Ed Mercer vs the Invaders: The Giant Awakening

Chapter Six: Freedom for Monsters

Ed Mercer sat cross-legged in his massive cell, staring blankly at the wall in front of him. It had been days since he’d been hit by that meteor, and nothing had been the same since. His life had turned upside down in a matter of minutes—he had been getting ready to start a new chapter, and instead, he was stuck in a secret military facility as some kind of prisoner. They called him "Ginormica" now, a label that felt as ridiculous as it did humiliating.

He sighed, resting his head on his knees, the jumpsuit they’d given him stretching tightly over his gigantic frame. It didn’t matter how hard Dr. Cockroach tried—every experiment to shrink him back to normal size had failed. Each failure made the reality of his situation sink in deeper: he might never go back to being the man he was before.

But today, something was different. There was a buzz of activity outside his cell. Ed’s gaze shifted to the thick, reinforced door, hearing the distant hum of conversation. Then, without warning, the door slid open, revealing General Monger, standing tall with a look of grim determination on his face.

“Mercer,” Monger said, stepping inside. “We need to talk.”

Ed lifted his head, frowning. “What now, General? More tests? Or do you just want to remind me that I’m stuck here forever?”

Monger raised a hand, cutting off Ed’s sarcasm. “Actually, I’m here with a different kind of news. An opportunity.”

Ed’s expression softened slightly. “What kind of opportunity?”

The General's eyes hardened as he crossed his arms. “There's an alien invasion, Mercer. A 350-foot probe is tearing apart San Francisco as we speak. The military can’t stop it—nothing we’ve got is enough. That’s where you come in.”

Ed stared at him, his heart pounding. “Me? You’re joking, right? How am I supposed to fight a giant alien probe? I can barely handle being this size, let alone go up against a weapon of mass destruction.”

“You’re a giant now, Mercer,” Monger said bluntly. “And that means you’re one of the only things on Earth that stands a chance of taking that probe down. You and the other monsters.”

Ed hesitated, glancing down at his massive hands. He had barely come to terms with his new size, let alone figured out how to use it. But before he could voice another protest, Monger continued.

“I’m not asking you to do this out of the goodness of your heart. I’m offering you something in return.”

Ed’s eyes flickered with a trace of hope. “What kind of offer?”

“Your freedom,” Monger said, his voice steady and firm. “If you help us take down that alien probe, you and the others will walk free. No more Area 5?, no more cells. You’ll be free to go back to whatever’s left of your life.”

Ed's heart skipped a beat. He could hardly believe what he was hearing. “You’re serious? You’ll let us go?”

Monger nodded. “As long as you succeed.”

For a moment, Ed didn’t know what to say. The idea of freedom, of being able to see the world again, was almost too much to process. But then the reality of the situation hit him. San Francisco was in danger, and he was one of the only people who could stop the destruction.

“Alright,” Ed said, standing to his full height, towering over Monger. “I’ll do it. But you’d better keep your word, General. If we pull this off, I expect to walk out of here.”

Monger met Ed’s gaze without flinching. “You have my word. You help us stop that probe, and you’re free.”

Ed nodded, his heart racing with a mixture of fear and determination. It wasn’t just about his freedom anymore—it was about stepping up and doing something that mattered. He wasn’t sure if he could stop the probe, but he knew he had to try.

As Monger turned to leave, Ed called after him. “General… what if we fail?”

Monger paused in the doorway, glancing back over his shoulder. “Then, Mercer, the world has bigger problems than you staying here.”

With that, the General left, leaving Ed alone once again. But this time, there was a new sense of purpose burning in his chest. For the first time since this nightmare began, he had a way out. And if it meant saving the world, he would fight with everything he had.

Freedom was within reach. All he had to do was become the hero they needed.