They weren't stopping this thing. They weren't even slowing it down, and it was getting dangerously close to the city. Alex sent an arrow arcing gracefully through a narrow chink in the bot's whirring armor, the explosion blasting a twisted mass of metal into the harbor that Alex hoped had been the thing's kneecap.
"He's getting closer!" he shouted up at Sam, who had him grasped under the shoulders as they dove low beneath a swinging arm, javelins careening into the water all around them like deadly raindrops.
"I am quite aware," Sam droned.
"Drop me off on that roof, he's in range now," Alex said, pointing to a forty story office building on the edge of the water.
"But you're so cute flying together!" the speedster shouted from somewhere around the monster's calf.
"Watch your mouth kid, or you might find an arrow in it," Alex shot back.
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say, Bowman-Zero."
Alex didn't have time to retort because Sam had just dropped him fifteen feet above the office building. He hit the gravel roof with a roll, springing to his feet with an arrow nocked. Sam hovered above him, his emerald green barrier preventing Alex from being skewered while he lined up a shot.
"You know," Sam said with his arms outstretched, "the kid does kind of grow on you."
"Thanks, Robot-Man! But please, call me Sideswipe. It's my superhero name. I'm a superhero."
"If you must call me a silly nickname, call me Novatron. It is my project designation. Also, I retract my previous statement."
"Pshh, lame."
"What kind of name is 'Sideswipe' anyway?" Alex asked as he dove behind an AC unit.
"A way cooler one than Bowman-Zero, that's for sure," Sideswipe said from right behind him, sliding into cover next to Alex.
"You called me that! And how the hell did you get up here so fast?" Alex asked.
"I can fly, didn't you see?"
"Am I seriously the only one who can't fly?" Alex shouted in frustration.
"Relax, I took the stairs," Sideswipe said with a smile. He took off at top speed, spraying Alex with gravel before jumping off the edge of the building. Alex's eye plotted his trajectory and flagged a spike launcher poised to blast him out of the sky. The five foot missiles were already in the air on an intercept course, but Alex's arrow was faster. It collided with the lead spear and detonated in mid air, the shock wave deflecting the projectiles just enough for Sideswipe to snag hold of giant gear on the thing's elbow without getting impaled.
"Hey Nova! Any bright ideas?" Sideswipe shouted while he hacked and sawed at the joint.
"No, but there is a problem," Sam reported.
"What kind of problem?" Alex shouted back.
"Delta Hero is gone," Sam said simply.
"So he's dead?" Sideswipe asked, his voice filled with concern.
"No, he's gone. There was a massive surge in what Delta identified as chronal energy from inside the chest cavity. It's formed some sort cocoon that I cannot see inside of. As far as I can tell, nothing behind the barrier exists."
YOU ARE READING
Wonder World: Ignition
Ficção Científica"In the distance sirens were blaring, but Kyle's eyes were fixed on the faceless figure staring down at him from the burning roof. 'Where are they? Where are my mother and sister?' he shouted, his voice cracking with fear. 'Come and see,' the figure...
