Glass fell from the sky, Sasha flinging herself away, though not before throwing GT at the attacking tiger. Alexander deflected it with ease, wind blowing around him so he could throw up more debris her way. How was he not out of energy already? She growled, GT returning so she could use it like a bat, using gravity to smack what items she could back. She managed to hit a particularly sharp piece of metal. Alexander ducked.

"Woah, there. Are you trying to kill me?"

"I'll do a lot more if you don't move!" she shouted, closing the distance. Her staff smacked air, the tiger dodging her strikes and smacking her with a tail in the process. Stand still! He moved away, landing by another window and smashing it up to use its glass.

They were so close. The amphitheater loomed within reach. the area blocked off by both the tiger and the annoying human Mr. Xan kept at bay.

His sword was fast, flashing and darting through the air. It forced the panda on the defensive, ducking and tanking hits, though she didn't see a scratch on Mercury. Even so, she had no time to worry as a dagger came whizzing by her. It reappeared as Alexander leapt, suddenly right in front of her. Sasha dodged away.

"Dance, Panther! Dance!"

His strikes came just as quickly, hairs splitting as she tried to move away. But the moment she attacked, he was breaking apart, floating clear of her attacks. Cripes. Stand still, you stupid tiger!

She zipped forward.

As much as she hated it, the tiger had the clear speed advantage. Even if she swung forever, she doubted she'd manage to get a clean hit before her reserves ran clear. No. She'd have to be a bit more tactful. She zipped away, moving straight for the amphitheater.

"Not so fast!"

The wind tugged at her again, dragging her backward. Much to her satisfaction.

Got ya! She zipped right into the pull, slamming staff first into Alexander. A dagger caught her before she hit, holding her in place. Dangit! He pushed her away, going on the offensive again. Why wouldn't he go down? She jerked away.

"What's wrong, Panther? What happened to all that bravado before?"

He tossed his dagger to the sky. It darted above her. Behind. Around.

"Give me a good show, at least," the tiger said.

The dagger finally came forward, Sasha smacking it away. He'd have to better than that to- Pain shot through her shoulder.

"Huh?"

She glanced at the spot, finding a small gash. The dagger was still spinning through the air. It arced again, Sasha deflecting it away. That's when she noticed. The blade didn't go flying like normal. It went away for a bit, but then just came careening back towards her. She dodged clear only to see it turn and come back. It was following her!

"Cripes!"

She yanked away, but the blade was hot on her trail.

It spun and curved, traveling wherever she went like an angry hawk in pursuit. Was it a drone weapon? Was that even possible? She spotted Alexander on the ground, fingers dancing as he watched her movements. A feline puppet master. She growled, escaping to a nearby building. Surely the walls would-

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The dagger crashed through the window.

"Dangit!"

She fled out the nearest door. An office space, by the looks of it. Every chair, table, and mug became a projectile to stave off the homing dagger. It dodged clear of everything in its path, even slicing through a chair she threw. She pushed into the halls.

"GT! Any advice here?"

"Don't let it catch you, Ms. Sasha," the staff chimed.

"Other than-" She ducked, the blade appearing in front of her. It spun inches from her nose, Sasha rolling away as it came down, stabbing into the floor. "I hate this tiger!"

She threw herself out the nearest window. Unless she wanted to lose a head, fighting indoors was clearly out of the question.

There was a crash below, Sasha looking over to see Mr. Xan crushed into a hovercar. The panda roared, getting off and immediately using his hammer to throw it, winds turning the vehicle into one giant missile. Mercury ducked below it, waving a finger. How was he so- The dagger came spinning by, cutting across her face before she could react. She winced at the pain, yanking herself to the ground.

"You're making this too easy, Panther," Alexander said.

He came wandering over, the dagger flying back into his hand.

"I thought you wanted to get past me," he said. "Don't you care what happens to your friend?"

She wiped her wounded cheek. "My...friend?" The tiger smiled at her reaction.

"What, you mean you didn't realize?" he asked.

She looked to Mr. Xan, who was being slammed into a nearby building. Mercury caught her staring, the admiral offering a wave which only made her more irate.

"What are you talking about?" she asked. "What friend? You're after Iris too now?"

"Iris?"

She blinked, her confusion mirrored in that of the tiger. It fell away as an uneasy feeling rose in her stomach. My friend? Her ears twitched, Alexander's smile returning.

"No," he said, "I was referring to your accomplice. The other AIC traitor."

The confusion flipped like a switch, Sasha bristling. Mr. Erin? She roared at the tiger.

"What are cyou talking about?" she demanded.

Alexander's grin widened. Sasha zipped forward to wipe it off his face. He dodged clear.

"Stand down, and I might just tell you," he said as he moved away.

Sasha stopped herself from giving chase. The way Alexander gleefully landed told her more than enough. He was just playing with her. Wasn't he? She glanced out to the amphitheater, any signals impossible to decipher with Ursa being so heavily jammed.

"Keep this up, and she'll gladly kill him."

Her whiskers twitched.

She?

It hadn't dawned on her until he'd said those words. Not fully, at least. But as she looked at the two AIC members attacking them. Saw the ships trying to flee. Remembered the ambush at the amphitheater. Everything had happened so fast. So sudden. But there was one thing that she couldn't quite shake the thought of. She squeezed GT.

"Mr. Erin," she said.

If there was anyone she knew wouldn't go down easily, it was that weasel. Even so. The thought in the back of her mind continued to rise. She was almost afraid to ask, but she finally forced herself to say the words.

"GT," she said. "Is she here?"

The staff was quiet for a moment.

"GT?" she demanded.

It finally chimed back.

"Yes."

The uneasy feeling only magnified. Alexander grinned at her, dagger raised.

"Finally realizing, Panther?"

Her tail lashed behind her, the thought ringing in her head clear as day. One she'd hoped GT's presence would have made impossible. But the facts of the matter were hard to ignore. They were all in Ursa on the recommendation of one person. The person who Madame Dyre warned her about.

Sasha cursed under her breathe, anger mixing with concern.

Elisia. This was all her trap.