“Then why haven’t you done it already?” Adam replies. “If nothing can stand in the way of Mogadorian Progress, why aren’t you making any?”

“Maybe because I never had a pretty trueborn boy’s face to use as a battering ram.”

Marina and I reach the nearest turret. Together, we climb up the steps on the back of the blaster. The thing looks like a mounted jackhammer. There is a windshield with a crosshairs placed over the barrel. There are two handles for turning the gun, with triggers that look like the brakes of a bicycle set next to them.

“Will you be able to fire this thing?” I whisper to Marina.

“Aim, squeeze, shoot,” Marina whispers back. “It’s pretty intuitive, Six.”

“All right,” I reply. “Hold on.”

The gun turret requires two hands to operate. Even though all the Mogs are facing away from us, I don’t want to go visible and chance one of them glancing back and ruining our ambush. I carefully place my hand on the back of Marina’s neck before letting go of her hand. This way, she’s able to operate the turret while the two of us still remain invisible. Slowly, Marina starts moving the turret so that it’s pointed at the Mogs. The gun needs oiling—it makes a metallic whine when she moves it. I wave my free hand in the air and quickly summon a strong gust of wind to cover the sound.

“Let me give you a preview of what you’re in for,” Phiri is saying. She’s got Adam right in front of the invisible barrier now, her goons forcing him onto his knees. She unwraps the bandages around one of her hands, revealing horribly charred flesh. “This is what the Loric shield does when we mistakenly run up against it.”

“You should be more careful,” Adam replies.

At a nod from Phiri, the two warriors grapple Adam into a half-bent position, securing his arm so that they can press it against the force field.

Phiri leers down at Adam. “There are rumors about you, Sutekh. They say you’re part Garde now. Maybe you’re just what we need to get into the Sanctuary. Maybe a freak like you will short-circuit the force field and today will be the day we enter the Sanctuary in the name of Beloved Leader.”

“One way or another, today’s your last day at the Sanctuary,” Adam replies through gritted teeth. “I promise you that.”

Adam’s words make Phiri hesitate. She glances back towards our ship, suddenly realizing that maybe Adam didn’t come alone. She’s too late.

Marina has the turret lined up on the crowd of Mogs.

“Ready?” she whispers to me.

“Light ’em up.”

Marina’s invisible hands squeeze down the turret’s triggers. The gun roars to life with such force that I’m nearly knocked off the back. I manage to cling to Marina so that she doesn’t turn visible. The closest group of Mogs don’t even have a chance to turn around as glowing columns of sizzling blaster fire pummel their backs, turning them immediately to ash.