The other robots had arrived.
The human-shaped one headed for Xander while the canine bounded toward her.
Stars. The robot leaped and took her down to the ground. Her hand clenched on the multi-tool.Wait, Mal, wait.
Red eyes stared into hers. The robot watched her, caging her body with its bigger metal frame.
Then she flicked on the laser cutter and jammed it into the small flashing panel on the canine’s chest.
The robot reared back, twisting and turning. Mal scuttled backward, chest heaving. The robot shook its head and found its balance again. It moved forward, belly low, stalking.
Uh oh.She held the laser cutter in front of her. It looked puny and useless compared to the robot.
As the canine lunged forward, she braced for impact.
Then Xander was there.
He landed on the canine, one strong arm wrapping around its neck. It bucked like a wild horse, but he held on and slammed his palm down on its neck.
The robot shuddered and flopped to the ground.
Mal relaxed. He’d zapped it. She started to smile, but then a huge hand gripped Xander by the back of his shirt and ripped him off the canine.
The other robot threw Xander and he slammed into the back wall. The robot advanced on him.
Without thinking, Mal raced over to the now unmoving canine robot. She ripped open the control panel.
“Come on. Come on.” She pulled out her tool, found the wires she was looking for and went to work. She cut one, joined another. The canine also had some biological wiring. Thick, sinewy fibers that acted as nerves.
And she saw something else. A small receiver. She looked around. The robot was receiving orders from somewhere. It appeared none of them were as free-thinking as she’d thought. Well, she could put a stop to it receiving any further kill orders from Forge.
She flicked her tool and went to work. “There.”
The lights came back on in the canine’s eyes. This time, they glowed green.
It got to its feet and stood waiting. For her command.
Cool. Mal turned and saw Xander and the humanoid robot straining against each other. They spun in an unsteady turn.
The robot reached out, both hands gripping Xander’s left arm.
Then with a hard yank, it pulled Xander’s entire mechanical arm off.
No. “Xander!”
Arm gone, Xander staggered backward.
Over the edge of the platform.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Shock made Mal slow.
The massive robot was striding toward her, but she couldn’t tear her gaze off the spot where Xander had disappeared.
The canine bumped into her side. She blinked and forced her mind to focus. She looked at the robot dog. “Attack.”
The canine sprung forward, moving fast. It hit the other robot, going for the control panel at the robot’s neck.
