Ruban jumped into the fray, and the next few minutes passed in a chaotic flurry of blades and feathers. A few more Aeriels showed up – presumably as reinforcement for the two X-classes.
Simani darted through the chaos, her sifblade slicing at her opponent’s vulnerable wings. Ruban’s own sifblade was a blur as he parried attacks and struck back with powerful, calculated blows.
Ashwin, for his part, engaged the new arrivals with a succession of energy-shells.
This went on for about fifteen minutes, neither side gaining a decisive advantage over the other.
Until something slammed into Dhriti’s SUV from the outside, sending it skidding a few meters across the road.
This proved to be the last straw for those inside. Heedless of the ongoing battle, Dhriti and her aides tumbled out of the SUV, crying and screaming.
No sooner had they escaped the confines of the vehicle than a streak of sizzling energy darted towards them. Although Ruban hadn’t seen which of the Aeriels flung that particular shell.
Regardless, it elicited louder, more frantic screams from the group.
A rapid blur streaked through the air, and Ashwin materialized between the shell and Dhriti’s group huddling by the SUV.
The shell struck him squarely, a blinding flash of light exploding from the impact.
The powerful energy ripped through Ashwin, his wings flaring wide to absorb the full force of the blast. Eventually, the light subsided, revealing Ashwin hovering unsteadily in the air. His wings were charred, tattered at the edges. He looked dazed and worn, but not gravely injured.
Spotting a flash of movement out of the corner of his eye, Ruban tore his gaze away from the airborne Ashwin. He saw Dhriti peel away from the terrified group, sprinting for the road. She dashed towards an abandoned sedan nearby, its doors flung open in the chaos. Reaching the vehicle, she clambered onto the driver’s seat; fumbling to turn the key still in the ignition.
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Ruban sprinted after her, ignoring the searing pain in his back.
The sedan’s engine roared to life, the screech of tires against concrete filling the air.
Ruban launched himself onto the car, his fingers gripping the edge of the roof just as the vehicle lurched forward.
The sudden jolt made Dhriti scream, her foot slamming onto the accelerator pedal.
Ruban held on. Dragging his body onto the hood with grim determination, he called out to Simani for help.
His partner, realizing what was happening, pulled her gun from its holster and aimed for the sedan’s tires. With two precise shots, she pierced both the back tires – the car screeching to a halt.
Ruban wasted no time. Vaulting off the hood, he yanked open the driver’s side door and grabbed Dhriti. He bodily pulled her from the vehicle, flailing and screaming at the top of her lungs.
That brief distraction left Simani open to an attack by the X-class she had been fighting. It raised a hand to crush her throat with the edge of its palm – a strike that would kill instantly if it landed.
Thankfully, it didn’t land. Simani leapt backward in the nick of time, the Aeriel's hand barely grazing her throat.
Ashwin aimed an energy-shell at the X-class while it was preoccupied with Simani. After so much fighting, his energy had diminished. The shell struck the X-class, but didn’t kill it. All it did was send the creature reeling backward, momentarily disoriented.
Seizing the opportunity, Simani whipped her sifblade around in a vicious arc, aiming to slash the Aeriel’s throat.
But at the last moment, Ashwin materialized before her in a blur of movement. His pale fingers wrapped tight around her wrist, stopping her from delivering the fatal blow.
Simani blinked. Stunned. “What are you doing?” she hissed after a moment, trying to yank her hand free. “Let go of me!”
“No.” Ashwin’s tone brooked no argument. “You can’t kill him.”
“And why the hell not?” Simani snarled.
“Because he’s not ours.”
“Yours?” Simani asked, confusion and frustration warring for dominance in her voice. “What do you mean he’s not yours? Damn it, Ashwin! Can’t this wait until we’re done here? They’ll kill us, if we don’t kill them first. Don’t you get that?”
Ashwin seized the X-class by the throat, forcing it to its knees and holding it immobile. “I mean he does not belong to Vaan.” Ashwin said slowly, holding the other Aeriel’s gaze. “He is not one of Safaa’s soldiers. Which means he must be an Exile.
“Think about it, Simani. Why would an Exile attack Dhriti Pathak and her team in broad daylight, in the midst of a busy thoroughfare? What reason do the Exiles have to want Dhriti dead?” Ashwin’s fingers tightened around the X-class’s throat, making it gasp. “None whatsoever. Other than making it look like an attempt by my sister to exact revenge on my behalf. To kill Dhriti in retribution for what she’s done to me.” His voice was soft but resolute. “This is a false flag operation. And killing him would destroy the only proof of who’s actually behind it. He’s the only one who can verify the truth.”