A sucking pain lanced through her chest in the next instant. Choked gasps did nothing to relieve it as Kira glanced down. Vague surprise filled her at the sight of a sword point sticking out of her chest.
A Tuann en-blade, she noted distantly, touching it in dismay. Red coated her fingers.
Ayela stepped around her, her expression gloating. "Guess I'm not so useless after all. I killed you, didn't I? Even the general failed to accomplish that."
Kira blinked at her, unable to talk, her thoughts stilted and weak.
Her gaze shifted to Raider as she tried to force sound out. Bubbles of blood formed at the corner of her mouth.
The sword had punctured her lung. Speaking would be difficult.
"Run," she mouthed.
He took off.
"Protocol Phoenix! To me, to me. Jin, get that cage down!" Raider screamed.
Jin swung toward Kira but at Raider's order, he focused on the cage with a foul curse.
The Curs streamed toward him and the cage, herding the children in front of them.
Ayela laughed as she yanked the blade out of Kira's back. "These are who you chose to ally with? Cowards?"
Kira didn't respond, she couldn't. Blood poured out of her wound as she pressed her hands against her front.
Her vision wavered.
Raider and the rest were almost at the cage.
She needed to hold on. Just a little longer.
Ayela walked toward them, not bothering to hurry. Her prey had nowhere to go.
The cage dropped. Finally.
The Curs pushed the children inside. Raider and Blue yanked Finn and Noor after them as they dove for its safety. Jin turned the cage on.
Kira smiled. Finally.
She let the darkness consume her as she toppled forward.
