When he finally calmed down, it started to stick out to SteelStar just how high up they were. He could actually see the curvature of the earth from up here, like looking at the ground through a gigantic fish eyed lens. Frost still accumulated on their skin and their costumes, and both had to wipe it from their eyes periodically. Looking down, it was hard to spot U.H.E. headquarters, little more than a speck in the distance, but at least he didn’t see any craters.

SteelStar turned his metal face to Paramount, who made a waving motion downwards. SteelStar nodded, and followed the elder superhero down, the wind rushing past as they flew back towards the city.

Briefly, it crossed SteelStar’s mind that Paramount hadn’t contacted him telepathically. That confirmed something that SteelStar’s father had told him. Telepathic signals could be blocked by running electric currents through metal, which mean that MagKnight, when wearing his armor, and SteelStar, in his metal form, were both immune to telepathy, so long as they didn’t run out of energy. Without many telepaths to test this one, SteelStar had only been aware of this in theory, but since this would have been the best option for Paramount to use it, the fact that he didn’t only confirmed what dad had told him.

It was something SteelStar intended to keep in mind.

Once they got down far enough, Paramount finally took a breath.

“Good work, SteelStar,” said the elder superhero. “I don’t sense any signs that people died down there. We did it.”

Thank goodness, thought SteelStar.

Paramount continued, “When I got out of the creature’s range, it opened a short window for me to locate Black Ash. I’ll go after him, and you go after Speedclaw. It should be easy to isolate the electromagnetic signature of something moving that fast.

“Roger that,” said SteelStar.

###

Demigoddess, after a few minutes of stirring, finally snapped awake to find herself sitting in Speedshock’s lap in the Wraithjet. Speedshock, for his part, didn’t seem too happy that she was awake now.

“What am I doing here?” she asked Angrily.

“You passed out,” said Speedshock.

“What happened?”

“Paramount and SteelStar stopped the bomb.”

What? That little twerp saved the day instead of her? Demigoddess clenched her teeth.

“How long till we land?” she asked.

“Not sure,” said Speedshock. “It’s Silent’s ship, and it’s on autopilot. I can’t imagine it will be too long.”

She narrowed her eyes as she looked down, noting that she was still sitting in his lap.

“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” she accused.

“Not really,” Speedshock answered, looking away.

Demigoddess fumed for a moment. “Why? Am I not good enough for you?”

Speedshock groaned.

###

Speedclaw was done with this. He wasn’t going to say it out loud, and certainly not into his communicator, but he was done with Gaia-born. He’d get revenge of the people of Earth by himself. All he needed from Black Ash was to keep that branch up in the air just long enough for him to finish running down it.

And the moment Speedclaw reached the ground, the branch severed, the part above ground falling dead while the part below ground slithered downward. As Speedclaw fled down the road, the dead branch fell on the road, shattering into thousands of splinters.

High above, SteelStar picked out Speedclaw’s electromagnetic signature easily, just like Paramount said. It helped that most of the city was still taking refuge in locked down buildings, but even if the streets were full, a living thing moving that fast would stand out. While Speedclaw was technically a little faster, SteelStar was able to catch up by flying over the buildings whenever Speedclaw had to go around one.

SteelStar concentrated. He had trouble hitting Speedshock when they trained earlier, but at least now the metal superhero had the element of surprise. If he could knock Speedclaw out before the villain noticed him, that would make things a lot easier.

You can do this, SteelStar told himself.

SteelStar kept buildings between himself and Speedclaw, tracking him using his electric senses. SteelStar waited for the right opportunity, as he’d only have one shot at this. He pulled ahead of Speedclaw, just a little, then banked right around a building. The moment Speedclaw came into view, SteelStar unleashed his electricity as spread out as he could.

Speedclaw, surprised, tried to bank right and dodge, but was caught just on the edge of the lightning spread. The feline superhero growled as he as the lightning knocked him down to roll across the pavement before stopping in the nearby sidewalk.

SteelStar flew down and landed next to him, kneeling to check the alien’s pulse. Speedclaw was still alive but was unconscious. SteelStar nodded, grateful that this capture had gone smoothly. Quickly, he picked up the sleeping cat, threw him over his shoulder, and flew away to take Speedclaw to a holding cell.

###

Black Ash fled down the tunnel as fast as he could, his tree trunk feet crashing on the ground. The psychic bird he’d been using to suppress Paramount lay on his shoulder, claws digging into the wood. Paramount was coming, and though the Psychic bird would make it difficult to track him the closer he got, Black Ash had sensed the superhero’s touch on his mind. Paramount knew generally where he was. It was only a matter of time before he found him.

They’d failed, but the black tree man had one more trick up his sleeve, one final plan he could resort to. It would be costly, but at least he’d be remembered as a hero to Gaia-born, striking a blow for mother nature.

He fled down a tunnel that one of Biomaster’s worms had made for him. He was exhausted by now, but he ultimately reached the spot, coming out into another warehouse like the first one they’d tried to use. Rows and rows of devices that Black Ash didn’t recognize filled the room, but he didn’t care. What concerned him was the fact that U.H.E. personnel had already evacuated. At this location, however, Black Ash should at least kill some of the superheroes nearby, and the loss of the building would be a huge blow in of itself. With a deep breath, Black Ash reached into his chest and pulled something out.

Suddenly there was a blue light from down the tunnel and the psychic bird was knocked off Black Ash’s shoulder. The creature fell to the ground as Black Ash turned back, his eyes alert. Paramount stood at the end of the tunnel, his arms crossed and his face stern, a residual glow on his forehead from the brain blast he’d just shot. The bird now lay on the floor, motionless.

“I think it’s time we end this nonsense,” said Paramount.

Before Black Ash could respond, Paramount saw what Black Ash had pulled out of his chest. It was a detonator, and a wooden thumb stood over the detonation button. Paramount hadn’t expected this, but it seemed Black Ash was keeping a bomb inside his body, and he was right inside U.H.E. headquarters.

Paramount considered his options. He could only use telepathy to make someone sleep through physical contact, which meant closing the distance. The problem was that Black Ash would need less than a second to activate the detonator. The kind of speed Paramount would need to cross the distance before Black Ash could press that button would generate enough momentum to damage the bomb. Not even taking the detonator was an option under those parameters. If Paramount wanted to stop him without detonating the inevitable Tholatite warhead himself, he only had one option, and judging by the look in Black Ash’s eye, he knew what that was.

Paramount shook his head. “Don’t to it.”

Black Ash’s thumb started pressing the button.

Paramount unleashed a blast from his forehead that widened, forming a deadly ring of energy that blasted away Black Ash’s head and limbs, leaving the torso intact. Flying forward using only as much speed as was absolutely necessary, Paramount was able to catch the wooden torso with the bomb inside it, his hands inches away from the floor. The bomb, thankfully, didn’t explode as he lifted it up.

The cost, however, was that most of Black Ash now lay in wooden pieces in the warehouse. Paramount never enjoyed having to do this, but a man who was this willing to end his own life just to destroy his enemies was dangerous. Paramount sighed, taking a deep breath.

If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

###

Sister Nature woke up with a start, her arms and legs bound to a chair as she wore a hospital gown. Without her mask, she proved to be a young woman, not much older than eighteen, with piercing green eyes, short blonde hair, and a permanent scowl on her face.

Feeling a sharp pain in her arm, she realized she was connected to some sort of IV drip. It only took a few seconds to realize that whatever they were pumping into her system was preventing her from using her powers. Her vision was blurry at first, but slowly she began to see her surroundings.

She found herself in a holding cell, almost every surface made of steel. Only the door had near indestructible glass so guards could look inside. As her vision continued to clear, she realized that she wasn’t alone.

Animage sat in front of her on the opposite side of the glass, enigmatic in her red robes and cloth mask. Sitting just within the glass was a giant lizard, a Komodo dragon, or so Sister Nature thought. Sister Nature, feeling nauseous, glared at the superhero.

“Sister Nature,” said Animage. “Or…well…outside of your mask, I should probably call you by your real name. Isn’t that right? Rachel Sorella?”

“What is this?” the supervillainess named Rachel demanded.

“I’m here to make a point, Rachel,” said Animage. “You seem to have some childish ideas about the natural world. I’m here to disabuse you of these ridiculous notions.”

“What?” asked Sister Nature. “By controlling an animal to attack me? What will that prove? Nothing about me, certainly. All it will prove is what you prove every time you use your abominable power. You make poor, helpless animals your slaves.”

Animage chuckled, “I had a feeling you’d say something like that, so I came prepared.”

The robed superhero brought something out from behind her, a metal helmet with some electronic controls.

“Do you know what this is?” asked Animage.

Rachel frowned, “A telepathic suppressor?”

“Correct. And do you know what happens when you put one of these on a telepath with mental control?”

Rachel narrowed her eyes, “Anyone they’re controlling reverts to the mental state they were in when the mind control began.”

“Good,” said Animage. “That makes this so much easier.”

Animage places the helmet on her head and pressed a switch, turning it on. Immediately the Komodo dragon turned and started stalking towards Rachel Sorella, who’s eyes went wide with fear.

“What are you doing?” she demanded as the lizard came closer. “What are you doing? No…stop! Stop! Stop!”

Rachel, bound as she was, made a futile effort to escape. Animage turned off the helmet and the lizard stopped in its tracks. Rachel stared at it, wide eyed with fear.

“I’m sorry, what was that?” asked Animage. “You want me to use my powers on this lizard? Make it my slave with my abominable power?”

Rachel looked back and forward between Animage and the lizard, speechless.

Animage took off the helmet, “It’s quite simple, Sister Nature. Nature is cruel. Most of the kindness you see in the animal kingdom comes from the intervention of humans, a curated view showing only the cute and cuddly on internet videos. I promise you this. Oh, you’ll find exceptions of animals taking care of young that isn’t their own, but it’s so exceedingly rare as to be irrelevant. The vast majority of predators only show kindness to other animals when they’re well fed in their cages.

“If you still don’t believe me after this display, try living in a dangerous wilderness. Africa, Asia, and Australia all have dangerous animals that wouldn’t think twice about gobbling you up. Just something to think about. The natural world you hold in such high regard is cruel and indifferent. Mark my words.”

Animage pressed a button in the wall, and the glass lowered into the floor. The lizard turned back, walked out of the holding cell, and Animage pressed a button to pull the glass back up. Rachel Sorella, otherwise known as Sister Nature, was left breathing heavily, her entire body trembling.

###

The news reported on the events within the following hours.

The plane that had been turtling towards the United Heroes of Earth headquarters detonated several miles above Washington D.C., and no civilians were harmed. Both Sister Nature and Speedclaw were captured alive. Black Ash attempted to detonate a third bomb in U.H.E. headquarters but was stopped by Paramount with lethal force, resulting in Black Ash’s death. Biomaster is nowhere to be found.

At the Hammerhead News Network, Patrick Powell reported on the events.

“First a giant electric blast goes off a the U.H.E., and then a Tholatite bomb nearly destroys the city?” asked Patrick incredulously. “They really couldn’t have stopped the bomb? We’re lucky falling debris didn’t get someone killed.”

On the other side of town, Karen Carlyle reported on the events as well on her network, The Envoy.

“Paramount and SteelStar successfully held the plane above the city, preventing the ensuing explosion from causing any harm. Fortunately, Tholatite explosions completely vaporize their targets, so there was no debris from the plane to cause any harm.”

As the city steadily ended the lockdown, blast doors opening and people leaving the buildings to get back to their business, most were grateful to be alive, though some still found measure to complain.

It didn’t take long for the protest of SteelStar to return to U.H.E. headquarters.

###

SteelStar, in his grey skinned organic form, stood still, looking out a window at the protesters in the distance. People held up signs, shouted, and waved their fists, anger written all over their faces. Crossing his arms irritably, he sighed. SteelStar had just helped save U.H.E. headquarters from yet another Tholatite bomb. Couldn’t they get off his back for just one day? There had to be a way to convince them of the truth, but any time SteelStar did speak up, people like this never listened.

SteelStar stepped away from the window and rested his back against the wall, taking a deep breath. He was getting real tired of putting up with this sort of thing. He took a deep breath, just wishing he had the power to turn back time and do that day differently.

“Hurts, doesn’t it?”

SteelStar groaned, “What do you want, Demigoddess?”

Demigoddess stood further down the hallway, smirking as she held her hands on her hips.

“Oh,” she said, picking her hand up and examining her nail polish. “I’m just wondering why you even bother trying.”

SteelStar narrowed his eyes. She was up to something, and he knew it.

“Why? Because everyone hates me?” SteelStar asked. “I’m here to help people who can’t help themselves. Not everything is about me, a concept you wouldn’t understand, I’m sure.”

Demigoddess had to resist the urge to lash out. Luckily for her, she saw SteelStar clenching his fists, a fact that Demigoddess noted with satisfaction. If word got out that she spent that battle unconscious it would be humiliating, but she could turn things around. All she had to do was blame SteelStar for attacking her, just like with Elementus.

Those protesters would eat him for breakfast.

“Oh, but this is all about you, isn’t it?” said Demigoddess mocked. “That’s why everyone’s here. Everyone can’t fathom why Paramount would want to work with a hero killer.”

“Don’t call me that!” SteelStar snapped, moving away from the wall, and approaching her angrily.

Demigoddess had to resist the urge to laugh. “Why not? It’s true isn’t it. You murdered a superhero, a man loved by everyone.”

“I had no choice,” said SteelStar.

As SteelStar approached, Demigoddess circled him until she was between him and the wall. Any moment now.

The moment she stopped, SteelStar noticed her position. Thinking about what she did to Elementus, it became clear what she was about to do. On top of that, SteelStar noticed a concerning electromagnetic signature tucked behind her into her belt. With that in mind, SteelStar thought quickly about how he would handle this. If he played his cards right, then this wouldn’t go the way she thought it would.

“I know what you’re doing,” said SteelStar.

Demigoddess just smirked. “And what am I doing?”

“Putting on a show.”

The woman tilted her head. “A show?”

“You don’t care about being a superhero. You only care about looking like one.”

“Who? Me?” said Demigoddess in mock innocence, putting her hand on her heart. “I’m as pure as the driven snow. You should know. I saw you staring at me before, you know.”

SteelStar rolled his eyes. “I was just wondering how someone could be bored when people’s lives were at stake.”

Demigoddess laughed. “Oh, don’t lie to me. I’m hot and you know it.”

“Sure,” said SteelStar. “Hot as the sun and filled with as much gas.”

Demigoddess slapped him.

SteelStar was only surprised by this for a moment. Though tempted to turn metal, she hadn’t used her power, so he knew she was trying to provoke him. SteelStar, his cheek stinging, looked her right in the eye and said the most condescending thing he could think of.

“Feel better now?”

Demigoddess maintained her smirk, but SteelStar could see her eye twitching.

“No?” asked SteelStar. “Then I guess hitting me was pointless, wasn’t it?”

She slapped him again, but he was more prepared for it this time and just smirked.

“You sure you’re a power user?” he asked mockingly.

She slapped him one more time.

They stood in silence for a moment, and by now, Demigoddess looked truly miffed. SteelStar just kept smirking.

“Are you done yet?” he asked. “Or are you not done throwing a temper tantrum like a child?”

Demigoddess clenched her teeth, clenched her fists, and let her eye twitch. After a moment, however, she sighed.

Oh well, she thought, it’s not like they’ll believe him over me anyway.

Smirking, she unleashed kinetic energy from her feet, blasting herself back. She prepared to blast through the wall with more kinetic energy. She felt the energy hit the wall, a loud bong echoing through the hallway.

But he wall stopped her, and she fell to the floor. Sitting up, surprised, she looked up to see a dent in the wall, but she hadn’t gone through. Demigoddess sat there in confusion for a moment, until she realized that SteelStar was laughing at her.

“What are you…” she said, but she was cut off by a blast door dropping before the window. Soon an alarm started going off.

Demigoddess stood up. “What’s going on?”

“You damaged the wall,” said SteelStar, the alarm blaring in the background. “A wall reinforced with titanium and filled with sensors. This is U.H.E. headquarters, Demigoddess. It may not be able to take a Tholatite explosion, but it’s more durable than the brick wall in the parking lot. This place often houses the most superheroes in the world, so it’s locked down harder than Fort Knox, and you just triggered the alarm by damaging the walls. Not only that, but you were caught on camera doing so after hitting me three times.”

Demigoddess looked up at a camera in the corner, nervously.

“Doesn’t look good for you, does it?” asked SteelStar.

Demigoddess tried to pull the object from behind her back, but SteelStar raised his hands on pulled on it with magnetism.

“Hey!” cried Demigoddess as it flew out of her hand.

SteelStar caught it, and it turned out to be a phone, just as SteelStar suspected.

“Gonna go whine to your fans about how the mean metal man is picking on you?” asked SteelStar mockingly. “Not a chance. The first thing they’re seeing is that footage from those cameras.”

Demigoddess clenched her fists. “You can’t just take my phone.”

“You damaged U.H.E. property,” said SteelStar, smirking. “After assaulting a superhero. I’m confiscating your phone as evidence.”

Demigoddess screamed and leapt at him, but SteelStar quickly turned to metal and flew into the air, dodging her easily. When she landed, she tried to leap at him again, he dodged again, her face contorted with rage. The alarm kept blaring as she made a futile effort to catch him in midair.

As SteelStar dodged her, another figure entered the room. Moving slowly, this new figure flew close and waited for Demigoddess to land. The moment she did he, very gently, put his fingers on her forehead from behind.

SteelStar looked down to see Paramount behind Demigoddess, his fingers on her temples as her eyes grew wide with shock. Using his only form of control telepathy, Paramount made Demigoddess fall asleep, catching her as she fell.

As Paramount held a now unconscious Demigoddess, he looked up at SteelStar and said, “Read her mind. Saw what happened. The press is going to have a field day with this.”

SteelStar grinned.