Threshold of Annihilation (The Firebird Chronicles #3) - T.A. White Page 0,155
human admiral and all those who’d helped him
Jace pointed the zuipi at the androids. "Can’t argue with that."
Graydon cracked his neck. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't looking forward to this.
He grinned at the androids, a dangerous light in his eyes. "Now. Who's first?"
*
The world slid in and out of focus, pain and the percussion of the blast making it difficult for Kira to keep her eyes open.
Dim shapes climbing through the smoking hole in the wall. The sound of shattering glass as Finn launched himself through the window Kira had damaged.
Raider appearing above her a second later, his mouth moving but his words not penetrating the tinny ringing in her ears.
The station shuddering around them every so often.
As if in a dream, Kira reached up to feel her temple. Her fingers came away covered in blood.
So that's why her head hurt so much.
Raider was gentle as he pulled her to sitting, his gaze frantic.
He should go after Elise, Kira thought, her eyes sliding closed again.
"Can't let—" Kira trailed off, struggling to focus.
She blinked as the figures around her wheeled, a strange shape with many legs launching itself from the ceiling. It wrapped itself around one of the figures.
Her mind finally made sense of what she was seeing. It was the Haldeel guard. His lower half restrained his foe as he separated its head from its shoulders.
The body didn't crumple, not until the Haldeel ripped the limbs from its torso.
The android's companions screamed, the metal panels protecting their heads and necks flaring like the hood of a cobra. Their mouths dropped open, letting beams of light blast toward the Haldeel. He spun his trident, diffusing them.
Finn moved to intercept, his en-blade carving a path through the androids.
The world snapped into focus.
"Kira, we have to go," Raider shouted.
"Jin. Where's Jin?" Kira asked, shoving her way toward her feet.
She stumbled and would have fallen if Raider hadn't caught her.
She didn't see Jin anywhere. More concerning, she didn’t feel him either.
"Elise took him."
Stunned, Kira could only stare at Raider. She didn't understand. Why would Elise take Jin?
"And you let her?" Kira knew it was wrong even as she made the accusation.
Raider dropped her arm. "There was no “let” about it. She grabbed him and leapt out of the hole. These things attacked right after."
Finn put distance between him and the last few androids, his left arm sweeping in an arc. Ki blasted from him, lifting the androids and flinging them into the wall.
They hit with a crunch, collapsing to the ground.
"That should be the last of them," Finn said with an approving nod.
When he faced Kira, there was a look of condemnation in his eyes.
Kira couldn't even summon the energy to move as she leaned against what remained of the wall where the window had been.
She took a look around the room, noting its complete destruction.
The table was on its side and in two pieces. The place where she'd sat had scorch marks from the blast.
Things could be worse.
If she hadn't summoned her ki to strengthen her body just then, she would probably have looked like that table.
"Don't say it; I already know."
In her defense, no one could have predicted that Elise's accomplices would blow a hole in the wall.
Frankly speaking, it shouldn't have been possible. This room was located in a secure area and access was restricted.
Elise's accomplices shouldn't have been able to get anywhere close.
Glass crunched under Alexander’s feet as he walked into the room, surveying the damage with an impartial gaze.
"Should I go after the prisoner, Za na?" the guard asked him.
Alexander shook his head. "We have more important worries at the moment. The station is under attack both internally and externally. The lives of those within take priority over chasing that prisoner."
Kira ignored him, pushing herself away from the wall and staggering toward the hole. If that was the way Elise had gone, Kira would follow.
Raider blocked her.
"Move."
His expression only got more stubborn. "No. You can barely stand."
Kira snapped. "Raider, she has Jin!"
Raider's flinch brought Kira back to herself.
Shame had her taking a step away. She wasn't the only one who'd suffered a blow. Elise was the woman Raider loved. As difficult as this was for Kira, Raider would be even more devastated.
"I'm going after him," Kira said in a calmer voice.
"I know," Raider responded. "And I'm going with you."
"Idiots, the both of you." Alexander stabbed a finger at Kira. "You can barely stand. What do you think you can do?"