by Eliza Green
But her human side carried her over to where Serena waited, dressed in a similar outfit to Isobel’s.
‘Have you everything you need?’ She nodded to Isobel’s shoulder bag. Isobel couldn’t read the elder’s expression.
Isobel nodded. ‘Yes. Let’s do this.’
Serena climbed into the back of the vehicle and Isobel got in after her. The female military pair sat up front and removed their masks that were only necessary in the oxygen-thin hunting zone. One of them gave an order to the driverless dashboard.
As the car moved off, Serena explained the presence of the two humans. ‘The reversal drug and nanoids are kept at a military base. The peace treaty doesn’t cover where we’re going and you can’t just walk in there. The military humans will escort you inside the building.’
Isobel frowned. ‘You’re not coming in with me?’
Serena looked out the window. ‘I’ll wait for you outside. We’ll travel to District Three when you’re done.’
☼
A half-hour drive later, the vehicle came to a stop outside large imposing gates protecting the front of a walled compound.
Serena climbed out. ‘Good luck and I’ll see you after.’
She closed the door and the car idled in front of the gate. The military women remained quiet. Through the door of the car, Isobel could feel the hum of the electricity from the gate. The car proceeded through the open gates and parked beside other vehicles in an area to the front of a large white building. One of the military females got out and opened Isobel’s door. ‘Follow me.’
The door pinged with electricity it must have stored from the electrified gate. Tiny sparks jumped from the door to her skin. Like all the Indigenes, she was a magnet for energy.
Isobel grabbed her bag and got out fast. The two military females watched as she rubbed her skin. Isobel caught the mistrustful look one gave her. She concentrated on the pair’s moods that were hard to read inside the compound. But enough came out for her to catch the vitriolic thoughts of one. The other seemed more tolerable.
The less tolerable female pushed Isobel through a set of double doors. A new fear gripped her as she entered what appeared to be a medical facility inside a large warehouse. White and bright dominated the sterile environment that was partitioned into several sections. The female led her behind a curtain to a space with a reclining chair. Beside the chair was a trolley with several steel instruments laid out on a strip of paper. She examined the instruments, noting some sharp and pointy ones that she hoped weren’t necessary. The female stood outside the section but glared in at her.
What will the reversal treatment feel like?
Isobel set her bag down on the floor and hugged her middle in the too warm environment. She calmed down in the presence of the hostile female and pointy objects, reminding herself that others had gone through the same treatment and come out the other side. At least Serena would be waiting for her. A familiar face might be just what she needed afterwards.
A doctor in a white boiler suit appeared at the entrance and waved away the hostile military female. He was tall for a human and spoke in a cool, measured tone.
‘Hello. My name is Dr Frank Jameson. There’s no need to worry. This procedure is safe and we have a high success rate in reversal treatment.’ He gestured to the chair. ‘Please take a seat.’
Isobel sat down and tried to concentrate on the thoughts of those around her. But she couldn’t detect much more than dull, unclear noises.
‘You can’t use your abilities in here,’ said the doctor. ‘A dampening field floods this entire compound.’
Isobel moved her arm to test it out, but her movement lacked speed. She squirmed in the chair at the realisation she was trapped.
‘Please try to relax,’ said Dr Jameson. He picked up a syringe with a thick needle off the trolley. The barrel contained a blue liquid. Were these the nanoids Serena had mentioned?
The doctor’s approached caused Isobel’s breathing to hitch. She distracted herself by staring at the ceiling.
Remember, Isobel, you chose to have this treatment.
‘The next part will be a little uncomfortable,’ said the doctor. ‘I’ll try to be as quick as I can.’
Isobel tried and failed to use her Indigene abilities a second time. What would the nanoids leave intact after the treatment? She squeezed her eyes shut and inhaled sharply when the doctor tried to force the needle into her arm. He grunted and used her chair as leverage, then tried again. She heard a small popping sound, followed by the sensation that her skin was on fire.
The doctor withdrew the needle and placed it back on the tray. ‘I need you to sit still while the nanoids do their work. Concentrate on the human memories that are the clearest. As the nanoids work on your hippocampus, the area of your brain that stores memories, you will remember more. You won’t recall everything at first, just the things that meant the most to you.’
Isobel looked at him. ‘Will I look different after the reversal?’
Dr Jameson shrugged. ‘Every Indigene is unique. The organic make-up of the body is complex. Your absorption of the genetic mutations is as individual as a fingerprint. We’ll just have to wait and see.’
She squeezed her eyes shut when she felt something crawling beneath her skin. Then the first spasm hit her so hard her scream sounded like it came from someone else. Her instincts drove her to stand. She gripped the chair and swayed on the spot.
She could hear Dr Jameson say, ‘I need help. This one’s a squirmer.’ Three of the staff appeared before her. They grabbed her and pushed her back into the chair.
‘Tie her down.’
Tie me down? ‘No, I need something for the pain...’ Her words trailed off.
Dr Jameson’s aged face came into view. ‘It’s just a sign the nanoids are working. I need you to sit still. It will all be over soon.’
The medical staff grabbed a limb each and avoided looking at Isobel as they bound her to the chair. Did her current form disgust them?
Another spasm hit that felt like something was crushing her insides. The sensation spread to her arms and legs. Isobel writhed against the pain had become intolerable with her limbs bound.
‘Give me something,’ she snarled at the medical staff.
I’ve changed my mind. Maybe she should have taken Serena up on her offer to speak with someone about the side effects.
No, if she had, she wouldn’t have come.
The staff stood back as she continued to thrash beneath the restraints. The pain heightened, then dipped, then began its rollercoaster effect all over again. She glanced at the time projection on the wall that showed just ten minutes had passed. The spasms made it feel like an hour of torture.
Then her head tingled and an irritation spread across her scalp. Something crawled beneath her skin and made her shudder. What were the tiny nanoids fixing next: her hair follicles or her hippocampus? She didn’t want to think about them. So she concentrated on the last memory of her husband that was the strongest.
‘Alex Sinclair,’ she muttered amid a haze of pain. The black swirl of his face reformed. New details emerged: his smile, a cute scar above his left eyebrow, a shock of black hair neatly combed into place. He wore his Earth Security Centre uniform.
The spasms retreated just as a cascade of tears fell.
How could she have abandoned him, her husband, her soul mate? What was he feeling now? Was he even still alive? Had someone forced her to leave him? The memories of her alteration still eluded her. She wondered if they would ever return, if the doctors and their treatment would make sure she’d never remember.
Through the tears, Isobel smiled. She was finally going home. But then the smile faded.
Eight years was a long time to be away.
Dr Jameson hovered over her, exuding a bedside manner that was colder than the metal trolleys. ‘I take it you’re remembering?’
Isobel nodded. She glanced down at the straps on her wrists and legs. ‘Could someone remove thes
e, please?’
‘Of course.’ Dr Jameson motioned to the medical staff who untied the straps. ‘How are you feeling, Isobel?’
‘A little overwhelmed...’ New tears pricked at her eyes.
‘Yes. The nanoids only reverse the mutations. They don’t prepare you for the effects of that reversal.’
Isobel wanted to know what else the nanoids had reversed. ‘Could I please have a mirror?’
Dr Jameson stared at her for a moment, then nodded to someone. One of the male assistants hid behind the mirror as he held it up for her.
She studied her appearance, touched her skin. It still felt the same. ‘I thought I would look different.’
‘As I said, the changes are different in every Indigene. Yours may manifest over time. Do you need to talk to someone about it?’
She couldn’t see how talking to someone with the same frosty attitude as the doctor would make any difference. ‘I’m fine. Am I free to leave?’
The doctor stood back from the chair. ‘Of course. Welcome to your new life.’
She shimmied off the seat. ‘What can I expect now?’
‘I assume your friend is waiting for you? It’s probably better if she explains. She is picky about which Indigenes she accompanies to here. You must be special.’
Isobel stood up and swayed.
‘The dizziness will wear off. Your immune system will continue to attack the nanoids until they expel themselves through your sweat glands during the night.’
Isobel grabbed her bag off the floor and staggered, unassisted, towards the exit. All eyes were on her as she left. The hostility she detected from the others confused her. Surely she was closer to human now than when she’d arrived?
Outside, the more tolerate of the two military females waited for her. Away from the medical confines, Isobel could feel her ability to detect moods return; the dampening field was not as strong in the courtyard. The female steadied Isobel as she swayed again, and supported her weight. Isobel could sense sympathy from her, but her own emotions were all over the place, so she could be mistaken. Her face felt wet and tight.
‘The worst of the effects will wear off soon. Your friend is waiting for you outside.’
Isobel glanced at her. ‘No escort back to the District?’
The military female shook her head. ‘Our orders are to bring you here, not to see you safely back. Besides, your friend would prefer to take you there herself.’
She escorted Isobel to the gate. There was no sign of Serena.
‘Good luck. I can’t imagine how you’re feeling right now. And for the record, the people in there hate you because they don’t understand you.’
‘Those are two separate things.’
‘In my world, they’re not.’
Isobel sensed the female wanted to say more, but she turned and walked back to the courtyard. The giant gates closed behind Isobel, separating her from the facility and the vehicle that had brought her there.
She struggled to see much in the pitch black night. Is this what the humans see? She hoped her loss of superior sight wouldn’t be permanent.
She still couldn’t see or sense Serena. Isobel followed the road that led away from the compound, taking care not to stumble. A whoosh of air almost knocked her to the ground. She turned around too fast, almost reigniting the dizziness from earlier. Her bag slipped from her shoulder. When she picked it up, Serena was in front of her. She held out a pair of trainers. ‘District Three isn’t far from here. How are your feet?’
Isobel looked down. ‘Fine. Why?’
‘The reversal treatment can increase skin sensitivity. Humans wear shoes. We don’t.’ She slipped the trainers into Isobel’s bag. ‘We’ll run, if you’re up to it?’
‘Sure. Let’s go.’
5
It felt good to run and to leave the medical facility behind. Isobel kept up with Serena as they ran to District Three. The run helped to clear Isobel’s head, but her poor vision forced her to slow down. Serena sprinted ahead pushing Isobel to pick up her pace.
‘I see the treatment hasn’t affected your speed,’ said Serena. ‘How’s your head now?’
‘Better, but I can’t see much in the dark.’ Isobel concentrated on the ground, keen not to upend herself on some hidden rock or uneven patch of ground.
Serena sounded out of breath. ‘The nanoid repair can affect your eyesight. That may settle, or you may revert to having inferior human vision.’
A noise of movement up ahead alarmed Isobel. Serena slowed and Isobel stared into the black night. ‘What’s wrong?’ she said.
Serena pulled her close. ‘Shhh.’
Isobel tilted her head. With her hearing unaffected, she picked up footsteps somewhere in the darkness. But the night remained just one dark abyss. She focused on Serena who was staring ahead.
‘Someone’s coming,’ whispered Serena. ‘I can smell them.’
Isobel sniffed the air but the filtration device she kept in place muted all smells. Was her sense of smell disappearing too? She wouldn’t truly know until she took the device out. How quickly would everything she’d known for the last eight years vanish? Could she live without the abilities she’d taken for granted?
She heard new motion, then saw too late as a burlap sack was dropped over Serena’s head. Isobel gasped as another bag covered her head. The sounds around became muffled. Someone held her arms. She heard Serena kick and struggle nearby. Isobel tried to free her own arms but her captor was too strong for her. Then it sounded like Serena was being carried off.
Isobel screamed. Something coiled around the outside of the bag and covered her mouth. Her voice was reduced to a mumble. Someone lifted her off the ground. She kicked out, but she couldn’t break free from her binds. Could this be the band of rogue Indigenes she’d heard about? The ones who had no regard for Serena and Stephen’s peace treaty?
She searched for a telepathic link to Serena, but couldn’t sense her. Amid her rising panic, she continued to fight. A car door opened and her panic flared. She felt something jab her skin.
What did the humans want with her, or Serena? How was it possible to overpower Serena, a physically strong Indigene with the ability to influence others’ behaviour? The car door shut behind her and the noises around her deadened. She felt movement close by, but she couldn’t check; her hands were trapped down by her sides.
The car moved off and travelled over rough terrain. Her head cracked against the ceiling a few times during the unrestrained journey. Then the car stopped after a few minutes. They couldn’t have travelled more than a few miles. Cool air rushed inside the cabin when the door opened. She heard someone struggling. It had to be Serena. Tears blurred her useless vision. Someone pulled her out, feet first. She hit her head on the edge of the vehicle. She lay there, dazed.
‘On your feet.’ A male voice. She didn’t recognise it, and couldn’t make out if it was human or Indigene. Isobel concentrated on the male’s mind. Nothing came to her. Another delayed effect of the reversal treatment?
The male grabbed hold of her and pulled her to her feet. The noise changed from a wide expanse to an echo, and Isobel assumed the rogue group was taking her into the tunnels. Was she an enemy of the Indigenes now, post treatment? None of this made sense.
Her male captor pulled her through the stone tunnels, resorting to dragging her when she resisted. She heard a new door opened and she stumbled forward and hit the cold stone floor. The door closed leaving Isobel alone.
She worked herself up into a kneeling position and loosened the rope around her arms, shimmying out of it until it slipped to the floor. Her skin burned from new cuts on her feet and legs. She fumbled for the knot that held the gag in place, tied tight around the sack over her head. The gag fell free and she yanked the bag off her head.
Isobel breathed hard in the pitch black room. She got up and felt around until she found the door, but no handle.
She focused on making noise, and banged on the door.
‘L
et me out of here.’ She turned around. ‘Serena, are you in here?’
No answer came. She dropped to her hands and knees and felt around the room. All she could tell was the room was square in size. No mattress, no way out. A holding cell in District Three? But the vehicle hadn’t travelled far enough. She’d heard about a set of unoccupied tunnels that the rogue Indigenes used located just twenty miles east of New London.
Isobel returned to the door again and banged on it. ‘Let me out.’ Sobs and deep breaths punctuated her words. ‘What do you want with me?’ She heard an intermittent dripping noise inside the room.
Several hours passed and nobody came to check on her. Isobel tried to sleep on the cold, wet floor, but the chill made her bones ache. Her eyes had dried for now. She examined the soles of her aching feet. Cuts on her legs burned from being dragged along the ground. Cuts that refused to heal, post treatment.
She felt around for the discarded burlap sack and ripped the material in half. She separated the gag rope and used half and some of the sack to wrap up her feet. Her thin clothing did little to protect her from the cold she normally didn’t feel. She limited her contact with the cold floor by sitting tight: knees pulled up to her chest and arms wrapped around her legs.
While she waited, she worked through every possible reason for her capture. Maybe it had something to do with the GS humans. After the peace treaty had been put into effect, the leaders on Earth relocated to Exilon 5. But they brought with them new data and new genetic practices from their study of Indigenes. While the rest of the humans settled in the cities, a select group of one hundred humans had altered themselves using their new genetic practices. The change occurred over time and the group became known as the genetically superior humans, or GS humans.
Isobel knew that while the GS humans controlled the peace treaty, they had become less interested in affairs on Exilon 5. That lack of protection had allowed new cracks to appear in society that Stephen and Serena tried to fill. But their influence didn’t extend to the regular humans who tired of the Indigenes’ claim over valuable land.