Epilogue

EPILOGUE

M ira stared at the vibrant bouquet in her hands, the soft petals tickling her palms. The sweet fragrance of alien blooms filled her nostrils, a pleasant contrast to the sterile, recycled air of the ship. Her gaze returned to Davis, but he had already turned away, his broad shoulders disappearing into the throng of celebrating Reapers.

The laughter and chatter of the group washed over her, but she felt like she was underwater, muffled and distant from the festivities. Her heart sank as she watched the tall handsome man rejoin his team, leaving her alone on the outside. Again

She bit her lip as doubt filled her. She'd helped them with their last mission, but she was just human, and unlike Davis, she didn't really have any skills, apart from operating a damn joystick. Wrapping her arms around herself, she suppressed the shiver that wanted to roll down her spine. She'd never felt so small and insignificant before.

Would they let her stay, or was she just a temporary passenger? The thought of being abandoned at some distant spaceport sent a chill down her spine. Even worse was the terrifying possibility that they might decide to sell her off to the highest bidder, condemning her to a life of servitude in some alien harem. Did aliens even have harems? She was sure they did.

The metallic thud of heavy footsteps beside her pulled her from her spiraling thoughts. She looked up.

"Oh, hey Jex," she murmured, her fingertips tracing the petals of the delicate alien flowers in her hand.

The cyborg-turned-Scorperio suit loomed over her, his blank faceplate reflecting the celebration before them.

"They are… different to what I know," he rumbled, a hint of curiosity in his mechanical tone.

"Same," she agreed, grateful for the unexpected companionship. She cleared her throat. "But they seem nice? At least, nicer than most of the people I've known my whole life."

"Humans," he hissed, the word dripping with disdain even through his vocal processors.

She flinched at the venom in his voice but found herself nodding in agreement.

"Assholes," she muttered, her gaze subconsciously drifting back to Davis. She watched as he laughed at something Anson said, his eyes crinkling at the corners. He was the most handsome man she'd ever met. "Well, most of them anyway."

"Are you not human yourself?" he asked, his head tilting slightly in curiosity.

She winced, remembering what she'd been told of Jex's and all the Zodiacs' horrific treatment at the hands of humans in their home universe. Guilt and shame washed over her, even though she knew she wasn't responsible for their suffering.

"Yeah," she admitted reluctantly, "but I'm putting in a request for a change of species, just as soon as I find out where to send it."

The weak attempt at humor fell flat, and her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She risked a glance up at Jex, trying to gauge his reaction, but the blank faceplate revealed nothing.

After a moment, he spoke again.

"Your species does not define you," he said, his tone softer than before. "I have learned that individuals can surprise you, regardless of their origin."

She blinked in surprise. "I… err, yes, I guess so. Thank you."

"You are welcome," he replied. "Perhaps we are both outsiders here, in our own ways. But eventually, we will find our own places."

She nodded, her gaze landing on Davis again.

"I hope so…"

Thank you so much for reading A Cyborg for the Alien Mercenary !