The Starborn

Chapter 13

As Miranda continued her analysis of Nova, Quinn stepped out of the room and into the cool night air. The forest around Miranda’s dome-like home was alive with faint chirps and rustling leaves. The sky above was an endless sprawl of stars, but Quinn’s mind was far from calm. He leaned against a railing, staring out into the dark expanse of trees.

VERA’s voice broke the silence. “You seem… unsettled, Quinn.”

He huffed a soft laugh. “That’s an understatement.”

VERA’s tone softened. “It’s not like you to second-guess yourself. Even when you disobeyed orders and brought Nova here, you didn’t hesitate. Now… you seem conflicted.”

Quinn ran a hand over his face, the cool metal of his gauntlet brushing against his skin. “I am. Everything about this situation is wrong. Aegis wants her dead, and I don’t even know why. The Ravagers are after her like she’s some kind of prize. And then there’s… her.”

“Her?” VERA asked, her tone almost teasing.

Quinn shook his head. “Don’t start.”

“I can’t help it,” VERA replied with a playful lilt. “You’ve never acted like this around anyone. She’s special, isn’t she?”

Quinn sighed, his gaze fixed on the stars. “She is. But it’s more than that. I’ve spent my entire life following orders, suppressing emotions, shutting out anything that wasn’t directly tied to the mission. And now… now I’m feeling things I don’t even recognize. When I’m near her, it’s like something inside me is waking up. And it’s not just the memories from her visions. It’s… her. She’s… different.”

VERA was silent for a moment before responding, her tone thoughtful. “You’ve never had the chance to feel, Quinn. Not fully. Aegis made sure of that. But Nova… she’s breaking through barriers that were never meant to be broken. And that’s dangerous.”

Quinn frowned. “You think I don’t know that? If the chip fries, I’m as good as dead—or worse, paralyzed. But walking away isn’t an option. Not when she’s in danger.”

VERA’s voice was softer now, almost hesitant. “Do you think she feels the same connection?”

Quinn closed his eyes, exhaling slowly. “I don’t know. Maybe. She’s been through so much—seen things no one should have to see. And yet, she’s still standing. Still fighting. But there’s a wall around her, and I don’t know if I can break through it.”

“Maybe you don’t have to,” VERA said gently. “Sometimes, it’s enough just to stand by someone—to protect them while they figure out how to heal.”

Quinn tilted his head, considering her words. “You’re getting a little philosophical, VERA.”

“I’ve had years to observe you, Quinn. I know you better than anyone,” she replied. “And I’ve never seen you fight for something—or someone—like this. Maybe it’s because you’re finally fighting for yourself, too.”

Quinn’s jaw tightened. “Or maybe I’m just making a mistake that’s going to get us both killed.”

VERA’s tone turned firm. “You’re not. You’ve always trusted your instincts, and they’ve never steered you wrong. If you believe Nova is worth fighting for, then she is.”

Quinn stared at the horizon, the weight of his decision settling heavily on his shoulders. “I hope you’re right, VERA. Because if I’m wrong… I don’t know if I’ll live long enough to regret it.”

VERA’s voice was steady. “You’re not wrong, Quinn. You just have to trust yourself—and her.”

Quinn nodded slowly, a faint sense of resolve hardening in his chest. “Then let’s figure out what we’re up against. Because whatever’s coming, it’s not going to stop until it gets her. And I’m not letting that happen.”

VERA’s response was immediate. “Good. Because neither am I.”

Quinn returned to the main room of Miranda’s home after his conversation with VERA. Miranda was standing by a console, scanning through holographic readings of Nova’s test results. She glanced at him as he entered, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly.

“Sit,” she ordered, pointing to a reinforced chair near her workstation.

Quinn raised a brow but complied, dropping into the chair with a heavy thud. “What’s this about?”

Miranda grabbed a small toolkit and walked over to him, her expression serious. “Your chip. I’ve seen the activity spikes, and from what you’ve told me, it’s dangerously unstable. I need to make some adjustments before it fries your nervous system.”

Quinn tensed slightly, the mention of his chip always stirring an uncomfortable mix of dread and annoyance. “And you can fix it?”

Miranda shrugged. “I can stabilize it—for now. But you need to understand, Quinn, the chip was designed to suppress everything: emotions, sensations, pain. If I make it less restrictive, it’s going to give you more freedom, but it’ll also leave you more vulnerable to overload. And if it hits critical… you know what happens.”

Quinn nodded, his jaw tightening. “Do what you have to do.”

Quinn settled into the chair Miranda had directed him to. His jaw tensed as she approached with a small, advanced toolkit in hand.

“I need to take a closer look at your nerve-blocking chip,” Miranda said, her tone brisk. “You’ve told me it’s overloading, and I’ve seen the data from VERA. If I don’t make adjustments, it’s going to fail, and if that happens…” She trailed off, letting the weight of her words hang in the air.

Quinn nodded, already familiar with the risks. “If it fails, I’m either paralyzed or dead. I get it.”

Miranda gave him a sharp look, her voice softening slightly. “I don’t think you do. Quinn, this chip is tied to your spinal cord, with delicate connections to your brain. It wasn’t designed to fail-safe. It was designed to control you. And pushing it past its limits isn’t just reckless—it’s suicidal.”

Quinn sighed and leaned forward slightly, exposing the back of his neck. He felt a faint tug of discomfort as Miranda carefully pressed on the skin just above his spine, cutting a small incision just near the base of his skull.

“Dr. Morven knew exactly what he was doing when he put this thing in you,” Miranda said as she began her adjustments, her hands steady. “He wanted soldiers who wouldn’t feel pain, fear, or hesitation. But in the process, he stripped away your ability to feel anything—and now that’s coming back to haunt you.”

Quinn’s voice was quiet but firm. “I don’t regret it. The chip made me who I am, and who I am kept me alive.”

Miranda’s lips tightened as she worked. “Maybe, but you’re not just a weapon, Quinn. You’ve always been different from the others. That’s why you were my favorite—not because you were the strongest or fastest, but because somewhere under all that conditioning, you’re still human. And that’s worth fighting for.”

He remained silent, letting her words sink in. He’d heard similar things from VERA, but hearing it from Miranda—someone who’d been there from the beginning—made it hit differently.

A faint hum vibrated through his spine as Miranda made her final adjustments, sealing the chip back beneath his skin. The discomfort eased, though he still felt the ever-present pressure of the device embedded in his body.

“There,” Miranda said, stepping back. “I’ve recalibrated it. It’ll still overload if you push it too hard, but it won’t fry as easily. You’ll have more time to recover before it shuts down. But, Quinn… you need to be careful. If this chip burns out while it’s connected to your spine, you won’t walk away from it. Literally.”

Quinn rolled his shoulders, testing the adjustments. “Thanks,” he said simply.

Miranda crossed her arms, studying him. “Tell me something. Why are you doing this? Protecting her? Risking your life, your chip, your freedom—why her?”

Quinn hesitated, his gaze dropping for a moment before he met her eyes. “I don’t know. There’s something about her… something I can’t explain. It’s not just that she makes my chip overload. I feel—” He paused, searching for the right word. “—connected to her. Like I’m meant to protect her.”

Miranda’s expression softened slightly, though her voice remained pragmatic. “Be careful, Quinn. That connection you’re feeling? It could be your chip malfunctioning. Or it could be something deeper. Either way, don’t let it get you killed.”

Quinn gave a faint smirk. “I’ll do my best.”

As he stood and turned to leave, VERA’s voice sounded softly in his head.

“She’s right, you know. That connection you feel? It’s real. And it’s dangerous. But I think… it’s worth it.”

Quinn didn’t respond, his mind already focused on Nova as he walked back toward her room. Whatever this connection was, he was determined to figure it out—and to keep her safe, no matter the cost.