Page 14 of Bound to the Bounty Hunter

SAMIRA

Aslice 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. Therich, 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, Samira. 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 togetheras 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 weaknessthat 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.

---