The party next to us on the front line included Falstaff, his parents Pat and Mary Flanagan, and the Holdens, Sara and Bailey. They put up alternating metal, ice, and MANA SHIELDs down the sides and MANA SHIELDs above our vehicles to protect us from people in the buildings. Falstaff stayed in front of his parents with his shield up. Tanks aren’t the greatest defensive fighters against long-range attacks.

  “Patrick!” I yelled. “Get some help and shoot out the windows of the top two floors of the Odd Fellows building. Then the bottom ones when I tell you to. There’re hostiles in there. Watch for them breaking out the bottom ones. SandB, shield cover the bottom windows so they can’t shoot out.”

  Looking back at the intersection, I saw bodies. None of them looked like ours. There were two parties of soldiers heading down the cross street to our right. I saw the last of others from the other Stryker heading down the other side of the intersection. I heard lots of gunshots, but it sounded like most of them were coming from behind us.

  There were various types of magic shields up across the street and covering some of the building doors and windows. Multiple magic balls and blasts were hitting our shields as well. Ours had more depth, and the bigger ones of ours seemed like they were stronger than most of theirs. This was good.

  “Hope the Miller County people are doing OK,” I thought as I hit someone poking a rifle out of a second-story window with a MANA BOLT. I saw the rifle fall back into the building out of sight.

  [Airmann:] [William of Brinsford] [Got your stairway up the building. You’ll have to start next door. I didn’t want to make it too steep. Yard wide for Bhaarrt. Stops with a small platform in front of the third window.]

  [William of Brinsford:] [Airmann] [Thanks. Going up. No one’s shot at us from up there yet. I can faintly see it. Thanks.]

  [William of Brinsford:] [Urako Sarutobi] [Stairway to heaven on the Odd Fellows building. Take point, look inside for Blaze. We’re coming up after you.]

  [Urako Sarutobi:] [William of Brinsford] [Roger that. Give me a minute to get there.]

  [William of Brinsford:] [PARTY] [Airmann gave us a stairway to heaven, maybe hell, but it’s going up. It goes to the 3rd floor of the Odd Fellows building. I’m putting up an invisible shield to keep us from falling off or getting shot. Bhaarrt in a minute, go up. Yoshi second. I’m third, then Ingrid.]

  [Blaze:] [William of Brinsford] [Tell everyone to stop shooting or we will kill the hostages and throw their bodies into the street. Leave or we’ll blow up the town and the people in it. We’ll die for our supreme leader. You too if you stay. You have one minute to stop shooting and casting, or we start executions and dumping bodies into the street. Long live the New Reich!]

  [William of Brinsford:] [BATTLEGROUND] [Blaze is under their control. She says they are threatening to kill hostages and blow up the town. Stay out of buildings. In thirty seconds, stop shooting. Defense only.]

  My run toward the start of the stairway didn’t stop while I sent that message. It just slowed a bit. The rest of my party followed. When I reached the bottom, I cast COMBAT STATS on the building, especially the upper floors. Lots of dots, with a few big ones. It worked through brick walls…somewhat to my surprise. Should have done this sooner, damn it.

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  [William of Brinsford:] [BATTLEGROUND] [COMBAT STATS or REVEAL STATS can see through at least one layer of walls. It marks hostiles. Use it.]

  The sounds of shooting and magic spells started to taper off just after I started up the stairs. Bhaarrt had just reached the top. His shield covered the bottom half of the window. Yoshi was a few steps behind him. Shadow was already at the top according to when I cast COMBAT STATS. She had already VANISHed.

  There was enough window glass, and frame left that Bhaarrt just smashed his way through the remains with his shield. Then, turning sideways with his shield leading, he took a step over the windowsill. Yoshi had taken the steps almost at a run and, with a glance through the window, dove headfirst inside. I could hear him hit the floor and guessed he rolled.

  Stopping short, I swiveled my head around the window frame and had a quick look inside. Inside, it looked like a storage room for tables, chairs, and other things I didn’t pay attention to. They weren’t alive, and they didn’t matter. The door to my left, leading into another room, did.

  Bhaarrt and Yoshi were each standing on a side of it.

  Stepping through more carefully than they had, I was ready to cast a shield when they were ready to open the door.

  [William of Brinsford:] [Ingrid] [You better get more Healers up here. Got a bad feeling we’re going to need them. Keep enough MANA for Resurrections.]

  [Ingrid:] [William of Brinsford] [On their way. We only have one more person who can Resurrect. I’ve already done one.]

  The sounds of combat outside hadn’t quite stopped, but they were stopping. This was good.

  [William of Brinsford:] [PARTY] [Wait until we get more Healers up here, then we go in.]

  [MarmariL:] [William of Brinsford] [You sure about this?]

  Sounds behind me said Ingrid had entered the room. Her spear tapping on the floor as she moved told me where she was.

  [William of Brinsford:] [MarmariL] [No. But if they are stopping, that’s good. Blaze is alive. I think in the next room. Not many Level 9 Fire Mages. I think the leader is up there. Time to cut the head off the snake.]

  [MarmariL:] [William of Brinsford] [Roger that.]

  “Bhaarrt,” I whispered. “When the first extra Healer gets up here, go through. We’ll be behind you. Standard dungeon formation without the defensive wall in front of the door. Attract attention when you open it, so Shadow can get in and behind them.”

  He nodded. I saw Yoshi nodding too.

  “Yoshi,” I whispered. “Don’t try to rescue a hostage if they have any. Not even Blaze. Take out anyone ready to kill a hostage. They don’t have to be dead, just not able to kill.”

  He held his katana ready. He was shaking a little. Obviously and rightfully nervous. This was his first time in combat against people. People with guns. He was bringing a sword to a gunfight.

  “Fighting people instead of monsters. Didn’t think I’d do that. Thou shalt not kill is a commandment,” he whispered to me. “I talked to Father Stoddard last Sunday after Mass. I asked him about hurting or killing people. He said to do my best and protect others. God would know the reason if I had to kill. It should be one He’d approve of.”

  Nodding, I clasped him on the shoulder and whispered back, “Follow what Father Stoddard says. You won’t go wrong. If you can save people without killing, do it. Ingrid can keep them alive. If you must kill, make it quick. Then keep moving.”

  He nodded his understanding and attempted a smile. “Thank you.” He took a deep breath, let it out slowly, and looked me in the eyes. “I’m ready.”

  “Good. It’s time.”

  Two people in blue clothing that I recognized had just entered…Andrew and Francine. They were people from Ingrid’s ambulance team. Two more Healers. We were going to need them.

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