Monica? Sounds like the heroes are occupied right? This would be a good distraction for Pox if he needed to grab something.”

“Or someone.”

Sarah spoke as she nodded along with Clonemera.

“We have to assume that Pox is involved in some way right? He’s been looking for a way to deal with us according to Mr. Flesh’s memories. It could be this is what he orchestrated.”

Chimera didn’t believe that, “this is someone else's doing, why would Pox use a large Iguana? I’m with Meghan, this has that Zlo guy written all over it. We can’t afford to be distracted anyway.”

Sarah nodded, while Clonemera’s face scrunched up.

“Whatever, let's end those two once and for all.”

At once, all three of them shifted into their blob forms and squeezed down the hatch into the building below.

…

Aden was rushing towards the exit of the building he found himself in just as a large scaly claw descended from the outside and smashed through the building’s ceiling.

It was huge, and the arm connected to it looked like it was the size of a sewer pipe.

“What the hell?!”

He had been hearing a ruckus outside as he was making his way out of this building.

“Guess I found the source…”

A large round eye with a lazy lid stared into the hole that the arm landed in, a row of razor sharp teeth lining its lower jaw as a forked tongue slid out, testing the air.

“Oh, you have got to be kidding me…”

Aden had heard of things like this while he was in the hospital, about large monsters and the person responsible for them.

“Dr. Zlo, or something.”

Aden booked it through the doors, still holding tightly to both Crysa and Aura as he kicked down the door.

“Ho… shit…”

The door opened to reveal the rest of the kaiju he was now staring at.

A one hundred feet across Iguana with a thirty feet height was now staring down at him like he was a juicy bug that just walked up to him.

With an alacrity nothing that size should possess, it turned to face him, its tongue sliding out to taste the air in front of him.

Aden felt a chill as he dodged to the left, a massive claw landing where he once was.

“SHIT!”

Aden turned to run as the Iguana gave chase, its stomps and snaps heralding his chase.

He got to the courtyard before her felt the stomps stop, only to see a massive shadow appear over him.

“Quickly my lord, over here!”

Aden felt something tug him down as the Iguana overhead smashed down on his old position.

Aden watched overhead as the Iguana began searching for him after its destructive jump, it’s tongue tasting the air, but finding nothing as it stomped away.

Only after confirming that the massive beast was gone did Aden turn to see his savior.

“Oh blessing of the Scarlet Maiden above, are you alright my lord?”

Aden blinked, once, and again as he stared at the… being before him.

It was a strange combination of rat and mouse, but bipedal and four feet tall.

Its large round ears and rat tail gave away its origins as its long face with bright, intelligent eyes, smiled back at him.

“You seem to be alright. Thank the Maiden, I was not sure we would be able to help you in time.”

The… Rice? Mats? Guided him to an area, holding his hand to guide him through the tunnels.

Tunnels that looked to be part of old sewer systems, now clean and even polished with a marble shine.

Some even gave off a bit of light as Aden was guided, showing the way forward for him and the Rice.

Rat mice, Rice.

A few other Rice joined them as Aden walked along, tenderly carrying the two girls over their shoulders.

“We feared for our human brothers and sisters above, and while our tenants teach us to not cause trouble to others, our Scarlet Maiden had also taught us to be kind to our fellows, and such kindness is often shared once reciprocated. We gathered many of your brethren below to keep them safe from Gut’thak above.”

“Gut’thak?”

The Rice turned its head to nod at him, “the raging beast unnatural, who even now stomps on your warrens and places of learning. A tragedy, that your kind should face such a threat with none to help. May the Scarlet Maiden keep you and yours safe.”

Aden nodded along as he tried to understand just where he ended up.

The answer came to him as he walked into an open area teaming with life.

Rice were all over the area, some in ceremonial garbs, and others in old tee shirts and pants that had seen better days.

All of them were helping a group of children who seemed to be enjoying themselves, some even playing with smaller Rice as they kicked a ball around.

“Your younglings are quite spirited, even in the face of turmoil. Truly a divine race to keep such courage in harsh times.”

Aden could only nod, “this, thank you for your help.”

The Rice man smiled warmly, “It is our pleasure to care for those deserving of it. Now, come. We must bring you before the royal family, so that they may ask you questions and answer yours in kind.”

Aden touched the Rice man’s hand, “first, do you have a healer that can look after my two companions? They were unconscious and I’m worried for their health.”

The Rice man nodded, “of course. It just so happens our healers are with the king and queen at this time. Come, let us help your friends and cure them of their ills.”

Aden nodded, “thank you.”

“It is not trouble. I am call Rubeous, head of the clergy for the Church of the Scarlet Maiden. May I ask for your name, esteemed one?”

Aden smiled, “I’m Aden Bockman.”

Rubeous smiled back, “Lord Aden, I welcome you to the Ruby Warrens, home to our people, the Lok.”

…