Helen reloaded her gun and dropped it in Scotty’s lap. “Well help out somehow,” she said, drawing another gun and continuing to fire on the machine.

Scotty held the gun at the approaching monster, then joined in the firefight.

But it was no use. The bullets were doing little damage. Fortunately the guardian wouldn’t risk a fireball with Scotty there, at least not under such minimal danger as being fired upon with mere handguns. But in only a few more steps, it would be able to safely extract Helen from the situation, crush her, discard her, danger averted, commander safe.