"No!" Zeke said, locking onto him.

Kell quickly took hold of his other arm. "Don't you dare! You can't interfere!"

"Susanne!"

Mercy blasted her then, and Roger froze for a moment in shock. No...

But she was on her feet. He stopped struggling. The connection between them was strong as ever, and he knew the pain she felt. Mercy wasn't particularly strong, so she was recovering quickly physically, but...

He watched her turn the pain of betrayal into anger, her only option at that point, if she wanted to stay alive and fight. As long as she could keep that anger, she would do fine... it might even help. But it could also distract her...

Damn, what he'd like to do to Mercy at that moment!

As she began fighting Celly, he shook the other two Guardians off his arms and stepped back into the shadows. He was ashamed that he had lost it like that, if only for a moment. He would stay calm until the Otaku separated again. Susanne was powerful enough to make it through.

Roger glanced at the two other Guardians, who were also intensely watching the fight. He wondered what they were thinking. Kell's charge still lay there, though it looked as though she were waking up now.

And where the hell was Mercy's Guardian? It had been awhile since he'd flattened someone with one punch... Orion seemed the likliest candidate at the moment.

He saw the same anger that burned in him reflected in Meredith's eyes when she turned to glance derisively at Mercy. Susanne had told her to watch that two-timer. She wouldn't be able to make a move without Meredith knowing.

So Meredith's sword was raised in an instant when Mercy ignited the lightsaber.