Steel Titan's Arc

Chapter 2 of 5

Vulcan's fist cracked against Steel Titan's jaw. In the same breath, a blue beam burned his back. He staggered between them. Lava heat on one side, cold energy on the other. He had traded blows like this before, on the dead world he left behind. He had lost there. Two enemies, and no way to keep them apart, meant he lost again. He swung at Vulcan and missed. Atlas fired again and drove him to one knee. The robot circled, patient, its chest core glowing white. Vulcan raised both fists over Steel Titan's head. He could not block both. He braced for the end. The ground shook. A green shape crashed down between him and Vulcan. The figure stood eight feet tall, all muscle, torn purple pants hanging off him. He caught Vulcan's falling fists in his hands and held them still. "You look like you could use a hand," the green giant said. He grinned with sharp teeth. Then he threw Vulcan back twenty feet. The lava titan slammed into the dirt. Steel Titan pushed to his feet. He did not know this newcomer. But the giant had not aimed a single blow at him. He aimed everything at Vulcan. That was enough for now. "Who are you?" Steel Titan said. "Name's Banner. Hulk, mostly." He cracked his knuckles. "Heard somebody was burning a planet. Figured I'd say no." Steel Titan understood the gift at once. One enemy each. He could finally split the fight. He pointed at Vulcan. "Take the burning one. He wants Starium in ash." "Gladly." Hulk charged. Steel Titan turned to face Atlas alone. The robot tracked him with cold blue eyes. "Your ally changes nothing," Atlas said. "My order names only you." "Then come get me." Steel Titan ran straight at the beam this time. It struck his chest and slid off his metal skin. He closed the gap. He grabbed Atlas by the arm and swung the robot into the ground. Metal screamed. He pinned Atlas under one knee and hammered the glowing core with his fist. Behind him, Hulk and Vulcan traded blows that shook the whole field. Fire and green fury, far from the tower now. Away from the people. Atlas's core flickered under Steel Titan's fists. The robot went still. But its eyes stayed lit. A thin voice came from the wreck. "Damage logged. Reinforcements requested. Received." Steel Titan froze. "Received from where?" Atlas did not answer. Above them, the dark sky split. Three more blue lights dropped through the clouds, falling toward Starium. More robots. More orders. All of them for him. He stood over the broken Atlas and stared up. He had split the fight and won this round. But Earth had not sent one machine. It had sent a fleet. And they were landing now, near the tower, near the people he swore to guard.