At the rear—
Don and Charles held onto the upper bar with one hand each.
Their bodies moved with the vehicle—
But their focus never broke.
Not once.
Their eyes stayed upward.
Tracking.
Watching.
Across the skyline—
The towering sprouts still stood.
Vines lashed outward in wide arcs, striking at anything within reach.
But now—
Resistance had increased.
Figures moved through the air.
Fast.
Superhumans.
Some collided directly with the vines—
BOOM—!
Others struck from a distance, blasts of energy slamming into the structures—
THOOM—!
Chunks broke away.
Fell.
Fighter jets screamed overhead—
SHRREEEEEE—!
Missiles launched from their wings—
ROOOOSH—!
Impacts followed—
Explosions tearing into the stems—
BOOOOM—!
Damage.
Visible.
Significant.
It looked like they might win.
Eventually.
But neither Don nor Charles focused on that.
Their attention stayed higher.
Far above.
Where the missile heads had scattered.
