I wanted to handle this in a way that wouldn’t have any observers cringing.

“Let’s not,” I said. “We’re making progress here, okay? Mission is going mostly according to plan, and you’re handling your bit well. People are over-the-top amazed at how well you’re selling this. Keep it a sale. Keep it an act. It’s good.”

She exhaled, like she’d been holding in a breath or ten. I felt her fingers relax at my neck.

“You’re pissing him off?” I asked.

“He’s pissing me off,” she said. “But I’m getting to him.”

“Good,” I said.

“Damsel!” Sidepiece called out, drawing out the first sound into a longer ‘damn’ sound. “If you’re done making out, we could use some help!”

Some of the bikers that had been tossed from their rides were on their feet. Lightning-eyes was pressuring Beast of Burden, forcing him into that plodding, slow retreat.

“Can’t off her without risking her tearing my head off in a death-spasm!” Damsel called out.

“Suck it up and figure it out!” Sidepiece called out.

“So annoying,” Damsel hissed.

A bike revved. I could hear the approach.

Damsel and I separated as it rode up the sloped side of the dirt road. She blasted to create more distance for herself, and caught the edge of the bike’s tire.

The blast served to throw the bike out from under the girl who’d been riding it. The girl landed, skidding across dirt that had been packed by the passage of countless vehicles.

“Stay down,” I said, as the Fallen girl started to get to her hands and feet. I pushed out with my aura.

She gave up, collapsing face down onto the road.

Did she even have powers? Did this particular group mix up those that did with those that didn’t? What a hassle.

Byron had directed most of his power at the road for the second blast. It hampered Beast of Burden’s footing, and it dissolved a chunk of the road. Sveta, as was her tendency, was lurking, looking for an opportunity to reach out.

Crackling with lightning, Beast of Burden called something out—and Nailbiter snatched up two bikes, one damaged, that the convoy of Fallen had been riding. She hurled them at Beast of Burden, and he caught one with each hand.

Pressing them together into a makeshift shield, he charged at the lightning-eyes Fallen. He made it nearly to the guy before the girl with the hood reached up and out. Giant hands wrapped in black rags materialized between Beast of Burden and the two Fallen.

Beast of Burden pressed on. Another hand materialized, grabbing him, and he carried on forward, metal treads scraping through mud.

Disjoint danced out to the side, practically skipping as he went from mud to solid ground, and slashed out with one hand, his hand disappearing.