Mech suit forcefield

Same thing I'd tried with Torso. My forcefield opened up. I picked up Rain. I pulled him inside the shell of the Fragile One.

When she took off, I flew with. Rain held within, the weight of him pressing against the inside of her.

I was vulnerable, my front pressed against her back, but in fairness, so was he, leaning on me, on us, to this degree.

The Simurgh rose up, toward the hole in the ceiling. I flew us to meet her. The golden beam lanced out beside me, carving out a line in the Simurgh's leg.

"Blade!" I called out to Rain. I positioned an open mouth at his wrist, letting his hand out, teeth grazing his skin.

He created the blade.

The Simurgh twisted in the air, staring at us with eyes that had nothing to them. One silver eye, and one perfect silver orb in a badly tarnished silver skull framed by wisps of hair.

***

We closed the distance, and the blade met the Simurgh's silver flesh, carving out a shimmering silver line, so close in color that it looked like there was no line at all. From shoulder to back, to hip.

There was a dull rumble as more of our surroundings tore away, ready to smash us, and I decided to make the call. To break away, to say this is enough.

I couldn't drop Rain, or risk losing him, which meant I had to use me. I kicked out, hard, my foot meeting the silver line. It flared, bright, and the Simurgh's wings spread out around us, until they were ninety percent of what I could see. The pain of the jolt reaching my ribs and collarbone made my vision split. I couldn't see straight.

I stopped descending. I could feel the forcefield break, as rubble hit it, and groped out for Rain.

"It's okay," Rain said.

*****

Below us, more than half of the Simurgh's body, including one arm, some smaller wings, and both legs, lay on the basement level of the facility. The accumulated damage from the Wardens, Rain, the beams, and the temperature shifts had added up enough for it to break away entirely. It lay there, limp and still.

- Last 20.7