Sarah watched Jake's silver blade disappear, her own expression remaining neutral. As someone skilled in killing, she knew his arsenal extended far beyond a single card.
The real threat wasn't Jake's visible weapon, but the consequences Sarah had outlined if he were to eliminate her. After a brief moment of consideration, Jake withdrew.
Sarah allowed herself a small smile. "The next ship leaving here is in two days. I'll request that the supervisor assign you to it."
"Learning from Inspector Vega is a rare opportunity for me," Sarah continued, her voice steady. "I won't be leaving anytime soon, so I won't be in your way. Thank you for the citizen ID. It's been a pleasure working with you."
Jake didn't respond, his face cold as he turned and vanished from Sarah's sight.
Sarah exhaled softly. The most immediate threat to her life had passed, but she knew better than to relax completely.
Eager to remove this ticking time bomb, Sarah sought out the supervisor. The man, responsible for personnel matters, readily agreed to her request. Sarah's rising star status as Inspector Vega's protégé made her a force to be reckoned with.
"When do you plan to return to the city for some rest?" the supervisor asked casually.
"The trip after next," Sarah replied.
She had no intention of leaving with Jake, and besides Inspector Vega, she wasn't keen on encountering any other Mirrorclear nanoengineers. While Vega needed her, others might see her as a threat or an anomaly.
As Sarah left the supervisor's office, her mind raced. She'd bought herself some time, but she knew the game was far from over. The fragile order she'd established in the Black Port and her precarious position in Mirrorclear were constantly at risk of crumbling.
With renewed determination, Sarah headed back to her quarters. She had work to do if she wanted to stay ahead in this dangerous dance.