We're halfway down the aisle when the doors at the back of the auditorium burst open. Looking back, I see Mogul and CEO (in his purple rage monster form) charge in, along with three other people--heroes and Protectorate members, one and all.
There's Thunder Perfect Mind with her giant blue head, mistress of all mental powers. Beside her stands The Jupitarian, the walking gas giant, a swirling mass of colorful streaks of cloud with a stormy red spot on his chest. Hovering over all of them is Widening Gyre, the falcon-headed bird-god with the power to sow chaos and destruction.
Lots of muscle there, a real hardball lineup. But they don't move on us...yet. They just wait there behind the back row and watch.
So our course is set. Nowhere to go but down front.
When we reach the stage,
