The Day They Arrived

Today was the day that my older brother Ian had taken me to watch the hero’s parade in Times Square NYC. He was obsessed with these people that could wield unimaginable power. I, however, just wanted to spend time with my brother, for what he liked I tried my best to like as well. They were his heroes, but he was mine. I always felt safe around him, he would protect me from the bullies at school, and he would check for monsters under my bed and in the closet before I went to bed. My brother held my arm tightly as we stood amongst the mass of spectators. I couldn’t tell whether his grip was so tight because he wanted to protect or me if he was just excited to see his beloved heroes.

          “Look Jolie, it’s Sentinel and Night Shade” he pointed towards the sky. I couldn’t hear what he had said amongst the ocean of voices surrounding us, but I saw the words form from his lips. The bright yellow morning sun hurt my eyes, although slightly disorienting I caught a glimpse of the two heroes as they zoomed over the parade. Sentinel’s metallic armor glistened as the sunlight reflected from it. Night Shade’s dark hair flowed in graceful waves. Her movements were a blur, a dark hue of purple zipping through the sky. 

          The street was filled with extravagant floats dedicated to all the valiant heroes that served the Apocalypse Prevention Enterprise (A.P.E) and, in the skies, above were balloon floats of all my brother’s favorite heroes. I felt a shift in my brother’s excitement as it had become apparent that the slight cameo of Sentinel and Night Shade would be the only interaction he would have with his idols. Were they too busy to spare us average Joe’s a moment of their time? I knew that the most popular heroes operated from Los Angeles, but we had many big names here in New York that could have attended.

          The vibrant sun became cloaked beneath a veil of shadows. At first, we all thought it was a passing cloud as the light dimmed, but the shadows became denser than any cloud could cast — so our attention shifted from the floats to the sky. There it was, accompanied by the soundtrack of our frantic screams. Their ships had descended upon us in complete silence, we were witnessing a level of technology that was beyond our comprehension. 

          I felt my brother’s heart pounding against my small body as he snatched me within his arms and ran. We were like a herd of bison cluelessly galloping to our demise. I never knew how I felt in that moment, fear? Confusion? Disbelief? My body was a cocktail of emotions, each fighting to dominate the other. As my brother ran with the crowd my head was pressed against his shoulder. I could see the faces of all those who were behind us. Twisted grimaces of despair and terror sat upon bodies that desperately flung themselves forward. There was no humanity behind these faces, no personality, no names. Their bodies had reverted to their primal nature — survive…survive…survive. 

          As we were swallowed by the sea of despair, it happened. In the distance the first one appeared. A towering behemoth as large as the skyscrapers that surrounded it. Its metallic frame adorned with intricate patterns that glowed with an ethereal luminescence. We all stopped in unison, to this very day I can’t explain why. All I can say is that I felt an aura of unfathomable power that cast a shadow of dread across the landscape. I felt powerless, as if running was futile. Maybe that’s how the others felt also?

The Astral Titan as it was later named stood frozen in place, was it pondering its next move? I thought. By now the crowd’s silence had been replaced by the deafening bellow of the city’s air raid siren. I had heard the sound before in movies, but this was no movie. The painful screech of the siren, the over encumbering weight of the Titan’s aura, and the tendrils of terror that grew beneath my flesh, swallowed me like the ocean would a dying ship. 

          Before we could react, the surrounding buildings and the Earth beneath our feet began to tremble. However, none of us had noticed, was it because we also trembled under the might of this otherworldly force? The shaking of the structures around us was now accompanied by a rhythmic outburst. The sound was not audible, but we felt it – its tone was deep and felt like we were pinned to the bottom of the ocean’s floor. It continued to boom like a rhythmic bassline, it caused my hair to fly in the gust and my cheeks to ripple under the forceful pulses.

          The ground beneath the titan and buildings within its immediate vicinity gracefully crumbled as if guided by the same rhythmic force. We watched in awe as the buildings surrounding the being were reduced to debris. The debris never fell to the ground, instead it orbited the titan ­– creating a surreal and haunting image reminiscent of Saturn’s rings.

          The Astral Titan without moving shot the debris through the city. In that split second my tender mind for the first time was introduced to the concept of death. As we surrendered to our fate the shadows of Times Square bonded together into a mass of darkness. Night Shade stood behind the darkness; her hands pressed firmly against it. The darkness met the onslaught of debris head on, but it wasn’t enough. Broushhhh! The barrier broke and I was swept into a whirlwind of sirens, screams, and explosions. 

          A numbness enveloped my body as I fought to stand amongst the rubble. "Ian!" I wailed, desperate. "Ian! Where are you?" My cries were drowned by the cacophony echoing against my flesh. Clothes torn and tattered, hair saturated with debris and subtle hints of my own blood. I felt an indescribable sensation as I dragged my now over-encumbered legs to safety. The internal conflict of losing my brother Ian weighed heavier on my soul than the Astral Titan, looming over us with its blank, emotionless stare.

          As the dust began to clear, my tender mind struggled to process the harrowing situation. Amidst the wreckage, my eyes fixated on a torn, blood-stained fragment of Night Shade’s once gracefully flowing hair, now lifeless. A heavy knot tightened in my stomach as the realization of Night Shade’s sacrifice settled in my mind. This was why my brother loved heroes. This was why he gave these people the admiration and respect they deserve.

          Heroes put themselves in the line of fire, without knowing whether it would be the last life they ever saved. To ignore one’s own fears to ensure that another could be safe. Night Shade saved my life, but at the heavy cost of her own. A cost that she paid without hesitation or regret.

Tears flowed from my eyes, the outward manifestation of the storm within. What should I do? What could I do? My brother Ian, my unwavering protector, was gone – and the heroes that he revered, were now subjected to the same fate as us ordinary humans.

          Before I could comprehend the unfolding chaos, a powerful gust of wind enveloped me, lifting me off the ground. My head gently pressed against the cold steel of Sentinel’s armor as I ascended several feet into the air. The rapid ascent, from the ground to just above the towering Astral Titan, caused my senses to blur, fading in and out of consciousness. In my daze, a voice echoed through Sentinel’s comms system, “Come in, Agent 2025. Do you copy?” 

          “Yes, Sentinel here. Awaiting instructions.” 

          “Do not engage the Astral Titan. Backup is on the way.”

          “Understood,” Sentinel responded, exhaling a sigh of relief. He found comfort, knowing that the A.P.E’s strongest heroes were on their way to confront the Astral Titan.

          The metallic hero cast a comforting glance my way, assuring me that everything would be okay. Grateful for his reassurance, my grip tightened on him, but the reassurance faded as my gaze shifted from Sentinel’s eyes to the ominous distance behind us. My heart sank, and a paralyzing shock rendered me motionless. Eyes wide open, I stared at what my fragile mind could only process as the end. No time was given to process or mourn my brother’s loss. Now, faced with an uncertain fate, I wondered if I'd even have time to contemplate my own demise or, even worse, the demise of mankind itself.

          The once vibrant sky now hung heavy with darkness. The colossal flying vessels continued their silent descent, each likely harboring more of the heartless Astral Titans. These otherworldly machines emitted an unearthly hum, resonating through the atmosphere. Black-armored mechanical monstrosities adorned with lights and ancient designs descended from the heavens. How could we possibly withstand an army of these beings when a single one caused such effortless destruction?

          The only salvation in this moment of despair was a brief glimpse of a blinding blue light erupting in the distance, hurtling toward the Astral Titans at an incredible speed. The energy was so potent that it felt like gravity had increased – forcing Sentinel to tighten his grip on my body. Every man, woman, and child knew this light…. knew this energy. Even myself, with my limited knowledge and interest in heroes knew what this light meant. Earth’s strongest warrior, The Primordial, was about to join the fight.