The guards shifted, trying to look confident enough to match Director Mercer's tone.
Their boots squeaked on the clean floor. The movement looked rehearsed and too slow. Their confidence was a costume that didn't fit after what they'd just seen outside.
Sera felt her creature stir, pleased and cold. He still thinks numbers are teeth. Let him find out what real teeth can do.
Mercer tried again. "Look. I'm offering you a deal. Your blood saves this region. We stabilize the antigen. We bring civilization back. You walk out of here with everything you want."
Sera turned her head toward him, finally. Her eyes were calm, intent, predatory in the simple way water was predatory. "You already took what you wanted," she replied. "Now you're talking because you don't know what else to do."
Mercer opened his mouth, then closed it. He didn't like being understood by something he considered property.
He lifted his chin. "Then you leave me no choice."
