Takedown, Aria Style!

The tall soldier wasn't exactly towering—his head barely leveled with Aria's, and his nose looked like it had ambitions of its own, jutting out as if to grab a promotion. He squinted at them like they'd just rolled out of the nearest swamp.

"What are you two doing out here?"

Aria plastered on the kind of smile that could win Miss Congeniality in a backhanded competition, her head tilting just enough to make her sarcasm sparkle.

"Oh, you know, just out for a midnight stroll. The stars are so much brighter from this particular patch of dirt... but-"

"BUT?"

"We... um... you know... seemed to have lost our way, officer."

His frown deepened.

"Really? And how, exactly, did you get past the palace gates?"

She exhaled, dramatically long and slow, as if his question had personally offended her sense of logic.

"We didn't. Clearly. Got a bit turned around is all. Maybe you'd be a dear and help us find the way back to… wherever it is lost commoners go?"

The trio exchanged looks that screamed yeah, right.

The shortest soldier—barely old enough to grow a beard but trying way too hard to act like he didn't care—grinned like he'd just found a worm in his apple.

"Looks to me... like you've got two choices, ladies. Answer to the commander… or we handle this right here."

Aria's jaw tightened, her molars grinding together like they were about to file a noise complaint. Her gaze flicked over the kid's smirk, her fingers twitching at her sides. He had the exact same sneer every Kherosi man seemed to be born with—a natural talent for looking down on Terrans, especially women, while simultaneously exhaling contempt.

But she bit it back, her voice syrupy sweet as she nodded.

"Why, thank you for the options, officer. We'd be delighted to meet your commander."

The tall one grunted, apparently satisfied with her sudden cooperation. He gestured toward the path behind him, his metal rod lowering but still in sight.

"Alright. Move it. And don't try anything stupid."

The shortest soldier stepped in behind them, practically buzzing with excitement as he gripped his own rod like he'd been waiting for an excuse to use it. The middle one—a man with all the personality of a houseplant—stayed silent, though his narrowed eyes didn't miss a beat.

They formed a tight box around Aria and the trembling woman beside her. The woman clutched her belly, her knuckles white, her breath shallow. Aria didn't need to guess where her mind was—she was terrified for the life growing inside her.

As the soldiers herded them toward the main path, Aria's mind raced.

Once they hit the open clearing, backup would come running faster than the gossip in a noble court. She didn't have time for that.

Her eyes flicked left, then right, mapping every detail in a heartbeat. The nearest soldier was just close enough for what she had in mind.

Without looking directly at the woman beside her, she leaned slightly closer and mouthed two words: "Stay close."

The woman's eyes widened, her lip trembling, but she gave the faintest nod.

Aria's steps slowed imperceptibly. She counted every breath, every footfall, as the clearing drew closer. Her fingers flexed at her sides, itching for action, the calculations in her head clicking together like clockwork.

The tall one glanced back over his shoulder, his eyes narrowing.

"Keep up."

"Oh, sorry. Didn't realize we were in a rush to meet your boss. Is he as charming as you?"

The shortest soldier snorted.

"You've got a real mouth on you."

"Thank you. I like to think it's one of my better features."

"Wasn't complimenting you, paramour."

Aria ignored his little sneer, forcing a calm she didn't feel, and let the plan snap into place. The soldiers had no idea what was about to hit them.

Alright, no time to waste now.

Aria's fingers curled tighter around the knife as she slowed, letting the two soldiers trailing her edge closer. 

The moment one got within arm's reach, well, it was the short guy. She whirled around, her elbow smashing into his nose with a sickening crunch, lightning fast.

He reeled, blood spurting, the rod in his hand dropping like a dead weight.

Aria snatched it, flicking it on with a sharp buzz.

"Should've stayed home, crap-bag."

The tall one finally caught on, whipping around. His youthful face hardened with fury as he locked eyes with her, his hand already reaching for his own weapon.

Aria didn't give him a chance. She hurled the rod like a spear, and it struck his wrist with a satisfying crack.

He cursed, stumbling back as his weapon clattered to the ground.

The middle soldier, a wiry guy, bless his boring little heart, finally snapped out of his daze after a second, his hand halfway to his weapon.

That second was all she needed.

The rod connected with his chest, sending a crackling jolt through him. His knees buckled, his eyes fluttered shut, and he hit the ground in a heap. 

The tall soldier recovered faster than she expected. He snarled, drawing a dagger from his belt, his eyes blazing with fury.

"You're going to regret that."

He advanced on her.

Aria raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.

"Regret what? Humiliating you? Or the part where I prove how terrible you are at your job?"

He lunged, the blade flashing in the moonlight.

Aria sidestepped again. She grabbed his arm mid-swing, twisting it behind his back with a force that made him yelp.

The dagger dropped from his hand, and she kicked it away, her grip unrelenting.

"You know... for someone who spends so much time barking orders, you'd think you'd be better at this."

The tallest guard didn't falter.

He kicked Aria's leg, broke free, and grabbed her by her throat in a grip that could crush bone. He yanked her close, his hot breath fanning her face.

"You've got guts, girl. Shame you won't have them for long."

Aria snorted.

"Wow, original. Did you rehearse that in front of a mirror?"

Before he could retort, her forehead slammed into his nose. The satisfying crunch of cartilage met her ears, but the guy was built like a fortress. His grip held firm.

"Alright then!"

She twisted hard. Using his momentum, she spun him off balance and slammed her elbow into his gut. The air whooshed out of him in a strangled gasp, his grip faltering just enough for her to slip free. Without missing a beat, she drove her knee into his jaw.

He staggered back, stunned, and she didn't wait for an invitation to finish him. The rod came down on his knee with a sharp crack, and he collapsed with a guttural yell.

From the corner of her eye, Aria saw the shorter guard lunge toward the pale woman behind her. The woman froze, terror plastered across her face as she stumbled backward.

"Duck! Right! Now!" 

The woman dropped low just in time, the guard's arm slicing through the empty air where her head had been. He turned, ready for another swing, but Aria was faster. She intercepted him mid-motion, their rods colliding in a burst of sparks. The jolt shot up her arm, but she held firm, twisting his weapon away and sending it clattering to the ground.

"Hold him!"

The woman blinked, still rooted to the spot.

"Now would be great!"

Snapping out of her daze, the woman lunged, grabbing the soldier's arms from behind. He thrashed wildly, nearly throwing her off, but she held on.

"Do you even lift?"

Aria growled through gritted teeth as she struggled to lock the guy in place.

"Not… usually!"

The soldier landed a wild punch that grazed Aria's jaw, and she hissed. Losing patience, she slipped behind him, her arm looping around his throat. His kicks grew frantic, his strength ebbing.

Aria growled, "Nighty-night," as she jammed the rod into his neck.

He went limp, dropping like a sack of bricks.

She barely had a second to breathe before the tall guard roared back to life, tackling her into a tree. Pain shot up her spine as bark scraped her skin, but she twisted free, slamming the rod into his shoulder. He staggered, but his fury burned hotter.

"I am so over this."

She jabbed the rod into his ribs. His body seized, and his eyes rolled back as he collapsed.

Behind her, the woman screamed.

"Stay back!"

Aria turned to see the wiry soldier crawling toward her.

"Oh, for crying out loud. Kick his hand!"

The woman blinked at her, wide-eyed.

"His hand! Now!"

She finally moved, her heel connecting with the soldier's outstretched hand. He grunted, and Aria didn't waste the chance. She stepped forward, electricity crackling as she sent one last jolt through him.

The forest fell silent, save for her heavy breathing. Aria shot the woman a glance.

"Alright, breathe. You're not dead. Yet."

She glanced down at the soldiers sprawled around her like discarded puppets, their weapons scattered across the dirt.

Aria blew out a slow breath, brushing a strand of hair from her face with all the care of someone flicking away a pesky fly. Sweat clung to her brow, but her expression screamed bored, not beaten.

"Well, that was fun. Definitely on my list of top ten worst ways to spend a night."

The woman beside her was a mess—chest heaving like she'd just run around the forest, her face shining with sweat. She looked at Aria as if she'd sprouted wings.

"How—how are you not even shaken?" 

"Shaken? Lady, you screamed at a snake. A SNAKE. Meanwhile, I'm over here handling these guys like it's an amateur hour."

She pointed lazily at the soldiers, one of whom groaned faintly before going still again.

"Priorities. Maybe look into getting some."

She flipped the rod in her hand, its faint hum of energy dying as she powered it off, tossing it toward the woman.

"Here. For next time. You're gonna need it."

The woman fumbled with the rod, her fingers trembling as she caught it. Her wide eyes darted to the unconscious soldiers, then back to Aria.

"Next time?"

Aria crouched, nudging the tallest soldier's shoulder. He didn't stir. She straightened, looking smug.

"Unless you're planning to wait around and ask these fine gentlemen for pointers when they wake up."

The woman shook her head so hard Aria thought it might snap clean off.

"Nope. No pointers. Let's just… go. Now."

A flicker of approval danced across Aria's face as she pocketed the tall guy's rod. 

"Now we're talking."

Without waiting for further debate, she grabbed the woman's arm and yanked her forward.

They slipped into the shadows, leaving behind the carnage like it was yesterday's trash.

"And the lesson of the night. Keep your cool. Otherwise, you'll be deadweight when the rest of the Kherosi platoon shows up. And trust me, they're not as easy to impress as I am."

They were steps away from the tunnel's mouth when a low, echoing gong rolled through the night—the warning bell from the capital.

Aria froze mid-step, her grip tightening on the woman's arm.

It only meant one thing: THEY KNEW.