Page 50 of Bound to the Bounty Hunter

He rushed me, faster than I expected. His fist connected with my jaw, sending me reeling. Before I could recover, he had me in a chokehold.

Black spots danced in my vision as I struggled for air. I clawed at his arm, but couldn’t break his grip.

Samira’s face flashed in my mind. I couldn’t die here. I had to get back to her.

With a surge of desperate strength, I drove my elbow back into Renak’s ribs. Once, twice, three times. I felt something crack.

His grip loosened just enough. I twisted free, gasping for air.

Renak stumbled back, clutching his side. I didn’t give him time to recover. I launched myself at him, smashing my fist into his face with every ounce of strength I had left.

He went down hard, and didn’t get up.

I stood there, swaying on my feet, surveying the carnage around me. The remaining fighters stared at me with a mixture of fear and respect.

“Anyone else?” I rasped.

No one moved.

I nodded, then promptly collapsed.

When I came to, I was back in my cell. Every inch of my body ached, but I was alive. And I’d proven myself.

As I lay there, my thoughts turned to Samira. I hoped she was safe. I had to find a way out of here, to get back to her.

But for now, I’d earned myself a reprieve. And maybe, just maybe, some allies in this hellhole.

I closed my eyes, allowing myself a brief moment of rest before planning my next move.

SAMIRA

Iadjusted the microscope, peering at the plant cells through the lens. The lab hummed with activity, machines whirring and beeping around me.

My stomach churned as I recorded my observations. The plants we studied held immense potential for mind control, a fact that both fascinated and horrified me. I couldn’t deny the scientific marvel, but the ethical implications made my skin crawl.

“Excellent work, Samira,” Dr. Zhen’la’s insectoid voice chittered behind me. “Your expertise is invaluable to our research.”

I forced a smile, turning to face the towering Zeqnid. “Thank you, Doctor. I’m learning so much here.”

As Zhen’la moved to another workstation, I noticed a discrepancy on the supply manifest displayed on a nearby screen. The numbers didn’t add up – we’d received far more raw materials than our current projects required.

Over the next few days, I discreetly investigated. Careful not to arouse suspicion, I cross-referenced inventory logs and tracked shipment patterns. A clear picture emerged: Dr. Zhen’la was siphoning off resources for some unknown purpose.

I documented everything meticulously, encrypting the files and hiding them within innocuous botanical data. This information could be my leverage, a bargaining chip to protect Arkon and secure our freedom. But I had to be cautious – one wrong move could spell disaster for us both.

“It’s time, Samira,” Dr. Zhen’la announced, interrupting my thoughts. “We have an important guest from the Consortium to meet at the arena.”

Zhen’la claws clicked as we walked. “This is a chance to demonstrate my research again, despite the previous…” he glared at me. “Unfortunate accidents.” he chittered.

My heart sank as we made our way through the facility’s winding corridors. The thought of watching Arkon fight again filled me with dread.

As we entered Zhen’la’s viewing box, my attention was immediately drawn to a striking figure seated at the center. This was clearly the high-ranking guest Dr. Zhen’la had mentioned.

The Naravex’s dense, metallic fur shimmered under the arena lights. His four arms rested casually on the armrests of his oversized chair, each hand sporting six dexterous fingers. Large, pointed ears swiveled independently, catching every sound in the arena below. Feline-like features were accentuated by markings that pulsed with a cool blue glow.

Dr. Zhen’la’s demeanor changed instantly upon seeing Kreshnar. The usually imposing Zeqnid seemed to shrink, his movements becoming jerky and uncertain.

“Esteemed Kreshnar,” Zhen’la chittered, bowing low. “What an honor to have you grace this humble arena. I trust you’ll find our latest advancements most impressive.”

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