Bryan's warning came a split second too late. Pain exploded through Grayson's side as a stun baton connected with his ribs. His vision whited out momentarily, muscles seizing, but he forced himself to move through it.
Alpha beastmen had higher pain tolerance than humans. He turned the spasm into a spinning elbow strike that caught his attacker in the temple.
They went down.
Grayson stayed up, but he was slowing now, too.
Across the room, Bryan had backed himself against the sofa. His knife work kept the enemies at bay, but he was unable to create any breathing room. Blood soaked through the shoulder of his uniform where the first sonic shot had hit, and his left leg dragged slightly.
Then a second shot took Bryan in the thigh.
His leg buckled, and he caught himself, still slashing at anyone who got too close. However, his movements had become desperate, defensive. The laser knife carved an arc through the air, its red glow leaving afterimages across Grayson's vision.
