Saving Beyond Saving

Welcome to Earth, 2780. Five years ago, Earth was met with visitors from outside our planetary borders, and unlike the fantasized stories told in ages of old, these aliens did not seek to imperialize or overtake our planet: they sought refuge. They were fleeing from a powerful force travelling across the star-systems: a powerful beast that our new friends call: The Planet Devourer. Whatever planets appear in its path simply disappear, as if they have been consumed.

For the past five years, humans have been working together with the klorokans who have taken refuge on planet earth among us to come up with ways to face the impending enemy. It isn't a matter of if; it's when, so the Worldwide National Defense Organization, WNDO, has put together an initiative to strengthen humankind to face this kind of threat alongside the klorokans.

Combining klorokan and current earthen technology, WNDO has discovered a way to alter human DNA and unlock varied powers. Now, the superpowers depicted in comics and stories of old are a reality that is exciting for some and terrifying for others.

This story focuses on two brave volunteers in their startup program, willing to undergo genetic modification and sign up for the inevitable fight on the horizon.

Spoiler

The Planet Devourer is what the humans have dubbed, by the klorokan's description: "The Universe's Trash Collector." The Planet Devourer seems to target planets that have already reached a limit in population, resources, or environmental destruction.

What they don't know is that the Planet Devourer does not wipe said planets entirely from existence: it is a black hole that transports the planets to an alternate pocket dimension, that has essentially become the universe's trash bin. The process is destructive to the planets, but does not destroy them entirely.

Spoiler

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The training arena felt more like a wrestling ring, from what Jada had observed of others' training, but it was different for her: her powers weren't explicity combative, and even though she could fight, it certainly was not her strength. Physicality was not something that came easily to her - and not for lack of trying.

It was a bit intimidating standing in front of Ullix, who, though not a beast of a person, was far more stable in appearance.

Ullix gave her a smile, which was somehow even more intimidating. In her dark eyes, there seemed to be a fire that thirsted for a fight as normal fires thirsted for oxygen. "I look forward to sparring with you."

Jada really didn't. She read Ullix's file, and this woman's powers were chaotic and elemental in nature. Jada was thankful for the fire retardant suits and high-tech body armor given to them for these exercises, but it didn't mean she wouldn't have bruises in the morning. Jada took in a deep breath, flexing her hands at her sides as she took a step back, knowing she'd need distance for this. If Ullix got a chance to close in on her, she'd be done-for.

Jada took stock of everything in the training arena. The arena was shaped like an oval, and there were a few arched platforms, stones, and fabricated natural materials that she could use for defense.

On a platform above them, a referee stepped forwards. "This is a basic match, solely for the purpose of training. The match will last until the armor determines that the attacks would have been sufficient to terminate a creature of average human strength wearing no armor. Abilities and use of materials found in the arena are allowed. Bringing outside weapons is grounds for suspension."

Yeah. Jada read the rulebook. All of this was legalities, informing them at the start.

"The match will start in three... two... one!"

Ullix immediately ran towards Jada. She tossed something--a fragment of a fingernail?-- that exploded just off to Jada's right. That was quickly followed by a flurry of other explosions, seemingly from clumps of hair that floated towards Jada.

Jada backtracked quickly, pulling a stone ripping through air towards her - and Ullix was right in its path.

Ullix ducked and swerved to the left, barely avoiding the stone, then made a gesture. Water flowed up and out of a nearby trough, whirling towards her in a wave she only half-dodged. The stream hit her hard in her shoulder, sending her spinning.

Using the momentum of the hit to her advantage, she pulled another rock her way, this time sending it rapidly flying to the air towards her to catch her fall. Landing on top of it in a sidelong sit, she brought the rock up higher under her feet, using it like a floating platform.

Let's see Ullix try to catch air.