Suddenly something smashed down on the orc’s head, and Brett was there, spinning his steel hammer like it was a children’s toy.

“Move, Rachael!” he yelled as the orc crumpled in front of him. He moved on to the next as she struggled to keep pace, her legs screaming from the extra weight, but she gritted her jaw and fought through the burning muscles, focusing on safety.

They made it to the door of the hospital a few paces ahead of the orcs, and Alice held the door open long enough for them to get in before slamming it shut, barricading it. Letting the crying children climb to the floor and run for their parents, Rachael collapsed against the door as her legs gave out, adrenaline crashing. A hand stretched out in front of her. She looked up at Brett, letting him help her up off the floor and into his strong embrace.

— 3 —

The grounds were overrun with orcs, lurching and moaning as they roamed looking for their prey. Rachael watched with anxiety from a second-floor window, leaning on the sill, forehead pressed against the cool glass. She tried to ignore that each one of the horrible, ruined creatures below her were once humans, each one with their own story. No time for that now. They needed to get to the fence. They needed to block any more of the orcs from getting in, and they needed to clear out the ones that had gotten in already.

“They’re not ready,” Rachael said, disheartened. “I can’t ask them to fight that many, not yet.” She paused. “I’m not ready to lead them. I let them all down, I trapped them here.”

Brett stood behind her silently for a few minutes, before setting something down next to her hand.

“You’re more ready to lead them than you think,” he said as he walked away. She looked down at the Wonder Woman tiara he’d laid there, her fingers wrapping around the metal.

— 4 —

Rachael stood on a chair, pieces of metal Wonder Woman armor strapped over layers of clothing and leather, a mismatch of costumes and protective layers. Her eyes traveled across all of the men, women and children watching her silently, one by one, meeting their eyes. She could feel the fear in the air, but she could also feel their hope. Their faith. Their trust in her.

“You’ve faced every challenge to get this far,” she told them. “No. You’ve defeated every challenge to get this far. You’re not afraid. You’re not weak. You are survivors. Yes, we’re no army. We don’t need to be. You are strong. Every single one of you. You are heroes.”

She looked from face to face, her fingers clutching the tiara.

“I won’t ask you to fight if you don’t want to. I won’t make anyone do anything they don’t want to. But know that we fight to protect our home; to protect our family. This is our family. You are my family—and I will fight to defend you.”