I said as I took out the serum and waved It In the air.
Her eyes gleamed with curiosity.
"A sample?"
"Better,"
I said, sitting up straight.
"I've got the formula for the biochemical serum they were developing on that ship. The one that turned half the crew into mindless berserkers."
The manager's expression flickered with surprise, then with a mix of skepticism and excitement.
She knew what I was offering wasn't just some small-time find.
"You're telling me you got your hands on the serum formula that turns soldiers Into psycho serial killers?"
"Not just the serum,"
I continued.
"The entire process, from development to how it went wrong. And, for an extra trillion credits, it's the property of whatever rich f*ck that posted the mission ."
Her face darkened, her initial excitement turning to annoyance.
"A trillion credits are you out of you're f*cking mind? This wasnt part of you're mission description, the terms state that anything you find on that ship belongs to you're employer"
I scoffed, my patience wearing thin.
"Do you know how close we came to dying out there? My battlebrothers are still in regen tanks after we nearly bled and froze to death while ploughing our way through the damned tin cans and in space! I think we're more than justified asking for more considering the stakes. And let's not kid ourselves. We both know it's one of the mega-corps that posted the mission. They can spare a trillion."
She stared at me for a long moment, her face a mask of Irritation.
But I could see her wheels turning. She knew I was right.
The information and sample I had wasn't just valuable, it was priceless to the right people.
"You better be damn sure this formula is worth it,"
She snapped.
I grinned, knowing I had her hooked.
"To prove it's worth every credit, I'm sending you the live footage from our helmets. You'll see what we dealt with. Watch it, and you'll understand."
I tapped a few keys, sending the data package to her.
The holographic feed flickered as the file transferred, and the manager leaned forward, her eyes narrowing as she watched the video unfold.
For a few minutes, there was nothing but silence as she absorbed what we'd been through.
The frantic firefights, the relentless droids, the sight of us injecting the combat stims and the serum before cutting our way through wave after wave of droids.
The raw violence of it all.
When the video ended, she looked up at me, her face rather shocked at our display of combat effectiveness.
"Well, I can't say I expected that."
"Now you understand why I'm asking for a trillion more. That serum is no joke. Anyone with this formula could build an army of soldiers capable of fighting past their limits, with no fear, no pain. The only reason we survived is because of the serums, and even then, it almost killed us."
She let out a long breath, leaning back in her chair, clearly weighing her options.
"I'll have to make a call first,"
She said finally.
"This isn't something I can approve on my own without the clients approval. But… I'll see what I can do. Give me some time."
I nodded.
"Take your time. Just remember to mention to the corporate f*ck that, this kind of tech doesn't wait around forever. Other people might start getting curious about what we found."
Her lips twisted into a small, humorless smile.
"Don't worry, Iron Fenrir. I know how this game works. I'll be in touch."
With that, the call ended, and I was left staring at the now-empty console, the weight of the conversation lingering in the air.
Leaning back in my chair, I let out a long breath and closed my eyes for a moment.
I replayed the entire mission in my head, from the moment we parked next to that forsaken asteroid to the frantic dash through the corridors of that alien ship.
The serum had saved our lives, but it had come at a cost.
We needed more than just luck next time. We needed to upgrade, our gear, our ship, and ourselves again.
This way of life would only gett more dangerous, and if we wanted to survive, we had to be ready for anything.
The console pinged again, pulling me from my thoughts.
The manager's face flickered back onto the screen, her expression unreadable.
"It's a deal,"
She said flatly.
"But I want a 30 percent cut"
Hearing this I smiled.
"Sure take you're cut and transfer the rest, and I'll send the full formula your way and deliver the sample once I'm back"
She nodded curtly.
"You'll have your credits by the end of the day. But be careful, Von Death. This kind of stunt well let's just say you're employer wasn't all that frilled about It, and I can only do so much to keep you're ass safe, like I said what happens in space stays In space"
I let out a low chuckle at the managers double meaning.
"I'll keep that In mind"
The call ended once more, and I sat back, staring at the ceiling of my quarters.
We'd survived, but this was just the beginning.
The galaxy was vast, and there were bigger players out there.
The stakes were only going to get higher, but that was fine.
I had never backed down from a fight, and I wasnt about to start now.
The funds would give us the edge we needed.
New tech, new gear, new augments, whatever came next, we'd be ready.
...
3 days later 2201.09.28.
I stood in my quarters, the quiet hum of Invicta surrounding me as I ran a towel through my hair, drying off after a much-needed shower.
It was hard to believe that already more than a year had passed since I and my schmucks woke up and became space mercs.
With most of the time being spent In hyper space and space travel from and back to the citadel which was already like a second home.
As I tossed the towel aside, my holo-phone pinged, lighting up the room with myriad of colors.
I glanced at the screen and saw Seargent Carris's name flash across the display. I swiped the call to answer.
"Von Death here."
"Your men are awake,"
Carris's gruff voice came through.
"Thought you'd want to know."
A smile tugged at the corner of my lips.
"Finally. I'll be over in fifteen."
"See you there."
The call ended, and I tossed the phone onto the bed.
My smile widened as I looked around the room. I had been waiting for this moment. My battle brothers had been out cold for days, and now they were back on their feet, or at least, ready to be.
I tied my hair Into a small disciplined bun while slipping into a pair of beach-patterned boxers, the bright tropical print standing out in the muted lighting of the ship.
I followed up with a pair of slippers, comfortable for a casual stroll down to the medbay, then grabbed a loose, short-sleeved T-shirt with an unbuttoned chest part through which my dog tags were displayed proudly for all to see.
After slipping it on, I picked up the duffle bag I'd prepped earlier and slung it over my shoulder.
A quick check in the mirror, followed by my black sunglasses, and I was ready.
With a smirk, I stepped out of my quarters, moving down the corridors of Invicta. The ship was quiet, but that was fine, today was about celebrating survival and starting fresh again.
...
Fifteen minutes later, I strolled into the medical bay of the starport, my sunglasses still in place, the duffle bag slung over my shoulder.
As I entered the waiting room, the sight of my brothers brought a sense of relief that I hadn't realized I needed.