by Tara Ellis
“Nibiru has several ship-to-surface transport aircraft,” Benuk explains, “for moving larger items and groups of people. These will be under close scrutiny now, so they’re not an option, but we will find a way. I believe Nator will know of another means.
“However, convincing him to come back with us or allowing his blood to be taken is not going to be an easy task,” Benuk cautions. “Not only has he completely severed all ties with the Nephilim and humans, but he views the manipulation of DNA as the ultimate sin against our creator. He may very well refuse.”
“Like hell he will,” Seth interjects. He’s been pretty quiet for the past day, since we left on our drive back to the base. “You and Alex can grab him when we first appear, and I’ll take his blood. He’s going to give it to us whether he wants to or not!”
“Absolutely not!” Benuk shouts. Everyone looks at him in stunned silence, his powerful voice still echoing around the room. “There will be no acts of violence against Nator or any of his people in the biodome!”
I’ve never seen Benuk so angry before, and it’s intimidating. But Seth doesn’t appear fazed by it and he and Benuk stare intensely at each other. Since the time we first arrived at the base over a year ago, Benuk was really the only one who befriended Seth. I don’t know how deep that friendship goes but I suspect its boundaries are being pushed.
“Benuk is right,” I say, breaking the silence and the tension. “Our only option is Nator, and it has to be voluntary. We need him to agree to both of our requests, and I know how we’re going to do it.”
FORTY ONE
Time is critical now, and we’ve only been given an hour until we leave for the mountain vortex. This is the closest portal to reach the biodome and Nator, and we’ve got to contact him as fast as possible. I can sleep on the way.
After hugging both Mom and Jake and telling them how much I love them, I stop by my room to grab some clothes and fresh gear. This isn’t my destination though. Hurrying through the halls and layers of buildings, I approach Missy’s room.
As I turn the last corner, I nearly run into Kyle. He’s clearly upset and goes out of his way to step around me while not making eye contact. Pausing, I watch him retreat, not sure if I should attempt to go after him or not. Reminding myself that talking is likely the last thing Kyle would want, I decide to let him go.
There’s a light shining out from under the closed door, so I knock lightly before pushing it open. Propped up in bed, holding a book, my best friend looks so much better than I expected that I just stop and stare at her, open-mouthed.
Becoming aware of my presence, Missy looks up, and her beautiful face breaks out in a wide, even smile. “Alex!” she calls out, dropping the book and reaching out to me. “Kyle told me you were back!”
I step forward and take hold of her hands. Her grasp is still much weaker with her left hand than her right but the fact she’s able to lift it at all and even hold a book up is a vast improvement. She has a colorful scarf covering the uneven layers of hair and some makeup on, so her appearance is almost normal, aside from the raw skin still healing on the right side of her face.
“I don’t understand,” I tell her, smiling back. “I’ve been gone for less than two weeks. How did you make so much progress?
“The professor,” she answers, and my smile falters. “No, it’s not what you’re thinking,” she is quick to add, seeing the change in my demeanor. “He didn’t infect me, or anything, Alex. But he did use something from your blood. He said that part of the reaction in your immune system was to convert a certain percentage of your cells into something similar to…stem cells, I think he called them. They have the ability to change into whatever they’re needed to be so that the healing process speeds up radically.”
“And he just happened to have some spare time to come up with this miraculous concoction?” I ask, suspicious.
“He hardly sleeps,” Missy explains, “and he said this was research he started a long time ago. I guess this side-effect in your cells was something he anticipated, so it was a part of the Genesis project from the beginning. Genesis. The beginning of, or rebirth. Re-growth. Get it?” She looks at me earnestly, hoping I’ll understand and be supportive. But there is something about this manipulation that just doesn’t sit right with me.
“How can everyone be so sure he isn’t doing something sneaky?” I question her.
Missy drops my hands, frustrated at my lack of enthusiasm. “Our scientists checked and double-checked everything before allowing me to be injected with it. There was absolutely NO sign of the virus in it. It’s just a plasma solution containing isolated components of your cells, Alex. It’s not a miracle fix by any means. Yes, I have seen some big improvements, but the professor already cautioned that there are limits.
“My burns are healing faster, my ribs and chest are improving, but the brain damage is much slower to respond. I’ve regained some strength, but I still can’t feel my left foot or even lift my leg. We’re hoping that eventually, I might be able to get around with a walker.”
Feeling guilty now for not being more encouraging, I take her hands back in mine, and I wait for her to look at me. “Miss, I am so happy he was able to make something useful out of what was done to me,” I tell her when she finally looks out from under her long lashes. “It’s not that I don’t want the absolute best for you, it’s just that I’m suspicious of anything he does right now. But it seems like this is genuine, and I’ll help in any way I can.”
Smiling again, she hugs me briefly and then pulls back, excited to talk more about it now that I seem to be on board. “This isn’t just about me,” she clarifies. “This can be used for everyone, Alex! That was the goal from the beginning of Genesis. Not only to make the needed manipulations to trigger your dormant DNA, but to gather the stem cells created by the process to come up with a sort of holy grail for gene and cell therapy. This is just the beginning!”
Trying very hard to keep the grin on my face, I nod and do my best to look happy. But inside, I feel sick. “Isn’t he going to need more of my blood?” I ask, wondering why the professor, or anyone else, didn’t say anything to me about this before we parted a half-hour ago.
“Oh no, that’s the other amazing part about it,” Missy says, struggling to push herself up in the bed. I gently grasp her under the arms and lift her up until she indicates it’s a good position. Smoothing the blankets back into place, she leans toward me slightly as if we’re sharing a secret. “He had enough of your cells to treat me and three other patients here in the hospital. In less than a week, our own bodies were replicating the cells, so now we can all be donors! Isn’t that great? They’re already talking about setting up trials on people with stuff like Alzheimer’s and dementia and stuff when the war is over. Unfortunately, it didn’t work on the Shiners.”
Standing, I absently rub at my stomach, trying to calm the spasms. Glancing at the clock on the wall, I’m almost relieved to discover it’s time for me to leave. It dawns on me that she didn’t even mention Kyle, but I don’t think I want to hear what she has to say. Instead of responding directly to her, I just hug Missy again, but longer this time. She seems to accept it as a sign of support and eagerly hugs me back.
“I have to go,” I tell her, unable to tell her why. The mission is extremely hush-hush and since she isn’t active, she doesn’t have clearance to know about it. “But I’ll come back to see you as soon as I can,” I promise, waving goodbye again at the door.
Once in the hallway, I find it difficult to breathe. Loosening the top buttons on my new shirt, I put an arm against the wall and lean my head against the back of my hand.
“What have we done?” I whisper to no one.
FORTY TWO
The vortex is exactly how I remember it. I was concerned that we might find it destroyed, but Benuk assured me it was built after RA left and that the Mudameere don’t know about it. Fortunately, he was right. As we all emerge into the underground cavern, it amazes me how much has happene
d since we were here last.
All six of us are here. The only one of my friends absent is Missy. Benuk may not look any different, but that’s probably because he’s already over two hundred years old. But the rest of us have aged a lot in just one year. Chris and Seth aren’t trying to kill each other anymore, although there’s still a certain amount of tension whenever the two are in the same room.
The bluish-white torches placed around the walls flash to life, and I almost laugh as Nate jumps back in surprise. He had a similar reaction the first time he saw them. Kyle isn’t concerned about his friend’s feelings though and immediately starts teasing him. It’s almost like old times.
The two extra soldiers sent with us enter last and marvel at the subterranean room and technology. I can’t imagine what they’d think if they saw the biodome, but that will never happen. In order to use the transporter, you have to have a certain level of Nephilim DNA in your blood. Even mine isn’t strong enough on its own, and so I have to use it at the same time as another Nephume or Nephilim.
“Hey, guys!” Chris shouts, his voice echoing. “You want to stop playing with the lights and actually go take your positions?”
“We just wanted to see it again,” Kyle says defensively. “I mean, yes sir!” Throwing mock salutes in his direction, both Nate and Kyle trudge back up the earthen slope to stand guard at the entrance to the gift shop that masks the vortex’s location. Okay, so it’s definitely not like old times. Our relationships have changed even more than our appearances.
Chris shakes his head at them but lets his friends leave without further comment. They may be insubordinate, but not when it matters. Turning to the soldiers, he tells them to stay just above ground at the top of the ramp. As they follow his orders, he comes to stand next to me and gazes down at me silently.
I’ve done my best to avoid him since our interaction nearly two days ago. I spent most of the drive here on the opposite side of the transport rig, asleep. So I’m finding it hard to meet his stare, unsure of what he’s going to say or do.
“I’ve done a lot of thinking over the past day or so,” he begins, talking quietly so that Seth and Benuk, now on the other side of the cave examining the crystal, won’t hear him.
“And…?” I ask evenly, trying to interpret his emotions, etched so deeply into what used to be a readable face.
“Do you remember what you said to me when we were here before? After I asked you why you didn’t stay with Nator?”
I’m thrown off by his question, but I don’t hesitate to answer. “I told you I would … never leave you” Tears well up as I hear myself say the words. I raise a hand to wipe them away as they spill over, but the words of caution whispered to me by the professor’s wife a year ago stop me. I still have so much to fight for. If I continue to suppress my emotions, I’m going to lose what it is that drives that desire.
“I said you were my family Chris,” I continue, my face now streaked with tears left unshed for too long. “And I meant it. No matter what happens or what has happened, we can never give up on each other.”
Reaching out to touch my cheek, Chris’s features soften slightly. “I’m sorry for leaving you,” he murmurs. Holding my gaze for just a moment longer, it’s enough for me to see the finality in it. “Bring Nator back.” As he turns away from me, I close my eyes, trying to be at peace with something I obviously can’t change.
“We should go,” Benuk calls to me, and I take a moment to dry my face and steady myself before nodding. Seth and Chris will stay behind. Things might go more smoothly if only Benuk and I speak with Nator.
As I approach the crystal, Seth takes ahold of my elbow. “Say hello to my pal, Nator, for me,” he says. His voice is light, but his grip is firm. I’m forced to look at him and the contrast of what I see, in comparison to Chris, causes me to pause.
Tilting my head slightly in a very Shiner-like gesture I haven’t been able to break, I stare at him for a moment. Confused by my scrutiny, he begins to release me but I surprise him by stepping toward him.
Before he can react, I embrace him, pressing my body into his. This time, I don’t fight the undeniable chemistry. As his arms find their way around me, I turn my face into the crook of his square, masculine jaw. “I’m onto you,” I whisper and then push away, meeting his growing grin with my own.
Setting my rifle on the ground next to Benuk’s, I also remove my pistol and knife, adding them to our growing pile of weapons. We don’t want to give Nator’s community any reason to fear or doubt us.
With nothing else left to do, Seth and Chris watch as Benuk and I kneel in front of the pink ghost crystal and place our hands on its carved surface. The room fills with white light, and I wince as the pain hits me simultaneously. I think the anticipation makes each time worse than the last. But it’s over quickly, and I fall back onto soft, green grass which feels soothing to my burning hands.
“Alex, Benuk, what a pleasant surprise.” Sitting up, I see that Nator is here to greet us, just like the last time. How does he do that? Maybe there’s some sort of alarm that’s triggered when someone enters the cavern.
Benuk, already on his feet, approaches his Uncle. “Nator,” he says with reverence, bowing slightly. “It is good to be home. We have important news to share with you.”
Just as before, there is an impressive group of followers watching us from a field located in between us and their village. A steep mountain range stands out in sharp contrast in the distance, but I force myself not to look up where the sky fades to the deepest of blacks beyond the false light. I’ll be okay as long as I don’t think about the ocean above us.
“You must come and have supper with us then, and share your news after the meal,” he states, already turning away.
On my feet now, I hurry to keep up with his huge strides. I’ll never get used to the Nephilim’s massive size. “Nator, what we have to say can’t wait. I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be rude but we have people waiting for us to come back.”
Pausing, he turns back to me, still the picture of calm. His gentle face is mostly line-free, in spite of being over ten thousand years old, but there is no denying the light of intelligence and age-born wisdom in his striking blue eyes
“Certainly,” he answers. “If your matters are urgent we can discuss them now.” Changing directions, he leads us over to the same seating area as before. Giant-sized picnic tables face a beautiful lake not far away.
“You’ve continued to change, Alex,” he observes, after sitting across from Benuk and me. “You’ll have to forgive my ignorance in these matters,” he continues, “but I withdrew all Nephume from the surface once the invasion began, so we have had no further word of the proceedings.”
“The Mudameere were successful in spreading the Nephi2 virus,” Benuk quickly explains. “We, what little resistance is left, have been at war with them and their Shiners for the past year. RA, as we expected, has remained at a distance observing, but the new pyramids are close to completion and mining will soon begin.”
Nodding as if it was what he expected, Nator looks from Benuk to me, and then back to his nephew. “So what is it you would like from me? Surely, you do not believe RA would listen to me? There is nothing I can do.”
“You’re wrong,” I answer simply. Standing, I pull the ancient paper with the transporter password from my back pocket and spread it out on the table. It’s streaked with blood and sweat, but otherwise, it’s the same as it was five thousand years ago, when I suspect he last saw it.
Slowly, he reaches out and picks it up like he’s afraid it might crumble. “Where did you get this?” he finally asks, looking at me quizzically.
“My Grandma Mubarak brought it to us, along with another family seal, identical to this.” Taking my medallion out from under my shirt, I slip it over my head and set it next to the paper.
Tracing the carved pyramid with his long, elegant fingers, Nator finally picks the wooden pendant up and turns it over in his hands. “I designed the seal for
the Khufu Bast,” he explains, placing it back down on the table. “But I have not been an active part of it for thousands of years. This,” he continues, holding out the paper, “used to belong to my daughter. It was on a day so long ago, when the biodome was recently completed and her mother and I were going through all of our belongings. We were destroying everything that did not have a place here in our new home.
“When my daughter saw this on the stack of things to be burned, she snatched it up. I explained how it was simply a code for the ship’s transporter, devised when fear grew over humans gaining access to the ship.
“It became a bit of a relic. Perhaps your adopted grandfather found it with you during the raid, Alex,” he suggests. “My daughter, soon before she left, came to see it as a symbol of what was lost.”
“That would make sense,” I agree. “But you should know I don’t believe in coincidences, and that relic helped Benuk and I escape from Nibiru a couple of days ago. It likely saved our lives.”
“You were on Nibiru?” he asks in alarm. It’s the first time I’ve seen his calm disrupted.
“Yes,” Benuk answers. “We were brought there by some of the elders, including your brother, Zurtish, so that we could bring you these.” Taking off his backpack, Benuk carefully withdraws the three Scrolls of Life and places them on the table next to the other items.
Nator gasps in recognition and jumps back from the table. “What have you done?” he demands. Although I expected a strong reaction, I’m concerned at the depth of his horror.
“You have no right to touch, let alone remove the Scrolls of Life!” he exclaims, grabbing the bag from Benuk and pointing to the scrolls. “Put them back!” he orders.
“No!” Benuk yells, drawing murmurs of protest from the shocked crowd near us. “The elders believe these are rightfully yours, Uncle, and their reasoning is sound.”
“Mine? How could these possibly be mine?”