Chapter 16—Xavier

WEEKS LATER, XAVIER'S eyelids snapped open, his cybernetic implants instantly adjusting to the dim light of Amaya's quarters. They were like his quarters now too since they had spent so much time there together.

The dream clung to him like a phantom, its vivid details fading even as he tried to grasp them. He sat up slowly, careful not to disturb Amaya, who slept peacefully beside him. The room was quiet, save for the soft hum of the facility's systems, and Amaya's steady breathing. He looked at her sleeping form and her dark hair tousled against the pillow. A surge of affection washed over him, tempered by the lingering melancholy from his dream.

"Bette," he whispered, testing the name on his tongue. It was both familiar and foreign, like a half-remembered song.

Amaya stirred, her eyes fluttering open. "Xavier? Is everything okay?"

He turned to her, meeting her concerned gaze. "I had a dream. A memory, I think."

She sat up, pulling the sheets around her. "Tell me about it."

He frowned as he tried to piece together the fragments of the dream. "There was a woman... Bette, I think. We were arguing about me joining the Intergalactic Corp."

"How did you feel in the dream?" she asked softly in the quiet room.

"Conflicted. Determined, and now...melancholy." He absently traced the cybernetic implants along his arm. "She said she wouldn't wait for me when I returned."

She reached for his hand. "That sounds like a difficult memory to process."

He nodded, brushing his thumb over Amaya's knuckles. "It's strange to remember pieces of a life I can barely recall. A life before...this." He gestured to his cyborg body.

"I could look into your human background," she said. "With your permission, I could access the old personnel files to see if we can find out more about your past."

He was quiet for a moment, considering her offer. The room seemed to grow smaller as he weighed the possibilities. Finally, he shook his head. "No. I appreciate the offer, Amaya, but I don't wish to dwell on the past. My focus is on our future together."

Amaya's eyes widened slightly at his words. "Our future?"

Xavier turned to fully face her. "Yes. You and me, Amaya. What we have built here, and what we're continuing to build. It is more important to me than fragments of a life I can no longer fully remember."

A smile spread across Amaya's face, and she leaned in closer to Xavier. "I feel the same way."

Their lips met, the kiss soft and tender at first, then growing in intensity. Xavier's cybernetic systems registered every touch, every subtle change in Amaya's breathing and heart rate. He marveled at how his partially mechanical body could still experience such profound sensations.

She stroked his chest, tracing the lines where flesh met metal. Her touch sent sparks of pleasure through his neural network, eliciting a low groan from deep in his throat.

He broke the kiss. "I want you."

She nodded, her eyes dark with desire. "I want you too, Xavier."

They came together again, their bodies entwining as they shed what little clothing remained. Xavier's enhanced strength allowed him to lift Amaya effortlessly, positioning her on his lap. She gasped as his cock surged into her pussy, digging her fingers into his shoulders.

They moved together in a rhythm that was both familiar and thrillingly new. Xavier's cybernetic eye recorded every detail of Amaya's face, the way her lips parted in pleasure, and the flush that spread across her cheeks. He was awed by her quiet beauty and the depths of his emotions for her.

She arched against him, her body trembling on the edge of release. "Xavier, I'm close."

He held her tighter, moving his hips faster. "Let go, Amaya. I have you."

With a cry, she climaxed, shuddering in his arms. The sight and feel of her pleasure pushed him over the edge, and he followed her into ecstasy, his systems overloading with sensation.

They collapsed together onto the bed, limbs tangled, and both breathing heavily. He stroked her back, appreciating the softness of her skin against his metallic hand.

"So good..." She laughed softly. "No more words needed."

Xavier smiled, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Agreed. It seems my vocabulary subroutines are inadequate for describing such experiences."

She propped herself up on an elbow, studying his face. "How do you feel now? About the dream, I mean."

He considered the question. The melancholy that had gripped him earlier had faded, replaced by a warm contentment. "The past is the past. I can't change it, and I don't wish to. My life now, with you, is what matters most."

Her expression revealed myriad emotions, chief among them hope and happiness. "I love you, Xavier. All of you—human, cyborg, and everything in between."

"And I love you, Amaya," said Xavier, the words feeling right and true. "You've given me a future I never thought possible."

They lay together in comfortable silence, the hum of the facility a soothing backdrop to their shared moment. Xavier's cybernetic systems began to power down for rest mode, but his human heart remained fully awake, filled with love for the woman in his arms.

XAVIER'S CYBERNETIC eye adjusted to the dim light of early morning as he stirred from sleep. Beside him, Amaya's form was a warm presence, her breathing steady and rhythmic. He savored the moment, allowing his organic eye to linger on her peaceful expression.

The synthicator in the corner of the room hummed to life, its pre-programmed routine initiating the preparation of their morning meal. The aroma of freshly synthesized coffee filled the air, mingling with the sterile scent of the facility.

Amaya stirred, her eyelids fluttering open. "Good morning," she whispered, her voice still thick with sleep.

"Good morning," he said with affection.

They rose from the bed, moving in comfortable synchronization as they prepared for the day ahead. At the small table in the corner of the room, they settled with their synthicated breakfast. Xavier's plate held a precisely calculated balance of nutrients designed to fuel both his organic and cybernetic systems. Amaya's meal was more traditional—scrambled eggs and toast.

"How did you sleep?" asked Amaya, taking a sip of her coffee.

He paused, focusing on a point beyond Amaya. "I had another dream. A memory, perhaps."

She leaned forward, her interest piqued. "What was it about?"

"I was on a battlefield. There were explosions all around, and the air was thick with smoke and the scent of burned flesh. I was leading a squad of soldiers, all human. We were pinned down by enemy fire."

Amaya listened intently, her breakfast forgotten.

"One of my men was hit. I carried him to safety, shielding him with my own body. I remember his weight, and the warmth of his blood on my hands. It was before my conversion, but the memory is so vivid."

"That must have been intense," she said softly. "How do you feel about it now?"

His cybernetic eye whirred as it focused on Amaya. "It's strange. I feel a connection to that past self, yet also a disconnect. The emotions are there, but muted, as if experienced through a filter."

She reached across the table, her hand resting on his metallic one. "That's understandable. You've been through a significant transformation."

He nodded. "Indeed. Which brings me to something I have been considering."

Amaya tilted her head, curiosity evident in her expression. "What is it?"

"I would like us to share quarters permanently," said Xavier, his voice steady despite the vulnerability of the request. "I find great comfort in your presence. I believe it would be beneficial for us both, personally and professionally, to deepen our connection."

Amaya's eyes widened as surprise and joy danced across her features. "Xavier, I... yes. I would love that."

He smiled with contentment. "Then it's decided. I'll begin the process of moving my belongings to your quarters today and giving up my rack in the barracks."

As they finished their breakfast, they discussed the logistics of combining their living spaces. "I think we should get some plants," she said with a grin. "To soften all that metal and circuitry."

Xavier raised an eyebrow. "Plants require maintenance. Is that not inefficient?"

She laughed. "Not everything has to be about efficiency. Sometimes, beauty and life are their own rewards."

He considered this, his processors working to integrate this new perspective. "I see. Then we shall include plants in our shared living space."

As they prepared to leave for their respective duties, he paused at the door. "Amaya, I want you to know that this decision means a great deal to me."

She stepped closer, her hand coming to rest on Xavier's chest, right over where his human heart still beat. "It means a lot to me too, Xavier. You make me happy."

He leaned down, pressing his forehead against Amaya's in a gesture of intimacy that bridged both his human and cyborg nature. With a final shared look, they stepped out into the corridor, ready to face the day and the new chapter of their lives that lay ahead. As they walked, Xavier's cybernetic systems hummed in harmony with his quickened heartbeat, a physical manifestation of the excitement and anticipation for their shared future.