Page 31 of Bound to the Bounty Hunter

I attempted to power up a battered console, growing frustrated as it remained stubbornly dark. With a sigh, I sank into a dusty chair and buried my face in my hands.

“What if we can’t make it work?” I asked. “Even if we find a formula and synthesize the counteragent, it might not be enough.”

Arkon crouched beside me. “We’ll find a way,” he said. “Tell me what else you need.”

I lifted my head from my hands, my mind racing with possibilities and problems. The weight of our mission pressed down on me, but Arkon’s steady presence anchored me to the moment.

“Even if we synthesize the counteragent, we need to figure out how to distribute it effectively,” I said, threading my fingers through my tangled hair. “The mind-control plants cover vast areas. We need a way to reach all of them quickly.”

Arkon nodded, his red eyes fixed on me. “What options have you considered?”

I stood up, pacing the cluttered lab as I spoke. “Water system infiltration would be ideal. Introduce the counteragent into the irrigation systems, and it would spread to all the crops.” I sighed, frustration coloring my words. “But we don’t have access to those systems. The Consortium controls them tightly.”

“What else?” Arkon asked, encouraging.

“We could try to engineer a pollinator,” I mused, picking up a broken beaker and turning it over in my hands. “Modify existing insects or create synthetic ones to carry the counteragent fromplant to plant. It would be more targeted, but...” I trailed off, shaking my head.

“But what?” Arkon prompted.

“It would take too long,” I admitted. “We don’t have the time or resources to develop something like that. The Consortium’s plans are already in motion.”

I set the beaker down with more force than necessary, frustration building in my chest. “Soil treatment is another option. Create a version of the counteragent that could be introduced into the soil, allowing the plants to absorb it through their root systems.”

Arkon’s brow furrowed. “How long would that take to be effective?”

“Too long,” I said, defeat creeping into my voice. “It’s more of a long-term solution. We need something faster, something immediate.”

Silence fell between us as we both contemplated the problem.

Arkon broke the silence. “What about aerial distribution?”

I blinked, considering the idea. “That... could work. But we’d need dozens, maybe even hundreds of drones to spread the counteragent quickly enough over such a large area.”

Arkon shrugged, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “I’m sure we’ll come up with something.”

His confidence sparked something in me, a warmth that spread through my chest. I moved closer to him, drawn by an inexorable pull.

“You really think I can do this?” I asked.

Arkon reached out, his large hand cupping my face. The warmth of his skin grounded me. “I know you can,” he said, his thumb tracing my cheekbone.

The intensity in his eyes made my breath catch. The weight of our mission faded, replaced by the electric current running between us. I leaned into his touch, my eyes fluttering closed.

“Arkon,” I breathed, my heart pounding in my chest.

I felt the heat of his body, the solid strength of him. My hands found their way to his chest, fingers splaying across the fabric of his shirt.

“Samira,” he growled. The sound sent a jolt of desire through me.

Our lips were inches apart, charged with anticipation. All I wanted was to close that final distance, to lose myself in him.

A distant crash jolted us apart. Arkon’s posture immediately shifted, alert and protective. I tried to calm my racing heart, forcing my mind back to the task at hand.

“We should...” I started, my voice unsteady.

“Yeah,” Arkon agreed, his eyes scanning our surroundings. “Let’s focus on finding what we need for the counteragent. Then we’ll figure out how to deploy it.”

I nodded, taking a deep breath to center myself. As we turned our attention back to the lab equipment, Arkon’s touch still burned on my skin, along with the certainty that this wasn’t over between us.

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