Page 6 of Human Reclaimed (Cyborg Planet Alpha #2)

SIX

RUNE

I watched Talia’s face as the horrific footage of the pregnant cyborgs being kidnapped on the neighboring planet played across Tegan’s screens.

The sunlight streaming through the security center’s reinforced windows caught in her long blonde hair, creating a halo effect that seemed at odds with the fierce determination hardening her features.

Though she’d only been conscious on Planet Alpha for a few hours, something about Talia Reed felt right here—like a missing piece we hadn’t known we needed.

I took another step closer to her, drawn in like gravity. The scent of her skin—something lavender and clean—momentarily distracted me. I had to remind myself to focus on the mission, not on how my body inexplicably responded to her proximity.

She turned those piercing blue eyes on me, and for a moment, I forgot to breathe. I saw steel behind that gaze.

“Don’t thank me yet,” Talia warned. “I have no idea what your security defenses are currently or if they’re remotely adequate against the kind of threat these pirates pose.”

Her tactical mind was already at work. I respected that immensely.

“Tegan,” I said, turning to my second-in-command who was still watching us with thinly veiled skepticism, “give Captain Reed her own datapad. She needs access to our security protocols and defense systems to start building a strategy.”

Tegan’s green eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly. I knew that look—the silent question of why I was trusting this human with our most vital information when she’d been on our planet for less than a day and clearly wasn’t thrilled about being here.

I gave him a slight shake of my head. This wasn’t the time for doubt.

Despite only speaking with Talia for the past hour, something about her struck a chord deep within me.

A connection I couldn’t explain but felt with absolute certainty.

Perhaps it was foolish, but I trusted her—trusted her character and her integrity.

I’d spent enough time studying her service record to know she was fiercely protective of those under her command.

That kind of loyalty didn’t simply vanish.

Yes, I was attracted to her. The way her fitted beige tactical pants hugged her curves and her white T-shirt revealed her toned arms wasn’t lost on me.

But this was more than physical chemistry.

Something about Talia Reed made me want to earn her trust and to listen to her insights.

It was as though I recognized something in her that mirrored what I valued most in myself—loyalty, sacrifice, and an unwavering commitment to those who depended on me.

Tegan reluctantly retrieved a datapad from a nearby cabinet and handed it to Talia. His movements were precise and calculated, broadcasting his distrust of her with every gesture.

“Thank you,” I said to Tegan, my tone making it clear the discussion was over.

“I’d like you to meet another member of our team,” I told Talia, guiding her toward the far corner of the security center where a woman with blonde hair pulled back in a practical ponytail worked efficiently at her station.

“This is Sage. She’s my right hand here—my eyes and ears throughout the colony and an asset to the brigade I’ve been training since Commander Aeon appointed me head of security six months ago. ”

Sage looked up from her station, her blue eyes bright with curiosity. Unlike Tegan, her smile was immediate and genuine.

“Captain Reed! I’ve been waiting to meet you.” Sage extended her hand in the human custom of greeting. “Your tactical maneuvers during the Kestrel Mountains campaign were brilliant. I’ve studied them extensively.”

Talia’s eyebrows rose in surprise as she shook Sage’s hand. I noticed some of the tension in her shoulders ease slightly.

“You’ve studied my campaigns?”

“Of course,” Sage replied with a wink. “Know thy enemy, right? Though I hope we’re not enemies now that the war is over.”

A small smile—the first I’d seen—tugged at the corner of Talia’s mouth. “That depends on how good your coffee is here.”

Sage laughed, the sound bright in the otherwise serious environment of the security center. “Priorities. I like that. Our synthetic blend isn’t terrible, but the real stuff we’ve started growing in the agricultural dome is surprisingly decent.”

“I’d be happy to help you sort through all the data,” Sage offered, gesturing at the datapad in Talia’s hands. “There’s a lot to catch up on since we established the colony a year and a half ago.”

“I appreciate that,” Talia nodded, seeming genuinely relieved to have an ally here on Planet Alpha.

“Actually,” Sage suggested, “I could take you on a tour of the colony first. Get you oriented before diving into all the technical specs. Might help put things in context.”

“No,” I said, the word shooting from my mouth with unexpected force. Both women turned to look at me, Sage with one eyebrow raised in silent amusement.

I cleared my throat, suddenly aware of how territorial I sounded. “I mean, I’ll accompany you both. A short tour of the colony and perimeter would be beneficial for Captain Reed to understand what she’s helping us protect.”

Talia looked up at me, her blue eyes assessing. The fitted white T-shirt she wore accentuated curves that my eyes kept betraying me by noticing.

“That would be nice,” she said. “Very helpful, actually.”

I caught Sage’s knowing smirk but chose to ignore it. We guided Talia outside, where the late morning sunlight filtered through the jungle canopy in scattered patterns across the stone walkways. The humid air wrapped around us like a living thing, carrying the sweet scent of wild blossoms.

Talia’s breath caught as she took in the full scope of our settlement for the first time. Her eyes widened, tracking the unexpected harmony of our structures with the wild jungle. I found myself watching her face more than the familiar sights of my home.

“This is…” she started and then shook her head in disbelief. “I expected military barracks and sterile structures, not… all this.”

“Disappointed?” I asked, unable to keep the hint of pride from my voice.

“No. Very impressed,” she admitted, surprising me with her candor. “I never imagined cyborgs would build something so… beautiful and lively.”

We walked through the central plaza where colonists—both human and cyborg—gathered around small vendors. The few small children chased each other around the circle, their laughter echoing off the stone buildings. Talia’s gaze followed them, her expression softening.

“Those children—are they…”

“One is half-human, half-cyborg—a hybrid, the other is a cyborg,” Sage explained. “The first generation born free.”

I guided them toward the council chamber, its spiraling roof catching the sunlight. “Our leadership meets here,” I explained. “Commanders Helix and Aeon make most executive decisions, though we operate with a democratic system for colony-wide issues.”

As we continued toward the marketplace and then the hydroponics dome, I noticed Talia’s analytical gaze taking in every detail. Her tactical mind was clearly at work even as she absorbed the culture shock.

“Your integration of technology with natural materials is effective,” she noted as we walked the perimeter, where security officers maintained vigilant positions.

“But your eastern quadrant has blind spots. And these sensor arrays…” She pointed to one of our detection systems. “They’re angled for ground assaults, but pirates will likely come from above. ”

I felt a strange warmth in my chest at her immediate engagement with our problems. She wasn’t just observing. She was already planning, already helping us.

“You’re right,” I acknowledged. “Our aerial defense network needs strengthening.”

She turned to me, studying my face with an intensity that made my pulse quicken. “Why me, Rune? Other than the fact that these pirates have somehow stolen my playbooks. There must be tacticians closer, even among your own people.”

“None with your specific expertise in countering asymmetrical and challenging threats.” It wasn’t the whole truth, but it wasn’t a lie, either.

She nodded, seeming satisfied with my response. “So, what do you do here, specifically?” she asked suddenly. “Besides kidnapping humans.”

I deserved that barb. “I train our defense brigades. And occasionally enjoy the simpler pleasures our new world offers.”

“Like what?”

The genuine curiosity in her voice caught me off guard. “I have my favorite places. Spots where Planet Alpha reveals its true beauty.”

Sage glanced at her wrist communicator and gave me a sly look. “I should get back to my station. Those security protocols won’t review themselves.”

Before she left, she leaned close to my ear. “Try not to look so obviously smitten, Commander.”

Heat crawled slowly up my neck as Talia turned to face me fully.

“So,” she said with a challenging glint in her eyes, “what is your favorite thing to do on this planet of yours?”

I took a breath, savoring this unexpected opportunity. “I could show you. A private tour to my favorite place, if you’d like to see the real Planet Alpha.”

A smile—small but genuine—curved her lips. “Lead the way, Commander.”

My heart knocked against my ribs with a force that reminded me how human I truly was now. Despite everything, despite how we’d brought her here, she was giving me a small chance to prove myself. It was more than I deserved, but I’d take it, and I’d show her she could trust me.