It’s amazing how fast people can run after they see an alien robot.
The Talos looks like some sort of futuristic knight, with a black and white armor and a shining red visor over its eyes. Not very scary, until it starts shooting death rays from its hands.
The people running have seen it a million times in movies: cars exploding left and right, bullets ricocheting on the bad guy, alarms and screams from every direction.
Now they’re watching it live from their homes, courtesy of the lone cameraman recording the action and trying not to wet himself.
The Talos isn’t doing this for the sake of it, of course. If you’re new in town and want to speak to the person in charge, the fastest way is to make such a huge mess.
The primitives throwing bullets at it don’t seem to think so. They have assembled a makeshift barricade in its tracks, placing police cars right in front of it in an attempt to slow it down.
The Talos could easily walk through it, or vaporize it. But the situation is clearly requiring an escalation of noise. It lifts one of the cars above its head, ready to use it to mash the cops to a fine pulp.
<Ask your god to hurry> it says with a deep metallic voice.
A ray of light cuts the car in half. When what’s left of it touches the ground, there is a masked African American in front of the robot. He appeared out of nowhere, shouting:
<Not so fast, robot! This city is under the protection of Quantum, the man of energy!>
“God I hope we’re still live” thinks the cameraman, taking his best shot of the hero.
<I am Talos, harbinger of Hephaestus. Are you a god?>
Quantum answers with a smile that practically screams “I’ve got this”:
<When someone asks me if I’m a god, I always say “yes”.>
<Then DIE!!!> the robot replies, opening its chest uncovering a nuclear reactor.
A six feet wide plasma beam hits Quantum, vaporizing him and anything even remotely on its path.
This includes two cars, two hotdog stands, four parking meters, seven desks, nine walls and one ego. Everything took place almost at the speed of light.
That “almost” is why Quantum’s body reforms at the fifth floor of an office building, several blocks away from the Talos.
<Note to self: next time don’t quote Ghostbusters to crazy alien robots.>
The Talos walks over one of the police cars, which struggles to hold the weight of the robot. It stands tall, like this is some sort of solemn pulpit, raising the volume of its voice.
<I claim this world in the name of Hephaestus, son of Zeus. If any god objects to his claim, speak now or forever be silent.>
A huge fireball hits the Talos, seemingly coming from nowhere. It doesn’t hurt it: the robot just stands there, waiting for the flame to vanish to see who issued the challenge.
It’s a teenage girl with silver eyes and an horrible green leather jacket.
<I object. This world is mine> she boasts.
The robot is confused. On the left side of the girl there is a being made of energy that identified himself as a god only minutes earlier. On her right side floats a redhead goddess.
According to the robot’s database the goddess is Hestia, daughter of Kronos and sister of Zeus.
The artificial mind behind the red visor studies the silver eyes, and has only one question for Noriko:
<Are you a goddess?>
<Don’t quote anything> Quantum suggests.
<I am Null. Now get out of my planet.>
<Scanning. You are mortal. Why do you challenge a herald of the gods?>
<It was not a request, robot: I gave you an order. Vesta, do you mind?>
The goddess flies forward faster than the eye can see, punching the Talos so hard that the robot is launched into the sky.
<Now that’s an homerun!> Quantum says, while the robot and the goddess disappear into the distance.
<Follow them and…> Noriko says, immediately interrupted by Quantum:
<Make sure that civilians don’t get hurt, yeah, I know.>
<…>
<What?>
<I was gonna say “and help her”, but your idea is…I can’t believe it, but your idea is actually better.>
<Nobody knows superhero battles better than me, Nori. Relax, I’ve got this.>
Quantum disappears in a flash of light, leaving Noriko alone.
Well, relatively speaking. She’s still in the middle of the barricade of police cars, where some extremely confused cops are looking at her.
<What are you looking at?> she asks, her eyes flashing briefly.
<Should…should we arrest her or something?> one of the cops asks.
<Who the hell were these people!?>asks another.
<A waitress and a slacker. They’re probably the most powerful people on the planet.>
Noriko turns her attention to the cameraman, who’s filmed the most breathtaking action of his career.
<I’m gonna need that> she says, turning off the camera with one swift motion.
That’s the last thing people can see on their TV.
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