Only Superhuman Read Free Page A

a Minoan daredevil, she seized the bull-man by the horns and flipped over him, letting out a whoop. That’s one way to tackle a dilemma! By the time she landed, she’d not only spun to face him, but had holstered her dartgun, drawn her laser pistol, and set it to shock mode. But he’d spun too, with no pause for rumination, and was charging her again. “It’s the red hair, isn’t it?” she asked, shaking her head a bit. Priorities, kid! she thought, and fired, the laser ionizing a path for the electric discharge. Taurean convulsed from the sustained shock, but still had enough momentum to bowl her over, knocking her sidearm from her hand and the wind from her lungs. She ended up on the bottom again, grateful for the low gravity, although his weight upon her chest was still suffocating.
    But he was already stirring, the charge apparently too small for such a massive body. Before she could catch her breath and wriggle free, he had an oversized hand around her throat. His other hand held down her right arm in a vise grip, and his tree-trunk legs pinned hers. She gripped his wrist in her left hand, but he tightened his hold on her throat when she did, giving her pause. “Damn, you’re beautiful,” he said in a surprisingly mellow, good-natured voice. “Too bad I have to kill you.”
    Emry seized the opening. “Well, you don’t have to,” she lilted with what breath she could muster, lowering her eyelids seductively. “I’ve known some horny men, but you take the beefcake. Why don’t we have our own little rodeo, see how long I can ride you?”
    Taurean looked tempted … but smiled regretfully. “I’d love to—but I’m not that stupid. I like girls with more fur, anyway,” he added with a shrug. “Sorry. I’ll make it quick, okay?” His fist tightened brutally around her neck, in stark contrast to his easygoing manner. Emry tried to wrench it free, but his arm wouldn’t budge and she was already weakening. She could hold her breath fairly long given a chance to prepare; but she’d already had the wind knocked out of her, and her metabolism was high from the fight, demanding oxygen that just wasn’t coming. She choked soundlessly, striving to remain conscious. He gave her a reassuring smile, like an anesthesiologist telling her to relax, count backward from ten, and just let oblivion take her.
    But then a plasma bolt erupted in his face. It knocked him for a loop and he reflexively let go. Emry was dazzled herself, despite her corneal filters, but was able to push him off and scramble free. Arkady fired enough tanglewebs to make sure he was securely bound. Still choking and struggling for breath, Emry was tempted to leave the webs across his face and let him suffocate for a while. But his attempt to kill her had been without malice, just a guy doing his job, and she found that she bore him no ill will. So she moved in and extended her diamond thumbnail blades to cut his nose and mouth free as he struggled ineffectually against the restraints. Your loss, bully-boy. Would’ve been a wild ride.
    “You okay?” Arkady asked. Even with the helmet concealing his face, she could tell he was looking her over with concern.
    She quizzed her biometrics and got the HUD readout on her retina. The cuts from Bast were clotted, the cells already being knitted back together by her repair nans, and no significant toxins had been introduced. Taurean’s impact had bruised a couple of ribs, again nothing her repair systems couldn’t handle. The cartilage around her windpipe was bruised as well, but its polymer reinforcements had held up. Her ears were ringing from the plasma bolt, but there was no serious damage. “I’m fine,” she said hoarsely. “I could’ve handled him.”
    “Of course. But I thought I’d save you the trouble.”
    “I am trouble,” she said with self-mocking arrogance.
    “As I know better than anyone. You should focus less on your wisecracks and more on the battle.”
    “What fun is that?