“What the hell is that thing?” Jemima asked as she and Hariot watched the rampaging colossus tear down the street.

“That would be Babbage.” Hariot said. “He’s kind of like the Clockwork King’s bodyguard.” she told Jemima.

“Is anything going to be able to stop it?” Jemima asked, and turned away from a particularly brutal hero slaughtering, burying her face into Hariot’s body.

“Well, we have to try.” came a voice from behind them.

The pair turned to see Sue Radiance standing in a group of heroes on the rooftop they were standing on.

“It’s good to see you again Sue.” Jemima said with a smile, recalling how nice the woman had been to her when she had first registered to become a hero.

“Likewise Wet Lynn.” Sue said with a smile to match Jemima’s.

“I don’t believe we’ve met yet.” Hariot said. “I’m Half-Life Hariot.” she said.

“Sue Radiance.” Sue greeted. “These are the members of my team,” she said and pointed each member out.

“This is Fire Water,” Sue said, pointing to a buxom red skinned cowgirl.”

“Final Flame.” she said, pointing to a female dressed in robotic looking armor adorned with air brushed flames on it.

“And finally Ryver.” she said and pointed to a teenage girl wearing a bodysuit that was covered with neon blue curcuitry. “We’re the ‘Heroes of Tomorrow’.” she said.

“Well, you guys certainly look formidable.” Jemima said with a wide smile.

Sue nodded, “You ladies are welcome to join us and help out.” she said.

“I don’t kn-” Hariot started.

“We’re in!” Jemima blurted out, interrupting Hariot.

“Then let’s do this!” Sue said, taking to the air with Final Flame trailing behind her. Ryver’s suit began to crackle with electricity and she ran to the edge of the building and leapt off toward the battle. Fire Water created a lasso out of fire she conjured from her hands and roped a gargoyle statue on a nearby building and swung off the rooftop.

“I hope you know what you’re doing.” Hariot said as she picked Jemima up and flew them toward the fight.

“Me too.” Jemima said quietly to herself as they began to close in on where Babbage was rampaging.

Babbage smashed into a building as he took a swing at a hero flying near him like an insect in front of a person. The hero dove under the massive fist and blasted at Babbage with a sheet of ice. The giant stood strong against the attack, and smashed the hero between his hands.

Fire Water took her opportunity and lassoed Babbage’s hands at the wrist with her flaming rope. Ryver flew closer and shot at Babbage with a bolt of electricity, sending the titan staggering backward. Fire Water was pulled forward when Babbage went back, she tightened her grip on her fire rope and tugged hard to keep her hold on the behemoth. Babbage recovered quickly, and with a flick of his arms, lifted Fire Water into the air, and swung her into the side of a nearby building.

“No!” Ryver yelled as she watched the murder of her teammate. Fighting back the tears, Ryver summoned a massive electrical blast that lifted Babbage off the ground and sent him crashing into the building behind him.

“And stay down ” Ryver spat.

Her victory was short lived however as a mechanical tendril came out from the building and wrapped around her, pinning her arms at her sides. Babbage rose from the building and began retracting the tendril he’d sent out. Ryver fought against her bonds, but was unsuccessful. Just as she started to fear the worst a blast of white energy came from above and melted through the tendril, allowing Ryver to regain her mobility.

“You ok?” Sue called out to her teammate.

Ryver nodded and sent another blast of electricity to Babbage’s chest. The blast was not enough to keep him down, as he rose and hurled a car sized chunk of concrete at the cybernetic defender, she only had a split second to think of all she’d done to help the city before the projectile smashed into her, killing her instantly.

Sue flew upward and away from the carnage, she saw Final Flame laying beaten and bloody on a nearby rooftop, surrounded by a dozen or so Clockwork minions, that were blasting her lifeless body with bolts of electricity.

“So much for safety in numbers.” Hariot thought as she neared the carnage.

Jemima looked up at her, “Let me go.” she said.

Hariot shook her head, “Not a chance.” she replied, and took them up higher into the air.