Chapter 3:

Commander’s squadron reassemble!

Chaos Hiro


Laetus:

Flanked by two young men, Laetus seductively sips a fancy cocktail in a swanky bar. She is an attractive, porcelain skinned woman in her 30s, above average height at 5' 8", with a curvy 120lb figure. The cut of her elegant gown displays a pink pentagram tattoo on the left side of her eye-catching, ample bosom. A parasol rests at her side. Of greatest note, her pink eyes and matching hair color mark her as a member of the Magic Alliance. She appears to be very tipsy, and is slurring her southern accented speech. 

Laetus: "You sure are a handsome, virile young man." 

First young man, beaming smile, puffing up his chest: "Yes I certainly am, how astute of you."  

Second young man: "Hey wait, what about me? I'm the one who said we should walk over and sit down with you." 

Laetus, turning towards him, "Don't get yourself in a tizzy, you're a cutie pie too." 

Young men simultaneously: "Wow, you're so nice, you remind me of my mom." 

Laetus, losing it: "Your mom. Your mom. INSOLENCE!"  

Raising her arms above her head, her hair stands on end, and a pink aura surrounds her as she starts chanting. Both men angle back in their seats with looks of terror on their faces as a fire ball manifests in between her two outstretched hands. Just as she brings her arms back in preparation to release the fireball, she appears to be in two places at once, and vanishes ... reappearing elsewhere as she releases her fireball. 

Dulcia:

Several individuals are pursuing a blue-haired, blue-eyed woman – the blue marking her as a member of the Psychic Alliance – in a black leather body suit over city rooftops at night. In her 30s, at 5' 6" tall and 105 pounds, she would seem easy prey. Her lightly tanned skin is unmarked, except for the image of a thorned blue rose at the nape of her neck. Although she is being pursued, the corners of Dulcia's mouth are turned up, in a simper she reserves for inferior opponents. Given Dulcia's intellectual fervor for studying all aspects of the mind, you'd rightfully be surprised by her aggressive physicality, powered by the lithe physique she has honed. If asked her about her fitness regimen, she will go on at length about the mind-body connection. 

Pursuer #1, hungrily: "Take her alive." 

Dulcia is enveloped in a blue aura as she closes her eyes momentarily while leaping over to the next rooftop: "One. Two. Three. Four. Five."  

She counts to herself as she visualizes her pursuers, each garbed in a white lab coat. A somersault through the air terminates in a perfect landing on the next rooftop, her eyes open and she continues running. Suddenly, she stops at the far end of the roof. Turning to face her pursuers – who have used explosive charges in their shoes to propel themselves onto the roof – she removes her black leather gloves.    

Dulcia spontaneously bursts out into loud song as she pirouettes:  

"The end is near 

I will drink in your fear 

Grovel at my feet 

As I savor your defeat" 

She cartwheels out to the closest on the five pursuers and briefly brushes her hand against his.  

Pursuer #4: "Ha, you foolish woman. Was that supposed to intimidate me?!" 

He pulls out a stun stick from his lab coat, striking and sending a shock through Dulcia, who collapses to the ground.  

Pursuer #1: "Well done #4, our client will be pleased. She wasn't much trouble after all." 

The five pursuers converge around her. As they hover above her, she abruptly sits up touching pursuers 1,2,3, and 5 in turn — using her left hand saying "pleasure", using her right hand saying "pain", using left her hand saying "pleasure", using her right hand saying "pain". Each of these four drop to their knees, then collapse onto the ground writhing, drool dripping down their mouths. The 'pleasure' duo moan with hysterical expressions of pleasure/madness, while the 'pain' duo howl with horrified expressions of anguish. Meanwhile, Pursuer #4's eyes appear glazed over and completely white. 

Pursuer #4, with eager countenance: "Did I do well mistress? I did as you instructed and pretended to capture you. May I receive my reward now?" Dulcia flicks her left hand in his direction in dismissal.  

Pursuer #4: "Praise you mistress, I'm so relieved." 

Smiling senselessly, he proceeds to walk toward and then over the edge of the roof, his gait continuing till impact with the ground below. Dulcia bursts into song and stretches her hands up high into a 'V' formation as she appears to be in two places at once and then disappears:  

"Victory is mine 

The taste of it sublime 

Grovel at my feet 

You insolent freaks!" 

Ali:

An unusual sight, a man in formal butler attire steps out of a helicopter onto a flat, empty plain. Appearing to be in his 60s being of average height and build, with hair neatly cropped and combed to one side, sporting a trimmed mustache, he would be considered ordinary, but for a couple of aspects. His hair and eye color are a distinct metallic silver, not attributed to age, but to membership in the Technology Alliance. Also, just above his collar, a serial number is emblazoned upon the back of his neck. As befits a butler, his posture is overly stiff. Ali however, is not a butler. 

Ali: "General, I beg your pardon, but I cannot reconcile my current circumstance. Where is the technology conference I was invited to attend?" 

General, as the copter takes off leaving Ali alone on the field: "Don't worry about that Ali, the conference is coming to you." 

A HUD appears in Ali's view, showing multiple red bogeys on land and air approaching him. 

Ali: "Detecting multiple hostiles. I am beginning to suspect ulterior motives."  

A silver aura envelops Ali as he starts running at an increasingly quick pace, ultimately faster than humanly possible.  

Ali: "Incoming fire. Simulating projected impact points and compensating." 

Ali side steps incoming ammunition rounds, leaps vertically up, lands on and pushes off an incoming rocket.  

Ali: "Current configuration insufficient to counter threat ... compensating".  

As Ali's form flows into a multi-turreted tank, the tone of his voice takes on a robotic emotionless quality: "Targets acquired, lethal force required, firing."  

Laser, machine gun, cannon, and rockets all fire at once from Ali – multiple targets are devastated by the impacts.  

Ali: "Countermeasures effective, one enemy remaining." 

The view shifts to the helicopter circling above with the general in it.  

General, face astonished: "No, no, this is all a misunderstanding. It was just a simple test. We're friends, right Ali?"  

Ali: "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush." 

General, sputtering: "What does that have to do with anything?" 

Ali: "I don't know, ask a human. Prepare to die." 

Ali's weapons systems start activating in preparation to fire. Just then, he appears to be in two places at once and then disappears. 

Ordo:  

A dark complexioned, physically fit male in his 50s, attired in an exquisite navy business suit, white shirt, and red tie addresses tens of thousands of spectators. If you draw a centered, dividing line from his head to his feet, each side is a mirror reflection of the other, radiating perfect symmetry. A commanding presence of competence and control emanates from him. This is unsurprising, as his black hair and eyes mark him as a member of the Order Alliance. Usually 6' tall, weighing 180lbs., today Ordo is projected as a thousand-foot massive holographic figure. Being a projection, he is essentially weightless. 

Ordo: "Although newly acquired, this planetary continent of the Orion corporation is hideously disfigured by its asymmetry" – a satellite view shows an irregularly shaped continent – "the power of purity can and will impose order on it. Behold!" 

A black aura surrounds him as an ecstatic expression takes over, initiating space satellite laser fire and detonations of embedded tectonic plate explosives. Continental shelves cascade into the ocean, while volcanos erupt out of the ocean in other areas, transforming the land mass into a circular continent.  

Ordos, as he raises his hands up: "Glorious!" 

He appears to be in two places at once as the tectonic shocks/rumbling of the continent envelop him as he disappears. 

Chao:  

Chao, dressed casually in brightly colored belted shorts, t-shirt, and flip flops has climbed into a tree within a tropical setting. He's an old guy, so not that attractive – thin build, 5'6" tall, bald on top with what remains of his hair pulled back into a ponytail, and a few days growth of beard. Oh, Chao's a member of the Quantum Alliance, so his hair and eye color are purple. He giggles and talks to himself as he positions himself for the peak peek into the women's outdoor bath.  

Chao, as he settles into his perch: "Almost there. I tell ya, I'm still as spry as a baby." 

Down below, several women are in repose, chatting amongst themselves.  

Chao, cackling: "Here we go, this is going to be good, heeheehee."  

Unfortunately for Chao, one of his feet slip, making a squishing sound, alerting the women below who respond by gazing upward.  

First woman: "Hey, who's there?" 

Second woman: "Ack! It's a creepy pervert up in that tree." 

Several women collectively: "Police, arrest the pervert!" 

Chao, sputtering: "No, no, you've got it all wrong. I'm just doing a little research." 

The women cover their chests with one arm, and use their other arm to pelt Chao with heated stones. A purple aura envelops Chao as he forms the mental image of a chained timepiece with slowing arms, causing the hurled stones' velocity to slow as well. This quantum action allows Chao to improbably dodge the avalanche of hurled stones, at least until he loses his footing, resulting in an inglorious bottom first splash landing into the midst of the angry female bathers, who then converge on him. 

As they are almost upon him, Chao flails his arms above his head screeching "ahhhhhhh, nooo, don't!" Suddenly, he appears to be in two places at once, then vanishes. 

Let's all rematerialize simultaneously:

Laetus releases her fireball, striking the wailing, flailing Chao –  who is fortunately dripping wet – so the fireball evaporates the water, drying him in a puff of vapor. Dulcia is singing her verse, and the earthquake rumble comes through, shaking the room as Ordo appears. Without hesitation, the Commander leaps out as Ali manifests in full onslaught mode, striking several panels of his armor, then steps back. Ali's pre-launch sequence aborts as he morphs back into his butler form. 

Commander: "Enough already you morons!"  

The five others take in their new surroundings – looks like an empty warehouse – surprise on their faces, and turn toward the Commander. Surprise shifts to recognition, and they all kneel before him, bowing their heads. In unison, they shout: "Commander Sir!" 

Commander: "That's better. We haven't seen each other since the Chaos war, and I'm glad to see you're all still in one piece. There's something you need to see ..." 

They Commander halts as they all start talking at once. 

Dulcia, glaring at Laetus: "What is that trollop doing here!?" 

Laetus: "Me, what about you, you flat chested ironing board!?"  

Roaring, they fling themselves, tearing at each other. 

Chao, Ali, and Ordo turn toward each other in welcoming. 

Chao: "So honored to see you again Master Ali and Master Ordo." 

Ali: "Please forgive my rude entrance masters Chao and Ordo. It's a pleasure to be in your distinguished company once again." 

Ordo: "So delightful to be back together once again friends." 

Commander's face is getting more impatient with each second. He executes a lightning round of chops to the tops of each of their heads resulting in bumps rising, and each one rubbing their head. 

Commander, who is back in his original spot: "As I was saying, there's something you need to see."  

A projection of the Commander training young Hiro in swordplay commences. Initially there is nothing special of note, but then the Commander knocks off Hiro's cap with a swing of his wooden sword, Hiro's hair spills out, transforming from brown to rainbow. A look of astonished awe blooms on their faces. 

Commander: "We have a unique opportunity to rectify a past wrong, and preserve all of existence while we're at it." 

-june-
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