On the battle-scarred planet of Ceniza, the last human ran for his life. He darted around broken colonnades and weaved through half-collapsed pavilions. Hunting him, somewhere in the ruins of the City Angelique, was Vordok.

 

Billy’s heart pounded. Dread Vordok, the Slayer of Humanity. First he had wiped out Earth and the Prime Colonies on Titan and Mars. Then the unstoppable warrior unleashed a wave of destruction throughout the galaxy. Finally, just a few turns of the sky ago, Vordok arrived on Ceniza.

 

Now, only Billy Maresca remained.

 

He ran on. What else could he do? Vordok would not stop until he’d reduced Billy’s body to ash, as he’d done with everyone else on the planet. Billy’s friends and family and even his teachers had all been dusted.

 

If Billy could only reach the sewers… Yes, in that maze of tunnels he’d be safe. Except for the mutant rats, of course. But he’d rather face a horde of rodents the size of pigs than go up against Vordok and his blitzer cannon.

 

When he reached the red stone of the Fire Temple, he paused to catch his breath. From here, a quick dash into the courtyard and the main sewer entrance would be in sight. He edged along the wall, the rough bricks scraping at his palms, and peeked round the corner.

 

His heart froze.

 

Up there, on the ancient comms tower, Vordok’s enormous silhouette was framed against the burnt-orange sky. The barrel of his blitzer cannon flashed as it caught the light of the sun. No one had gone up against that fearsome weapon and survived. Billy ducked back.

 

Fortunately, Vordok had been looking the other way. But how was Billy going to make it to the sewers without being dusted? Come on, Billy. Think.

 

A distraction. Yes, that’s what he needed. Something to throw. But his pockets were empty. And then an idea came; if he lured Vordok down here, he could double back around the temple and reach the sewer from the other side.

 

He crept closer to the corner. “Hey, Vordok,” he called out. “You’re a smelly-pants!”

 

Vordok’s deep, metallic voice boomed, “That’s not true! Your insult to my silver pantaloons will be your last mistake, Billy Maresca, for now I know where you are!”

 

But Billy was already zipping back the way he had come. From behind, he heard Vordok’s menacing cackle. Ignore it, he told himself.

 

The sun blinded him when he turned a corner of the Fire Temple. Somehow, he kept going until he rounded the last corner and found himself in the courtyard. Yes.

 

Two heartbeats in front, the sewer entrance gaped. The hole was just big enough for him to clamber inside. A quick sprint across the open ground and he’d be safe. Vordok had fallen for his ruse.

 

Billy ran. The entrance to the sewer beckoned. “Come, Billy,” it seemed to say. “You can make it. You’re the best.”

 

He was no more than a couple of strides from the hole when a blast from Vordok’s blitzer cannon struck him in the back. He crumbled to the floor and, as he writhed in pain, he heard Vordok's mocking words-

 

“My vengeance is complete. I have vanquished all humans everywhere.”

 

Billy died.

 

Then he got up and dusted himself down. “Hey,” he said, “That wasn’t fair.”

 

“Of course it was fair,” said Zhi Nkoski. She was wiping her forehead with her sleeve. The day was hot and they were both sweating. In Zhi’s other hand, the dart-gun shone metallic purple.

 

“You shot me in the back!” Billy reached down and picked up the dart.

 

“Duh!” said Zhi. “Vordok shoots people in the back. Everyone knows that.”

 

“Yeah, well, can I be Vordok tomorrow?”

 

“Sure. Hey, my dad’s cooking shortbread. Scottish biscuits. Wanna come over?”

 

“Was your dad really born on Earth, Zhi?”

 

The pink sun dipped in the sky. Billy and Zhi made their way back home through the crowded streets of the City Angelique on the peaceful world of Ceniza, through the elegant colonnades and newly-constructed pavilions.

 

Together.