Chapter 15—Amaya

AMAYA STEPPED OFF THE transport 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.

Amaya straightened her posture, fighting the urge to shrink away from the attention. "Thank you, Admiral. We're just glad to be back."

Xavier's hand brushed against hers, a subtle gesture of support. "We did what was necessary to protect our people and expose the truth."

Admiral Jaxon nodded, his expression grave. "And now, we need to know everything. Follow me."

They were led to a large conference room, where a panel of military and civilian officials waited. Amaya's stomach churned as she took her seat beside Xavier, and Dr. Vex sat on her other side. The questioning began immediately, a barrage of inquiries about Project Guardian, Admiral Zorn's plans, and the events that led to their escape.

Hours passed as they recounted every detail. Amaya's voice grew hoarse, her mind exhausted from reliving the harrowing experiences. She described the hidden laboratory, the partially converted cyborgs, and the horrifying implications of Zorn's vision for galactic domination.

"And you're certain all the data was transmitted?" asked a stern-faced official, leaning forward.

She nodded. "Yes. We broadcast everything we uncovered about Project Guardian before leaving the planet. The information should be spreading across the galaxy as we speak."

The room fell silent as the panel absorbed this information. Amaya glanced at Xavier, finding comfort in his gaze. Dr. Vex looked fatigued but managed a small, reassuring smile as well.

Finally, Admiral Jaxon spoke. "You've done a great service to the galaxy. For now, get some rest. We'll reconvene tomorrow to discuss next steps."

Her shoulders sagged with relief as they were dismissed. After parting with Dr. Vex, she and Xavier made their way through the familiar corridors of the facility, the events of the past couple of days weighing on them.

"Are you all right?" asked Xavier as they approached her quarters.

She managed a weak smile. "I will be. It's just a lot to process."

She keyed in her access code, and the door slid open. Her quarters looked exactly as she'd left them, a strange reminder of how much had changed in such a short time. She stepped inside with Xavier following close behind.

The door closed with a soft hiss, enveloping them in silence. Amaya turned to face Xavier, her heart racing as she took in his familiar features. The events of the past few days had brought them closer than she ever thought possible.

"I still can't believe we made it back," she said softly.

His cybernetic eye whirred as he focused on her. "We did more than that. We exposed a conspiracy that could have enslaved countless beings across the galaxy."

Amaya nodded, her throat tight with emotion. "I know. It's just overwhelming."

She moved to the synthicator, desperate for a distraction. "Would you like some tea? There's a Xenovian blend you have to try..."

He stepped closer, his presence filling the small space. "Amaya."

She turned, meeting his gaze. The intensity in his eyes made her breath catch.

"We need to talk," he said.

Her heart pounded. She'd known this conversation was coming, but part of her had hoped to avoid it a little longer. "I know."

Xavier reached out, gently cupping her cheek with his cybernetic hand. The cool metal against her skin sent a shiver down her spine. "What we went through changed things between us."

She leaned into his touch, closing her eyelids briefly. "It did."

When she opened them again, his face was closer, his human eye searching hers. "I've never felt this way about anyone before. Human or cyborg." He gave her a small smile. "I'm confident stating that despite having lost many of my previous memories."

The vulnerability in his admission made Amaya's chest tighten. She placed her hand over his, intertwining their fingers. "Neither have I. The intensity of it all scares me a little."

He nodded. "We faced death together. We uncovered a plot that could have destroyed everything we know. It's natural to feel overwhelmed."

Amaya took a deep breath, steadying herself. "I has nothing to do with that. What I feel for you goes beyond anything I've experienced before. It has nothing to do with bringing down Zorn and everything to do with lov...how I feel about you."

He smiled. "I feel the same, Amaya. The thought of losing you terrifies me in a way I didn't think possible."

She reached up, tracing the line where his organic skin met the cybernetic implants. "We're from different worlds, Xavier. A human and a cyborg. Can this really work?"

His gaze softened. "Other humans and cyborgs make it work every day, and we've already proven we're stronger together. Why should this be any different?"

Her heart swelled with emotion. She stood on her tiptoes, bringing her face closer to his. "You're right. We've faced worse odds than this."

His lips curved into a smile. "Much worse."

Their lips met in a tender kiss, full of promise and shared understanding. As they pulled apart, she summoned her courage to say, "I love you, X."

His human eye blinked rapidly for a moment as his expression softened. "I love you too, Amaya."

"Stay with me tonight?" she asked softly.

"Tonight and every night." He pulled her close. "Always."