I exploit every single one.
My claws shred the servo connections on his upper right arm. I use my legs and thrusters in combination to deliver a devastating kick to his remaining functional rear limb, throwing him off-balance. My fangs find the gap where his chest armor has been compromised, and I bite down hard enough to make him scream.
It's brutal. Efficient. The kind of fighting that earned me the name Golden Viper and made other gladiators afraid to face me in the circuits.
And through it all—through the pain and the rage and the terrible silence where Zola's presence used to be—I keep one thought burning in my mind:
I am not weak without her.
I was never weak without her.
I'm just better when we're together.
And just like that—like the universe decided I'd proven my point, like Jitters finally found the right wire to reconnect, likewhatever cosmic force watches over stupidly bonded couples took pity on two idiots who refused to give up—
The bondslamsback into place.
Not gradually. Not gently. It hits like a tidal wave of awareness—Zola's consciousness flooding back into mine with such intensity I nearly lose my grip on Thek-Ka. Her terror during those minutes of silence. Her absolute certainty in my ability to survive. Her pride in who I am both with and without her presence. Her love, fierce and unwavering, wrapping around my heart like armor.
And underneath it all:relief. Such profound relief that it makes my chest ache worse than the cracked ribs.
Through the bond, I feel her trying to reach me on comms, but we're still too far, the systems not designed for this range. So instead I send everything I need her to know through our connection: Alive. Functional. Ready to finish this.
Her presence in my mind shifts—surprise giving way to fierce pride and something that makes my knees weak even through combat adrenaline. She understands what I've proven. Not just to Thek-Ka or to myself, but to both of us.
Through the bond:I know you didn't need me. But do you want company finishing this?
Not words, but the meaning is clear, carried on waves of emotion and tactical awareness that's already flooding back into my consciousness.
I grin, baring fangs that catch the twin suns' light.
Through the bond back to her:Always.
The connection flares to full strength, and this time it feels different. Not like Zola guiding my movements or me following her instructions. It's synthesis—two rivers joining to become something greater than either alone. Her tactical brilliance merges with my combat instincts, creating perfect harmony.
Through the bond: combat effectiveness analysis, hydraulic system status, power distribution patterns, reaction time degradation. Not spoken—justknown, the way you know where your own limbs are in space.
And beneath the tactical data:Your choice where to strike. I'm here to support, not direct.
That's when I realize—truly, deeply realize—what partnership means to Zola. She's not trying to control me or protect me or do the fighting for me. She's providing the information I need to make the best decisions I can, then trusting me to make them.
Equal partners. Both complete. Both brilliant. But together? Unstoppable.
Through the bond: Upper left arm servo. If we disable that, he loses plasma cannon control.
I analyze Thek-Ka's stance with fresh eyes. She's right. And I can see two approach vectors that would work.
Back through the bond: The direct approach exposes my damaged ribs to his blade. The safer angle has lower success probability.
From Zola:Your call.
I choose the direct approach without hesitation. We're ending this now.
I launch myself at Thek-Ka with renewed purpose. This time, every movement flows with the kind of synchronicity that makes combat feel like dancing. I don't need Zola to tell me where to dodge—I can feel her awareness of the battlefield through our bond, and my instincts fill in the gaps. When Thek-Ka's blade comes at me from an unexpected angle, I'm already moving because she spotted the tell in his body language a fraction of a second before I would have.
We're not one creature. We're better than that. We're two creatures fighting as though we'd been doing it together for decades instead of minutes.
My claws find the servo connection on his upper left arm, and this time I know exactly how much force to apply, exactly what angle will cause maximum damage, exactly when to strike for optimal effect. Not because Zola told me, but because her knowledge merges seamlessly with my experience.
