Ed the old gate keeper's head falls to dust rising, animated but for the clang of Ed's head against jagged rock embedded in dirt from which said dust is born. Moments before metal Ed was decapitated a series of light pulses had already rendered the entire series of circuits comprising the compound's visual security black. Ed had recovered from the blinding of the lights and uncased his 400 calibre automatic repeat fire, about to lock target on his attacker. T minus 0:00:00:017 to lock Ed became aware of his headlessness, and the oddness of the awareness -strength falling from his limbs, limbs falling to his side, side falling to the dirt taking Ed with it -compelling Ed to lay next to where Ed's head lay, dust rising -Ed dead.