Page 27 of Human Reform
As if summoned by my thoughts, Olivia rushed in, medical kit in hand, her practiced gaze immediately assessing the situation.
“Let’s get that nose looked at,” she said, guiding me to a nearby chair.I sat reluctantly, more concerned with Alora’s frazzled state than my own injury.
Alora backed away, wrapping her arms around herself.The wall she’d begun to lower between us was reconstructing itself brick by brick, and panic surged through me at the sight.
“Don’t,” I said, reaching for her.“This isn’t?—”
The security center doors hissed open, cutting me off as Commander Helix strode in.Her blonde hair was pulled back in a severe knot, and her gray eyes narrowed as she surveyed the scene.
“Report now,” she demanded, voice clipped.
I quickly stood, ignoring Olivia’s protests.“A minor incident.Sage experienced a glitch episode but has recovered.The situation is under control.”
Helix’s gaze traveled from my bloodied face to Alora’s pale one.“This looks more significant thanminor, Daxon.I’ve received notification of elevated stress markers from both of you.”Her sharp focus landed on Alora.“Dr.Bridges appears particularly affected.”
“She’s concerned about the code, Commander.Not about me.”
Helix’s eyebrow arched skeptically.“Is she?Because my readings indicate emotional instability in both of you beyond professional parameters.”
“The situation is under control,” I repeated firmly.“We’ve identified some concerning patterns in the code and were discussing solutions when Sage’s episode occurred.”
Helix studied me for a long, uncomfortable moment.“I’m keeping a close eye on this project, Daxon.And on you.Don’t give me reason to doubt your focus.”
After she left, Alora mumbled something about needing space and retreated to her office.Olivia finished taping my nose, her touch gentle but her expression worried.
“Alora’s blaming herself,” Olivia said quietly.
“I know.”I flinched at more than just the physical pain.“I’ll talk to her.”
But first, I needed to gather myself.I returned to my workstation, absently wiping the lingering blood with a cloth Olivia had given me.I pulled up routine security protocols to distract myself, scrolling through recent changes when something caught my eye.
There, encoded within a seemingly innocuous protocol update, was a lockdown directive targeting Alora.It would automatically confine her to her quarters if certain parameters were triggered—parameters so vague they could be interpreted almost any way.The protocol signature was Tegan’s.
White-hot fury burned through me.My fingers flew across the keyboard, immediately disabling the protocol and erasing all traces of it.Every protective instinct in my body screamed to confront him, to make clear that no one threatened Alora—not while I existed.
I looked across the operations floor where Tegan had returned to his station as if nothing had happened.My hands clenched into fists.I could be at his throat in three seconds, demanding explanations and making him understand exactly what would happen if he tried anything like this again.
But Commander Helix’s words echoed in my head.She was watching me.If I showed any sign I was compromised emotionally, she could remove me from this assignment—from Alora.
That was unacceptable.I would protect Alora, but I needed to be smarter about it.This silent deletion was just the beginning.From now on, nothing and no one would threaten her without going through me first.
ELEVEN
ALORA
I slammedthe door of my private office in the security center, leaning against it as my chest heaved with ragged breaths.The image of Daxon’s bloodied face burned behind my eyelids—the crimson stream flowing from his nose and that look of fierce protection in his ice-blue eyes, even as he stood there bleeding.
“No, no, no,” I whispered, sliding down until I hit the floor.
My hands shook as I covered my face.Two days.I’d known him for two damn days, and watching him get hurt had sent me spiraling into panic.This wasn’t supposed to happen.I wasn’t supposed to care.
The chain bracelet on my wrist caught the light—Tim’s bracelet.My throat tightened as memories flooded back.
“Why did you leave me, Tim?”I whispered to the empty room.“I needed you then.I need you now.”
The hole my brother left when he vanished during deployment four years ago gaped wide open again.The only person who’d ever truly loved me, gone without a trace, without a goodbye.
Just like everyone else.
