Kira noted with interest Wren’s initiates wouldn’t be the only ones attempting the monolith today as Maida and her little lambs, Joule among them, joined the group.
Jin continued to grumble. "Only spiders lurk like you currently are. Disgusting, terrifying creatures. I can’t believe humanity has reached the stars and still not eradicated those annoyances."
"Spiders play an important role in the ecosystem," Kira murmured, her gaze caught on a familiar figure, one taller and broader than the rest, arms folded over his chest as he frowned at those present. "What's he doing here?"
"Who?" Jin said, sounding alert.
"Graydon."
"Hmm. Maybe he's bored," Jin pointed out. His tone shifted. "They're not necessary on space stations or ships."
Kira paused, puzzlement crossing her face. "What aren't?"
His sigh was gusty. "Spiders."
Kira's head tilted as she considered. "I guess that depends on if you have a bug infestation or not."
People would be surprised by the tiny critters that managed to stowaway in goods shipped through merchant ships. Some of the planet critters were downright terrifying. All the safety protocols and clean rooms in the universe hadn't managed to solve the problem.
Jin hummed in thought.
"Looks like they're starting," Kira said.
Those below were warming up as they began to prepare for their ascent. This time Wren's initiates weren't the only ones, Maida's were doing the same on their side of the field.
Jin chortled with glee. "This is going to be so much fun."
Kira agreed.
"Remember the plan," she told him.
He grunted in confirmation as the first of the initiates started up the wall. Kira wasn't surprised to see Devon and Rheya sprint to the front, competing against each other, their movements bordering on reckless as they left the others behind. There was a distinct lack of coordination or teamwork present.
Humans might be a lot of things, but they understood success in battle often depended on your weakest link. Rarely your strongest. Cut it and you could strike a strategic blow to the enemy.
Kira started bouncing against the wall, the cable keeping her in place. "This is going to be too easy."
"I'm ready when you are," Jin said.
While Kira would do most of the heavy lifting, Jin would decide the flow of the next few minutes. He was a shadow in Kira’s mind, riding her senses and using what he picked up to parse information about the world around her.
In addition to seeing out of her eyes, he’d also had her place several sensors around the base and top of the cliff that fed him data. They were as ready for the coming battle as they could be.
"They're spread out, it should make it easy to pick them off," Jin said, analyzing the situation. "There's one drone ten feet below. As long as you don't touch the wall within five feet of it, you won't wake it up."
"Understood," Kira acknowledged.
"Prepare to drop," he told her.
Kira pushed off lightly.
"Drop."
The harness released, the cable spooling out as she descended rapidly.
"Drone is behind you. You're good to go for the next twelve feet."
Kira planted a foot, changing her trajectory. The contraption controlling the cable clicked over with her, allowing her to run down the cliff instead of being pulled to her original spot.
