Page 34 of Bound to the Bounty Hunter

Samira shook her head stubbornly. “I’m fine. I want to keep working.”

I frowned, noting the dark circles under her eyes. “Samira-”

“I said I’m fine, Arkon,” she snapped, then immediately softened. “I’m sorry. I just... I need to do this.”

I understood her drive all too well. With a nod, I left her to her work and began my inspection.

I worked my way through the unstable corridors, every creak and groan of the structure setting my nerves on edge. I cataloged each weak point, each potential disaster waiting to happen. The eastern wall needed immediate attention - a spiderweb of cracks threatened to give way at any moment. The ceiling in the main corridor sagged dangerously, held up by little more than stubborn determination.

As I rounded the corner back towards our makeshift lab, something caught my eye. A faint glimmer, barely visible in the dim emergency lighting. I approached cautiously, my hand instinctively moving to my weapon.

A faint seam, barely visible beneath years of grime and decay.

Intrigued, I moved closer, running my hand along the wall. There - a slight depression. I applied pressure, and with a groan of protesting metal, a hidden panel slid open.

“Samira,” I called, quietly. “You need to see this.”

She appeared at my side, her earlier irritation forgotten. “What is it?”

I gestured to the dark opening before us. “A hidden room. Stand back while I check if it’s safe.”

Ignoring her protests, I entered first. The air was stale, undisturbed for years. As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I took in the room’s contents.

“By the stars,” Samira breathed, peering around me. “Arkon, do you know what this means?”

SAMIRA

Istepped into the hidden room, my breath catching in my throat. Banks of servers lined the walls, their blinking lights casting an eerie glow in the darkness. The hum of cooling systems filled the air.

“Arkon, look at this,” I whispered, running my fingers over the dusty surface of a nearby console. “It’s a server room.”

Arkon moved closer, his imposing frame filling the doorway. “Can you get it working?”

I nodded, already assessing the equipment’s condition. Most of it appeared intact, protected from the devastation outside. My heart pounded like a drum, each beat a desperate plea for calm as I located the main power switch.

“Here goes nothing,” I muttered, flipping it on.

Nothing happened.

Then, with a series of clicks and whirs, the room came to life. Screens flickered on, bathing us in a pale blue light. I bit my lip, watching as system after system booted up.

“It’s working,” I breathed, relief washing over me. “I can’t believe it.”

Arkon placed a hand on my shoulder, and I leaned against him. “You did it, Samira.”

I turned to the nearest terminal, continuing the investigation. As I navigated through the files, a realization came to me. “This isn’t just research data. It’s... everything. Arkon, this is a complete backup of the Consortium’s data.”

He leaned in, his breath tickling neck. “How much?”

“More than I ever imagined,” I said, scrolling through endless directories. “Look at this - detailed plans for the mind-control project. It’s not just about the plants. They have strategies for global distribution, lists of targeted individuals and organizations...”

Words failed me as I uncovered more. The Consortium’s long-term goals were laid bare before me - a chilling vision of societal control that made my blood run cold.

“They want to reshape the entire galaxy,” I whispered, horror and fascination warring within me. “Governments, corporations, educational systems - nothing is off-limits.”

Arkon’s grip on my shoulder tightened. “This is bigger than we thought.”

I nodded, my mind reeling. The weight of what we’d discovered pressed down on me, an almost physical sensation. “We have to stop them,” I said, my voice stronger than I felt. “No matter what it takes.”

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