Elsewhere in Kaleidoscope City, Jareth Linford paced the dimly lit command center, layers of cerulean energy dancing across his armored tuxedo.
He wasn't just any Magical Knight – he was Magical Knight Bitwave Sentinel, better known by his nickname of "The Conductor". He was capable of coordinating operations on a citywide scale with mere thought. Unlike most other Magical Knights who were granted Talents geared toward direct peacekeeping and combat. Jareth had a unique Talent [Parallel Processing], the ability to manage over a dozen tasks seamlessly, enhanced by a custom neural interface designed specifically for him.
His gift had proven invaluable on countless occasions, as it had allowed him to oversee relief efforts, direct reinforcements, and manage crisis situations without losing track of a single detail. The vast web of electronic devices that spanned Kaleidoscope City was his orchestra. But tonight, his Talent was proving more of a curse than a blessing.
The sudden invasion had turned everything on its head. While most were fleeing or hiding, the Magical Knights were fighting on multiple fronts, struggling to defend their home from the onslaught of the unknown. Similar attacks had erupted all over the world, and through it all, Jareth had been their rock, their guiding star. He was exhausted and sleep-deprived, pushed to his very limit.
Refuge Zeta was the most recent worry that gnawed at the edges of his mind. Situated near the municipal building and the Kaleidoscope University and High School campus, it was one of the most technologically advanced and prominent shelters. Yesterday, he had reluctantly decided to mark it off the list of active refuges, designating it as a no-go zone.
The expeditionary team had painted a grim picture: Refuge Zeta was overrun by monsters, its corridors counted at least multiple threats that a squad of seasoned Knights could not handle, and their efforts had to be triaged to save and evacuate as many civilians as possible.
So of course, Jareth was more than surprised when a freshly registered cadet and Magical Girl Twilight Aster decided to venture into it. He remembered Twilight Aster with a faint smile. Twilight Aster, Dawn Lily, and Midnight Blossom were rising stars, and he had worked side by side with them during the Piercing Eclipse incident a year ago. It was a day where Twilight Aster had earned his deep respect and trust. He couldn't understand her reasoning for taking such a grave risk with her team confirmed wounded, especially with a rookie, but he knew better than to underestimate her.
But his moment of reflection was cut short by a distress signal emanating from the very refuge he'd written off. The pinging on the radar, with its rhythmic cadence, was a testament to the presence of survivors. It was a gut-wrenching decision. For each ping signified a life. A life that, in any other circumstance, he would've rallied the heavens to protect.
Yet the cold calculus of warfare, combined with the already dire situation in the city, made the choice clear. He couldn’t risk allocating more resources — with only four dozen Knights still in the field. The Refuge had not only been abandoned due to the uncertain status of the civilians within, but also due to the extraordinarily powerful monsters that had been reported in the vicinity.
Not only that, but a particularly large anomaly had manifested at the city’s outskirts, spewing forth wave after wave of monsters. Leaving that unattended would spell disaster for the city as a whole.
He knew it was the correct call, yet the weight of that decision sat like a leaden stone in his chest.
Time felt distorted for Jareth as he continued his intricate dance of coordination across the city. Every cry for help, every clash with the invaders, every civilian life saved or lost played out in his head. But that single distress call from Refuge Zeta became an ever-growing itch. It nagged at the corners of his mind, begging for his attention.
In the dim glow of the command center, the Conductor let his guard down for a brief moment. His fingers stilled, and the frantic energy that surrounded him ebbed away. Why had Twilight Aster ventured into Refuge Zeta with no backup? Why had she believed it was worth the risk? The questions circled in his mind, muddling the otherwise clear waters of his judgment. He had seen her grow, watched her blossom into the formidable Magical Girl she had become. And yet, he couldn't understand her decision. The distress signal was probably her doing. It was likely that she was still alive. Still fighting. But for how long?
Suddenly, a light flashed on his console, and updates from the formerly disconnected systems in Refuge Zeta began pouring in, causing Jareth to snap to attention. As the automated status reports that had previously been in limbo cascaded down, a single notification dominated his screen:
"Alert. Anomaly detected. Breach in Sector One: Entrance Hall. Code Red. Code Red. A registered ‘Teambuster’ class Villain has been detected within Refuge Zeta."
His heart raced as he read and reread the notification. Teambusters were always trouble; a single one of them could potentially take on a whole team of Magical Knights and come out on top. The presence of such a supervillain presented a serious complication.
But the incoming call on the direct line to his command center snapped him out of his daze. The HUD projected a live feed of a dark-skinned firefighter, sweating and gasping from what appeared to be the underground control room of Refuge Zeta.
"Sir, this is… this is Master Sergeant Jacob Williams of the KCFD reporting from Refuge Zeta’s control room. I am… here with Twilight Aster, and I’m here to confirm the survival of Refuge Zeta’s inhabitants. There are likely well over a thousand survivors left here, but Shelter 4 has fallen. We need immediate assistance out here!”
Jareth swallowed, the immense gravity of the situation settling on him like a mantle of lead. As the city’s orchestrator, he had to make the tough calls that no one else wanted to.
"Sergeant Williams," he began, his voice careful and measured, "I understand your plea. You need to understand the broader context. We're currently dealing with incursions across the city. If we divert resources to Refuge Zeta, it could leave other critical areas exposed."
Jacob's face contorted with a mix of desperation and fury. "Sir, with all due fucking respect, there are children down here! People who trusted the system, who believed that when push came to shove, they’d be protected! If you don’t send us relief right now, all of us will die."
Jareth's gaze remained steady, even as a storm of emotions raged within him. "I know. But to be frank our city, and our world no less, is at stake and we are stretched thin. I have the utmost confidence in Twilight Aster and your abilities. Focus on fortifying your position, keep the civilians safe, and buy as much time as possible. I’m… I’m sorry, Sergeant."
Jacob's jaw clenched, his eyes filled with tears of frustration. "Understood," he replied, bitterness evident in his tone. The communication link severed, leaving Jareth with an oppressive silence.
Suddenly, another flashing indicator on his console caught Jareth’s eye. He frowned as the system alerted him to the presence of not just one, but multiple supervillain signatures confirmed inside Refuge Zeta. That was unexpected, and in a situation already teeming with uncertainties, any new variable could be either a lifeline or the straw that breaks the camel's back.
Jareth leaned back, ruminating over the day's events. He knew in his heart he had made the right call regarding Refuge Zeta, but that didn't make the burden any lighter. As The Conductor, he would always face challenges that would test the very core of his being. And today was just another one of those days.
Suddenly, a burst of static cut through the channel, giving way to an all-too-familiar cheeky voice. "Well, isn't this a party? If it isn't the illustrious Conductor. Long time no chat."
Jareth's eyes narrowed. "Techtron."
That confirmed it, then. Red Masque and the Nibiru syndicate were present. Jareth’s relationship with Techtron had been a convoluted one – a dance of strategy, wit, and cunning. They had been rivals long before the city faced this particular catastrophe. Their clashes had been legendary, each one taking turns outsmarting the other, but Jareth had always been a step ahead, always frustrating Techtron’s plans. But now, with the city teetering on the brink of destruction, the presence of Techtron and his band of misfits was a complication he could do without.
“I was wondering when you’d show your stupid face,” Jareth responded with a biting edge to his voice. “Even during the end of the world, you can’t resist fucking around, can you?”
Techtron's chuckle was oily, dripping with mockery. "In the flesh! Or rather, the electrons. It's such a delightful show you've been orchestrating. I’m glad I’m invited! You can thank me later for repairing the communications array here, by the way."
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Jareth’s face hardened. "What do you want, Techtron? You're not exactly known for altruistic ventures. Why are you inside Refuge Zeta?"
“Oh, Jareth, always so serious,” Techtron sighed dramatically. “Here I thought we had a special bond. Remember that time in Shard Heights with the unshackled AI? Ahh, good times.”
Jareth's jaw clenched, memories of the near-disastrous event flashing in his mind. Techtron was clearly deflecting, and he wasn’t having any of it today. "What. Do. You. Want?"
"Right to the point, then. We’re here on, shall we say, unofficial business. I have a young associate with me who has a message for Kaleidoscope City. Considering the state of the city and those annoying little portals everywhere, I thought I might throw him a bone. And a podium. Just to be clear, I’ve hijacked every single audio device still hooked to the city’s emergency broadcast system"
"A message? You're playing these games while the city is under siege?" Jareth's voice rang with disbelief and rising anger.
Techtron's tone turned sharply serious. "This isn't one of my games for once, Conductor. The lad has something genuinely important to say, something that might actually help. So how about it? Lend us your airwaves for a minute, and perhaps we can pull through this madhouse together.”
Jareth hesitated. Every fiber of his being shouted not to trust Techtron. Their encounters had always been a battle of wits and wills, but the desperation that had been in the firefighter's voice and the sheer scale of the ongoing crisis forced him to consider every option.
"Alright," Jareth growled, "I’ll give him a minute. But cross any line, and I swear, Techtron, there won’t be a fox hole safe enough for you to hide in."
"Deal," Techtron replied, a hint of genuine relief in his voice.
The console flickered, clearing the way for a projection of a young man with an earnest expression.
A chubby teenage boy stood in the command center, looking both vulnerable and frightened. The boy's hoodie was ripped and torn. Bruises and scratches covered his young face, even as a blue aura worked to mend them. The wounds were evidence of recent and violent altercations he should never have encountered. Even with all this, there was an undying fire in his eyes.
"Uh, hey there, everyone” the boy's barely pubescent voice crackled through the hijacked airwaves, shaky but determined. "My name is Albert. You probably don’t know me, and honestly, I'd prefer it that way. I mean, my biggest worry was supposed to be finding my way to the right classroom this week and not, criminy, dodging zombies and stuff, right?”
He paused, took a shaky breath, gathering himself, "Growing up, I was the chubby kid in the corner. The one who always finished last in races and was often chosen last in team games. And honestly? It sucked. A lot. But through it all, I never gave up on my convictions and ideals. I chose my heart over fitting in, and got shoved around for it. I wouldn’t have had it any other way, though. It earned me a best friend for life, and she’s been at my side encouraging me, supporting me, and reminding me that every step I took mattered. We always looked toward the Knights as something to aspire to, and I thought KC High was my chance to make a difference. To be something other than that chubby kid scared of bees, you know?”
The boy spoke nervously and breathlessly, and Jareth felt a pang of empathy for the kid despite his initial misgivings.
Albert’s eyes glazed over, reminiscing a moment from the past, “But here’s the thing: I obviously didn’t make the cut. Whatever the Guardians use as a criteria, I guess I just wasn’t fast enough, wasn’t strong enough, smart enough, whatever. I wasn’t chosen to be a Magical Knight. But here I am now, in the middle of what feels like an apocalypse, just trying to make a tiny bit of difference with Techtron of all people.”
A genuine, goofy smile broke across his face, easing some of the tension. "I mean, can you believe it? I’m just a regular kid from KC high, first year, and I've ended up working side-by-side with some of the most notorious supervillains in the Northeast. That’s after talking my way out of being turned into their punching bag. Crazy, right?"
His face turned somber again. "I don’t know if I'll make it out today. I'm scared. Really scared. But I'm here, doing my best. This isn’t a speech about optimism. This isn’t me trying to uplift your spirits with some Hollywood-style pep talk. It's about a reality, our reality. A grim one. But even in the darkest of nights, there's a star that shines brightest to us, right? For me, that’s my best friend. She’s a fresh Magical Knight out there, right now, fighting off monsters alongside someone she’d just met. Villains, no less. The feed from Refuge Zeta is being broadcasted live. You can see them in action right now."
The camera feed switched to the harrowing scene at Shelter 2, where two unknown youths were engaged in a fierce battle against the imposing Omega-level threat. The sheer scale of the creature and the ferocity of the battle sent shivers down the spine of every viewer. Each blow exchanged, each spark of magic, each beam of light illuminating the desperate struggle for survival. Jareth’s eyes widened in surprise as he spotted the supervillains Arsenal, Voltage, and Chameleon suddenly join the fray.
Suddenly, the camera feed snapped back to Albert. His eyes were wet, but determination filled them.
"Yeah, that’s her. A freshly minted cadet. One of the Guardians… some kinda black cat found us right as all hell started breaking loose at KC High. She saved my life, but here she is, fighting for hers and all of our lives. She’s contracted and had her powers for a day, and she has no combat training, no idea what she's doing. But she's out there, giving it her all. So, if she can do that, then I can do this. I can swallow my fear of the big scary supervillains for a minute and fight my way to a communications array with Techtron here.”
Tears streamed down his face. "Look, I don't know why Techtron and his pals are helping us. Maybe they're just bored or maybe, just maybe, when push comes to shove, they also don't want to see this city fall. But we can't sit around wondering about motives when we have an actual chance at survival.”
He took a deep breath, steadying himself. "Now, I'm asking for your help. All of you. Not just the Magical Knights, not just the heroes. But everyone. This isn't about superheroes and supervillains anymore. This is about all of us. We need to come together, as one, to protect our city and each other. If an average kid like me can stand up and try, then so can all of you. Just don’t get bitten, you know? Wrap up your hands, put up barricades. Do whatever you can."
His eyes glinted with fire, the strength of his conviction evident in every word. "Find that spark inside you. That little bit of magic that exists in all of us. It doesn't matter if it’s big or small, just light it up and let it shine. Let it guide you through these dark times. Together, we can make a difference. Hope isn’t lost, not yet. I’ll be fighting to the bitter end."
Albert took one last look at the camera, his voice softening, "To my best friend, just… keep fighting. I believe in you. To everyone else, please, help us. Not for me, but for everyone trapped in Refuge Zeta and across the city. For everyone who still believes in the light, even when it feels like it’s been snuffed out. Let's show these monsters that we're not going down without a fight."
The weight of Albert's words was palpable. The Conductor had made countless difficult decisions over the years, but this? This was different. A child was begging for help, for a chance at survival. Was he really prepared to turn a blind eye to Refuge Zeta?
His hand hovered over the console. One press could send reinforcements. One decision could change the tide of battle.
But that would pull the patrol of Knights overseeing the large portal away, leaving a crucial juncture exposed. It was a gamble. Would the city rally in response to Albert’s plea? Would the combination of Magical Knights, supervillains, and empowered citizens be enough to fend off the onslaught?
Suddenly, the Conductor's console lit up with multiple signals. Calls, notifications, messages. Jareth blinked in surprise as the city’s security feeds displayed countless citizens and supervillains coming out of hiding, all ready to rise to the boy’s call.
A mother with her son, holding up a handmade shield, ready to fight. A group of elderly folks, gathered in a protective wall, each holding some form of makeshift weapon as they stabbed over a barricade. Young kids, standing beside their pets, showing off their unique talents, be it a small spark of magic or telekinesis.
The spirit of Kaleidoscope City was alive and burning.
His system suddenly flashed an alert:
[Reality Matrix Stabilized. APOPHIS Event disruption confirmed. Due to heightened levels of localized Dream Energy, all citizens in ZONE 843 possess a heightened resistance to APOPHIS corruption.]
Jareth’s eyes widened as he processed the new information. It seemed that the collective will of the people, their determination to fight, had somehow counteracted the effects of the anomaly in a localized area. The unison of hope, the bonds of determination, and the very spirit of Kaleidoscope City had affected the World System in a way he hadn't thought possible.
The Conductor pressed a button, linking up to every Magical Knight on duty. "This is The Conductor," he began firmly. "We have a situation in Refuge Zeta. I won't order anyone to go, but if you can spare even a moment, even a spell, head there. We need all hands on deck. The situation is stable, but as our young friend has implied, Twilight Aster is down there right now with a freshly contracted rookie. Red Masque and the Nibiru Syndicate have volunteered as enforcers of a Calamity Truce."
He paused, taking a deep breath. "And to every citizen of Kaleidoscope City, heed the words of young Albert. If you can help, in any way, shape, or form, now is the time. This is our city, our home. Let's defend it together."
Jareth then activated another command, directing a significant portion of the base’s autonomous combat systems towards Refuge Zeta. While it wouldn't be enough to eliminate the threat entirely, it would certainly help.
He sat back, taking in the growing flurry of activity on his screens. The city was coming together, proving that in the face of adversity, when pushed to the brink, they would rise as one.
As his last word echoed through the command center, Techtron’s voice crackled again in his earpiece, “Wasn’t so hard, was it?”
Jareth smirked, “Save it, Techtron. Just make sure your end holds.”
A collective roar echoed from the city, a united front against the impending doom.
The Conductor's lips twitched into a faint smile, a sense of hope filling his heart.
Maybe, just maybe, there was a way out of this.