Michael, on seeing the first orb fizzle, started stifling the others. Once he has that down to a reflex, he takes note of the general situation...

...just in time to feel a scraping sensation, like tinfoil on dental fillings, as the pulse cannons open fire. Don't point that thing at the girl, big boy, he thinks as he abandons the work of squelching orbs to charge up a fireball twice the size of your head and aim it straight at the "crotch" of the Strider nearest to X.