They disembarked the ferry at a small, deserted landing. The sky and the sea both were iron-gray, and all the grass and leaves were dry and brown. The dark clouds held as the trailer drove past the sign welcoming them to the port of Francis, and as they joined traffic on the highway that looped past downtown.

Someone on the radio was talking, through a heavy mist of static, about resistance groups in downtown. There wasn't much to see from the highway--except the massive, luminous serpent that was coiled suspended in midair over the buildings. Hawk, Teige, Abi, and Parker had gathered at the window on the driver's side of the trailer, watching in silent apprehension.

A helicopter was approaching the serpent, which curled in on itself. The helicopter was just the size of its head--in the iron sky, it glowed electric blue and yellow. A shock of blue light began to build in its mouth and throat, blazing through its translucent skin, and it reared up, kinking its neck back to brace itself for whatever blast it was about to pummel the helicopter with.

In answer the helicopter listed to one side, and a glimmer of livid red light flickered from the open side door. The next second the serpent's head was engulfed by a concussion of red light that was audible from the highway. The serpent's body began to fold in on itself like a ribbon, its head with its glowing open jaws sinking; the red light had become huge symbols that encircled it. Gravity seemed to catch up with it then, and as the helicopter worked to right itself, the serpent's head slammed into it, resulting in a bright explosion of fire.

There was silence for a moment--the radio was on a delay, so a few seconds passed before the announced caught up with what was happening. Abi sat back.

"This is the worst action flick I've ever seen," she said.