EDS: The Last Line of Defense

By Cade Corbin and Aurora Larson

It has been 6 months since the alien Invasion of 2018. In that time, the Earth Defense Sector- Tach, Fitz, Suika, John, Andrews, and T- has gone from a barely-functioning group to the world's first superhero team. Now, they are tasked with finding rouge weapons-designer Saeko Nejire, who has been accused of being responsible for several recent terrorist attacks. But the team soon realizes that they have much more than a terror group to deal with, and they might be the only ones who can prevent the Earth from another invasion- and this time, they have much less to work with and much less time to prevent disastrous consequences for the entire Human race...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Sep 17, 2020
• ISBN: 9781716603853

Book preview

978-1-71660-385-3

Part One

Introduction

Earth Defense Sector Headquarters, off the coast of Sendai, Japan

May 17th, 2019

"That was one hell of a speech."

T rolled his eyes. Suika had been bothering him about that for forever. "Yeah, and you’ve only been saying that for the past six months."

T and Suika Satoama were standing together on the balcony of their fancy base/house, watching dusk settle on the Japanese skyline. A calm breeze blew through Suika’s longer, black hair. T smiled a little.

Suika and T had been Defenders for the past year, living in the base/house on an island off the coast of Japan. The rest of the team was comprised of Tach, Fitz Ireland, Andrews and 4-year-old son Trevor McGuire, and John Marring.

Six months before, Andrews, Trevor, and a group of aliens had time-traveled from outer space to the year 2018, chasing after some other, more invasive aliens. Upon arrival, they met T, Suika, Tach, and Fitz. They combined their forces and were able to repel the alien invasion. Andrews’ alien friends returned home, but Andrews himself stayed behind with Trevor. Since then, the self-proclaimed Defenders had been formalized into an official United Nations-sanctioned group, now known as the Earth Defense Sector.

T, Suika, and their friend Tach had been together for almost a year and a half now, working together to shut down a major terrorist attack before Andrews showed up. The success of that event eventually led the Japanese government to hire Fitz Ireland, who joined them when they were attempting to create the world’s first superhero team. The repelling of the alien invasion several months later validated the planet’s need for a worldwide protection agency, and prompted the official formation of the EDS.

T was a younger American man, who looked completely out of place in Japan at first glance, but really felt right at home. He had blonde-streaked, dark hair that he’d molded into big spikes, and always carried his weaponized spatula around in a holster on his jeans. He’d tried to be a superhero on his own, before he met Suika and Tach, and still built his own technology and weapons. He had a light scar under his left eye, and was a lot smarter than he usually let on. And he was really into techno music, to the point where he got on the rest of the team’s nerves.

Suika was more than a few inches taller, Japanese, and a lot less cocky than T. He used to work for a Japanese special ops team, a special force designed by the government to upend the criminal underworld, and because of how good he’d been at his job, he’d been chosen to be a Defender. Suika had completely fallen for T the first time they’d met, and he was pretty sure T fell for him back. He would ask him out, but who has time to date when you’re busy saving the world?

Tach had been living alone on the streets for several years, when she met T while he first started working with the government and Suika. T sort of took her in, and she was made into a Defender after she helped them out, displaying her skills in the process. She had long, black hair, and was by far the most athletic member of the EDS. T had built her several gadgets to complement this, including retractable shields that attached to her wrists and shoes that utilized maglev technology.

Fitz Ireland (who was actually Dutch, not Irish) was easily the oldest Defender behind John. Born with a birth defect which caused all four of his limbs to stop growing beyond the shoulder and hip joints, he was volunteered for an experimental artificial-limbs program at a Japanese university. The project was successful, and enabled Fitz to live without any handicaps. Eventually, the Japanese government realized his prosthetics could be upgraded and used as weapons, and so Fitz joined T, Suika, and Tach as Defenders before the official creation of the EDS.

Before becoming a Defender, Andrews McGuire lived with his wife in their fancy mansion in the North Carolina countryside. He was best friends with John, because they both had been pilots in the US military, but he stayed behind when John and his girlfriend Crystal went into space. They didn’t return for six years. When they finally did come back, they found a grief-stricken Andrews living alone with 3-year-old Trevor, and they learned his wife had died from cancer two years prior. Determined to fix himself, Andrews took Trevor and time-traveled to 2018; John and Crystal decided to stay behind. Sixteen years in the future and in need of desperate help, Andrews convinced the now-much-older John to join them, despite T being against the idea. After the official creation of the EDS, John, Crystal, and their 14-year-old daughter Cynthia moved to Japan. Ever since, they’ve helped raise Trevor, and John Marring has become a full-fledged member of the Earth Defense Sector.

Now that we got that out of the way- let the wild ride begin.

Chapter One

So… sorry for asking again, but… what was it Tach told you after you gave The Speech? Suika asked T.

Following the prevention of the alien invasion, T had delivered The Speech, which formalized the creation of the Earth Defense Sector. After that, Tach had found T alone and asked him what his real name was- not the TechnoDude, not T, but his real name. He’d never told anyone, and the memories of the days he’d had a family were too much to bear, but he figured he needed to tell someone.

So he’d told Tach. He wanted Tach to be the only one who knew, and so far, she’d kept the secret. But Suika was still suspicious, and T hated for him to be thinking he was up to something.

Hence Suika kept bringing up The Speech.

Hence T was now beyond slightly annoyed.

Look, it was nothing important, said the vigilante-turned-hero, not looking at Suika. If it was something really that worthwhile, I’d have told you. But I didn’t, so drop it. Please.

T… Suika began.

I already said, just don’t, Suika. T thought he could feel the memories literally stabbing him in the chest.

Okay then, just… wanted to ask. We’re all part of this team, and we don’t want you to separate yourself from us.

There was a slight pause before Suika sighed and said, Well, we’re all meeting in the main area in a bit, so if you’d join us, that would be excellent. I have a feeling it has to do with the intel the Minister sent us.

Yeah, I’ll be there in a sec, T said. Just remember to keep an eye on the power cords; wouldn’t want Trevor eating one again.

I’ll try, Suika said with a smile. He left the door between the balcony and the rest of the base open behind him.

Upon entering the meeting area, Suika found John and Andrews flopped on a couch, going on (again) about something that happened in the Middle East a while back. Trevor was playing with Tach, dangerously close to a power cord, and Fitz was toying with the wiring in his metal right arm. Suika took a seat next to John and another girl he couldn’t quite name, but it looked like…

John, why’d you bring Cynthia?

Why not? the grey-haired American replied. She wants to be a Defender one day, so I figured now might be a decent time to get her introduced.

Crystal was okay with this? Suika asked skeptically.

Hell no. If I’d even asked her, Cynthia would’ve been grounded for a month. So far as Crys’ concerned, we’re out bowling.

Dad, you’ve never bowled a lane in your life, his daughter mentioned, unhelpfully.

Gotta start somewhere.

John, this is classified information. The Minister would never want anyo-

Jace, dim the lights, and access computer file PH-802 using code B4-PH417, T ordered to the computerized assistant as he strode into the room. Jace was the Siri-esque AI personality created by T years ago to help him fight crime. At first, it had only been able to interact with T through his helmet. Now, Jace had full control over the base’s computers and could be voice-activated by anyone on the team at any time.

And toast me a Pop-Tart, I’m starving, T added.

In the British voice programmed by T, Jace responded from a speaker on the wall, Opening computer file PH-802, dimming meeting area lights, and toasting one Pop-Tart.

Make it two, Jace, Tach added as she tickled Trevor.

Oooh, I didn’t know about this. One for me too! shouted Cynthia in amazement.

Voice unrecognized, Jace reported. Andrews shook his head.

Three Pop-Tarts, Jace. And add previous voice to the database.

Heck, make it five, threw in John. Both Cynthia and Andrews gave him a look.

Dimming meeting area lights, opening computer file PH-802, adding voice to database, and toasting five Pop-Tarts, Jace reported. Sir, we are now out of Pop-Tarts. Shall I add a restock to your to-do list?

Yeah, go for it, T said offhandedly as the lights dimmed and everyone crowded around the wall-length computer, which shone with a document labeled PH-802: New Potential Threats.

Government sent this down a few hours ago, said we should probably take a look at it, T reported. They were concerned about one of these of crazies in particular. Jace, open attached file on Saeko Nejire. Without anyone having to touch anything, the computer automatically pulled up the file. The first thing anyone saw was an Asian woman with long, wild blue hair, piercing blue eyes, an insane smile, and, of all things, a monocle.

I wish our computer could do that, Cynthia whispered to John.

Nejire used to work for the Minister, until a couple of years ago when she went nuts and disappeared, T said, reading off the file. "According to this, she was a head weapons designer during something called the ‘Silent Reaper Project.’ I have no idea why or how she’s all of a sudden become such a top-level threat, but this is as complete a readout as we’re gonna get. Apparently, when she disappeared, so did most of her information. For some reason, she’s recently come back out into the open, so we do have some idea of where she might be."

Why would that be important? Fitz asked. Even though he spoke only Dutch, a universal translator gifted by the aliens allowed the others to understand what he was saying. Or, more accurately, the translator put it in a language everyone knew, but actually understanding Fitz Ireland was a completely different matter. Who cares where this gal is? She hasn’t hurt anyone.

"Actually, it’s very important, because she hasn’t hurt anyone yet, and we need to find her ASAP before she does, T said. Several people at the top level are convinced she is behind the recent bombings in this area, and that’s only some of the damage she could apparently cause."

That does seem pretty important, now that you say it.

T, what’s the risk level for this operation? John asked.

Looking directly at Suika, T said, The usual.

What’s usual, dad? Cynthia whispered.

Low.

John hated lying.

Apparently Nejire could be on the move again, which means we plan to roll out and find her tomorrow, T continued. We’ll have more details later (hopefully), and we’ll brief more when it isn’t darker than my humor outside. There was a pause.

This could legitimately get dangerous. We don’t know what this woman’s capable of.

The dead silence was interrupted by the toaster dinging. Pop-Tarts ready, sir, Jace reported. Fitz left everyone else staring hard at the floor to retrieve the goods.

Suika shook his head. By the looks of this report, we’re walking in blind, and the Minister’s only sending us in because the government is too scared to do it themselves. That and the fact that we’re completely capable of doing this the right way. This perked T up a bit; the right way usually meant lots of cool gadgets and explosives and stuff.

Don’t worry, I’ve already got a bunch of surprises ready for Saeko, T replied. He was the one who built and maintained all of the Defenders’ equipment, which was a fairly large collection of assorted items. T was the one who designed the standard Defenders uniform, which was worn by everyone and almost completely bulletproof. He was also responsible for building his signature electrically-charged spatula, as well as Suika’s (exaggeratedly oversized) gun, helmet, and personal assistant Rob (Who, though T would never admit it, had a better-programmed personality than Jace.).

T was, in addition to all the aforementioned stuff, the upgrader of Fitz’s prosthetics, which included extra strength, foot jets, and a Pop-Tart dispenser in case anyone got hungry. Fitz himself returned with Jace’s pastries, and the aroma snapped everyone out of their reverie. Trevor clapped in celebration of Fitz’s express delivery. Fitz shot him a wide grin.

Once everyone had finished their snacks, John and Cynthia headed back home, and Andrews started to get Trevor ready for bed. Tach and Fitz went to bed as well (Not in the same bed, mind you, different ones). Suika knocked on the door of T’s sacred work area, the Cache. Inside, he found T blasting techno music and putting the finishing touches on a pair of shoes that would make all other sneakers jealous.  T was also doing some of his signature dance moves and acapella-ing along to whatever he was playing. (He usually did this.) He looked kinda like a rythemized version of an inflatable balloon advertiser.

What’re you working on? Suika asked as he leaned against the doorframe.

Nothing much, just upgrading the output optimization vectors and cushioning headings on Tach’s kickers. You need something?

Suika had no idea what that meant. Nah, more just curious what my favorite hero’s up to. The bass on whatever T was blasting dropped so hard Suika thought his head would implode.

Looks like everything’s normal around here, he said with a smirk. I was getting ready to head to sleep, and… I figured I’d come to say goodnight. Without thinking, he gave T a hug, which made them both feel weirdly warm inside. So, goodnight!

Goodnight, Suika, T called as Suika left the room. Then he turned and resumed his work. He had no idea what that was all about, but Suika was right; everything was normal.

--    --    --

...On the 14th, there was another bombing, this time near the town of Changchun, China. Investigators are unsure how the bombs were set, and early reports indicate little useful evidence in the leftover ordinance. Incomplete sources say that, thus far, fifteen have been found dead, and at least one hundred and six others are injured. Several sources claim this bombing is related to the three others which have occurred within the last month in Asia- one in Japan and two others in different districts of China- but officials have yet to say whether or not they have reason to believe the bombings are connected. The total death toll has now reached over one hundred and fifty. Government representatives from Japan, China, South Korea, and Bhutan have, however, released statements that they will all send someone searching for these attackers, regardless of any connection. Any quotes from witnesses or Chinese residents were unavailable at press time, but this story will continue to be updated.

-Fredrick Farmsworth, North Carolina Herald (originally published May 16, 2019)

--      --      --

It was about nine at night when John and Cynthia finally got home. When they came through the door, Crystal Marring was greeted by an overly-excited Cynthia, which was uncommon, so she knew something was up. Once Cynthia had gone off to shower, Crystal joined John on the couch.

Hey, hon, how was your game of bowling? she asked, almost sure they hadn’t actually been bowling. John, who’d only ever seen bowling once on TV, tried to come up with some convincing ad-libbing.

The final score was… um… 282 to 269. I was leading, but then, uh, Cynth scored a goal in the eighth inning and tied it up, and then… that sneaky little girl beat me in overtime.

Crystal had been in bowling club in high school, so she didn’t believe a word of what John said.