Superior mess

The sky still burned where the last of the alien craft had fallen, streaks of fire carving scars across the horizon. Superiorgirl dropped hard onto the cracked pavement and rubble, the impact sending a dull shock through her already aching body. Her cape lay torn and heavy behind her, boots scuffed, uniform tattered and torn, breath coming in sharp, uneven pulls as the sounds of distant battle faded into an uneasy silence. She had driven them back—at least for now, but every muscle trembled with exhaustion, her strength drained from hours of relentless fighting under a dimmed sun. For a rare moment, she let herself sit, head bowed, eyes half-closed, gathering what little energy she could as smoke drifted lazily through the ruined street. A shadow fell across her, then another. The low, guttural clicks of alien voices snapped her eyes open as a squad of the invaders emerged from the haze, their weapons humming with cruel purpose.