More gunshots broke the sudden silence; these ones sounded different, quiet, a soft pfffft in the stillness. Alice knew silenced sniper fire from Mars and how deadly it was for anyone struck in the open. She watched as Xavi tossed his shotgun and rolled to the deck, flicking out his right hand as if he were trying to shake oil from it. As he moved, a long black rod dropped to his hand, two black handles unfolding from either end to form an inverted U . He grabbed these, extended the rod twelve inches, and sighted down the barrel. With a mechanical whine, an arm’s-length of flame burst from its end. Screams echoed in the distance.