Samira

SAMIRA

“ T he Xenovibris Sensoria - they rely on detecting unfamiliar biochemical signatures.”

Arkon’s brow furrowed. “And?”

“We can trick them. Mimic the pheromones found in the dust of their natural pollinators.” I gestured to a nearby tree where several large, colorful moth-like insects rested. “If we collect dust from those creatures, we might just fool the plants long enough to get past them.”

Arkon’s expression shifted from confusion to skepticism. “Dust? From bugs?”

“Not just any bugs,” I explained, my scientist’s passion taking over. “These are vital to the ecosystem here. Their pheromones are likely recognized by the Xenovibris as ‘safe.’“

He crossed his arms, unconvinced. “And how do you propose we collect this magical bug dust?”

I bit my lip, considering our limited resources. “We’ll need to improvise some brushes. Something soft, gentle enough not to harm them.”

Arkon’s lips quirked into a half-smile. “You want me to pet giant moths?”

“Essentially, yes.” I couldn’t help but grin at the mental image. “Your Vinduthi reflexes make you perfect for the job.”

He sighed, shaking his head. “The things I would do for you, .”

My breath caught at his words, the casual intimacy sending a shiver down my spine. I pushed the feeling aside, staying focused.

“Look,” I pointed to a massive leaf where a cluster of the moth-like creatures had gathered. “There’s our target.”

We crept closer, and I set about crafting makeshift brushes from local fibers. As I worked, I stole glances at Arkon. His usual predatory grace seemed at odds with the delicate task before him.

“Ready?” I asked, handing him the improvised tool.

Arkon nodded, every line of his body radiating a mix of determination and resigned amusement. He approached the leaf with surprising stealth for someone his size.

My fingers clenched as he extended the brush, his movements careful and precise. The first moth twitched its wings but remained still as Arkon gently stroked its back.

A small cloud of iridescent dust floated into the air, and I rushed forward with a collection vial. “Perfect,” I whispered. “Keep going.”

As Arkon continued his unlikely task, I couldn’t look away. The fearsome Vinduthi bounty hunter, delicately petting enormous insects - it was a sight I never thought I’d see.

“You’re quite good at this,” I teased, unable to resist.

Arkon shot me a look that was part exasperation, part something else I couldn’t quite name. “If you tell anyone about this, I’ll deny it to my dying breath.”

I laughed softly, the sound carrying on the humid air. “Your secret’s safe with me.”

As we worked, I became very aware of Arkon’s proximity. His warmth, the soft sound of his breathing - it all threatened to overwhelm my senses.

“I think that’s enough,” I said, my voice sounding strained even to my own ears.

Arkon stepped back, his eyes meeting mine, pinning me with the intensity of his gaze.

“,” he began.

A sharp cry from a nearby creature shattered the moment. We both snapped back to attention, the reality of our situation crashing down around us.

“Good job,” I said quickly, securing the vial of moth dust. “The station awaits.”

As we set off towards our goal, an undeniable sense remained that something had shifted between us - something as delicate and unpredictable as the dust we’d just collected.

I crouched down, my fingers working quickly to mix the iridescent moth dust with the sticky sap of a nearby plant. The resulting paste had a pungent, earthy smell that made my nose wrinkle.

I couldn’t help but notice the stark contrast between Arkon’s specialized gear and my own haphazard outfit. My once-pristine lab coat was now a patchwork of jungle stains and tears, a far cry from the efficient scientist I used to be.

“This should do it,” I said, holding up a glob of the mixture. “We need to cover every inch of exposed skin and clothing.”

Arkon eyed the paste with obvious distaste. “You’re certain this will work?”

“Reasonably.” I shrugged. “It’s our best shot at getting past those plants undetected.”

He sighed, then held out his hand. “Very well. Let’s get this over with.”

I scooped up a generous amount and began applying it to Arkon’s arm. His skin was cool to the touch, the gray surface marked with intricate black patterns. As I spread the paste, I couldn’t help but admire the lean muscle beneath my fingertips.

Arkon winced as I worked the mixture into the fabric of his envirosuit. “This smells worse than a Krelaxian sewer.”

“You’ve been in Krelaxian sewers?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Trust me, you don’t want to know.”

I chuckled, continuing to cover him in the sticky substance. When I reached his face, our eyes met.

I forgot to breathe.

Arkon cleared his throat. “I can do that part myself.”

“Right. Of course.” I stepped back, my cheeks burning. “I’ll just... start on myself.”

As I began applying the paste to my own skin, I stole glances at Arkon. He grumbled and grimaced as he covered himself, his movements awkward and unsure.

“This had better be worth it,” he muttered.

“It will be,” I assured him, though my own doubts gnawed at me. “Once we’re inside that station, we’ll have access to the Consortium’s data. We can stop their plans before it’s too late.”

Arkon nodded, his expression grim. “Let’s hope you’re right.”

Once we were both thoroughly coated, we approached the edge of the Xenovibris Sensoria field. The plants swayed gently, their vibrant color standing out against the muted jungle around them.

“Ready?” I asked, my heart pounding.

Arkon took a deep breath. “As I’ll ever be.”

He stepped forward, his foot hovering over the first plant. I tensed as he lowered it, ready to pull him back at the first sign of trouble.

Nothing happened.

The plant remained still, showing no reaction to Arkon’s presence. He took another step, then another. I exhaled, relief washing over me.

“It’s working,” I whispered, excitement bubbling up inside me. “Come on!”

I joined Arkon in the field, marveling at how the plants ignored our presence. We moved slowly, carefully placing each foot to avoid crushing the delicate flora.

As we progressed, I was torn between scientific fascination and nervous anticipation. Every rustle of leaves made me flinch, expecting discovery at any moment.

Arkon’s heightened senses were on full alert. His head swiveled at the slightest sound, muscles tensed and ready for action. Despite the sticky paste covering him, he still moved with a predator’s grace.

“Almost there,” I murmured, more to myself than to Arkon.

When we finally reached the edge of the field, the unmanned station loomed before us, its metal surface gleaming in the sunlight.

Arkon let out a low whistle. “I have to admit, I didn’t think we’d make it this far.”

I grinned, unable to contain my pride. “Never underestimate the power of science.”

We approached the service hatch, our bodies still coated in the foul-smelling paste. Arkon attempted to strike an intimidating pose, but the effect was somewhat ruined by the bits of leaves and twigs stuck to his skin.

I stifled a laugh. “You look very... fierce.”

He glared at me, but I caught the hint of amusement in his eyes. “Let’s just get inside and clean this mess off.”

I watched in awe as Arkon gripped the edges of the service hatch. His muscles bulged, the gray skin stretching taut over his powerful frame. With a low grunt, he pulled. The metal groaned in protest, but it was no match for Vinduthi strength.

“Careful, please,” I muttered, wincing at the sound of tearing metal.

Arkon shot me a look, his red eyes gleaming with amusement. “Worried about property damage, ?”

I shook my head, unable to suppress a grin. “More concerned about alerting any security systems we didn’t spot. Or worse, the local wildlife.”

He shrugged, the movement causing more of the sticky paste to flake off his shoulders. “Sometimes, finesse isn’t an option.”

With one final heave, the hatch came free. Arkon tossed it aside like it weighed nothing, the metal clanging against the station’s outer wall. I cringed at the noise, my eyes darting around feverishly.

“After you,” Arkon said, revealing a narrow crawl space. I looked at Arkon, then at the tight opening, and back to Arkon.

“This... might be a challenge,” I admitted.

Arkon sighed deeply. “After you, scientist.”

I crawled into the hatch, the sticky paste making every movement feel like I was pulling free from quicksand. Behind me, I heard Arkon grunt and curse as he squeezed his large frame through the opening.

“Everything alright back there?” I called over my shoulder.

“Just... peachy,” he growled.

As we inched our way through the space, I had to laugh at the absurdity of our situation. Here we were, a renowned xenobotanist and a fearsome Vinduthi bounty hunter, covered in smelly bug dust and squirming through a tiny metal tube.

“I’m glad you find this amusing,” Arkon grumbled.

“Oh, come on,” I said, still giggling. “You have to admit, it’s a little funny.”

He was quiet, then I heard a low chuckle. “I suppose it is. But if anyone hears about this...”

“I know, I know. You’ll deny it to your dying breath.”

We continued on, the close quarters and shared laughter creating an unexpected intimacy between us. Despite the discomfort and the danger that lay ahead, I felt a warmth in my chest that had nothing to do with the jungle heat.