AN - 15 - Avoiding Baraka

There was the deadly snick-snick-snick of steel claws springing from sheaths on his knuckles. Then Baraka dove in at Liu.

Liu ducked, narrowly missing a swipe from one of the mutant’s clawblades, responding with a sharp uppercut to the chin that staggered him sideways against an empty cage.

Recovering his balance, Baraka emitted a bestial snarl and lunged back at him, both clawed fists aimed at the center of his chest. But Liu shifted aside an instant before he would have been skewered and, his body a blur of motion, thrust out at Baraka with a crescent kick, knocking him to the floor.

“Now!” the warden shouted up at the chamber ceiling. Ropes of bloody spittle flew off his gnashing teeth, “What are you fools waiting for?”