He and Sam trusted each other unwaveringly on the field. Regardless, he gave her an assist with a quick biokinetic blast, drilling one operative firing at Sam. This drew away the attention of those firing on Sam, Tyris, and Liliana—distracting them long enough for Sam to zoom past with one fiery arm outstretched. Instants later, agonized screams rang out as the Sons all hurriedly dropped their red-hot weapons.
From above, Sam caught a subtle hand gesture between Khrome and Tyris that most missed, after which the Thulican touched down to grab the much taller Tanoeen’s uniform, hefting him up over his right shoulder effortlessly and tossing Tyris like a javelin at the newly disarmed CoE operatives. The Tanoeen sailed forward at high speed, fists aimed at his targets. Some scrambled out of the way, others not moving quickly enough. The “Ice Rocket” maneuver, as Khrome called it, took out five operatives with ease, ending with Tyris tumbling into a forward roll and skipping up back to his feet.
That maneuver instantly shifted the tide back in Star Brigade’s favor. Habraum, tall and strapping, stood back to back with Liliana near the battered embankment. With her blindingly white sonic blasts and his crimson biokinetic beams paired in offense, each fired precisely at any armed CoE hostiles ahead. Watching from above, Sam glimpsed V’Korram and Jan’Hax pick off hostiles trying to flee through the two exits.
From the far right, Sam watched in alarm as two sizzling pulse-rifle blasts streaked for Lily. But Habraum, one eye always on his team, grabbed the back of the doctor’s neck to push her down. And the shots sailed harmlessly overhead. Seeing the Cerc in action, the the ease and confidence in every movement never failed to captivate Sam. Liliana popped back up and returned fire in concert with Habraum. A torrent of white rings and a jet of concussive crimson energy smacked the female terrorist dead on, rocketing her off the ground and into a wall.
Habraum glanced over at Lily. “Y’ollrigh, Crescendo?” When she nodded, the Cerc grinned. “Some stragglers left. Nothing the others can’t handle.”
With sparse words and gestures, the team’s chemistry and coordination resembled a ferocious dance, throwing the Children of Earth into utter chaos. Sam hovered for a moment to just watch, proud of what CT-1 had become.
And after this mission, she would no longer be part of this. Suddenly Sam ached for her teammates, her family.
Her gaze fell on the four cell boxes holding the Korvenites. Wiping away any self-pity, Sam flew from the main skirmish to the containers. All the boxes lay askew on the ground, knocked off their repulsor lifts. Sam landed beside a cell box on its side. The fires wreathing her body winked out and she pointed a finger, shooting out a torch-like jet of orange flame.
Moments later, she had nearly finished cutting a wide circle through the container’s bottom…and felt a rush of movement from behind.
Sam tensed and ducked—hearing a hissed curse as a sizzling stun baton swiped over where her head had just been. She popped up to catch the second swing, hooking the larger attacker’s arm under her own.
“My turn, asshole,” she sneered. Instead of scalding Ishida’s face off with her pyrokinesis, Sam doubled him over by swinging her forearm low, striking him hard in the groin. Still in motion, she reared up with an elbow to Ishida’s windpipe. She whirled as he gagged, lifting his arm overhead and slamming the elbow across her own shoulder. The sickening snap of Ishida’s joint popping out of place and his choked howl sang above the battle din. Spinning back around, Sam grabbed the collar of Ishida’s fatigues and head-butted him in the face. She let go of his collar in disgust as if he were soiled, letting Ishida slump in an insensible heap.
Sam then returned focus to burning through the box cell as if uninterrupted. One firm shove later, and the makeshift circle fell inward
From above, Sam caught a subtle hand gesture between Khrome and Tyris that most missed, after which the Thulican touched down to grab the much taller Tanoeen’s uniform, hefting him up over his right shoulder effortlessly and tossing Tyris like a javelin at the newly disarmed CoE operatives. The Tanoeen sailed forward at high speed, fists aimed at his targets. Some scrambled out of the way, others not moving quickly enough. The “Ice Rocket” maneuver, as Khrome called it, took out five operatives with ease, ending with Tyris tumbling into a forward roll and skipping up back to his feet.
That maneuver instantly shifted the tide back in Star Brigade’s favor. Habraum, tall and strapping, stood back to back with Liliana near the battered embankment. With her blindingly white sonic blasts and his crimson biokinetic beams paired in offense, each fired precisely at any armed CoE hostiles ahead. Watching from above, Sam glimpsed V’Korram and Jan’Hax pick off hostiles trying to flee through the two exits.
From the far right, Sam watched in alarm as two sizzling pulse-rifle blasts streaked for Lily. But Habraum, one eye always on his team, grabbed the back of the doctor’s neck to push her down. And the shots sailed harmlessly overhead. Seeing the Cerc in action, the the ease and confidence in every movement never failed to captivate Sam. Liliana popped back up and returned fire in concert with Habraum. A torrent of white rings and a jet of concussive crimson energy smacked the female terrorist dead on, rocketing her off the ground and into a wall.
Habraum glanced over at Lily. “Y’ollrigh, Crescendo?” When she nodded, the Cerc grinned. “Some stragglers left. Nothing the others can’t handle.”
With sparse words and gestures, the team’s chemistry and coordination resembled a ferocious dance, throwing the Children of Earth into utter chaos. Sam hovered for a moment to just watch, proud of what CT-1 had become.
And after this mission, she would no longer be part of this. Suddenly Sam ached for her teammates, her family.
Her gaze fell on the four cell boxes holding the Korvenites. Wiping away any self-pity, Sam flew from the main skirmish to the containers. All the boxes lay askew on the ground, knocked off their repulsor lifts. Sam landed beside a cell box on its side. The fires wreathing her body winked out and she pointed a finger, shooting out a torch-like jet of orange flame.
Moments later, she had nearly finished cutting a wide circle through the container’s bottom…and felt a rush of movement from behind.
Sam tensed and ducked—hearing a hissed curse as a sizzling stun baton swiped over where her head had just been. She popped up to catch the second swing, hooking the larger attacker’s arm under her own.
“My turn, asshole,” she sneered. Instead of scalding Ishida’s face off with her pyrokinesis, Sam doubled him over by swinging her forearm low, striking him hard in the groin. Still in motion, she reared up with an elbow to Ishida’s windpipe. She whirled as he gagged, lifting his arm overhead and slamming the elbow across her own shoulder. The sickening snap of Ishida’s joint popping out of place and his choked howl sang above the battle din. Spinning back around, Sam grabbed the collar of Ishida’s fatigues and head-butted him in the face. She let go of his collar in disgust as if he were soiled, letting Ishida slump in an insensible heap.
Sam then returned focus to burning through the box cell as if uninterrupted. One firm shove later, and the makeshift circle fell inward
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