Securing the High Ground
I advanced across the desk to claim the high ground before the rest of the house stirred. The forward sector was exposed, so I went straight to work. I hauled two heavy steel binder clips into position and locked their wire arms against a solid brass ruler, bracing the entire line against a faceted glass paperweight. When the morning sunlight hit the glass, a brilliant blue beam cut straight through my torso and lit up the dark grain of the wood. The barricade didn't budge a millimeter. Perimeter secured.

