Hundred Percent

"Ouch," was all Athena said as she stood up, dusting herself off with a casual swipe of her hands, as if the impact with the wall had been nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

Perseus was flooded with relief at seeing her safe, but that relief quickly morphed into frustration. He scolded her, his voice a mix of concern and reprimand, "Stop taking those unnecessary risks! That habit of yours will get you killed one day."

Athena pouted in response, her youthful defiance showing through the cracks of her warrior facade. "But I thought I could take it," she countered, her tone half-apologetic, half-defiant.

Perseus looked at her, his eyes narrowing with worry. "So... do you think you can still take it?" he asked, his voice softer now.

She flexed her arms, her hands trembling slightly from the force of the impact, the echo of pain in her bones evident in her grimace. "My arms are still trembling from the impact, my bones are aching," she admitted, but then that devious smile crept across her face, "But I could take it."

Even as more K'tharr poured into the room, surrounding them, Perseus thought. Among Martians her age, Athena was peerless. She stood heads and shoulders above everybody else her age, no, even some much older than her.

But the K'tharr were not Martians; their physiology granted them terrifying advantages—venomous teeth, elongated arms tipped with razor-sharp claws, bodies built for speed and agility, and an unnatural capacity to learn and adapt.

He didn't believe Athena could last long against them, even though she believed she could. Perhaps she could handle one or two, but there were over twenty of them now, filling the room with their menacing presence.

His decision was made; he couldn't let this continue. He needed to protect his daughter, not just the data. He began to remove his thumb from the sensor on the computer, prepared to abandon the upload to fight alongside her.

But then, he heard Athena's shout, cutting through the tension and the sounds of the encroaching K'tharr.

She yelled at him, her voice fierce and commanding, "Don't you dare remove your hand from that sensor! Do not dishonor the House of Mangal-Grah! We have been warriors for centuries, always at the front lines to protect the red planet—our home. Not once have the Mangal-Grah run from a battle of any kind, not once have we failed to complete our mission. And it will not start today!"

Athena continued, her voice unwavering, "I don't know what's uploading to that drive, but I know it's important. And we must finish it."

Perseus felt a mix of shame and pride—shame for choosing one person, his daughter, over the entire planet's future, and pride for having raised a strong girl who understood honor, duty, and sacrifice.

He looked at the screen; it was at 95%. Without taking his eyes off the screen, he asked Athena, "Can you hold on for five minutes?"

She replied with a conviction that belied her age, "Whether I can or not is irrelevant. I will hold on."

He nodded in acknowledgment. As if on cue, the K'tharr split themselves, some lunging at Perseus while others focused their assault on Athena.

Perseus' dominant right hand was glued to the sensor, but he braced to meet the first K'tharr with his left, fist already clenched.

A K'tharr lunged, lightning-fast.

He pivoted, left fist arcing up, connecting with a sickening crunch.

Bone cracked, head sailing through the air.

Perseus clicked his tongue. "That was weak," he muttered, annoyed at his own power output.

The remaining K'tharr hesitated, stunned by Perseus's raw power.

He used this brief respite to glance over at Athena. She was engulfed by three K'tharr, surviving but only just; her movements were a blur of evasion, ducking and weaving to avoid their savage swipes.

Their long arms and sharp claws made it nearly impossible for her to close the distance for a counterattack. His heart clenched as he whispered, "Hold on, Athena."

He looked at the computer; it was at 96%. Almost done, he thought to himself.

But the moment his eyes returned to the fray, two K'tharr were already upon him, their dark eyes burning with malevolent intent.

Perseus swung at the nearest K'tharr, arm like a piston.

It ducked, swift as shadow, but so was he. His hand closed around its skull.

He slammed it down, the impact like thunder. Concrete cracked, K'tharr's skull followed.

As he rose, the second one swiped, claws out.

With his hand on the sensor, he couldn't evade completely; it caught his chest, claws scraping flesh.

He bit down on the pain, grabbed the extended arm of the K'tharr, crushed its wrist with a sickening snap.

The creature's shriek pierced the air, high and agonized.

Perseus pulled it close, his hand finding its neck, fingers sinking into flesh.

He squeezed, feeling the neck collapse, the life drain out with a final gurgle.

Quick glance at the screen - 98%.

But there was no rest; three more K'tharr converged on him.

The K'tharr had adapted; they assaulted from all angles like coordinated predators.

Perseus's gaze flickered, reading their moves at lightning speed.

The K'tharr on the left swiped; he ducked, barely avoiding the strike,

Right one targeted his sensor-bound arm, exploiting his immobility.

Claws sank into his forearm, pain igniting like fire.

A groan tore from his throat as the claws were withdrawn, flesh and blood following.

But Perseus was quick, catching the retreating arm, pulling the K'tharr close.

Their skulls collided with the force of a battering ram, his skin splitting, blood streaming down.

The K'tharr's skull caved under the impact, collapsing.

But another's claws found his side, digging deep, a scream of pain ripping through the air.

The third K'tharr aimed for his neck, claws like daggers, aiming to end him.

With a desperate move, Perseus caught the blade-like claw, his hand shredding, blood flowing like a river.

Through the pain, he stole a glance at the computer screen.

99%

Perseus yanked the K'tharr with its claw still embedded in his palm down to the floor, his boot connecting with a skull-shattering thump, bone and brain matter splattering beneath his heel.

The third K'tharr struggled to free itself, its claws caught in his ribs, stuck like a vice.

Finally, with a wet, ripping sound, it pulled its claws free, a gush of blood following, pieces of Perseus's rib meat hanging from its weapon-like appendages.

It lunged, maw stretched wide, teeth dripping with anticipation.

But Perseus, with primal instincts, embraced the beast, dodging its snapping jaws, evading the chomp of death.

His teeth found the K'tharr's throat, teeth sinking into the tough, alien hide.

The creature howled, a sound of pure agony, as Perseus's teeth tore through muscle, blood spraying in hot, thick bursts.

He gnawed, his teeth cutting through sinew and bone, until with one final, savage wrench, he severed the head from the body.

Perseus's eyes flicked to the computer screen.

99% ... ... ...

File transfer complete. 100%.

With a swift motion, he ripped his hand from the sensor, the drive coming away with a click, stowing it safely in his pocket.

His gaze swept the room, his gaze piercing through the carnage, his breath heavy. The remaining K'tharr shivered, recoiling in fear of his blood lust.

Perseus growled, "Now then, come on, you bastards. Attack at once, let's end this quickly. I had somewhere to be."