Now let’s figure out what you can do. Tendrils of water reached from Maren’s shoulders and thighs, weaving about themselves. Then move on from there. 

The water whipped toward Imani. Five feet before reaching her, it froze. That wasn’t enough information; before, in the tunnel, Imani had frozen Maren’s water from greater distances.  

Imani moved her arms in a circle and the ice swirled. Maren lashed out with more water, her strikes stretching wide. The water continued to freeze five feet from Imani. 

“Thanks for the ammo,” Imani said. 

“Gotta make it an even fight,” Maren said. 

Imani threw her arms forward. Four icicles shot toward Maren. The first two were easy to dodge, though the third required another water whip to change its trajectory. The fourth, however, circled back around Imani, split into several smaller pieces, then assailed Maren. Maren stomped her foot, forming water on the ground, then shot it into the air. The wall blasted the icicles into the ceiling, where they shattered. 

Imani closed her eyes and furrowed her brow. Maren moved the water wall until it formed a sphere around Imani, at least ten feet in diameter, then clapped her hands together. The water rushed inward, though it froze after moving a foot. 

The ice split to reveal Imani, standing resolute with her arms held to the side. 

“And I thought you were smarter than this,” Imani said. 

Maren was near an aisle between two rows of stacked bombs. If Imani restrained her attacks, then these bombs were in danger of going off by a strong percussion. If they wouldn’t explode, however, then Imani could go all-out. 

That also meant Maren had a means to protect herself. 

Frost scattered as the ice shifted, breaking into smaller pieces. Some resembled icicles, others spiked spheres, while others took the appearance of scythe blades. 

“Goodbye,” Imani said. 

Maren hopped back as a sphere slammed into the ground. Shards nicked her shins, but Imani gave her no time to inspect the damage. Two blades swiped at her, one high and one low, from opposite sides. Maren leaped sideways, twisting between them. Frozen air swooshed past her, then more cracks sounded as they slammed into the bomb piles, toppling many of the explosives onto the floor.

So it looked like Maren could use them as protection. That would at least increase her odds of surviving. 

Maren ran throughout the room, pulling bombs from piles and scattering them, seeping water into them whenever Imani was out of sight. It barely inconvenienced the terrorist, who hopped or stepped over them as she chased Maren. Thankfully, it didn’t appear Imani knew what Maren was setting up. 

“You can’t run forever!” Imani shouted, sending out another ice sphere. 

Don’t I know it. Maren vaulted behind a row of bombs. Ice shattered and the row’s corner tumbled, blocking the way. Mouth parching, Maren shot tendrils of water beneath the pile, then expanded them so the bombs lay in a large puddle. Then, Imani stumbled into the pile. Shit! 

Maren released her hold on the water and darted away. She took refuge behind another row, expanding the size-changing canteen she held in her pocket, then took deep, slow draughts. 

Imani’s footsteps clacked, closing in on Maren. Curse it! Maren hadn’t completely refilled. And this could be her last opportunity before Imani froze her drinking water. 

Maren stowed it away as Imani rounded the corner. Only two blades and one icicle swirled around her, the latter careening forward as Imani locked eyes with Maren. Time for the next step. 

Maren rolled to the side, evading the icicle, then she pivoted toward Imani. A few strides closed the gap, then Maren leaped and struck her leg out. Imani, however, intercepted her kick with her blades of ice. The ice pushed out, shoving Maren away. She flipped backwards and landed on her feet. Oh how proud Aki, her martial arts instructor at Radiant Dawn, would be. 

“Little girl finally wants to fight?” Imani said, moving her arms upward, but letting her hands hang down. 

Imani was adopting a Leaper Form, which would utilize an opponent’s moves against them. Against another Leaper fighter, this brawl could drag on indefinitely. 

Good thing Aki had taught her more than Leaper Forms. And it didn’t hurt that Mav had drilled a few more lessons into her over the last week. 

Maren hunkered down, fists in close, entering Dancer Form 9: Flash Flicker. Made for quick, small movements meant for tenacious fighters who couldn’t throw the strongest punches. So, perfect for her. And perfect for what Maren needed next. 

She pushed forward, starting her assault. 

Please be here. JJ threw a door open on the second story, panting in deeply. His lungs felt small after his launch to the walkway – the ladders were full of people attempting to flee from the fight – but he couldn’t slow down. Asaka and Dearil had appeared from here, so that meant Nadja was close by. 

Right? 

A deep room cut into the rock. Long tables lined the walls left and right. At the far end, wrists hung by chains fastened to the ceiling, was Nadja. 

“By the Winds...” JJ whispered. Another deep gulp of air filled JJ’s lungs, then he ran to her. “Nadja. Can you hear me? Nadja!” 

Her wrists were bleeding from the manacles, her lolling head was bruised, angry-red burn marks dotted her abdomen – from which her shirt had been ripped – and small lacerations lined her legs, which hung limp an inch above the floor. 

“Nadja,” JJ breathed. 

Her eyes fluttered open. It seemed to strain her to keep them that way. 

“Sorry,” she muttered. “I messed up.” 

“Don’t talk,” JJ said, looking around. “I’ll get you down.” 

The closest instruments were devices on a nearby table: scalpels, wrenches, small lighters, long needles, and even thumb screws. Blood dripped from a scalpel. 

“Shouldn’t’ve done much while high.” Nadja chuckled. “At least it dulled the pain, I think.” 

“You don’t need to worry about that,” JJ said. “We couldn’t have had as dramatic an entrance without you.” 

The other tables were useless, the closest ones having only paperwork and... were those cameras? 

JJ scowled. Those bastards were filming her! 

“There,” Nadja said, looking down. “Wanted to make me think I could escape.” 

A small key lay on the ground, inches before her foot, hidden in her shadow. 

“They’re sick,” JJ said, fuming. 

He grabbed the key, then glared at the chain holding her hands, ten feet in the air. No normal person could reach them without a ladder or powers over space. Or, thank the Winds, someone who could hover for a time. 

“Thank you,” Nadja said as JJ’s twirling winds boosted him into the air. 

“Don’t mention it,” JJ said, unlocking her fastenings, grabbing her, then letting her down. “I’m the one who got you in this mess.” 

“And I’ll get you both out of it,” a slightly nasally voice called from the room’s entrance. There Braiden stood, rifle in hand, eyes down the barrel staring directly at JJ’s head. “One way or another.”