Steel Titan's Arc

Chapter 4 of 5

The three robot wrecks still smoked when a roar split the field. Steel Titan turned. Vulcan had torn free of Hulk's grip. The lava-skinned titan charged toward the tower, where Starium's people had gathered for shelter. Red cracks glowed across his gray hide. Steel Titan started after him, but Stark grabbed his arm. "The fleet's locking onto you," Stark said. His visor flashed a warning. "They've got a tow beam. If you stay planted, they'll drag you up to the ship." A blue column of light snapped down from the clouds and gripped Steel Titan's chest. His feet lifted off the ground. Steel Titan looked from the beam to the tower. Vulcan raised both fists over the crowd. People screamed and pressed against the tower wall. Steel Titan had one choice, and it was the hard one. He could not save himself and them both. "Cut me loose," he told Stark. "I have to reach the people." "That beam will pull you off the planet!" "Then pull it down with me." Steel Titan dug his heels back into the dirt. The beam strained. His metal skin groaned. He reached out, caught the edge of a robot wreck, and hurled it up the beam of light. The wreck slammed into the source above. The tow beam flickered and died. Steel Titan dropped. He hit the ground running. Vulcan's fists were already falling toward the crowd. Steel Titan crossed the field in three strides. He drove his shoulder into Vulcan's side. The titan flew sideways, away from the people, and crashed into open ground. Hulk arrived a breath later, chest heaving. "You left me one hit short," Hulk growled. But he grinned as he said it. He seized Vulcan's leg and swung the titan hard into the dirt. Steel Titan pressed his knee to Vulcan's chest. Heat poured off the lava skin and scorched his metal, but the metal held. "You will not touch them," Steel Titan said. Vulcan snarled and spat sparks. "You cannot guard this rock forever." Hulk pinned the other arm. Together they held the titan down. The people at the tower stopped screaming. Some began to climb back inside. Stark landed beside them, breathing fast inside his suit. "Beam's out. Good throw." His visor scanned the sky. Then it stopped. The blue glow dimmed. "But that stunt lit us up. The ship knows exactly where you are now." Steel Titan followed his gaze. High above, a shadow spread across the clouds. It was not one shape. It was many, and it grew wider as he watched. "The next wave," Stark said. "Not three this time. All of them." Vulcan laughed under Steel Titan's knee. The people were safe for this moment. But the whole fleet was falling toward Starium, and Steel Titan had just shown it the way home.