He could hold his own in a fight, but Nera…hell, she was amazing. But he was hardly helpless. He pulled out his laser pistol and stepped up beside her. “Can you see it?”
She shook her head, every part of her focused on the shadows. “It’s coming from over there.” She tilted her head.
Suddenly, a huge, black shape leaped out of the shadows at them.
Fuck. Nik fired and dodged to the side. He hit the floor hard, the impact rattling his bones. When he rolled, he caught a glimpse of the thing. His eyes widened. Holy hell, it was huge.
Nera circled the creature, her sword held in front of her. The beast was almost as tall as her shoulders, with a powerful body and a long tail that whipped back and forth. It growled again. It looked almost like…a giant mutant cat. Maybe that was what it was. At best guess, it was some species of a former Earth creature, mutated by the radiation and years of breeding.
Its muscles bunched again and it bounded at Nera. Nik’s heart beat double-time. He couldn’t get a clear shot.
But Nera was fast, too. She ducked, and slashed at the creature’s black hide.
Her sword didn’t penetrate.
She jumped back, and he saw the flash of large claws.
Its hide was tough, thick, and gnarled, almost reptilian. He aimed his laser pistol and fired.
The beast spun around, and glowing, green eyes leveled on him. Its head was huge, with large jaws that were filled with giant teeth.Nice.
“Distract it,” Nera yelled.
Right. Nik saw her move, but kept his gaze on the beast. It took a step toward him.
He fired, aiming for its eyes. It shook its head, then swiped out with one giant paw. Nik dived and rolled.
The creature swiped at him again, and this time, Nera appeared from the darkness and a barrage of throwing stars slammed into the creature. Paw, arm, cheek, three across its side—they clung to it like burrs. Thick, black blood oozed from the wounds.
The creature screeched, an ear-splitting sound that made Nik wince. The cat spun again, and unable to find Nera, settled on Nik.
“Come on, kitty.” He lifted his laser pistol again. The beast started stalking him, its belly low to the ground. “Nera, whatever you have planned, do it fast.”
Suddenly, she leaped into the air, and onto the creature’s back.
Nik fired at its head. The creature reared, trying to dislodge Nera. She raised her sword up, and with a lightning-fast move, slammed it down into the back of its neck.
Nik kept firing until the charge ran out on his pistol. As it recharged, he staggered backward. The creature kept coming,snarling and hissing. Nera’s sword hadn’t penetrated far and she was working it in with heavy thrusts.
The creature was so close now that Nik smelled its rank, rotten breath. It smelled of blood and dead things. His back hit the wall.Shit.
He lifted the pistol again. Just as the beast raised its giant paw once more, it let out a bloodcurdling scream.
Then it collapsed to the floor, its long claws brushing the tips of Nik’s boots.
He let out a huge breath. Nera jumped off the monster and landed in a crouch beside Nik.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
He leaned over, hands on his knees, and drew in some deep breaths. “Never better.”
“You make an excellent distraction. Thanks.”
“Anytime.”
Running footsteps sounded out in the corridor outside.
“Nik? Dr. Phoenix?” Avril’s concerned voice in his earpiece.
