Page 12 of Human Reclaimed
Part of me still wanted to go back to Earth, to my quiet condo and my predictable volunteer work at the veterans’ facility. My lonely but comfortable existence where nothing surprised me and no one expected anything from me.
But another part—the part that had once led soldiers and protected the vulnerable for fifteen years in the army—couldn’t turn away from this.
“I’ll do my best to help you,” I said quietly. “I may not approve of how you chose to bring me here, but this…” I gestured to the images of terror on the screens. “Is wrong.”
Rune stepped closer, so close that I could feel the heat radiating from his body. “Thank you,” he said. The genuine relief in his voice made something flutter traitorously in my chest.
SIX
RUNE
I watched Talia’s face as the horrific footage of the pregnant cyborgs being kidnapped on the neighboring planet played across Tegan’s screens. The sunlight streaming through the security center’s reinforced windows caught in her long blonde hair, creating a halo effect that seemed at odds with the fierce determination hardening her features. Though she’d only been conscious on Planet Alpha for a few hours, something about Talia Reed felt right here—like a missing piece we hadn’t known we needed.
I took another step closer to her, drawn in like gravity. The scent of her skin—something lavender and clean—momentarily distracted me. I had to remind myself to focus on the mission, not on how my body inexplicably responded to her proximity.
She turned those piercing blue eyes on me, and for a moment, I forgot to breathe. I saw steel behind that gaze.
“Don’t thank me yet,” Talia warned. “I have no idea what your security defenses are currently or if they’re remotely adequate against the kind of threat these pirates pose.”
Her tactical mind was already at work. I respected that immensely.
“Tegan,” I said, turning to my second-in-command who was still watching us with thinly veiled skepticism, “give Captain Reed her own datapad. She needs access to our security protocols and defense systems to start building a strategy.”
Tegan’s green eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly. I knew that look—the silent question of why I was trusting this human with our most vital information when she’d been on our planet for less than a day and clearly wasn’t thrilled about being here.
I gave him a slight shake of my head. This wasn’t the time for doubt.
Despite only speaking with Talia for the past hour, something about her struck a chord deep within me. A connection I couldn’t explain but felt with absolute certainty. Perhaps it was foolish, but I trusted her—trusted her character and her integrity. I’d spent enough time studying her service record to know she was fiercely protective of those under her command. That kind of loyalty didn’t simply vanish.
Yes, I was attracted to her. The way her fitted beige tactical pants hugged her curves and her white T-shirt revealed her toned arms wasn’t lost on me. But this was more than physical chemistry. Something about Talia Reed made me want to earn her trust and to listen to her insights. It was as though I recognized something in her that mirrored what I valued most in myself—loyalty, sacrifice, and an unwavering commitment to those who depended on me.
Tegan reluctantly retrieved a datapad from a nearby cabinet and handed it to Talia. His movements were precise and calculated, broadcasting his distrust of her with every gesture.
“Thank you,” I said to Tegan, my tone making it clear the discussion was over.
“I’d like you to meet another member of our team,” I told Talia, guiding her toward the far corner of the security center where a woman with blonde hair pulled back in a practical ponytail worked efficiently at her station. “This is Sage. She’s my right hand here—my eyes and ears throughout the colony and an asset to the brigade I’ve been training since Commander Aeon appointed me head of security six months ago.”
Sage looked up from her station, her blue eyes bright with curiosity. Unlike Tegan, her smile was immediate and genuine.
“Captain Reed! I’ve been waiting to meet you.” Sage extended her hand in the human custom of greeting. “Your tactical maneuvers during the Kestrel Mountains campaign were brilliant. I’ve studied them extensively.”
Talia’s eyebrows rose in surprise as she shook Sage’s hand. I noticed some of the tension in her shoulders ease slightly.
“You’ve studied my campaigns?”
“Of course,” Sage replied with a wink. “Know thy enemy, right? Though I hope we’re not enemies now that the war is over.”
A small smile—the first I’d seen—tugged at the corner of Talia’s mouth. “That depends on how good your coffee is here.”
Sage laughed, the sound bright in the otherwise serious environment of the security center. “Priorities. I like that. Our synthetic blend isn’t terrible, but the real stuff we’ve started growing in the agricultural dome is surprisingly decent.”
“I’d be happy to help you sort through all the data,” Sage offered, gesturing at the datapad in Talia’s hands. “There’s a lot to catch up on since we established the colony a year and a half ago.”
“I appreciate that,” Talia nodded, seeming genuinely relieved to have an ally here on Planet Alpha.
“Actually,” Sage suggested, “I could take you on a tour of the colony first. Get you oriented before diving into all the technical specs. Might help put things in context.”
“No,” I said, the word shooting from my mouth with unexpected force. Both women turned to look at me, Sage with one eyebrow raised in silent amusement.
