The impassioned yell from Rosanna fell upon the stone-like ears of Nokkar, the alien sentinel, as he watched unemotionally the attack on midtown Manhattan. The ships approached ever closer to the Aerie building as the stunned gargoyle clan who called the castle at its summit home grew ever more horrified.
=We must wait.=
"For how long? Until New York is a pile of rubble?!" Rosanna nearly flew up to the eye level of Nokkar, gripping his shoulders. "What will there be left to defend if we let them kill us with their first attack?!!"
=That will not happen.= Nokkar calmly removed the female gargoyle from his chest, depositing her on her rear next to Steve Bluestone, the poor, unwitting NYPD detective who, only the night before, had been dropped right into the midst of chaos. Steve looked back up at Nokkar.
"Why not? What has to happen before ..."
=I know the attackers well, Mr. Bluestone. This attack is not intended to destroy you completely. This is merely a show of force.=
Samson harrumphed at that statement. "Some show of force." He offered a hand to his leader, who accepted it to pick herself up off the ground. "I say to hell with this guy, we go out right now!"
Just as Samson had made his suggestion, the chaos below subsided. The gargoyles passed questioning looks between them before turning back to Nokkar. "What happened?"
=Force has been sufficiently shown.= Nokkar turned around, back toward the interior of the tower. =Come. There will be a broadcast shortly.=
More confused looks passed between the assembled heroes, as they dutifully followed Nokkar inside.
=Citizens of Earth. Do not panic. You are now under the domain of the Rokkan. If our demands are met, peace will rule this planet.
=Our first demand is thus. We demand that all planetary political control be turned over to us. We have attacked your city of New York, due to its powerful position in global politics. Rokkan governors will take over the leadership of all nations and countries.
=Second demand. We demand that control of all military forces on this planet be turned over to the previously mentioned Rokkan governors, to do as they see fit. Your military installations, technology, and manpower will be used to serve the Rokkan.
=Third demand. We demand that all unnecessary human manpower be taken off of this planet. The Rokkan are not a cruel race: we will provide ships to send your civilization to another life-bearing planet. Those humans that serve our needs will not be allowed on the ships.
=That concludes our demands. Human transplantation will begin in three days. If these demands are not met, humanity at large will suffer, in great quantities. Resistance to Rokkan rule will prove useless. We are your rulers now.=
SKRIEEDKKDDZZZZZZZ ...
"Oblivion. At last."
"Now what, Nokkar? You wouldn't let us fight them when they were bombing."
The tall alien looked around the room, at expectant faces. Rosanna's face shone with her unbridled fury; her eyes glowed an incandescent red. Graeme and Ariana's faces told all of their fear. Broadway's face screamed resignation. Goliath, guilt and shame. The only three present who seemed to be without fear were Sir Griff, Slash, and Samson.
=Now, they are on the ground. Now you can fight them. You would have died in vain had you attacked during the show of force.=
"That's really reassuring." Rosanna's voice dripped sarcasm. "If you'll excuse me ..."
Samson turned to watch his aunt march away. "Where are you going?"
She turned to him, a frustrated, angry look on her features. "To see if my grandparents are still alive. Guard the building." With that, she launched herself off a battlement and soared across the city.
Steve slowly approached Samson from behind. "Her grandparents? Is she talking about Elisa's parents?"
Samson nodded, slowly. "Come."
"Impressive, Rokkan. What now?"
Rokkan turned toward the blue gargoyle, Demona. =You must come with me, Demona. Your formidable sorcery will be a great asset to our conquest. I think there will be no resistance from the world's leaders, what we must watch for is human guerrilas who will be foolish enough to fight.=
The purple gargess behind Rokkan cleared her throat. "How do you know that the world leaders will surrender?"
=On many worlds past, there has never been a leader which did not.=
"You may be surprised by the humans, they have very strong wills ..."
"That's enough, daughter." Demona's admonition shook Angela into silence. Turning back to Rokkan, she smiled, evilly. "Go ahead. I'll come with you."
Rokkan nodded, shallowly. As they walked past Angela, Demona turned to her quickly.
"Keep things running, Angela. I won't be long."
Angela leaned against a desk, supporting herself by her arms and wings, and watched her mother leave with the alien. As the door closed behind them, the telephone next to her left hand began ringing. Hesitantly, she picked up.
"Nightstone Unlimited, Vice President Destine speaking."
"Angela, are you all right?!"
The voice was unmistakeable. Angela slapped her forehead. "Broadway."
"I need to know! Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. That's all you need to know."
"I'm serious, Angela. This is important! The invasion is ..."
"I know all about the invasion, Broadway. I do live in this city too, you know."
"But ..."
"Thank you for your concern. And say hi to our son for me."
Angela quickly hung up the phone before her mate could get another word in edgewise. Ex-mate, she reminded herself. When you chose to work with Mother, you left everyone at the castle behind. Your father, your friends, your mate ...
... your son.
Tears welled in Angela's eyes, as her head dropped in sorrow.
"Grandma!"
She jumped down off the railing, smashing through the glass door which captured the smoke and kept it in the apartment. More clouds pulsed into the night sky, as Rosanna fought her way into the center. A human form lying prone on the floor grabbed her attention.
"GRANDMA!!"
She jumped down to look closer at the body, and suddenly she saw it. The lifeless, limp form of Diane Maza, trapped under a ceiling beam. She had been struck in the face by the beam, and was probably killed on impact.
"Rosanna! Over here!"
Rosanna stood up, fighting the smoke once again to see two more human forms running out of the hallway. Happily, she realized they were both family, and both alive.
"Grandpa! Aunt Beth! Come on, this place isn't going to remain standing for much longer!"
The two remaining Mazas scrambled through the smoke, toward their gargoyle kin. She quickly grasped them around their waists, striding toward the window.
"What about Mom?!"
"We can't help her, she's too far gone. We've got to go, NOW!"
Peter Maza hung his head, depressed, as Rosanna jumped out the window, opening her wings and gliding back to the castle.
"Welcome, Demona. You are honored amongst us."
Demona stepped forward. "I am honored to be chosen by you. But one thing bothers me about our ... partnership."
Her Rokkan guide approached her, slowly.
"Though I have worked with one of you for the past day, I still have no idea as to who you are, or what you want of me and my resources."
Another Rokkan, a massive, 11-foot robed alien, approached the questioning gargoyle. =Demona, you need ask nothing else.=
The alien unhooded himself, to reveal his face and head. Demona could only suck in a breath of unadulterated joy.
The Rokkan were gargoyles. Just like her.
"Rosanna?"
He could see her shoulders droop, as she planted a claw on the battlement.
"My grandfather and aunt are alive, but shaken. They will be all right."
Steve approached her, slowly. "But what about your grandmother?"
Rosanna turned to face Steve. Sighing shakily, she looked up at him. "She was killed in the bombing. Their apartment collapsed, and she was caught under a beam ..."
Rosanna closed her face into her hands, heaving sobs shaking her body. Steve placed an arm around her shoulders, trying to comfort her.
His attempts only further fed her rage. She suddenly tossed Steve aside, stretching her wings skyward and roaring her animal fury impotently into the night air. Her eyes glowed, their brilliant red a strong counterpoint to the gloom of the evening.
"I swear to you, the Rokkans will pay dearly!"
