Page 42 of Marked By the Bounty Hunter

“Company,” I whispered. Through the station’s bones came the rhythmic thunder of security teams sweeping the main corridors. Their routes suggested a coordinated search pattern - they knew where we were headed.

Dr. Gondon clutched her precious cargo closer, the synthesized compound glowing faintly through its specialized containment unit. The substance that might save Nalina’s life, if we reached the environmental controls in time.

I reached back, steadying Nalina as she navigated a particularly treacherous section. Her skin burned against mine. The mutations were accelerating, even faster than Dr. Gondon had warned.

We had hours at most before I lost her.

“Left here.” Nalina’s words came between carefully measured breaths. “Environmental control access is three levels down.”

The station groaned around us, deep mechanical sounds that spoke of systems straining beyond their limits. Purple warning lights pulsed through the gaps in the deck plates.

“They’re starting the initialization sequence.” Dr. Gondon warned. “We need to move faster.”

I took point as we descended, tracking the security teams by sound and scent while watching for signs of structural damage.

A particularly violent shudder ran through the station. Nalina stumbled, catching herself against my arm. Her fingers trembled against my skin.

“I’m-”

“Don’t.” I kept my hand on her waist, supporting without making it obvious. “Save your strength.”

She nodded, pushing away from the wall. But I noticed how she leaned into my touch, just slightly, before straightening.

The environmental control sector sprawled across three full levels, a maze of processing units and distribution nodes. Dr. Gondon immediately moved to the central console, her movements precise despite her obvious exhaustion.

“Here.” She indicated specific points on the system diagram. “We’ll need to modify these distribution nodes to handle the compound’s molecular structure. But the changes will trigger security alerts.”

“How long?” I asked, already cataloging defensive positions.

“Ten minutes for the modifications. Another five for calibration.” She glanced at Nalina. “Can you override the security lockdowns?”

“Yes.” Nalina’s hands moved across the controls with familiar confidence, though I saw how she braced herself against the console. “But they’ll know exactly where we are as soon as I start.”

I positioned myself near the main entrance, weapon ready. “Then we make it count.”

Right on cue, alerts flashed across the environmental control screens - our system modifications had triggered exactly the security protocols Nalina had warned about. Within seconds,boots thundered down the corridors. But something else happened too - emergency shutters began dropping in precise sequence, herding the security teams into bottlenecks.

“Odra,” Nalina breathed, understanding. “He got my message about our route. His people are using the maintenance protocols I sent to control their movement patterns.”

More shutters closed in careful sequence, cutting off reinforcement routes. Someone in environmental control was orchestrating a complex dance of station systems, turning the Consortium’s forces back on themselves.

The first wave came exactly as expected - standard security teams moving in textbook formation. But something was off in their movements. The usual fluid coordination replaced by sharp, almost mechanical precision.

“They’re being controlled,” Nalina called from her position at the console. “Like Grot.”

The realization hit hard. These weren’t willing participants - they were victims of the same modifications we were trying to stop. I adjusted my aim accordingly, focusing on disabling shots.

“First distribution node modified,” Dr. Gondon announced. “Starting calibration sequence.”

A security officer charged our position.

“I know that guy,” Nalina’s shout carried from the console, tight with recognition. “He helps maintain the bar’s climate controls. Has three kids in the education sector.”

His movements were wrong, puppet-like, but his eyes... his eyes were screaming. I adjusted my aim, taking him down with a precise shot to the leg. Clean. Professional. For Nalina’s sake, if nothing else.

More security teams poured through the entrance, their movements growing more erratic with each passing second.

“They’re fighting it,” Nalina said, understanding dawning in her voice. “The neural control - they’re trying to break free.”

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