Chapter 3

"When our sisters first stood against the Wraiths, they did not have the resources as we have today; indeed only through good fortune and by daring that they achieved victory. We must live up to the standard that our sister's set; we must resist those terrible creatures in any and every way; for the survival of our species depends on it."

Valkyrie Nicole Segouin - outside Montreal

A few hours later, I scratched off another thing on my to-do list. The morning had been relatively productive even before I left the house for the day. Made a list of items we might like to keep, what should be packed away and what should be given to the numerous charities that popped up to help the millions displaced.

“Thank you.” I smiled, leaving ‘The Delicious Donut’ with a large mocha cappuccino in hand.

Usually, I would get one closer to home, but I really didn’t want to deal with anyone recognizing me as Henry. After a third of the earth's population being killed off by giant monsters, people, for the most part, had a live and let live attitude, but it didn’t stop teenagers from being assholes.

Stepping off the tram, I found my way to Sam Adam’s Drive. Busy, as usual, with shoppers wandering around looking through the many consignment shops and used good stores. Maddie and I used to spend hours here, especially if we were looking for that right piece to go with one of our costumes.

“Did you see them?” I couldn’t help but overhear two girls around my age exclaim.

“Valkyrie Emma is gorgeous, and did you see the two juniors? So cute I wonder what school they will go to.”

I shouldn’t be surprised anymore, but it only took a day for Aunt Audrey's prediction to come true, well mostly. According to the news, Valkyrie Emma Kingston arrived at Fort Roosevelt yesterday morning, along with two younger girls.

Several weeks ago, an incursion occurred outside Springfield in the middle of a shopping mall. It wasn't for very long a Class 8 at the most, but over a dozen people were killed or wounded.

The girls, cousins, had been shopping when the portal opened in the center of the food court. The younger of the two's parents were getting lunch for everyone. You can guess what happened. She's now being taken care of by her Aunt and Uncle, and the DPA moved them all here.

Oh, a little known fact why you don't play poker with Valkyries. They all have a bit of a Precognitive ability. For some of the Valkyries, it bordered on the supernatural, but mostly it was enhanced combat reflexes. Both my mom and Aunt Audrey said that it even bled into their daily lives where they would get strong hunches.

After munching on a hot pretzel from one of my favorite carts, I found myself disappointed to find that the bookstore I wanted to visit had a going out of business sign.

“Well, shoot!” I growled in frustration.

Not a surprise really with pretty much everything humankind has written available on the WorldNet. Still, I wasn’t one to look a gift horse in the mouth. I had visions of filling out holes in my old science fiction collection when the world twisted.

“Too bad your people have forgotten the pleasure of curling up in front of a fire reading a good book.” A melodic voice startled me.

Looking around, I found the entire street empty except for a beautiful blue alien woman dressed in Garderobes of black and gold. For some reason, I wasn’t afraid when she gently cupped my cheeks with unnaturally long fingers.

“Who are you?” I whispered.

Bringing her other hand up, she looked at me sadly before gently kissing my forehead. “Forgive me, cousin.”

Then all I knew was excruciating pain. It started at my head ran down my chest and shoulders through my groin and into my legs. With my entire body on fire, if I could have screamed, I would have then the world violently twisted again.

I felt more than I saw people running past me as if my senses had been stretched out. These shadows went one way then another. Only to then reset and go in another direction. Different paths different results, and for a moment, I felt my mind slipping towards insanity.

Suddenly the world snapped back into crystal clarity. All around me, terrified screams filled the air as I collapsed to the ground.

Down the road, a massive black eight-foot-tall creature burst through a drugstore sending debris in all directions before picking up and throwing a car through the window of a luggage store.

Like any sane person, I started to stand up, ready to flee from the Wraith in the hope of finding an Incursion Shelter but stopped after spotting my reflection in the bookstore's window.

"That’s impossible!” Somehow like Maggie, I had manifested.

My clothes were turning into green overlapping armored plates decorated with intricate little black roses and thorns. The Garderobe had a helm with an open face just enough to cover my eyes and high on each side of the helm, a pair of black butterflies. Rising from the ground, I instinctively reached out with my right hand, and a deadly looking silver spear manifested.

Valkyries flown into an Incursion carried well-crafted gear. Moreover, like their clothing, the weapons changed during manifestation. The better the materials, the better the upgrade, and as far as I knew, there had never been a Valkyrie who could manifest a weapon.

The sound of glass shattering and terrified people running past shook me out of my thoughts as the shadow creature continued to advance down the street, causing chaos. However, most of the people instead of running hid amongst parked cars too terrified to move.

“Don’t worry mommy. She’s here to save us!” I heard a young voice cry out, which of course, the monster also took note.

"I must be fucking insane." I spun my spear around at the ready. “Alright, Mags, let’s see if what you taught me will actually work.”

Brutes were strong on the defense but slow with powerful strikes. With its body being almost impervious, I should look to attack behind the knees and under the arms and neck. Directing all of the sadness, anger, and frustration of the last year towards the troll, I moved.

When a Valkyrie manifested, along with the spectacular outfit upgrade, they had physical upgrades as well. Strength, dexterity, and stamina all came with the package. So when I moved, I moved. For a moment, I watched as it caught a shadow me with its massive hands. Nope, not going to happen.

I decided to land somewhere else.

Striking my spear into the Brute’s side, I shifted then shifted again, hitting it three more times before I plunged the spear into the back of its knees. It roared shattering the glass from nearby stores.

“Come on, ugly bastard!”

I leaped back as it swung around, slamming its massive fists into the pavement, showering my armor with shrapnel.

With its eye on me, I yelled at the crowd, “MOVE head towards the shelters!”

Happily, the group needed no further prodding, but the creature started to turn towards easier prey. I would have none of that.

“Hey! I’m the one with the pointy stick.”

Jamming the point into the side of his head got the reaction I wanted, and it reared up with both arms to crush me.

“Got you, fucker!“

Dashing forward, I slid under its arms and thrust upward, piercing its throat and out the back of his head. The shadow-like troll stood there for a moment before exploding into black dust. For some odd reason, it almost felt like at the last second someone helped me.

Looking around, I was happy to find the street empty. "OK, so with Brutes, the DPA would classify this as a Level 6 Incursion, so the epicenter should be…”

With it being Saturday, the business district where I guessed the portal opened should be pretty deserted. If the Incursion had occurred during the middle of the workweek, I didn’t want to think about it.

I also needed to keep moving. If I paused now and thought about what was going on, I wouldn’t be able to start again. "So what do I do now? “

Oh, I just needed to trace the movement of the creature, wasn't going to be too hard. Grimacing, I took a deep breath then began to follow the devastation of overturned cars and crumpled buildings.

--0--

Running forward, I leaped on top of a car, then onto the top of a small building, and began moving across the rooftops. I could see a shadowy self for second showing different paths. One direction seemed better than the others.

“I don’t remember Maggie telling me about this.” These weird visions did every Valkyrie have them?

Dropping from the top of a two-story building, I glided to its neighbor when screaming, and the tearing of metal filled the air. Below me, two people were in a car surrounded by three shadow wolves or Fenrirs.

Sigh, “Idiots.”

I couldn’t believe my eyes. While one girl tried desperately to keep the beasts from getting inside the vehicle, the other was taking a recording of it on her phone.

Off the roof I went and struck the first creature with its head stuck in the door, piercing its back. It turned to smoke, which gave me a clear shot at the second. Thrusting forward right through its mouth, it too vanished.

The third breast, much larger and much faster, started to circle me, “Shit an Alpha.”

The giant wolf suddenly changed direction charged forward then back again. I could see it wanted those inside the car. I had other plans. As it changed course again, I set my spear. The creature tried to jump away but instead took a thrust into the chest.

A living creature would have died from such a wound. Instead, it bled black smoke. This time I felt more than saw that it wanted to retreat, but I wouldn’t allow that. As it turned away, I leaped forward almost flying and came straight down on its back. The Alpha crumbled to the ground turning into a cloud of black vapor.

“Oh, my God! That was so cool!”

Turning around, I watched one of the girls try to climb out of the car while the second crouched in her seat in relieved tears.

“Are you stupid, Carole? We almost died!”

Both girls looked to be maybe a year or two older than I was. The one that was crying was trying to start the car. The second continued to take the video of well me.

“Are you two, ok?”

As I walked up, I could see that neither of them appeared to be hurt. Terrified out of their wits, yes, well at least one of them, and she looked ready to hurt someone.

“Yea, thanks for saving us.” The driver sniffled then punched the steering wheel. “Well, fuck, the car won't start.”

The video girl leaned over her friend and smiled, “Can I get your autograph?”

“Carole,” the driver wearily sighed.

“What I knew we were going to be saved," she chirped.

I couldn’t help but empathize with the poor driver. I had a feeling she wanted to slam her head into the steering wheel or punch out her friend.

“It’s clear up through Adams Street. The shelter on Park is probably already sealed, so you’ll have to make your way to Devereux Hospital.”

“OK, I’m Amy.” She smiled and then frowned as the door wouldn’t open.

“Hi, Amy, I’m Kára. Climb out through the window, I’ll help.”

With the two out of the car, they started to run down the road, but Carole returned, and I suddenly found a girl in my arms. Kissing me on the cheek, she jumped back.

“Thank you!” she giggled before running off to join her exasperated friend.

“Can this day getting any stranger?”

Taking to the rooftops, I went in search of the epicenter. At least that way, I didn’t have to dwell on the fact that not only had I not just manifested, but my voice seemed to have changed as well.

--0--

Emma Kingston couldn’t believe her luck, all of it bad. The chance of an incursion happening in any one location was awfully low. So, of course, one would appear in the city the day after she arrived.

"Sally, just stay where you are and keep Kimberly safe!" she screamed to the older of the two junior Valkyries. The three of them had been on patrol more of a PR thing walking around doing a little shopping when the incursion began.

Worse, Kimberly had just lost her two parents. The DPA should have given the poor girl time to mourn not make her walk around to keep the citizens of Wells happy. When a Brute charged down the street, she just froze.

Only her cousin's quick thinking prevented Kimberly from being killed. Still, that hit had done something. The young girl hadn’t moved from the spot next to the crushed car for the last few minutes. Of course, she couldn’t check with the two Ferris making her life difficult.

Finishing off the last one, she crossed the street. Kneeling, she asked, "How are you doing, Kim?"

"It's Kimberly," she rasped, holding her arm to her chest.

Looking up, Emma said, "Sally, did you get an ETA on the armored transport?"

The young girl made a face while playing with the communications device. "It's still twenty minutes away. People abandoned their cars, so it's hard for them to get around."

"And they can't medivac her out until the portal closes."

All three girls knew that if Skitters were in the area, they would love nothing but to take down a helicopter or two.

"What's that?" Kimberly cried out, pointing to an enormous shadow off in the distance.

Sigh, all her fucking luck. One wounded Valkyrie and another with less than two weeks of training. Emma rose from the ground. She needed to get Kimberly away from here.

"It’s a Seps."

Smaller than the monstrous Jörmungandr, it was still a dangerous serpent. It could easily eat one of them whole and have room left over for the other two.

"Maybe I could lead the Wraith off," Emma whispered to herself when a figure in green flashed in front of them.

The three then watched as the Valkyrie bounced off a wall and landed near the serpent, slashed it once, and then jumped back to the safety of a parked car.

"I'm going to help!" Emma called out to the other two. "Sally, keep an eye on your cousin."

She couldn’t believe her luck, one second she was going to face a Seps alone, and the next, a senior Valkyrie arrived to help. She watched in wonder as the girl suddenly appeared to be in two places at once right before plunging her spear into the serpent's left eye.

"You take low. I'll take high!" The green girl sang out with a very melodic voice.

"Sounds like a plan." Emma giggled as she swung her sword, cutting the side of the shadowy serpent blocking its counter-attack before jumping back. "Did you forget your Larry?"

She had been trying to get the other girl on the radio, so it sounded like the communication device broke, or she left it at home. Emma didn’t want to be in the other girl's shoes if she left it at home.

The green armored girl laughed, "Something like that. We need to get the snake to raise its head."

Sigh, "That’s means I have to play bait."

"Afraid so, Emma." Landing the veteran Valkyrie slashed the Seps with her spear before retreating a dozen steps off to the side.

"Oh, you know my name." Emma laughed then with a nod to the other girl charged.

With the serpent blinded in one eye, it missed as the spear wielding Valkyrie slipped underneath to plunge the weapon up through it's throat.

"Names Kára." The green girl said as the two of them walked back to their juniors.

"Pretty name, so what are you doing in Wells?"

Kára spun her spear around and then shrugged, "Shopping."

"Sucks to be you," Emma laughed. At least someone else's luck had been as bad as hers.

Kára grunted before asking, "How is she doing?"

"Got in the way of a Brute."

"Ouch," Kára replied, but before she could say anything else, a large crash down the street caught everyone's attention.

"There's your ride Kimmy!" Sally happily called out as an armored vehicle, smashed several more cars out of the way.

"Names, Kimberly." the wounded girl growled.

"You need a Larry," Emma turned to Kára.

Even with the Seps, both of them had agreed that this was a Class 6 incursion, which meant that the portal would remain open for at least another hour. Thankfully with two experienced Valkyries, they should be able to clear out of the rest of the Wraiths.

She watched as the other girl spoke with Kimberly. The two talked for a moment, then Kára helped the young girl take off her helmet to remove her communications device.

Emma then asked, "So what direction?"

The way the other girl knew how to test the Larry and flip through the channels only confirmed that she was a veteran. Emma didn’t know where the mysterious girl came from and frankly didn't care.

"I assume you want to split up one of us going counter-clockwise around the epicenter."

"Ahh your senior, Kára."

The green girl gave a musical laugh, "You're stationed here."

"Oh," Emma blushed. "Right, so I'm senior. Ahh, whatever sounds good, really."

Nodding the young woman spun her spear around then pointed towards the east. "I'll head off towards Bayard Tower."

--0—

"Alright, Emma, the southeast side of the business district is clear," I spoke on the Milnet-4 Laryngophone or Larry to my new Valkyrie partner.

As we circled in towards what we thought was the epicenter of the incursion, we looked for more Fenrirs and Brutes. Luckily we hadn’t run across another Seps or anything bigger, so the portal should be closing any moment.

"Kimberly and Sally just arrived back at base," Emma said over the radio, sounding relieved.

With a Valkyrie's toughness and regeneration, if not killed instantly, there was a good chance she would survive to fight again. Still, that arm looked like it hurt.

"And they have four Valkyries on standby from Boston."

"Waste of a trip," I commented, taking to the air as the ground below was filled with burning cars.

The fire department wouldn’t be able to start their work until the portal closed, and it wasn’t unheard of for half a city to burn to the ground in the meantime. I headed towards the river. Even in my armor, the heat was uncomfortable.

"Colonel Peters agrees with you, although they're bringing Guard units to help with the cleanup."

Which once again, none of them will enter the area until the portal closes or they have Spartans among them, which wasn't likely. Males cannot manifest; it has never happened well until now. However, on rare occasions, they have a sort of half-manifestation with all of the physical enhancements, but without the pretty armor.

Like my dad.

What people don’t know was that whatever energy caused a woman to manifest would eventually kill a Spartan. One, two, five years didn’t matter; they would eventually get overly aggressive brain cancer. My dad died when I was three. Yes, and I was freaking out about that too.

"Woo the portal closed!" I heard Emma cheer from the other end of the radio.

Oh good, so I waited and waited, huh I still hadn’t un-manifested. OK, I had picked a stupid spot to land if I had.

"Are you sure?" I nervously asked while looking around.

"Don’t be silly," Emma laughed. "Where are you?"

"On top of Mansfield Bridge." Literally.

"Long walk back to Fort Roosevelt," she giggled. "I'll see about getting you a ride."

"That would be great, thanks." Wearily I sat down on the steel girder ninety feet up from the river below.