Not long after, Madeline returned, tossing two small devices in Vas's direction. "Scan those with your communicator," she said with a hint of pride in her voice, "and all the information you stole from Sigdra will be transferred over to you. The second one contains the coordinates for Kadmon's mission."

Vas raised an eyebrow, catching the devices midair. "Isn't Kadmon in the middle of a mission at that location right now?" he asked, frowning as he recalled the ongoing operation.

"Not anymore," Madeline responded smoothly, crossing her arms. "Remember the guy I told you about?"

"Yeah, I do," Vas said. "So what?"

"Well, he just sent me this update. Apparently, something went wrong—bad enough that Kadmon is pulling out for now. They'll be back tomorrow." She shrugged casually, but the tension in her voice betrayed her concern.

"That's... odd," Vas muttered, his eyes narrowing as he considered the implications. "Did he say anything else?"

"Just that if you can manage to do something big enough to keep Kadmon from having to come back, he'd be really grateful. Seems like that place scares the hell out of him," Madeline replied, her voice laced with intrigue. "He didn't go into details, though. Typical."

Vas mulled it over for a moment before replying, "I'll figure it out when I get there. But for now, I'm heading out—I'll check this data when I'm back at my place."

Madeline's voice sharpened, and she leveled a stern gaze at him. "Not so fast, young man." She pointed a finger towards him, beckoning him with a commanding gesture. "Come here."

Sighing inwardly, Vas followed her to a nearby room. The door creaked open, revealing a strange space with a large, sleek bed in the center, surrounded by panels and wires that gave the impression of medical equipment—or something more advanced.

"Sit," Madeline ordered, her tone leaving no room for argument. "After you told us about the Forgotten, I had this room built. It'll close up your wounds, but the bruises will remain. And before you even think of thanking me, I'm adding this to your debt. This thing wasn't cheap."

Vas groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Of course you are," he muttered under his breath, stepping toward the bed and sitting down. The faint hum of the machinery filled the room as it powered up, the panels lighting up in soft blues and greens.

If things kept going like this, he wasn't sure he'd ever finish paying Madeline back—not in this lifetime, at least.

Vas lay back on the sleek bed as the soft hum of the machine enveloped him. Blue and green lights danced along the walls, tracing symbols and patterns he didn't fully understand. The bed's surface adjusted to his form, cool and firm, as tiny needles painlessly penetrated his skin, emitting waves of warmth. His wounds tingled, the stinging pain fading as the device worked its magic, knitting torn flesh back together.

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"You'll feel tired for a bit after this, but nothing you can't handle," Madeline said, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, her sharp gaze watching him.

Vas winced as the machine honed in on a particularly deep cut. "Tired, huh? I'm already half-dead."

Madeline smirked. "You've been through worse."

"Not sure about that," he muttered, watching the machine slowly finish its process. Despite the bruises still marring his skin, the deeper injuries had sealed, leaving only faint, fresh scars. He tested his limbs, rolling his shoulder and flexing his hands. It wasn't a perfect fix, but it would keep him alive for now.

The bed beeped softly, and Madeline straightened. "You're done."

Vas sat up, still feeling the lingering ache, but he couldn't deny that he felt better. "I'll still owe you for this, huh?"

Madeline gave him a mockingly sweet smile. "Oh, you'll owe me for much more than this. But I'm keeping track."

"Of course you are," he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as he stood. "I'll be heading back to the Hek mansion now. I need to go over the data and get some rest."

Madeline tossed him a bottle of water as he moved toward the door. "Drink. And try not to get yourself killed before you pay me off."

Vas smirked, catching the bottle. "No promises."

The night outside was cool, the city alive with the distant hum of traffic and the occasional flicker of holographic advertisements. Vas moved swiftly through the streets, the weight of the device still in his hand, its importance growing in his mind. Whatever he had pulled from Sigdra held more significance than he had first realized. And now, Kadmon's strange retreat added another layer of mystery to the unfolding events.

As Vas approached the Hek mansion, the towering structure loomed in the distance, its dark silhouette framed by the eerie glow of the city lights. The mansion was a fortress of secrets, guarded by walls of technology and layers of influence. Vas had always felt a certain unease whenever he returned, the weight of his family's power pressing down on him.

The gates opened automatically as he approached, the guards nodding in acknowledgment as he passed. Vas made his way through the courtyard, the familiar crunch of gravel under his boots bringing a strange sense of calm. He reached the entrance, the massive doors creaking open, revealing the dimly lit halls of the mansion.

As he stepped inside, he paused for a moment, taking in the quiet. It was late, and most of the household was likely asleep. Vas moved silently through the corridors, his mind racing with thoughts of the device and whatever Kadmon had encountered.

Reaching his room, he locked the door behind him and tossed the small device onto his desk. He sat down heavily in the chair, finally allowing himself a moment to relax. His muscles still ached, and the bruises throbbed beneath his skin, but at least he was safe. For now.

The first thing Vas did upon returning to the Hek mansion was activate his communicator. A soft hum filled the air as the device projected a shimmering, translucent holographic screen in front of him. The data from Sigdra's archives began to trickle in, rows of text and diagrams scrolling across the screen. He worked his way through the standard corporate reports—financial statements, project summaries, philanthropic activities. Everything looked routine, painting a picture of Sigdra as a stable, successful enterprise. But Vas knew that wasn't what he was looking for.