Khan had sensed that the taller alien had switched target but didn't initially think much of it.
The taller alien was still far away from Liiza. Khan would have had the time to kill his shorter companion and intercept him, finally moving the battle in his favor.
Moreover, the mental connection told Khan that Liiza was ready for the exchange. Despite her cold face, she brimmed with confidence, wielding a vast array of countermeasures that could allow her to deal with the incoming opponent without putting the baby at risk.
Nevertheless, that same mental connection had gone from reassuring to worrying Khan to no end after far different sensations seeped through it.
A piercing pain suddenly invaded Liiza, surprising her and destabilizing her control over her techniques. She lost her balance, falling to one knee while doing her best to endure the intense aching coming from her belly.
