Strider and his passengers appeared in an open area, the space resonating with the same dulled thundercrack that always heralded his arrival. It was obvious they had left Brockton Bay behind, even if you ignored the different buildings around them. Everything about the weather was different, from the humidity and the temperature to the way the wind was blowing and how hot the sun felt. The light was totally different, the sun at a wildly different point in the sky.

  All of those facts rushed in at once, and for those of the group who were aware enough to notice, immediately cued them in to just how far they had gone. The twenty brass golems weren't smart enough to notice any of that, and two of the out-of-town capes were too busy throwing up to care.

  "Told you it would be rough, not used to that sort of weight," Strider said, looking around, nodding to several PRT troopers who were waiting outside the landing zone. "Good luck!"

  He disappeared a moment later, while one of the troopers stepped forward. The others, heavily armed with rifles and a few containment foam sprayers, hung back, watching the new arrivals closely.

  "Please step off the landing zone and proceed to the first checkpoint," the PRT troopers said, looking down for a moment to check his watch. "Estimated arrival is in eight minutes thirty-two seconds."

  Together, the group moved forward, following a clearly marked and fenced-off path. Just as the landing zone had been, the path was heavily worn, with the occasional heavy footprint or gouge in the dirt. Clearly, a lot of people had been through there, and not all of them cast the same footprint. As they approached a checkpoint, PRT troopers began handing them armbands while a group of their peers held back, heavily armed and watching.

  The three Protectorate members took the armbands and strapped them on without hesitation, an audible click locking them in place. The three out-of-town capes seemed a bit more hesitant, but still accepted the armbands, strapping them on with much more gravity and reluctance.

  It took a full thirty seconds to get an armband on every golem and guardian, the PRT working like a well-oiled machine. As Smokey strapped his on, he listened to the automated message that explained that it was not only a communication unit, but also a bomb. Suddenly, the out-of-town team's hesitancy was understandable. With the PRT's insurance plan locked onto his arm, he spoke his name into the device, and then confirmed that it was the correct name. The device acknowledged him before going silent.

  The metallic group quickly made their way to the final staging area, Smokey scanning the gathered capes. By the time they reached the rest of the gathered parahumans, the Protectorate heroes they had arrived with were long gone. Even the out-of-towners had faded into the crowd, easily disappearing in the hundreds of capes waiting to fight. As they reached the crowd itself, quite a few capes took several steps back, away from the metal-made guardians and golems. They watched the group with wide, confused eyes, not entirely sure what was happening.

  For a long moment, they stood alone, waiting silently for whatever came next. The guardians had expected a certain amount of suspicion and were prepared to work primarily alone. However, before long, one rather recognizable cape slowly floated down from above them, seeming to just appear when he was needed. His white and dark grey-blue costume looked particularly heroic as he landed in front of Smokey and extended his hand.

  "Legend, it is an honor," Smokey said, recognizing the Triumvirate member by his costume. "I did not expect to meet you directly."

  "I appreciate that, Smokey, was it?" He asked, continuing when the guardian spirit nodded. "I will admit, I'm partially here to get a look at you for myself. As the closest Triumvirate member, your specific case briefing was on my desk just a few days ago."

  "Ah, understandable," Smokey nodded. "We are something new and potentially dangerous, we understand your caution."

  "I wish I had more time to talk, or that we had met under better circumstances," he said with a frown. "Unfortunately, time is very short, and I have to address everyone. Thank you for coming to help. That takes a lot of bravery."

  "To be honest, we are pretty confident that we will be immune to her influence," Smokey explained, Legend's eyes going wide. "We don't have brains to affect or anything even remotely close. And the golems don't have minds to influence at all."

  "That… I wish we had known that before, we could have confirmed it," He said, now frowning slightly. "Immunity to her scream is very rare."

  "I know, unfortunately, this is all relatively new," Smokey admitted with a shrug. "We have not had much time to prepare."

  "A common theme these days," Legend responded before turning to go again. "Unfortunately-"

  "One last thing before you go," Smokey said, Legend turning back, an eyebrow now raised. "Piper here is a trump. She can provide a wide area effect buff that sticks with anyone who hears it."

  As Piper stepped forward, Legend's eyes went wide, caught off guard by the admittance. It took a second for him to recover, but when he did, he stepped closer.

  "How powerful?" he asked, suddenly very interested. "You could shar this buff with everyone here at once?"

  "My energy is limited… but yes," She confirmed. "Numbers aren't the concern, it's the power I put behind the enhancement."

  If before he was shocked, now he was astounded. Something under his costume beeped, startling him for a split second before he realized what was happening. He mentally shook himself for a moment, but he focused his look on both Smokey and Piper.

  "I need to ask you, just to confirm," He said, visibly agitated about the time now. "You are both aware that purposely inhibiting or misguiding any anti-Endbringer efforts can be considered breaking the truce? And that lying about this would absolutely count?"

  Both of them nodded seriously, and Legend let out a short breath before gesturing for them to follow.

  "Then come with me," he said, turning and walking through the crowd, everyone parting for him as he did.

  Smokey and Piper followed the legendary hero, passing through the crowd, ignoring the hundreds of eyes on them. They also passed the large assembly of Protectorate heroes, walking past Velocity and Dauntless specifically. Legend led them to a much smaller gathering of just a few heroes, including Protectorate branch leaders, Armsaster, and several well-known heroes from all over the country included. This also included Legend's fellow Triumvirate members, whom he headed for directly, whispering to both Eidolon and Alexandria. The three had a very quick conversation before Alexandria turned to them. Legend gave them a thumbs up before leaving to do other business.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  "Is what Legend said true?" Alexandria asked, helmet turned toward them. "That you are capable of providing a buff to everyone who hears… what exactly? Your voice?"

  "No, my flute," Piper responded, calling forth her glittering, silver, semi-translucent flute.

  For a minute, Alexandria asked a barrage of questions, the hero watching Piper closely. Eidolon watched just as closely, though he remained silent. When Alexandria began quizzing the pair on possible side effects and what sort of testing had been done, Armsmaster stepped forward.

  "Ma'am, while Arcanum has chosen to remain silent about what his powers actually are, we highly suspect he is a tinker, masquerading as a trump," the tinker hero explained, both Smokey and Piper remaining silent. "That said, he has a solid track record in all his dealings, showing no signs of being anything more than a determined hero. We have seen nothing in any of his creations, including both the unintelligent golems and the sentient guardian constructs, that would suggest any untoward motions or hidden side effects. The items he supplied to New Wave have shown no noticeable effects beyond their promised abilities as well."

  "You believe that we should allow her to use her power?" She asked, her gaze now focused on Armsmaster. "Enough that you would vouch for her?"

  "Yes."

  For a moment, Alexandria studied the protectorate Tinker, before nodding and turning to the guardians.

  "Very well. You will play after Legend gives his speech," Alexandria said, her eyes locked on Piper. "However, remember this. If I discover anything awry about what you are doing, I will personally bring the consequences to both you Arcanum. Is that clear?"

  "Crystal, Ma'am."

  "Good."

  Another minute passed, and Piper and Smokey were led to a small platform where Legend was standing. Most of the surrounding capes were looking up, the Simurgh now visibly descending on the city. Time was quickly running short. Still, despite the encroaching threat, everyone still went silent as Legend stepped forward, a sign of how respected he was.

  "Everyone here knows who we are fighting. Ziz, the Hopekiller, Israfel, the Simurgh, whatever you may call her, you know what she does. What the cost of fighting her is. We are fighting against a force of nature who wishes to wipe this city off the map and send waves of terror across the planet. But some of you may forget why we fight. So let me remind you. Right now, the evacuation of Canberra is at sixty-five percent complete, and every minute we delay her, every second we keep her back, is another person who is able to leave and escape her voice. That is why we fight, why we endure the torture she brings."

  The hero stopped for a moment, scanning the crowd. He pointedly ignored the slowly descending mockery of an angel, despite her quick approach of the city.

  "All of you know the risks of being here. All of you know that fighting the Simurgh is often a thankless venture, garnering just as much whispers and suspicion as appreciation. She finds a way to twist every victory, every inch, every moment. But, as many of you know in your hearts, despite being thankless, it's a fight we must endure regardless. So, at this moment, I want to take the chance to thank you. Villain, Rogue, or Hero, you have come to fight, and for that, I thank you."

  Another pause, before Legend continued, this time explaining how the armband worked, rather brutally explaining the ten-minute rule. He explained the roles everyone should be trying to fill, before finally ending his speech, turning to Alexandria, who nodded.

  "Before we begin final preparations, we have something a bit different. A new cape has come forward, one with a potent trump ability. She has the power to pass on beneficial effects to everyone who hears her music, and has volunteered to play for everyone," He explained, scanning along the crowd. "She will be playing to increase your durability and your luck, making you harder to hurt. If anyone wishes to not receive this buff, you simply need to block your ears and hum to yourself a random tune. This will last thirty seconds."

  Legend turned to Piper and nodded, the copper and brass guardian climbing onto the small platform. She wasted no time summoning her flute and beginning to play. It was a short, almost Celtic tune, fluttering through the space as the capes around her watched. As she played, she began to glow, and after about twenty seconds, so did everyone else. She poured her energy into the short song, the glowing brighter and brighter until finally, the song ended, and the light began to sink into each person, reinforcing their bodies and making them just a bit luckier. A few dozen people in the crowd did not glow, visibly plugging their ears as Piper played, but the vast majority of people accepted the buff, trusting in Legend's words.

  When the glowing was absorbed, Piper shifted slightly before her legs gave out, her energy almost completely drained. She had pulled more energy into her song than ever before, wanting to do the best she could, and now she was facing the consequences. Thankfully, Smokey was there to catch her.

  As Legend reassured the crowd that everything was alright, Smokey carried Piper back to the other guardians, ignoring the stares. He passed her to one of the golems and gave it the order to bring her out of the city and not to return until she woke up. The golem took off at a run, jumping over parked cars and weaving in between stuck traffic, carrying the unconscious guardian away from the current danger.

  For a moment, Smokey watched her go, before turning to his remaining team, the guardians and golems standing ready.

  "You all know the plan," He said. "I don't need to go over it again. Good luck."

  The other guardians nodded, and as the Simurgh descended lower, Legend finally gave the word to engage.

  As one, the cape forces moved towards the heart of the city, towards where the monster was descending. Already, she was picking up debris, launching it out at buildings, destroying entire structures, the rubble already rising and spinning around her, forming an orbiting wall of concrete, glass, and steel. The first to attack were the long-range blasters, firing everything from flashes of light to flaming discs at the angelic abomination. As far as Smokey could see, as he led his four assigned golems at a run, deeper into Canberra, almost none of the blasts made it through. Even as Eidolon and Legend circled around her, blasting at her with insane lasers and exotic energy, there always seemed to be some sort of debris in the way. On occasion, a small blast would carve a tiny cut against her body, but only when something much worse would have hit her otherwise.

  Smokey shook his head, looking down to focus on his mission, which was to save the people on the ground. As he did, he quickly realized that he could hear the Simurghs scream, but it did not resonate as people seemed to claim it would. There was no instinctual fear, no resonated primordial terror that twisted and tweaked at his mind. He tapped his armband, a female voice with a slight electronic tinge coming through.

  "Parahuman Smokey, you have something to report?"

  "Dragon, I believe I can confirm that myself and the other guardians are immune to the Simurgh's scream," he reported. "We can hear the audible portion, but we feel nothing resonating internally."

  "...Are you willing to go through extensive Master/Stranger procedures after the conflict is over?"

  "Absolutely."

  "Then I will add ten minutes to your timer," She responded. "It is the best I can do. Do not remove your armband under any circumstances. Good luck."

  Smokey nodded despite the famous tinker's inability to see him, before continuing to search. He encouraged people to run, pointing groups and single people towards the outer limits, even as the time slowly ran down. People would only be able to leave the quarantine zone around the city for a specific amount of time, before they would be kept inside.

  Finally, he spotted the perfect opportunity for him and his four golems to help. A bus, filled with people huddling inside, had been locked in place by traffic. The people inside were clearly too scared to leave, watching the monster as it bore down on their city.

  "Golems! One at each wheel!" He ordered, pointing at the bus as the golems moved quickly. "And… Lift!"

  With his help at the front, the four golems hefted the vehicle onto their backs, their feet making imprints in the asphalt below. With a grunt of exertion, Smokey led the way, charging back to the edge of the quarantine zone, a bus full of civilians on his shoulder.