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‘Nada, nofokkin’ way,’ the Sableman countered. ‘My ancestors would be horrified by your implication, for I never let anyone in my care get harmed.’

He gave the young woman a comforting chin lift, and she shot him a tentative smile.

Taking an inhaled hiss of breath to gather himself together, he addressed the crew. ‘Riva, you go with Juno, need to get Klash and Zera out and into a cave or some shit like that with adequate shelter. Bear and me -.’

‘And I -’ Issa called.’

He ignored her. ‘We’ll rock up to these mofos and push back on their freakin’ cowardice, attacking a medical ship.’

‘Fokkthem,’ Issa snarled.

‘For now,’ he growled, ‘take cover in the rear deck. Its shielding is holding.’

The team obeyed, moving off.

Out of the corner of his gaze, he spotted Issa reach for the meta suit hanging in the weapons locker.

She stripped in seconds, revealing flesh.

He canted his eyes away to protect her privacy, but his eyes could not unsee what he caught a flash of.

Curves for days, tits high and tipped with rosy pebbled nipples, voluptuous waist, and rounded hips between which nestled a dark lushness.

Scorching desire burned under his skin.

Fokk!

Also, how fast and efficiently she’d undressed was like a soldier.

Unashamed, comfortable with nudity, fast to suit up, readying for battle.

Which only added more intrigue to his growing list of questions.

‘Almost ready.’

He swiveled to see Issa zip up the smart meta under-suit over her form.

It was designed to handle any concussive forces and had sensors built into key points to provide biofeedback to the powered joints and musculature.

It likewise helped with load support and tracked body functions.

When she smoothed her palms over the material, it contoured around her sexy, rounded curves, and he almost groaned.

She lifted her eyes to meet his, sensing his torn reaction to her.

Another burst of firepower sounded outside.

Without a word, he handed her the suit’s hard exo frame, a meta-flow textile.

‘It can resist any ballistic ordnance and laser beams. Its features include full stealth mode that extends to any weapons in your hands.’

Selene took the exterior armor from him and stepped into it.

Its metanoid-enhanced fabric appeared to come alive, sliding over her body, the overlapping flexible panels snapping into place.

Noids formed into anti-grav boots at her feet, with rugged neo-steel outer soles appearing under the incredible velvet-like insole.

‘Nice,’ she murmured, admiring the result.