Dante pushed ahead, moving much too fast and not even waiting for assistance. Ryan could barely get any shots off, leaving the SeeD without cover fire. Dante wasn't even attempting to take out any hostile forces not directly in front of him, leaving Storm to handle the worst of the enemy fire to keep herself and her cadet safe.

One Galbadian unit had ambushed them originally; a second unit attacked them along the tracks, running parallel to them and shooting, not bothering to set up any kill shots. The fire was heavy but the Galbadians were not engaging beyond that. Storm had seen this type of strategy before; they likely had the tracks ahead blocked off with humvees and a third unit. They were being driven into the killing zone.

Just as she thought it, the view ahead confirmed it. She raced forward, catching up to Ryan. He had seen the blockade as well and was slowing down, uncertain. She reached him and grabbed his shoulder, pulling him back.

"Stay behind me," she said.

"What about Dante?"

"He shouldn't have broken formation and run so far ahead."

She slowed to a stop, Ryan distracting the soldiers with his own suppressing fire to give her some breathing room. She stood in a direct line with the blockade and braced herself, raising her swords into position. The blades were crossed, one resting lightly on the other, bright and crackling with energy. The tips pointed to the sides of the rails; the center of the cross aimed directly at the enemy unit.

In an instant she pulled the swords apart, each sliding against the other in a graceful arc. They separated just as the tips of the blades came in line with the target. A massive electrical shockwave burst from them and hurtled down the line with the crack of a lightning strike. Every enemy soldier was thrown off their feet and stunned. All electrical devices shorted out, some catching on fire. There was more than one firecracker pop as gunpowder ignited in a barrel, the weapons blasting themselves apart in the soldiers' hands. The humvees were reduced to smoking wrecks, their windows blown out from the pressure. Then the shockwave was past them and continuing down the tracks, all the energy charging along the rails with magnetizing force.

There was silence for a long moment. Storm turned to Ryan to find him staring, mouth open, his hair sticking out every which way as though he'd been the one electrocuted. It took her a few minutes to get his attention.

"How did you do that?" He asked when he'd recovered enough to form words.

"I'm not called Storm for nothing," she said calmly. "Come on, let's go get Dante. He's probably stunned too but maybe next time he won't run so far ahead." She started down the tracks, Ryan following and trying to look everywhere at once. Not a single soldier so much as twitched.

"How long does this stun last?"

"Not long. Two hours, maybe three. There he is. You're the medic, go check him out."