Page 24 of Human Required (Cyborg Planet Alpha #1)

TWENTY-TWO

AEON

After I escorted Olivia to the medical bay before dawn to check on Helix and her baby, I headed over to the security center.

Once I arrived, I stalked inside and found Tegan at his post. My muscles were tight with a tension I couldn’t shake.

Morning light soon filtered through the reinforced windows, casting elongated shadows across the room’s curved metal walls.

The jungle beyond our colony’s perimeter swayed in the breeze, deceptively peaceful.

“Tell me our defenses are ready,” I said to Tegan, who hunched over the control panel. His fingers raced over the transparent screens, rearranging patrol routes and security protocols.

He didn’t look up. “We’ve doubled perimeter guards and activated the old war-class scanners. If Earth sends so much as a reconnaissance drone, we’ll know.”

Something in his tone made me pause. “You don’t sound convinced it’s enough.”

“Because it probably isn’t.” He finally turned to face me, his expression hard. “And we all know why they’re coming.”

The other guards in the room shifted uncomfortably. I felt the weight of their stares.

“Just say what you mean, Tegan.” My voice dropped dangerously low.

“Fine.” He stepped closer, invading my space. “The human doctor. She’s the reason Earth found us. Bringing her here was a mistake that’s going to get us all killed.”

Heat surged through my chest. “The cyborg mothers who’d be dead without her would disagree.”

“We managed before?—”

“We lost three mothers and five infants before her arrival,” I snapped.

Tegan’s lip curled. “And now we might lose everything.”

One of the other guards, Kel, nodded. “Maybe we should consider returning her before they arrive. As a gesture of?—”

“No.” The word escaped me like a growl.

“Face it, Aeon,” Tegan pressed. “Kidnapping her was the dumbest idea ever. Look where it’s gotten us.”

My fist connected with the console beside him, denting the metal. “Funny how Earth only found our location after you started making your opinions about humans so clear. Especially your opinions about Olivia.”

Tegan’s eyes narrowed. “What are you implying?”

“I’m not implying anything. I’m stating facts.” I stepped closer, towering over him. “You’re the communications expert. You’re the only one who could have reached out to Earth. What was the plan, Tegan? Trade her for amnesty? For credits?”

“You’re delusional.”

“And you’re transparent. You can’t stand that I’m close to her. That a human could be anything more than an enemy.”

Tegan shoved me hard. “You think with your dick instead of your brain. Olivia’s clouding your judgment.”

I grabbed him by the collar, lifting him until his feet barely touched the ground. “Keep her name out of your mouth,” I hissed, my face inches from his. “Or you’ll answer to me.”

Two guards moved to separate us, but I held my ground, staring Tegan down.

“Commander Aeon!” A voice from the doorway broke the spell. Sage stood there, her eyes wide. “Olivia requests your assistance in the medical bay.”

I released Tegan, who stumbled backward.

“This isn’t over,” I warned him, my heart hammering with a protective fury I’d never felt before the war, before Planet Alpha—before Olivia.

I followed Sage out of the security center, my blood still boiling.

“You’re welcome,” Sage said with a hint of a smirk.

“For what?” I snapped.

“For saving you from doing something stupid, like breaking Tegan’s face.” She matched my stride, unfazed by my mood. “Though I might’ve enjoyed watching that.”

I grunted. “Tegan’s lucky you showed up.”

“I know.” She patted my arm. “Your feelings for Olivia are written all over your face. It’s actually refreshing to see you care about someone so openly.”

Her observation hit too close to home, making heat climb up my neck. “This isn’t about my feelings. It’s about traitors.”

Sage’s expression sobered. “Just be careful with Tegan, Aeon. We need you both focused on our colony’s security right now.”

I stormed off toward the medical bay, Sage’s words echoing in my mind. When I finally entered Helix’s room, I found Olivia bent over Helix’s bed, checking vitals on a monitor. Helix looked pale but alert, her newborn sleeping peacefully in a bassinet beside her.

“Commander,” Helix acknowledged me weakly.

“You look better,” I said, approaching her bedside.

Olivia glanced up at me. “She’s stable, but she needs rest.”

I nodded and then turned back to Helix. “I think Tegan’s the one who contacted Earth. He’s been vocal about his disapproval of Olivia from the beginning.”

Helix’s eyes narrowed. “That’s a serious accusation.”

“I know,” I said. “But the timing makes sense. And he has access to all our communication systems.”

“I’ll investigate when I’m back on my feet,” Helix promised. “Two days at most.”

“Absolutely not,” Olivia interrupted. “Three days minimum before you return to duty.”

The corners of Helix’s mouth twitched. “Fine.”

I couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride at how Olivia had earned even Helix’s respect. “I’m going to call an emergency colony council meeting. We need to address the colony’s fears about both Earth’s approach and about you,” I said, looking at Olivia.

Concern flashed across her face. “Do you want me there?”

“No. Stay with Helix.” I touched Olivia’s shoulder briefly, allowing myself that small contact. “I’ll handle it.”

An hour later, I stood before nearly our entire colony in the council chamber. Nervous murmurs filled the space as I took my position on the elevated platform.

“I know many of you are afraid,” I began, my voice rising over the crowd. “Earth may have discovered our location. And some of you question the presence of Dr. Parker among us.”

Several nods confirmed my suspicions. Tegan stood at the back, arms crossed, his expression smug.

“Last night, Commander Helix nearly died during childbirth.” My words silenced the room. “If Dr. Parker hadn’t been here, we would be without our commander today.”

I scanned their faces, seeing surprise, relief, and in some cases, shame.

“Dr. Parker has proven herself not just skilled but loyal to our people. She’s chosen to help us when she could have refused. And now, when Earth might be coming, she’s still here, saving our mothers, our unborn children—our future.”

The crowd shifted, exchanging glances.

“Yes, we abducted her,” I admitted, causing a ripple of discomfort. “Yet she’s shown us more compassion than we had any right to expect. If the Earth forces come, we must protect her as one of our own. Because that’s what she’s become.”

The chamber erupted in voices of approval, drowning out Tegan’s visible dissent. Suddenly, I felt a small measure of relief. The colony would stand united behind me and Olivia—even if Earth was coming for us all.

I soon walked toward the exit of the council chamber with my shoulders back, victory humming through my veins. The colonists’ voices of support still echoed in my ears. But beneath that satisfaction, Tegan’s accusation burned like acid: You think with your dick instead of your brain.

The humid jungle air hit me as I stepped outside. Sage caught up to me. “Impressive speech. You actually managed to get everyone on the same page—even Kel, and that man has opinions about everything.”

“Not everyone.” I rubbed my jaw, feeling the tension there. “Tegan looked ready to start a mutiny.”

“Tegan’s an ass,” Sage said, waving her hand dismissively. “But something else is bothering you. Spill it.”

We walked past the hydroponics dome where several colonists began harvesting vegetables. I nodded at them, waiting until we were out of earshot before speaking.

“What if Tegan’s right?” I asked. “What if my feelings for Olivia are clouding my judgment? Endangering everyone?”

Sage stopped walking, forcing me to face her. Her eyes narrowed as she studied me. “Is that what you’re really worried about right now? That caring for her makes you weak?”

“Not weak.” I struggled to articulate the storm inside me. “Compromised. These feelings—they’re intense. Overwhelming sometimes. What if I make the wrong call because I can’t think straight around her?”

“Oh, Aeon.” Sage’s expression softened. “That’s not a malfunction. That’s called being alive.”

“It feels dangerous.”

“It is dangerous.” She laughed, the sound bright against the background chorus of jungle insects.

“But it’s also our greatest strength. Look what happened in there—” She pointed back toward the council chamber.

“You just united the entire colony because you showed them your passion and your conviction.”

I tugged at my hair, unconvinced. “That’s different.”

“Is it? Before Olivia, you were efficient. Logical. A perfect commander on paper.” Sage poked my chest. “But you never inspired anyone. Now? You have the entire colony ready to stand against Earth itself.”

“Because it’s the right strategic move.”

“No.” Sage shook her head. “Because they saw you care about something—someone—so deeply that you’d risk everything to protect her. That’s not a flaw in your programming, Aeon. It’s evolution.”

The truth of her words hit me like lightning.

“What you and Olivia have—it’s the blueprint for everything we’ve been fighting for,” Sage continued. “Human and cyborg, working together. Learning from each other. It’s proof that there’s a future beyond war.”

I looked out at our colony, seeing it with new eyes—not as a refuge but as the beginning of something greater.

“Maybe you’re right,” I admitted.

“I’m always right.” Sage grinned. “And for what it’s worth, I think Olivia makes you more human. Not a bad thing for someone trying to lead a new civilization.”

The weight on my shoulders lightened. I straightened, feeling a renewed sense of purpose flood through me.

“I should go check on her,” I said.

Sage nodded. “Lead with your heart, Commander. It hasn’t steered you wrong yet.”