by Eliza Green
Standing outside her quarters and no longer shielded by the omicron rock, she tried to sense Stephen. After a few moments she located his weak signature. But her lack of protection flooded the space with the emotions of other Indigenes attracted to her energy. The noise affected her ability to maintain a lock on Stephen. With a shake of her head, she erected her defensive wall and concentrated once more. Whatever had opened up her memories had also made it difficult to turn off the noise. The emotions of others trickled past her wall.
Elise cleared her mind of thoughts, including Stephen; the emotions retreated. But another wave of emotions hit her, this one similar to the onslaught inside the Nexus.
She retreated to her quarters. The peace returned, but not for long. The voices found her.
Someone bounded up the stairs and stood outside her door. She froze with one hand on the door, sensing the apprehension from the Indigene on the other side.
Elise? Are you there? a voice in her mind said. It’s Arianna. I need to speak to you about Stephen.
The mention of Stephen was enough for her to open the door. The voices she’d been keeping back hit her mind.
‘Come in. Hurry.’
Arianna hesitated, her eyes flicking to the dishevelled bed covers. I’m sorry, Elise. I didn’t mean to disturb you. She turned to leave.
‘Please’—Elise pulled her inside and closed the door—‘You’re not disturbing me, but I ask that you use your voice here. How can I help?’ The voices retreated again.
Arianna gave her a look that reminded her of Anna. One day she would tell Arianna about her mother’s human life.
She explained: ‘Telepathy exhausts me too much.’ Elise took Arianna’s hands in hers and focused on her emotional state. Maybe she could use Arianna as a barrier to block the voices and emotions of the other Indigenes.
‘I’m concerned about Stephen. He’s not acting like himself,’ said Arianna.
‘How so?’ The young empath’s presence diverted the emotions away from Elise to her. It helped to Elise to focus.
‘He hasn’t said much but I can tell he’s not coping. I know he used the Nexus to help alleviate the pain in his head.’
‘Has he confided in you?’
‘No, but he still blames himself for Anton’s disappearance.’
Elise frowned. Stephen was grieving. He should have moved from the first stage of grief—anger—to depression by now.
Arianna huffed. ‘I know the stories about Anton’s death are fake, that he wasn’t killed on the surface.’
Elise froze. ‘What makes you think that, child?’ Pierre and Leon had even arranged a small ceremony for Anton to keep up the pretence. Clearly it hadn’t fooled everyone.
‘There are rumours that Anton is on a planet called Earth.’
Elise concentrated on the young empath. The emotions and voices stayed back when she did. ‘Who told you this?’
‘The Surface Creatures talk about it. Is it true?’
Pierre had been in such a rush to concoct a story that he hadn’t considered what the humans above ground might say.
‘How many know about this?’
‘Not many but our hunters don’t believe Pierre’s story. They’re threatening to take action against the humans. There’s even talk about rescuing him.’
Another thing Elise had feared might happen. She’d been so focused on her own problems that she’d missed the escalating unrest among the Indigenes. Pierre would be angry; he relied on her to forewarn this kind of thing.
‘Have you told anyone else this?’
‘Just Stephen. He told me he spoke to Pierre about it. But he’s been avoiding me since our last hunting trip.’ Her eyes widened. ‘You should have seen him, Elise. He tore the animal limb from limb. Stephen’s never done that before.’
Pierre knew? She released Arianna’s hands. The situation was bad enough without her husband keeping secrets from her. ‘When did you last speak to Stephen?’
‘About two weeks ago.’
‘Do you know if Pierre has acted on this information?’
She shrugged. ‘I’ve been too busy looking out for Stephen to take notice.’
Elise knew what she had to do.
‘Thank you for telling me—and for filling me in on Stephen’s condition. I’ve been lax in my obligations. It won’t happen again.’
But Arianna didn’t move. ‘If I could be so bold as to make an observation—’ Elise nodded. ‘You haven’t been yourself. Is there something you need?’
Elise hid her shock. If Arianna noticed, then surely others had too. The last thing she wanted was for the Indigenes thinking she, as elder, had lost control.
Smiling she said, ‘I’m fine. It’s Stephen we must watch over now. I can sense changes within him. When those changes peak, I don’t know how they will manifest or if he’ll cope.’
Arianna looked relieved. ‘I sense the changes in him too. I can’t explain what they are.’
Elise touched her arm to reassure her. A shock passed from Arianna to Elise’s hand. Her connection with the young empath was strong enough to affect her physically.
She smiled at her. ‘Your empathy is strong. It’s the reason you’ve come. You sense that we share something—a common trait.’
Arianna’s eyes widened. ‘Yes, Elise. I... I can’t explain it. It’s this feeling I get when I’m near you. I’ve always felt drawn to you, like you’re the only one who knows me. My mother always admired you greatly—’ Arianna dropped her gaze. ‘I’m sorry, elder, I shouldn’t take up your time with this.’
Elise lifted Arianna’s chin. ‘Please, child. Don’t apologise.’
‘I should have come to you about Stephen earlier. I thought I could handle it on my own.’
‘Perhaps it’s time we started working together.’ Her first stop would be Pierre. They would need to quell any talk of revenge.
She dismissed Arianna and Elise’s short-lived peace went with her. She paced the room, her irritation with Pierre top of her list. They were so different. Sometimes she wondered if they were the right fit for each other. Would Elizabeth have chosen someone like Pierre as a husband? Had the humans forced Elise’s pairing with Pierre after they reprogrammed her brain? Or had she and Pierre found each other naturally—because they loved each other?
She shook the thought away. Her chat with Pierre could wait. Stephen could not.
A few minutes later Elise idled outside Stephen’s private dwelling in the northern quadrant. She heard nothing, then remembered Arianna had said Stephen was using the Nexus. She tried the tranquillity caves next.
The cave in the same quadrant heaved with energy. Elise battled against the surge of emotions there. She quickly climbed into a vacant unit and connected to the Nexus. Inside, she filtered out the rush of emotions as best as she could and concentrated on Stephen’s signature. When she couldn’t sense him, she tried calling out.
22
Stephen’s head swam with thoughts that were not his own. How could he see into Anton’s mind if his friend was light years away? It made no sense.
The Nexus did little to ease the thumping pain in his head. A bunch of tendrils hovered close to him, unsure of how to deal with his erratic energy. Bright balls of energy belonging to the connected minds floated past him to the wall. Their thoughts, unintelligible background noise, buzzed in the space.
One voice—a female—broke through the murmurs. It intensified the pain in his head. Stephen pushed against it, but his efforts turned it into an echo inside the Nexus.
Where are you? it called out.
The Nexus distorted the lone voice.
Stephen, I need to speak to you.
He froze at the use of his name. Who knew he was in here?
Please, I know you can hear me. Try to concentrate on my voice.
He recognised it now, even with the distortion.
Curious he replied, I’m here. Elise had never connected with him inside the Nexus before.
Can you disconnect? We need to tal
k in person.
I can’t. I need to stay.
Please, it won’t take long. Meet me outside the Gathering Room.
With the pain in his head close to intolerable, it was the last thing he wanted to do. But he couldn’t ignore a direct order from an elder, either. He delayed his disconnection, long enough for the pain to switch from a deep growl to a dull roar.
He found Elise waiting for him outside the Gathering Room. She ushered him inside the soundproofed space. It was where Stephen had relayed details of his meeting with Ben Watson to the representative group. The room was empty except for a raised platform at one end.
Elise turned to face him. ‘Arianna came to see me. She’s worried about you—as am I.’
‘Why did she do that?’
‘You haven’t been yourself for a while. I know you’ve been suffering. I can feel your pain.’
He walked away, angry at his friend for betraying his confidence. ‘Arianna shouldn’t have spoken to you.’ He turned back. ‘I’m fine. I have everything under control.’
But Elise just frowned. ‘When did you notice the changes? When did the pain start?’
‘I don’t know... when I left Earth, I guess. The pain’s manageable. It comes and goes. There’s no problem.’ This was partly true.
‘I understand you’ve spoken to Pierre. Why haven’t you confided in me?’ said Elise.
‘I needed a logical solution to the problem. You empaths are far too emotional.’
Elise stared at him. He regretted his outburst, even though it was the truth.
The pain returned with full force. Squeezing his eyes shut, he clutched the sides of his head.
Elise pulled his hands from his head. ‘Please let me help. It might surprise you to learn I’ve been going through changes of my own.’
His eyes flew open and he jerked away from her touch.
‘Nobody can help me. This is my punishment.’
‘For what? For Anton’s capture?’ The elder’s voice grew louder. ‘Damn Pierre and his stubbornness. Listen, you are not to blame.’
Stephen laughed. It sounded manic. ‘That’s what Pierre said. Yet, ever since I came home I’ve seen through Anton’s eyes, felt what he experiences.’
‘I have a theory about the changes you’re experiencing, that they’re quite natural and connected to your survival.’
Stephen turned away; he didn’t want to hear it.
‘Something inside us changes when new threats arise. Your mind altered when you lost Anton, when you experienced the most severe stress. And now humans threaten our survival again. Don’t you see? We’re evolving so we may deal with the new threats.’
Stephen turned back to the elder, shaking his head. ‘That doesn’t explain how Anton can connect with me.’
‘That’s just it. Anton is not connecting with you.’
‘Are you saying he’s dead?’
He couldn’t believe it. He wouldn’t.
‘No, I believe one of your latent abilities is waking up to help you cope with the situation.’ She looked off to the side. ‘I don’t know if it’s a new one or a progression of an existing one, but any threat to our survival affects our minds and bodies.’ She looked back. ‘It’s possible we are evolving under these new threats.’
Stephen stared at Elise. Pierre would never have suggested such a ridiculous thing. ‘This is my punishment, my guilt. Nothing more. It doesn’t feel like evolution. I can see—’ He broke off.
Elise’s eyes widened. ‘See what?’
Pierre hadn’t been interested in his theories. Why would Elise be any different?
He turned and strode to the door. ‘I need to use the Nexus. The pain’s getting worse and the Nexus helps to relieve the pressure.’
Elise didn’t stop him. ‘Can I help?’
‘No,’ he called back to her. ‘Leave me alone and tell Arianna to mind her own business.’
23
Bill glanced at his watch. ‘She’s late.’
‘She’ll call, Bill. You’ve no patience,’ said Laura.
He sat beside her on the sofa in his apartment in Nottingham. It was the first time he’d invited anyone to his place—his and Isla’s home. He watched her reaction as she looked around the room. The apartment was more Isla than him, from the miniature chandeliers over the dining table to the replica oil paintings that hung on the wall next to the crimson-velvet chairs. It felt strange to have someone other than Isla in his apartment. What would his wife think about him inviting a female colleague into their home?
He pushed his guilt over Isla away and changed the subject.
‘What did you do with your second chip?’
‘I put it somewhere safe.’
‘Where?’
Laura’s lips thinned.
Intrigued, he turned to face her. ‘Okay, now you have to tell me.’
Laura blushed. ‘I’d rather not. You’ll only laugh.’
‘I promise I won’t.’
She huffed. ‘Remember I told you about my mother’s cat Princess?’
‘The big fat Persian thing?’
‘I was under pressure... I couldn’t think of anywhere else to put it.’
A noise bubbled out of his throat. It turned into a full blown snort-laugh.
Her blush deepened. ‘Well, I didn’t hear any suggestions from you.’
‘I’m sorry. I know I promised...’ He wiped away his tears. ‘The cat. I haven’t laughed this hard since... I can’t even remember.’
‘It’ll work just fine.’
‘What’s going to happen when they track you jumping across roof tops, or loitering at the back of restaurants? They might have you committed.’
‘I didn’t say it was the best plan.’ She sat back with a sigh. ‘Maybe it won’t make any difference—according to you, they already know what we’re really doing.’
His laughter trailed off. ‘I only assume they do. There’s still time to put the chip somewhere else.’
‘No, this is a simple solution. I need that right now so just drop it.’
‘Okay.’
A silence lingered between them. Then Bill said with a smile, ‘How did the cat respond when you violated her?’ Laura glared at him. He put his hands up.
‘If you must know, she scratched my arm when I made the incision. That cat won’t trust me ever again.’
‘Where’s the feline now?’
‘Sprawled across Fionnuala’s bed and unlikely to move unless the food runs out. Like her owner.’ Laura eyed him. ‘Why do you care anyway?’
‘Just killing time.’ That and he needed a light hearted distraction. ‘Bit lazy, is it?’
‘You could say that. They say people pick pets that reflect their personality. But if that cat gets a whiff of food out in the corridor, she’s clawing at the front door to be let out.’
‘Fat, too?—the cat I mean.’
‘Like a sack of stones. I almost put my back out trying to lift her once. But she can move fast enough when she wants. Fionnuala loves that cat. She got worried when I cut her.’
‘Aye, that must have gone down well,’ said Bill. ‘What did you tell her you were doing?’
‘Giving it a vitamin boost.’ Laura rolled her eyes. ‘She bought it, even though I’ve never given one to the cat before.’
‘That’s one trusting mother you have.’
‘Or just not bothered with details.’ She glanced at the Light Box. ‘What time did Jenny say she’d call?’
‘Thirty minutes ago.’ He leaned forward, feeling his doubt about their plans creep back in.
‘I wonder what’s keeping her.’
Hell if he knew. ‘She said she needed time to sort out some stuff.’ He sat up straight. ‘Shit. What if she’s changed her mind? I should have made her sign something.’
Laura waved her hand at him. ‘She wouldn’t have signed it. Jenny’s done with people telling her what to do. Let’s not panic just yet. We still have time.’
Despite her words, Bill s
tood and paced in front of the sofa. ‘But there’s no plan without her. We’ll have no chance of getting to Exilon 5, and your time off work will be for nothing.’
Laura patted the seat beside her. ‘Come sit beside me.’
‘I can’t.’
‘Please. She’ll call when she’s ready. She knows there’s a deadline. We still have time.’
Bill sat back down. He leaned forward, then back. Then he crossed his legs before uncrossing them again.
‘What’s up with you?’
‘I hate waiting on other people.’
‘I never would have guessed.’ She turned to face him. ‘Okay, let’s chat to pass the time.’
‘About what?’
‘I don’t know. The weather.’
Silence followed. Neither of them had much to say on that subject. Eventually, he asked, ‘How’s your mother doing after her fall?’
‘Fine.’ She paused. ‘I mean she’s on the mend, I suppose.’
‘You two don’t get on?’
‘We get on fine. It’s just... she’s so dependent on me for everything. Sometimes when I’m around her I can’t breathe.’
‘People can act out when they’re feeling insecure. Do you think she’ll ever get a life of her own?’
Laura half smiled. ‘Maybe one day when I finally cut the ties. I know I’m part of the problem.’ She nodded. ‘Exilon 5 will be good for her. On Earth, it’s too easy for her to stay indoors.’
Bill stood. ‘Do you want coffee?’ It was something to do while they waited.
‘Sure, if you’re having one yourself.’
He went to the kitchen and returned a few minutes later with two mugs. Laura took a sip.
‘Jesus.’ She made a face. ‘This stuff would strip wallpaper.’
‘I like it strong.’ Bill barely tasted it anymore. He took two gulps and focused on the inactive Light Box. ‘What do you make of Daphne Gilchrist? She’s your boss, isn’t she?’
Laura put the mug down. ‘What you see is what you get with her. She can be cold, calculating and a little surprising.’
‘Surprising?’
‘Yeah, like when I think she’s about to tell me off, she smiles and walks on.’