Page 8 of Human Reclaimed (Cyborg Planet Alpha #2)

EIGHT

RUNE

I stood outside the security center, my hair still damp from our swim, watching Talia clutch her datapad against her chest. Little droplets of water still clung to some strands of her blonde hair, catching the sunlight filtering through the jungle canopy above.

She smiled at me, and I felt something fundamental shift inside my chest. In just hours, this human woman had transformed from a strategic resource into something far more complex. Far more essential.

I was already planning our next escape to my private oasis in my mind and already anticipating the sound of her laughter echoing across the water.

The thought should have alarmed me—vulnerability had no place in a commander’s arsenal—but instead, warmth spread through me.

Not since establishing our colony eighteen months ago had I felt such genuine hope.

I reluctantly turned away from her gaze, and guided her toward the main entrance, my hand hovering near her lower back but not touching her.

The doors slid open as we approached. Inside, the curved walls gleamed with screens displaying various sectors of our settlement.

The familiar blue glow of monitor displays cast shadows across the polished metal flooring.

As I guided Talia toward Sage’s workstation, I couldn’t stop replaying images from our swim.

Talia in her white bra and panties, water cascading down her tanned skin as she surfaced from a dive.

The playful defiance in her eyes when she splashed me.

The way her body had felt, small but powerful, when I’d lifted her above the water.

“Commander? Commander Rune?”

Sage’s voice snapped me back to the present. She stood before us, her blonde ponytail swinging as she tilted her head, one eyebrow raised knowingly.

“Sorry, what were you saying?” I straightened my shoulders, trying to reclaim my commanding presence.

“I asked if Captain Reed would prefer to start with the perimeter systems or the internal grid analysis.” Sage’s lips twitched with barely suppressed amusement. “But clearly your mind was… elsewhere.”

Heat flooded my face, a sensation I was getting used to with Talia around me for the past twenty-four hours. Talia glanced between us, her own cheeks flushing slightly.

“Let’s begin with the perimeter,” I said, gesturing toward Sage’s workstation.

Talia stepped forward, immediately focusing on the holographic display that Sage activated. Her brow furrowed as she studied the glowing blue outline of our settlement.

“This is… concerning,” she murmured, her fingers tracing the virtual barrier that protected our home. “Your current grid is approximately twenty-five percent porous.”

“Twenty-five?” I moved closer, our shoulders nearly touching. “Our calculations estimated twenty-two percent.”

“Your calculations missed these three sectors.” She pointed to areas I’d previously deemed adequately secured. “The topographical elevation creates natural blind spots in your sensor array.”

I inhaled sharply. She was right. How had I missed that?

“I’ll adjust the protocols immediately,” I said, unable to keep the admiration from my voice.

“And your shield harmonics need recalibration.” Talia manipulated the display, highlighting weak points with practiced efficiency. “The jungle’s electromagnetic field disrupts your standard frequencies.”

Sage whistled low. “She’s good.”

“No, she’s the best,” I corrected, not taking my eyes off Talia. Her competence and demeanor were mesmerizing—the fluid way she navigated complex security systems and the confident set of her shoulders as she explained vulnerabilities I’d overlooked.

“If we redirect power from these auxiliary nodes,” Talia continued, “we can boost coverage in the eastern quadrant without compromising the southern approach.”

I found myself stepping closer to her, drawn to her brilliance as much as her beauty. “Show me.”

For the next hour, we lost ourselves in security protocols and defense strategies.

Talia’s insights were revolutionary—not just plugging holes but reimagining our entire approach to settlement security.

She thought in patterns I’d never considered, seeing weaknesses and opportunities that had eluded even our most advanced systems.

“Your tactical mind is extraordinary,” I said quietly as she finished outlining a particularly elegant solution to our western perimeter vulnerabilities.

She glanced up, momentarily startled by my proximity. “Just doing my job, Commander.”

“Rune,” I corrected her softly, surprising myself with the intimacy of the request. “When it’s just us… call me Rune.”

Something flickered in her eyes—uncertainty, perhaps, or interest. The slight dilation of her pupils made my heart race.

“Rune,” she repeated, testing my name on her lips.

I couldn’t remember the last time the word had sounded so… significant. The way she pronounced it—slightly emphasizing the R while letting the rest flow like water—sent a strange, pleasant warmth through me.

Sage cleared her throat beside us, startling me. I’d forgotten she was even there, so completely consumed by Talia. Sage’s knowing smirk told me she hadn’t missed a second of our exchange.

“Commanders Helix and Aeon want to meet with Captain Reed,” she announced, tapping her wrist communicator. “In ten minutes.”

I felt my jaw clench involuntarily. “Why now? We’re in the middle of critical security revisions.”

Sage’s eyebrow raised. “Just following orders from the top, Commander.”

“Fine,” I muttered, not bothering to hide my frustration. Working beside Talia, watching her brilliant mind navigate our defenses, felt like discovering a precious resource I wasn’t ready to share.

“I take it your leaders are the suspicious type?” Talia asked, her lips quirking into a half-smile.

“Cautious,” I corrected, though my tone probably betrayed my annoyance. “We’ve had to be.”

I stood up reluctantly. Without thinking, I extended my hand to help Talia from her chair. Her fingers hesitated before sliding into mine, small but strong. A jolt of electricity shot up my arm at the contact.

She didn’t need my help—that much was obvious from how easily she rose—but something primal in me needed to offer it anyway. The urge to provide for her and to care for her felt as natural as breathing despite knowing she was more than capable on her own.

“Is this going to be an interrogation?” she asked as we exited the security center, the afternoon sunlight filtering through the canopy above the path.

“Just a formality,” I assured her, guiding her through our settlement toward the council chamber at its center. Our fingers had long since separated, but I still felt the ghost of her touch. “Helix likes to be involved in everything.”

“And you?” Talia glanced at me. “Do you always follow her orders?”

The question carried more weight than perhaps she realized. “I respect Helix,” I said carefully, “but I also trust my own judgment.”

“And what does your judgment say about me?” Her voice lowered, almost challenging.

I stopped walking, turning to face her fully.

The dappled sunlight played across her features, highlighting the determination in her eyes.

“That you’re the most capable strategist I’ve ever met.

That in one hour, you’ve already improved our defenses more than I have in months.

And that I’d be a fool not to listen to you. ”

A soft flush colored her cheeks. “High praise from my kidnapper.”

“I prefer strategic recruiter .” I smiled, surprising myself.

“Semantics.” She rolled her eyes but returned the smile.

We approached the council chamber, its spiraling roof catching the sunlight from the dual suns. Two guards stood at attention outside, nodding as we approached. I felt Talia tense beside me.

“Hey,” I said softly, my hand instinctively finding the small of her back. “You’ve got this. Just tell them what you told me.”

She took a deep breath and nodded. “Thanks… Rune.”

The chamber doors slid open, revealing the semi-circular room where our colony’s leadership gathered.

Helix and Aeon stood near the central podium, engaged in quiet conversation.

Helix’s blonde hair was pulled back, her gray eyes sharp as they tracked our entrance.

Aeon’s imposing frame seemed relaxed by comparison, his dark hair slightly disheveled as if he’d been running his hands through it.

“Commander.” Helix acknowledged me before turning her full attention to Talia. “Captain Reed. I trust you’re finding our hospitality adequate?”

“Adequate for a kidnapping, yes,” Talia replied coolly, and I bit back a smile at her audacity.

I stepped forward. “Captain Reed has already made significant progress analyzing our perimeter defenses. She’s identified vulnerabilities we missed and developed solutions that could be implemented immediately.”

“Has she?” Helix’s tone carried a note of skepticism that made my spine stiffen. “And you’re ready to implement these changes without consultation?”

“With all due respect, Commander,” I countered, surprising myself with my boldness, “the vulnerabilities exist whether we acknowledge them or not. Delay only exposes our people to unnecessary risk.”

“I’m not suggesting we ignore them,” Helix said, her voice cooling. “I’m suggesting we exercise appropriate caution with advice from someone who was our enemy just days ago.”

“Amateur thinking,” Talia muttered under her breath, and though it was barely audible, I felt a surge of pride at her boldness.

Aeon’s eyebrows lifted slightly. “Care to elaborate, Captain?”

Talia straightened, meeting Helix’s gaze directly. “Strategies aren’t loyal or disloyal. They’re either effective or ineffective. Your current defenses have critical weaknesses. That’s not an opinion or a play. It’s a mathematical certainty.”

“I trust her judgment,” I declared, my voice carrying more force than intended. “And I’m willing to take full responsibility for implementing her recommendations and strategies.”

The chamber fell silent. Helix and Aeon exchanged a long look.

“Very well,” Helix finally said. “Captain Reed will have conditional authority to direct security improvements and strategies, under your direct supervision, Commander.” Her eyes narrowed slightly. “You’re to work side by side with her every step of the way.”

I nodded, trying not to reveal how perfectly that arrangement suited me. “Understood.”