16Lucy watched the stairs closely as their would-be attacker came into view. He peered at her through the bars before taking a tiny device from his pocket. When it ignited, she saw it was a miniature laser-based cutting tool. He knelt and swiftly cut across three of the bars at the bottom. Rising, he cut across the same three at the top. Then he very carefully leaned two of the bars against the wall. The third bar he kept in his hand, no doubt intending to use it as a weapon when he had to engage her.
Unworried, Lucy watched him step down into the room, but instead of advancing he merely stopped and stared at her. There was not enough room behind him for Eric to drop into yet. Their attacker needed to come forward just a little more
“Greetings, Evelyn 489. Or should I just say New World
