“I believe we should withdraw,” the Shoggoth advised. “There are too many unknowns here, and this is a hostile environment for your kind.”

“I guess so,” conceded the capped crusader. “Ask your other half to ask Tricky to haul us out of here.”

A moment later the winch jerked as Hatman was dragged back into the air.

The obscured sentry sensed the movement. A bright flash of laser-light seared through the steam, slicing through the steel cable that held Hatman’s harness. Jay Boaz desperately reached up and caught the sheared end of his lifeline.

“Get me up now he shouted. It occurred to him that anything able to cut through the harness cable could cut through his steel form just as easily.

Another laser flash sheared nearby but went wide. The steam was obscuring Hatty too.

The dark silhouette of the LairJet loomed above. Hatman felt himself oozing though the seal of Shoggoth-goo around the bottom hatch.

“Do not to be touching of cute-metal-Hatty!” Yo warned. “Is to be he is very hot just now.”

Another laser beam sliced the steam near to the aircraft.

“We might want to be getting the hell outta here,” Trickshot pointed out. “When we come back it’ll be with special gear so we kin properly kick laser-bozo without getting’ parboiled.”

The LairJet veered away back toward the rim.

• That was close.