Alex and Nathan rushed down the tunnel back the way they came, Jora hot on their heels. The monster's strange popping cries echoed across the tunnel walls, spurring the two onwards. Alex led the way using Kit to check ahead for any oncoming Jora.

Nathan was hearing a voice in his head. Not Pellere's voice, no this one had appeared when he exchanged weapons with Caleb. He had ignored the words at first, not listening since there were more important matters. But now the voice was getting insistent.

Hey, I know you can hear me. Hey. Hey. Hey, say something already.

What do you want? Nathan thought back. The voice was starting to interfere with his concentration and he needed every ounce of it to escape this situation.

Great, you can hear me! Listen I'm Caleb's Bat and I have all sorts of things I can do for you.

Not interested. Nathan replied as he followed Alex around a corner. He focused back on the pursuing Jora and increased their impulse to speed up. The front group of monsters slammed into the wall, unable to turn in time.

What! But I'm super strong! I saved Caleb's little goblin friend earlier. Knocked a Jora right out of the park!

A Jora roared up ahead, cutting off the path of the two humans. Alex sent Butterwhiskers forward and it tripped on a loose stone. Nathan sped up the fall, allowing the two to jump over the monster and continue. I'm doing just fine on my own. Now be quiet before you get us killed.

Wow. Rude, I'm trying to help here and you blow me off. The bat twisted in Nathan's hands to turn away from him.

I will drop you. Nathan threatened.

Shutting up. Bat answered.

Alex and Nathan reached the first opening they passed through earlier. The site was crawling with Jora now. Each one hollered in its signature popping laugh as they danced around a large fire. In the center two Jora were twirling around each other, four arms clasped together.

Alex and Nathan paid no mind to the group as they rushed past them. But the shouts from chasing Jora caused a stir in the reveling monsters. The group turned to see the two humans rushing past towards a tunnel on the far side. With growls and snarls, the party turned as one to chase them.

Thinking quickly, Nathan increased the impulse of impatience in the front Jora. As they entered the tunnel, the chasing monsters all tried to follow at the same time, preventing any single Jora from advancing in their impatience.

"We're almost there!" Alex called back.

The two burst out onto the surface of the asteroid. Alex grabbed a flare hanging on her belt and lit it, waving it around towards three cities. Jora surrounded the two as they waited for rescue. Alex fought with her cats, using Rocket to knock back approaching Jora and Butterwhiskers to control the number around her. Nathan joined in by controlling the Jora with his blessing, getting some to fight each other before fighting them.

Hey guy. I can help! Bat said to Nathan.

Nathan grunted as the surprise thought distracted him from influencing two Jora. The two were now turning to him instead of attacking each other. The corn headed monsters charged at him with eight outstretched arms.

Okay fine. Nathan answered. He brought Bat up to use as a club against the charging Jora, focusing his power on one to make it arrive before the other.

No no! Bat screamed at Nathan. I'm not a club! You gotta use me like this!

Nathan's arms jerked back as Bat brought them into a hitter's stance. He tried to bring them back around but Bat seemed to have some sort of psychic control over him. Damn it he's coming! Nathan said.

So knock him out of the park! Bat whooped as he made Nathan swing.

The world slowed for Nathan, adrenaline and fear pumping into him. Caleb's stupid weapon was going to kill him. They had already tried attacking the Jora with weapons and nothing they used could affect their bodies. The Varnoss had some way of doing it but even then it was easy to see how much time it took to take even one down. There was no way this bat could do any damage to the Jora.

In fear, Nathan turned off his blessing, not wanting to see the monster in his final moments. All he could see now was him and Bat. He felt the weapon connect with the Jora and an impulse of power sparked from Bat. Nothing strong, too weak to affect the Jora, but Nathan grasped it and shoved everything he could into it.

The impulse of power flared, enhanced by a god's power. A mighty crack! Sounded out across the asteroid, drowning out the din of battle. Nathan felt the end of Bat send the Jora flying away. He quickly pulsed his power and gaped at what he saw. The Jora had been sent flying off the asteroid and was falling down to the planet. He stared back at Bat.

AND IT’S A GRAND SLAM LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. BAT HAS KNOCKED IT RIGHT OUT OF THE PARK AND THE CROWD GOES WILD!!!

The noise from the weapon almost deafened Nathan. But there was no time to say anything. Already the second Jora had reached them. Nathan let Bat settle him into a hitter's stance again and focused on amplifying the impulse of power when he connected. The sound of aluminum striking a ball echoed around the asteroid and a second Jora was sent out of the park.

Nathan almost sagged in relief. A second ago he'd thought he was dead and now he had an actual way to fight against these monsters. Granted, there was no way to know if their strike was killing them, but it was an improvement. He held Bat up again and turned towards another group of Jora, ready for them.

He continued fighting with Alex, knocking Jora away left and right, until one of David's fighters appeared overhead. The car hovered in place, dropping a rope ladder down for the two. Alex stowed her cats away and climbed while Nathan covered her ascent. Once she reached the top Nathan grabbed the bottom of the ladder and the car flew away. Jora jumped at the vehicle but Nathan used his power to make them jump too early, or too strongly. The monsters sailed away, dodged by the pilot.

Nathan scaled the last rung of the ladder and clasped the hands offered. Both Caleb and June were sitting with Alex in the modified car.

"You ready to send this thing into the sun?" Caleb asked.

Nathan nodded.

He turned back to the asteroid and focused his blessing. He recalled the engine sitting in the middle of the rock, all movement and energy. The impulses responded to him and he encouraged them. He focused their movement, aiming it all towards the sun in the Varnoss sky.

The impulse of movement built and built. And then it was no longer an impulse but constant movement. The asteroid in the sky lurched up and rocketed away. Nathan watched as Jora clung on to the outside, some falling down to the ground below.

The asteroid picked up speed as it left the Varnoss atmosphere. At first, none of the Jora reacted, unsure whether they were leaving for some new planet or repositioning for some reason. And then the ball of fire in space grew larger. The Jora panicked, some rushed towards the engine room to stop the great heart that moved their ship. But upon reaching it they found the brakes had been exploded to pieces. There was no way to stop the craft.

Caleb watched as the sun in the sky blipped from the asteroid rocketing into it.

"Let's see them survive that," He said.

"I can't believe your crazy plan worked," June replied.

"Hey, my plans aren't that crazy," Caleb retorted.

"Maybe not to you," Alex chimed in.

The group laughed, relieved to had escaped the deathtrap.

"So now what?" Caleb asked.

"Go back to earth I guess? Find other survivors, rebuild, live in this crazy world." Nathan answered.

"Eh, I'd have said take the city exploring across the galaxy, but your idea works too."

"I don't care what we do," Alex said. "As long as Three Cities does it together."