A guard came running up the stairs toward them, shouting nonsense orders. Evidently someone had taken the initiative to open a weapons closet, as this one brandished an automatic rifle. Ray gave him no chance to do more than shout and gesture with the weapon. He leapt at the man: a kick tore the weapon from the man’s hands, a following punch sent the man tumbling backward down the steps ahead of them. As they reached the ground floor, Ray ripped away the rifle, dangling from its strap, from the unconscious guard. He pointed the muzzle at the guard.

“We’re not here to kill anyone,” Barbara reminded Ray. “Just to get the Highwayman.” The confusion of the situation threatened to overwhelm them. She felt lost here, but tried to show none of it. She doubted that she was successful.

“Yeah,” Ray was saying, “but they don’t exactly seem to mind trying to kill us, and I’m not intending to let them.” Hefting the rifle and setting it against his shoulder, he sent a spray of gunfire chattering down the length of the prison hall. “Just saying hello,” he told Barbara and Michelle. “Maybe the rest of them will keep their heads down now.”

“Seriously, Director, what’s up with the ultraviolence?” Michelle asked tartly. After they got Bruckner out of his cell, they encountered more guards on the way to Mollie’s portal. Billy Ray didn’t hold back meting out punishment to the guards. Michelle winced as flesh met metal grating.

“You know I can take care of that without anyone getting hurt,” she continued. Chunks of plaster flew off the wall as bullets hit. Bruckner and Babel both ducked, but Barbara caught a piece of flying plaster on her neck. It sprayed blood onto her white shirt collar.

Billy Ray looked over his shoulder at Michelle. There was a gleeful expression on his face.

He’s really loving this, she thought.

“I need you to protect Bruckner and Babel,” he replied. “How I get my job done isn’t up for debate.”

“I know, but I can do two things at the same…”

“Are we going to have a discussion or are we getting the hell out of here?” he asked. He’d already turned his attention back to the guards. His muscles flexed under his jumpsuit as he threw another guard over the railing into the courtyard below.

“Get behind that corner,” she commanded Barbara and Bruckner. To Billy Ray she said, “Then let’s give them a target.”

She stepped out into the line of fire. Instantly, a barrage of bullets blasted her. It was glorious. All of the power and none of the pain.

Explosions, gunfire, and shouting were not conducive to Mollie’s concentration. Every time she got a handle on the Cosmodrome another concussion would echo around the corner to slap her silly and shatter her concentration.

“We can leave anytime,” said Ray.