Notice Me, Senpai

Sometimes it was hard to gauge whether Master Lyn was fast, whether she hit hard. Her hologram was a good teacher, she taught the general movements and stances of Steel Hand impeccably well, but she was just light and air. Zu Pike was flesh and blood however. Kathirra had assumed that this martial art was ancient and quite possibly extinct to all but her, but here was someone quite alive and quite skilled in it.
 
Zu was poetry in motion. Her strikes were crisp, her movements rhythmic, her footwork practiced and deliberate. She flowed in and out of stances Kathirra had never seen, forms and techniques well beyond her own ability. If Zu wasn't a master of their craft, she was well on her way to becoming one. Phaedrus was a skilled combatant, maybe even Zu's equal in a more natural environment, but this was her domain, her hunting ground, and right now Phaedrus was prey.
 
As soon as the round ended Kathirra ran to the nearest refresher and locked the door behind her. She threw a few practice kicks into the mirror, emulating Zu's strike that had crippled Phaedrus; she was quite sure the blow had mangled his eyes inside their sockets. Every one of Zu's strikes was deliberate and targeted, each one capable of ending the fight in an instant. It was a testament to Phaedrus' toughness that he was still alive, never mind conscious.
 
Kathirra raced back and made it to their position above the ring in time for the next round. The rest of the fight went much like the previous rounds, Zu pummeling Phaedrus but being unable to finish him. Finally, mercifully, the bell rang and the last round was over. Medics rushed in to care for Phaedrus' wounds as Zu exited the ring. She seemed barely able to contain her anger, seemingly furious over the one blow that had landed on her. If that was a bad performance to her she'd hate to see the wreckage left over after a good one.
 
Who had taught her she wondered? Had she also found a black pyramid containing the consciousness of a long dead master? Did she also have dreams that seemed more real than her waking life? Her companions seemed preoccupied with Phaedrus so she backed up slowly and jogged to the railing overlooking a different part of the arena below. She was over it in one clean motion and landed with a huff. Zu had gone somewhere off to her left so Kathirra trotted after.
 
Kathirra avoided two security guards with nasty looking double barreled plaster pistols, and continued on. Finally she spotted her head retreating into a door with someone who was clearly her twin sister or clone, and shot up her arm. She waved it furiously trying to get either one's attention but the doors slid shut. Everyone around her was staring as if she'd just screamed, so she thought it prudent to get back to the person who was actually supposed to be here. Retracing her steps was easy enough, scrambling up the wall she'd jumped off of without being seen was a little more difficult. She crawled over the railing just in time to follow her group leaving their balcony. She hustled over and rejoined them, throwing out a "had to use the refresher" for anyone and no one in particular.
 
No one seemed to care. Phew, close one.
 
What a mysterious creature this Zu Pike was. Truly impressive martial artist, beautiful, worked for a dangerous crime syndicate, accomplished pit fighter. That was a resume worth having, alright. Kathirra had never been in love, but she was pretty sure that wasn't the emotion she was experiencing. Mostly she was just curious. Mostly. Yeah, that was it...