Blood spurts and it's a fight to ignore the thought of putting the gun down. Blood not oil, but if she takes a moment to figure out what A2's body is doing, Mariko knows she's going to lose all the ground she just got.

So she swallows her conscience and fires once more, aiming a tiny burst at A2's sword bearing arm. All she needs is a little give - drop the sword, lose a little grip - anything for an advantage. She doesn't wait for the leverage the gunfire earns, keeping A2 from getting equilibrium is the goal now.

Mariko moves in fast, trying to sweep A2's legs before a proper recovery can be made.