We marched - or rather, crept - through Washington Heights.

Fires dotted the buildings. The other troops shuttled from building to building, pulling out civilians and sending them back to safer areas.

I kept an eye out for trouble. Every now and then, the soldiers brought a badly burnt or bleeding civilian to me, and I used Heal. It was faster than waiting for medical supplies - plus the platoon medic had been one of those hit by the Raptor Sniper.

It was only a few streets later that we ran into trouble.

The first hint came when a plasma blast exploded in front of me.

I jerked back, fortunately, as the next blast hit where I was standing.

A quick glance showed me the problem.

Sarnak. Not a single soldier like last time, but a well-armed squad of half a dozen, advancing on our position with guns blazing.

This time, though, I was better prepared.

I invoked Bodycharge.

My body was propelled forward at incredible momentum, slamming into the first of the Sarnak. The impact knocked him back.

SARNAK TROOPER -45 HP!

I followed up with a Deadly Blow.

DEADLY BLOW! SARNAK TROOPER -400 HP! SARNAK TROOPER IS STUNNED!

On the backswing I smashed into another Sarnak.

SARNAK TROOPER -80 HP!

This one deserved a Deadly Blow of his own…

DEADLY BLOW! SARNAK TROOPER -400 HP!

The other Sarnak had now woken up to the danger in their midst. Unfortunately, I was too close for weapons to be aimed directly.

One alien decided to charge me instead.

Ha. Fat chance. Overhead Throw activated, bringing him down on the ground.

SARNAK TROOPER -54 HP!

The other Sarnak were closing on me.

I swung my hammer and unleashed Lightning Strike at the same time.

SARNAK TROOPER -80 HP!

LIGHTNING STRIKE! SARNAK TROOPER -30 HP!

SARNAK TROOPER -80 HP!

LIGHTNING STRIKE! SARNAK TROOPER -30 HP!

SARNAK TROOPER -80 HP!

LIGHTNING STRIKE! SARNAK TROOPER -30 HP!

BODYCHARGE! SARNAK TROOPER -45 HP!

I knocked over the trooper closing on me and swung back to hit another.

SARNAK TROOPER -80 HP! SARNAK TROOPER IS BLEEDING, -5 HP/SEC!

LIGHTNING STRIKE! SARNAK TROOPER -30 HP!

One of the Sarnak collapsed, purple blood leaking from his neck.

SARNAK TROOPER DEFEATED! +500 XP!

I smashed my Battleammer into another.

DEADLY BLOW! SARNAK TROOPER -400 HP!

Energy slammed into me.

PLASMA BURN! 100 DAMAGE. ARMOR 280/400.

I whirled and smashed the Battlehammer into the offending Sarnak.

DEADLY BLOW! SARNAK TROOPER -400 HP!

That was it - I was too low on juice for another Deadly Blow.

Instead, I let loose with Lightning Strike.

Electricity exploded from my hands, hitting one Sarnak after another.

SARNAK TROOPER DEFEATED! +500 XP!

My bolts hit Sarnak after Sarnak, as they writhed in pain.

And then, I ran low.

Nineteen Lightning Strikes, a mere 10 MP left, and four of the six Sarnak were still standing. Granted, two of them were half-charred alive, but two were very much there.

I didn’t have time to think. I slammed into the first with Bodycharge.

The Sarnak was knocked back, and the crack-crack-crack sound of rifle fire reached my ears.

SARNAK TROOPER DEFEATED BY ALLY! +500 XP.

I rolled away and tossed a Fuel Bomb into the mix.

The blast was spectacular.

SARNAK TROOPER -205 HP! SARNAK TROOPER DEFEATED. +500 XP.

SARNAK TROOPER -186 HP!

SARNAK TROOPER -228 HP!

Two alien troopers were still up, but both were in pain and screaming now. Unfortunately that also meant they were firing their guns randomly.

Plasma blasts struck masonry, walls, and bus benches. A parked car exploded.

The soldiers opened up with even more fire. A fusillade of bullets smashed into the Sarnak, concentrated fire from Army riflemen doing what I’d failed to do. The Sarnak turned and ran, screaming.

Bullets slammed into their back even as they retreated.

Doyle was by my side in seconds, even as the rest of the unit kept shooting at the running Sarnak. “You okay? That grenade of yours went off a little too close.”

“It’s called a fuel bomb,” I explained, getting to my feet. “Give me a second.”

The Laser Sniper Rifle fell into my hands as I knelt, took aim, and added my fire to the unit’s and into the backs of the running Sarnak.

In seconds, both of the aliens were down.

SARNAK TROOPER DEFEATED! +500 XP.

SARNAK TROOPER DEFEATED BY ALLY! +500 XP.

YOU HAVE LEVELLED UP! NOW LEVEL 7.

BLUNT WEAPONS ADVANCES TO LEVEL 3. +30% BONUS TO MELEE WEAPONS DAMAGE.

LIGHTNING STRIKE ADVANCES TO LEVEL 2. +40 DAMAGE. COST: 20 MP.

“Mr. Belessar,” inquired Doyle, “good shooting. A personal question, if you would permit?”

“Sure.”

“Do you have any training? You can refuse to answer if it infringes in your privacy.”

“I don’t mind, and no – never trained with the military.” At least not as far as I could remember.

Doyle nodded. “We’ll talk later.”

After confirming the area was clear, the platoon moved out. Tucker stuck by my side.

So did Specialist Horton and Sergeant Banner.

Horton turned out to be a fairly cheerful type, considering that he’d almost been burnt to death less than ten minutes ago. “We don’t really have a slot in an infantry company,” he explained, “but we can stick with you in case you need any help.”

“That’s appreciated,” I replied. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get your friends out.”

Horton’s smile faded. “You did the best you could, I’m sure.”

Sergeant Banner spoke up. “I understand you dived into a burning tank to pull us out, Mr. Belessar. I’m sure you would have pulled the others out if you could. Did the LT suffer?”

“... I don’t know. He was already dead when I jumped in there or I’d have helped him.”

Banner nodded. “I doubt even superpowers can raise the dead. The best we can do is get some payback for them.”

I nodded in agreement.

The next batch of civilians headed back saw Horton assigned as their escort, while Banner politely requested permission to stick with the platoon.

A few minutes later, we heard the roar of jets.

Three fighters appeared, chasing an alien saucer across the sky. Green light lanced out from the craft, knocking down first one, then a second jet, but the third somehow managed to close and score a hit. The saucer jerked sideways and fled.

The men let out a cheer.

I was puzzled. “They didn’t down the alien?”

Banner shrugged. “Most of the time the best the Air Force can do is drive them off. Those things are built tough.”

The next street led us to a number of theatre halls. Flashes of plasma lanced out from these buildings, responded to by heavy firing and the occasional tank shell smashing through a wall.

Tucker groaned. “I always wanted to see the Lion King. Now I’m never going to.”

I frowned. “The Lion King’s a movie, right?”

“It’s a Broadway show. Plays in that theatre right there.” He pointed to a burning building.

I winced.

“We’re to flush out the aliens from the complex,” ordered the Lieutenant. “Get up close. Belessar, you good for a round?”

I nodded. “I’m willing.”

“Good. We’ve to break through that door there, and I have no idea what’s behind. I need someone who can go through that door and face plasma fire, if that’s what’s hidden behind. You still willing?”

I nodded. My chances of handling a blast were better than those of one of the soldiers anyway - at least as long as the armor lasted.

“Great. We move in five.”