Page 29 of Cyborg's Tether

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” asked Amaya. “I could have helped you.”

Dr. Vex’s shoulders sagged. “I wanted to protect you, Amaya. The less you knew, the safer you were. If Zorn had discovered my involvement, I couldn’t risk him coming after you too.”

Xavier stepped closer, his massive frame casting a shadow over them both. “Dr. Vex’s actions, while deceptive, were born of a desire to safeguard those under her care. Is that not a commendable trait in a leader?”

Amaya chewed her lower lip, considering his words. “I suppose, but we’re supposed to be a team. How can we work together if we’re keeping secrets from each other?”

“You’re right,” said the doctor. “From now on, full transparency. No more secrets between us.”

Amaya nodded slowly. “Okay. Let’s get back to work then.”

As they returned to their planning, Amaya shared smiles with Xavier any time their gazes met. His presence was reassuring, and she was glad to have him at her side. Hours passed as they fine-tuned their infiltration plan. Amaya’s eyes burned from staring at screens, but she pushed through the fatigue. The stakes were too high for mistakes.

“I think we’ve got it,” she said finally, leaning back in her chair. “The program should be able to bypass Zorn’s security and give us access to his private communications.”

Dr. Vex reviewed the code, a small smile of approval on her lips. “Impressive work, Amaya. I knew you were the right person for this job.”

She tapped the holographic keyboard to execute her program, gaze fixed on the streams of data scrolling by. The labhummed with the low thrum of machinery. Xavier stood nearby, moving closer to put a hand on her shoulder.

“I’ve got something,” said Amaya with excitement. “There’s a hidden data packet buried in the communications log.”

Dr. Vex leaned in. “Can you decrypt it?”

Amaya nodded. “Give me a minute.”

As she worked, Xavier’s cybernetic eye pulsed with a soft green light. “Security protocols are holding. We have approximately eighteen minutes before the next system sweep.”

Her mouth was dry as she navigated through layers of encryption. With each barrier she broke, a clearer picture emerged. “Oh, no,” she whispered, her stomach dropping.

“What is it?” asked Dr. Vex, her voice sharp with concern.

Amaya swallowed hard. “It’s worse than we thought. They’re planning a test of the control chips on a nearby outpost hidden on a moon of Durmox C7—Helios Minor. Zorn wants to see how effectively they can manipulate a small population before moving forward with full-scale implementation.”

Xavier’s massive frame tensed. “When?”

“Three days from now,” she said, scanning the data.

Dr. Vex’s face paled. “We can’t allow this to happen. If Zorn succeeds in controlling even a small population, it will be nearly impossible to stop Project Guardian.”

Amaya nodded. “We need to infiltrate that outpost. If we can disrupt the test, it might buy us time to expose Zorn’s plans to the rest of the military leadership.”

Xavier crossed his arms, his mismatched eyes narrowing. “It’s a significant risk. The outpost will be heavily guarded.”

“Do we have a choice?” asked Amaya, looking between her companions. “If we do nothing, Zorn wins.”

Dr. Vex sighed, rubbing her temples. “Amaya’s right. We need to act.” She turned to the console, pulling up a holographic map of the sector. “The outpost is here, on Helios Minor.It’s ostensibly a small mining colony, population roughly five thousand, but it looks like he’s quietly infiltrated it and turned it into his own secret base.”

Amaya studied the map, already formulating a plan. “If we can get inside their systems, I might be able to sabotage the control chips before they’re activated.” She paused when he squeezed her shoulder, looking up at him. “I’m scared, but I can’t stand by and let this happen when I have the skills to try to stop it.”

He nodded. “I know, which is why I won’t ask if you’re sure you want to do this, or tell you that you don’t have to. If you don’t, it might be that no one else will. Your courage is admirable. I’ll do everything in my power to ensure your safety during this mission.”

She smiled, touched by his words, and put her hand over his on her shoulder, staring at him for a moment. “Thank you, Xavier. There’s no one I trust more.”

TWO DAYS LATER, AMAYAcrouched in the cramped maintenance shaft of Admiral Zorn’s personal shuttle. Her palms were sweaty, and the confined space did nothing to calm her racing heart. To her right, Xavier was squeezed into the tight shaft as well, his massive frame barely fitting in the narrow passage. Dr. Vex lay just behind them in another compartment, within hearing range but staying back to allow them room for the mission’s critical components.

She shifted uncomfortably, the cold metal grating biting into her knees. The sharp smell of engine oil filled the space, and the muffled hum of the shuttle’s systems vibrated beneath her hands. “Are you sure this will work?” she whispered.

Xavier’s cybernetic eye whirred as it scanned the shuttle’s systems. “My enhancements have bypassed the initial security protocols. We have approximately seven minutes before the next system sweep.”

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