February 10th: Tactics - 100 words - A coordinated strike on the enemy.
Tao approached. His fury was palpable. An oppressive aura that smothered the air from Chiaotzu's lungs.
"Master, please." He was pleading. Begging. "I couldn't... I'm sorry…"
Terror froze him in place. Tears blurred his vision and he was vaguely aware that he was trembling.
Images filled his mind. His life flashing before his eyes. And most prominent among them were the moments he had shared with Tien. The boy's smile, his soft peals of laughter, the mischievous glint that lit up his three eyes when he was playing. These images filled his heart and caught in his soul. Filled him with a steely determination he hadn't felt for a long time.
One hand lifted. Crackling bands of power wrapped tight around Tao's frame, sinking deep into the soft unprotected parts of his body. Freezing the assassin in place.
"Let me go," Tao said. Commanded. That same flat tone that had previously frightened Chiaotzu into submission now didn't phase him in the slightest.
"No. You're not going to hurt me. You're going to listen." Chiaotzu's fingers twitched. A flinch crossed Tao's features.
"I won't repeat myself," Tao said, then did anyway. "Let me go, Chiaotzu." And had that been a tremble in his voice? The slightest variation in his usually flat tone? Chiaotzu thought it had been.
"I will soon. First you are going to understand how this is going to work. I'm not even trying. Do you understand? I'm barely using a fraction of my full power. So from now on things are going to be very different."
A flicker of movement drew his gaze. His eyes met those of a young woman. She was right behind Tao, short and slight, barely reaching the assassin's shoulder. Teeth bared in a snarl. The flash of sun on metal. A short, vicious slash.
Tao didn't make a sound. His eyes widened fractionally. A thin trickle of brilliant red marked the front of his surcoat and quickly became a flood. Chiaotzu drew back reflexively, his eyes widening and his mouth dropping open with shock. As his power flickered out Tao stumbled backwards, bumping heavily into the young woman before he collapsed onto the sand.
Chiaotzu took a short shuddering breath, covering his mouth. The woman spat on Tao's body, then her face crumpled and she started to wail. "You killed him!" she screamed down at Tao. "He never did anything to you!" The knife, stained red along its edge, fell from her hand. Her eyes turned and fixed on Chiaotzu.
"I'm sorry," he said, instinctively. His heart broke at the pain and grief in her eyes. "I'm so sorry. I… He… I wasn't…"
"I heard you," she said, her voice cracking under the weight of her emotion. "You helped but…you didn't want to, did you? He forced you." A hateful glance at the dead assassin. Chiaotzu started to tremble again, tears burning in his eyes.
"I'm sorry," he said again, his voice giving out completely. He dropped his head, scrubbed at his eyes. Then was surprised when she knelt in front of him and wrapped her arms around him.
"Run," she whispered in his ear. The embrace was desperate. Seeking as well as bestowing comfort. "Run far and fast. Don't look back. Don't hesitate."
She pulled away. Pressed a desperate kiss to his cheek. Then pushed him. He turned and ran. Had to get back to the Crane School. If he was lucky Shen wouldn't know that Tao had been killed. If he was lucky he could string together a convincing lie.
If he was lucky he could get Tien out of there.