Fallen and Broken

The door had exploded! As a blinding flash lit up the entrance, the rest of us immediately ducked and covered. “Marc, under me,” I shouted. “Fern, you okay? Geez, what was that?”

Marc stumbled over me, and I extended my wings over him. “I saw him jump back… I don’t know if he got hit,” he managed.

“There you are, Hal. Stay behind me,” Bernicia said. “Fern! Status report! I can’t see you through this dust and glare.”

“Ugh! I’m okay,” Fern called. “Some weirdoes had a cannon pointed at the building.”

Suddenly, I feared the worst. “What’s the situation?” I asked.

“Kit, it was an attack! It looks like they finally found us,” Hal called, peering outside. “Also, their weapon is overheated. What’s the plan?”

“Everyone, draw their aggro away from the arcade! Somehow,” I yelled. “Lobby exit’s too risky… Is there a back way?”

“I thought they wanted us alive,” Bernicia hissed from behind a table. “That weapon would have killed us in one hit!”