The Game We Play (2)

The rhythmic hum of the holo-table filled the dimly lit room as Vos reviewed the latest updates. Her golden eyes flickered across maps of Xerxes and its surrounding sectors, cross-referencing every report, sighting, and transmission.

Whoever her pursuer was, they were good—better than most. But no one hunted Neyra Vos without consequences.

"They're confident," she muttered, leaning back in her chair. "Too confident."

Her telepathic senses had failed to pierce their mental defenses, and her informants were chasing ghosts. That told her one thing: this hunter was no ordinary fool.

With a flick of her wrist, Vos activated a series of decoys. Holographic transmitters hidden across the neutral zone projected false signatures, mimicking her movements. If this hunter wanted to play games, she'd play too—on her terms.

…..

Lucas strolled casually through the crowded marketplace, blending in with the throngs of alien merchants and travelers. He whistled softly, his eyes scanning the environment for any sign of Vos's next move.

His wrist console buzzed, displaying the feed from his drones.

"She's getting creative," he muttered, watching as false heat signatures popped up across the neutral zone.

He smirked. "Nice try, Vos, but you're not the only one who knows how to bait a trap."

Lucas marked the decoys on his map, intentionally falling for the most obvious one. He wanted Vos to think she had the upper hand.

The trap was set.

...

Vos's decoy location—a rundown storage facility near the edge of Xerxes—was rigged with motion sensors, cloaked mines, and automated turrets. It was overkill for most bounty hunters, but Vos wasn't taking chances.

She waited in the shadows of a nearby rooftop, her plasma dagger in hand.

The telltale hum of a stealth drone caught her attention, and a faint smile tugged at her lips. "Got you."

From her vantage point, she watched as a figure approached the facility. Their movements were cautious but purposeful, their silhouette shrouded by a tactical cloak.

Vos's fingers tightened around her dagger.

…..

Lucas stepped into the facility, his boots crunching softly against the gravel floor. The motion sensors activated immediately, sending a silent alert to Vos.

He glanced around, feigning confusion. "Well, this is cozy," he muttered, deliberately speaking aloud.

The room was dark, but Lucas's visor highlighted the hidden mines and turrets in vivid red. He pretended not to notice, stepping carefully around them.

Vos was watching—he could feel it.

"Alright," he said, raising his hands. "I know you're here. Let's talk."

…..

From her rooftop perch, Vos's golden eyes narrowed. The figure below seemed almost… careless.

"Is this a trick?" she whispered to herself.

Her telepathic senses brushed against his mind, but the static was still there, blocking her from reading his thoughts. That only fueled her suspicions.

Vos tapped her wrist console, activating the turrets.

….

The sound of whirring servos filled the air as the turrets locked onto Lucas. He froze, raising his hands higher.

"Whoa, whoa!" he called out, his voice tinged with mock panic. "Easy there!"

He glanced around, deliberately overacting. "Vos, right? Look, I'm not the one hunting you! I think you've got the wrong guy!"

He could almost feel her skepticism.

Lucas grinned inwardly. Let's see how far you'll take this.

…..

Vos hesitated. The figure's panic seemed genuine, but she wasn't convinced.

"Why would a bounty hunter come here if not for me?" she muttered.

Still, something about his demeanor felt… off. He was too calm, even when surrounded by weapons.

Vos tapped into her comms. "Bring me a confirmation on this guy's identity. Now."

….

As Vos's informants scrambled to identify him, Lucas made his next move

"Look," he said, lowering his hands slightly. "I know what this looks like, but I'm not your enemy. There's another hunter after you—a real nasty piece of work. I was just hired to track their movements."

He deliberately dropped a name—a notorious bounty hunter known for targeting high-profile marks.

Vos's hesitation was palpable.

…..

Vos's comms lit up moments later with a warning: another bounty hunter had entered the neutral zone.

She frowned, her golden eyes narrowing. "Could he be telling the truth?"

Her decision was made when her scanner picked up the second hunter's approach—a towering Grelvok, armed to the teeth and known for his ruthlessness.

Vos's attention shifted entirely to the new threat.

The Grelvok entered the area with a heavy, purposeful stride. His cybernetic arm gleamed under the harsh sunlight, and his cold, reptilian eyes scanned the surroundings.

Vos observed him from her rooftop perch, her mind racing. If this Grelvok was after her, then the man in the facility might truly be an innocent bystander.

"I'll deal with him later," she muttered, focusing on the immediate threat.

…..

Lucas watched the Grelvok from the shadows, suppressing a grin.

"Perfect," he whispered, slipping deeper into the facility's maze of crates and corridors.

He activated his stealth module, disappearing from sight as the Grelvok advanced.

"This is where the fun begins."

...

Vos dropped from the rooftop, landing silently behind the Grelvok.

Her plasma dagger hummed to life as she prepared to strike.

"You made a mistake coming here," she said coldly.

The Grelvok turned, his cybernetic arm raising a shield to block her attack.

"I'm not the only one," he growled.

As Vos and the Grelvok clashed, Lucas observed from the shadows, his silver eyes gleaming.

Every movement, every exchange of blows was a piece of the puzzle falling into place. He deliberately let his presence flicker on Vos's scanners, just enough to keep her on edge.

Vos hesitated mid-fight, her gaze darting to the shadows. "Who's there?"

The Grelvok took advantage of her distraction, landing a heavy blow that sent her staggering back.

Lucas chuckled softly, his voice echoing through the facility. "Careful, Vos. You're losing focus."

Vos's golden eyes widened as realization dawned.

"It's you," she whispered.

The Grelvok, confused by her reaction, took a step back. "What are you talking about?"

Lucas stepped out of the shadows, his visor reflecting the faint glow of Vos's dagger.

"Sorry, big guy," he said, addressing the Grelvok. "You were just a pawn in this little game."

The Grelvok growled, raising his weapon, but Lucas was faster. With a precise shot from his plasma pistol, the Grelvok fell to the ground, incapacitated.

Lucas turned to Vos, a cocky grin on his face.

"Now, where were we?"

...

Vos's golden eyes burned with fury as she tightened her grip on her dagger.

"You've got nerve," she spat.

Lucas tilted his head, his silver eyes gleaming. "And you've got a bounty. Let's settle this."