2018/67: Killing Gravity -- Corey White

"MEPHISTO,” I say. “Stands for Military Experimental Post-Human Specialist Training Organization, and I only found that out after years of sniffing around.”
“And they’re the ones that ... made you?” [loc. 540]

Space-opera novella that reminded me strongly of Andre Norton, right down to the presence of a feline companion. Mars Xi is a living weapon with mystical, highly-destructive powers. She's on the run, from bounty hunters as well as the dastardly corporation that created her: rescued by the space tug Nova, she finds it hard to trust her new companions with the truth about herself -- or her fears about someone who was once her friend and might now be an implacable enemy.

The violence (and, to be honest, quite a bit of the characterisation) has a comic-book feel, and there are considerable holes into which the plot would stumble if it weren't moving so quickly. Good fun, with some nice ideas (and a space-kitty!), but somewhat two-dimensional.