There was a soft thrum, the faintest snap of electricity as the simulation began. From the floor, a being started to form.
Kira tensed. What surprise had Graydon picked out for this little excursion? He had something up his sleeve, there'd been too much arrogance in his expression to assume otherwise.
"Well, shit," she said, her hope this would be easy, disappearing.
She wasn't the only one to have an immediate reaction to the creature. Jin let out a low whistle as alarmed exclamations came from those humans in the room.
Those who'd fought in the war would recognize what she was up against. A Tsavitee war drone, class two, its intelligent eyes locking on her as its cry pierced the air in a sound that chilled her straight to the bone.
CHAPTER EIGHT
That oversized bastard had really gone all out, Kira thought grimly. He couldn't have picked anything simple. No, he'd gone straight for the throat, choosing an opponent he knew would pull a visceral reaction from every human in the room.
She didn't dare turn her attention from the war drone, knowing if she did, it would tear her apart. In a different time, with different people, she might have settled for giving Graydon several choice gestures that perfectly articulated how she felt about this situation.
Since she was supposed to be currying favor, she settled for a soft angry sound as she visualized all the things she'd like to do with the arrogant Tuann if given half the chance. Throttling him featured heavily in her schemes.
The war drone, like some of the Tsavitee lower forms, was digitigrade, meaning it walked on its toes rather than its heels, giving the appearance of knees bending backward.
Taller than Kira by several feet, the war drone was built like a wall. An angry, vicious wall. Its entire purpose lay in its ability to pierce the enemy's lines while the smaller Tsavitee swarmed behind it.
The longer arms made it seem almost ape-like. It lacked fur, its skin a dark blue with smaller rosettes on its arms and shoulders. Horns curled up from its head and it had long lower canines denting the top of its lip.
As much as Kira hated to admit it, Graydon had made a good choice when selecting this opponent. Its larger size meant Kira would be on unequal footing, given she was smaller and physically weaker than her opponent.
Bringing it down would take work. Once it was done, neither Joule or any other would be able to claim she had the advantage of size.
That's if she could bring it down.
She had to wonder what Graydon had been thinking in setting this up. While she could take the drone down—as could every member of the Curs—most wouldn't be able to. He couldn't know for sure her history, which meant this was either a test or he was making a point. To her, or Joule was the question.
"Would you like a ratan?" Graydon asked with smug politeness.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw him lift a long staff, much like Joule's. She shook her head. While the staff would increase her reach, she had never liked fighting with one. Its shape had never felt natural to her.
She much preferred the energy edged swords adapted from the katanas of ancient Japan.
Besides, this lesson worked best when no weapon was used at all.
He lowered the ratan, a small twist to his lips saying her choice amused him. So glad she could provide entertainment for him and his warriors.
Kira's breath deepened as she watched her opponent. She didn't move as she studied the drone. They'd caught its essence perfectly.
Still, it wasn't real. That intelligence in its eyes was an illusion—a program designed to react to certain preset conditions.
Maybe it was a little more advanced than any simulation she'd ever seen, but it was still a simulation. Fake.
At least Graydon had chosen one of the lower classes. If she’d faced a wraith or lizard, she'd be a little more worried.
The Tsavitee struck, its powerful legs helping it clear the space between them in the blink of an eye. Kira dropped, rolling under it and regaining her feet, her posture defensive.
It was quick, startling so. Kira circled away from it, feeling warier than she had moments before.
The Tsavitee straightened, its back facing her as its head turned toward her, rotating almost ninety degrees.
The sight chilled Kira, the gesture so similar to a real Tsavitee drone. It was like looking through a time machine, everything that had once given her nightmares made suddenly, breathtakingly, real. Abruptly, Kira remembered what it was like to be hunted, to have adrenaline flood your system as every one of your senses revved into overdrive as danger stalked your every move.
The Tsavitee’s body turned as it lowered its head, the horns pointed at her like a ram's. It charged. Kira slid to the right, narrowly missing being impaled. If he'd struck her, it would have been like being hit by a car going thirty-five miles an hour. In real life, she would have ended up with broken bones—if she was lucky—and liquefied organs if she wasn't.
She circled the Tsavitee, getting distance. She forgot about the people watching, forgot why she needed to keep her skills under wrap. All she knew was survival and ensuring the enemy didn't live long enough to come after her again.
She hopped back, her head up as the Tsavitee charged again. This time she was ready.
She stepped out of the way, turning with the drone as she reached out and grabbed a horn. She pulled toward her right as she stepped into his charge, using her hip as a fulcrum as she yanked him off his feet. He hit the ground head first.
There was an audible crack as his neck snapped. The Tsavitee went limp, its limbs twitching.
Slowly, he began to dissolve as Kira stared at him with a sinking sense of dread. Crap. She'd meant to drag that out for a lot longer. Maybe let him do a little bit of damage first.
She'd forgotten herself in the incredible realism. It had thrown her back in time to when the stakes in such a battle was your life, and you didn't screw around with fancy moves.
Graydon's eyes met hers, his expression enigmatic and his eyes dark. He gave her a small nod of respect. It was a sentiment reflected on many of his warriors' faces, some slightly disbelieving as they stared at the spot where the drone had been.
Kira controlled her pulse as she made her way to the edge of the simulator. Unease moved through her as she realized every person in the gym had watched the match. Jace and Raider's faces were blank, but the rest of the Curs looked awestruck. Nova seemed shocked. Maverick was a little harder to read as he stared at the empty floor.
She ducked her head and looked away. Joule's mouth was slightly open and there was a stunned look in his eyes. Ziva was the opposite. She stared up at Kira like she was a goddess come to rescue them, hope lighting up her face.
Kira strode away as fast as she could without running. Ziva was going to have to look elsewhere for a role model. She'd gotten out of the business of hope a long time ago.
*
The fight with the Tsavitee had quelled some of the restless energy plaguing Kira since boarding the ship, but she still hadn't found her calm by the time she reached her deck.
Instead of returning to her room, she bypassed it in favor of heading toward the conservatory, her two unwelcome guides trailing behind her.
Kira had spent much of her life in the cold ships of space, but she remembered the comforting smells of dirt and growing things. She'd taken the name Forrest not just because Himoto had discovered her in one, but because there was something special about walking among trees hundreds of years older than her. Their presence spoke to her soul.