Page 32

AEON

I watched until the Earth ship’s thrusters faded to pinpricks against the darkening sky, feeling the weight of what we had just accomplished.

Two hours of tense negotiation with Dr. Naomi West and the CyberEvolution operatives had culminated in an uneasy but workable truce.

The colony on Planet Alpha would remain autonomous, with guarantees against forced repatriation or reactivation codes.

In exchange, we’d share medical research and establish limited trade routes.

Now that Naomi and her associates were finally out of our orbit, I went to look for Olivia. I soon found her in the medical bay finishing some notes. The sight of her—her brow furrowed in concentration and her hair falling across her face—sent a surge of emotions through me.

“Come with me,” I said, reaching for her hand. “There’s somewhere I want to show you.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly with suspicion that melted into curiosity. “Lead the way.”

I guided her through our settlement, past the illuminated structures nestled among the jungle canopy. Colonists nodded as we passed, their expressions a mix of relief and newfound respect. The path took us beyond the perimeter lights and into the verdant twilight.

“Are you kidnapping me again?” Olivia’s lips quirked into a smile. “Because I should warn you, I’m much more difficult to manage now.”

“I’m well aware.” I squeezed her hand. “You’ve made that abundantly clear to everyone, including Naomi and her associates.”

The jungle path opened to a small clearing where a cascade of water tumbled over moss-covered rocks. Planet Alpha’s twin moons had risen high in the night sky, bathing the pool below in silvery light that danced across the rippling surface.

“This is... breathtaking,” Olivia whispered.

“I found it during a perimeter sweep. Kept it to myself.” I watched her face as she took in the scene. “I wanted something that was just mine in a place where everything belongs to the colony.”

Olivia turned to me, moonlight illuminating the soft angles of her face. “And now you’re sharing it with me?”

“Now it can be ours.” The words felt strange in my mouth—not from difficulty pronouncing them, but from the raw vulnerability they represented.

I pulled her closer, my hands finding the curve of her waist with confident familiarity. Physical intimacy came easier than emotional expression. Her body fit against mine perfectly, as if designed as my counterpart.

“What happens now?” she asked, her voice barely audible over the waterfall’s gentle roar.

“I don’t know.” The admission should have troubled me—I’d always functioned best with clear objectives—but instead, I felt exhilarated by the uncertainty. “But I know I want you beside me while we figure it out.”

“I stood in front of an armed Earth contingent today and refused to leave with them.” Olivia’s fingers traced the scar along my forearm. “I think that makes my position fairly clear.”

“Say it anyway.” I tilted her chin up, needing to hear the words.

“I love you, Aeon.”

I crushed my mouth to hers, kissing her with all the passion I’d once believed myself incapable of feeling. When we broke apart, I rested my forehead against hers.

“I love you, Olivia Parker. Even when I didn’t understand what that meant, I loved you.”

I woke before dawn the next morning, Olivia’s warmth still pressed against my side.

The memory of last night at the waterfall lingered—her skin silvered in moonlight and the way she’d said she loved me.

These sensations had become precious to me in ways I couldn’t have imagined when I’d first brought her to Planet Alpha.

The morning light soon shone through the window of my quarters as I traced the curve of her shoulder. She stirred, blinking up at me with sleep-softened eyes.

“We need to bring everyone home today,” I murmured, brushing her hair away from her cheek. “They’ve been in those caverns too long.”

She nodded, fully awake now. “Let’s go get them.”

The trek to the caverns took us through dense jungle, vibrant with Planet Alpha’s peculiar flora. Olivia walked beside me, occasionally brushing her fingers against mine—small points of contact that sent waves of pleasure through me. I’d never anticipated how deeply physical touch could affect me.

“Do you think they already know about the truce?” she asked, ducking under a low-hanging vine.

I shook my head. “Communications are limited in the caverns. That was deliberate—harder to track.”

“They’ll be overjoyed.” The smile that lit her face filled me with warmth. “It’s a new beginning.”

When we reached the cavern entrance, two guards snapped to attention. The hidden complex had been our contingency plan—a refuge for our most vulnerable if Earth’s forces had proven hostile.

Inside, the expansive chamber buzzed with subdued activity. Six pregnant women sat in a circle while two small children roamed nearby, their voices echoing off the stone walls. When they spotted us, conversation halted. Every eye turned toward us, uncertainty etched on their faces.

“It’s over,” I announced, my voice booming across the cavern. “We’ve negotiated peace. You can all come home.”

For a moment, the cavern was silent. Then Nora, the furthest along in her pregnancy, struggled to her feet.

“They’re not taking her?” She pointed to Olivia. “They’re not taking you back?”

Olivia stepped forward, her hand finding mine. “I’m staying. By choice.”

The cavern erupted. The women embraced, and the children jumped and shouted. Two of the pregnant women swept Olivia into a tearful hug while another clasped my arm with unexpected strength.

“You kept us safe,” she said simply. “Thank you.”

The journey back to the settlement was jubilant, despite the demanding terrain. I found myself carrying one exhausted child on my shoulders while helping Nora navigate the steeper sections of the trail.

Once we’d returned and the families had dispersed to their homes, I sought out Sage. I found her in the security center, reviewing security protocols.

“How long do you think the peace will last?” I asked without preamble.

She glanced up, her expression measured. “You’re worried about CyberEvolution already?”

“They’ve never accepted defeat gracefully.” The memories of war surged—the smell of burned circuitry, and the sound of my fellow soldiers falling. “What if they find another way to control us? Different technology, covert operations?—”

“Then we’ll face it.” Sage’s voice was calm and steady. “But maybe, just maybe, they meant what they said.”

I exhaled slowly, trying to release the tension coiled tightly in my body. “I want to believe that.”

“I’ve seen you with Olivia, Aeon.” Sage’s eyes crinkled at the corners. “If you can learn to love, maybe humans can learn to let us be free.”

Hope. Such a fragile emotion, yet surprisingly resilient. Like the jungle itself, pushing through despite the harsh conditions.

Two weeks had passed since our truce with CyberEvolution, and each morning I woke with a sense of wonder that she was still here—that she had chosen me, chosen us. Morning sunlight streamed through the open window, painting patterns across Olivia’s bare skin as she lay beside me.

I traced my fingers along the curve of her spine, savoring the warmth of her body against mine. The sheet barely covered her hips, and her hair spilled across the pillow in messy waves that caught the light.

“You’re staring again,” she murmured, her eyes still closed but a smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

“I’m memorizing,” I corrected, pulling her closer until her head rested on my chest. “Every detail.”

She laughed, the sound vibrating against me. “Is that part of your programming? To catalog everything?”

“No.” I kissed the top of her head, breathing in the scent of her. “That’s all me.”

Outside our window, Planet Alpha hummed with life. The settlement had grown more vibrant in recent days—the anxiety of discovery now replaced with a cautious optimism.

Olivia shifted, propping herself up on one elbow to look at me. Her eyes—those green eyes that had first glared at me with fury now softened with something deeper.

“Any regrets?” I asked, surprising myself with the question. My need for her reassurance felt raw and human.

“About staying?” She shook her head, leaning down to kiss me quickly. “Not one.”

I caught her face between my hands, holding her gaze. “The future isn’t certain. CE might?—”

“When is the future ever certain?” Her expression turned serious. “I knew what I was choosing, Aeon. I’m where I want to be.”

I pulled her back down, rolling us until I hovered above her, my body caging hers protectively. “Turns out a human doctor and a cyborg medic make quite the team.”

I kissed her deeply, pouring everything I felt into the connection. Love. Protection. Promise. The emotions that had once seemed foreign now flowed through me as naturally as breath.

When we finally broke away from each other’s lips, I whispered softly, “Whatever comes, Olivia, we face it side by side. Human and cyborg. Two halves finally complete.”

* * *

We hope you enjoyed HUMAN REQUIRED as much as we enjoyed writing the book!