The blade neared her skin as the Tsavitee lined up his stroke. Distantly she noted their feet resembled a goat's, hoof-like with no shoes.
The blade lifted. A deafening roar sounded from the cage as something threw itself against it, again and again.
Kira couldn't turn to see what.
She slipped her hand along the top of her boot, palming the finger-length blade hidden there.
Sloppy of the Tsavitee not to secure her hands.
The ax descended.
Kira grabbed the arm of the Tsavitee holding her hair. She rolled into the other Tsavitee pulling the first into the path of the descending ax.
There was a scream as blood sprayed, the blade cleaving his shoulder in two. Kira twisted, not bothering to find her feet, sinking her blade into the executioner's leg, searching for an artery.
Blood gushed. She couldn't tell if she'd hit it or not. Best to make sure.
The executioner lifted the blade again. Kira surged up, staying close to his body. His swing missed. She trapped his arm against her side and swiped her blade across his neck.
Warm blood hit her face as she held him against her, not letting his dead body fall.
Kira maneuvered him so his dead weight was between her and the rest of the Tsavitee.
"This is your only warning. Those who wish to live—run,"Kira said in Tsavitee.
Neron’s image clicked off.
Kira spared one glance at it before focusing on the force in front of her. There was no going back now. The Tsavitee higher-ups knew she was alive. They'd view her as a threat and come for her before she could come for them.
She sighed and shook her head. Thoughts of future problems could wait. There was too much in the here and now to take care of.
The sound of a slow clap came as Ayela stepped from between the ranks of milling Tsavitee. The two generals stayed where they were. They might want Kira dead, but they had enough experience to know with her loose it was better to let the cannon fodder wear her down before striking.
The younger one looked stunned, his mouth agape. Lothos stared at the two dead Tsavitee with a blank expression.
"Congratulations, you've managed to survive for another minute," Ayela said sarcastically, pushing through the Tsavitee. "But you're still alone with no weapon besides that blade and you face an army.”
Pity moved across Kira's face. "That's where you and the Tsavitee always seem to go wrong. I rarely face your kind alone."
Confusion reflected on Ayela's face, before realization descended. Her mouth opened to shout orders.
She was too late.
Sound ripped through the air. “The Ride of the Valkyries” playing as Jin shot up from the ground.
Kira used the dead Tsavitee as a shield against Tsavitee fire as she dove for cover.
Jin drew a drunken path through the air as the Tsavitee turned their weapons from her to him. He returned fire, the laser gun she'd installed mowing down the dozen Tsavitee between him and Kira.
An explosion rocked the room as part of the ceiling caved in. Rope descended seconds later, several forms rappelling down them. Guns barked as those above fired into the horde.
The Curs. About damn time.
Kira abandoned her cover, tackling the Tsavitee closest to her. She buried her blade in its neck several times, leaping off it before it hit the ground. She caught another, knocking its weapon away. It fired on its allies instead.
The Tsavitee was dead in the next second.
Raider and Nova were careful to keep their lines of fire away from the hostages.
