Anti Up

Steve was born to play cards.

Everyone has their gifts, of course. The great tinkerers build and destroy. The great lovers inflame and soothe. The great orators rise to lead. But Steve was born to the cards, and they danced in his fingers like live things.

When the Destroyer came, its swarms flitting to swallow stars, the tinkerers argued about weaponry. The lovers clung to their latest conquests as the orators goaded Earth's armies into a hopeless stand.

The Destroyer found Steve waiting among the ice dwarfs.

"Let's talk wagers," said Steve, and his cards rippled in the cold light.