Page 33 of Bound to the Bounty Hunter

I nodded, setting down my latest haul. “Enough to get started. How are things here?”

Samira sighed, gesturing to her makeshift workspace. “I’ve got the basics, but it’s far from ideal. Still, I can begin preliminary work while you build your drones.”

I set up my own workstation nearby, arranging tools and components. As I began to assemble the first micro-drone, Samira paused in her work, watching me with interest. “That’s... impressive. Where did you learn to do this?”

I kept my focus on the intricate circuitry before me. “You pick up skills in my line of work. Adaptability is survival.”

We worked in companionable silence for a while, the quiet broken only by the soft sounds of our respective tasks.

I forced myself to concentrate on the drone, my movements precise and deliberate. Every so often, I’d glance up, checking Samira’s progress and offering what encouragement I could.

“How’s it coming?” I asked during one such moment.

Samira ran a hand through her hair, frustration evident in the gesture. “Slowly. But I’m making progress. You?”

I held up the partially assembled drone. “Getting there. Just need to solve a small issue with the propulsion system.”

As if to mock us, the drone’s antigrav unit sputtered and died. I growled in frustration, the sound rumbling deep in my chest.

Samira looked up, concern etched on her features. “What’s wrong?”

I explained the problem, my words clipped as I fought to keep my temper in check.

Samira leaned closer, her brow furrowed in concentration. “Can you explain it again? Every step?”

I sighed, tamping down my frustration. Patience wasn’t my strong suit, but for her, I’d try. “Alright. The antigrav unit connects to the power source here,” I pointed to a small coupling. “It draws energy through this circuit board, which regulates the flow. The propulsion system then-”

As I walked her through each component, something clicked. The answer had been staring me in the face all along. I’d wired the regulator backwards, causing a feedback loop that overloaded the system.

“I’ll be damned,” I muttered, already reaching for my tools.

“What is it?” Samira asked, leaning in even closer. Her scent filled my nostrils, threatening to derail my thoughts entirely.

I shook my head, refocusing. “You’re brilliant, you know that?”

She blinked, clearly confused. “Me? But I don’t know the first thing about mechanical engineering.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at Samira’s confusion. “You may not know mechanical engineering, but you know how to untangle thoughts. Sometimes all it takes is explaining a problem to someone else to see the solution.”

Samira’s eyes lit up with understanding. “Oh! Like when I’m stuck on a botanical problem and I talk it through with... well, usually just myself.”

“Exactly,” I said, my hands already moving to correct the wiring. “You’ve got a knack for asking the right questions, even if you don’t realize it.”

Samira’s lips curved into a small smile. “Well, I’m glad my ignorance could be of use.”

I made the adjustments, my heart quickening as I activated the drone. For a breathless moment, nothing happened. Then, with a soft whir, it rose into the air.

A rare, genuine smile spread across my face. “It works.”

Samira’s answering grin was radiant. “We did it!”

“Now we just need to make a few dozen more.” I returned to my workstation, the success of the first drone fueling my determination.

Samira resumed her own tasks, her movements precise and focused. The space between us thrummed with unspoken intensity, a current I struggled to ignore.

As I assembled more drones, my hands moved with practiced efficiency. Each completed unit brought us closer to our goal, yet I found my attention repeatedly drawn to Samira. The way she bit her lower lip in concentration, the graceful curve of her neck as she bent over her work - these small details threatened to derail my focus.

“I’m going to do another check on the lab’s integrity,” I said, standing, finally acknowledging my inability to concentrate. “You should rest.”

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