Chapter 44

Chapter 44

My section of the PsyNet will most likely survive intact. I don't know why but it's the most stable piece in the entire state—and we have a disproportionate number of high-Gradient Psy inside it, thanks to its proximity to my HQ.

According to the experiments run on creating PsyNet islands, the Gradient load is skewed enough that we should be able to hold it, even if it'll take everything we have.

There is room for refugees, and I suggest we prioritize empaths. This all began when Psy decided to erase emotion from our lives—and murder designation E along with it. It seems fitting that we should begin the war of survival by making the opposite choice.

—Nikita Duncan to the Ruling Coalition (18 November 2083)

KALEB DIDN'T ATTEMPT to get in touch with the NetMind.

The neosentience had been faded and weak when it sent its desperate request. The image of a leopard. A keening impression of help needed.

He'd locked onto that image without hesitation, though he hadn't understood why the NetMind was sending it to him.

That leopard had stared at him in shock, too.

Mere heartbeats later and he'd seen Auden Scott in the arms of a man with clawed hands and shaggy hair myriad shades of brown, his eyes green and gold. It had made sense then. Of course it would be Shoshanna Scott's daughter who had the rare ability to create a PsyNet island. A small gift, not enough to save the Net, but enough to save hundreds or—if she was strong enough—perhaps even thousands.

Then the NetMind had whispered to him once more, with a heavy sense of the negative.

Not her. But still important enough for the NetMind to spend its precious energy to save. Could she have a child? Surely, that was impossible. Auden was only twenty-four, and Kaleb had heard no rumors of a pregnancy.

Kaleb!

He responded to Vasic's call at once. Another huge section of the PsyNet was collapsing.

All thoughts of Auden Scott left his mind, his attention only on saving as many lives as he could, even though he felt he was only plugging an unstoppable dam with a single finger.

Days. Only days.

That was all the PsyNet had before terminal failure.