Gaia walked right up to him, peering carefully at his gravel skin and taking special interest in the patch of human skin that remained on his face. “Interesting effect. I don’t quite see how you happened.”

Orc swung a ham-sized fist at her.

Gaia sidestepped with Brianna’s speed. She dodged Orc’s next three blows as well.

“Not at all the usual mutation,” Gaia said, fascinated. “You could join me; I doubt Nemesis could use you.”

Orc was panting from the effort of missing Gaia.

“No,” Orc gasped.

“Mmmm. Well, then, I guess I’d better kill you, just to be safe.”

[...]

Gaia had a hand on Orc’s throat, and Orc, forced to his knees, was punching air as Gaia twisted her head this way and that to dodge blows. Gaia was laughing. Her blue eyes were alight.

Brianna blurred to a stop.

“Hey. Gaia. Remember me?”

Gaia tossed Orc aside as though he weighed no more than a toy.

Light, Chapter 21