Burning Bright Eyes

Twelve

        Kolivan was staring at the Miero hybrid, his eyes failing to mask his shock. A Marmora knife awakening to a blood relative of its original wielder was rare enough, in the case of Keith and Krolia. But a knife permanently changing on contact, and with a half-breed?! That just didn't happen by chance! However, there wasn't any time to question the matter. As soon as Ayiko's dilated eyes locked onto his companion, she sprang toward him.

        "You need to get out of her way!" Lotor called out to the Blade of Marmora leader. "She can't see clearly when her eyes are like that!"

        Kolivan barely managed to get out of the swift hybrid's way when her tendrils and chain whip surged out at the masked Blade. He'd heard tales of Miero being unnaturally fast and how they can fight on instincts, but he'd never seen either of which happen in person.

        Ayiko's targeted opponent already had out his second blade. A black gladius, tied with dark blue tendrils and chains of alternating black metal and blue energy. Ayiko lashed her opponent's mask with tendrils, trying to jump backward and yank the sword from his grip. She staggered at a chop to her side, and nearly crumpled at his elbow grinding into her collarbone.

        When Kolivan saw the strange device peeking out from under the new arrival's cloak, he understood what caused the Miero hybrid to start acting so strange.

        "Zerax! Why did you bring that sound emitter?!" he demanded. "You were not given permission to use such experimental technology."

        Zerax turned to Kolivan, his voice warped and seemingly mixed with another. "I do what is necessary to recapture prisoners. Prisoners 893-zeta-652 and 259-omega-328 must be returned to the High Priestess. All Blade of Marmora members shall be used to expand upon our--!" He was cut short when Ayiko's chain whip and tendrils pulled free, cutting the device in half. Between Ayiko going behind Zerax and delivering a swift kick with her heel to the back of his neck, he was pinned to the floor at her feet by her tendrils, unconscious.

        Ayiko's pupils hadn't retracted yet, but she stopped her ruthless charge. She stood above Zerax, panting and gripping her side with her free arm, her legs shaking from exhaustion. The chain whip retracted and turned back into the wrist cuff, and the tendrils retracted to sweep around her hips. Zerax's mask shorted out, revealing his face.

        Whatever was happening, it was clear Lotor and his generals knew more than Kolivan. The generals shook their heads at him as Lotor, quietly and carefully, approached the hybrid. Ayiko turned from the unconscious Blade and glared at the movement with her dilated eyes. Lotor slowly wrapped his fingers around her limp hand, gently pulling her against his chest. Ayiko's eyes fluttered closed for a bit as the pupils retracted, before she returned the embrace.

        The Paladins and other Warriors sighed in relief before the latter group went up to her. Ezor threw her arms around Ayiko's neck, burying her face in her shoulder. Acxa rubbed circles in the pink-skinned Warrior's back, smiling at Lotor and Ayiko. Zethrid went up to them and pulled them all into a group hug.

        "Holy quiznak, Ayiko!" Ezor cried into the Miero's shoulder. "You had us terrified back there! What in the unknown universe happened?!"

        Ayiko smiled before the generals released her, Lotor holding her steady. "It's difficult to explain," she murmured, trying to recall. "First there was that click, and then I suddenly heard this... painful, piercing sound that made my head hurt. I could barely hear much through it besides distant voices until I heard a Druid's cry. When I felt some sort of movement, I put my hand up to defend myself when something caught on my wrist, but by then I believe my eyes had darkened."