Page 4 of Cyborgs' Origins
THE SOFT GLOW OF THEevening sun filtered through the panoramic windows, casting a warm, inviting ambiance over the private dining alcove. Simone smoothed her hands over the crisp fabric of her pantsuit, an uncharacteristic flutter of nerves stirring within her. This was just a monthly debriefing and nothing more. There was no reason to feel nervous.
“You’ve got this, Wiley,” she said under her breath, willing herself to maintain her composure.
The door slid open with a hushed hiss, and Tiberius stepped into the room, his imposing figure seeming to command the very space around him. Simone’s pulse quickened. “Commander.” She nodded, rising from her seat with a welcoming smile.
Tiberius inclined his head, his gaze sweeping over her with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. “Dr. Wiley,” he said, his voice a rich baritone that resonated to her core.
Gesturing toward the table, she fought to maintain her composure. “Please, have a seat. I took the liberty of selecting a few dishes from the synthicator. I hope you don’t mind.”
As Tiberius settled into the chair opposite her, Simone admired the fluid grace of his movements and the way his muscles rippled beneath the sleek lines of his combat fatigues. She wondered how he’d move in other...horizontal positions. Her mouth went dry at the thought.
“Not at all,” he said, his tone betraying no hint of the effect his presence had on her. “I appreciate the effort.”
Silence descended between them, thick and charged with an undercurrent of tension she found both exhilarating and unnerving. She busied herself with pouring them each a glass of wine, her fingers trembling ever so slightly as she handed one to Tiberius.
Their gazes met, and she was momentarily lost in the depths of his warm brown eyes, so intense and yet inscrutable. She cleared her throat, willing herself to regain her composure.
“I wanted to thank you again for your support, Commander,” she said, her voice steadier than she had anticipated in light of the way her mind was flitting about. “Your team’s presence has been invaluable for our safety and my peace of mind.”
He regarded her over the rim of his glass, his expression unreadable. “It’s our duty, Dr. Wiley, but I must admit, this mission has been...enlightening.”
Simone arched an inquisitive brow. “Oh? How so?”
A ghost of a smile tugged at the corners of his lips, softening the hard planes of his features. “I’ve witnessed many scientific endeavors in my time, but none quite as ambitious—or as potentially groundbreaking—as yours.”
Pride swelled within Simone’s chest. “We’ve barely scratched the surface, Commander, but I won’t deny the thrill of standing on the precipice of something truly extraordinary.”
Tiberius leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table as he regarded her with an intensity that set her heart racing. “Tell me more,” he said, his voice low and compelling.
Simone was drawn in by his rapt attention, her words tumbling forth in a torrent of passion and conviction. As she spoke, she gestured animatedly, lit with the fire of intellectual passion, and through it all, Tiberius remained a captive audience, his expression one of genuine interest and engagement.
When she finally fell silent, breathless and flushed with the exhilaration of her own fervor, he smiled at her.
“Your passion is inspiring, Dr. Wiley,” he said, his voice smoky, and she doubted he meant her scientific passion.
A flush bloomed in her cheeks, a reaction she swiftly tamped down as she awkwardly tried to redirect. “I could say the same of you, Commander. Your dedication to your team and this mission is truly remarkable.”
Tiberius’s expression grew somber, his brow furrowing ever so slightly. “I won’t lie to you, Dr. Wiley. My path hasn’t been an easy one, but it’s forged me into the man I am today, for better or worse.”
Simone leaned forward, her eyes alight with curiosity. “Would you share your story with me, Commander? If you’re comfortable, that is.”
For a moment, he seemed to hesitate, his gaze flickering with an emotion Simone couldn’t quite decipher. Then, with a barely perceptible nod, he began to speak. His voice was low and measured, each word carefully chosen as he wove the tale of his childhood on a harsh, lawless fringe planet. Simone was hanging on his every utterance, captivated by the vivid imagery he conjured, the raw honesty with which he laid bare the struggles and hardships he had endured.
As he spoke of joining the local militia, of rising through the ranks and eventually forming the Iron Wolves, Simone admired the strength that had carried him through even the darkest oftimes. When his tale drew to a close, Simone was regarding him with new understanding.
“You’ve endured more than most could ever imagine, Commander,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “And yet, here you are, full of strength and integrity.”
Tiberius’s gaze met hers, his expression unguarded in a way she had never witnessed before. “It’s not a path I would wish upon anyone,” he said, his voice tinged with vulnerability that tugged at her heartstring, “But it’s shaped me into the man I am today—for better or worse.”
Without thinking, she reached across the table, resting her hand atop his in a gesture of comfort and solidarity. “For better, Commander,” she said firmly. “Undoubtedly, for better.”
Tiberius’s fingers curled around hers, his touch sending a jolt of electricity through her veins. For a long moment, they remained like that, their gazes locked, the world around them fading into insignificance.
It was Tiberius who finally broke the spell, his hand slipping from hers as he cleared his throat. “Thank you, Dr. Wiley,” he said, his voice thick with an emotion Simone couldn’t quite place. “For listening...understanding.”
Simone nodded, her heart still thundering in her chest. “Of course, Commander. I’m honored that you chose to share your story with me.”
As the evening wore on, their conversation ebbed and flowed, touching on topics both profound and mundane. Simone was captivated by Tiberius’s intellect, his dry wit, and the unexpected depths that lay beneath his gruff exterior.