"One… two… and three!" shouted Eden, sitting at the piano.
David was on the electric drums, Lamar on guitar, and Alya on vocals (just for fun, since Alya can't really sing).
The music began.
In the sky, the Calamity, which had been heading straight for the unconscious Tony, suddenly dove into the sand, drawn to the sound.
The moment it changed course, Sally ran out to retrieve her son and bring him back home.
Sophie was waiting for them there.
Tony, with a big smile on his face, made a sign to her:
— "See, Sophie… I didn't even cry."
— "Yes," Sophie replied, "you've become a real hero."
And Tony fainted again.
Sally quickly laid him in his room, searching for a solution.
In the living room, Mrs. Bones prayed softly:
— "Lord… You've taken my dear husband, as well as Rick and Katy… but please, I beg you, don't take little Tony from us…"
Meanwhile, Eden, Lamar, Alya, and David were giving it their all.
They were set up in the center of the base, arranged in a semi-circle, as if giving a real concert.
Everyone could hear them.
Long-legged Calamities were running toward them, followed by an underground Calamity.
The group played louder and louder to draw them in.
The underground Calamity, rushing toward them, crushed and even devoured the long-legged Calamities in its path.
— "Eden… Eden… Eden…" repeated Lamar, worried.
— "If we don't do something, we're going to get eaten!"
— "Wait a bit," replied Eden. "It's not the time yet."
The monsters were dangerously close.
— "I don't like this…," said Lamar. "It's not the time yet, you lunatic!"
— "Just wait a bit longer!" repeated Eden.
— "Wait for what?! You want us to get eaten or what?!"
The Calamity sped up.
David snapped: he began hitting his drums like a madman, completely unleashed.
Eden, Lamar, and Alya, stunned, let him go on.
The Calamity, increasingly enraged, charged straight at them.
— "You've driven the poor guy crazy with your nonsense!" yelled Lamar.
— "No I haven't!" replied Eden. "Keep going, David! Burn with passion! Your son's life depends on it!"
David's clothes seemed to ignite, and it looked as if he had multiple arms striking the drums.
— "No, but now, Eden, you're showing your true face… you're the devil himself!" said Lamar.
The Calamity drew near.
— "Three… two… one… Now's the moment!" shouted Eden.
He pulled a lever, activating a second trap buried in the sand.
The Calamity was electrocuted, thrown into the air, and crashed into a tangle of chains.
The group ended their concert, happy to have captured it.
A call from Sally rang out.
— "Hello, David!"
— "Yes, honey, we just captured the Calamity."
— "Honey… it's Tony. He's dying!"
At the house, just before this call, Tony had woken up.
He was coughing up blood and writhing in pain, alone in his room.
When Sophie, Sally, and Mrs. Bones came in, he forced a smile to keep them from worrying, even hiding the bloodstains.
— "Mom, don't worry. Everything's fine… superheroes don't get sick. I just need a little rest…"
But the pain was too much.
He spat more blood and screamed.
At the second base, David delivered the news.
— "The Calamity is captured," said Eden. "Now we have to get the core."
— "Okay, I'll kill it," replied Lamar.
— "No!" protested David. "It has to stay alive, otherwise the core will rot. If it dies, the core will be lost."
The Calamity, still unconscious, lay stunned.
— "Can you make a catalyst?" asked Eden.
— "It might work," David replied. "But I've never made one before… I don't know if it'll work."
— "It better work, your son's life depends on it!"
— "Alright…" said David.
A few minutes later, David came back with a glass cube filled with a transparent liquid.
— "It's not very stable, so go easy," he said, handing it to Lamar.
— "Don't worry, I got this," said Lamar.
The Calamity was hanging on the upper floor.
— "You ready, Alya?" asked Eden.
Crouched, two kitchen knives in hand, Alya focused her energy.
— "I think this is the moment… it's waking up."
She stayed silent, motionless.
— "Alya, it's looking at us! Now or never!"
The Calamity roared, jaws wide open.
Alya's blades changed color.
She leapt into its mouth and sliced it from side to side.
The core fell.
Lamar dove to retrieve it and seal it in the catalyst.
But as he rejoined the others, his hand slipped: the cube shattered, the core shocking them all.
— "Lamar! You have to put it in your mouth!" exclaimed Eden.
— "What?! No! I didn't sign up for this!" protested Lamar.
— "It's the only way to keep it alive," explained David. "It needs a stable environment, like… a mouth."
Lamar grimaced.
Then, thinking of Tony, he gave in:
— "Okay… I'll do it."
— "Come on, Lamar!" encouraged Eden and David.
— "And if I swallow it?" he asked, hesitating.
— "You won't risk anything," replied David.
Eden slipped the core into his mouth.
— "There, quick and easy."
— "You won't risk anything… if you swallow just one drop," added David. "It'll clean your stomach. But if you swallow a second… your blood will turn white, your body will disintegrate, and… you'll die."
Lamar, terrified, glared at Eden.
Eden, smiling, pulled out a big syringe filled with transparent liquid and approached.
— "Come on, Lamar, over here."
Seeing the syringe, Lamar ran off.
— "If we don't do this," warned David, "the Calamity will regenerate inside your body… and you'll explode!"
And after hearing that, Lamar thought to himself:
"All this is your fault, Eden."
Eden then said:
— "We're going to inject you in the cheek to reach the core. The liquid will stop its growth."
Lamar began to cry.
Holding the syringe, Eden added with a smile:
— "Be strong, buddy."
After the injection, they hurried off: Lamar on one bike, Eden and Alya on another, and David in the vehicle.
On the way, they came across long-legged Calamities. Eden shot at them and shouted:
— "Lamar! What are you waiting for? Destroy them with your laser!"
But Lamar, not having used his metal arm in a long time, couldn't get it to work as before.
At the sight of a Calamity, he began hitting it with his foot and metal arm, hoping to activate the arm.
"Come on! Work! Come on, come on, come on!" he thought.
As one of the creatures approached, he struck his arm again… and it finally activated. Relieved, Lamar thought to himself:
"Oh, thank God… you work!"
Eden, having seen him, shouted:
— "Took you long enough! Now you can blast them!"
Lamar glared at the Calamities, which looked like giant chickens running after him, and thought to himself:
"Me, I like my chicken well done!"
— "ATOMIC CANNONS: STELLAR DISINTEGRATION!"
But… nothing happened.
His bike broke down, and all the Calamities turned toward him, ignoring Eden and David. Lamar was left behind alone. (It was like he was cursed that day.)
Seeing this, he gave a weary smile and gently tapped his arm.
"Please, metal arm… I can't promise you much, but if we make it out, I'll upgrade you. Promise."
At that very moment, his arm reactivated! He stretched it behind him to strike the Calamities, but the blow sent him flying into the air… toward the house. He didn't understand anything and couldn't control his movements.
Eden, Alya, and David also barely made it back in time.
Once there, they rushed to make the antidote to save little Tony, lying motionless, as if dead. Sophie, at his bedside, was crying:
— "It's all my fault… Tony… I promise I'll always play with you. So please… don't go…"
After David prepared the remedy, they placed Tony in the examination room. Eden and David did everything they could to save him, but nothing… He still wasn't moving. His heart had stopped.
Eden looked at his watch and said in an icy voice:
— "Five fifty-two p.m. Time of death."
Sally entered the room, screaming:
— "No… no! Not Tony… he wasn't even twelve… no… it's not true! Not my Tony!"
Sophie and Mrs. Bones, standing at the door, heard the news.
— "No! Not my little brother!" cried Sophie.
Mrs. Bones, tears in her eyes, murmured:
— "Oh no… not this… not again…"
Sally screamed again:
— "David! No! Say something, for God's sake!"
David, his gaze cold, approached Tony and said:
— "Come on, Tony… it's not over. You've always dreamed of becoming a hero, and your journey isn't ending now."
— "Come on… wake up, Tony…"
In Tony's mind, everything was white. He could hear voices:
— "Come on, Tony!"
— These voices… I know them… it's my family… Mom, Dad, Sophie, Mr. Eden, Mr. Lamar, Mrs. Alya, Mrs. Bones, Mr. Rick, Mrs. Katy… and Mr. Bones… I'm here, but… I can't see you…
Suddenly, a deeper voice resounded:
— "Ha ha ha… it's over. You will never speak to them again. You will never feel them again. You will never see them again."
— Who are you? asked Tony.
— Knowing who I am won't help you. It's over for you. I came to get you.
— No. Dad and Mom always told me to ask the name of the people I talk to. So, if you want to keep talking, tell me your name. Otherwise, I won't talk to you anymore.
— What?! You dare contradict me?! Do you know who you're talking to, kid?!
— Oh, I know! You're Kikikoulou! said Tony.
— Kikikoulou? Who's that?
— My dad told me he's the one who comes to get people when they stop moving.
At that moment, Lamar, Mrs. Bones, David, Sophie, and Sally all repeated:
— Come on, Tony! Come on! Come on!
The voice chuckled:
— I'm afraid it's not your time yet, kid. I'll do you a favor… They call me… "Him."
— Him? repeated Tony.
— Yes… and tell Eden the next one is him.
Just when everyone thought it was over and was about to leave the room, Mrs. Bones said:
— God… take me instead…
Suddenly, Tony opened his eyes, stood up, went next to Sally, and said word for word:
— Mom… I'm hungry.
— Don't bother me, Tony… she replied automatically.
Everyone exclaimed:
— Tony?!
— Yes! he replied.
Eden, pale, said:
— Oh my god… Tony's ghost! He came to get someone to go with him!
Everyone started running away to hide. Mrs. Bones, who had just said "God, take me instead," thought to herself:
"I didn't think it would be this fast…"
— No, I'm not a ghost! protested Tony.
— We don't believe you, Tony! Don't talk! shouted Eden.
— Before, no… but now, I talk, replied Tony.
— My little Tony… you couldn't hear before, said Lamar.
— Before no… but now, yes! And very well!
— I can feel it… it's Tony, said Sally.
— Are you sure, honey? asked David.
— Be a man, David! He's our son!
— Yeah… I also know it's Tony! added Sophie.
— Ah yes, it's him! How's it going, champ? shouted David.
They all hugged in a family embrace.
— Mission accomplished, declared Eden.
— Mr. Eden… when I was sleeping, I met "Him," said Tony.
— "Him"? replied Eden.
— Yes. And he told me to tell you that… the next one is you.
Hearing that, Eden's face turned cold and he left the room.
Lamar caught up with him:
— You know how kids imagine things…
Eeden was about to answer when the house was shaken by a violent tremor. Everyone rushed to the control room.
— It's the Calamity! declared David. Normally, it's impossible for it to do that… but I think it's too late…
— Can we get a visual? asked Eden.
In the underground control room, David pressed a button. A curtain opened, revealing a diamond window. And there, facing them…
The gigantic eye of the Calamity was staring at them, and Eden asked:
— Is it raining?
David replied:
— Yes, it's raining… but how could that help us defeat this Calamity?
— Nothing on Earth can.
Eeden smirked.
— Nothing on Earth, yes… But in the sky? We won't know until we try.
He headed toward the room to take a motorbike. Lamar joined him and said:
— Eden, it's true it came from a kid's mouth, but you shouldn't take it lightly.
— No, it's nothing. I've done this all my life, I'm not going to kick the bucket now. Don't worry, old brother.
Lamar grabbed the bike.
— Eden, I'll do it.
But Eden, in a calm and imposing tone, replied:
— Lamar… leave the bike.
Alya stood in front of the bike to block him. Eden stepped to the side, his gaze cold, and went out. He revved the engine.
— I've always run from you and fought you… And know this: if it's today… I won't go down that easily.
The gigantic Calamity started following him. Lamar called:
— Hello Eden, can you hear me?
— Yes, old brother.
— You've got only five minutes to do it, Eden. Are you sure you can?
A silence passed, then Eden replied:
— Who do you think I am? I'm Eden, the Calamity Exterminator. And what do I have in front of me? A Calamity.
So prepare the beers, because tonight, we feast!
Lamar continued:
— David said if it's going to have an effect, it'll be over there, at point X. It pulls everything within a 30-kilometer radius, so it's impossible for you to miss it.
The communication was cut. The Calamity went berserk. Eden made hand signs and cut his palm. Some kind of trampolines burst from the ground. Eden jumped; the Calamity swallowed the bike and dove into the ground. Eden landed on the trampoline and was propelled into the air.
— Faster…
He made more signs, and two frog-shaped Calamities latched their tongues onto the base's walls, propelling him even higher. He shot at a lightning-shaped object he had noticed the first time he came. The object broke free and he caught it.
Below, the Calamity positioned itself in the center of the destroyed base and opened its mouth wide. Eden was right above. Lamar, Sophie, David, Tony, Mrs. Bones, and Sally counted:
— Five… four… three…
Eeden charged his strike, lifting the object.
— Take this, you big living sausage!
— Two… one…
— DIVINE WRATH!
A titanic silhouette formed behind him in the clouds, also charging an attack.
— CELESTIAL PUNISHMENT!!!
Lightning struck the Calamity. The shockwave propelled Eden into the air, unconscious. Alya caught him from a long airplane ladder moving away from the area. Eden found himself in the place Tony had been just before him.
— Oh no… I'm dead.
A voice echoed:
— Really… you must be crazy to do what you just did.
— Who are you? You came to get me?
— No. It's not your time yet.
— Then can you tell me about my past? Who's the woman who wrote to me? Where's Kim? And who really is Alya?
— You'll find answers by seeking your first death.
Eeden woke up in Alya's arms. To their great surprise, another Calamity, even bigger, emerged from its slumber. Its size surpassed all the previous ones.
Seeing this, Lamar, who was in the plane sent by the Order to save them, said:
— Hora hora hora… Ho ho… Mommy woke up, and she's not happy at all that we killed her kids.
He jumped from the plane.
— No, wait, what are you doing, Lamar?! Stop, we can sneak away! said Eden.
— You know that's not true. So, keep your promise, said Lamar.
— Ho, Lamar… said Eden.
— Give me a check to lend me your strength, said Lamar.
When Lamar reached Eden, both said:
— Brothers for life, here and even in the afterlife!
Lamar propelled himself toward the giant underground Calamity's mouth.
— ATOMIC CANNONS!
His arm expanded and became huge.
— BIG BANG FLASH!!!
The explosion was so massive it cleared the storm. Eden and Alya boarded the plane. David explained:
— He told us not to tell you about the fourth Calamity… She was asleep when we found her. When Lamar found out, he told us not to inform you and that he'd take care of it. At the time, we thought she'd never wake up… but we were wrong. So… sorry.
From the smoke cloud where the Calamity emerged, they heard:
— Hoorah ha ha ha ha!!!
A silhouette appeared. Everyone looked. It was Lamar, shirtless, his metal arm destroyed by the explosion. He landed, holding something in his arms.
— Look what I brought you…
In his hand: Mr. Bones, holding Alya's sword.
The plane landed. Mrs. Bones and the others ran toward him. Mr. and Mrs. Bones embraced and began to dance. When little Tony approached, Mrs. Bones took a gift from the pilot and discreetly gave it to Mr. Bones.
— Code blue.
Mr. Bones handed the gift:
— Happy birthday, my little Tony!
— You got it wrong, Bones, that's code red. I said code blue, said Mrs. Bones.
— For being good, my little Tony… here's your well-earned surprise, said Mr. Bones.
Everyone rejoiced. Eden asked:
— Mr. Bones, can you explain to us?
— When I was swallowed, I found Alya's sword and clung to it inside its stomach. The sword protected me and kept me alive.
With both bases destroyed, the helicopter took each of them back to their destinations.