A Return Amid Nervous Anticipation
Spotty’s Perspective
Spotty stepped through the portal just as the faint rumble of the building’s annihilation echoed in the distance. Her crystalline blue eyes glimmered with satisfaction, though her expression remained composed and calm. She carried herself with a casual confidence, as if dismantling an entire enemy stronghold and walking through dimensions was all in a day’s work. As she glanced at the bustling settlement, her gaze softened momentarily. The soldiers she had deployed had been efficient—layers of defenses surrounded the area, complete with watchtowers, cloaked drones overhead, and fortified barriers. Even amidst chaos, the Empire’s precision was something she took pride in.
Her thoughts, however, were already on what came next. The corporeal First Evil wasn’t going to wait forever, and the sooner they shared the information they had gathered, the sooner they could move forward with her plan. She gave a sidelong glance to Ila, smirking slightly at the thought of the warhead they’d left behind. Red-haired, amber-eyed menace indeed, she thought.
The sight of Elizabeth and Fred sprinting toward her brought a genuine smile to her face. The combination of relief and curiosity etched into their expressions told her everything she needed to know—they had been worried. Spotty’s heart warmed slightly, though she’d never admit how much she appreciated their concern. Time to let them know their worry was unnecessary, as usual.
Ila’s Perspective
Ila stepped out of the portal behind Spotty, a mischievous grin plastered on her face. Her amber eyes flickered with amusement as the faint rumble of the 300MT warhead’s detonation reached her ears. Now that’s a satisfying sound, she thought. The calculated devastation was a reminder to anyone foolish enough to linger at Wolf, Ram & Heart: they weren’t just dealing with powerful beings—they were dealing with them.
As she took in the scene of the human settlement, Ila felt a pang of respect for the Imperial soldiers. The perimeter was solid, the soldiers efficient, and the place had an air of controlled calm despite the apocalyptic world surrounding it. Ila’s gaze shifted to Elizabeth and Fred, who were rushing toward them with a mixture of relief and anticipation. She chuckled to herself, knowing they had probably spent the entire time speculating about what Spotty and she were up to. They’re about to find out just how brilliant—and crazy—Spotty’s plan really is.
Elizabeth’s Perspective
Elizabeth stood near the center of the settlement, arms crossed, her brow furrowed in a mix of worry and frustration. She had been pacing when Fred had finally coaxed her into sitting down, but even then, she had been tapping her fingers against her arm restlessly. Her thoughts were a whirlwind. What in the name of the multiverse are they doing? she wondered for the hundredth time. Spotty and Ila had been gone longer than expected, and Elizabeth had learned enough about those two to know that longer meant trouble—or at least some form of overkill.
She glanced at Fred, who was seated beside her, flipping through the documents Spotty and Ila had left behind. They had spent the last hour discussing what Spotty’s brilliant (and probably insane) plan might entail. Elizabeth had even floated the idea that Spotty was planning to capture the corporeal First Evil instead of destroy it. Fred had laughed nervously at the suggestion but hadn’t dismissed it outright.
“You really think they’d do that?” Fred had asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.
Elizabeth had sighed, rubbing her temples. “Fred, with Spotty and Ila, you learn to expect the unexpected. If there’s a way to make things more complicated for themselves, they’ll find it.”
Now, seeing the portal shimmer and Spotty and Ila step through unharmed, Elizabeth felt a wave of relief crash over her, quickly followed by exasperation. The documents they had brought back were unceremoniously placed on the ground as Fred and she bolted toward them, practically shouting their questions before they even reached them.
Fred’s Perspective
Fred had spent the past couple of hours trying to calm Elizabeth’s nerves, though she herself wasn’t exactly feeling serene. The weight of what Spotty and Ila were attempting had finally started to sink in. She had never met beings like them—powerful, brilliant, and, yes, a little insane. They carried themselves with such casual confidence that it was easy to forget the stakes. But every now and then, Fred caught a glimpse of something more—a sense of responsibility, of deep care for the people they protected. It was why she couldn’t entirely blame Elizabeth for her restless worry. Spotty and Ila were larger than life, but even they weren’t invincible.
Fred had been flipping through the documents Spotty and Ila had left behind, trying to piece together their plan. She had been drawn to a page detailing the capabilities of the Empire’s fleets. The sheer scale of their power left her stunned. When she had asked Elizabeth about it, Elizabeth had just chuckled bitterly and muttered something about “no such thing as overkill.”
When the portal finally opened, and Spotty and Ila stepped through, Fred felt a rush of relief, quickly followed by curiosity. What did they find out? she wondered, already preparing a barrage of questions.
She and Elizabeth barely gave each other a glance before they broke into a run, practically tripping over themselves to reach Spotty and Ila. “So?” they shouted in unison, their voices tinged with equal parts relief and urgency. “What happened?”
Spotty and Ila’s Response
Spotty smirked, brushing a strand of golden hair away from her crystalline blue eyes as she glanced at Ila. “Well, I think you should let Ila explain what she did first,” she said mischievously, her tone teasing. Ila just grinned in response, already preparing a snarky retort. This is going to be fun, Spotty thought, glancing back at Elizabeth and Fred. Time to let them in on the chaos.