HAWK

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE: PEGASUS (6/6)

Captain Mack, Sudds and Beak stood shoulder to shoulder with one another beside the cockpit door, watching as Kas and Pari attached their pads in the middle of the cargo hold. While Mack and Beak were standing with their arms crossed, Sudds was pacing up and down and clapping.

'You've got this, baby,' he said. 'You've got this.'

Pari pulled on her helmet and smiled at him. She started hopping up and down as she looked at Kas who was sitting on the floor, slowly tightening her shin guards.

'Come on, Balera, let's go,' Pari said. Kas ignored her and calmly pulled on her helmet. She made sure it was nice and snug before getting to her feet. She then bent at her waist and touched her toes.

'Damn it, hurry up!' Pari goaded.

Kas exhaled as she straightened up and rolled her head around her neck. She then placed her right leg forward and turned her body slightly sideways.

'Ready,' she said.

'About time,' Pari replied as she stuck her thumb up at Sudds.

Sudds clapped again. 'OK, let's have a nice clean fight!'

'Wait, what are the rules?' Kas asked, but Pari was already moving towards her.

Nevermind...

Pari came in with a couple of short but fast punches designed to test Kas's reflexes. Kas simply hopped to the side and slapped them away. She wasn't going to counter just yet - Pari was showing all the signs of a fighter too eager to use up her energy, and Kas was happy to let her do just that.

Pari's next attack was sidekick which she pulled at the last second, again to test Kas's defences and work out her technique. Kas knew she'd do that a few more times before getting frustrated and going for her. She just had to wait.

'Come on, baby!' Sudds shouted.

Apparently, that was all the encouragement Pari needed because she suddenly lunged at Kas with a swift front kick aimed straight at her chest. Kas saw it coming and stepped aside, but it clipped Kas's shoulder and took her briefly off balance. Pari knew it and was quick with the punches. Before Kas had regained her footing, she was already trying her best to defend from the endless barrage of strikes Pari was throwing at her.

High then low.

Low then high.

She barely blocked the last one and felt a soft blow to her temple, but by then she'd rediscovered her balance and was able to spin safely out of the way.

Sudds was clapping and cheering.

'Nice work, baby, that's it!'

Pari and Kas squared up and locked eyes, their guards held high.

'You gonna fight or what?' Pari taunted.

Kas licked her lips. 'I was just gonna ask you the same thing.'

This time when Pari came at her, Kas charged forwards at the same time. It took Pari by surprise. She was more focused on her outgoing kick than the incoming punch. Kas's fist struck her square on the cheek. Before she could retaliate, Kas had hopped aside and put a good three feet of space between them.

Pari learned her lesson quickly and stayed back this time.

'Nice work, baby,' Kas smiled.

Pari spat on the floor and advanced slowly. She tested Kas with a couple of light punches before pirouetting, aiming the heel of her foot at Kas's waist. Her speed had dropped since her last couple of attacks, though, and this time Kas was prepared. As the spinning kick came round, Kas dropped to the floor and returned a low spinning kick of her own. The hook of her foot caught Pari's calf and swept it out from under her. In the same moment Pari had expected her heel to strike Kas's body, she was suddenly falling backwards and spinning inelegantly to the ground. She landed in a mess while Kas rolled back over her shoulder and onto her feet.

A small clapping sound alerted Kas to the side of the room where Worm was applauding enthusiastically. In fact, Kas had never seen her look happier. Sudds muttered a swear word while Pari clambered back to her feet. Kas turned her attention back to her.

'You wanna give up?' she asked.

Pari shook her head. 'I haven't had this much fun in--'

A sound that none of them had expected brought a sudden end to proceedings. It was a hissing noise that Kas at first thought was an air vent behind her, but then she saw the expression in the four soldiers eyes before they reached for their weapons.

Kas knew what she'd see before she even turned around, but she turned anyway.

The alien with gold skin was crouched in the doorway, and it was looking right back at her.