by Eliza Green
‘I tried, but you wanted nothing to do with me. So I kept an eye on him.’
‘Let’s assume they used the same device to transfer Benedict’s personality to Anton,’ said Pierre. ‘If we destroy Benedict, the device may be rendered useless. He must not transfer the secrets of our district to the humans.’
‘So, who shall accompany Anton to the Nexus, me or you?’ said Gabriel to Pierre.
Pierre shook his head. ‘Neither. I’d like Arianna to try.’
Arianna’s aura faded from bright orange to yellow. ‘Why me?’
‘Because you’re a strong empath and Elise spoke very highly of you,’ said Pierre. Arianna dropped her gaze. ‘And because you’re a second-generation Indigene and the Nexus responds to you in a way it doesn’t to the first gen.’
‘Why not use her?’ Margaux pointed at Serena. ‘She doesn’t belong here.’
Stephen pushed down a flare of rage.
‘Because Serena isn’t an empath, Margaux.’ Gabriel turned to the others. ‘I’m sorry, she doesn’t always understand what’s going on.’
Margaux stared up at the rough stone ceiling. ‘They’re up there. I can sense them.’
‘Does she need a break?’ said Pierre.
Gabriel shook his head. ‘She’s fine. There’s never a dull moment with Margaux around. She sees life as one giant equation for her to solve. She’s not affected by emotions or feelings in the same way we are. It’s why others struggle to understand her.’
Stephen watched as Margaux switched her focus from the ceiling to Serena. ‘You don’t belong here, child. You belong somewhere else.’
‘Yes, I know. I’m from District Eight,’ said Serena.
Margaux laughed. ‘No you’re not. You don’t belong here, in this district, with us.’
Stephen shook off Gabriel’s support and went to Serena’s side. ‘Whatever she is, wherever she came from, it’s not her fault,’ he said.
Serena stared at him. ‘And where do you think I’m from, Stephen?’
He grabbed her hands. ‘I want to believe you’re an Indigene but the images in your head, the way the Nexus reacted to you, it doesn’t make sense. Gabriel and Margaux have never met you before and they’re the elders from District Eight.’
Serena frowned. ‘But I grew up in District Eight. I have memories of my childhood.’
‘Are you somehow mixing up your memories with those of the child I saw in the picture?’
‘No... I mean I remember the child, the picture, but I also remember being in the district as an Evolver.’
Silence fell around them until Margaux broke it. She touched Serena’s face and looked into her eyes. ‘Child, I say you’re not from here. But don’t be sad. You’re important. They’—she pointed at each Indigene in the room—‘don’t realise how important yet.’
Gabriel intervened. ‘Please, you’re scaring Serena.’ He led her away.
‘Can you sense anything about Serena?’ said Pierre to Arianna. She responded with a shake of her head. ‘Stephen, what about you?’
‘I don’t know. Something doesn’t feel right.’
‘What about these images you saw—in her head?’
‘Her private thoughts. It’s not my business to say.’
‘And in the Nexus?’
Stephen explained what had happened to Serena in the Nexus and its aggression towards her. The news shocked the others.
‘What did you do in District Eight?’ Gabriel asked Serena.
‘I worked in one of the labs there. We ran a clinic where Indigenes came in for routine check-ups.’
‘Does that sound familiar, Gabriel?’ said Pierre.
‘You know it’s not. Indigenes don’t need check-ups.’
Serena frowned. ‘Why do I remember it like it was only last month?’
Stephen saw Margaux smile. ‘Because they’ve manipulated your memories. Can’t any of you see it?’
‘You mean she was changed recently?’ said Arianna.
‘It makes sense, given the timelines,’ said Leon. ‘She arrived in the district at the same time as Anton came home. My son became a spy and it’s possible that was also Serena’s role.’
Serena looked shocked; Stephen didn’t blame her. ‘I don’t understand. What am I?’
‘A hybrid, most likely,’ said Leon. ‘You may not remember Anton, but if the humans changed you on Earth, it’s possible they used his DNA to create you.’
‘So she’s a third generation?’ said Arianna.
‘No, not quite,’ said Stephen. ‘Pierre and Gabriel are first generation, created by the humans. Anton and I are second generation, born to two first-generation parents. Serena would be the first of a new Indigene. She’s part second-generation Indigene, part whatever new DNA mutations they gave her.’
‘But she looks no different to us,’ said Arianna.
‘It’s possible the changes have occurred in her brain. I’ll need to perform some tests to be sure.’ Stephen touched Serena’s face. ‘Do you mind?’
She shook her head. ‘I want to know what I am.’
Pierre leaned against the wall. ‘Well, that would certainly explain the Nexus’s reaction to her.’
‘Could we convince the Nexus to accept her as one of our own?’ said Gabriel.
‘The Nexus was rough, as if I was a thing for it to possess,’ said Serena. ‘Stephen had to force my disconnection from the outside because it wouldn’t let me leave.’
‘It sounds like the Nexus is changing character too,’ said Pierre. ‘So the sooner Arianna tries with Anton the better.’
‘But why not use Serena?’ said Margaux. ‘Why are you all ignoring what she is?’
‘We can’t use her, Margaux,’ said Stephen. ‘The Nexus tried to hurt her, remember?’
Margaux huffed and turned away.
‘What about your visions, Stephen—can you see if Arianna will be successful?’ said Pierre.
‘They’re stronger with Serena’s help, but I can’t control them, not yet.’
Pierre straightened up. ‘Gabriel, bring Anton to the Nexus tomorrow morning. Let’s see what Arianna can do.’
‘What can I do to help?’ said Leon.
‘You can assist Gabriel.’
Margaux turned back and pinned her wild gaze on Arianna. ‘It’s all up here with her, child.’ She tapped the side of her head and nodded at Serena. ‘How she makes you feel when you’re around her. But you already know that. You’ve already felt Serena’s influence, haven’t you?’
‘Yes,’ whispered Arianna.
‘They’re not open to the idea yet, child. But they will be soon enough.’
12
A shaken Daphne Gilchrist returned to the Earth Security Centre after the board meeting in Washington. Deighton had asked her to wait back a moment. But her desire to escape intensified as soon as the room had emptied. She’d tried to put off their conversation for another time, but he’d blocked her escape with his arm.
‘I won’t keep you long, Daphne.’
She had risked going against him in the meeting, but she would not allow Deighton to turn her into a scapegoat for sending Serena and Anton away.
‘I must dash, Charles. I’m late for a meeting at ESC. Can we speak about this tomorrow?’
He flashed her that all-teeth smile she despised and removed his arm from the doorframe. ‘We’ll talk tomorrow. In the foyer, here, at noon sharp. Don’t be late.’
She nodded. At least the foyer was a public space. Not much could happen there.
Back in her office on Level Seven, Daphne dove straight into research on the latest prototype, Serena. If plans to alter a selection of the population included her by default, she needed to understand the report that explained what Susan Bouchard—Serena—had become.
The information about DNA strands, mutations and nanoid delivery tripped up Daphne’s non-scientific mind. She opted for the layman’s report that Dr Caroline Finnegan had written before her death, hoping to find a clearer explanat
ion there. But even that was filled with too much jargon. She leaned back in her chair and activated her communication device. The Galway Medical Facility was just a phone call away. But she disconnected again, not sure if Deighton monitored her calls.
She read through the report again but could gleam nothing concrete from it about her predetermined future. Deighton moved too fast with the alteration programme that was supposed to be years away from inception. And the board members, who could be swayed, given the right incentives, were just as bad.
What would happen to the ESC in this new future? Would it still exist once she became someone else? What would her new role be after her alteration?
Daphne stood up and smoothed down her skirt. So far she’d sided with Deighton for strategic reasons, but the alteration programme took things too far. Still, the conservative board members were the best hopes to stall the programme, but she could tell they had been intrigued by Deighton’s ideas. That thought set her off to pace her room.
How would the new breed of humans fit into a world like Exilon 5, alongside regular humans and a race of superior beings? What about the Indigenes? Would they live in peace, or would the programme destroy them first, as Deighton had suggested?
Daphne despised change and she had no desire to live on a planet she’d never seen, or among a race she’d never met. She’d been a silent partner in the Indigenes’ creation. Peter Cantwell Senior and Deighton had been the brains behind the operation. The idea of alteration in the early days had intrigued her back then—a radical and revolutionary idea that opposed her strict upbringing in Osaka, Japan. But that novelty had worn off with age.
She stopped pacing and returned to her chair. The report filled with jargon displayed on screen. How could she decide about the rest of her life based on this?
A knock on her door startled her. Her assistant’s face appeared in the open crack of the door.
‘I’m off to lunch. Can I get you anything, Ms Gilchrist?’ he said.
‘No. I don’t want to be disturbed.’ She waved her hand at him. But a thought crossed her mind as he closed the door. ‘Actually, there is one thing. Send Laura O’Halloran to my office.’
‘What now?’
Gilchrist stared at him. ‘Yes, before your lunch.’
Daphne abandoned the report and stood. She smoothed her short red hair into place and adjusted the ends of her suit jacket.
Image mattered to her. How important was it to Indigenes? Not much, judging by Anton’s feral appearance. She’d always preferred to watch change happening to other people, but Serena brought her own transformation a step too close.
Five minutes later, Daphne pressed the button on her communication device that connected to her assistant’s mobile headset.
‘Yes, Ms Gilchrist?’ he said.
‘Did you find her yet?’
‘She’s on Level Two, in the Energy Creation room. She’s getting dressed now.’
13
Laura took her time to gather her thoughts while Gilchrist’s male assistant waited outside the changing room. He’d approached her while she was on the treadmill.
‘How much longer will you be?’ He checked his watch.
‘Another ten minutes.’ Laura stalled for time. An impromptu meeting with Gilchrist meant only one thing: she knew about her and Bill’s trip off world.
‘The CEO doesn’t have ten minutes. You need to come with me now.’ He grabbed her arm and tried to pull her off the treadmill.
‘Stop...’ Laura stumbled.
‘You need to come now.’
The urgency in the young man’s voice prompted Laura to drop the charade. ‘Fine. Give me a second to get changed.’
Back in her uniform, Laura followed Gilchrist’s assistant to her office. He knocked once on the door and grabbed his coat and mask.
‘Knock again if she doesn’t answer,’ he said.
Gilchrist shouted ‘Enter’ through the door. Laura cracked the door open. The CEO sat in leather chair, her legs crossed at the ankles and her chin resting in her hand. Laura entered and closed the door.
‘Take a seat, Laura.’ Gilchrist didn’t look at her.
She bit her lip and sat down in the equally luxurious leather chair opposite Gilchrist. She looked around the office, filled with Japanese artefacts, bonsai trees and personal photos—probably from Gilchrist’s home in Osaka.
Her eyes settled on Gilchrist whose glassy eyes—different to her sharp, cold stare—raked over her appearance.
‘You look different.’ The CEO’s sunken eyes narrowed. ‘Your eyes look brighter than usual—not so lifeless and dull.’
Laura frowned. Where was she going with this?
‘I envy your beauty,’ said Gilchrist. ‘All you young people, in fact, with your whole lives ahead of you. You don’t fear change.’ She paused. ‘Have you gained weight?’
Laura released her lip from between her teeth. ‘Em, not that I’ve noticed. I’ve been eating more, if that’s what you mean.’ She rested a hand on her slightly rounded tummy.
Gilchrist nodded. ‘That will do it.’
Laura didn’t understand. ‘The replicated food doesn’t add weight—no fat or sugar, remember?’
‘But the food at Cantaloupe does.’
Laura failed to control her blush.
‘We’ve been watching you for some time, Laura O’Halloran,’ she said. ‘Did the sun on Exilon 5 help you beat your seasonal depression?’
Laura gaped at her. ‘I—er—what?’
‘My report on the situation said you went a little crazy on the ship and again when you saw the sun. What a wonderful experience for you. For people like you, natural light can be as addictive as Light Boxes are to technology junkies.’
Laura’s heart thumped in her ears. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
‘Irene Clark—was that your alias? Don’t bother answering. Harvey Buchanan filled us in on your little adventure to Magadan in Russia.’
Us? Laura swallowed. Her eyes flitted around the room that closed in on her. ‘Why am I here?’
‘Because I wanted to chat,’ said Gilchrist. ‘I want to know where you went on Exilon 5, what you did.’
She wished Bill was with her. He could lie much better than she could.
Gilchrist stood up and walked around her desk to stand behind Laura.
‘I’m facing a difficult personal decision and I need your help. I may be asked to decide about my future soon, and I’ve more questions than answers. Do you understand?’
Laura glanced behind her to see Gilchrist holding a photo of herself with a group of Japanese business men.
‘No, not really.’ It was the truth.
‘All my life I’ve been surrounded by rules and regulations. I know nothing else. Truth be told, I care little for change.’
Laura heard a shift in Gilchrist’s tone—uncertainty, fear—and almost felt sorry for her.
‘I came to work for the ESC because I believed in what we did,’ Gilchrist went on. ‘But things are changing at a faster pace than I’m comfortable with.’ She turned around with tears in her eyes.
A surprised Laura blinked. ‘I... I don’t understand why I’m here.’
Gilchrist stared at her. ‘You have lovely hair. I always wanted to be a blonde, but I knew that with my skin colouring I could never pull it off. But your skin tone is perfect for it. Redheads command more respect than blondes, I think. People fear me more with this colour.’
Laura shrugged ‘I guess so.’ People feared the CEO’s iron rules, not her hair colour.
Gilchrist returned to her seat and sat down. ‘I’ve always liked you, Laura.’ She wove her fingers together. ‘You know what you want and you work hard to get it. That’s commendable.’
The CEO ‘liked’ her? Laura kept her expression neutral.
‘You understand the difference between right and wrong and you fight for what you believe. So, I come to the reason why I’ve called you in today.’ The tears dried up and Gi
lchrist’s mouth thinned. ‘Please describe to me what the Indigene race is really like. And don’t leave out any details.’
With a shake of her head, Laura recounted her trip to Exilon 5, leaving out specific details about her visit to District Three. She described the Indigenes as though she’d observed them from afar.
Gilchrist listened while Laura embellished on a few facts; her reaction to the sun for one, and stayed tight lipped about other events, like Anton’s return and the bomb he brought with him.
She left Gilchrist’s office ten minutes later. On the way out she overheard Gilchrist say to her assistant: ‘Get me Tanya Li on the line now.’
14
Stephen could barely keep still alongside Pierre, Serena, Arianna and Margaux. They waited outside the tranquillity caves that were quiet enough to hear the vehicles on the surface above them. A low vibration permeated the wall—a reflection of the Indigenes’ mood and the rising tension among them.
Two tunnels connected to the area but Stephen pinned one with his gaze as Gabriel and Leon’s shadowy forms emerged. They both appeared to struggle as they pulled along a resistant Anton.
‘Shut up,’ said Gabriel to Anton.
‘I’m only saying, it’s what he thinks of the Indigenes.’ Anton spoke but the personality was all Benedict.
‘Ignore him. He’s just trying to irritate you,’ said Leon.
‘If he doesn’t shut the hell up, I’m going to punch him.’ Gabriel snarled and raised one fist. Leon pushed his fist away.
Benedict smiled. ‘Protect me, Papa. The bad man is trying to hurt me.’
Leon didn’t react but Stephen noticed he worked hard to avoid looking at Pierre.
‘What did he say to you?’ said Pierre to Gabriel.
Gabriel shook his head.
‘Leon?’
Leon said nothing and Stephen sensed the effort it took for him to keep it together.
Stephen and Pierre helped them move Anton along to the caves. Inside, they found two empty and adjacent units. Serena, Arianna and Margaux joined them.
‘We could have used a couple of stronger males for this job.’ Gabriel grunted as Benedict tried to pull away. ‘Why are we wasting our energy dragging this senseless fool around?’
