Aiya swore as the largest clawed hand she'd ever seen exploded from the ruined church before her. She had seen some pretty big things in her short years. Hell, they had fought two earlier that day, each the height of a three-story house and about as wide as a bus. But this thing...

"Damn!" she whispered under her breath in awe of the size of the arm, which was easily half the size of one monster from that morning. This thing was going to be fucking massive!

As the head started to emerge, looking to be almost as wide as the entire church floor, Aiya felt her breath leave her.

How the fuck do I kill this?

She knew they only had one, maybe two armour piercing rounds left in the tank, zero nukes and perhaps a handful of grenades. Betty probably had her baby loaded and ready on the back of her truck, but it would be too far away to cause real damage. What the fuck was she going to do?

The ground shook under her feet as a slimy black head decorated with strange stony protrusions started to push its way through the ground and the ruined church.

An acrid smell, something like rotting potatoes and bad meat, hit her nose, and she had to breathe through her mouth so she wouldn't gag.

Suddenly she heard Marvin in her ear, "I think it's time for a beta test, sis." He almost sounded giddy.

Right!

The plasma grenade Marvin had been working on for months was conveniently strapped on her tactical belt. Well, now was as good a time as any. Either it would work, or it wouldn't. Or it would go nuts and kill her too. At least it would be better than this thing eating her.

With a roar and one last shuddering push, the monster's head exploded from the ground sending debris and dust in all directions. Its mouth was opened wide as it exalted in its new found freedom.

Not one to waste an opportunity, Aiya quickly pulled the untested plasma grenade from her belt and deftly tossed it into the behemoth's giant mouth.

For half a heartbeat, she feared it was a dud, that nothing would happen. Her heart stopped completely. It seemed while she stood there staring at the grenade in the creature's mouth, which was now slowly closing. The stink of the beast's breath carried on the wind to her leaving her exposed skin damp with its spit.

She should never have doubted her brother.

Suddenly crackling blue lines of light sizzled chaotically all over the beast's head. They streaked over his eyes, inside its strange slits for nostrils and bounced off its teeth. A sound between a screech like metal on metal and a roar made Aiya feel like her ears must be bleeding.

Crouching low, she watched as it thrashed its head back and forth and honestly looked more pissed off than hurt.

"Fuck! We need more, Marvin!" Aiya could hear the fear in her voice and wanted to smack herself.

Now isn't the time. Fight or die chicky-poo! she scolded herself.

"Find cover!"

It took Aiya a second to realize that it had been Errend's voice and not her brothers. Thankfully it hadn't stopped her from immediately obeying, jumping sideways off the stairs to tuck and roll, pressing her back to the church's foundation as she came to her feet and staying in a low.

Before she had even come to a complete stop, she heard the whistle that was the only warning a tank round had been fired.

She didn't hear the impact over the horrible sound coming from the monster now. It had started to gurgle and screech and snort all at once. Then a keening sound loud enough to make dogs whimper ten miles out finally made Aiya poke her head up and take a look up the stairs.

"Yup," gloated her brother in her ear, "Another beta test for the day. It's a win-win for Marvin! Damn, I am good!" He punctuated each word for emphasis.

Aiya's annoyance at her brother's superego was softened at the sight of black goo oozing from a hole ringed in a blue fire in the middle of the beast's head. Thank you, Earnest! Errend sure did know how to use his tank. Maybe she'd have to start calling him by his real name now. He was earning her respect more every day.

However, the nickname she'd given him due to his earnest nature and intense personality seemed more fitting to her than Errend did. Who the hell calls their kid Errend anyway?

Staring at the dead beast, soaking in the stink of its death, she couldn't help it. She felt her face split into a grin.

Well, so much for being the hero today. It looks like the boys bagged this one. Still, it felt damn good to see that thing dead.

"What the hell was that, Marvin?" Asked Aiya, taking off her sweaty helmet as she headed towards Errend's tank, which was now considerably closer to the church than before.