Cradle disappeared, appearing behind Rain. Rain spun around, swinging with a blade of silver, as the chain whipped toward his head. A dodge. A Harbinger changed course, to lunge right for Cradle, only to stop when an ‘x’ of glowing lines appeared between them. No more slingshot bullets, possibly. It wasn’t the only fence, either. There were enough that one good stomp from Thud, were he still standing, would bowl people over and make them fall into the lines. Not all were easy to see.

I took flight, aiming to go over, and saw Cradle move in the same instant he turned his head my way. I made myself stop, twisting, as the lines appeared.

Sudden appearance, each one sharper than any blade, and capable of cutting through powered defenses.

“I can see you, Rain,” Cradle intoned. He moved twice in quick succession, and a gunshot from one of the Harbingers echoed through the area, the bullet ricocheting and hitting a wall.

Maybe a spot he’d figured Cradle would appear at.

The Harbinger moved to reload, and a line appeared as he moved the weapon. He only grazed it, checked the weapon, then threw it aside, like it was no use.

I kept flying, slow so I wouldn’t run into anything terminal, forcing Cradle to devote some attention to me.

My dad paused in his constant bombardment of the alley to hurl one in Cradle’s direction. Again, Cradle moved. Almost too slow. He was too distracted.

And the maneuver cost my dad. Mukade’s centipedes encircled the corridor, coiling in a quadruple-helix around the alley, braced against the sides so no grenade could redirect or disturb them.

Swansong used her power, vaulting over the scene.

More lines appeared in her path. She used her blast to hurl herself to one side, for a rough landing.

There’s a certain distance these things have to be from us. But they’re still more dangerous than any weapon on this battlefield.

Swansong hurried to my dad’s side, her blasts aimed at the centipede. The blast made her slip.

“Brace her!” I ordered my dad. I was dealing with my own mess. The lines were being concentrated on me, hemming me in, and trying to put me into a position where I couldn’t move without touching one. I saw a route and took a risk, hands going over my head as I dove down, my body as narrow as possible, slipping through a gap. I landed somewhat violently, and the cut in my leg seized up with pain.

Already, more lines barred my way.