The giant knelt in the shadows. That last clash with the guards hurt him. Wounds upon wounds. They knew he was here. It was just a matter of time before they found him and got enough guards to overwhelm him. And now after that explosion they would kill him for sure.

He had one chance: to get to the tunnels. He knew the underground. He spent his days as a boy exploring the vast subterranea. He just had to get down there. It was his last hope for escape. He looked out from behind the tree, out of the dark forest and into the night. The town was off in the distance and a few lights were on.

"Aaron—we know you're there. Reveal yourself. Surrender. In the name of the Alliance,” a voice boomed from the darkness.

They used his name. His real name. It should not have surprised him but he still felt a deep pang of shame. That was his. Maybe the last thing he could claim. And now it was gone.

He saw a short burst of light and he knew instinctively that they had shot off a gas grenade. And another. This wasn't just the local militia; the Champions were here. He wondered if he knew any of them. And then he realized this was his last chance.

Branches began to crack and fall. Shock-troopers rappelled down from above— probably from hover-cars. Dogs barked, ever closer. The giant ran. Whatever cover he had would be gone in a second. Better to run, he thought. Better than losing a moment. There was an opening to the tunnel about a mile from here. If he could just evade them he might have a chance. He ran through the forest at full tilt. A shock-trooper fell on top of him. He batted the man away, sending him flying through the brush. A second man fell, brandishing a knife but he was also dispatched. A third man who was aiming a laser cannon at him fell under the giant's boot.

“Aaron, surrender. You cannot escape,” the voice called again.

The dark forest filled with gas. The giant held his breath as he bolted forward smashing a shock-trooper in the face and grabbing his gas mask. It fit snugly on the giant. Laser fire illuminated the gas-filled underbrush.

He tripped over something— a man. He fell to the ground and five shock-troopers were on top of him. He felt a taser pressed against his ribs and a jolt of electricity zoomed through him. But he got up shaking off two troopers, bashing another in the head with a quick fist. A fourth was attempting a chokehold but the giant's thick neck was too much. He ran forward letting a passing tree branch rip the trooper off his neck.

He emerged from the smoke-filled forest into a clearing. In the distance was a pile of rubble he knew concealed an opening to the maze of underground tunnels. If he could reach it, he might be able to escape. He bolted forward. A hover-car whizzed overhead from over the forest. A shining blur emerged from it. A blur wearing a cape. A Champion.

The ground erupted next to him as laser cannon blasts struck. He broke left to avoid them. In the distance another pack of shock-troopers ran toward him. He increased his pace.

"Crusher!" a woman shouted. He recognized her voice. It was Agent Striker. "It is time to surrender."

The giant stopped and looked directly at Striker in the distance.

“Let me talk to Freedom,” he yelled.

But it was too late. A line whipped through the air curling around his left leg. And then another around his right. He could feel the electrical current snaking through. He was beginning to tense up. Striker was aiming her laser cannon. He could shake off these shock-troopers and maybe sprint to the tunnel. But then he looked up at the caped woman. He would have to go through her to get away. And though he knew he could, the thought of hurting her stopped him in his tracks. And that pause was all they needed. He stood as the shock-troopers piled on. Blasts of electricity burst through his body. He fell to the ground under the squads of troops. And the night disappeared into darkness.