“Kira,” Jin urged. “You need to move. Inbound strike in ten seconds.”
Kira looked up, the atmosphere of the arena shifting as the timer changed. The symbol it projected matched the circle the thread had just attached too.
Gotcha.
“Move, Phoenix!”
Kira dropped.
twenty-one
Laser fire bombarded the perch Selene had created for Kira, shredding the top.
Seeing their prey had escaped, several drones dove after her.
Below, Selene’s hands moved with lightning speed as she cast shields in Kira’s direction. The first appeared a foot under her.
Kira stepped onto it, using it to launch herself in the opposite direction.
A laser pierced the platform an instant later.
By then Kira was already landing on a second shield platform using it to propel herself downward.
Drones swarmed her, chasing after her fleeing form. Always several steps behind her as Kira and Selene worked in tandem. Selene providing temporary perches as Kira pushed her muscles to the limit to lead the drones into the trap she and Selene were laying.
Alexander rushed from the ground, using the same shield perches as Kira.
The facade of the mild-mannered scholar had disappeared, his expression containing the wild ferocity that had always been present in the camps.
It was a welcome sight, a thrill filling her as their gazes locked.
A tacit understanding passed between them. The years of separation and hard feelings washed away.
In that moment, they knew exactly what the other wanted.
Could guess which way each would move and what needed to come after.
A platform formed to Kira’s left.
Kira leapt for it, planting one foot on its surface. Her quads burned as she launched herself sideways.
The drones shifted to intercept, locking her in their sights. A blue glow built as their lasers powered up.
Alexander burst out of the blind spot Kira and Selene had created.
He snatched the first drone out of the air, crushing it with one powerful hand.
It crunched, sparks flying. The blue glow died as Alexander hurled it at its brethren.
It flew, crashing into another drone with the force of a missile.
Kira took advantage of the distraction Alexander had provided to unleash a wave of ki.
It flooded out of her, whipping over Alexander’s head to collide with the front wave of drones.
The drones dropped, raining down on the sands as if they’d had their wires cut.
Kira and Alexander let themselves fall.
