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“Lana, no!” Dekka cried

Lana didn’t hear the shot But she felt the gun buck in her hand She saw the jet of flame

And she saw Edilio fall straight back

She saw him land on his back

His head bounced as he hit

Lana shifted her aihts lined up on Dekka who seemed paralyzed in shock

Lana squeezed the trigger

Click

Click

Dekka raised her hands Her expression was furious, determined But she did not use her power Her eyes flickered She lowered her hands and rushed to Edilio

Dekka knelt over Edilio She gasped Pressed her hand against the wound in his chest Trying to hold the blood in

“Lana Lana,” Dekka pleaded with tears running down her cheeks “Help him”

Lana stood confused The gun wasn’t working Why wasn’t it working? The question was not hers, the thought not her thought

The gaiaphage was confused Why did the weapon not kill? It did not understand So

The gun slipped froers She heard it clatter on stone