Samira

SAMIRA

A slice of jerky materialized in front of my face, startling me from my focused trance. I blinked, momentarily confused by the sudden intrusion into my work.

“Eat,” Arkon commanded, his deep voice rumbling through the compact space of the research station.

He had been unwavering in his support for my research during the last two days.

I glanced up at him, taking in his imposing figure. Even after three days of close quarters, the sight of him still sent sparks through me. His gray skin seemed to absorb the harsh light of the terminal, the black marks on his face and neck standing out in stark relief.

“I’m fine,” I mumbled, turning back to the screen. “I need to keep working.”

Arkon sighed, a sound that seemed to come from the depths of his chest. Without warning, he broke off a piece of the jerky and pressed it against my lips.

“You need sustenance. Keep working, but eat.”

My cheeks flushed hot at the intimate gesture. I parted my lips, allowing him to place the morsel of food in my mouth. The rich, savory flavor exploded on my tongue, reminding me just how hungry I actually was.

I chewed thoughtfully, savoring the smoky flavor of the jerky. As I swallowed, I turned back to Arkon, my mind racing with the information I’d uncovered.

“I’ve been combing through the Consortium’s data on the mind-control plant,” I explained, gesturing to the screen. “It’s fascinating, really. They’ve mapped out its entire genetic structure.”

Arkon leaned in closer, his massive frame dwarfing mine.

“And?” he prompted.

I took a breath, trying to focus on the science rather than his proximity. “I’ve been breaking down the plant’s genetic pattern, looking for vulnerabilities. There are a few promising options, but...”

“But what?” Arkon’s intense gaze bore into me.

“We need something we can access here on Kervant-9,” I said, tugging at my hair. “I’ve found a few potential disruptors, but they’re all off-world compounds.”

Arkon grunted. “Keep looking. There has to be something here we can use.”

I nodded, turning back to the screen. The lines of genetic code blurred before my eyes, exhaustion creeping in. We’d been at this for days, and the constant threat of discovery weighed heavily on me. It was mind numbing work. But I fell back on an old trick my mentor had taught me. To focus on one line of code at a time and lose myself in the work.

“Arkon,” I said softly, not looking up from the terminal. “I know we need to hurry. Those patrols you’ve been running... I’m worried.”

His hand settled on my shoulder, surprisingly gentle for such a powerful being. “That’s my job, . To keep you safe.”

Guilt gnawed at me. “I know. And you’re doing it so well. That new route through the alarm-plants was brilliant. I just... I feel like I need to do my job better.”

Arkon’s fingers tightened slightly then broke off another piece of jerky and held it to my lips. “You’re worrying too much,” he said as I accepted the offering. “Do your job, and trust that I’m good at mine.”

I chewed slowly, considering his words. It struck me then, how much I’d come to rely on this bounty hunter. He’d taken over everything else - from defense to gathering food to even getting our clothing clean, just so I could work uninterrupted.

How much I trusted him, despite everything.

“You’re right,” I admitted, meeting his gaze. “I do trust you, Arkon. More than I probably should.”

A flicker of emotion passed across his face, too quick for me to identify. He leaned in closer, his breath hot on my ear. “Good. Now get back to work, little human.”

The hours blurred together as I hunched over the terminal, my eyes straining against the harsh glow of the screen. The small harvesting station felt claustrophobic, the recycled air growing stale. My muscles ached from sitting in the same position for so long, but I couldn’t stop now. Not when we were so close.

I rubbed my eyes, fighting against the exhaustion that threatened to overwhelm me. The genetic codes on the screen swam before me, a dizzying array of letters and numbers. But I had to keep going. Too much depended on this.

My fingers flew across the keyboard, inputting new search parameters. There had to be something here, some weakness that we could exploit. I’d been through the Consortium’s data a dozen times already, but I refused to give up.

While scrolling through yet another database, a specific line of text caught my attention. I leaned in closer, my heart rate quickening. “Heat-loving microorganisms?” I muttered to myself, quickly opening the file.

My mind buzzed as I read through the information. This wasn’t just any microorganism - it was specifically adapted to thrive in the harsh environment of Kervant-9. And its unique properties...

“Oh my god,” I breathed, the pieces falling into place. This could be it. The key to creating a counter against the mind-control plant.

I dove deeper into the data, my fatigue forgotten. With each new detail I uncovered, my excitement grew. The microorganism’s rapid reproduction rate, its adaptability - all of it could be harnessed to combat the Consortium’s bioweapon.

My hands shook as I ran simulations, testing the microorganism’s potential interactions with the mind-control plant’s genetic structure. When the results flashed across the screen, confirming my theories, I couldn’t contain myself any longer.

I leapt to my feet, knocking my chair over in the process. “Yes!” I shouted, pumping my fists in the air. “We did it!”

My chest tightened as my heartbeat quickened, fast and unrelenting, as the full implications of my discovery washed over me. We had a chance now.

The door burst open with a thunderous crash. I whirled around, startled out of my celebratory moment, to find Arkon filling the doorway. His massive frame blocked out the light from the corridor, his weapon drawn and ready.

“!” he barked, his red eyes scanning the room for threats. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

I blinked, momentarily confused by his alarmed state. Then I realized how my shout must have sounded to him.

“No, no, I’m fine,” I said quickly, holding up my hands. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to worry you. I just... I found something. Something big.”

Arkon lowered his weapon, but his body remained tense, ready for action. “Explain,” he demanded, his eyes never leaving mine.

I rushed towards Arkon, my excitement overriding any concern for his combat-ready stance. Words tumbled out of my mouth in a rapid stream.

“Arkon, I found it! A heat-loving microorganism native to Kervant-9. Its enzymes are incredibly heat-resistant. Don’t you see? This could be the key to stabilizing the counteragent!”

My hands flew through the air as I explained, sketching out molecular structures only I could see. “The microorganism’s ability to withstand extreme temperatures is exactly what we need. Its enzymes could protect the counteragent from breaking down in the heat of Kervant-9’s environment.”

I paused to catch my breath, and finally noticed Arkon’s expression. His weapon lowered slowly, confusion replacing the alarm on his face.

My heart skipped a beat as I realized how much my shout had scared him. A warmth spread through my chest at the thought of his concern for me.

“We need to go to the hot springs,” I concluded, determination surging through me. “That’s where we’ll find the highest concentration of these microorganisms. With samples from there, I can synthesize a stable counteragent.”

I braced myself, anticipating Arkon’s resistance. I wasn’t disappointed.

“I’ll go,” he said, his tone brooking no argument. “You’ll stay here where it’s safe.”

Frustration bubbled up inside me. “No, Arkon. This isn’t just about collecting samples. I need to observe the microorganisms in their natural habitat, study how they interact with the local flora. That kind of firsthand observation could be crucial to developing the counteragent.”

“It’s too dangerous,” Arkon growled. “The hot springs are exposed, difficult to defend. If we’re attacked-”

“If we’re attacked, having me there could make all the difference,” I interrupted, my voice rising. “I know this planet, Arkon. I know its plants, its terrain. That knowledge could save our lives out there.”

I stepped closer to him, my gestures growing more emphatic. “And what if something happens to you? What if you’re injured or captured? Then all of this,” I waved my hand at the monitors, “becomes useless. Because I’m the only one who can interpret this data, who can create the counteragent.”

My breath came faster as I argued, and I suddenly realized how close we’d gotten. Arkon towered over me, his presence overwhelming in the small space. Heat radiated from his body, and I suddenly was far too aware of every inch of space between us.

Our eyes locked, and the world narrowed to just the two of us. A confusing mix of anger and attraction swirled through me.

Arkon broke the contact first, stepping back with a growl of frustration. “Fine,” he bit out. “But you follow my lead out there. No unnecessary risks. Understood?”

I nodded, triumph and nervousness warring in my stomach as the reality of our impending journey sank in. “Understood.”

Then I steeled myself for what I knew would be another difficult conversation. The elation from my discovery had faded, replaced by a gnawing anxiety in the pit of my stomach.

“Arkon,” I said, then stopped. Started again. “There’s something else I need to tell you.”

He turned back to me, his expression guarded. “What is it?”

I fidgeted with the hem of my shirt, struggling to meet his gaze. “We... we can’t do the work here. This station doesn’t have the equipment I need to synthesize the counteragent.”

Arkon’s jaw clenched, the muscles in his neck visibly tightening. “Where, then?” he asked, his words clipped and controlled.

I gulped, the tension in my neck betraying my unease. “While I was being held captive I found out about an old research outpost about fifty kilometers north of here. It was abandoned after a massive earthquake destabilized the area, but the labs should still be intact. If we can get there, I’ll have everything I need to complete the work.”

“An abandoned outpost,” Arkon repeated, his voice flat. “In unstable terrain. Likely crawling with scavengers and who knows what else.”

“I know it’s not ideal,” I said quickly, “but it’s our best option. It’s exactly what we need.”

Arkon turned away, his massive frame radiating frustration. I watched as he paced the small room, his movements tightly controlled despite his obvious agitation.

“This is suicide,” he muttered, more to himself than to me. “Walking right into a death trap.”

“It’s not that bad,” I protested, even as doubt crept into my own mind. “The area’s been stable for years now. And with your skills-”

Arkon whirled back to face me, the red of his eyes burning like fire. “My skills won’t matter if the ground opens up beneath our feet, . Or if we’re ambushed by raiders who’ve claimed the outpost as their own.”

I flinched at the intensity of his gaze, but forced myself to stand my ground. “I understand the risks, Arkon. But this is bigger than just us. If we don’t stop the Consortium-”

“I don’t care about the Consortium,” Arkon snarled, taking a step towards me. “I care about keeping you alive.”

The raw emotion in his voice stunned me into silence.

Finally, Arkon let out a long, defeated sigh. “Fine,” he said. “We’ll go to the outpost. But you follow my every instruction, without question. If I say run, you run. If I say hide, you hide. Understood?”

I nodded, relief and gratitude washing over me. “Understood. Thank you, Arkon.”

He grunted in response, already turning away. “Pack up what you need. We leave in an hour.”

As Arkon strode out of the room, I felt a strange ache in my chest. I’d won the argument, but the victory felt hollow. Arkon was angry - with the situation, with me - and for some reason, that knowledge twisted something deep inside me.

I tried to shake off the feeling as I gathered my equipment and data drives. There was work to be done, lives at stake.

But as I stuffed the last of my notes into my pack, I couldn’t help but wonder why his anger affected me so deeply. Why did I care so much about what this gruff bounty hunter thought of me?