Unlike a hamster or mouse, Val was not going to attempt a suicidal leap out of his hands, and instead spent the short trip outside plugging in the repulsor and checking the settings on the beam.

"Right, so, a repulsor is a muon field that can be used for defense or offense. I was calibrating the offensive configuration when you came in." She held up a hand, repulsor disc strapped to the palm, and without further preamble, fired a blast that ripped a hole bigger than she was in the metal of the nearest wall, the crackle and snap of the discharge echoing through the deserted city.

"The blast is concussive, so a wider dispersal results in the effect that gives it its name." She changed a setting, and aimed at a pile of rubble this time. The scraps went flying as though swept away by a giant hand, the leading edge of the blast pushing them down the street in a clattering mess.

Val giggled.