The Martians

PERSEUS MANGAL-GRAH

"Ouch," is all Athena says as she stands up, dusting herself off with a casual swipe of her hands, as if the impact with the wall was nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

Perseus is flooded with relief at seeing her safe, but that relief quickly morphs into frustration. He scolds her, his voice a mix of concern and reprimand, "Stop taking those unnecessary risks! That habit of yours will get you killed one day."

Athena pouts in response, her youthful defiance showing through the cracks of her warrior facade. "But I thought I could take it," she counters, her tone half-apologetic, half-defiant.

Perseus looks at her, his eyes narrowing with worry. "So... do you think you can still take it?" he asks, his voice softer now.

She flexes her arms, her hands trembling slightly from the force of the impact, the echo of pain in her bones evident in her grimace. "My arms are still trembling from the impact, my bones are aching," she admits, but then that devious smile creeps across her face, "But I can take it."

Even as more K'tharr pour into the room, surrounding them, Perseus thinks. Among Martians her age, Athena is peerless. She stands heads and shoulders above everybody else her age, no, even some much older than her.

But the K'tharr are not Martians; their physiology grants them terrifying advantages—venomous teeth, elongated arms tipped with razor-sharp claws, bodies built for speed and agility, and an unnatural capacity to learn and adapt.

He doesn't believe Athena can last long against them, even though she believes she can. Perhaps she could handle one or two, but there are over twenty of them now, filling the room with their menacing presence.

His decision is made; he can't let this continue. He needs to protect his daughter, not just the data. He begins to remove his thumb from the sensor on the computer, prepared to abandon the upload to fight alongside her.

But then, he hears Athena's shout, cutting through the tension and the sounds of the encroaching K'tharr.

She yells at him, her voice fierce and commanding, "Don't you dare remove your hand from that sensor! Do not dishonor the House of Mangal-Grah! We have been warriors for centuries, always at the front lines to protect the red planet—our home. Not once have the Mangal-Grah run from a battle of any kind, not once have we failed to complete our mission. And it will not start today!"

Athena continues, her voice unwavering, "I don't know what's uploading to that drive, but I know it's important. And we must finish it."

Perseus feels a mix of shame and pride—shame for choosing one person, his daughter, over the entire planet's future, and pride for having raised a strong girl who understands honor, duty, and sacrifice.

He looks at the screen; it's at 95%. Without taking his eyes off the screen, he asks Athena, "Can you hold on for five minutes?"

She replies with a conviction that belies her age, "Whether I can or not is irrelevant. I will hold on."

He nods in acknowledgment As if on cue, the K'tharr split themselves, some lunging at Perseus while others focus their assault on Athena.

Perseus' dominant right hand is glued to the sensor, but he braces to meet the first K'tharr with his left, fist already clenched.

A K'tharr lunges, lightning-fast.

He pivots, left fist arcs up, connecting with a sickening crunch.

Bone cracks, head sails through the air.

Perseus clicks his tongue. "That was weak," he mutters, annoyed at his own power output.

The remaining K'tharr hesitate, stunned by Perseus's raw power.

He uses this brief respite to glance over at Athena. She's engulfed by three K'tharr, surviving but only just; her movements are a blur of evasion, ducking and weaving to avoid their savage swipes.

Their long arms and sharp claws make it nearly impossible for her to close the distance for a counterattack. His heart clenches as he whispers, "Hold on, Athena.".

He looks at the computer; it's at 96%. Almost done, he thinks to himself.

But the moment his eyes return to the fray, two K'tharr are already upon him, their dark eyes burning with malevolent intent.

Perseus swings at the nearest K'tharr, arm like a piston.

It ducks, swift as shadow, but so is he. His hand closes around its skull.

He slams it down, the impact like thunder. Concrete cracks, K'tharr's skull follows.

As he rises, the second one swipes, claws out.

With his hand on the sensor, he can't evade completely; it catches his chest, claws scraping flesh.

He bites down on the pain, grabs the extended arm of the K'tharr, crushes its wrist with a sickening snap.

The creature's shriek pierces the air, high and agonized.

Perseus pulls it close, his hand finding its neck, fingers sinking into flesh.

He squeezes, feeling the neck collapse, the life drain out with a final gurgle.

Quick glance at the screen - 98%.

But there's no rest; three more K'tharr converge on him.

The K'tharr have adapted; they assault from all angles like coordinated predators.

Perseus's gaze flickers, reading their moves at lightning speed.

The K'tharr on the left swipes; he ducks, barely avoiding the strike,

Right one targets his sensor-bound arm, exploiting his immobility.

Claws sink into his forearm, pain igniting like fire.

A groan tearing from his throat as the claws are withdrawn, flesh and blood following.

But Perseus is quick, catching the retreating arm, pulling the K'tharr close.

Their skulls collide with the force of a battering ram, his skin splitting, blood streaming down.

The K'tharr's skull caves under the impact, collapsing.

But another's claws find his side, digging deep, a scream of pain ripping through the air.

The third K'tharr aims for his neck, claws like daggers, aiming to end him.

With a desperate move, Perseus catches the blade-like claw, his hand shredding, blood flowing like a river.

Through the pain, he steals a glance at the computer screen.

99%

Perseus yanks the K'tharr with its claw still embedded in his palm down to the floor, his boot connecting with a skull-shattering thump, bone and brain matter splattering beneath his heel.

The third K'tharr struggles to free itself, its claws caught in his ribs, stuck like a vice.

Finally, with a wet, ripping sound, it pulls its claws free, a gush of blood following, pieces of Perseus's rib meat hanging from its weapon-like appendages.

It lunges, maw stretched wide, teeth dripping with anticipation.

But Perseus, with primal instincts, embraces the beast, dodging its snapping jaws, evading the chomp of death.

His teeth finds the K'tharr's throat, teeth sinking into the tough, alien hide.

The creature howls, a sound of pure agony, as Perseus's teeth tear through muscle, blood spraying in hot, thick bursts.

He gnaws, his teeth cutting through sinew and bone, until with one final, savage wrench, he severs the head from the body.

Perseus's eyes flick to the computer screen.

99% ... ... ...

File transfer complete. 100%.

With a swift motion, he rips his hand from the sensor, the drive coming away with a click, stowing it safely in his pocket.

His gaze sweeps the room, his gaze piercing through the carnage, his breath heavy. The remaining K'tharr shiver, recoiling in fear of his blood lust.

Perseus growls, "Now then, come on, you bastards. Attack at once, let's end this quickly. I have somewhere to be."