"She shares the same blood as you," Alma snapped. "Her tie to the Mea'Ave is strong despite her long absence. She's more human than Tuann. There's no telling what dirty tricks she's capable of."
Liara was quiet as she considered Alma's words.
Kira tried to sit up, to speak over the buzzing of her ears. Her entire head rang from whatever Ayela had done to her. Even her vision was slightly fuzzy.
"Don't," she croaked, the word almost soundless.
She rolled onto her stomach. It took her three tries to push herself upright. She reached out, knowing before she touched him, it was Graydon standing over her, his legs spread as he protected her prone form.
She blinked up at a blurry Graydon. "Trap."
Realization donned as he noticed the two women near the octagon, he shouted, "Wait."
His warning came too late. Liara stepped into the octagon. Lights shot from her, coalescing into thousands of symbols dotting the space around the Overlord.
"It's done. The codes have been changed," Liara said in relief.
Not good. Not good at all.
Kira struggled to stand. A hard blow on her shoulder sent her to the ground again.
"Stay where you are, traitor," one of Roderick's men said.
"Touch her again and I'll tear your arms from their sockets and beat you with them," Graydon threatened.
"Sir, the Emperor's Face is impeding our orders."
Roderick looked over, his expression unsurprised. "Deal with him accordingly."
Kira stiffened, Graydon tensing next to her.
Battle cries pierced the air as men and women in black synth armor poured into the room.
Suddenly the numbers were even, Luatha’s people fighting for their lives as they tried to contend with Graydon at their front and his warriors at their backs.
Amila and Solal surged through the clamor to appear beside Graydon.
"I hope this means you accomplished your mission," Amila said with a sassy smirk.
"That and more," Graydon responded, catching a blow on his forearm before bringing one fist on his opponent's shoulder. The man crashed to the ground.
"Good, maybe we can go back to civilization then," Solal grumbled. He sidestepped as a man rushed him, sinking the pommel of his sword into the man's head, knocking him unconscious.
"And Kira?" Amila asked.
"Bring her. She's the reason we’re going home," Graydon said from where he tangled with three soldiers.
Easier said than done as the Nexus descended into chaos.
Graydon's people were better trained, but outnumbered five to one. They were also hampered by the fact they weren't trying to kill their opponents, opting to disarm or knock unconscious those attacking them.
The Luathans weren't under the same constraints.
Graydon roared as he challenged three warriors, his form lithe as a cat as he toyed with them.
Armor crunched on one as Graydon sank his weight behind a kick. He whirled catching the other guard's hand, before jerking him close as he picked him up and threw him at another.
In the melee, Kira lost track of Liara and Alma.
Kira stood, her limbs shaky, the furor of the fight all around her. She waited, not joining in the fight.
Graydon had the Luathans handled. She needed to find the instigators of this little debacle if she truly wanted this to end.
She turned and nearly ran into one of the cloaked strangers. She ducked, evading his grasp.
"Azala, you need to come with us," Silas said, his expression urgent.
"There's a lot of things I need; that's not one of them." Kira backed slowly away from the two as they spread out to trap her.
Graydon and the rest were busy with the Luathan guards, leaving her on her own.
A woman cried out in pain. All fighting in the Nexus ground to a halt.
"Liara!" Roderick screamed, starting toward his Overlord.
A thrum filled the air. A thin sheet of shimmering light bisected the room, cutting him off from his Overlord.
Graydon surged forward, grabbing Roderick around the neck and yanking him to a stop. Kira and the rest had no chance to evade as sheets of light surrounded them, creating a large box around the battling Tuann. The Tuann went from fighting each other to eyeing their prison of light with shock and dismay.
"A Caldon field," Kira murmured, holding her hand up to the light. The barest tingle warned her. Try to push past that tingle and unimaginable pain would shoot through her. Push a little further and it would burn her flesh until nothing was left.
"This is Tsavitee tech," Silas said thoughtfully.
Amila came to stand beside her, her eyes wide, a hint of fear in them.
Graydon's face was furious as he paced a line along the wall of light.
The only Tuann not in the light cage were Alma, Ayela, and Liara.
Alma looked around her in horror, her expression slack as she stared at the rest of them, trapped like flies in amber.
Guess Kira didn't have to ask herself whether Alma knew the full extent of Ayela's plan.
A pained sound escaped Liara as Alma supported her, huddling over her Overlord protectively. Liara touched her shoulder, grimacing as her hand came away bright red with blood.
"What is the meaning of this?" Alma demanded, as she stared at Ayela.
Ayela smiled at her, the expression no less serene than when she'd addressed Kira. "The final phase of our plan."
"This wasn't part of my plan," Alma snapped. "The Overlord wasn't supposed to get hurt."
Ayela shrugged. "Maybe not your plan, but this was always my end goal. Thank you for resetting the defense codes. The Tsavitee waiting in the ship above will be very pleased about that. Won't they, pet?"
"As you say, mistress." A Tsavitee warrior stepped into view.
Shock and horror devastated Alma’s expression as she faced the full extent of her betrayal. Somehow, the seneschal had believed she could turn the situation to her advantage, Kira knew. Now she was learning the error of her ways.
Kira focused on the Tsavitee. A general. Damn. That wasn’t good. This operation must have been important to his superiors for them to send him. The Tsavitee rulers fielded the generals only when absolutely necessary.
He towered over the others, his form massive and built for power and speed. Kira knew he'd be fast and deadly. He had skin as dark as the void; the red symbols etched into one side of his chest proclaiming his rank and status.
What was he doing here? She'd only ever seen them leading invasions, content and safe on their ships as they directed the lower form Tsavitee.
"A Tsavitee," Silas said. "I was wondering what that stench was."
"Not just one." Kira’s voice was soft. "That's a general. They wouldn't have sent him alone."
The stranger gave her a sideways glance. "Yes, I can see you're right."
More Tsavitee stepped into view. All of them much smaller than the first.
For all a general’s individual strength, his primary purpose among the Tsavitee was to act as the military strategist behind the rest.
Because of that, he was the most dangerous person in the room. The others might be vicious and savage, but ultimately, they were dumb. Left on their own, they'd probably have killed off their species.
It was only when the general and those above directed them in battle, they became a true threat.