Page 33 of Salvation for the Alien Mercenary
"Third sample," Jex announced, his mechanical voice echoing in the confined space.
Davis sat shirtless on the examination table, the wound that should have taken weeks to heal reduced to a faint line across his chest overnight. Yesterday, that chest had been a war zone of mangled tissue. Today, the silvery scar looked months old. Beside him, the monitors tracked his vitals with steady, rhythmic beeps.
"This better be the last one," Davis said, watching as his blood filled the collection tube with alarming speed.
Jex transferred the sample to the diagnostic array without comment. The scanner hummed, blue light washing over the fresh sample. Genetic sequences flashed across the screen, moving faster than she could read.
Her fingers twitched, and she had to fight the urge to take control of the interface. Stepping closer, she scanned the display for anything recognizable. The strings of data looked foreign yet strangely familiar, like a game she'd played before but couldn't quite remember.
"Those markers keep appearing," she said, pointing to a recurring sequence. "There, and there."
Jex's helmet swiveled toward her. "Correct. Multiple recurrences."
Davis leaned forward, muscles tensing beneath his skin. "In Basic, please."
Jex magnified a section of genetic code. "Your DNA contains sequences that are not consistent with standard human genetic mapping."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop. The table groaned as Davis shifted position, every muscle in his torso flexing taut beneath healed skin.
"Meaning what?"
"Meaning," Jex replied, “that it looks like the M'Suun weapon's energy signature is triggering a cascading reaction in your genetic structure." His mechanical hands tapped controls, expanding the holographic display. "Specifically, in these sequences."
Her gaze darted to Davis. Though his expression was neutral, his knuckles were white where he gripped the edge of the examination table.
"That's impossible," he said, voice controlled. "I've been through military physicals, genetic screening, the works. Nothing ever flagged."
"It was perhaps inactive until triggered," Jex said, extracting more data from the scanner. "Energy radiation from the M'Suun weapons appears to have functioned as an activation catalyst."
Tension rippled through Davis… through his clenched teeth, a muscle jumping at the corner of his jaw. "So what exactly is being triggered?"
Her datapad chimed. She glanced down, expecting readout data, but it wasn’t. It was a message from Jex.
Physiological analysis: pupil dilation, elevated heart rate, pheromone release, blood flow redistribution. Medical conclusion: subject is experiencing sexual arousal. Specifically directed toward you.
Heat flared across her face, and she glanced up at Jex, who continued his analysis as though nothing had happened. She shoved the datapad against her chest, screen hidden.
"What?" Davis's eyes narrowed. He looked between them, eyes narrowing.
"Nothing," she blurted. "Just comparing some readings."
"I should note, I am still not fully versed in all species classifications in this universe," the former cyborg said, helmet tilting. "In my universe of origin, I would classify this as an Ophiuchian-style secondary puberty."
The tension in the room shifted, and Davis's attention snapped back to Jex. "A what?"
"Our enemy, the Ophiuchian, appeared outwardly human," Jex explained. "Some experienced a secondary development phase in their late twenties. Increased muscle mass, enhanced strength, accelerated healing."
Davis barked a short laugh. "Are you suggesting I'm not human? And that I’m not even from this universe?”
"No. I am merely noting similarities."
"I'm human," Davis bit out, sliding off the examination bed in one fluid motion. "Not Lathar, and definitely not some inhuman dude from where you’re from.”
He rolled his shoulders back, the movement radiating controlled fury.
"Nobody's saying you're not human," she said, stepping closer to him. "But whatever's happening..."
"Is fucking weird, I get it.” He rubbed a hand across his jaw. "So what now? More tests until I'm a walking pincushion?"
