Page 7 of Human Reform (Cyborg Planet Alpha #3)

SEVEN

ALORA

I touched my lips, still feeling the echo of Daxon’s kiss. My heart hammered like a wild thing trying to escape. What had just happened? One moment we were talking, and the next his mouth was on mine, and I was… responding with an intensity that shocked me to my core.

My fingers trembled as I traced the path his lips had taken.

That kiss had awakened something in me—something primal and hungry that I’d never experienced before.

The way his strong hands had pulled me closer, the scent of him filling my lungs, the taste of him on my tongue…

It was like finding a missing piece of myself I hadn’t known was lost.

A soft knock at the door startled me from my thoughts, and I quickly stood up from the bed. I smoothed my ponytail and straightened my white T-shirt, trying to look composed rather than thoroughly kissed.

The door slid open to reveal Olivia, balancing a tray of food. “Thought you might be hungry,” she said with a smile that seemed far too knowing for my comfort.

“Thanks,” I managed, hoping my voice didn’t betray me. “That’s really thoughtful.”

She set the tray down on the small table by the window. Through the reinforced glass, I could see the lights of the colony beginning to sparkle against the darkening jungle. The twin moons were rising, casting an ethereal silver glow across the landscape.

“So,” Olivia said casually—too casually—as she turned back to me. “I passed Daxon outside. He seemed… distracted.”

I busied myself with examining the food—some kind of fragrant stew with purple-tinged vegetables and what looked like synthesized protein. “Did he? I wouldn’t know why.”

Olivia’s laugh was light and knowing. “Your lips are swollen, Alora. And you’re flushed from your neck to your hairline.”

My hand flew to my mouth before I could stop it, and heat bloomed across my cheeks. “That obvious, huh?”

“Only to someone who’s been exactly where you are.” She perched on the bed where Daxon and I had been only minutes before. “Aeon kidnapped me, too. Remember? Brought me here against my will like I mentioned earlier.”

“And now you’re married to him and had his baby,” I said, picking up a piece of bread from the tray. “Not exactly a cautionary tale.”

“I hated him at first,” Olivia confessed. “Or at least, I wanted to. But there was this… undeniable connection. From the very beginning.” Her green eyes met mine. “The first time he kissed me, it was like being struck by lightning. Terrifying and exhilarating all at once.”

I sank into the chair by the table, suddenly desperate to hear more. “That’s exactly how it felt with Daxon. Like every nerve ending in my body came alive at once.”

“It’s overwhelming.” Olivia nodded. “Especially for them. They’re not used to these intense emotions. They’ve spent years suppressing their feelings, focusing only on logic and function.”

“He ran out of here like the room was on fire,” I admitted, toying with my brother’s chain bracelet.

“Aeon did the same thing.” Olivia laughed. “They’re so confident in battle, but one real human connection, and they panic completely.”

I couldn’t help but smile at that image—the powerful, imposing Daxon fleeing from a kiss like a startled teenager. The thought was equal parts endearing and amusing.

“I’ve spent three years avoiding any kind of connection,” I confessed, surprising myself with my candor. “And now this… I don’t even know what to call it.”

“Chemistry? Destiny? Cosmic joke?” Olivia suggested with a grin. “Whatever it is, fighting it is exhausting. Trust me, I tried.”

I took a bite of the stew, finding it surprisingly delicious. “I’m not sure I want to fight it,” I admitted quietly. “As terrifying as it is.”

Olivia stood, checking the sleek device on her wrist. “Speaking of connections, I need to get back to Maya. Aeon’s wonderful, but he still looks at diaper changes like they’re complex surgical procedures.”

We both laughed, and I realized how good it felt to talk and connect with another woman. I’d forgotten the simple pleasure of friendship in my self-imposed exile.

“Thank you,” I said, standing to walk her to the door. “For the food and the… perspective.”

“Anytime,” she replied warmly. “We kidnapped humans need to stick together.”

As the door closed behind her, I returned to the window, watching the colony’s lights twinkle beneath the alien stars.

For three years, I’d convinced myself I needed no one—that connections only led to pain.

But standing here, the ghost of Daxon’s kiss still lingering on my lips, I wondered if I’d been wrong all along.

Perhaps some connections were worth the risk after all.

I woke up the next morning with Daxon’s name on my lips, my heart skipping beats as memories of our kiss replayed in vivid detail. After spending three years avoiding any meaningful contact with others, this sudden craving for his presence felt both alarming and exhilarating.

The small shower in my upgraded suite beckoned, and I stepped under the warm spray, letting the water cascade over my skin.

As steam filled the small space, my thoughts wandered to Daxon—his intense ice-blue eyes, the firm press of his lips against mine, and the strength in his broad shoulders.

I imagined those large hands sliding over my wet skin, his fingers tracing paths down my body.

“God,” I whispered, my hand drifting downward of its own accord.

I closed my eyes, picturing Daxon’s tall frame pressed against mine, his weight pinning me against the shower wall.

My fingers worked their magic as I conjured the fantasy of his mouth trailing down my neck and across my collarbone.

The tension built within me, spiraling tighter until it shattered in a wave of pleasure that left me gasping against the shower wall.

After regaining my composure, I shut off the water and wrapped myself in a towel, feeling both satiated and hungry for more.

The fantasy had been delicious, but it only intensified my desire for the real thing.

Would Daxon’s actual touch measure up to my imagination?

The thought sent another rush of heat spiraling through me.

“Focus, Alora,” I muttered to myself as I put on my white lace bra and panties followed by my fitted white T-shirt and beige tactical pants.

As I braided my hair with practiced fingers, I reminded myself of my promise to help fix the glitches in the cyborgs’ programming.

Their condition was my responsibility as my code was causing their suffering.

Watching that teenage boy yesterday, seeing the horror on his face when he realized what he’d done during his outburst… I couldn’t walk away from that.

Through my window, I could see the colony coming alive with the morning light.

The twin suns cast elongated shadows through the jungle canopy onto the stone pathways between buildings.

People—humans and cyborgs alike—moved purposefully through the small city that had been carved from the wilderness.

I touched my bracelet, a habit when I felt unsettled. “What would you think of all this, Tim?” I whispered. My brother had always seen the best in everyone—even cyborgs. He’d probably tell me this was where I was meant to be all along.

A knock at my door sent my heart leaping into my throat. Was it Daxon? Had he been thinking about me as much as I’d been thinking about him?

“Coming!” I called, quickly examining my reflection in the small mirror. My cheeks were flushed with lingering arousal, and my eyes looked brighter than they had in years.

When the door opened, I stood with more eagerness than I’d intended, only to find Olivia standing there with a knowing smile.

“Morning,” she said, handing me a steaming mug. “Thought you might need this before your big day of code diving.”

I accepted the drink, inhaling its rich, earthy aroma—similar to coffee but with subtle floral notes.

“Thanks,” I said, trying to mask my disappointment. “Is Daxon… around?”

Her smile widened. “He’s waiting for you in the security center. And judging by how early he got there this morning, he’s just as eager to see you as you are to see him.”

Heat rushed to my face. “Is it that obvious?”

“Let’s just say I recognize the symptoms a little too well.” Olivia laughed. “Come on. I’ll walk you over.”

I followed Olivia through the colony, clutching the steaming mug in my hands.

The morning air was thick with humidity, carrying the sweet scent of exotic flowers and the earthy aroma of the surrounding jungle.

As we walked, my heart fluttered with anticipation at the thought of seeing Daxon again.

My lips still remembered the pressure of his against them, and the memory sent a pulse of heat through my body once more.

“So, this security center,” I said, trying to distract myself. “It’s basically the nerve center of the colony?”

Olivia nodded, sidestepping a puddle on the stone pathway. “It’s where they monitor everything from perimeter defense to internal systems. The building itself is partially embedded in that rock face ahead.”

I spotted the structure—sleek silver and black composite materials merged with the natural stone of a small cliff. The architectural integration was beautiful. Planet Alpha’s buildings seemed to grow from the environment rather than imposing upon it.

“Were you this nervous when you first started working with Aeon?” I asked, my voice dropping lower.

Olivia laughed, the sound bright in the morning air. “Worse. I dropped an entire tray of medical instruments when he stood close to me.” Her eyes sparkled with amusement. “You’ll be fine. Just breathe.”

We reached the security center doors, and Olivia gave my arm a reassuring squeeze. “I need to get to the medical bay. You’ve got this. Just be yourself.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” I muttered, but I squared my shoulders and nodded.

I stepped through the doors into a bright space humming with technology. Curved workstations lined the walls, their displays casting a blue glow over their operators. The morning sunlight streamed through reinforced windows, creating geometric patterns on the polished floor.

And there he was.

Daxon sat at a central workstation, his broad shoulders and straight posture immediately drawing my attention. He was speaking to a lean woman I hadn’t met, but the moment I entered, his head turned toward me as if pulled by a magnet.

Our eyes met across the room, and everything else—the bustle of the security team, the beeping equipment, even my own breathing—seemed to fade away. His ice-blue eyes lit up, and the corner of his mouth quirked in what might have been the beginning of a smile.

He stood immediately, his impressive height and build commanding the space. With a brief word to his colleague, he crossed the room to me with long, purposeful strides.

“You actually showed up,” he said, his deep voice sending shivers through my body.

“I said I would,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. “I keep my promises.”

Daxon guided me to his workstation with a light touch on my lower back that burned through my thin T-shirt. The rest of the security team pretended not to watch us, but I could feel their curious glances.

“I’ve created a workspace for you,” he said, pulling up a chair beside his own. “I thought you might prefer to work alongside me rather than in isolation.”

My heart skipped at the thought of spending hours next to him. “That’s… thoughtful of you.”

He gestured for me to sit, and as I did, I noticed the primary monitor was already displaying what appeared to be my original wartime code. I leaned forward, my programmer’s brain immediately engaging with the familiar syntax.

But as I examined it more closely, something caught my eye—an anomaly that didn’t make sense.

“Wait,” I said, setting my mug down. “This isn’t right. Another signature is embedded here.”

Daxon moved closer, his shoulder brushing mine. “What do you mean?”

I pointed to the part of the code that had been elegantly modified. “This isn’t my work. Someone’s added a malicious section to my original framework.” I traced the lines with my finger. “See this? It’s designed to infiltrate reprogramming efforts and slowly rewrite them over time.”

Daxon’s brow furrowed, his expression darkening. “That would explain why the glitches only just appeared after two years of stability.”

“Exactly. This is sabotage,” I said, a chill running through me as the implications became clear. “Someone modified my code to make it seem like it was failing on its own, but this was a deliberate attack.”

His jaw tightened, a violet tinge briefly illuminating his blue eyes. “Who would have access to modify your original code?”

I shook my head, my mind racing through possibilities. “It could be someone on Planet Alpha with high-level access, or…”

“CyberEvolution,” Daxon finished, his voice lowering to a near growl.

“I need a private setup,” I said suddenly. “A completely isolated system—offline, no network connection whatsoever. And I need unlimited access to examine the full codebase.”

Daxon’s expression grew guarded. “That’s a significant security risk.”

I reached out, placing my hand on his forearm.

The contact sent electricity crackling through me.

“Daxon, I know I’m asking for a lot of trust, especially after being here such a short time.

But if someone is sabotaging your code, they could be monitoring my attempts to fix it.

I need a sandbox where they can’t interfere. ”

His eyes searched mine, and I could almost see the internal battle playing out—his security protocols warring with his instinct to trust me.

“Please,” I added softly. “You can trust me.”

After a long moment, he nodded. “I’ll have a dedicated system set up for you. No network access, encrypted storage, and biometric access tied only to you.”

Relief flooded through me. “Thank you, Daxon.”

“Don’t thank me yet,” he replied, his voice pitched low so only I could hear. “If you betray that trust, there won’t be anywhere in this colony or back on Earth where you can hide from me.”

The threat should have frightened me, but instead, it sent a thrill of heat through my core. His possessive intensity was becoming dangerously addictive.

“I won’t betray you,” I promised, meaning it more deeply than I’d expected to. “Whatever’s happening here, we’ll figure it out together.”