Page 9 of Bound to the Bounty Hunter

I nodded, pushing aside my tumultuous thoughts. “Let’s do this.”

We crouched behind a thick tangle of vines, observing the unmanned station. The structure squatted in the valley like a metal insect, its dull exterior blending with the surrounding rock formations. I studied every angle, every potential entry point, my vision picking out details a human would miss.

“There,” I murmured, pointing to a small service hatch near the base. “That’s our way in. The security looks minimal – probably relying on the isolation for protection.”

Samira leaned closer, her warm breath tickling my neck. “Are you sure? It seems too easy.”

I turned my head, our faces inches apart. Her scent, a mix of sweat and some exotic flower, filled my nostrils. “Trust me,” I said. “I’ve broken into far more secure facilities than this.”

She nodded, a slight flush coloring her cheeks. “Alright, I trust you. Let’s go.”

We made our way down the slope, careful to stay hidden in the dense foliage. As we drew closer to the station, Samira’s excitement became palpable. Her steps quickened, and a gleam entered her eyes that I hadn’t seen before.

“Just think of the data we could access,” she whispered. “With the right equipment, I might be able to synthesize a counteragent to the mind-control spores within a few weeks.”

I placed a hand on her shoulder to steady her. “Easy,” I cautioned. “We’re not there yet.”

We were about fifty meters from the hatch when I noticed something odd. The ground ahead was covered in a carpet of delicate, silver-blue plants. Their leaves quivered slightly, despite the lack of wind.

I held out an arm, stopping Samira in her tracks. “Wait,” I said, my instincts screaming danger. “Something’s not right.”

Samira frowned, studying the plants. Her eyes widened in recognition. “Oh no,” she breathed. “Those are Xenovibris Sensoria. Highly sensitive to movement and vibration. If we step on them, they’ll set off an alarm that’ll make a Kraxian Banshee sound quiet.”

I cursed under my breath. Of course it couldn’t be simple. “How far do they extend?”

Samira scanned the area. “All the way to the station, as far as I can see. They must have planted them as a security measure.”

I weighed our options. We could search for another way around, but that would take time we didn’t have. We could attempt to clear a path, but that would likely trigger the plants’ defense mechanism.

As I pondered our next move, I noticed Samira had gone very still. Her brow was furrowed in concentration, that brilliant mind of hers no doubt racing through possibilities.

“Arkon,” she said slowly, “I have an idea. But you’re not going to like it.”

SAMIRA

“The 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, Samira.”

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.”

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