Page 30 of Cyborg's Tether

Amaya nodded, her fingers hovering over the holographic interface of her portable hacking device. She took a deep breath and initiated the intrusion sequence. Lines of code streamed across the display faster than she could follow, her program fighting against the shuttle’s firewalls with every second. Her heart pounded as she battled the shuttle’s defenses, her mind racing to stay ahead.

Behind them, Dr. Vex’s voice crackled quietly through the comm link. “Focus on the data core. We need the full extent of Zorn’s plan before we make a move.”

“I know,” she said, sweat beading on her forehead. After a tense few moments, a soft chime signaled success. She allowed herself a small smile. “I’m in. Accessing the main data core now.”

As her fingers flew across the interface, more data than she had anticipated began flooding her screen. Her eyes widened at the sheer volume of classified information. “Xavier, look at this. It’s worse than we thought.”

He leaned closer, his cybernetic eye whirring as it processed the data. “What is it?”

“It’s not just about controlling cyborgs. Zorn’s planning to use the chips on humans too.”

Amaya heard Dr. Vex sharply inhale through the comm link. “Human test subjects... That monster.”

His expression darkened. “This goes beyond military applications. He intends to control the entire population.”

Her stomach churned as she continued scrolling through the documents. “It’s a multi-phase plan. First, they perfect the technology on cyborgs. Then they move on to human subjects. After that, it’s galactic.”

Dr. Vex’s voice was trembling with fury. “I knew it was bad, but this could collapse every free society in the galaxy.”

“We can’t allow this to happen,” said Xavier as he shifted, tensing in the confined space.

A sudden jolt rocked the shuttle, and her head slammed against the metal wall. She bit back a cry of pain, blinking stars from her vision.

“We’ve entered Helios Minor’s atmosphere,” said, steadying her with one massive hand.

Amaya winced, her hand pressed to the tender spot where her head had collided with the wall. “We need to find a secure hiding spot before we land.”

“Agreed,” said Xavier. He disconnected her hacking device and moved through the narrow passage. “Follow me.”

Amaya and Dr. Vex crawled behind him, their movements slow and deliberate as they navigated the claustrophobic space. They finally emerged into the shuttle’s dimly lit storage bay, with stacks of crates lining the walls. It was hardly comfortable, but it would have to do.

“Here,” said Xavier, gesturing to a gap between two large containers. “This should conceal us until the crew disembarks.”

They squeezed into the snug space, and the sharp edge of a crate dug into Amaya’s side. Her pulse was erratic as they waited, listening to the muffled sounds of the shuttle descending. The shuttle shuddered as it touched down on Helios Minor, the jolt sending a fresh wave of tension through Amaya’s body. She held her breath, straining to hear any sign of movement.

Footsteps echoed through the cargo bay. The sound of boots on metal grating grew louder, accompanied by low voices. “How long do you think we’ll be stuck here?” asked one voice.

“Who knows? The Admiral’s keeping this operation quiet. Could be days or weeks,” said another.

Amaya exchanged a worried glance with Xavier, and she could sense the tension from Dr. Vex as well. They hadn’t planned for an extended stay on Helios Minor, but they had no choice now. They’d have to figure out a way back to Durmox C7 once they stopped the admiral.

The voices faded, leaving them in silence once again. He carefully peeked out from their hiding spot. “The bay is clear. We should move while we have the chance.”

Amaya’s legs cramped as she uncurled from her crouched position. Dr. Vex followed, moving more slowly but with determination. Together, they crept toward the cargo bay doors, pausing at every creak of metal and hiss of machinery.

Just as they reached the exit, the unmistakable sound of footsteps echoed nearby. Xavier pulled them both behind a stack of crates, pressing them into the shadows.

Two guards walked past, engaged in a casual conversation. “Did you hear about the new batch of test subjects?”

“Yeah,” said the other guard, his tone indifferent. “Fresh batch of cyborgs from the outer colonies. Poor bastards have no idea what’s in store for them.”

Amaya’s fists clenched at her sides. She wanted to leap out, confront them, and demand answers, but Xavier’s steady hand on her arm kept her from acting rashly. Dr. Vex seemed to be holding her breath, her usually composed face tight with anger.

Once the guards had passed, they slipped out of the cargo bay and into the harsh sunlight of Helios Minor. The barren landscape stretched before them, rust-colored rock and swirling dust storms painting a bleak picture.

The planet hadn’t been undergoing terraforming for long—barely five years according to the records—so the air was thin, and the heat was oppressive. Amaya pulled a breath mask from her pack, securing it over her face while catching sight of the massive terraforming station in the distance. It was in theopposite direction of Zorn’s secret base and would offer them no help or sanctuary if their mission went awry since it was fully automated.

“We need to find shelter,” said Xavier, scanning the horizon with his cybernetic eye. “There’s an abandoned mining outpost two kilometers east. It should provide cover while we plan our next move.”

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