Page 38 of Human Reclaimed
With Talia by my side, her brilliant mind complementing my strength, I knew we could face whatever the pirates brought our way. The real challenge would be convincing her that this—us—was worth fighting for long after the threat had passed.
After we finished inspecting the cavern worksite, I wiped the sweat from my brow and guided Talia back toward the settlement. Before long, our boots crunched along the worn stone path that connected the colony’s central structures, weaving between the towering jungle trees rather than cutting through them. The midday suns beat down through gaps in the canopy, creating intricate patterns of light across her face.
“You must be hungry,” I said, watching her push a strand of blonde hair from her face. “Overseeing construction isn’t exactly light work.”
“I could eat,” Talia admitted, her blue eyes brightening at the mention of food. “What’s on the menu at your exotic jungle café today?”
I laughed, enjoying her teasing tone. “Something special. Some of our colonists have been perfecting protein synthesis. You’re in for a treat.”
We entered the bustling marketplace where colonists moved with purpose between stalls. Some nodded politely as we passed, no longer viewing Talia as an outsider but as someone integral to our defense. The transformation in how they saw her sent a wave of pride through me.
At one of the food vendors lining the edge of the central plaza, I greeted Rina, one of our most innovative food scientists.
“Commander.” She nodded. “And Captain Reed. I’ve got just the thing.”
She prepared two bowls of a rich stew-like dish, the steam carrying complex aromas of herbs and spices we’d cultivated in our hydroponics dome.
“These are synthesized proteins mixed with vegetables from our hydroponics dome,” I explained as we found a quiet table beneath a flowering tree. “We’ve been developing ways to create nutritionally complete meals from limited resources.”
Talia took a careful bite, her eyes widening instantly. “This is really good,” she said, taking another spoonful. “It’s so rich and filling. Better than anything I had in the army. That’s for sure.”
Something warm flooded through me watching her enjoy our food and seeing her experience my world. Even with the pirate threat looming, this moment felt precious—her sitting across from me, her blonde hair loose around her shoulders, and the dappled sunlight making her tanned skin glow.
“After we deal with these pirates…” I started and then hesitated. The words I needed to say felt like stones in my throat. “You know you’ll be free to return to Earth. Right? I’ll arrange the transport myself.”
I hated saying it. Every part of me wanted to beg her to stay. But I couldn’t keep her here, not after everything.
Talia’s spoon paused halfway to her mouth. She set it down slowly, her eyes studying mine.
“What if I don’t want to leave right away?” Her voice was soft but steady.
My heart pounded in my chest. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying…” She reached across the table, her fingers lightly touching mine. “Maybe I’d like to stay a bit longer. Get to know this place better.” Her eyes held mine. “Get to know you better.”
I suddenly forgot how to breathe. “You’d stay? Voluntarily?”
“Don’t look so shocked.” She laughed, the sound rippling through me like a physical touch. “This place is actually growing on me. And besides, I’m invested now. I want to see how all these new defenses work out.”
“Just the defenses?” I asked, my voice lower than I intended.
A blush crept across her cheeks. “Maybe not just the defenses.”
After we finished our lunch, we headed to my office in the security center. I needed to focus on preparing our briefing for tonight, but sitting at my desk was torture. All I could think about was last night—Talia spread across this very surface, her back arching as my fingers moved inside her, and her gasps of pleasure as she came apart under my touch.
Heat pooled low in my body at the memory. The way she’d looked at me afterward, breathless and wanting. The way she’d whispered my name.
“Rune? Are you even listening?”
I blinked, finding her staring at me with narrowed eyes. “Sorry, I was…” I cleared my throat. “Weighing strategic options.”
Her knowing smirk told me she wasn’t fooled. “Sure you were. Now, about the evacuation order sequencing…”
We somehow finished our preparations, and as the twin suns began their descent, we walked toward the central plaza where colonists were already gathering. Her shoulder brushed against me occasionally, each light touch sending electricity through my body.
I glanced at her profile in the golden light and realized with sudden clarity that I was completely in love with her. The knowledge should have terrified me—too soon, too intense, and too illogical—but instead it felt like the most natural conclusion in the world. Everything I knew and everything I was before Talia arrived felt distant and incomplete.
“What are you staring at?” she asked, catching my gaze.
