‘We did it regardless, some time before Belinda Killock sent me down to Eura with you.’
‘But, but…’ Henning had been close to Project Renascence, and knew well the risks of trying to make someone able to store and use E. ‘That’s what she has been trying to do for so long. Why did she not announce victory?’
‘Because she thinks I’m a failure.’
‘Why’s that?’
‘I can’t hold that much E, and even drawing on it makes me pass out.’
‘Pass out? Ah, I get it: the time when the aliens shot you?’
‘The shot hit against the burst of E from inside me.’
‘So, you were unharmed, but unconscious,’ Henning said. It made sense to him now. Drawing on E was costly, but everyone experienced it differently. ‘You know, you’re not the only one who faints when they use E, and people can train to control it. We’ve done it in Avalon.’
They locked eyes. ‘I shouldn’t tell you this, but Killock doesn’t want you to have Avalon, because she considers it a threat to the program.’
Those who mastered E were powerful, and the navy wanted to own everything that was related to those kinds of powers. To them, Avalon was a rogue group of powerful people that could interfere with their plans, so they considered them a liability. But they failed to see that Avalon was about a rich and humane expression of E, while the navy’s sole focus was weaponizing it. ‘She is the threat to the program.’
Sofia was about to say something when the tall figure of Reina Wolfe appeared in the cafe’s entrance and caught their attention. Henning waved at her.
Sofia glanced at her quickly, and then leaned forward.
‘I don’t trust her,’ she whispered.
‘Why?’
She frowned. ‘Don’t tell her about my abilities.’
‘Fine,’ Henning said, wondering what might have happened between the two of them.
Reina grabbed a chair. She stared at Sofia. ‘Where’d you come from?’
Sofia blushed. ‘I left the Endee Centre before the police came. I didn’t know what to do, until I just bumped into Henning.’
‘Interesting,’ Reina said. ‘But I’m sorry to break it to you that the world is ending, and, well, we can’t talk about this with the navy.’ She pursed her lips and looked down at Sofia.
‘They can’t hear me anymore,’ Sofia said. ‘Besides, Killock and Faith have left the Central.’
‘Left?’ Henning said. ‘Going where?’
‘My colleague said they went through a portal with someone he said was a fantastical woman.’
‘Nenetl,’ Henning said. ‘What about Aino, was she with them?’
‘He didn’t say anything about her, so I assume not.’
That Belinda and Jill had left the Dawn Central was good news, but he had to know if Aino was safe.
‘How can we be certain you’re not bugged?’ Reina asked.
Sofia shrugged. ‘I trust Pike. And you just have to trust me.’
‘That’s nice, dear,’ Reina said. ‘But it’s not enough for me. I’m gonna head out to where the others are. You stay out of it.’
‘Fine.’
Henning nodded to Reina to indicate he agreed with Sofia. He wanted to help Evie and the others, but if there was even a slight chance Sofia was bugged, it would be an unnecessary risk.
‘All right then,’ Reina said. ‘Until we meet again.’
She paced across the cafe with her black cape flowing behind her, and in seconds, disappeared into the crowd outside.
‘What now?’ asked Sofia.
Henning wanted to help Sofia, but had to confirm if Aino was OK, and secure Avalon. Evie, Gus and Berossus had the best plan to defeat Nenetl. He wasn’t needed.
‘Are you absolutely sure that Killock and Faith have left the Dawn Central?’
She nodded. ‘They’re probably on their way here.’
‘Good.’
‘How’s that good?’
‘First, let me connect with Aino. Could I borrow your comms?’
‘Sure thing,’ Sofia said. She a tapped the screen and handed it over. ‘It’s connecting.’
Henning’s heart thumped as he waited.
The line opened, and Aino’s face appeared on the screen, a door closing behind her. ‘Hi Dad, we’re just in a middle of group work; what is it?’
Henning let out a sigh of relief. ‘Just wanted to see your face. Everything alright?’
‘Of course,’ she said. ‘Why wouldn’t it be?’
He smiled. ‘All good. I just wanted to say I’m coming home soon.’
‘Great, can’t wait,’ she said, and showed thumbs up. ‘I’ve got to go, they’re waiting for me.’
‘Love you.’
The connection cut. Henning was relieved that Aino was all right. She was so independent and hard-working, and she seemed happy. But he also knew she wanted to get back home to Avalon, and he was going to make it happen.
‘Your friend, Pike,’ said Henning. ‘Could he connect you with Admiral Jett?’
‘I suppose so. Why?’
‘If there’s anyone in the navy who might carry enough clout to support me, it’s him. I’ve spoken with him at length a few times about Project Renascence and the political situation surrounding it. He’s one of those few good people at the top—a super-smart man. Did you know he used to be Tredd Bounty’s commanding officer?’
‘Now that you say it, I remember reading it in his file.’ Sofia pulled up her comms device. It didn’t take long for Admiral Jett’s streamlined face to appear on the screen.
‘Kvantström, what news?’
Sofia handed over the device to Henning. The admiral’s face fell in surprise. ‘Henning Dal. What is the meaning of this?’
He had to play this carefully, but it wasn’t the first time. ‘Admiral Jett, sir, we have proof of Belinda Killock and Jill Faith’s treason against the Dawn—’
‘Spare it. I’m well aware of what they’ve done. But you tell me, what in the name of Ilmatar were you doing going unauthorised to Spit City and blasting your way through the station?’
Henning explained his actions to the admiral, who listened without interruption.
When Henning was finished, the admiral spoke. ‘This is aligned with my understanding. You operated under the right motivation, but you should’ve come to me first.’
‘You are correct, sir. I apologise.’
‘I will see that your status is cleared and provide you with transport back to Dawn Alliance Central. I want you to assist us in creating a plan to neutralise the threat. Bring Kvantström along, too.’
‘Thank you, sir. There’s one more thing.’
‘Yes?’
‘Since taking hold of Avalon, Project Renascence has been misusing the compound, and I have the documentation to prove it.’
‘Is that so?’
‘In addition,’ said Henning, ‘with the single focus on weaponization, the leadership of the project is limiting its benefits to the Dawn.’
‘Mr Dal, what are you trying to say?’
‘Sir, I would like to acquire the compound, and grow it into a thriving community of the gifted under the Dawn.’
‘You wish to acquire the compound? Let us review the matter once you are back in Dawn Central.’
‘Thank you, sir.’
The admiral cut the line.
‘Well done,’ Sofia said.
‘Thanks. I’m happy to lose my wanted status, but it was difficult to read the admiral. I can’t say whether he’s on our side on this or not.’
‘I feel he is.’
‘I hope so.’
Chapter Forty-Three
‘If they think destroying the base would stop me,’ Nenetl said with a smirk, ‘they’re wrong.’
Jill faced Nenetl with Belinda on the Remolan ground, where they had appeared after stepping through Nenetl’s portal. They were supposed to go to Runcor, so that Nenetl could pick something up, but instead they had ended up in Remola. Ma
ssive spaceships, the size of mountains, surrounded them. In between were a collection of smaller ships, some of which Jill recognised as navy, while some of them were like nothing she had seen before.
In one direction, on the horizon, it seemed as if another planet was resting against the Remolan plane. There was no way to explain how it stayed a globe with the gravitational forces there should have been, but neither was there a way to explain the extent of the Remolan plane either. Perhaps it operated on different variables.
‘We can do it this way, too,’ Nenetl said, and turned to the planet on the horizon.
‘What are we doing?’ Jill whispered.
Belinda shrugged.
‘This universe will soon replace the old one,’ said Nenetl. ‘But evil forces are trying to prevent it from happening.’
‘The Megaplex is shut off from the comms network. There’s nothing they can do,’ said Belinda.
‘You have been very helpful, but I must be absolutely sure that nothing comes our way.’
‘What are you going to do?’
‘We will go down to Spit City. We will be joined by a massive fleet of Remolan ships, and,’ Nenetl smiled, ‘an old friend…’
Jill wondered who that would be, but then it dawned on her. Nenetl was referring to the planet on the horizon. ‘Is that Grangar?’
Nenetl gave her a smile. ‘Yes. Grangar will join us.’
She raised her hands, and they radiated purple smoke. She threw the smoke with both hands over her head like a ball, and twirling, it flew forward, gaining speed, until it was so far away it disappeared.
‘What—’
‘Wait,’ Nenetl said.
The planet on the horizon came alight with red luminosity, like a machine that had been switched on. It seemed to move.
The ground vibrated.
Belinda took Jill by the hand.
On the horizon, Grangar was rising slowly. As it rose, its orange hue started to become a more intense red. It took some time for it to rise, but it was beautiful, and Jill was in no hurry. Neither was Belinda. They just stood there, holding hands, marvelling at the rising planet.
When Grangar was almost above them, Nenetl seemed to be talking. Her lips were moving, but they made no sound. Then she stopped, and Grangar rotated.
Nenetl turned and regarded Jill and Belinda with a smile. ‘It will return to your old universe. We will board a ship and follow.’
Behind her, Grangar was rising into the sky.
Jill and Belinda followed Nenetl to a small spaceship—XT-R, Jill knew, from the navy. The door opened automatically as they approached.
‘Is there someone waiting for us?’
‘No,’ Nenetl said. ‘You will be our pilot. You’ve flown one of these before.’
A jolt like electricity passed through Jill’s head, bringing about a sudden pain that forced her to push her palm against her forehead. She had never had that sensation before. Through the pain, she considered her surroundings—black ships on a massive plane under red skies, Belinda Killock by her side, and the Shade Goddess Nenetl standing tall before a spaceship. What am I doing? she thought, suddenly feeling very confused. I’m with the wrong side… Why would I—
Nenetl laid her hand upon Jill’s shoulder and the pain disappeared, along with the confusion.
‘Are you all right?’ asked Belinda.
‘Yeah,’ Jill said. It had just been a passing headache. She had thought of something but couldn’t remember. Perhaps it was nothing.
They entered the ship up the clanking ramp. XT-R was a nimble carrier for one unit, with limited room for anything else. Jill went straight to the cockpit, which was immediately familiar. Belinda and Nenetl stayed back, and while performing pre-flight checks, Jill was dying to remember the idea, the thought, that had crossed her mind just moments ago. It had seemed important.
The sky ahead of them was pitch black, a massive version of the portals around the universe. Grangar had just gone through and disappeared into the blackness. Behind them a squadron of five Remolan warships and a team of supporting vessels were preparing to follow. Jill steered the XT-R into the black, and once they passed through, the systems came alive with data about their whereabouts.
‘We’re through,’ she said to the internal comms.
Belinda and Nenetl were still at the back. The screens showed them in the Leen system, not far from Heeg and Spit City. Grangar was moving towards Heeg, but very slowly.
Belinda’s voice came over the intercom. ‘Join us in the lounge.’
She set the ship to follow Grangar at a distance, clicked off the harnesses, and left the cockpit.
Jill found Belinda sitting on one of the sofas in the lounge. Something about her seemed different, but she couldn’t pinpoint what it was. Perhaps it was the red on her cheeks, or the loose strand of her hair that dangled over her forehead, or the relaxed manner in which she was leaning back on the sofa.
‘Where did she go?’ asked Jill.
‘She stayed in the sleeping quarters,’ Belinda said. ‘I had to get some air.’
‘Are you all right? You seem shaken.’
Belinda flicked a smile. ‘I’m all good.’
Jill sat beside her on the couch. There was something about her, something she didn’t want to say. Had something happened between her and Nenetl? Jill extended her arm on the headrest, and Belinda moved closer and leaned on her shoulder.
They sat there in silence.
Nenetl glided into the lounge from the passageway. Belinda perked up and Jill took her hand away.
‘We are but a few moments from the grand event. Soon, we will enter a new world, a better world, a world without poverty and injustice. Are you as excited as I am?’
Nenetl’s vision was perfect, and finally it was going to happen. Belinda nodded with a smile, and Jill did, too. They would be together and rule the new world with Nenetl. What else could they have hoped for?
‘There is one thing, though,’ said Nenetl. ‘I can’t have you both.’
‘What?’ Belinda said.
‘Why?’ Jill said.
‘I was looking for a partner, and I found one in you, Belinda. You introduced me to Jill, and for that, I’m grateful.’
Jill held her breath. Belinda followed Nenetl in silence.
‘So, in the end,’ Nenetl said, ‘I choose you, Jill.’
A feeling of warm pleasure washed over Jill.
Belinda, moving around nervously, was beginning to lose it. ‘What about me?’
‘You, Belinda, are more than most humans. But I need more than that.’
‘But, but… The things you said just there when—’
‘It was all true, and I enjoyed the time we had together. But now we must part.’
Belinda had tears in her eyes. ‘Why? Why can’t we all go?’
‘Unfortunately, it doesn’t work like that. Only the fittest can survive.’
Belinda gasped, ‘No!’
Nenetl raised her arms. A stream of purple haze shot out from her fingers towards Belinda, who was frozen stiff.
‘What are you doing to her?’ Jill asked.
Belinda became engulfed by the cloud. Nenetl made a quick pulling motion with her hands and the purple smoke started retreating. It was as if her hands sucked it back—and with the smoke, she had sucked Belinda.
‘What did you do to her?’ Jill demanded.
Nenetl pushed her hands forward and tapped one of the rings on her fingers. ‘She’s right here. Don’t worry, the Mediator is there to keep her company.’
A wave of loss ran through Jill, but she was glad Belinda was still there. She wondered what it meant that Nenetl had chosen her, but she was also flattered. Now alone with her, her sensuous form standing tall before her, she was beginning to feel a unity like she had never felt before. Nenetl’s fingers were dancing before her eyes. Lovely as they were, they were doing something to her, but Jill didn’t care. She let the pleasurable emotion run over her.
‘You like to
dance,’ Nenetl said. It wasn’t a question.
‘I do,’ Jill said, and stood up.
‘I want you to understand I’m weaving my magic through you.’
‘Yes,’ Jill said, stepping forth.
‘You want this.’
‘Yes.’
Nenetl lowered her hands and looked at Jill’s face. Nenetl was more beautiful than any human being could ever be. Her pale skin was perfect, her face symmetrical, powerful but also feminine… and in her eyes Jill found an endless depth, like another universe.
‘Dance for me.’
Jill stopped, uncertain. She hadn’t danced since the failure in her first and last show with the Famous in the Bedroom dance club. She took a few light steps and pushed her arms back. The uniform restricted the movement. Nenetl noticed this.
‘Take it off,’ Nenetl said. ‘You should move freely.’
Jill hesitated. Under her uniform, she had a loose sheer top with strappy shoulders; too revealing for dancing, but it didn’t restrict movement. But then again, there was no need to be shy. It was just her and Nenetl. ‘Yes, I should,’ she said, and pulled down the zipper.
She threw the jacket on the couch and stretched. Her top weighed practically nothing, and when she moved, it floated along with her.
She pulled back again, this time stretching her arms and head back unencumbered. She stopped for a moment, then lifted her head and spun around. It was easy, and effortless. It was as if she had forgotten the joy of dancing, and now it was coming back to her. She found herself smiling, as she moved with a newfound confidence and grace around Nenetl. In the dance, the world disappeared.
She took one more spin and struck a low pose. She was hot, and breathing heavily, feeling sweat on her forehead, the loose top sticking to her chest.
Nenetl clapped her hands and smiled. ‘That was beautiful. You are beautiful.’
Jill stood up and brushed her hair back. Nenetl was now standing close to her and staring intently into her eyes.
‘Thank you,’ Jill said.
Nenetl’s hands cupped Jill’s face, and her eyes peered into hers. ‘You truly love to dance.’
‘Yes,’ Jill muttered, before Nenetl’s lips met with hers, and she swept her off her feet.
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