Quill's PoV:

I shuffle down the endless hallway, my footsteps echoing off the metallic walls. Door after door blurs past, their numbers ticking up like a relentless countdown. 10759... 10760... 10761...

My mind threatens to spiral into madness, but I cling to those increasing digits like a lifeline. I'm searching for 10792, and nothing else matters.

As I inch forward, I extend my senses, probing the other inhabitants behind these identical doors. Most are humanoid - Type 7s, as they're called here. Familiar enough to be comforting, yet alien in subtle ways that set my teeth on edge.

A flash of movement catches my eye. I do a double-take as a Type 4 invertebrate slithers past. Its boneless form undulates in ways that defy my understanding of anatomy. I study it for an extra heartbeat before forcing myself onward.

Three weeks. That's how long I've been trapped in this technological hellscape. Three weeks of observing, learning, blending in. But I'm done playing the meek newcomer. I've absorbed enough about this world to start making my move.

My fingers trace the cool metal of door 10792, feeling the subtle imperfections in its surface. Then I knock, three sharp raps that echo in the sterile corridor.

I hear a young girl's voice call out from behind the door. "Coming!"

The door slides open with a soft hiss, revealing a small figure standing before me. Her tiny frame is dwarfed by the doorway, and her shoulder-length black hair frames a face that seems too young for this place. At first glance, her body appears healthy and natural, lacking the obvious enhancements so popular in this world.

But that is only if you ignore what's inside the skin. Beneath that seemingly untouched exterior lies a terrible spectacle of high-tech modifications, disguised to appear as natural as possible. The sheer sophistication of the concealment speaks volumes about the life this child has endured to reach her current state.

"Mr. Quill, to whom do I owe the pleasure?" she asks politely.

"Got something to ask you Eve," I say, my voice low and even.

She looks at me curiously, her green eyes shining in the dim light of the hologram projector. "If it's about Lala, I'm sorry but can't do," she says as a matter of fact. "If I share any more secrets, I might really be strangled in my sleep." She adds the last part with a flash of fear passing through her delicate features.

I shake my head, trying to reassure her. "It's not," I add quickly. Eve seems surprised at first but then she just gestures for me to follow her. The metalic door closes behind me with a thud, sealing us inside an extremely simple room. One bed, a single hologram projector in the center, a small table. No decorations, nothing. The absolute minimum required to live.

I take a seat at the table, crossing my legs as I look around the room curiously. Eve sits across from me, her hands folded neatly in her lap as she waits for me to speak again.

"So what did you want to talk about?" she asks softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

I lean forward, my gaze locked on Eve's face as I speak. "I'm looking for someone," I say, my voice steady.

Eve's lips curl into a playful smirk. "Aren't we all?" she jokes, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

I take a deep breath, steeling myself for what comes next. "Someone that could build me a self-contained microchannel thermomodulated array," I add, the words flowing from my mouth with practiced ease. I've rehearsed this phrase more times than I care to admit, but it's worth it to see Eve's reaction. "It would be great if they are also versed in genome editing and alternative splicing with expertise in ncRNA metabolic processes and post-transcriptional regulation."

As soon as the words leave my lips, Eve's demeanor shifts dramatically. The cute, innocent facade melts away, replaced by something far more dangerous. Her green eyes narrow, focusing on me with predatory intensity. Her posture straightens, and I can almost feel the energy radiating off her small frame.

Gone is the vulnerable child I first encountered. In her place sits a cunning hunter, sizing up her prey. The transformation is so complete, so jarring, that catches me slightly off guard.

Eve leans forward, her voice low and measured. "Now that," she purrs, "is an interesting request, Mr. Quill. Very interesting indeed."

I clear my throat, leaning forward slightly. "I'm not done," I say, my voice low and measured. "They also need to be someone with little to no ties with Lysium." I pause, letting the word hang in the air "Basically someone no one would miss if they were to just disappear one day," I add, my gaze steady on her face.

Eve looks at me with a serious expression, her earlier playfulness completely gone. She nods once, her movement crisp and efficient. "No problem," she says, picking up her pad. Her fingers dance across the screen for a few seconds before she sets it down again. "There are 26 such individuals that I can recommend and 500 or more I can't."

Her words hit me like a hammer. I struggle to keep my face neutral, but inside, I'm reeling. I had thought someone with that kind of expertise would be incredibly rare, but it seems they're practically commonplace in this world.

Trying to hide my surprise, I reach into my pocket and pull out a bunch of small objects. I place them carefully on the table between us.

There, gleaming in the dim light of Eve's room, sit ten small glass vials. Each one contains a single melon seed, perfectly preserved and seemingly ordinary. Eve's gaze drops to the vials, her brow furrowing in confusion.

"What's this?" she asks, her voice tinged with curiosity and a hint of suspicion.

"Pick up 10 people you think would fit best my requirements," I say, gesturing to the glass vials. "Give one of these to each. Tell them that if they want more, come and find me."

I watch as Eve pockets the vials, her movements quick and precise. A flicker of curiosity passes through her eyes, but she doesn't ask any more questions about their contents.

Eve nods, her expression serious. "Consider it done," she replies, her voice calm and professional.

"As for the payment-" I begin, but Eve cuts me off before I can finish.

"Don't worry about that," she interrupts, waving her hand dismissively. A mischievous glint appears in her eyes as she continues, "Let's consider this getting even for disclosing your daughter's secrets without her permission."

I blink, taken aback by her sudden shift in demeanor. The dangerous, cunning hunter I saw moments ago has vanished, replaced once again by the seemingly innocent girl I first encountered. It's a jarring transformation, and I find myself marveling at her ability to switch personas so effortlessly.

Now I start to understand why Lala likes her so much; they are basically two beans in the same pod.

*******************

Outskirts of Ebber's Ridge, radiation zone Alpha Delta Nine

Issabele Rieson's PoV:

Darkness, absolute silence. High above, the occasional passing ship illuminates the surroundings.

Dead shrubbery, mutated plants moving in unnatural ways. A pack of small silhouettes makes their way through the dead landscape, stopping only to sniff the air once in a while.

Six limbs, with two large tails helping them balance through the gorges and pits covering the area. Scaly exterior, with an elongated snake-like head.

Suddenly the pack stops. A few small snarls and they all change direction, looking in the distance towards a figure standing alone in the darkness.

Dinner! As the thought flashes through their mind, they rush forward, their limbs leaving trails of dust in their wake.

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I grip the handle of my cane tightly, my knuckles turning white. The pack of creatures is advancing rapidly, their snarls echoing through the desolate landscape. I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart.

In this barren, radiation-soaked wasteland, I am completely alone. No backup, no escape route. Me and these... things.

Just the way I like it!

The creatures, skinks as they are called, are closing in, their bodies low to the ground, tails swishing back and forth. I can see their eyes glinting in the darkness, hungry and predatory.

I ignore them, leaving my back completely exposed. The skinks' footfalls grow louder, their excited snarls sending chills down my spine. But I remain still, my body tense, ready to spring into action at the perfect moment.

Suddenly, a mechanical whir fills the air. Brilliant lights explode around us, momentarily blinding them. I hear the skinks yelp in surprise and confusion. A massive dome-shaped shield materializes, enclosing the area in an impenetrable barrier. We're all trapped now - me and these predators.

For a heartbeat, the skinks freeze, their primitive brains trying to process this new development. But then their gazes lock onto me once more. I can almost see the thoughts racing through their minds: easy prey, old and weak, trapped with nowhere to run.

They charge as one, a coordinated pack of death racing towards me. Their claws tear into the ground, kicking up dust and debris. The stench of their rotting breath grows stronger with each passing second.

I wait, my muscles coiled tight, my grip on the cane white-knuckled. Closer... closer... I can see the bloodlust in their eyes now, the saliva dripping from their razor-sharp teeth. The putrid smell of decay washes over me, nearly making me gag.

Now!

I finally make my move. In one fluid motion, I spin around, my cane whipping through the air. It connects with the lead skink's jaw with a satisfying crack.

I dodge to the left, allowing one of the skinks to miss me by just a few inches. Its scaly body brushes past, so close I can feel the heat radiating off its mutated flesh.

My cane splits in four with a satisfying click, revealing the head of a miniaturized plasma cannon inside. My mouth turns into a grin as I point the cannon at the closest skink and pull the trigger.

A superheated plasma shot fires forwards, passing through the skink's body almost unhinged. Green blood and guts spill onto the dusty ground, sizzling where they land. The acrid smell of burnt flesh fills the air.

The others, seeing one of their own being blasted to bits, do not retreat. Instead, three attack me together, their eyes gleaming with murderous intent. At the same time, two disregard me completely and go for the easy meal, their fallen comrade.

"Don't you dare touch my prey!" I scream, my voice attracting their attention long enough to blast one more to pieces.

Four skinks remain, their eyes gleaming with hunger and rage. They've learned quickly, realizing that as long as I'm standing, they won't get to feast.

With a series of high-pitched snarls, they coordinate their attack. My finger tightens on the trigger, but they're too fast, too smart. They move in a zigzag pattern, their bodies low to the ground, making themselves impossible targets. My shots sizzle harmlessly into the dust.

Before I can adjust my aim, one of them reaches me. Its jaws clamp down on my left leg with bone-crushing force. I feel its teeth grinding against my skin, seeking purchase. Venom floods from its glands, eager to paralyze its prey.

But I'm not the easy meal it was expecting.

A metallic screech fills the air as its teeth scrape against something far harder than bone. The skink's eyes widen in surprise, its jaw working furiously as it tries to penetrate my leg.

I can't help but grin down at the creature. "Sorry, you see, I'm quite a hard hag," I quip.

With a thought, I activate one of my many hidden modifications. A blade suddenly emerges from my leg, right where the skink's teeth are clamped down. The razor-sharp metal pierces straight through its skull, entering one eye socket and coming out through the other.

The skink's body goes rigid, then limp. Its jaws slacken, and it slides off my leg, dead before it hits the ground.

I brace myself as the skink on the left leaps towards my head, its jaws gaping wide. My left arm splits in half, a small machine gun popping out with a metallic whir. Instinct takes over as I squeeze the trigger, sending a rapid barrage of kinetic rounds tearing into the creature's body.

The skink's momentum carries it forward, but the hail of bullets shreds its scaly hide. Green blood and viscera spray in all directions as the rounds tear it apart. The lifeless body slams into me, knocking me off balance for a moment before I shove it away.

My infrared vision paints the area in shades of red and orange, the internal alarms blaring incessantly. I turn my attention to the other skink, which has slowed its advance in response to my suppressive fire.

I pivot on my heel, the machine gun tracking the creature's movements. More rounds rip into its flank, eliciting a shrill screech of pain. It tries to retreat, but I refuse to let up the pressure. The sustained fire eventually overwhelms the skink, and it collapses to the ground, twitching and gurgling.

With the immediate threat neutralized, I take a moment to assess the situation. My internal systems are running diagnostics, cataloging the damage I've sustained. My left leg bears the telltale signs of the skink's venom, but the augmented limb has already begun the process of purging the toxin.

My fingers tighten around the machine gun, ready to unleash another barrage at the first sign of movement. The alarms have finally subsided, but the lingering adrenaline keeps me on high alert. I can't afford to let my guard down, not in this place.

I scan the area, my augmented eyes searching for any sign of movement. The last skink has vanished, blending seamlessly into the darkness. The pulsating shield above flickers and dies, its energy depleted.

"Damn it!" I curse, frustrated at the missed opportunity. Still, four out of five isn't bad. I'll take what I can get.

I make my way towards the nearest corpse, my cane reverting to its original shape with a series of soft clicks. From my left pocket, I pull out an augmented laser knife. The blade hums to life, casting an eerie blue glow over the mutated creature's remains.

Kneeling beside the skink, I begin my grisly work. First, I carefully cut into its elongated skull, exposing the brain. Despite its primitive nature, the organ is a valuable commodity in certain circles. I extract it with practiced precision, placing it in a containment unit at my hip.

Next, I move to the chest cavity. The heart, still warm, pulsates weakly as I remove it. Another prized possession for those in the know. The central core, a unique organ developed by these mutated creatures, comes next. It's this that allows them to survive in such harsh, radiation-soaked environments.

Finally, I locate the testicles. They're small and hard to find, but their hormonal properties make them worth the effort. As I work, I can't help but marvel at the adaptations these creatures have developed. In another life, I might have studied them purely out of scientific curiosity.

But this isn't that life. Here, in the wastelands of Ebber's Ridge, everything is a resource to be exploited. Even the corpses of mutant predators. My mind races with calculations, estimating the potential profit from this haul. It's been a good night, despite the close calls.

Suddenly, my internal alarms blare to life, jolting me from my concentration. But it's too late.

From underground, the remaining skink erupts in a shower of dirt and debris. Its fangs are already closing in on my neck before I can fully process what's happening.

I know it's too late to dodge, but the surge of adrenaline coursing through my augmented body forces me to attempt it anyway. I stumble backwards, but the skink's teeth still graze my neck - one of the few parts of my body that remains flesh and bone.

The venom works quickly, racing through my nervous system. I feel my limbs growing heavy, my reactions slowing. Panic rises in my chest as I realize I'm becoming incapacitated.

'This is bad,' I think, my mind already preparing to bail out, to activate my last-resort protocols.

The creature, sensing that I'm no longer a threat, backs away slightly. It starts circling my slumped form, snarling menacingly. Its eyes gleam with predatory satisfaction as it takes a few laps around me, savoring its impending victory.

I watch helplessly as the skink leaps, its fangs aimed directly at my head. Time seems to slow as I stare death in the face, unable to move.

'Bang'

A deafening shot pierces the night. The creature explodes mid-air, showering me with blood and guts. The stench is overwhelming, coating my entire body in a gruesome layer of viscera.

Through blurry vision, I spot a small silhouette in the distance. A figure cloaked in darkness approaches, a massive gauss rifle slung over their shoulder.

As they draw near, I hear a sweet, familiar voice. "Looks like you owe me one."

Despite my predicament, irritation flares within me. "I had everything under control!" I snap, my voice hoarse and weak.

"Of course you did," the young girl replies, amusement clear in her tone. She pauses for a moment before adding, "mom."

The word triggers something in my augmented systems. Suddenly, my body kicks into overdrive, purging the toxins at an accelerated rate. By the time my rescuer reaches me, I'm already struggling to my feet, though my movements are still sluggish.

I shake my head, trying to clear the last of the fog from my mind. "Eve," I growl, "what are you doing out here? It's dangerous!"

She laughs, the sound incongruously light in this grim setting. "Saving your augmented behind, apparently."

I stare at Eve, a mix of gratitude and frustration warring inside me. Before I can say anything more, a chorus of snarls echoes through the night. My augmented hearing picks up the sound clearly, and I can tell it's coming from multiple directions.

"We've got company."

Eve's face hardens, her earlier playfulness vanishing in an instant. She raises her gauss rifle, peering through the scope. "I count at least twenty, maybe thirty," she reports, her voice tense. "They're closing in fast."

I snap my fingers, and suddenly the air around us shimmers. Two massive drones materialize, their cloaking devices deactivating with a faint hum. The pulse engines roar to life, drowning out the snarls of our approaching enemies.

Each drone bristles with four point defense laser arrays, their auto-tracking systems engaging instantly. Before I can even blink, the night erupts into a dazzling display of light and sound.

Laser beams slice through the darkness, finding their targets with unerring precision. The incoming creatures don't stand a chance. In less than three seconds, it's all over. The air is filled with the acrid smell of ozone and burnt flesh.

Eve shakes her head, her expression a mix of exasperation and amusement. "You still like to dirty your hands, I see," she says, sounding a bit annoyed.

I can't help but grin. "Eh, gotta get the oil pumping," I reply, flexing my augmented fingers. The adrenaline is still coursing through my system, making me feel more alive than I have in weeks. "So... What brings you to AD9 anyway?" I ask, genuinely curious about her presence in this godforsaken place.

Eve's expression shifts, becoming more serious. "An offer," she says simply, reaching into her pocket. She pulls out a small vial, holding it up for me to see. Inside, I can make out a single, unfamiliar seed.

"Color me intrigued," I murmur.