The Colonel was not one of the two that went down. Damn. I could sense his mind and those of the five other men but only vaguely: they were out of range. I’d be shot within the next 15 seconds if I did nothing. Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit.

An order from Polkovnik that I couldn’t make out was followed by running footsteps. One man, running away. Not good, shit, shit, shit.

There’s no time. It was my-voice-but-not-me. I’m sorry for what’s about to happen. It’s going to hurt us both, but it’ll be better than dying. We’ll recover.

Who…?

No time! Protect yourself.

Something happened in my mind. The wound was widening again, and a pinpoint white-hot flare developed within it. The flare rapidly increased in size, tearing the wound into a ragged, gaping maw. Fuck, not good, not good! I tried to shield myself. The flare detonated, sending psychic shrapnel flying in every direction like a massive phosphorus explosion.

My mind was shutting down and my senses quickly failed. I blacked…