Wistful Ascending

A superhero space opera for grownups.For fans of Invincible and Marvel Cinematic Universe films who like a little hard science fiction in their superheroes.

If Thor and Harry Dresden combined in a transporter accident.

***

The il'Drach have conquered half a galaxy behind the civilization-ending Powers of their mixed-species children.

Half-human Rohan, exhausted by a decade fighting for their Empire, has paid a secret and terrible price for his freedom.

Now retired, he strives to live a quiet life towing starships for the space station Wistful. His most pressing problems are finding the perfect cup of coffee and talking to a gorgeous shuttle tech without tripping over his own tongue.

A nearby, long-dormant wormhole is opened by a shipful of scared, angry refugees, and the many eyes of the Empire focus uncomfortably on Wistful.

As scientists, spies, and assassins converge, reverting to the monster the Empire created is the surest way to protect his friends. And the surest way to lose them.

"Do you think I have a lot of chest hair? Like, is it something someone would notice?" Wei Li exhaled sharply as she snapped his head back with a crisp left jab.

"Less talking, more sparring. Also, slip punches, don't simply absorb them with your face."

Rohan tapped the side of his face with his hand, a reminder to move his head with each punch. It was something he was fairly good at when he wasn't distracted.

"Seriously, though. What do you think it means when a woman says something about your chest hair?"

"I think it means..."

Wei Li stepped up with her signature move, a sharp left kick to the inside of Rohan's left thigh. It wasn't very damaging by itself, but it would knock her opponents out of their stance, lower their arms, and otherwise set them up for more powerful followup attacks.

Rohan turned his knee inward to take the blow on the front of his thigh instead of the tender inside. He hopped in, directly towards the reptilian Security Chief, covering his head with his right hand, and threw his left elbow towards her temple. "Careful of that inner thigh strike! There's stuff around there I might need soon. I hope."

"By the Nine, you male mammals are always so concerned about your genitals. If you'd keep them retracted like any sane species you wouldn't have these issues."

"Well excuse me for having standard human genitals. It wasn't exactly my choice, you know. I was born this way. Also, how come every time you swear it's by a different number? 'By the Seven.' 'By the Nine.' And always odd."

"We have many pantheons of Gods. It would take you a lifetime to understand the nuances of what each group, taken separately, means, and how they differ. But they do."

Rohan's guard was up, which took a lot of the sting off the punch, but he was too flatfooted to counter. Instead he pivoted back and to his left and tried to reset. Wei Li kept the pressure up, closing quickly on his new position and feinting the low kick again. This time she redirected her leg into a kick up high, right into his face.

"Hey, I might..."

"Don't worry, human, no female interested in your chest hair will care if your face is mottled by a few bruises."

"I think that was mean. Was that mean? Sometimes I can't tell."

"No, Rohan, it was a compliment. On my world a line of males seven miles long would form to hear me sing their praises in such a way. Here, it is wasted on such as you."

"Always the odd numbers. Seven miles. Really, what's that about? Are you allergic to being even?"

She stopped, and her eyes narrowed, putting a chill through Rohan's blood.

"If you ever hear me swearing by an even number, Rohan, run. Because it means things are very, very bad."