by Eliza Green
‘Anton is only in this state because I sent him and Stephen to Earth,’ said Pierre. ‘And Benedict is here because I am.’
Arianna stood next to one of the free units and explained her idea to them. ‘The power from the collective energies in the Nexus should help to draw Benedict away from Anton. The Nexus should be able to deal with Benedict’s malevolent personality much easier if they’re separated.’
‘Should,’ Benedict taunted. ‘You won’t get rid of me that easily, Pierre.’
Stephen felt the power struggle between Anton and Benedict; one pulled towards the Nexus and the other pulled away. He increased his grip on Anton’s arm.
‘Doesn’t matter what Anton feels,’ said Benedict. ‘He’s not in control. Most times, he curls up in the corner like a little baby. Pathetic, really. Of course, I’m the one who put him there.’
Margaux prodded the back of Anton’s head with her finger.
‘That’s not helping.’ Gabriel wrestled against a squirming Anton.
‘He’s weak. I can feel it,’ said Margaux.
‘We know. Arianna will help Anton soon.’
‘No.’ She shook her head. ‘It’s Benedict who’s weak. But Arianna isn’t strong enough. She won’t succeed.’
Benedict in Anton’s body strained towards Margaux, but Stephen and Gabriel held him back.
Pierre looked around the room. ‘Maybe we should ask the other users to leave.’
‘No,’ said Arianna. ‘I’ll need their help in there. I only require one unit and as much energy as possible from those connected. The units are designed to be single occupancy, but the tendril will take both of us.’
They inched Anton forward until his feet met the edge of the unoccupied unit. Stephen caught a glimpse Pierre’s unbound thoughts and tightened his grip on Anton.
Serena stood close. ‘Will you be okay here?’ he said to her. ‘I have to help Arianna.’
‘Of course,’ she said. ‘I wouldn’t be much use to you. You’re more experienced than I am.’
‘I want to go in,’ said Leon. ‘I should be there if anything goes wrong.’
‘Not necessary. Stephen and I will be enough,’ said Pierre.
Leon grunted and turned away just as Arianna jumped into one unit. Pierre and Stephen used the stone steps to pull Anton into the same hole.
‘Please help me,’ said a voice.
Stephen’s heart lifted. He stared at Anton, expecting to see his best friend. ‘We’re going to get you out of there, Anton. Don’t worry.’
Arianna grabbed Anton’s hand and squeezed. ‘It’s okay, we’re here. We’ll separate the two of you. You’ll be free of him soon, I promise.’
‘Pierre, I’m scared.’ Anton’s face screwed up in terror. ’Make him leave me alone.’
‘Don’t worry, it will all be over soon,’ said Pierre.
Anton smiled as the act melted away. ‘Wow, I’m getting really good at that.’ Benedict screwed up his face a second time and mimicked Anton’s voice: ‘“Pierre, please help me.” You stupid old fool. You’re more gullible as an Indigene than I expected. Have I taught you nothing?’
Pierre’s building anger alarmed Stephen. ‘It’s not the real Deighton, Pierre’ he reminded him. ‘If you harm him, you harm Anton. Give Arianna a chance to separate them.’
Pierre shuffled away until his back hit the wall. He took a deep breath and nodded. ‘I’m sorry.’ He turned to Arianna. ‘Are you ready to try?’
She nodded.
‘If you feel uncomfortable, we’ll get you out. Another empath can try.’
‘I’m the strongest one you have and I owe Elise to at least try. Plus Anton is my friend.’
Benedict snorted. ‘I’m touched by this display. Who knew the Indigenes had feelings?’
Stephen’s skin prickled but before he could react, Pierre had punched Anton in the face. Anton slumped to the ground leaving a panting Pierre to stand over an unconscious Anton.
‘Pierre,’ gasped Arianna.
‘It’s about time someone shut him up.’ Gabriel smiled down from above. ‘He was really getting on my nerves.’
‘He’s much more cooperative this way.’ Pierre propped Anton up against the wall and checked his pulse. ‘Let’s get this over with.’
Arianna sat cross-legged on the floor opposite Anton and grabbed his hands.
‘Be careful in there,’ said Pierre. He and Stephen stood back.
Arianna’s breathing slowed and she lifted her and Anton’s arms. In Arianna’s mind, the unit’s solid wall would transform to an orange and gold web of light. A tendril from the Nexus would reach through for them both.
Arianna’s and Anton’s bodies jerked forward as the Nexus latched on to their energies and pulled them inside. Anton’s body twitched. The collective minds channelling their energies through the Nexus would attempt to separate him from the darkness. Arianna’s expression grew dark. Sweat dripped off her brow as she muttered to herself.
‘How long do we wait?’ Pierre leaned against the wall.
‘Until Benedict is gone,’ said Stephen. He looked up at Gabriel, Serena and Margaux peering down into the unit.
Another five agonising minutes passed. Stephen didn’t like how Arianna appeared to struggle.
‘She needs to disconnect now,’ said Pierre. ‘I won’t lose another of my charges.’
Stephen agreed, but Arianna needed more time. ‘Give her a little longer. We don’t know what’s going on in there. She could be making headway.’
‘I should have connected in.’
‘No,’ said Stephen. ‘She needs you and me to help her out here if anything goes wrong.’
Before Pierre could argue, Arianna’s and Anton’s bodies shuddered. The Nexus released its hold on their energies, and pushed Arianna out with such force she gasped.
Pierre hunkered down beside her and felt her pulse. ‘Are you okay? What happened?’
She looked over at Anton, who was still unconscious. ‘Benedict’s right about one thing—he has control over Anton.’ Her breathing slowed. ‘Anton has regressed so much that he’s become an Evolver again. He’s helpless and looking for direction. The only one he can talk to is Benedict and that soul-sucker is feeding him a bunch of lies to keep him powerless.’
‘But did it work? Were you able to free him?’ said Pierre.
Arianna shook her head. ‘Benedict has taken control of his rational thought processes and left him with only fear. Anton isn’t going anywhere.’
‘But the other energies.’ Pierre shook her. ‘Surely you had enough help—’
Stephen pulled the elder off her.
Arianna shook off her surprise. ‘I’m sorry, Pierre.’ She looked up at the others. ‘I know you wanted me to succeed. I tried everything I could. The Nexus protected Anton, wrapped him up in some webbing. The energies from the other Indigenes couldn’t get close enough to help.’
Pierre paced the small space of the unit while Stephen worked on a plan. The Nexus protected the innocent, and Evolver minds were the most innocent of them all.
‘What if we keep Anton in the Nexus permanently?’ said Stephen.
Arianna shook her head. ‘Extended periods of time in the Nexus can be counterproductive. Over time, his mind would have trouble distinguishing between the two plains.’
Anton groaned. He sat up and rubbed his jaw, but Benedict spoke. ‘Ouch, Pierre. That hurt.’
Pierre pulled him to his feet. ‘Anton, if you’re in there we will free you and kill Benedict.’
‘I’d like to see you try.’ Benedict rubbed his jaw.
Pierre leaned in. ‘And when I meet the real Charles Deighton in person, you’ll wish you were already dead.’
Pierre pushed Anton towards the stone steps and prodded him until he climbed out of the unit. A waiting Gabriel grabbed the prisoner at the top and led him away. For the first time, Stephen noticed Anton’s limp.
A tired looking Arianna looked ready to collapse. But Stephen sensed growing opti
mism in her. ‘What is it?’
‘I think Margaux was right. I need to speak to Serena. She might do what I couldn’t.’
‘No. The Nexus will kill her. It tried to once before.’
‘I won’t put her in harm’s way. Trust me.’
Arianna climbed out of the hole.
‘Pierre, talk some sense into her,’ Stephen called out. He raced up after her but when he reached the top, Arianna and Serena had left. ‘We need to stop her.’
Pierre grabbed his arm. ‘Arianna has been through enough today. Let her chat with Serena and we’ll talk about it tomorrow.’
‘But Pierre—’
‘It’s just a chat, Stephen.’
But he sensed it was more than that. Arianna was about to ask Serena to risk her life.
15
At noon the next day, Daphne stood in the World Government foyer for her meeting with Deighton. She gripped her briefcase in one hand and her DPad in the other. The foyer, packed with witnesses, gave her some comfort. She’d ordered her personal bodyguard to wait outside; she refused to show weakness in front of Deighton.
Deighton emerged from one corridor, his hands clasped behind his back, his paper-thin lips puckered as he whistled a tune. He surveyed the eager recruits in the foyer as he passed them but the minute he saw Daphne, the bemused look in his eyes gave way to a hard, intense stare. Daphne shuddered at the look she’d seen too many times from her childhood, right before her father taught her mother a lesson. Daphne had learned how to spot the change in her father’s behaviour and had avoided beatings by never showing weakness in front of him. But now as a grown woman, her father only a distant memory, the sadistic look in Deighton’s eyes evoked her worst fear—that something bad was about to happen.
Daphne pretended to rifle through her briefcase as Deighton neared. She could play men at their own game—working in Osaka had taught her how to use discipline to overcome fear—but Deighton unsettled her more than any Japanese businessman ever had. He made her feel like that helpless girl again, watching while her father used her mother as his personal punch bag. The only difference between Deighton and her father was that Deighton seemed in better control of his temper.
Daphne tapped her finger close to the silent alarm on her DPad.
Come on, Daphne. You’ve dealt with far more difficult people. Charles Deighton is just another overachiever hell-bent on perfection.
She wanted to believe that’s all it was, but Deighton scared her. He may have fooled the board members with his charm and his smiles, but she sensed he needed something so bad he wouldn’t stop until he got it. She took a deep breath and lifted her eyes to meet Deighton’s.
His eyes flicked to the revolving door. ‘Let’s talk, my dear. We have important things to discuss.’
Daphne nodded. ‘Of course, Charles. Another place. Shall I ask Carol at reception to book a table at Les Fontaines?’
A flicker of surprise flashed in his eyes. Then he smiled and held his gel mask to his face.
‘That won’t be necessary. I have everything planned.’ The mask made a low sucking noise as it sealed to the contours of his face. He connected the oxygen feed line from the canister on his hip through the tiny hole in the mask.
Daphne gripped her DPad tighter. She fished her gel breathing mask out of her bag and held it over her face, waiting for the gel to soften and adhere to her skin. Then she slipped her communication device in her ear when Deighton looked away.
Several new recruits with eager grins entered the building. No doubt they’d been drawn in by the countless recruitment advertising campaigns. They twirled around, eyes wide and mouths agape, soaking up the ostentatious decor of the World Government headquarters.
‘Lovely, isn’t it?’ Deighton called out, his words muffled behind the airtight seal. He jabbed a finger at them. ‘Make sure you speak to Carol at the desk about our many opportunities.’
The new recruits grinned just as Deighton turned to Daphne. ‘Mark my words, they won’t make it past the aptitude test.’ He gestured for her to go first.
She entered the revolving door and pushed through the low level resistance of the environmental force field. She shivered as frigid air outside replaced the regulated temperatures of the building. Two of Deighton’s genetically modified bodyguards waited. She looked around for her own but couldn’t see him.
Deighton shoved his communication device in his ear. ‘This way.’
She followed him through the crowds on the street. Deighton’s bodyguards trailed behind them. She still couldn’t see her personal security. Thieving hands grabbed at her DPad, forcing her to hide it and the silent alarm in her briefcase. Daphne clutched her bag to her chest.
Two town cars pulled up to the kerb and Deighton stopped walking. The bodyguards stood by the second car while Deighton got in the first one. Daphne hesitated and considered returning to the safety of the offices. She had a public place in mind when she suggested they talk in ‘another place’. Les Fontaines was perfect.
Deighton appeared to sense her mood. ‘Les Fontaines is too crowded for our chat. I want some privacy.’
Daphne forced a smile and got in. A short ride later, the two cars pulled up to the bank of the Anacostia River near the old Washington Navy Yard. Deighton pointed to a waiting yacht as they got out.
‘I need to get away from land for an hour,’ he said. ‘The city is too claustrophobic. Trust me, this will be the most relaxing journey you’ve ever taken.’ He ordered the bodyguards to stay by the cars. Then Daphne followed him to a jetty where the yacht and the captain waited.
The yacht set sail along the river that contained deadly bacteria. Debris floated on the surface of the water. Daphne watched the cityscape shrink the further from land they sailed. The captain changed direction, sailing along the shore’s length until the buildings hugging the water’s edge became more uniform. She’d never seen the city from this perspective. New, taller buildings in the distance punched through the clouds. Among the skyscrapers stood the tallest and most impressive building of all, the World Government building. Daphne admired the design with its black windows and sleek outline.
The black river shimmered and the thick, grey hovering clouds made Daphne feel like a storm approached. The yacht bobbed and tilted causing her stomach to lurch from the motion. She closed her eyes for a moment and gripped the side of the boat. The usual bustle and noise from the unforgiving city was just a murmur on the river. The motion settled along with her stomach. She sat back and concentrated on the sound of the water lapping up against the side of the yacht.
Remnants of house boats floated like dead bodies on the river, the evidence of early failed solutions to the problem of overpopulation. But the lack of clean food and water, along with dwindling supplies of fuel, forced families back onshore. The World Government had stopped all travel by river or sea when spacecrafts became the easiest—and most convenient—way to move people and cargo.
The yacht passed by one of the derelict boats and Daphne saw remnants of an old life. A pair of rusty chairs sat on deck and tattered blue curtains hung inside the cabin window. A small teddy bear lay at the entrance to the cabin door. She swallowed and turned away from the snapshot of some dead family’s life.
The yacht came to a stop where the Anacostia met the Potomac River. One of the smaller docking stations that used to be the old Ronald Reagan National Airport came into view. The jaded city with its ragged houses along the shore looked ready for a break from humans. Daphne wondered if the same could be said for her. If Tanya agreed to Deighton’s plans, that break might come sooner than planned.
The captain anchored the boat. Deighton spoke and the silence that Daphne had enjoyed since they set sail disappeared. ‘Why did you go against me in the meeting?’
She kept her expression neutral and her eyes on the river. To show weakness would be a mistake.
‘Charles, you misunderstood me.’ She met his intense gaze and smiled. ‘In a roundabout way I was agreeing
with you. I apologise if I didn’t make that clear in the meeting.’
She concentrated on the sound of the water hitting the side of the yacht that, in this moment, had lost its earlier appeal. Deighton breathed thickly into his mask. ‘Think about it for a minute,’ she said. ‘The board members are unsure about your idea to bring the alteration programme forward. But we’d progress faster if we gave people a choice—ask them if they wish to be altered and leave those who don’t on Earth. I guarantee the more conservative members would support that idea. With fewer people living here and more room to expand business premises, we could resurrect flagging industries.’
Deighton’s uneven breaths turned raspy. ‘It wouldn’t work, Daphne. We need a clean DNA baseline on which to conduct the tests. If we base our selection on choice, who knows what genetic misfits we’d carry through to the next generation?’ He shook his head. ‘We must force change on those who are worthy and deserve a second chance.’
But Daphne feared his plans for rapid change. She forced herself to meet Deighton’s watery gaze. ‘Charles, the board members will only consider it if you present a viable alternative for those left behind. They still have quite a bit of money tied up in industries here.’
‘Why is that my problem?’ said Deighton. ‘We can’t alter everybody, Daphne. Nor should everyone be altered.’ She caught a hint of sadness in his words.
‘I’m not suggesting that. And I agree, natural selection should prevail. It won’t be difficult to convince the board of that. They’ve already said they don’t want the headache of transferring the entire population. I just think we should consider all the options, especially for those who’ll be left behind.’ People like me, she wanted to say. Her heart slammed against her ribs. She walked a fine line by disagreeing with Deighton, but she had to challenge him to have any control over her future.
‘I need your support, Daphne.’ Deighton’s tone softened.
‘Of course, Charles. You have it.’
