My chest tightened watching her. These past four days of going back and forth between the medical bay and the caverns hadn’t dimmed her dedication. If anything, she worked with even greater purpose now, knowing Earth forces were soon approaching. The pregnant women trusted her completely—a stark contrast to when she’d first arrived.
A small child—barely walking—wobbled over to me, clutching a crude stuffed toy made from spare medical cloth. I crouched down, still unsure how to interact with these tiny creatures. He stared at me with wide, curious eyes and then suddenly reached out and patted my cheek.
Olivia caught the interaction and smiled. “Looks like you’ve made a friend.”
“I’m not... entirely sure what to do with him,” I admitted, uncomfortable with how vulnerable the confession made me feel.
“You’re doing fine.” Her eyes softened. “Children can sense when someone’s good.”
The sharp buzz of my wrist communicator broke the moment. Tegan’s voice came through, tight with urgency.
“Aeon. New intel. It is CE who’s coming for us. They’re calling us rogues in their communications. Talking about neutralization protocols and... reactivation codes.”
My blood ran cold. Reactivation codes. The ultimate nightmare for any free-thinking cyborg—programming designed to override our new adaptive programming. Essentially, taking away our free will and turning us back into the mindless weapons we’d fought so hard to escape.
“Understood. Keep monitoring. We’ll be back shortly.” I ended the transmission and found Olivia watching me, her expression already reading the gravity in mine.
“What is it?” she asked.
“CyberEvolution,” I said, my voice a low growl. “They’re coming to eliminate us. Or worse—reclaim us.”
She stepped closer, concern etched across her face. “The reactivation codes you told me about?”
“Yes. We need to get back to the settlement now.” I reached for her hand, my fingers closing around hers. “We need to talk to Helix and double-check security measures.”
Her fingers tightened around mine. “Let me finish with Petra. She’s my last patient.”
While she completed her examination, I paced the cavern entrance, scanning the jungle beyond. The thriving settlement we’d built was hidden within the dense vegetation, but for how much longer?
Olivia joined me moments later, her makeshift medical bag slung over her shoulder. “Ready.”
I walked with her back through the dense jungle path that connected the caverns to our settlement. My heart still hadn’t slowed since Tegan’s transmission. Reactivation codes. The thought made my jaw clench involuntarily.
“You’re grinding your teeth again,” Olivia said, glancing up at me with concern in her eyes. “I can practically hear your thoughts spinning.”
I exhaled slowly, trying to release the tension. “If CE gets here with those codes, we’re not just fighting for our independence. We’re fighting for our lives.”
She reached for my hand, her small fingers slipping between mine. The simple touch sent an electric current up my arm that I still wasn’t used to.
“We’ll find a way,” she said firmly.
As we emerged from the jungle path, our settlement greeted us—a harmonious blend of technology and nature. Makeshift solar panels were nestled between flowering vines, and structures had been built from local materials and salvaged ship parts. My chest ached at the sight—this place we’d created from nothing, now under threat.
We headed straight for the council chamber. The circular building was situated in the center of the settlement, constructed from native stone and metal salvaged from our landing ships. Inside, Helix’s office was tucked away behind a heavy door that slid open as we approached. She sat at her desk, her complexion still pale but vastly improved from the gray pallor she’d had just days ago.
“Commander,” I greeted her, my voice automatically dropping into a more formal tone. “How are you feeling?”
Helix stood, the movement still careful but much steadier than before. “That plant extract you two concocted works miracles. Blood pressure’s almost normal.”
Olivia stepped forward, immediately slipping into doctor mode. “Any headaches? Vision changes?”
“Nothing since yesterday morning,” Helix replied, and then her expression hardened as she looked at me. “But I’m guessing you’re not here for a medical check.”
“Tegan intercepted new communications,” I said, stepping closer to her desk. “It’s confirmed. CE is coming, and they’re not exactly calling this a rescue mission. They’re referring to us as rogues and discussing neutralization and reactivation protocols.”
Helix’s face darkened. “Damn them.” She slammed her fist on the desk, rattling the datapads. “They still think they own us.”
Olivia shifted beside me. “Could we use my presence as leverage? They can’t exactly claim you kidnapped me if I refuse to leave.”
