[center][h2][color=BurlyWood]Cedar.[/color][/h2][/center]

Steel Rose's words were heavily muffled by the Nox, but Cedar got the message. In the background he was dimly aware of someone - Iris? - saying something about an evil death-cloud, but he made a snap judgment to keep his head on the task at hand.

Cedar didn't waste time on saying too much. [color=BurlyWood]"Okay. Firing now."[/color]

He aimed Steel Rose's gun slightly off, just in case a direct hit would hurt her somehow. Then a colder part of his mind took over, steadying his hand and moving slightly to line it up directly. [color=BurlyWood][i]'Better safe than sorry,'[/i][/color] something in him whispered. [color=BurlyWood][i]'Safety as in guarantee Nox removal, that is, not her safety specifically.'[/i][/color] He made a silent prayer that a direct hit would only burn the Nox away without harming Rose, then pulled the trigger.