Mike's orders had been to sow discord, and that was what he was trying to do. He knew that when faced with a close quarters assault, gunmen will often not use their weapon, as the risks of hitting a comrade are far too high. The swift, sure movements of the two Jedi, who were ducking and weaving through their ranks, further changed the rules. As one, the enemy holstered their pistols and set themselves for hand-to-hand combat. Mike hissed. The thugs' sure movements and comfort in working together spoke of the danger they would present as an opposing force.
Of course, their opponents were wielding energy blades capable of decapitating them without resistance. Some would have said that levelled the odds somewhat. Watching the two Jedi move, Mike felt like an awkward bystander as they glided through the massed ranks of their opponents. That Mike was attempting to avoid decapitation, amputation, or any other serious damage to his opponents limited his fighting ability still further.
Instead, Mike was pivoting around the lightsabre like a dancer around a pole, trusting in its eerie glow and otherworldly origin to have a debilitating effect on those who came against him. He lashed out with fists, forearms and legs, and staggered those opponents who came near. So long as the enemies kept trying to attack him from close range, he was fine.
In addition, there came bursts of coherent blue light from the shadows around the battle. The bursts, when they caught a bad guy, dropped them bonelessly to the floor. More than Mike's fighting prowess, it was this help, rendered by Becki, Kristy, Brad and Josh Nolan, that was keeping Mike in the fight.
The conflict was far from even. Sheer weight of numbers leant the enemy a large advantage, and they were keen to exploit it. With even Vickie and Josh struggling to cope with more than three opponents apiece, those gunmen who were without a direct opponent sought cover, and rained bolt after bolt out into the shadows where Terra Sancta Group's own shooters were hidden.
All in all, it was no wonder when panic gripped those two civilians who had become trapped once more in the middle of a Terra Group action.
"Naira, come on!" Eti hissed, tugging at her older sister's arm. The two remained where Vickie had left them, hidden from view from the attackers, as well as those working to save the sisters lives.
"Eti, hush," Naira replied. "We can not just run out in this. We'll be killed, or worse."
"You've gone mad, Naira," Eti declared, making to stand up. A blaster bolt impacted against the window frame just before her head cleared the sill. The window shattered inward as she dropped to the ground, showering her in glass. Eti moaned as she realised that her clothing was covered in dust.
"We have to go, Naira," she said, regarding her spoiled appearance with dismay. "If anyone should see us looking like this."
"If anyone out there sees us, sister, we'll be dead."
The two sisters sat in silence for a few seconds, and then Eti looked up again.
"They're very busy out there," she said, in a wheedling tone. "I'm sure they won't notice if we go. It would be quite impolite to interrupt, in any case.
Naira stared at the window, wincing as the odd stray blaster bolt hit close to where they were hiding.
"Very well," she said, at length. "But we're going away, do you understand? We'll not try and win the favour of Lord Atner by becoming involved in Terra Group's battles."
Eti nodded. The two sisters began to crawl toward the back of the room in which they had been hiding, heading for the door that would take them away from the insanity they had been unwillingly plunged into. Fortunately for them, only one person spotted them. And he, in so far as the sisters were concerned, was probably one of the good guys.
"Three, Wing."
"Busy here, Wing."
"The sisters are rabbiting. You're closest. They're heading out the back of the warehouse. Get after them, okay?"
"We can't just leave them?" An uncharacteristic hint of bitterness infused Becki's voice.
Mike ducked a wild swing one of the thugs took at him with a length of timber. Swinging upwards with his lightsabre, he sliced the length of wood cleanly in two, and drove his fist into the thug's stomach.
"No. We're responsible for their safety, I'm afraid."
"OK, I'm on it. Stay safe, Wing."
"Always."
Mike returned his attention to the battle, and cursed as he heard someone in the shadows cry out. He risked a glance sideways, and saw Kristy rearing up, shaking her hand in a manner that told Mike she'd caught a glancing hit from a stray stun bolt. He knew it would only be a few seconds before she recovered, and turned back to the fight.
Just in time to see the head-sized rock arcing through the air, its trajectory putting it on target for Mike's stomach.
Mike's lightsabre hit the ground a second before he did. The impact jarred it, its light winking off as its owner crumpled to the ground.