“Cypher!” Vee screamed.
Fuck it.He swiped his arm out, not caring about his strength or who he hurt. Being pulled away from the crowd, he found Vee being carried off by several men.
One saw him.
“Go, go, go! He’s coming!” the man yelled.
Cypher was on them in a second, breaking the arms of the two men holding her. His head burst open with metal. With bear teeth and claws, he bellowed in rage. Screams filled his ears.
Vee was on the ground at his feet, and the men were fleeing by the time his roar ended. Furious, he handed the cat to her, dropped their bags beside her, and surged after them.
Drones dropped down into his path, and he swiped them away. “Halt!” one ordered before it exploded upon the pavement next to him.
He grasped the back of the shirt of one of the men holding his now-broken arm, throwing him onto the ground. Climbing over the man, Cypher wrenched his jaw open and roared into his face. Urine flooded his nostrils. He pressed his claws to the man’s throat as his victim sobbed.
“Don’t kill me, don’t kill me,” the man begged. “I don’t want to die!”
Cypher’s mouth shifted back inside him. “Why were you taking her from me?”
“I—I don’t know! It was a job. We were given a job!”
“By who?”
“They didn’t give us a name!”
“What did they fucking look like?” he asked, lifting him only to slam him back down onto the ground.
The man burst into tears and blubbered for his life, repeating‘I don’t know.’Disgusted, Cypher removed his hand and rose.
“Human scum,” he spat. He looked for the other two, but they were long gone. Instead, there was a huge area of space around him and dozens of onlookers staring at him. He leveled his gaze on each of them, and they turned away and fled.
Wiping the dust off his clothes, he cracked his jaw and his neck, righting his internal plates. He pivoted toward Vee.
She was on her feet, horror struck, Bees squeezed to her chest. Security flanked her on either side. They lifted their guns as he neared.
“Stand down, Cyborg. We’ll shoot!”
Cypher growled. “You have nothing to fear from me.” He stopped in front of Vee and gazed down at her. “I only hurt those who hurt what’s mine.”
Vee swallowed and looked down.
“You need to come with us.” They didn’t back down.
Cypher flicked out his badge and showed it to the nearest officer. “This should settle it.”
The officer scanned the badge and dropped his gun. “Back off, guys. He’s with the EPED.” The other guns dropped, and they moved away.
Cypher didn’t take his eyes off Vee; she was tense. “Are you okay?”Afraid?
Of him?
She nodded once. “I think so.” Bees hissed loudly. “I don’t think Bees is, though.” Vee gasped as the cat dug its claws into her shoulder.
“Let me.” He took the cat from her arms and stuffed the feline in his jacket, zipping it up. Scanning the vicinity, dozens of people still watched them. “Let’s go,” he muttered. Hauling their bags over his back, he wrapped his free arm around Vee and ushered her into the port.
No one stopped them this time.
No one dared.
