Chapter 10 - The Ultimate Showdown
Arthur Sterling blinked in mild surprise, quickly recovering his suave, corporate facade as he turned his attention to the young recruit.
"Ah, Miss Henderson," Sterling purred, adjusting his cuffs. "I’m glad you have a practical head on your shoulders. You saw what happened on this base. People tried to sabotage you, commanders tried to humiliate you. Why stay in an institution that breeds so much insecurity when you could work for an elite syndicate that values pure merit?"
Chloe tilted her head slightly, studying Sterling the exact same way she studied a complex wind-vector formula through her scope.
"You talk about merit, Mr. Sterling," Chloe said, her voice steady and clear. "Yet your company relies on sabotage, underhanded recruitment tactics, and intimidation to poach talent you're too incompetent to train yourselves. You didn't come here because you value skill. You came here because you're terrified that a nineteen-year-old recruit exposed how hollow your expensive technology really is."
Sterling’s polished demeanor slipped for a fraction of a second, a tight, angry line forming around his mouth. "You're making a catastrophic mistake, young lady. Refusing our offer means making powerful enemies who operate outside the bounds of military regulation."
"Is that a threat?" I stepped forward, my fists clenching at my sides, ready to physically throw him off the base.
Sterling raised his hands defensively, offering a chilling, venomous smile. "Not a threat, Master Chief. Merely a market prediction. Talent like hers doesn't survive long in a vacuum without corporate protection. We’ll be seeing you again very soon."
With that, Sterling turned on his heel, climbed back into the black armored SUV, and sped away down the desert highway, leaving a choking cloud of dust in his wake.
May you like
I looked over at Chloe, letting out a slow, relieved breath. "You handled him well, kid. But he’s right about one thing: Apex doesn't give up easily."
"Let them try," Chloe said quietly, looking out toward the vast, sun-drenched horizon of the Coyote Mountains where she had proven her worth just a week prior. "Math doesn't lie, and neither do I. If they want a challenge, I’ll be right here."
