Page 82 of Primal Mirror

We have given all we can to assist the Psy in staving off the collapse of their PsyNet, including creating places where friendship could blossom between our two races, because a bond of emotion is the only way to infuse the PsyNet with human energy. So many of you have held out a hand to a Psy, and the Psy Ruling Coalition tells us that a number of bonds have formed, that the PsyNet does now have a sprinkling of human energy.

However, to get such bonds back to pre-Silence levels will likely take decades, perhaps a century or more. And the PsyNet does not appear to have that much time left.

As such, I have spoken to the Coalition on the safety of those humans already linked into the psychic network. They have assured me that, should the worst occur, human minds will simply be cut free, and will experience no backlash. Only the rare human will even feel the disconnect.

The individuals most at risk will be those who have infants who are half-Psy and are linked into the PsyNet—or who are, at the time, pregnant with a child conceived with a Psy. Given the recent nature of renewed contact between our two races, your numbers are low enough that you should already have received a visit from a dual Psy/human team to go over your options. If not, please reach out to me directly.

It is a matter of unfathomable sadness that those same options are not available to the far larger numbers of Psy infants. It is simply a matter of scale. But we haven’t given up, and will continue to search for ways to save every life we can.

Even as they do the same, the Ruling Coalition has also handed over all research done by their scientists on an effective way to shield human minds from Psy intrusion.

The Psy have kept their part of the bargain between us—so now I ask you to hold on as long as you can. And if there are Psy you could call friends, open your heart to them earlier rather than later.

The time left is now measured in a matter of months.

—Giovanni Somme, official head of the Human Alliance, to its membership (1 October 2083)

TAKING A DEEP breath once inside the bathroom, Auden thought back to her mother. Shoshanna had simply never had a maternal gene—Auden didn’t blame her for that. What she did blame Shoshanna for was her choosing to have a child for the simple reason that she could use that child to control Henry.

Yet both of them were monsters of equal ugliness.

Now her mother’s sycophants had created another child who carried Shoshanna’s genes—but come what may, Auden’s baby would have a far different life than Auden.

“Charisma,” she said, cold and remote when she answered. “What is the emergency? I assume it must be an emergency for you to so flagrantly contravene my order not to disturb me.”

The other woman had frozen for a moment, but regrouped quickly. “I am used to caring for you,” she said with every appearance of sincerity. “Dr. Verhoeven’s diagnosis of stress has me worried for the pregnancy.”

Auden wanted to snap back an even colder response, almost stopped herself. But then she remembered that Charisma had worked by her mother’s side. “That is no longer your concern,” she found herself saying, even though the words weren’t ones that made any kind of sense to her. “I am now in charge—or can you not see that?”

“Your mind is currently blanketed in a black shield,” Charisma said instead of responding directly. “We can’t get through…and to be frank, it appears to be an Arrow shield. Are you in trouble? Is the operation in jeopardy?”

What operation?

As for the shield, Auden kicked herself for not preparing for this. Of course Charisma had an eye on her mind in the PsyNet. Even as she thought that, her lips parted and words spilled out. “I have friends in many places, Ris.” She held the eye contact until it was aggressive. “Do you not understand that even now?”

Charisma seemed to flush, as if Auden had flustered her enough to beat her Silence. “Of course, sir. But you must forgive me for being wary—it has been a long time.”

Auden stayed silent, the words she’d just spoken an oily film on her mind that felt alien. Not herself.

Frost in the air, a shimmering blue web in her vision.

Another Auden in charge.

“So you’re feeling fine, medically speaking?” Charisma’s voice tore through the web. “Your pregnancy is stable? I can send a medic to do a checkup if needed. The biomonitors don’t seem to be functioning.”

“The monitors are functioning fine. I just didn’t wish to use them during my meditation,” Auden said. “I’ll reinstate them today.” Surely RainFire’s hacker could work it so that it appeared Auden remained pregnant. “I’ll be back home in four days regardless.” It was the longest she could expect Charisma and the doctor to stay patient. “I’m getting too close to full-term to remain in such a remote region.”

Charisma’s shoulders relaxed. “I’ll see you soon, sir.”

Auden’s heart thumped after she hung up, but she had no time to stress, no time to worry. Walking out as fast as she could, she met Remi’s gaze. “I have another request for your hacker.”

Remi gave a curt nod. “Just one question before I get him to work. What’re you going to name this gorgeous cub of yours?”

Auden replied at once. “Liberty. Liberty RainFire.” A name built of hope and heart. “Is that all right? To ask for her to carry the name of your pack until this is all over? Whatever happens, I don’t want her to be a Scott.”

Remi’s eyes gleamed yellow-green. “It’s more than okay, little cat. Liberty will always have a home in the heart of her pack.”

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