Page 31 of Cyborg's Tether
She nodded, adjusting her breath mask. They began their trek across the desolate terrain as the wind howled around them. The thin atmosphere made breathing difficult, even with the masks, and Amaya’s lungs burned with the effort. Xavier, with his enhanced physiology, moved more easily, but even he showed signs of strain.
Dr. Vex’s breathing came in shallow gasps behind them, her determination to keep up evident despite her struggle.
As they neared the outpost, she caught a flicker of movement near the entrance. Her heart leaped into her throat. “I saw something. Could be a sentry drone.”
Xavier motioned for them to take cover behind a rocky outcropping. “Stay low. I’ll check it out.”
Before Amaya or Dr. Vex could protest, he moved with inhuman speed toward the outpost, his body blending into the rocky terrain. Amaya held her breath as he approached the entrance.
Suddenly, a high-pitched whine filled the air. A sleek, silver drone shot out from the entrance, its weapons powering up. Her pulse skipped as laser fire lit up the sky.
Xavier dove for cover, narrowly avoiding the barrage of fire, as she studied the drone. The drone’s erratic flight pattern made it difficult to hit, but its design was outdated, and it was likely left over from the days before this mining site had been tapped out. There had to be a weakness.
“The gyroscopic stabilizer on that model is vulnerable,” she shouted to Xavier so he could hear her over the wind. “It’s exposed on the underside. Destroy it, and it won’t be able to fly or target.”
Xavier didn’t hesitate. He waited for the drone to swoop low, then lunged forward, his cybernetic arm flashing out. He closed his fingers around the stabilizer, and with a sickening crunch, crushed the delicate component.
The drone spiraled out of control, crashing into the rocks below with a shower of sparks.
Amaya ran to his side, her breath coming in ragged gasps. “Are you okay?”
He nodded, his chest heaving. “Your quick thinking saved us.”
Dr. Vex joined them, her face pale beneath her breath mask. “Well done, but we need to move. The sound of that crash might draw attention.”
Amaya nodded, pushing aside the rush of adrenaline. They had a mission to complete, and they couldn’t afford any more distractions.
They slipped inside the mining outpost, the eerie silence of the abandoned facility wrapping around them like a shroud. The air was thick with dust, and the walls creaked ominously as they moved through the interior. Once settled into a small, secure room, her mind raced with what they’d just discovered about Zorn’s plans.
“We need to stop Zorn,” she said softly, looking between Xavier and Dr. Vex. “Whatever it takes.”
Her companions nodded, and she leaned closer to Xavier while passing Dr. Vex an injection to boost her oxygen circulation. She took one herself and cocked a brow at Xavier, but he shook his head.
“Don’t need it. My oxygen sat rates are ninety-seven and climbing.”
She nodded as she returned the hypodermic to the pack. Now, all they could do was wait for an opening to breach Zorn’s secret base.
The hours passed slowly in the dim light of the mining outpost. She was exhausted, but her mind remained sharp, processing every piece of information they’d gathered so far. Xavier remained a steady presence beside her while Dr. Vex was less calm, pacing intermittently.
Finally, their opportunity came when the outpost’s perimeter sensors, still functional despite the decay, picked up movement. There was a small patrol shuttle heading toward Zorn’s secret facility. The patrol was likely changing shifts, and if they timed it right, they could slip into the facility undetected during the rotation.
“Now’s our chance,” whispered Xavier.
Amaya nodded, and with swift efficiency, they packed up their equipment. Dr. Vex paused briefly at the door to adjust her breathing mask. She seemed to still be struggling with impaired oxygen levels from the harsh environment of Helios Minor.
They moved quickly across the barren landscape, using the cover of the rocky terrain to shield themselves from the facility’s sensors. The shuttle was already disappearing into the facility when they reached the exterior, and with Xavier’s guidance, they bypassed the outer security systems with ease. His enhancements allowed him to detect and neutralize the various surveillance measures Zorn had in place, making their infiltration almost seamless.
They slipped through a side entrance, bypassing the main hangar where the shuttle had landed. Inside, the facility was eerily quiet, the sterile metal walls reflecting the low hum of the building’s automated systems. The air was cooler here,the artificial atmosphere providing a strange contrast to the oppressive heat outside. There was oxygen circulating as well, making it easy to draw in a deep breath again.
Amaya’s palms were sweaty when they moved deeper into the complex, each step bringing them closer to the core of Zorn’s operation. From the data they had hacked, they knew Zorn’s main lab was in the central wing, where he was conducting his most dangerous experiments.
Once they reached the inner corridor, Xavier motioned for them to take cover behind a stack of crates that lined the hallway. Amaya crouched low, her breath shallow as she peered around the edge of the crates. Ahead of them, two guards patrolled the area as Dr. Vex curled in beside her.
Xavier’s cybernetic eye scanned the room, obviously calculating their approach. With a slight nod, he signaled for them to move forward. They crept along the wall, avoiding the guards’ line of sight until they reached a service door leading to the lab.
With deft hands, he accessed the door’s control panel. The door slid open with a soft hiss, revealing the heart of Zorn’s secret operation. They darted in, making straight for a stack of crates and hiding themselves before anyone noticed.
Chapter 12—Xavier