Chapter 14:  The Attack
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"I think we're in trouble," Hao muttered as he looked at the dozens of
Weedfeeders that were rapidly approaching.

"I think you're right," Maru answered as she grabbed her pistol and aimed
at the advancing Weedfeeders.  Slowly she squeezed the trigger.
Immediately a pulse of light almost a foot in diameter shot from the
barrel.  "That's not supposed to happen," she thought and then screamed
as she dropped the pistol.  It was glowing bright red and caught the
grass on fire as soon as it hit groud.

Dropping her sword Maru grabbed her wrist and grimaced at the pain.
Looking over she saw that Hao's sword arm had come to his side and that
he was standing, mouth gaping, staring towards the enemy.  Looking up,
she saw why.  Apparently, as the pulse went farther and farther it had
widened.  Enough so that it had nearly wiped out all the Weedfeeders.  The
rest were quickly retreating.

"Grab my sword," Maru ordered.

"What?" Hao asked as he came out of his stupor.  It was then that he
noticed the burning grass around that pistol and that Maru herself had
been burnt.  Grabbing her sword he turned back to her to see that she was
adjusting the gate device carefully.  Suddenly, we was jerked through the
portal again.

When they landed, they were in the middle of the Tzen square, and many of
the townspeople were staring at them anxiously.