Ed Mercer vs the Invaders: The Giant Awakening

chapter eleven: Countdown to Destruction

The ship rumbled violently, alarms blaring and flashing red lights casting the entire interior in a flickering crimson hue. Ed Mercer and the monsters had fought their way through Gallaxhar's clone army, and Dr. Cockroach had initiated the self-destruct sequence. Now, they were racing against time to escape the doomed alien vessel.

As they bolted for the exit, an unexpected, loud clang echoed through the corridor. A heavy blast door slammed shut, trapping everyone—except Ed—on the wrong side. He stood frozen, watching his friends through the thick glass, separated from him by the massive door.

"Ed, you've gotta go! There's no time!" Link shouted, panic clear in his voice as he slammed his fists against the door in desperation.

Dr. Cockroach was frantically typing into the control panel beside the door, his eyes wide with realization. "It's no use, Mercer! The system's overridden—this door won't open! We're stuck!"

B.O.B. flattened himself against the door, his gelatinous body pressing into the cracks. "Ed, buddy! Just go! We'll catch up... uh, somehow?"

Gordon and Darulio, still adjusting to the chaos, stood beside the monsters, exchanging worried glances. "Ed!" Darulio called out. "You've got to save yourself. We'll figure something out."

But Ed shook his head, panic and determination written all over his face. He wasn't about to leave his friends behind—not after everything they'd been through. "I'm not leaving without you guys! We're getting out of here together!"

Ignoring their pleas for him to save himself, Ed spun on his heels and sprinted back into the ship. He had only one choice left—he had to confront Gallaxhar, the one person who might be able to stop the self-destruct sequence and free his friends.

In the command bay, Galaxhar was busy barking orders to his remaining clones. The alien overlord's escape pod was primed and ready to launch, but Ed wasn't going to let him get away so easily.

Just as Galaxhar was about to step into his pod, Ed burst into the room, out of breath but filled with determination.

"Galaxhar!" Ed bellowed, his voice echoing through the chamber. "You're not getting away with this!"

Galaxhar turned slowly, his expression one of mild amusement. "Ah, Mercer. You're as persistent as you are foolish."

Ed stepped forward, standing tall despite the chaos. "Stop the self-destruct sequence. You don't have to do this!"

Galaxhar chuckled darkly, stepping out of his pod and addressing Ed with a sneer. "Do you honestly think I would stop it? The destruction of this ship, of you, and your friends is inevitable. And it's all part of the plan."

Ed glared at him, fists clenched. "Why?! Why destroy Earth and kill millions? What's the point?"

Gallaxhar's eyes gleamed with wicked satisfaction. "Oh, Mercer, you simple creature. This was never about Earth. It was about the Quantonium—and about power. You were just an obstacle. And now, you're nothing more than a failed experiment."

Stepping closer, Gallaxhar's sneer deepened. "In the end, you're still just... Ed."

That single word, spoken with such dismissive disdain, stoked a fire in Ed's chest. He had been underestimated, belittled, and cast aside for too long. Not anymore.

"No," Ed said through gritted teeth, taking a step forward. "I'm not just 'Ed.' I'm stronger than you think—and I won't let you destroy everything I care about."

In a flash, Ed lunged at Galaxhar, grabbing him by the front of his robes and slamming him into the wall. Gallaxhar grunted in surprise but quickly recovered, sneering even as Ed held him captive.

"You can't stop the self-destruct, Mercer!" Gallaxhar taunted, voice strained under Ed's grip. "It's irreversible. You've already lost!"

"I might not be able to stop it," Ed growled, his face inches from Gallaxhar's. "But I can stop you."

With a roar, Ed threw Gallaxhar across the room, sending him crashing into the control console. Gallaxhar struggled to his feet, coughing and disoriented, but the damage had been done.

The countdown continued, and the ship's shaking intensified. Ed knew he didn't have much time. Leaving Gallaxhar to scramble back toward his escape pod, Ed rushed out of the room, racing back to the others.

In the hangar, Dr. Cockroach was still frantically working on the door controls, but the system was too far gone. Gordon and Darulio stood nearby, their faces pale with worry, while Link and B.O.B. alternated between pacing and shouting encouragement to Ed, hoping he'd make it back in time.

Suddenly, the door hissed open.

"Ed!" B.O.B. cheered, his jelly-like body bouncing with excitement. "You're back!"

Ed rushed to the control panel. "I couldn't stop Gallaxhar. The self-destruct is still going, but we've got to find a way out of here."

"There is no way," Dr. Cockroach said grimly, gesturing to the sealed doors around them. "We're trapped."

The ship's violent tremors shook the floor beneath them, and the sound of the countdown ticking toward zero was deafening. The end was near, and there was no clear escape.

Before anyone could react, another blast door slammed down, trapping Ed in the corridor outside the hangar, with the monsters and his friends locked inside.

"Ed!" Gordon yelled, pounding on the glass. "You've got to save yourself! Go now!"

Ed looked through the small window, his heart pounding in his chest as he saw his friends—the people he cared about most—pleading for him to leave. But he couldn't abandon them. Not after everything they had gone through together.

"I can't!" Ed shouted, tears welling in his eyes. "I'm not leaving you behind!"

"You don't have a choice!" Link shouted from behind the glass. "Go, Ed! We'll figure something out. We always do!"

Darulio's voice cracked with emotion. "Please, Ed... just go. Save yourself."

With his heart heavy, Ed made his decision. He would find Gallaxhar—one last time. There had to be another way.

Racing through the crumbling corridors of the ship, Ed found Gallaxhar already preparing to flee, still smug and satisfied despite the chaos.

"Mercer, still trying to play the hero?" Gallaxhar sneered as he and his clones climbed into escape pods. "It's over."

Ed grabbed Gallaxhar, yanking him away from the pods. "Cancel the self-destruct!"

Gallaxhar laughed, taunting him with a smirk. "I told you, Mercer—there's no stopping it now."

Ed glared down at him, his fists shaking. Gallaxhar had won this round, but Ed wasn't going to let him escape so easily.

Time was running out. The ship trembled violently as the countdown to destruction ticked ever closer to zero.