Nexus

by Sasha Alsberg

  Nor just stared in shock, feeling like she was absent from her own body as her mother stepped closer.

  It wasn’t her, it couldn’t be her...and yet every fiber of Nor’s being screamed that it was.

  The woman laughed. The sound was unlike the one from Nor’s memories, coming not from Klaren’s mouth, but from the spiderlike droid upon her shoulder. But the way her eyes crinkled and her face turned upward...it was like a ghostly replication of her mother’s laugh.

  Nor had never forgotten that expression, in all the years they’d been apart. Yet it was somehow different, the look in her mother’s eyes not one of joy, but almost sorrow. Her face also wasn’t as Nor remembered it—not fully. Half of it was scarred, as if she’d lived through a great crash or been pulled from a bloody battle.

  But those golden eyes, so like her own, so like Darai’s and Valen’s, were impossible to miss, even from twenty paces away.

  “Cyprian tried to kill me, yes,” Klaren said, her dark hair swaying with the wind and falling across the scarred side of her face. “But I survived. You should know better than most, Darai, that Exonians are not so easy to kill.”

  “What sort of trick is this?” Darai demanded, stepping up beside Nor. He took her hand in his, as if he wished to pull her away from Klaren’s gaze.

  Klaren’s eyes, their Exonian color burning bright, swept past Darai, narrowing as they looked at his hand on Nor’s. She tilted her head slightly.

  “Still up to your usual tricks, I see,” Klaren said.

  “You’re a fool, Klaren,” Darai hissed. “An utter fool to have come here today.”

  Klaren ignored him as her eyes flicked back to Nor’s face.

  There was so much emotion in that gaze.

  Nor felt like she was torn in two beneath it. Half a child, desperate to run to her mother, who after all these years had simply come back to life. But the other half seethed with hatred. With a burning desire to march across the space and demand an explanation.

  For her mother, her own Exonian flesh and blood, was Arachnid. Her enemy.

  They were one and the same.

  “What is the meaning of this?” Nor asked. Confusion swarmed through her as she tried to make sense of this reveal. She looked to her soldiers, who continued to stand at the ready. A few had fallen in the cross fire, but plenty still remained. “No one moves,” Nor commanded. “If they take a step, you are to fire at will.”

  “There is so much you don’t know,” Klaren said, drawing Nor’s attention back. “So much that he has done to you, child.”

  “She is a queen,” Darai snarled from beside her, his grip on Nor’s hand intensifying as he spoke. “You call her child again, and you will fall.”

  “Enough,” Nor said to Darai. “This isn’t your battle, Uncle.”

  His jaw shook with the effort not to speak.

  Nor looked back to her mother. She had only the evidence of what had transpired with Arachnid to lean on—and the evidence said that Klaren was Arachnid, her enemy, who had come to Arcardius and waged war, who had gotten Zahn killed, who had threatened to drive the killing blade into her own chest.

  Nor had feared Arachnid.

  But without the helmet on, that threat now seemed diminished. Klaren’s true size was revealed, and she was much smaller than Nor remembered, for she’d been only a girl when she last saw her mother. Less of the regal, beautiful queen she’d once been, now more of a woman who’d been forced to find a way to survive—who had likely done terrible things to make it so.

  “You were once loyal to Exonia,” Nor said, harnessing that angry part of herself, pushing the chill of the day away. “How could you betray our people like this?” Her mind swarmed with the sudden and intense surge of rage, the very same that had come over Nor all her life, had driven her decisions, had made her the queen she was today.

  “Don’t listen to her, Majesty,” Darai said. “She is a traitor to you, and a traitor to Exonia!”

  Yes, Nor thought.

  It made Nor’s blood boil as she thought of how this woman had simply disappeared from her life. Gone in an instant, leaving nothing but a message and a mission, half-complete, only to return now, years later, on the wrong side.

  “Why have you come to me today, acting as if we are enemies?” Nor demanded. “Was it not you who told me to complete the mission you started?” Nor would never forget those final, parting words her mother had sent down to her from the sky while Nor burned, crushed by the rubble of their old Xen Pterran palace.

  “Exonia is not what you believe it to be,” Klaren said. “I have little time to explain everything to you, but you must know, Nor. I was wrong before.”

  “She lies,” Darai hissed. “Take her hostage! You have the upper hand. You have Androma Racella in your grasp! Now is the time to strike and end this war.”

  “You take Androma Racella, and you will never hear the truth,” Klaren said, placing her armored hand upon Androma’s shoulder and squeezing tight. “You mark my words on that, daughter.”

  Nor felt like she was losing control.

  She saw it happening, felt it within herself. She tried to rein it back in, to regain her equilibrium. Her mother had come to talk. If that was what she wanted, then Nor would play her little game. It would buy her time to come up with a new plan.

  “It’s been years, Klaren,” Nor said. “You have had years to come to me, to show me that you were alive and well. That last message you sent to me was about saving our home. Our home, the very place that birthed you, that gave you your power. You told me about Valen’s existence, and how we could work together to finish what you failed to do. And we’ve nearly done it, together.”

  Nor looked at Valen, who had yet to say a word.

  He’d never known their mother, never had a relationship with her the way Nor had. He’d been just an infant when Cyprian had cast her out in that final battle of the Cataclysm.

  Still, she’d expected some response from him in light of seeing his mother for the very first time. But Valen only stood at Nor’s other side, staring ahead, blood seeping from his nostrils as he swayed, looking ready to fall.

  Valen, Nor called. But the door between their minds was still closed.

  He’d made his decision. He’d shut her out, and he was ready to enter the satellite. To sacrifice himself.

  Perhaps he was accepting that all fully now. Perhaps he was in shock that he was seeing his real mother for the first time now, at the end of his time.

  Either a blessing from the Godstars, or a curse.

  Nor wasn’t sure which.

  “Whatever Darai has told you is a lie,” Klaren said. She’d released her grip on Androma, who now stood only a step away, watching with hardened eyes. The Tenebran Guardian hovered just behind her, and the three members of her crew were frozen in place, pinned down by the rifles Nor’s soldiers still pointed at them.

  “Exonia is not what you believe it to be,” her mother insisted. “It’s a world of darkness, a world that seeks to come into Mirabel and destroy it, to suck all life from it until nothing but a gaping hole remains. Then its people will move on to the next galaxy, and the next, until all creation is destroyed. Darai never wanted you to know that. He seeks to become king, to push you aside once you’ve opened the Void and help the Exonians destroy all that’s here and is still to come.”

  Darai scoffed. “Nor, I have been your adviser, your only family, since you were abandoned by this woman when you needed her most. I helped to heal you and guide you and I have taught you everything you know, including how to use your compulsion. I helped train your brother, too, and I helped place that crown upon your head. Why would I try to trick you? This woman is full of lies.”

  “This woman,” Klaren countered, “is trying to stop you from allowing Exonia to take over Mirabel and all the lives that have been established here.”


  “You’re wrong,” Nor said, shaking her head. It couldn’t be true. “If you believe that’s our mission, then you are the real fool here. We’re trying to save our people. The Zenith virus, and Valen’s union with the satellite, will allow us to establish control and peace as Exonia assimilates with Mirabel. When we open the Void, we’ll be saving our home. We’ll ensure peace, Klaren. Mirabel and Exonia, together at last. Just like you always hoped for.”

  What had changed, after all these years? What had been done to her mother, to make her doubt the truth?

  A tendril of unease slid down Nor’s spine, making her skin itch.

  Could Klaren be speaking the truth? Could Darai have been lying to her all this time?

  Nor didn’t want to believe it. For if what Klaren was saying was true...her entire life would have been a lie.

  “He’s using you, Nor,” Klaren said, turning her gaze to Darai, whose grip had become so strong that Nor’s hand was beginning to go numb. “Can you not feel it? Can you not sense what he’s doing, even now? He used me, too, for years and years. I didn’t realize it until later, until I felt the lingering stain of his compulsion in my mind. Trust Darai. Follow Darai. Give your life up for the mission. Those thoughts didn’t leave my mind until weeks after we parted, and by then I was too busy compelling Cyprian to spare the people of Xen Ptera. Darai and I came to Mirabel together because he convinced me to do so. He convinced me to slaughter the other Yielded, not because he believed I was the strongest, but because he probably saw the destructive ambition in me. He believed that he could someday overthrow me, once I did all the hard work for him. But when I failed, and Cyprian cast me out, and I spent years fighting for my survival as a Mirabellian, powerless without my tongue... I saw the truth. I fell in love with this galaxy, and I realized I could not stand to see it fall.”

  Tears were streaming down Klaren’s face now. “I tried to reach out to Darai, but he didn’t come to my call. He abandoned me, left me for dead, for all he cared, Nor. And he’ll do the same to you.”

  “Seize her,” Darai said, spittle flying from his lips as his face twisted in rage. “Before she destroys everything we’ve worked so hard for. She’s trying to get into your mind, Nor. Her compulsion was always strong. She’s using it on you now.”

  Klaren held out her hands, taking a step forward. The guards snapped into position to shoot.

  “Hold!” Nor said, lifting a hand.

  “Can’t you see it, Nor?” Klaren asked. “Your brother is already gone. My boy...my brave, strong boy, taken prisoner in his mind by this monster.”

  Shock filled her as Nor turned to Valen once more. She didn’t want to believe Klaren’s words. How could she, when this woman was standing on the opposite side? But that doorway between Valen’s and Nor’s minds was still sealed shut. And now she swore she could sense darkness leaching from beneath it. As if a stain had begun to spread, overtaking the doorway until it looked entirely made of shadow.

  Nor tried once more to reach through it. She knocked, but no answer came. The sound was sucked in by the darkness, unheard.

  Doubt began to form in her mind, little cracks that she was starting to see through. All the times Darai had overstepped, had pushed her hard in a direction of his own choosing...had that been his compulsion at work? He’d guided her away from love and into power. He’d hated it when she fell for Zahn, and warned her against feeling love again when she’d found Valen.

  Love makes us weak, Darai had said.

  He’d never loved Nor. He’d only been there to whisper in her ear, to ensure that she did not falter in her steps. But wasn’t that what he was meant to do? An extra mind to support hers. Another Exonian, hell-bent on the mission to free their home.

  She’d never sensed power from Darai, for he said he had none left—that he had lost it long before he’d journeyed to Mirabel with Klaren. But perhaps that was part of his plan.

  “Darai is a fallen Yielded,” Klaren explained. The wind howled, trying to cover her words, but Nor hung on to them, taking a step forward. Leaning closer as she tried to determine the truth. “His power was ripped from him by the Godstars themselves when he tried to overthrow them. He’s been biding his time, waiting for the chance to strike, holding on to that shred of his remaining power to become king. And I fear that it’s already too late, Nor. For that, I am sorry. I was afraid of him, and once I saw that you had risen to power, and he was standing by your side when your speeches aired across the feeds... I feared the worst.”

  Her mother held out a hand. “Come to my side. Have your soldiers put down their weapons. We can speak, and I will share every truth I know. Together, we can find a different way. It’s not too late to release the minds of these people. To start over, and rule over Mirabel as its rightful queen. Not by imprisoning your people, but by winning their trust and their love.”

  “Enough!” Darai shouted. “You were always too stubborn for your own good, Klaren. And you gave that tendency to your daughter, too. So many times, she’s shown a weakness I could not ignore.”

  Nor turned to him, shocked at his boldness. “Darai. You speak out of turn.”

  “I speak the truth,” he said, and his whole body was shaking, as if he was trying and failing to hold his fury in. “I have stayed silent for far too long. Kill her, Nor. Kill this traitor to the crown. We have work to do.”

  “Let go of her mind, Darai,” Klaren warned. “You will not succeed.”

  “I’m afraid I can’t do that,” Darai said coldly.

  Nor tried to pull her hand away, but he was unrelenting.

  And that anger was back again. Hideous, like a venomous snake that hissed from within. She could feel it uncoiling in her mind, ready to strike. So suddenly, it had come over her.

  “Command your soldiers to shoot her, and be done with it,” Darai told Nor.

  But Klaren reached down and pressed a button on her armor, revealing a gun inside a hidden compartment. When she lifted it, Nor expected her to aim at Darai.

  But she aimed the gun at Androma’s head instead, pressing the barrel against the girl’s pale temple.

  “No!” the Tenebran Guardian behind them shouted.

  “If she dies, the Void will never be opened,” Klaren said. “As General of Arcardius, you need her to access the weapons network, Darai. Without the nuclear arsenal, your plan is doomed to fail. But I’ll keep her alive if you set my children free. Send them to my side. Give them back their minds.”

  “It’s too late,” Darai snarled. “You failed me, Klaren. Not once, but twice. And I am not foolish enough to buy into this. You won’t harm the girl, because you are in league with her. Because you need that weapons network to fight back against me, too. I saw it the moment you landed, and I planned ahead.” He looked to Valen. “Command the guards to shoot Androma’s crew.”

  “Valen, no. You do not take orders from Darai,” Nor protested.

  But her brother wasn’t listening. He swayed on his feet, blood dripping from his nostrils as he closed his eyes.

  Behind him, the soldiers aimed their rifles as they felt his command in their minds.

  “No!” Androma called out this time. She lifted her hands over her head in surrender, the magnacuffs coming loose. False ones, then. “No. I will go with you. Leave them out of this. Just take me. Take me and be done with it.”

  Darai smiled. “So typical, these Mirabellians who love so deeply.” He held out a hand. “Come forth, Androma. Come forth and hand over your title.”

  Androma stepped forward, eyes blazing. Behind her, her crew cried out, begging her to stop. But she didn’t look back as she crossed the space, joining Nor’s side.

  “My crew walks free,” Androma said, fire in her eyes as a guard came forward and locked her wrists in real magnacuffs, sealing them tight. “Swear it.”

  Darai nodded. “A deal is a deal.”

  Fear
trickled into Nor’s mind, trying to pick away at the anger. What was happening? She’d just stood idly by. She’d just watched, without saying a word. She had what she wanted, but why did that suddenly feel so wrong?

  “Darai,” Nor started. “You need to remember your place.”

  “I have remembered it,” he said. “And now you will remember it, too.”

  Nor screamed as another mind slammed into her consciousness like a searing blade, turning her vision black. She fell to her knees, hands clapped over her temples as she tried to claw out the pain.

  “Enough,” Darai said. “Silence, Nor.”

  Her scream faded, as if it had simply dried up in her throat.

  I have always had to take matters into my own hands, Darai’s voice hissed inside Nor’s mind, an unwelcome, poisonous presence. Her legs shook, her body trembling with the effort to shove him out. Command the guards to seize you. Hand yourself over to me.

  A terrible coldness had overtaken Nor. It spread, inch by inch, through her system, until she was encased in ice. “Guards,” Nor heard her own voice saying. She wanted to scream, wanted to take it back, but she was helpless. “Darai is now in command.”

  She had no way to stop it as she heard her mother’s robotic voice cry out across the field. “Nor! Fight back! Fight against this! You have my blood in your veins. You can resist him!”

  She tried, with all of her strength. But she’d never had compulsion like Valen, never had power even close to his, and now, Nor could tell that he had been taken, too. And if he had fallen to Darai, with all of that strength he possessed...then there was no hope, not even a shred of it, for her.

  Her own guards seized her, pulling her away from Darai so that she stood beside Valen.

  “Take him to the satellite,” Darai commanded. “You should be the one to upload him, Nor. Imagine how poetic that will be.” He looked at Androma. “You, too, my dear. We will need your access to destroy this world.”

  Nor’s hand reached out and took Valen by the arm, her fingers wrapping around his thin frame.