Page 38 of Cyborg's Tether
Cyborgs had built in redundancies to maintain the bare minimum required for survival, including keeping the heart beating and lungs working, which were powered by their own electrical charge in the event of a system failure or power loss, but their organic bodies didn’t generate enough power to keep sophisticated weaponry operational, so they were the equivalent of human soldiers again.
Xavier, whose power hadn’t been cut by Amaya, capitalized on the chaos, tackling Zorn to the ground. They grappled fiercely in a tangle of flesh and metal locked in mortal combat.
“You’re fighting for a lost cause,” said Zorn, his cybernetic eye pulsing with rage.
Xavier countered with a swift strike to Zorn’s midsection. “No, I’m fighting for our future. A future where cyborgs and humans can coexist.”
Their struggle intensified, each blow threatening to tip the balance. Xavier’s systems strained under the pressure, pushing his enhancements to their limits.
Nearby, Amaya continued to work her technological magic, disabling more of the enemy’s systems. Dr. Vex rallied the rescued cyborgs, coordinating their efforts to subdue the remaining troops.
As the battle raged on, he was locked in a deadly stalemate with Zorn. Both combatants were evenly matched, their cybernetic enhancements canceling out each other’s advantages. He was unsurprised to learn that Zorn had his own self-contained power units that weren’t reliant on the system’s grid he used to control the others.
“You’re a fool, Xavier,” he said with disdain. “Do you really think humans will ever accept cyborgs as equals? They fear you, or they envy you. They’ll become like you as much as they can if it prolongs their lives or makes them stronger, but humans are never going to see cyborgs as anything more than enhanced soldiers. You’re a weapon to us. A tool to be used and nothing more.”
“You’re wron—” Xavier’s response was cut short as Zorn landed a powerful blow to his jaw with his enhanced arm. He staggered back, his systems momentarily disoriented.
Zorn pressed his advantage, unleashing a flurry of strikes that forced Xavier on the defensive. “I’m seizing a chance for true power and true freedom for humans and cyborgs. The galaxy will be peaceful when I’ve united all.”
Xavier blocked another attack, his circuits burning with exertion. “At the cost of our free will? That’s not freedom. It’s enslavement.”
Amaya’s voice cut through the din, appearing in his head as she accessed his private communication channel.“Xavier. I’ve accessed Zorn’s neural network. There’s a weak point in his defense systems.”
Hope surged through Xavier’s circuits. He redoubled his efforts, searching for an opening in Zorn’s defenses.
The admiral, realizing the tide was turning against him, grew increasingly desperate. His attacks became wilder and more erratic. “You can’t stop progress, Xavier. The age of weak humans manipulating technology to spread menace and violence throughout the galaxy is over.”
Xavier saw his chance. As Zorn overextended on a punch, he ducked under the admiral’s guard and struck at a precise point on his neck, following Amaya’s directions, whispered in his mind.
Zorn’s eyes widened in shock as his systems began to short-circuit. “What have you done?”
“Ended your reign of terror,” said Xavier, watching as the admiral’s cybernetic enhancements powered down, leaving him just another weak human.
With their leader incapacitated, the remaining enemy troops quickly surrendered. The battlefield fell silent, save for the labored breathing of the combatants.
Amaya rushed to Xavier’s side. “Are you all right?” She scanned him, looking at the burn marks marring the synthetic skin on his arm.
Xavier nodded, though the tightness in his jaw betrayed the pain he was suppressing. “I’ll be fine. We need to secure the area.”
Dr. Vex approached, supporting one of the cyborgs they’d rescued. “We’ve got some injuries, but nothing life-threatening.”
Xavier exhaled deeply, his enhanced vision sweeping over the scene—the rescued cyborgs, the defeated enemy soldiers,and the nearby facility. His mind raced. They had dealt a significant blow to Zorn’s operation, but they couldn’t afford to relax yet. He knew Zorn well enough to understand that this wasn’t the end.
“What’s our next move?” asked Amaya, her voice soft but urgent as she took his hand.
He glanced at the group—Dr. Vex, the injured cyborgs, and Amaya, all of them exhausted yet ready for what came next. “We need to destroy the core,” he said firmly, meeting their gazes. “Zorn might be incapacitated, but his systems are still active. If we don’t shut it all down, he’ll recover—and his plans will continue.”
Dr. Vex frowned. “The core is deep within the facility. It’s heavily protected, but we might have a window while his forces are still regrouping.”
Amaya’s grip on Xavier tightened. “We need to move now. We can’t let Zorn’s work survive.”
Xavier nodded. “Agreed. We’ll hit the core and make sure everything is destroyed.”
As they began to organize the group, preparing for the next phase, Xavier’s cybernetic systems continued running damage assessments. He caught a glimpse of Amaya’s tense face as she worked with Dr. Vex to pull up a map of the facility’s lower levels. He was distracted by one of the injured cyborgs shouting, “He’s gone.”
He snapped up his head, looking around and instinctively knowing the cyborg referred to Zorn. He cursed and scanned the area, not detecting any power signatures from a human or an enhanced human. “No sign of him.”
“Sorry,” said a young female cyborg. “I was supposed to watch him, but...” She trailed off before sparking and trembling as though seizing. After a moment, she reset and said, “Welcome to Hydarius. I’ll be your tour guide.”