Chapter 13: The Tainted Supplements
The room buzzed with low conversations and the hum of machinery as Nova stepped into the back office of a dingy warehouse. The air was thick with the smell of chemicals and sweat, a stark reminder of the illicit operations taking place within these walls. She adjusted her baseball cap, pulling it lower to obscure her face. She was here on a mission, and she needed to play her part perfectly.
---
Nova's heart raced as she approached the main desk where a burly man with a shaved head and tattoos covering his arms was going through a stack of papers. This was Marco, one of Homer’s key suppliers. He was known for his ruthlessness and sharp eye for new talent or in this case, new suppliers.
“Can I help you?” Marco's voice was gruff, his eyes not lifting from the documents in front of him.
Nova cleared her throat, adopting a confident tone.
“I’m here to talk business. I’ve got a new line of supplements that might interest you.”
Marco finally looked up, his gaze piercing. He sized her up quickly, suspicion evident in his eyes.
“And who might you be?”
---
Nova straightened her shoulders.
“Name’s Alex. I represent a new player in the market looking to make some lucrative deals. I hear you’re the man to talk to when it comes to enhancing fighters’ performances.”
Marco leaned back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips.
“Is that so? What makes you think your stuff is better than what I’ve already got?”
Nova pulled a small vial from her pocket, placing it on the desk with a confident flourish.
“This here is the latest formula. Better absorption, faster results, and minimal detection. I can guarantee it’ll give your fighters the edge they need.”
Marco picked up the vial, examining it closely.
“You got any proof to back up these claims?”
Nova nodded, producing a forged lab report that Luke had painstakingly created.
“Right here. We’ve tested it on a range of athletes. The results speak for themselves.”
---
Marco skimmed the report, his expression thoughtful.
“Alright, Alex. Let’s say I’m interested. What’s the catch?”
Nova smiled, her eyes hardening slightly.
“No catch. Just good business. But you have to act fast. My supplier doesn’t hold onto stock for long. High demand, you know.”
Marco considered her words for a moment before nodding.
“Fine. Let’s see what you’ve got. But if you’re trying to play me, you’ll regret it.”
“Fair enough,” Nova replied, keeping her tone steady.
“I’ll set up a demonstration. Your fighters, our supplements. Deal?”
---
Marco extended his hand, and Nova shook it, sealing the agreement. “Deal. Come back tomorrow. We’ll see if your product is as good as you say.”
As Nova left the warehouse, her mind raced with the details of their plan. She and Luke had been gathering evidence on the tainted supplements being used to fix fights. This was their chance to expose a critical part of Homer’s operation.
That night, Nova and Luke went over their strategy in their apartment. Luke was busy setting up hidden cameras and microphones in the equipment they’d use for the demonstration.
---
“You sure you’re ready for this?” Luke asked, glancing up from his work. “This guy Marco seems like bad news.”
Nova nodded, determination in her eyes. “We’ve come too far to back out now. This is our best shot at getting solid evidence. Just be ready to record everything.”
Luke smiled, his confidence in Nova unwavering. “I’ve got your back, Nova. We’ll get what we need.”
---
The next day, Nova returned to the warehouse, carrying a bag filled with their “supplements” and the hidden recording devices. Marco was waiting, flanked by two of his thugs.
“Ready to impress me?” Marco asked, his tone skeptical.
“Always,” Nova replied with a confident smile. She set up the equipment, making sure the hidden cameras had a clear view of the area.
The fighters filed in, looking eager and restless. Marco introduced them briefly, and Nova handed out the vials, watching as the fighters consumed the supplements. The recording devices captured everything.
---
As the fighters began their training session, Nova monitored their reactions closely. She had replaced the actual drugs with harmless placebos, but the fighters were convinced they were taking the real deal. They pushed themselves harder, their performance noticeably improved due to the psychological boost.
Marco observed the session with interest. “Not bad, Alex. They seem to be reacting well.”
Nova nodded, trying to mask her relief. “Told you. Now, how about we talk business?”
---
Before Marco could respond, the warehouse door burst open, and a group of men stormed in. They were armed and clearly looking for trouble. Nova’s heart skipped a beat as she realized they were from a rival gang, likely tipped off by someone within Marco’s organization.
“Marco!” the leader of the group shouted. “We know you’ve been muscling in on our territory. Time to pay up.”
Marco’s face twisted in anger. “Get out of here before I make you regret it.”
Nova saw the situation escalating and quickly took action. She moved towards the fighters, who were now caught off guard and unsure of what to do.
---
“Stay back,” she instructed them, positioning herself between the gang members and Marco’s men.
The rival gang leader sneered at her. “And who the hell are you?”
“Just someone who hates seeing good business interrupted,” Nova replied coldly. She needed to buy time for Luke to gather the evidence and hopefully call for backup.
As the tension reached a boiling point, the first punch was thrown, and chaos erupted. Nova dodged a swing from one of the attackers, using her agility to counter with a precise strike to his ribs. 
---
The warehouse turned into a battlefield, with Marco’s men and the rival gang clashing violently. Nova fought her way through the chaos, her eyes constantly scanning for threats. She had to keep the fighters safe while also protecting herself.
Amidst the fighting, Marco shouted orders, trying to regain control. “Take them down! Don’t let them get away!”
Nova’s skills were put to the test as she faced multiple attackers. She ducked under a wild swing and delivered a powerful uppercut, sending one thug sprawling. Another came at her with a knife, but she deftly disarmed him, using his momentum to flip him onto the ground.
---
Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain in her side as one of the attackers landed a punch. Luke, hidden in the back room, clenched his jaw as the pain transferred to him. He knew Nova was getting hurt, but he had to stay focused on recording everything.
Nova winced but didn’t let the pain slow her down. She delivered a series of rapid kicks, driving her attackers back. She could feel Luke’s support even from a distance, his silent determination giving her strength.
As the fight continued, the rival gang started to realize they were outmatched. Nova’s ferocity and skill were too much for them. One by one, they began to retreat, their leader cursing as he led them out of the warehouse.
---
Marco surveyed the damage, breathing heavily. “Nice work, Alex. Didn’t think you had it in you.”
Nova wiped a trickle of blood from her lip, trying to catch her breath. “Just another day on the job.”
With the immediate threat gone, Nova knew they had to wrap up quickly. She turned to Marco, her tone urgent. “We should finalize our deal. I’ve got other clients waiting.”
Marco nodded, his demeanor shifting back to business. “Right. Let’s get this done.”
They finalized the transaction, with Marco agreeing to a large order of the supplements. Nova managed to secure a promise for more future deals, ensuring they’d have more opportunities to gather evidence.
---
As Nova left the warehouse, her mind raced with the implications of what they had just achieved. They had captured crucial footage of the operation and the involvement of tainted supplements. It was a major step forward in their mission to bring down Homer’s organization.
Back at their apartment, Nova found Luke sitting on the couch, his face pale from the pain he had absorbed during the fight. Despite his condition, he managed a weak smile.
“You did it,” he said, his voice filled with pride. “We got everything we need.”
---
Nova rushed to his side, concern etched on her face. “Luke, you’re hurt. We need to get you patched up.”
Luke shook his head, taking her hand. “I’ll be okay. This is worth it. We’re one step closer to ending this.”
Nova’s eyes softened, her admiration for Luke growing even more. “You’re incredible, you know that?”
Luke chuckled, wincing slightly. “I’m just trying to keep up with you.”
---
They shared a tender moment, their bond stronger than ever. As they prepared to review the footage and plan their next move, they knew the road ahead would be tough. But together, they were unstoppable.
With renewed determination, Nova and Luke set their sights on their ultimate goal: taking down Homer’s operation and restoring justice to the world of MMA and beyond. The battle was far from over, but they were ready for whatever came next.