The kick forced Lloyd to pull back, though it still grazed his shin with enough force to make him bite back a curse. It took him a moment to recover, but when he did, he struck again. This time, while his sword was slicing toward Ed, he followed it with another jab at Ed's gut with the butt of the flashlight in his hand.

"No!" he snapped. "I don't want to fight you, Ed, but I will if you don't let me go! If you've been brainwashed, that's only one more reason why these people need to be stopped!"