Only after entering the forest did Niu notice how quiet everything was.

  She grew up in Rucasur, on Gaunus and whatever other bustling place her parents sent her to. There was never any peace and quiet in the lively metropolises. Day and night people were hurrying from one place to another, huge billboards blared the persistent jingles from ads to anyone passing by and the sky was full of PTVs and CTVs. When she joined the UAS academy it did get better, but the military training facilities also weren’t places of calm and silence.

  The only quiet time that came to her mind was when they traveled in the Relentless Stride before they had control over the ship. That, however, wasn’t a pleasant silence, it was an oppressive one that heavily impacted one’s mood negatively.

  Now, here out in the underground forest, Niu finally realized what a calming atmosphere really was. Sure, there was the chirping of birds and the constant babbling of water, but instead of being a disturbing noise it added to the atmosphere, making this palace feel refreshing and one’s mind relaxed.

  When she passed by the stem of one of the huge mushrooms, Niu stopped to touch the yellow flesh. It felt soft and squishy.

  “What an amazing place this is…” she muttered as she moved on, “There must be many more places like this out there in the endless universe, right? Damn, it’s really time for us to start properly exploring!”

  She followed the barely visible path through the forest for another fifteen minutes before the forest opened up and revealed a wide clearing where flowers of all colors adorned a green meadow. In the distance she saw the small river flowing by with a few big rocks at its shore.

  On one of those rocks a lone figure was sitting with its back facing her.

  She was still more than 25 meters away when the figure stirred and turned around to look in her direction.

  “What are you doing here?” Robin asked, his voice low and barely audible over the distance.

  Niu walked closer and shook her head, “How did you know I was there? While I wasn’t trying to sneak up on you, I hadn’t exactly caused a ruckus either.”

  Robin pointed at another rock next to him and gestured for her to sit down while he answered.

  “You are shining bright like a star in the dark…”

  Surprised, Niu faltered as she attempted to climb onto Robin’s rock instead and sit next to him. She felt her cheeks blush.

  ‘He didn’t say that… did he?’

  Noticing her shy reaction, Robin coughed awkwardly.

  “What I mean is this,” he said and pointed at his temple, “your body-heat generator.”

  “Oh…” Niu stammered, “I mean, yeah, sure. What else could you’ve meant?”

  Robin didn’t answer and she saw that he had closed his eyes.

  “But Robin, I was at least two dozen meters away. A body-heat generator? Over that distance? That is awesome!”

  “It’s disturbing.” He corrected her without opening his eyes, “I’ve never noticed how much input I got from my energy sense all the time. Like a rushing sea in my head, always in motion and never standing still. Only after coming here, away from the Eltaran’s technology and without any devices on my body, did I slowly notice a change. When my Neuro Chip ran out of energy a few hours ago, I finally experienced a quiet in my head I didn’t even know I missed.”

  Having just marveled at the calm atmosphere on her way here, Niu didn’t hesitate to access her Interface to shut down her body-heat generator. Then she took a tablet out of her pocket and turned it off as well. Thinking about it for a moment, she jumped off the rock and hurried back the way she had come. When she reached the edge of the forest, she placed the tablet on the ground, hoping its battery was now far enough away from him.

  When she returned, Robin held out a hand and helped her get back on the rock.

  “Thanks.” She mumbled and sat down next to him, not letting go of his hand.

  “No, thank you.” He said with a genuine smile.

  Time slowly ticked by while the two just sat there on the stone, enjoying the silence. Only when the sun was long gone and moonlight fell through the gap in the cavern’s ceiling did Niu speak again.

  “Why are you here, Rob?”

  It took him quite a while before he finally answered.

  “They analysed my genes and G-Anomaly.”

  “So I’ve heard.” She nodded.

  “The final verdict: I’m a perfectly normal freak.” Robin said with a sigh, “That’s not right…”

  “What?” Niu asked, a bit confused, “That you’re a freak? I’m pretty sure it wasn’t meant in an offensive way.”

  “No, not that.” He shook his head.

  “Huh? You are disappointed that you are perfectly normal?” She asked incredulously, “Sorry to be blunt, but most of us are pretty normal considering genes and mutations.”

  Robin chuckled, “No, I’m disappointed that even the Eltaran think that I’m normal.”

  She noticed that he tried to clench a fist and only then realized that he was still holding her hand. When he reflexively tried to let go, she held tight and comfortingly squeezed his fingers.

  “Rob, tell me… what is going on.”

  “Happy, you are right when you say that most people are ‘pretty normal’. But I’m not. I can interact with ?ther as if it was normal energy. I can blow up every fucking electronic device 50 meters around me with nothing but a thought…”

  He paused and Niu noticed that there was more to it. She gave him the time he needed to steel his resolve and continue.

  “And… and while I use that power, my instincts are telling me that everyone else - the Eltaran, my friends… you - anyone is lesser than me. Worthless vermin that crawls on the earth just to fill the place. That you should feel blessed that I stoop so low to even interact with you. If I ask for something, you… everyone shall obey. That is your only purpose, that is how things should be… the will of the world.”

  Niu’s eyes went wide hearing that.

  ‘Damn it! He has never talked about that before…’ she thought ‘Maybe it is a similar phenomenon to what Ang’Tue is experiencing when he talks to the demon in his mind.’

  “That is not who I am!” Robin interrupted her musings, his voice firm, “That is not how I think about you or those around me. That is not ‘normal’!”

  Niu kept quiet, not knowing what to say.

  “So, Happy, to answer your question: it frightens me that even the Eltaran think I’m normal. If even they can’t find a problem, who will be able to help me?”

  They sat there for some time, not talking about anything, until Niu broke the silence once more.

  “I’m sorry, Rob.” She said, “I didn’t know and while I really wanna shake you for not telling us sooner, I do understand. Maybe you can go through the same test Ang’Tue has scheduled for tomorrow? From what he explained it goes deeper than the gene-analysis and is about stabilizing his mental fortress to keep the ‘demon’ in check. What you described doesn’t sound too different from what he is experiencing.”

  “I’ve already talked to Kel’Bak and Mul’Jin about it. The test is based on some of the Eltaran’s biggest secrets, the ones that allowed them to advance their gene-technology to this impressive degree. The procedure is not something they can do often. It uses some kind of very, very limited resource and they only run the therapy when one of their own is in dire need, like Ang’Tue right now.” Robin shook his head, “Also, they both assured me that it was highly unlikely that the procedure would do anything in my case. At the end of the day I’m still a human and not an Eltaran.”

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  Niu sighed and leaned against his shoulder.

  “Burn in Plasma…” she cursed, “Why can’t any of us have nice things for once?”

  “I have no idea, midget, I have no idea…”

  They sat there for a good while longer and even if Niu wanted to enjoy their closeness, her mind was racing with different thoughts and ideas.

  One thing that made her feel especially restless was the request from Proto. The AI had specifically asked her to ensure that the Eltaran do whatever they can to check Robin up and down.

  ‘Proto obviously knows something, or at least has some ideas, but can’t talk about it…’ she mused before finally coming to a decision, ‘I need to talk to Ang’Tue and the Eltaran. Robin has to do this test, no matter the costs!’

  ***

  “I once more want to voice my doubts.” Mul’Jin said, standing in the laboratory the next day, “While I cannot deny that your situation does pique our interest, there is little to no chance that we’ll actually learn anything. Whereas treating the Elder would bring us certain results and stabilize his condition.”

  Robin only nodded, his mind still dazed from the sudden development.

  “I thank you for your concern, but as I told you and the others before, I really do feel fine.” Ang’Tue politely declined, “Kel’Bak has assured me that my situation will remain stable as long as my mental state doesn’t deteriorate and since I’m quite certain that I’ve come to a good agreement with my inner demon, there is no hurry. I can wait a few years.”

  “Ten years, at least!” Mul’Jin said in desperation and threw her hands in the air, “That is how long it will take us before we can do this again.”

  “See? I don’t think Robin has ten years left. He needs to be able to control his mutation or he is a danger to himself and everyone around him, me included.”

  “Ang’Tue…” Robin began but the old man cut him off.

  “No, if I had known how bad your mental state already was, I would have suggested doing this much earlier.”

  Robin wanted to protest but Ang’Tue kept going.

  “Robin, you know as well as I why we are here.” He said and Mul’Jin raised an eyebrow in surprise, “Tell me, Captain, what has changed since we’ve arrived in the Limolius System? And don’t come up with bullshit like we saved the waystation. You know as well I do, that they don’t care about the Eltaran. So, what has changed?”

  Robin hesitated and Ang’Tue raised a hand to stop the nervous-looking councilwoman from intervening.

  “Nothing.” Robin finally said, “Nothing has changed.”

  “See?”

  “Yeah, but you’ve heard them,” Robin gestured at Mul’Jin and Kel’Bak, “it’s highly unlikely that the test will provide any results. And even if it did, do you really think they would care? That this is all about me?”

  “I don’t know, but we’re running out of ideas and, if we’re honest, we’re also running out of time!” Ang’Tue argued while Happy and Alena stood by his side and nodded supportively. Krez had come along as well, but he just leaned against the wall with a bored expression, not caring about who was tested for whatever reason.

  After their talk in the forest the day before, Niu had spoken with Ang’Tue and the other Eltaran to secure him a spot for the test. There had been a lengthy and heated discussion and at some point they had even included Alena to get a second opinion.

  Well, in the end his friends decided to overrule him and give him Ang’Tue’s slot.

  “I… have questions!” Mul’Jin said, obviously disturbed by the sudden revelations that they were here not just because Ang’Tue wanted to visit his family.

  “I understand,” Ang’Tue said, “and we do not want to keep this from you. Please trust me with this.”

  The councilwoman squinted her eyes in displeasure and a faint light began to glow in her irises. Before she could even begin to ask questions, Robin spoke up.

  “Mul’Jin, there are a few things we have not yet told you, dangerous secrets we’re carrying around. Right now is not the time for that discussion as I, to be totally honest with you, have no idea what I should even tell you. Too much is unknown even for us. Let’s just go through with this damn test and then we can sit down and have a lengthy talk.”

  Robin watched as she gnash her teeth and feared the situation would escalate even further, but after a moment of hesitation, her shoulders slumped and her body relaxed.

  “Fine.” Mul’Jin sighed and gave Kel’Bak a nod, “Prepare the module. And you, Mr. Tulward, this ‘damn test’ is one of the Eltaran’s most protected secrets and akin to a sacred ritual for my people. Please show some respect.”

  Robin awkwardly scratched the back of his head, “Yeah, sorry. It was just in the heat of the moment.”

  “I understand, now please take off all your clothes and lie down on the table.”

  “Huh?”

  ***

  “No bad, Captain! Are you secretly working out?” Alena whistled when Robin was lying on the stretcher butt naked a minute later. While she obviously enjoyed ogling at him, Happy stood next to her with a slightly red face, watching the floor with great interest.

  “I don’t know,” Krez growled, “I find his lack of fur disturbing…”

  “Fuck off!” Robin cursed and turned to the Eltaran with the white coat, “Can you explain what exactly you’ll do?”

  Kel’Bak looked at Mul’Jin with uncertainty and the councilwoman took over for him.

  “While the first test you went through shows us all about the part of your genes that is responsible for your mutation, this test goes much deeper.” She said, “I’ve heard you already had your G-Anomaly upgraded with the Heart-Blood of an Eltaran. The blood of the Elder, I assume.”

  When he nodded, she continued, “What we wanna do now is analyse your own Heart-Blood.”

  Robin and some of the others had confusion written all over their faces.

  “I understand that the concept of Heart-Blood is unfamiliar to you. While it is no well-guarded secret, it is not something anyone else is able to reproduce. As such, you normally don’t find any references about this in the medical studies of Mankind, Ommih, Mohait or any other race.” Mul’Jin explained, “Let’s just say it is something that is unique to the Eltaran. While we are able to produce this special kind of blood, others are not. But, with the right ingredients, we are able to create a drug that stimulates a body to create a bit of Heart-Blood, even if the patient isn’t an Eltaran. To sum it up, what we wanna do is make your body create a drop of this blood and then analyse it.”

  “Okay…” Robin said as he tried to follow her explanation, “But what exactly is this Heart-Blood?”

  “That will remain our secret, just like the formula of the drug you’re getting.” She said and Kel’Bak stepped forth to initiate the injection. Dozens of thin needles shot out from the holes in the table and pierced Robin’s back, making him grunt in pain, while Mul’Jin continued talking, “Though, what I can share is that we are able to get a much better understanding of the connection between your G-Anomaly and your mind. Just think of it like this: while the normal test gives us insights into how your mutation works and what potential it may have hidden, this test shows us how it interacts with your mind and sometimes we can even find clues about the origin of a G-Anomaly.”

  “The origin?” Robin asked through gritted teeth, his head feeling a bit fuzzy all of a sudden.

  “Yes, while most of the G-Anomalies are just random mutations of the host’s genes, a few of the stronger ones are hereditary and handed down through generations.”

  “That…” he began but suddenly stopped, eyes wide open.

  “Yeah, right.” Kel’Bak said and patted his shoulder, “This will probably hurt like hell.”

  That was an understatement.

  Robin felt his whole body heat up, as if it was suddenly on fire. Pain shot through his neural system and his skin itched as if millions of insects were crawling all over him. His vision blurred and he felt his mutation flare up.

  He sensed the huge generator a few levels below them, the power lines running through the walls, the machines in the room, the small devices his friends were carrying and the body-heat generators a few of them had implanted. All of this crashed in on him as his skills activated uncontrollably and sent a jumbled mix of feedback back to his mind.

  Around him, the lights began to flicker as Robin subconsciously manipulated machines and relays, destabilizing the whole power grit.

  “You have to calm down!” Someone shouted, but the pain and sensory overload clouded his head. He barely registered what happened around him.

  His consciousness curled up in a dark corner of his mind, waiting for the storm to pass. However, at some point Robin noticed that whatever stimulated his mutation was digging deeper. It ravaged through his body, looking for his inner self and the core of his being.

  By now, he had lost all connection to the outside world and only focused on the changes in his body. When intrusive thoughts began to sneak into his mind, heralding him as the superior being to anyone else, he actively fought back.

  ‘This is not who I am!’ he screamed in his head, ‘I’m not better than anyone. Different maybe, but most definitely not superior in any way!’

  He felt an alien power trying to rise and burst outwards and he doubled down on his efforts. ‘This power is a part of me, I am the one in control. I am the one who defines the rules. I am the one who decides how this power is used.’

  Muffled explosions and screams reached his ears but he had no attention left to spare. He had to discipline a power that behaved like an unruly child.

  ‘I don’t need this power. I never ask for it. If it cannot be controlled, I’ll give it my all to seal it away.’

  He felt the power well up in him again.

  ‘I am Robin Tulward. I am a human from Rucasur. I have friends and family. I’m one of them, neither above nor below. It is my decision how to live my life, not that of an untamed power!’

  With every word he said, Robin strengthened his mind and began to suppress the rising feeling of the alien influence. With each word the strom in his head calmed down until he finally opened his eyes.

  “I am Robin Tulward!” he screamed defiantly, then silence fell over the dark room.

  His friends were groaning in pain and he heard shouts of people that came running from outside the lab.

  Suddenly, Kel’Bak yelped in surprise. He was standing in front of one of the few computers that were still working and stared at the screen in horror.

  “Im-... Imp-… Impossible!”

  At the same time the laboratory’s doors suddenly shut with a loud bang and the light above turned from green to red, signalling a complete lockdown.