MAXIM: A New Type of Human (Oddily Series #2) (27 page)

“You’re right,” he whispered back, frowning at the thought of his sister. “I’m sure she will be surprised.”

29

Nexa stared down into the chamber filled with lab equipment and spotted her father with two others. Nero was arguing with the male while a female sat off to the side. Nexa couldn’t see their faces; but, interestingly enough, the two stranger’s were as bald as her father was.

You deceived me Thor!
Nero was the one speaking.
When we agreed for Maxim and Zaylyn to become mates, you didn’t inform me that Zaylyn would be used as an experimental lab rat. Now, because of your daughter’s hybrid status, this union cannot take place!

Zaylyn jumped to her feet
. How dare you call me a lab rat!

Thor’s agitation with his daughter showed when he shouted,
Shut up and sit back down!

When Nexa recognized Zaylyn voice, she began to squirm; but Willa’s firm grip on her shoulder, warned her to remain stock-still.

What about Nexa?
Thor had managed to calm himself despite his daughter’s outburst.

I have no problems with your son. He will make Nexa a suitable mate.

Both Nexa and Zaylyn gasped at the same time, but for two very different reasons.

For Nexa, it was the idea that her father chose Zaylyn’s brother as her mate behind her back. Was Nero completely out of his mind? What if this guy was as crazy as his sister?

Zaylyn’s shock came with the discovery of having a sibling and her outcry of disbelief echoed throughout the chamber.
Do you mean to tell me that all this time I have had a brother and you never bothered to let me know?!

Zaylyn became so furious with Thor, she tried physically to attack her father, but that was a mistake. Thor grabbed her by the arm and twisted it behind her back.

Let her go!
Nero threatened Thor as he stepped up to him.
There is no need for violence!

Thor released Zaylyn and then stared menacingly at Nero.
You have no idea what you’re dealing with here, do you?

Nero raised an eyebrow.
I guess not, so enlighten me.

Zaylyn, show him what you’re capable of.

Father, please!
She was still rubbing her arm.

Do it!
He shouted in her head.

With a lack of enthusiasm, Zaylyn closed her eyes and began to clench and unclench her fists until something strange began to happen with her energy field. Then, without warning, Zaylyn threw her head back and let out an agonizing moan. There was a division forming within Zaylyn’s energy field and suddenly, a genetic replica of Zaylyn began to take shape. Within moments, Nero was staring at Zaylyn’s duplicate standing next to her. The exertion it took for Zaylyn to accomplish this feat had drained her. There was even a moment when Nero thought she was going to pass out and yet, Thor didn’t move to help her.

What have you done Thor? This ability was not accomplished by the injection of growth hormones, so what other experiments have you allowed the High Council to do on your daughter.

A new strain of synthetic DNA was formulated, and Zaylyn was placed in a controlled environment while they did the test.

Nero stepped away from his former colleague.
Thor, you have changed since I last saw you. You sound like a madman!

Thor laughed at Nero.
Perhaps I am, but aren’t all scientists a bit crazy?

Suddenly, a rock fell from the ceiling of the chamber and both Nero and Thor’s attention went to the crevice from where it fell.

“We’re not alone!” Thor spoke loudly enough for any outsider to hear. “Show your face willingly or there will be serious consequences.”

Willa went ahead and poked her head out of the crevice before Nexa could react. “It’s me…Willa!”

Thor cocked his head suspiciously at Nero.
Willa looks different, and since when did you give the android a beating heart?

Nero was angry because he knew that one of his children had disobeyed his orders and was up there with Willa. He also knew that he needed to hide this fact from Thor.

Certainly, you can remember that Willa has been a pet project of mine.
Nero patted Thor on the back.
What you hear is the beat of an artificial heart supported by a complex pacemaker that I designed last year. I’m pleased that you thought it came from a real heart!?

Yes, I’m sure you are!
Thor nodded.
I would like Willa to come down here and join us—now, if you don’t mind. You have captured my curiosity.

Nero needed to distract Thor from his interest with Willa, so when Nero saw Zaylyn’s duplicate beginning to fade he was relieved.
Thor, what is happening to the clone of your daughter?

As soon as Thor turned his attention away from the crevice, Nexa beckoned Willa to leave with her, but not to the lab as Thor had requested. Nero was right. She should have listened to her father and stayed away. Now she felt insecure about what lurked around every bend in the path as she tried to move silently through the cavern.

Suddenly, Nexa stopped in her tracks. She could see Willa’s beam of light on the cavern walls, but there was something more. A much brighter circle of light was heading their way.

Willa stepped in front of Nexa to take a stand while the light approached.

“Who do you think it is?” Nexa whispered.

“I hate to tell you this, but this light is not coming from someone’s flashlight.”

The blonde-haired beauty became even more frightened. “Then what is it?”

“If your father’s data serves me well, the ball of light could be a member from the High Council.”

Nexa recalled Nero’s reference to the group of highly evolved humans who had outgrown their need for a physical body. “I don’t understand Willa. Why would one of them come here?”

“I don’t know, but I think we’re going to find out.”

After the light approached, the brightness expanded to encircle Willa. The intense heat radiating from the orb turned Nexa’s skin red and its brightness made her eyes water, but she couldn’t turn away. Somehow, the being of light wouldn’t let her.

Willa maintained her position in front of Nexa for as long as she could, but something was causing the android’s system to short-circuit which activated the shut off mode. Nexa was now unprotected from the pulsating light; and, she still couldn’t move. Then the unthinkable happened. In the time it took Nexa to blink, the orb had penetrated the wall of her chest and invaded her. Nexa’s body slumped against the cavern wall for a moment and then slowly straightened upright again.

Nexa was no longer in control of the shapely body that began to move towards Nero’s lab. Instead, a presence more powerful than the combined strength of Nero and Thor was heading their way.

30

Why did you send my daughter to a parallel universe
? Thor was still arguing with Nero.

No thanks to you, Zaylyn has been showing signs of dangerous behavior. She has even gone to the extent of injecting a primitive girl with the experimental growth hormone that I suspect was the same one used on her.

Thor’s head snapped in his daughter’s direction.
Is this true?

Zaylyn turned her back on her father, but Thor grabbed her by the shoulders and spun her around to face him.
You stole the formula from the High Council, didn’t you!?

So what if I did?

Visibly shaken, Thor pushed his daughter aside and confronted Nero.
Who is this girl? I must return her to normal before the High Council finds out!

You’re too late!
Nexa leaped down from one of the crevices in the ceiling.

All Nero, Thor, and Zaylyn could do was watch in opened mouth wonder at Nexa’s agility as she landed on the floor of the chamber. After she straightened her posture from the crouched landing position, Nexa’s head snapped in Zaylyn’s direction. Nero knew at once that something strange had happened to his daughter but remained silent as he watched with growing concern.

Where is the female you injected?
The voice was Nexa’s, but the intonation was different.

Unable to detect the discrepancy, Zaylyn acted full of herself and sneered at Nexa.

After grabbing Zaylyn and pinning her to the ground, Nexa’s sky-blue eyes turned to Nero.
Where is the injected female?

Nero was both shocked and impressed by the strength emanating from Nexa.
Her name is Oddily.

Nexa continued to stare at Nero.
Zaylyn has created an unfortunate fate for the girl you call Oddily—a fate that no one from this timeline should have to endure.

After listening to Nexa’s little speech, it finally dawned on Thor that a member from the High Council had claimed her body. His concern now was for his daughter.
Zaylyn, stop struggling! I’m sure that Nexa will release you if you cooperate.

Nexa’s head tilted at an odd angle while staring down at Zaylyn.
Do you realize the seriousness of what you have done? The members of the High Council have been given no other choice but to bring judgment upon you.

Isn’t that a little harsh?
Thor interjected.
After all, it was just growth hormones, right!

You are wrong!
The entity said while releasing Zaylyn.
What was injected into Oddily is much more complex than what we gave your daughter during the growth hormone experiments.

Don’t you have an antidote?
Zaylyn’s tone of voice sounded respectful after she felt the powerful presence residing in Nexa.

I wish it were that easy, but Oddily is from this timeline. Her body won’t be able to fight off the transformational DNA; which reminds me, where is she?

31

When Paul pulled up in front of the iron gates leading to Stafford Manor, he expected them to open automatically but the gates remained closed.

“What gives?” Paul got a glimpse of Maxim through the rearview mirror. “Are you going to let me drive onto your property or not?”

During the drive home, Maxim had time to reconsider. He was having second thoughts about Paul entering his property and his growing concern had reached its peak. “Look, you can drive us to Stafford Manor, but after that…!” Maxim’s voice trailed off.