By the Post Office, Friday afternoon

[intotheout]

They had a giant, slapdash sling. They had three bowling balls, one for each of them. And they had something of a plan.

Tip stared up at the massive stone-and-metal thing that had reportedly once been her counterpart in this hell universe. The crack wasn't as big as she thought it was. But it was bigger than she'd been afraid it was

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[hexentotchen]

Hanna was looking upward, and trying not to shudder. Whatever had happened to this universe's Tip, it hadn't happened to her roommate. That was the important thing to remember. "If anyone should know what her weaknesses are, it should be you. And... if it doesn't work, maybe we can build a grenade launcher." She paused. "You know. With some help."

[verzauberth]

Hanna bounced on her toes, and gave a small sound like something in the underbrush, sneaking. She stopped and said, "Grenade?" rather hopefully.

Bowling balls would work, but BOOM was always better.

[intotheout]

"Do you have one?" Tip asked. She suspected the answer was "no". "If this doesn't work, we run. Scatter. She definitely can't chase all three of us."

[hexentotchen]

"No grenade," Hanna said definitely to her double. "Right. Um. We should probably get her to face us." Which would mean making a noise or something. Or calling out to it. "...after we load the sling. Bowling balls."

[verzauberth]

"Nein," Hanna said, a little sad. Oh well. "Balls!" She picked up two of them easily, and motioned to the other Hanna to start pulling on the sling. "Ready, ja?"

[intotheout]

No. Tip was not ready at all. She thought she was, but she was 14, what did she know?

"Ready," she said. If she waited to be actually ready she'd never do it. And her other self had a right to not be a giant killer hell-statue. "HEY!" she shouted. "STUPID-LEGS!"

[hexentotchen]

Hanna started stretching her side of their Sling(TM) and held the hammock steady so the new Hanna could place the bowling ball in it. A nice, shiny, sparkly pink one.

She had the feeling that if the adults knew what they were up to, they would be appalled. But then, most of the adults didn't have their perspective.

"Stone-face!" Not as amusing as Tip's call, but still appropriate.

[verzauberth]

Hanna made a series of noises that were a mish-mash of German, Russian, and Japanese for Stupid stone woman of stupid mixed in with a duck call.

"Ready...." What were the words that came after that?

[outofthein]

There was a low, agonizing creak and then the grumble of grinding rock, and Tip sloooooowlyyyyyy turned.

Three bugs. Building a web.

How irritating.

[intotheout]

Tip swallowed as the statue's face came full into view. God, she was so thin. What had this Tip gone through, that turning to stone seemed like a better idea?

"Aim," she said, more breath than words.

[hexentotchen]

"Fire," Hanna said sharply, holding the hammock taut, pulling as hard as she could.

[verzauberth]

Hanna released the sling, and the shiny, sparkly ball flew high and steady, arching up, and then back down, faster and faster.

[outofthein]

Tip turned her head to follow its progress, but couldn't move fast enough. The ball crashed into her left shoulder, above her already stumped arm. Cracks spread through her collar bone and down her breast. Chunks fell off her bicep, raising a cloud of dust and choking the fog.

Hmmm. That . . . itched.

[intotheout]

Tip let out a breath. "I'm really glad we brought more bowling balls."

It was working. They just hadn't hit the bullseye yet.

"A little lower, and to the right."

[hexentotchen]

Hanna re-adjusted the sling, and crouched down to check the sights before nodding. "It worked, though. We don't need heavier ammunition." Just better aim. "Okay, Again. Eins, zwei, drei--"

She released the bowling ball, a green-and-white marbled mass this time, and then stood, hoping, hoping, hoping.

[outofthein]

Another thing. Tip should move? Dodge. She hadn't needed to dodge anything in so long. Which way should she dodge? Left? Right? Maybe just step on the --

Oh. It hit her.

Oops.