8

Arianna took her to one of the tranquillity caves. Isobel stood inside the space that held dozens of individual units carved into the rock floor, ten feet deep. They stood over two free units that were big enough to hold three or four Indigenes each.

‘How do you find using the Nexus?’ said Arianna.

‘What do you mean?’

‘Since we discovered our true origins we’ve come to realise the Nexus didn’t exist before us. It exists because of us. It reacts differently to our individual minds. Depending on our ability, it can respond in a respectful manner. Or it can behave like an attention-seeking child.’

Isobel frowned. The Nexus had only ever been safe and predictable with her. ‘When did the Nexus ever do that?’

‘When Serena connected for the first time, Stephen was with her. It became rough with her and dragged her energy inside.’

‘But I thought the Nexus refused to take you unless you were calm. Doesn’t it keep you out if you’re agitated?’

Arianna smiled. ‘That’s how it behaves with you or me. But with Serena it had the opposite effect. The more she panicked and tried to escape, the faster the tendril came for her energy.’

‘So what happened?’

‘It pulled her inside and threw her energy clear across the void where it landed at the base of the Nexus wall. Then when other energies came to deal with her agitated state, new tendrils wrapped her up in a cocoon and stopped them from reaching her.’

‘So how did she get free?’

‘Stephen had to disconnect and break her out of her meditation.’

‘While she was still connected? Was she okay?’ Waking someone in this way could be detrimental for the mind.

Arianna smiled and looked inside her unit. ‘No damage whatsoever. Soon after, Serena learned how to command the Nexus. For so long we thought the Nexus controlled us, but we had the power to control it all along.’

Isobel glanced into her unit. ‘Are you ready?’ said Arianna. ‘Things will get a little rough in there. I will push you to your mind’s limits, enhance your empath ability, and the Nexus will help me.’

Isobel nodded. ‘It can’t be any worse than what Anton and Bill Taggart did to me.’

‘Wait until we’re done before you decide that,’ said Arianna with a smile.

Arianna jumped into her unit and landed on all fours. She sat cross-legged on the stone floor opposite one wall. Isobel used the stone footholds to enter her unit, then sat on the floor and closed her eyes. She drew in what she hoped was a calming breath and released it. In her mind, the wall opposite lost its hard rock-like appearance and transformed into a shimmering golden and orange web. A bright white tendril from the Nexus came through the web and wrapped itself around her arm. The more Isobel relaxed, the faster the tendril pulled her inside the Nexus, while her physical body remained in the unit.

Isobel didn’t have to wait long until Arianna’s energy found her. She looked around at the strange Nexus belonging to District Three. District Eight’s Nexus was one long shimmering wall of energy with a luminescent ledge at its base. Between the wall and the entry points from the individual units sat a black chasm. Energies not using the Nexus wall would exist beyond the chasm as unconnected points of light. When other users used the Nexus wall, those unconnected lights would brighten as the Nexus attempted to borrow their healing power.

But in District Three, the Nexus had no extended wall, no rogue energies existing on the edge of everything. Instead the wall circled users’ energies that had become one bright ball in its centre. The chasm was gone. Hundreds of tendrils from the Nexus wall maintained a permanent connection to the bright energy ball.

Arianna pulled Isobel’s energy into the centre of the ball. The power emanating from the new Nexus overwhelmed Isobel and she had to concentrate extra hard to moderate the hundreds of voices in her head.

‘The more efficient use of energy takes some getting used to,’ said Arianna. ‘After Serena tamed the Nexus, she encouraged all the energies to use the centre of the space instead of the outer edge. She convinced the Nexus to get rid of the chasm. When the chasm disappeared, the energies were more willing to stay closer to the wall. The Nexus grew and changed as the energies used the space differently.’

Isobel knew how other energies treated empaths like Arianna in the Nexus: theirs was an irresistible, potent energy.

‘How do you cope with the energies so close?’

Arianna laughed. ‘They no longer need my energy. The Nexus is infinitely more attractive, and more efficient now in its delivery of power and healing.’

The energies settled into a natural pattern around Isobel. She never felt pushed or crowded. It was as if they all had a place now.

A Nexus tendril came for her energy. It caressed her before providing her with a connection point to use. As soon as she connected with the tendril, she felt the power heal her cuts and bruises on the outside.

Feeling stronger, Isobel said, ‘So how will you draw out my empath ability?’

Arianna’s calm energy became alert and she floated out of the concentrated ball of energy that Isobel was using to heal. ‘I’m not going to do anything. They are.’

Isobel looked around her. ‘Who?’

The Nexus pushed her energy down as the other energies crowded over her. Dozens of new tendrils connected to her and the Nexus wall rippled harder.

A thousand minds slammed into hers all at once.

A white light blinded her. The voices screamed inside her head. She stumbled back from them but the tendrils pinned her down. The first wave of voices hit her from the side. They probed her mind, tried to gain access to her deepest thoughts—her secrets. Isobel yelled and pushed them away. The second wave hit her from above. This one drove harder, deeper. Isobel kicked and thrashed against them until they retreated. Each new wave brought a stronger set of minds that became harder to block. Each attempt weakened her, but she continued to fight off their attempts to access her deepest secrets.

‘If you don’t want them digging further, you need to retaliate,’ said Arianna.

Isobel squeezed her eyes shut. She felt her energy dip. ‘How do I retaliate?’

‘Do back to them what they’re doing to you.’

Isobel pushed into their minds but crashed straight into a blockade. No matter how hard she pushed, it wouldn’t move.

‘I can’t budge it.’

‘Try harder. You’re thinking about it too much. Let it become part of your instinct, as much as your desire for privacy is a part of you.’

Isobel pushed again. This time she felt the blockade give a little. ‘That’s it,’ said Arianna. ‘Those are not empath minds. It should be easy to get past the first barrier.’

Isobel pushed and pushed, but she couldn’t do it. She huffed out a breath. ‘I can’t! I’m not an empath.’

‘You don’t need to be,’ said Arianna. ‘You must only be good enough to convince an empath that you know how to use that part of your mind. That’s who will to test you on Earth.’

‘So what do I do?’

‘Imagine there’s something you need from another mind. How badly do you want it? How much effort will you put into breaking down the barriers?’

Isobel pictured one energy holding all the secrets about her change from human to Indigene. She felt a raw need to steal that knowledge take her over. She picked a random energy and pushed as hard as she could. She felt the barrier yield to her. It broke apart and she met a new barrier, stronger than the last. The energy pushed her out.

Arianna laughed. ‘You did well. You almost got past my secondary defences. I wasn’t ready for you, though. Next time, I’ll make it harder.’

Isobel was shocked. ‘That was your mind?’

Arianna nodded. ‘How did it feel?’

‘Powerful.’

After their session, Arianna returned Isobel to the Council Chambers where Stephen and Anton waited inside.

‘Did Arianna leave your mind intact?’ said a grinning Anton. Arianna gave him a little shove.

Isobel nodded. ‘It was... interesting. I didn’t realise the Nexus could evolve in that way. The one in District Eight looks nothing like that.’

‘That was Serena’s doing,’ said Stephen. ‘The Nexus had never been exposed to someone like her, someone who could influence the energies around her. The Nexus is pure energy. It exists because we do. When she used it for the first time, I thought I’d have to bring in reinforcements to help me get her out of there.’

‘It’s amazing,’ said Isobel.

‘No,’ said Stephen. ‘It’s amazing because Serena made it that way. It’s works more efficiently in its current design. Our connection time has been massively reduced.’ Isobel wondered if the other Nexuses could use Serena’s design influence.

‘So,’ said Anton, stepping forward, ‘How long has it been since you’ve hunted?’

‘I’ve never hunted. Why?’

Anton lifted his brows at Stephen. ‘I couldn’t imagine that.’

‘Neither could I.’ Stephen looked at her. ‘You’re leaving for Earth in a couple of days. Perhaps you’d like to join us on your first hunting trip before you do? Think of it as a parting gift. Something better to remember us by.’

Anton bounced on his feet and looped his arm around Stephen’s shoulders. ‘I love hunting with this idiot. He may be fast, but he’s not cunning, like me. But together... Well, let’s just say we enjoy the sport.’

Isobel smiled at the play between the pair. ‘Okay, sounds like I’d be a fool to miss out.’

‘You would,’ said Arianna. ‘It’s quite the spectacle.’

‘Will you be joining us?’

Arianna smiled. ‘I never miss the opportunity.’

Isobel emerged from the tunnels with the others, barefoot and dressed in dark hunting clothes. She heard no sound beyond the environmental bubble that encased the hunting zones. Isobel didn’t remember anything before the hunting zones and in her eight years she’d never had a desire to hunt.

What was hunting like back then?

‘Before the peace treaty? There were no environmental bubbles and we had to wear an earlier version of the air filtration devices,’ said Stephen, responding to her silent question. ‘The devices last much longer now. Infinite power. Kinetically charged. Our bodies are now the power source.’

‘Yeah the older versions were awkward to use and had a time limit,’ said Anton. ‘You couldn’t eat with them in.’

‘Do you remember back when they only had twenty minutes of air?’ said Stephen.

Anton rolled his eyes. ‘I invented them. I worked night and day to improve the design after I almost died.’ He explained for Isobel. ‘Ignatio, my old superior, and I were out here one night, spying on one of the craft that had brought new equipment. We needed a sample of their goods. Back then we were still figuring out how their stuff worked, trying to make new items, or modify existing equipment for our use. Well, we nearly suffocated on the run back.’

Stephen smiled. ‘You didn’t leave the lab for a week trying to improve the design.’

‘I would have been quicker with your help.’

‘I was there in spirit.’

‘Stephen was too wrapped up in his own work to help anyone,’ said Arianna. ‘He was a workaholic.’

‘Nothing wrong with taking pride in my work.’

Arianna whispered to Isobel. ‘Except when Serena needs help and he drops everything.’ She winked at Stephen.

‘Shhh.’ Isobel startled when Anton’s head whipped round. ‘Listen. They’re close to the bubble.’

The sound was distorted, but Isobel could hear two wolves baying in the distance. ‘Why is the sound so poor in here?’

‘Sound doesn’t permeate the bubble well,’ said Anton. ‘Plus we need to know where the bubble begins and ends. We don’t carry air filtration devices any more, so it’s better to be safe.’

‘Can the wolves survive in here?’

‘Yes. They’re genetically modified creations, like us,’ said Stephen. ‘They can withstand all environmental conditions, including changes in air quality, to prevent against natural extinction.’

‘Come on,’ said Anton. ‘We need to get closer.’

Stephen and Anton took the lead. They branched in different directions. Arianna pulled Isobel along. ‘You won’t want to miss these two hunt.’

Isobel tracked Stephen and Anton, one heading east, the other west. She spotted the pair of wolves sniffing in the dirt. They remained outside the bubble. Stephen and Anton had slowed their approach on either side of the prey. ‘They’ll try to herd them inside.’

‘So they have to leave the bubble?’

‘Only for a minute.’

‘Isn’t that dangerous?’

Arianna smiled. ‘It’s how they prefer to hunt. It adds to the excitement.’

Just then, Anton slipped through the bubble’s exterior that dampened his speed as he passed through. On the other side he sped up, slowed down, dropped into a crouch. The Indigene hunting stance. Stephen copied his move on the other side of the wolves.

Isobel and Arianna got closer to the edge of the bubble.

The wolves jerked their heads up and growled into the black night. Anton evaded their line of sight but the pair, disorientated for a moment, found him. Their shining eyes tracked the approaching Indigenes. Anton lunged at one wolf. It bounced away from his attack.

Stephen signalled to Anton. ‘He’s telling him it’s taking too long,’ said Arianna. ‘They need to get the wolves inside. They won’t be able to breathe out there for much longer.’

The wolves stayed on the edge of the environmental controls and led Anton and Stephen on a chase. Soon, the slippery wolves forced the pair back inside the bubble. Both pulled air deep into their lungs. ‘The wolves know we can’t survive out there, so they’re toying with us. We’re not normally this bad at hunting. We may have to give this one a miss.’

Isobel stared at the wolf that watched her from a safe distance. ‘I have an idea, if I may.’

‘Go ahead,’ said a recovering Anton.

Time to test out her Indigene lungs. If the reversal treatment had worked, she should be as adaptable as the wolves in any environment. She pushed through the bubble and stalked the waiting animals as the pair had done. Her lungs strained with the effort of the new air, and she thought she’d have to abandon her run like Anton and Stephen. But then the pressure lessened and she drew in what tasted like normal air.

She approached one of the watching wolves head-on. It pinned her with its shining gaze and bared its teeth. When the wolf leaned back on its quivering haunches, Isobel pitched one leg in front of the other, head straining forwards, back low. The other wolf paced around, trapping her. The quivering wolf lurched forwards. Isobel grabbed hold of its underbelly and tossed it behind her. She turned to see it land inside the bubble. Stephen and Anton snarled and surrounded the wolf before it had time to retreat.

A sharp pain in her leg caused her to yowl. She spun around to see the second wolf had sunk its teeth into her leg. Isobel grabbed its tail, surprising the attacking wolf enough that it let go of her. She dragged it inside the bubble where it slipped out of her hold and lunged at her again. Arianna sped over and pinned the wolf down. A panting Isobel snapped its neck.

She lay on the ground, her chest heaving, her leg glistening with wolf saliva mixed with her blood. She sat back to see Anton and Stephen still chasing after the first wolf.

‘Why haven’t they killed it yet?’

Arianna pulled the dead wolf to a spot away from them both. She sat on the ground. ‘They like to hunt and the animals are too easy to kill. This one’s a rare challenge.’

The animal tried to leave the bubble, but Anton darted in front of it to block its exit. It retreated further inside the hunting zone. Stephen blocked it from going too far. They circled the animal, moving fast when the wolf did. Eventually, it stopped trying to escape and paced in a short circle, baying. Stephen and Anton looked at each other, then at the wolf. Anton created a gap and the wolf took it, running through the bubble and off into the distance. Stephen laughed and Anton slapped him on the back. The pair raced over to where Isobel sat.

‘Who knew you were such a natural at hunting?’ said Anton to Isobel.

She stood up. ‘Why did you let it go?’

Stephen breathed hard. ‘Because there aren’t many of them left. They’re reproducing at too slow a pace in the new biodomes. The peace treaty sets out restrictions on the numbers we can kill.’

‘So I probably shouldn’t have killed this one?’

Anton smiled at Stephen. ‘Nope. But we still need to eat.’