Free Resistance by Samit Basu

had,” says Norio. “But a man can change. Sometimes a man has to, when the whole world is at stake.”
    He moves another chair closer, but Tia stops him with a poke of her rifle.
    “Sorry, sorry, I’m just overexcited,” says Norio, raising his visibly shaking hands and placing them, palms down, on the table. “This is just too big for me. I have this plan. It’s all clear in my head, but now that I’m actually here, my tongue is tied in knots. I cannot believe I’m about to embark on this glorious adventure with Aman Sen.
The
Aman Sen.”
    Aman grins. “Relax. I’m much less impressive in person,” he says.
    “Not at all,” says Norio. “You’re exactly what I expected. Azusa?”
    “Yes,” she says.
    And then, in one incredibly swift motion, Norio lunges forward, snake-like, and jabs two fingers into Aman’s throat.
    As Aman falls, unconscious, Norio rises, turns, and snatches the rifle from the Tia standing open-mouthed nearest him. Behind him, Azusa dives to the floor. Aman drops heavily and stays down.
    Rowena screams.
    The two other Tias in the room point their rifles, yelling, but Norio already has his gun pointed at Aman’s head.
    “Stay calm,” he says.
    “What the hell are you doing?” roars Tia.
    “Drop your weapons,” says Norio.
    The Tias glare at him, but obey.
    Azusa springs to her feet and stares at Norio, unable to conceal her complete bafflement.
    “Norio. Listen,” says Tia. “I know you hate supers, but Aman’s the best of them all. He’s Jai’s greatest enemy too. He’s the last person you could have anything against.”
    “Get the guns, Azusa,” says Norio. “Rowena, I’m glad you stayed. You’re coming with us. We’re definitely going to need a doctor.”
    “Stop this. Stop it now,” says Tia. “We can make things right. We can work together.”
    “I don’t think that’s going to work out,” says Norio. “Because, you know, this whole ‘your world is ending’ thing you’ve been hearing about? That’s me, I’m afraid.”
    “You’re supposed to be one of the good guys.”
    “I’m really not,” says Norio. “Sorry.”
    He fires, three times. The Tias turn to dust.
    Rowena screams again.
    “I hope you know what you’re doing,” says Azusa.
    “Are you with me or not?” asks Norio.
    “I am with you… Master,” says Azusa. “Always.”

CHAPTER FIVE
    “So tell me again,” says Uzma, shouting to be heard above the drone of the hoverjet as it flies speedily over the rotting heart of Prague, “why are we here?”
    Ellis makes an expansive gesture. Uzma follows his hand as it moves across the landscape of central Prague; from the smoking ruins of the castle, where ancient gargoyles grimace in the embrace of fast-moving flames, across the sprouting termite hills that used to be the beautiful Mala Strana, over the Charles Bridge, where twin rows of statues stare blankly at petrified tourists and blue-clad guards as they huddle in groups trying to defend themselves against marauding hordes of insect-men, and onwards to the Old Town, where giant bees fly in incredible loops over the shattered Astronomical Clock. The sky is full of buzzing shapes, grotesque amalgamations of human and insect: hands and pincers, antennae and screaming faces, translucent wings and skin overlain with chitin.
    “The future. Brought to you by Utopic,” says Uzma.
    “There’s no evidence this is their work,” says Ellis.
    “Because you’re scared to look hard enough.”
    “If they’re involved, we can be sure it was an accident. There is no reason they should do this deliberately.”
    “There never is, is there?” says Uzma. “What do you want us to do about this?”
    “It’s the end of the world, right?” Ellis is famous for his composure, but the strain is beginning to show. “Prague was completely normal two hours ago. What do I want you to do? Do what superheroes do, Uzma. What else is there?”
    Uzma gives the signal, and the Unit makes its move.
    That