Page 40 of Cyborg's Tether
“You’re deluded.” Zorn spat out a mouthful of blood before charging again. “There is no coexistence. There’s only control.”
As they fought, he caught glimpses of Amaya’s fingers moving furiously over her datapad. The core must be moments from being fully sabotaged, but the room was growing increasingly unstable. Explosions erupted from the machinery around them as sparks rained down from above, casting frantic shadows on the walls.
Dr. Vex’s voice rose above the chaos. “Zorn, you’re finished. The entire galaxy knows about Project Guardian. You won’t be able to hide behind your lies anymore.”
Zorn’s face twisted in rage, his attention snapping to Dr. Vex. “You think anyone will stop me in time? You’ve always been too idealistic, Zara. Weak.”
Xavier took advantage of his distraction, slamming his shoulder into Zorn and driving him back toward the edge of the platform, but Zorn regained his balance, his enhanced strength anchoring him as he surged forward, grabbing Xavier by the throat and squeezing.
“Xavier,” shouted Amaya, surging to her feet before looking down at her datapad again. She paused to type one more thing before rushing toward him.
Seeing her rushing toward him, and grasping she intended to join the fight, he found a new surge of strength. He had toprotect her. Xavier’s cybernetic systems whirred in protest as Zorn’s grip tightened, but with a final burst of strength, he pried away the admiral’s hands, twisting free and delivering a brutal punch to the admiral’s jaw.
The other man stumbled, his face contorting with pain as he wiped blood from his mouth. “You’re a fool. You’ve chosen the losing side.”
Xavier’s response was calm. “I’ve chosen the right side.”
Before Zorn could strike again, Amaya’s voice rang out. “Xavier, now.”
The core erupted in a series of violent explosions, the room plunging into chaos as lights flickered, and the floor beneath them trembled. Xavier moved with lightning speed, delivering a final blow to Zorn that sent him reeling backward. The admiral crashed into the rail at the edge of the platform, his hands scrambling for balance as the ground beneath him began to collapse.
Their gazes met for a brief moment. Zorn’s was full of shock and disbelief, and Xavier ensured his expression showed only apathy for the fate awaiting the man. With a deafening roar, the platform gave way, sending the admiral plummeting into the fiery abyss below. His scream of rage was swallowed by the roar of destruction as the core continued to detonate.
“Xavier?” Amaya ran to him as the explosions grew louder.
He grasped her hand, and Dr. Vex rushed along behind them as they ran from the core room through the facility as it continued to shake and rumble around them. Pieces fell, threatening to block their path, but his processors kept up, anticipating where damage would happen, and he navigated them into the shuttle bay, to the shuttle on which they had stowed away to reach Helios Minor. Had it really only been yesterday?
As they reached the shuttle, another explosion rocked the platform. He stumbled, nearly losing his footing, but Amaya grabbed his arm and pulled him into the shuttle just as the engines roared to life. The cyborgs must have already seized control of the shuttle using Amaya’s program.
“I’ve got you,” she said as she steadied him.
The shuttle lifted of, as flames and smoke engulfed the facility below them. Xavier collapsed into a seat, his systems finally giving in to the strain of the battle. Through the viewport, he watched as the facility erupted into a massive fireball, taking with it the last remnants of Zorn’s ambitions.
Amaya knelt beside him with concern. “Are you okay?”
Xavier managed a weak smile. “I’ll survive. What matters is we made it out.”
Dr. Vex nodded from a nearby seat, her expression grim but relieved. “The data we broadcast is already causing shockwaves throughout the galaxy. Governments are mobilizing. Zorn’s plans are done.”
Xavier nodded, feeling a flicker of hope despite the enervation spreading through him. “We’ve given both humans and cyborgs a chance at a better future.”
As the shuttle soared away from the destruction, she took his hand, squeezing gently. He looked at her, mesmerized by her face. Everything about Amaya was perfect and precious to him.
“What now?” Amaya asked quietly.
Xavier’s gaze drifted back to the stars before looking at her again. “We build our future and let the galaxy take care of itself.”
She grinned. “You don’t really mean that.”
His power levels were fluctuating, and all he wanted to do was regenerate. “Right now, I definitely do.” A yawn escaped him. “I might reevaluate that opinion after a nap.”
Chapter 15—Amaya
AMAYA STEPPED OFF THEtransport ship onto the landing pad of Durmox C7, her legs wobbly after the arduous missing and journey back from Helios Minor. The familiar sight of the gleaming cybernetics facility stretched before her, and Xavier’s steady presence at her side was welcome as they walked toward the main building.
A crowd had gathered to greet them, a mixture of cyborgs, humans, and various alien species. Their faces beamed with joy and relief. Amaya’s throat tightened as she realized the magnitude of what they’d accomplished.
“Welcome home, heroes.” A booming voice echoed across the landing pad. Admiral Jaxon strode toward them. He was entirely human, at least visibly, and she let out a little sigh of relief. She bore no prejudice toward cyborgs, but she was glad to have a human admiral to deal with after Zorn.