Page 71 of Human Required
“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.”
