Suddenly Zash is there, grabbing her wrist before she can touch it.

She tilts her head so she's looking at Zash and arches an eyebrow. "Something wrong?"

"This is mine. You are free to leave."

"My employer wouldn't like that," she says calmly.

"I don't care, dear."

"Hate to tell you this, but the Darth that employed me is far more intimidating."

A flash of amusement, quickly tamped down.

"And who would that be?"

She notes Elleira's reaction, but doesn't respond to it.

"Darth Pyktis."

"Well, if she desires my cooperation, she can speak to me herself. Until then..." Zash's free hand begins sketching runes in midair.

Ira shifts, a deft twist of her wrist intending to free her hand from Zash's grip, other hand dropping to her blaster, absently signalling to HK as she moves.

With a flare of power Zash pushes her hand at Ira, and the world tilts and wobbles away from any consistent orientation.

Disorienting. Is the Force still steady?

Trying to grasp it makes the world wobble more. Zash smirks.

...Huh. Fascinating.

"What, scared to actually fight me?" she manages, sounding surprisingly steady.

"No need to make this more of a contest than necessary, dear." Her lightsaber snaps into her hand and ignites with a hiss.

She's fought through worse than this. (Maybe.)

And she does have her lightsaber. (If she can get it free.)

For now, she brings her vibrosword into a guard position. (Shedding everything she had cloaking her presence, letting Zash see just how powerful she is. Even if in the immediate she isn't using that.)

"Elleira!" Zash snaps.

Elleira- hesitates, for just a moment.

HK-24 is shifting and-

Putting its back to Elleira, and the position is more in line with providing cover for Elleira than dismissing her as a threat. (The droid could easily turn and become a threat to Elleira if it needed to.)

She reaches for the Force again, not caring if it makes the world wobble and sway, if she can't get this message to Elleira, she's not entirely sure she'll survive anyway. She might beat Zash, she won't beat both of them.

I offered my aid. I doubt she can defeat both of us. Claim what your strength gives you the right to.

-she's not ready-

-never going to get a better chance-

A barrage of lightning erupts from her fingertips.

"Treacherous little cur!" Zash screeches, turning to catch the brunt of it on her saber.

Her appearance flickers-

-and the dizziness affecting Ira fades.