Meanwhile, a sleek, armored vehicle sped through the neon-lit streets of the Hive City, flanked by a convoy of Nexum military escorts.
Inside, the Supreme Commander sat with his arms crossed; his expression was a mix of irritation and cold calculation. Beside him, the little girl's mother, a woman whose beauty was matched only by her ruthlessness, glared at him, her face still red from the slap he'd delivered moments ago.
"You had one job," she hissed, her voice trembling with barely contained rage. "One job! And you couldn't even do that. How could you let that bastard escape with her?!"
The Commander's eyes narrowed, his voice becoming low and dangerous. "Don't you dare blame me, you useless woman. You had months to poison her. Months! And yet, here we are, cleaning up your mess."
She recoiled slightly, her hand instinctively touching her cheek where he'd struck her. "But what about that man? What if he helps her? What if they come after us?"
