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“We’d rather not,” Loka said. “Why are you detaining us?”

“You left the station without permission.”

“We’re not prisoners,” Heather said. “We need no permission.”

“You logged no flight plan.”

“That’s not a reason to drag us back using a tractor beam,” Heather said. “Who’s in charge here?”

One of the Bantis moved in front of the cyborgs. His mask remained in place, his claws flexed.

Loka’s shoulders stiffened. Banti were vicious and known for fighting dirty. As his attention slid to the rest of the Banti, he sensed their urge to attack. A thin sliver of drool slid from beneath a Banti’s mask. They desired Heather’s flesh. They would be happy to get Loka out of the way in order to get their hands on her. That would not happen.

“Take the human to the holding cells,” ordered the Banti who had stepped forward.

“She goes nowhere.” Loka kept Heather behind him.

“We take her, or you die.”

“No, he doesn’t.” Heather pushed forward to stand next to Loka. “Take us both.”

“We do not need a Picar.”

“What have you done to the station?” Heather asked.

“Nothing you need to be concerned about. You will soon be leaving here. This station will be nothing more than space debris in a few hours.”

“You’re stealing humans,” Loka growled.

The Banti waved a hand in the air, gesturing the cyborgs forward. “Take them. Use force if you need to but keep the female alive.”

“Run when you can.” Loka flexed his shoulders and looked down at Heather.

“I’m going nowhere without you.”

He knew she’d want to stay. “Then stay back. Don’t engage in the fighting.”

Loka charged the closest cyborg and jabbed his electro rods at it, catching it in the stomach. Sparks flew as the cyborg’s system overloaded with the power surge.

Loka stepped backward but not fast enough. The second rod was smashed from his hand. He gouged the attacking cyborg’s arm with his claws before spearing its stomach with a horn.

Heather’s cry of alarm had him turning his head, sending the cyborg impaled on his horn flying across the room.

She was backed against the ship, waving the electro rods in front of her, keeping two Bantis from reaching her.

A cyborg caught Loka off-guard. Pain flashed across his side. Roaring with anger and agony, his fist slammed into the cyborg. He felt a bone shatter in his hand.

“Enough!” a Banti yelled.

Loka kept fighting, his claws slashing and tearing into anything that got too close. Heather had to get out. He had to keep her safe.

“I said enough.”

Turning his head, fear gripped Loka’s stomach. The Banti who’d spoken bore down on Heather, his claws raised.

Rising to his feet, Loka made it two steps before being slammed to the ground by a cyborg. He kicked back, dislodging the cyborg, and rolled over.

Pride flashed through him as he saw Heather duck around the Banti and run toward him.