Cyborg Celebration (Interstellar Brides: The Colony #11)

Chapter 15

15

M arz

“Everyone better be strapped in. This could get bumpy.” Vance’s calm tone did not match the words of warning, nor the surge of alarm only Rowan and I could feel.

Fuck. Vance was the most skilled pilot I’d ever seen. If Vance was anxious…

I leaned over and tugged on the safety straps locked over Rowen’s shoulders. She was here. Of course she was fucking here. Stubborn female. If there were any possible way to send the data back to base through the storm, I would have tied her to a chair in the control room and dealt with her anger once the mission was over. Unfortunately, that was not possible. The electromagnetic spikes shooting through the atmosphere interfered with all communications. Everyone on the planet was at risk. Every female. Every child.

Like it or not, my mate was needed. I was proud of her. Didn’t mean I didn’t hate putting her in danger with every fucking cell in my body.

She swatted my gloved hands away. “Marz. You’ve checked them ten times. I’m good.”

“Let me.”

With a sigh, she relaxed and stopped fighting my compulsive need to make sure she was safe.

The mission should be simple. Failure was not an option. We had one shot to stop what we now believed was the Hive's storm machine, or we would be forced to evacuate. Our objective was to land the craft as close as possible to the drilling site my beautiful, intelligent, gods damn perfect mate had chosen, set up a defensive perimeter, and drill down until we could directly access the buried Hive technology. Somehow, whatever was below the surface was causing the storms. If we failed to shut it down, the storms would force us to evacuate the planet until reinforcements arrived from Prillon Prime. Scientist. Ships. Equipment. Warriors.

When the governor last spoke to Prime Nial on our home world a few days ago, the Coalition Fleet’s leader was not pleased to learn what was happening here. We did not yet know if this was an orchestrated attack or a secondary effect of reactivated, ancient technology. I didn’t want to even consider the possibility that The Colony might be a new front in our centuries long war with the Hive.

The strategic importance of The Colony, and the elements we mined, had been a closely guarded secret for many years.

If the Hive had figured it out, if we lost control of The Colony, our transport systems would be crippled across the entire Interstellar Coalition of Planets.

Everyone on this mission was a volunteer. We all knew the risks. Lightning had already struck the ship once. The storm’s pulses threatened to fry every piece of tech we had and turn Vance’s ability to navigate into a deadly guessing game. Electromagnetic interference was throwing off our instruments. Vance's head buzzed. Rowan's scanners flickered like a dying light. On. Off. On.

If the Hive's plan was to ambush us, there was no telling how many might be waiting for us out there, hidden in the storm’s chaos.

If I had my choice, the Hive would fucking get on with it. Attack. Stop hiding.

We were ready, our team impatient and focused as they ran their last checks on the gear and drilling equipment. Rowan's gaze darted between the warriors setting up around her, her usual calm rattled by the prospect of what lay ahead. I stepped closer, resting a hand on her shoulder. “I love you, mate. We won’t allow anything to happen to you.”

She glanced up at me, a faint smile on her lips that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I’m not worried about the storm. It’s... everything else.”

I nodded, understanding what she could not say in front of the others. Vance. She worried for her second, the Hive influence battling for control of his mind. We all heard it now. The shadows I saw in the other warriors’ eyes were all the evidence I needed that they felt what I did. Buzzing. Humming. Thousands of whispers.

The Hive’s mind control was insidious. Never a direct attack, always murmurs from a friend. Promises of connection. Belonging. Strength in numbers. A life without fear. Without loneliness. Isolation. Rejection. Pain. The Hive Integration Units would torture us to the brink of death, then tempt us with whispers…

“Vance is strong, and he has a reason to fight.”

“I know.” She sent love through the mating collars, strong and pure, strong enough I knew Vance would feel her as I did. Her fear wasn’t misplaced—Hive ambushes had caught us off guard before. I refused to show weakness, not when she was looking at me like that, searching for what reassurance I had to give. I squeezed her shoulder one last time before stepping back to go check on Vance.

He sat in the pilot’s chair, his expression relaxed, almost as if we were headed out for a training exercise instead of a potential suicide mission. I didn’t like the look in his eyes. They were too distant, as if part of him was already detached from the world around him.

The ship's engines roared under my feet, vibrating through my bones as I strapped into the seat next to him, as I’d done hundreds of times before. Vance movements were smooth and confident. “Is Rowan buckled in?”

“Of course.”

He nodded. “I’ve mapped out the least deadly path through the storm. Tell the others to try not to break anything back there.”

Rowan must have heard our chatter through ship’s comms. “Least deadly?” she repeated, her voice tight.

“Relax, Rowan.” Vance’s hands remained steady on the controls. “I've got this. Trust me.”

The engines roared, and the craft surged forward, thrusting us back into our seats as we shot toward the storm. The darkness outside was alive, swirling with electric currents that crackled and spat against the hull. I could feel the intensity of the storm pulsing through the ship’s metal, and the turbulence hit like punches, one after another, jostling everyone inside. But Vance was good—damn good. He seemed to anticipate every jolt, every gust, steering us on a path that avoided the worst of the chaos.

I glanced behind me to see Rowan gripping the armrests so tightly her knuckles turned white. She kept her mind focused on the task. I could see the conflict in her eyes but felt no fear from her. My brave little mate. I would reward her with my mouth on her pussy when we returned to base. I would devour her, reward her, make sure she never, ever wanted to risk her life again.

The landing was rough. Vance brought us down hard, the ship shuddering as it touched the ground with a bone-rattling jolt. The storm's fury outside had only intensified. Toxic rain slashed sideways across the landscape, carried by violent gusts that threatened to tip us over. As soon as we were down, I unstrapped and hit the hatch controls, barking orders to the security team.

“Perimeter, now!” I shouted over the howling wind. The warriors moved in perfect accord, set up portable shields, and scattered sensor arrays that would give us early warning if anything—or anyone—tried to creep up on us.

Rowan stood at the rear of the ship, directing the mining crew as they unloaded the drilling equipment. Her voice was steady, her earlier tension replaced by calm focus. I moved to check in with Vance, who was still seated at the controls.

“Vance,” I called, stepping up beside him. He didn’t respond right away, and I felt a chill creep up my spine. “You with me?”

His eyes snapped to mine, but they were unfocused, like he was looking through me rather than at me. “I can hear them. The machines.”

I’d seen that look before, years ago, when Perro had fallen to Hive mind control. My chest tightened with a mix of fear and anger. I’d sworn I’d never let it happen again—never let someone else be taken under my watch. “How bad is it?” I tried to get a sense of his emotional state, but all I felt from him was an eerie calm that sent chills racing down my spine.

“I’m in control, but they’re angry.” He blinked and the emptiness in his eyes was replaced with a look I’d only seen on his face during battle.

“Fucking fight them, Vance,” I growled, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “Rowan needs you. We both do.”

“I gave her my word.” And that was all he needed to say.

I left him and headed back outside to find Rowan who, despite my demands, was out of sight. I found her guiding the crew’s placement of the drilling array, her focus completely on the task at hand. “You’re handling this well.” My voice was far softer than usual. “I hate to admit it, mate, but we need you on this mission.”

She glanced up at me through her visor, and there was something in her expression, something raw and open that made me want to strip her naked and lose myself in the softness of her body, the pure fucking love in her heart. My praise had pleased her, made her happy.

“I’m not going to let anything happen to you, or Vance.” For a moment, we were the only two people in the storm. She was determined to protect us despite the fact that we were both twice her size and far stronger than normal Prillon warriors. I wanted to pull her close, promise that nothing would ever hurt her again. But now wasn’t the time or place. Not with Vance battling for control of his mind and the Hive’s machines under our feet threatening to destroy us.

“We’re ready!” The male’s voice broke the spell my female held over me and she turned away.

“Start the drill.”

Rowan

I felt Marz’s gaze leave me as he moved off to direct the security team, but the warmth of his hand lingered on my shoulder. It took all my focus not to let him feel how terrified I was. Not that the Hive would attack or that I’d be hurt. No, fear that I would fail.

The air crackled with more than just the storm’s energy as I turned back to my work, my body hyper-aware of every move Marz made, despite the cold gusts swirling around us. When I glanced back toward the ship, Vance’s eyes met mine, and for a brief moment, something dark and raw flashed across his expression—desire, worry, pride, fear—his emotions blasted through me but he quickly masked it, as if willing himself not to feel anything at all.

The connection between us had been building. Growing stronger. Now it was like a live wire, pulsing with the same frenetic energy that seemed to radiate from the ground beneath our feet. The connection I felt to both my mates was undeniable, but so was the weight I knew Vance carried. I had no idea what it meant to have the Hive trying to take over my mind. The idea was horrifying and scary and I wanted to wrap my arms around him and tell him everything was going to be okay.

But what if it wasn’t? My mates hadn’t explicitly told me what would happen if Vance lost this fight, but I knew. I’d felt the sadness in Marz, the resignation… from both of them.

Marz would kill him to protect me. That was their solution.

Unacceptable. I somehow had to shove enough love into Vance’s brain that there wouldn’t be any room left for the stupid Hive.

Vance gave me a tight nod and turned his attention to the ship. He had to be ready to get us out of here at any moment.

I exhaled slowly and returned to directing the drilling crew. I couldn’t afford to be distracted. Not now.

We made progress, but every meter felt like a struggle. The deeper the drill went, the more the ground resisted us, as if the planet itself were alive and trying to shake us off. I monitored the sensor data flowing across my screen, adjusted the drill’s trajectory in real-time to navigate the shifting rock layers and hidden pockets of gas. Each shift in the ground felt like a new obstacle. The drilling team worked furiously to keep the machinery steady.

The storm raged around us, as if pulsing in time with the rhythmic grind of the drill, shaking the ground under our feet. Sweat trickled down my back despite the cold. My armor kept my body at the perfect temperature, but somehow, the atmosphere felt oppressive. Watchful. Conscious of the fact that we were trying to kill it.

I glanced over at Vance. He stepped away from the ship, his gaze distant as he watched the drill’s progress. His eyes flickered with silver, returned to dark brown. The light inside his visor cast shadows across his cheekbones, made him look like a monster from a horror movie.

I could no more leave him standing alone than I could cut off my own arm. I checked the drill’s progress and moved closer. He met me halfway.

“Vance, are you okay?” We both knew I wasn’t just asking about the mission.

He didn’t look at me immediately, his eyes fixed on the storm-torn horizon. “Do not worry about me, mate.”

I swallowed, a stab of fear twisting in my gut. “Is it getting worse?” My next words felt hollow even as I said them. I knew there wasn’t a damn thing I could do. “I want to help.”

Finally, Vance turned to face me, his expression softening as he took a step closer. “Rowan, if anything happens… if I lose control of this situation… don’t blame Marz.” His voice trailed off, but the meaning was clear. He didn’t want me angry at Marz if he was forced to kill his own second. Kill Vance.

“You’re mine, Vance. They can’t have you.” I reached out and placed my hand on his arm, a simple touch meant to claim him, remind him of his vow to me. The connection that surged between us went beyond mere comfort. It was a spark of something deeper. Stronger. “Last time you faced them alone. You’re not alone anymore.”

His hand covered mine, squeezing gently. “I love you,” he whispered, and for a moment, the storm faded. Marz had said the words. I’d said them to my mates, more than once. But Vance always held back. Always. Even when his cock was deep inside me and I was screaming his name.

“Now you tell me.”

His grin was almost feral. I smiled back. Damn him for being so fucking gorgeous.

The sudden screech of the scanners snapped us back to the present. Strange readings danced across the screen, and a chill rippled through me. “The machine,” I breathed, staring at the data. “It’s like it knows were coming. We’re close.”

Vance winced, his head tilting slightly as if listening to something only he could hear. “The machine is… calling me,” he murmured, his voice distant. “The Hive… they know. They’re coming.”

The ground shifted beneath us again, a deep rumble, as if the planet was awakening to our presence. I ran to the drilling console and began recalibrating the drill’s trajectory, using every bit of geological knowledge I had to guide it through the unstable crust. My fingers danced over the controls, fine-tuning the angle as we pushed deeper into the planet’s heart.

Marz’s roar of pain cut through the chaos. My head snapped up to see him drop to one knee, blood staining his side.

What happened? Where did the attack come from?

Marz’s voice came over everyone’s comm. “We’re under attack. They’re above us!” Shouts erupted but my gaze remained glued to Marz, to the bloodstain spreading on the side of his uniform.

He fired his ion rifle into the sky and looked over at me. “How much longer, Rowan? We don’t have much time.”

I forced myself to look away from him, to focus on the drilling. If I didn’t, everything would be wasted. “We’re close!” I yelled into the comm. “Two or three minutes!”

A blast from an unseen Hive’s weapon struck the ground near me. I stumbled but caught myself, eyes locked on the readings. We were nearly through to where the Hive machine was buried. Another vibration ran through the ground, this one different—a steady thrum that seemed to pulse with a life of its own.

“Rowan, get away from there!” Vance’s voice came through the comm, strained and distant. “The machine is awake.”

Oh shit.

I took three steps back as the ground beneath the drill heaved upward like when a giant worm from that DUNE movie was about to burst from the soil and devour everything in sight.

The warrior who’d been working next to me lifted his head and yelled. “Soldiers! Dozens of them!”

The attack came just as the drill pierced through the final layer of rock. The ground trembled. The sky itself seemed to split open as Hive forces emerged from the storm to float down on top of us like falling snow. They drifted toward the ground, their bodies flickering in and out of view, deadly shadows in the raging wind.