That Woman’s Poison
K isan lay crumpled on the floor of his apartment, his breath coming in shallow gasps.
His body convulsed as his biological systems initiated a reboot, the last-resort fail-safe embedded deep within his meta-enhanced physiology.
He rarely used this process—only when he was desperate—for its impacts were excruciating and costly.
His vision blurred as golden light erupted from his skin, wrapping him in a radiant cocoon.
The glow pulsed in sync with his heart’s rhythm, locking his muscles as the regenerative function began.
The effects of neuro-toxin were lessening, and the impact of the contaminant was reduced by the surge of meta energy coursing through him, but the damage lingered.
Even though Samira had mentioned the poison would flush out in a couple of days, he needed an antidote in hours.
Fokk , he had no intention of remaining this weak for a few more spans.
He’d definitely need a potent neutralizing agent, but that would come later.
Agony rippled through every cell, his body swinging between destruction and renewal.
Kisan’s thoughts churned through the haze of pain.
How could he have let this happen?
The betrayal of the heart stung as much as the physical agony.
Distracted by her beauty, mystery, and crafted vulnerability, he had dropped his guard.
Fury roiled inside him, directed as much as at himself as at her.
‘ Fokk you, Samira,’ he muttered through gritted teeth. ‘If that’s even your name.’
His body shuddered as the final phase of the reboot was completed.
The golden light dimmed and faded, leaving him sweaty and gasping on the cold floor.
With a growl, he tried to push up, his arms trembling under his burly physique. He collapsed again, his fists slamming against the ground in frustration.
He refused to stay down.
Over and over, he forced himself up, his limbs protesting with each attempt.
His muscles ached, his nerves screamed, but he kept going. Rage fueled him, the fury of failure driving him forward.
When he managed to stand, his legs wobbled but held. His aqua eyes burned with fire as he staggered toward the elevator.
The BirdKage was an oasis of calm elegance in the chaos of Eden II.
The restaurant’s design embraced subtle opulence: gilded birdcage structures hung from the ceiling and perched on ornate stands overflowing with verdant shrubs and flowers. The air was perfumed with the scent of blooming flora, mingling with the tantalizing aromas of spices and sizzling meats from the open kitchen.
Muted blush and sage tones adorned the walls, complemented by soft golden lighting that warmed the space.
Kisan’s boots dragged along against the marble floor as he entered.
He steadied himself at the door, eyes scanning even as his imposing figure drew a few curious glances from diners.
He ignored them, searching the intimate booths until he spotted his target.
A solid, towering man in a dark-colored Sable Group suit.
His smoldering, commanding presence was offset by the ease with which he leaned back and sat in a corner, finishing off a T-bone steak and Waldorf Salad.
The man’s long mane of ebony and gold locks whipped around his broad shoulders, his aura dominating the space.
His tanned skin, from his neck to his upper limbs and hands, was covered by gilded and azure nebula-like tattoos. The same iridescent sapphire and silver hues flashed on his beard, squared jaw, and full mustache.
His forehead was a wall unto itself, the dark brows thick and unyielding.
It hid a brilliant mind and keen strategic prowess.
Also, an intuition that was out of this world.
The second Kisan staggered into the establishment, the commanding meta tagged him.
He flicked his flaming irises, ringed with glowing jade flecks, over the Guardian as he lurched to him.
Midway, the Rider’s muscles locked, and he straightened, hiding his malaise. The man before him was the last person he wanted to appear weak in front of.
‘Brother,’ the majestic man intoned, studying him with keenness.
‘Boss Khan ,’ Kisan rasped, lifting his chin, to his leader, a man he had mixed feelings about.
Kainan Sable was the Riders’ badass chief, close confidant, friend, and formidable protector.
Yet the man who’d left Kisan abandoned in the vast loneliness of space, without knowing he was still alive.
What stung was that he’d never come back, believing Kisan and his companion long dead.
Still, they’d exchanged their apologies since and made amends. Nonetheless, an uncertain tension remained, simmering under the surface.
Kainan lifted a brow, his eyes narrowing. ‘You look like hell.’
‘Like he needs tender loving care from a warm-bodied woman.’
The voice owner, seated in a hidden position across from Kainan, leaned forward. Her holo form shimmered, even as a synth-cheroot dangled in her hand. The smoke curled with lazy trails into the air.
‘ Fokk , Mirage, it’s a freakin’ woman who got me in this hot mess in the first place.’
The Sable Group’s sage intelligence took a long drag, the embers of her cigarillo luminous with a glow. ‘Rough night, darling?’
Kisan slid into the booth, his movements stiff. ‘Something like that.’
Kainan set down his fork, his plate forgotten. ‘What happened?’
The emerald-eyed meta hesitated, his jaw tightening. ‘That woman was poison.’
The Rider’s boss arched a brow. ‘Intriguing. Pray to tell.’
With a suck of his teeth, Kisan launched into a brief recounting of the night—Samira’s kiss, the neuro-toxin, her manipulation of his body, and her escape with the mask.
He left out the intimate details, though the bitterness in his tone conveyed enough.
When he finished, Mirage exhaled a plume of smoke, her silver and gold eyes gleaming with intrigue. ‘I’ll admit, I didn’t see this one coming.’
Kainan’s expression darkened, his features sharp with concern. ‘The mask. That’s not something we can let fall into the wrong hands.’
‘Exactly,’ Kisan growled in pure frustration. ‘She knew what it was and where exactly to find it. Appears she wants to exploit it for nefarious purposes—or at least, she’s acquainted with someone who does.’
The Rider’s oracle stubbed out her cheroot and tilted forward, her holo presence sharpening. ‘Let’s get upstairs. I’ll scan the comm unit you snagged and discover more about your femme fatale.’
The boardroom was a stark, high-tech contrast to the BirdKage’s elegance.
Screens lined the walls, their displays glowing with streams of data. Mirage’s projection moved with purpose to the central console, her fingers dancing across the interface as she analyzed Samira’s prize.
Kainan stood at the table, his broad shoulders tense, while Kisan reclined against the wall, still pale and aching from his regeneration.
Moments later, Xion entered, his dark coat billowing as he stepped inside. He glanced at Kisan, his expression neutral but his tone light. ‘So, she played you?’
Kisan bristled, his jaw tightening, but Xion raised a hand. ‘Relax. No judgment. It’s happened to the best of us.’
Kainan smirked. ‘Katya.’
Xion nodded, his inflection dry. ‘ Fokk yeah, let’s not forget that debacle. She had me chasing ghosts across the galaxy for months before I caught her. She ran circles around me, stole from the Riders, and almost got away with it.’
The room fell silent momentarily, the shared understanding of past mistakes easing Kisan’s tension.
He exhaled. ‘The mask isn’t just dangerous—it’s catastrophic in the wrong hands. If she or whoever she’s working with figures out how to weaponize its oscillation-’
‘They could wreak havoc,’ Kainan finished, his tone grim.
‘Not many people know how to pull it apart,’ Kisan added. ‘Its maker, Master Sayeret, is the only one I’m certain would understand.’
Mirage’s holographic form flickered as data cascaded across the central screen. ‘Got it,’ she announced. ‘The comm links to a ship that jumped into hyperspace about an hour ago. Its trajectory leads to the badlands, a far-flung system of the Pegasi IV quadrant, near Orilia XIV.’
Kainan folded his arms, his golden meta eyes narrowing. ‘The Vaelorii home planet. Quiet people. Peaceful on all accounts. If they’re involved, it’s not by choice.’
Kisan straightened, his green eyes glowing. ‘This is on me. I let her get away. I’ll track her, scout the situation, and retrieve the mask.’
‘I’d advise that you scout only,’ Kainan rasped. ‘It’s not wise to go in alone to take on whatever she’s connected to. Call for backup if it gets messy. That said, you make the estimation you see fit.’
‘Grateful,’ Kisan growled with a chin lift.
Xion nodded. ‘We’ll be on standby.’
Mirage smirked. ‘Try not to kiss anyone this time, honey.’
Kisan shot her a glare as he strode toward the door. ‘ Fokk off, all-knowing Oracle.’