A sharp crack rent the air. Pain bloomed on Kira's cheekbone and jaw as her face turned with the force of the blow.
Raider and Blue were on their feet, their chairs screeching across the floor as Kira touched the painful spot.
"You try to be nice," she muttered to herself, dropping her hand.
Kira studied the other three, her gaze assessing. These idiots weren't the ones she was worried about. It was the man in the synth armor still standing at the bar and the four beside him.
"Last chance to walk away," she warned them.
The first man sneered. "You're a disgrace."
"I'll consider that a no."
Pity.
"You'll be the one leaving," he told her as he reached for her. His fingers were bruising where he grabbed her shoulder.
"Mistake one," she whispered.
Her other arm swept up, breaking his hold. She rose, yanking him forward and slamming his face into the table. Glasses jolted, several falling to the floor with a crash.
Raider and Blue threw themselves forward, blocking the others. Raider rammed the chair he'd been using into one, pinning him against a wall.
Blue withdrew a marble and squeezed it before tossing it at his companion. It touched the armor, and the woman jerked, her eyes rolling up before she hit the floor.
Kira easily held her quarry against the table as he struggled to rise. "Underestimating us was your second mistake."
She leveraged his forearm higher, hearing the joint stretch and pop.
She glanced over her shoulder to find Devon and Rheya, their backs to her as they faced four of the man's fellow initiates as they stepped away from the bar.
The two's show of support was surprising, a fact Kira forced herself to ignore as the Tuann clad in orange accented synth armor stepped forward.
Finn was quick to meet him, casually inserting himself between the oshota and Kira.
"Move," the oshota ordered.
"The day I accept orders from House Dethos is the day I hang up my blade," Finn said mildly.
The other man's lip curled. "If you can't control your mongrel, I’ll be forced to do it for you."
Kira snorted from where she still held her prey against the table. She'd like to see him try.
The oshota's cold, furious eyes found hers. She was sure it was meant to be impressive. Unfortunately, the effect was lost on her. She'd never learned to fear people who sent the inexperienced to do their work for them.
"I will break his arm," Kira warned him.
It wasn't personal, though she'd be lying if she said she wouldn't get a certain amount of satisfaction from the act. It was simply smart business—incapacitate an enemy so she could move onto the next.
Maybe it would make the oshota rethink this course of events. Probably not, but Kira still had to try.
"Dethos, you know what to do," he rumbled.
Resolve snapped into the four facing Devon and Rheya. Seconds later, they surged forward. Devon and Rheya braced to meet them.
Blue whooped and charged forward. "Show them the gristmill! Show them hell!"
Kira cursed, yanking on the man's arm. His shoulder joint popped amid an agonized cry. She lifted his head and smashed it into the table, stepping away as he slumped to the ground, unconscious.
