Ellie accelerated. This time her cruiser mounted the sidewalk and the stone steps in front of the building and ploughed through the shrubbery. The cruiser launched from the top of Ellie's improvised ramp with all the grace of a bag of sand and crashed through the unbroken glass wall of the lobby. Light fittings tore from the ceiling with a flash of electricity. Glass exploded across the lobby, skidding across the hard, white floor and showering the combatants inside.

The cruiser burst into the room, smashing aside the soft chairs and low furniture of the lobby. The shock of the crash momentarily knocked the anti-gravity system offline and the vehicle turned as it slid across the lobby toward Tila and Typhon.  Even as it slowed the cruiser's rear end swung out knocking Typhon off his feet, and his hand from Tila's throat.

Freed from the gauntlet, Tila rolled backward to snatch up her dropped staff and then she was on her feet. With only one enemy to focus on, Tila directed all her attention and fury to the last agent standing. She thrust the staff backward and caught the agent in the stomach. She turned and kicked him in the face with a shout. His pistol fell from his hand, and he was unconscious before his hit the floor.

Jayce already had the rear door open and was urging Tila forward. 'Get in,' he shouted.

'Come on.' Tila grabbed Malachi by his good arm and piled him in first, then jumped in after him. 'Let's go!'

Ellie didn't move.

Tila punched the back of Ellie's seat. 'Now, Ellie.'

Ellie was transfixed. She stared into the mirror at the reflection of the man behind them. Behind her. The colour drained from her face.

Typhon raised himself to his full height and flexed one gloved hand. 'Hello princess,' he said. 'I missed you.'

'Ellie, let's go! Come on! You never have to see him again. Just drive.' Tila punched the seat again. 'Go, go, go!'

Typhon stared back into the mirror, locking Ellie's eyes with his own. With his left hand he tugged on his right gauntlet and circled the car.

'Ellie, we really need to go!' said Malachi.

Typhon reached for Ellie's door.

Jayce touched Ellie's leg. 'He's behind us. Leave him there. You're faster than he is.'

Ellie blinked. Impellers growled back to life, lifting the cruiser from the floor and blasting clean the ground underneath them. Typhon calmly reached for Ellie's door. Ellie squealed and shrank from the window. The gauntlets sparked against the door frame. Electricity arced harmlessly around the ungrounded car. Tila kicked open the door to fight Typhon. Ellie finally stamped her foot on the accelerator. Jayce grabbed the wheel and turned hard. The cruiser surged forward, scraped through the broken window, and was gone.

Tila stared back through the cracked rear window, expecting to see Typhon race to a cruiser and give chase. Instead, he walked down the steps, communicator in hand, and watched them drive away. Like he was only out for a stroll.

Like he was in no hurry at all.

Like he had all the time in the world.