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“And don’t let those pretty green eyes cloud your judgment,” Sage murmured as we left the office.

I shot her a glare that would have silenced most people. Sage just laughed.

Early the next morning, I stood outside Olivia’s quarters gathering my thoughts before entering.

The knot in my stomach tightened as I considered how she might react to the new arrangement.

While it was an improvement over complete confinement, I knew her well enough already to anticipate her response.

I took a steadying breath and pressed my hand against the access panel. Her door gently slid open.

She sat on her bed, her brown hair pulled back in a ponytail. She looked up, those piercing green eyes narrowing slightly at the sight of me.

“Good morning,” I said, my voice sounding rougher than I wanted.

She folded her arms over her chest. “Is it? Hard to tell when you’re being held captive.”

I stepped inside, letting the door close behind me. “I have news that might improve your outlook.”

“Let me guess. You’ve decided to send me home?” Her tone was sharp, but I caught the flicker of hope in her eyes.

“Not exactly.” I leaned against the nearest wall, maintaining some distance between us. “Commander Helix and I have agreed you can have freedom of movement during daylight hours. With me as your guide.”

Olivia’s eyebrows shot up. “That’s your big improvement? A leash instead of a cage?”

The comment stung more than I expected. “At night, you’ll return to secured quarters. This arrangement continues until you prove you won’t attempt to escape again.”

“So basically, I’m still a prisoner,” she muttered, standing and pacing the small room. “Just with a change of scenery.”

“You can see the colony more. Meet our people. Understand why we brought you here.”

She stopped pacing and faced me directly. “You know, for someone supposedly so advanced, you’re remarkably obtuse. My understanding isn’t the issue. My consent is.”

Her words hit their mark. I pushed off from the wall, closing the distance between us in two strides. “This is better than the alternative, Olivia. Would you prefer to remain locked in here indefinitely, only coming out to go to the medical bay?”

We stood there, inches apart, tension crackling between us. I was suddenly, acutely aware of her scent—something clean and faintly floral that made my heart rate accelerate.

“Fine,” she finally conceded, throwing up her hands. “Show me more of this paradise you’ve dragged me to.”

The colony marketplace bustled with morning activity as we made our way through.

Modular structures adorned with climbing vines formed a semicircle around an open plaza where traders displayed their wares—everything from cultivated fruits to handcrafted items. The jungle loomed beyond the settlement boundaries, a wall of vibrant green stretching toward the azure sky.

Her initial defiance gradually softened as we walked. Her eyes widened, taking in the sights—cyborgs and some humans chatting and laughing, exchanging goods, living ordinary lives amidst extraordinary surroundings.

“I didn’t expect it to be so...” She trailed off.

“Normal?” I suggested.

“Human,” she finished, glancing sideways at me.

Something warm unfurled within me at her words. “That’s what we fought so hard for. The right to be more than weapons. To create something meaningful and lasting.”

She stopped to examine a display of woven fabrics, reaching out to touch one with surprising gentleness. “It’s beautiful craftsmanship.”

“Serena makes them. She?—”

“Help! Someone help!”

The desperate cry cut through the marketplace chatter. We both turned to see Serena herself doubled over near a fruit stall, clutching her belly.

Before I moved, Olivia rushed forward, medical instincts overtaking her. I followed quickly, watching as she helped Serena to a bench and knelt before her.

“Breathe,” Olivia instructed, demonstrating a deep, controlled breath. “That’s it. Can you tell me where the pain is?”

Serena gestured to her lower abdomen, fear evident in her eyes.

I observed as Olivia’s entire demeanor transformed. The wariness and defiance vanished, replaced by focused compassion. Her hands moved with practiced efficiency as she checked Serena’s pulse and asked targeted questions.

“Aeon, we need to get her to the medical bay now,” Olivia said, not looking up from her patient. There was no hesitation in her voice, no reminder that she was a captive being forced to help.

As we carefully escorted Serena toward the medical bay, I found myself watching Olivia more than the path ahead. She was remarkable—fierce and skilled and undeniably caring. Despite everything we had done to her, she hadn’t hesitated to help someone in need.

That night, after settling Olivia back in her quarters—Serena resting comfortably after what turned out to be Braxton Hicks contractions—I returned to my own sparse living space. Lying on my bed, staring at my ceiling, I couldn’t shake thoughts of Olivia from my mind.

Her resilience astounded me. Taken from her home, thrust into an alien environment, yet still maintaining her core identity—her compassion, her strength, and her undeniably sharp wit. She bent but didn’t break.

With each passing minute, something powerful and unsettling was growing inside me—a protective instinct that went beyond my duty to the colony.

I wanted to shield her, not just watch over her.

I wanted to see her smile without reservation and to hear her laugh without the shadow of captivity darkening her eyes.

This pull toward her frightened me with its intensity.

It felt primal, so undeniably human, and so seemingly impossible for a cyborg like me.

Something deep within me whispered that she was important, not just to our colony’s future but to mine personally.

The thought was exhilarating and terrifying.

I rolled onto my side, punching my pillow into shape with more force than necessary. Whatever this feeling was, I couldn’t afford to indulge it. Not yet. Not while she still saw me as her kidnapper.

But for the first time since bringing her here, I allowed myself to hope that might change someday.