Chapter 45

***This article contains spoilers.***

## Summary

Rachel recorded everyone's white lines connecting to Alyssa with the psi-detector. Calara, Dana and Jade had equally intense lines of light, but Jade's aura burned stronger than the other. Rachel's connection to Alyssa was much weaker. The wide ethereal cable that connected John and Alyssa together was broad, strong, and very bright, but it still paled in comparison to the blindingly white aura coming from Alyssa. It reminded John of the nimbus of light from his dreams.

Dana thought they're flows of energy. Rachel noted it seems to be going in both directions. They may represent thoughts, and the auras could be the psychic strength of the individual. Alyssa realized Bolons must be able to see auras, since the last one she saw called her "Bright One," and the first called her "Young One."

They checked the psi-detector again when John was asleep, and it showed that they're feeding energy to Alyssa, who is channeling it to John. This would explain how some girls felt tired the morning after he woke up healed after he was impaled.

They take the Invictus on a very successful field test of the new weapons and tech. Calara tries Dana's technique to concentrate on multiple complex tasks simultaneously.

Irillith was waiting for them when they got back. She asks for help with the task her mother had given her, but with a false reason: A research colony in the Beta Capricornus system was attacked by the Fulmanax, forcing the scientists to evacuate. Irillith needs to place a sonic device in their nest to flush them out to collect the data from the internal network there.

Alongside Irillith's ship, they head off for Beta Capricornus, four days away, while doing repairs on the equipment and training.

Rachel presents her findings on Ceraden's DNA:

* She confirms that the Maliri have been massively modified by Progenitors.
* They appear to have started with the same kind of base genetic template as Terrans, but the telltale signs indicating Progenitor tampering are all over their DNA strands.
* Both Terran and Maliri species have some kind of Progenitor origin.
* The Maliri birth ratios were modified to be breeding stock for use by the Progenitors in their armies.
* The Maliri have triple-helix DNA, but Ceraden isn’t psychic. He has a lot of genes on that strand that are currently dormant, but that could be because he’s male.

Dana made explosive, flash, and smoke grenades out of the lightweight alloy she developed from the Kirrix, letting her pack in more explosives while keeping the weight down.

Dana tweaked the armor and railguns as well:

* The railguns are smart-linked to the armor, providing tracking information.
* The helmets have thermal imaging and mag-view in the GUI

They follow Irillith into the underground caverns. The Fulmanax only attacked after Irillith shot one.

Rachel noticed they have massively enlarged nerve ganglia, and likely form a hive mind, with the drones and warriors controlled by some higher consciousness.

The finally reach their destination, and get charged by hundreds of Fulmanax, including one nearly 50 feet tall.

John had been knocked senseless after being slammed through a pillar. The giant smashed into another huge calcite pillar, which sheared off at the ceiling, and toppled over directly on top of John and Alyssa, but Alyssa telekinetically held it up until the giant stomped on it, at which point she passed out.

John effortlessly tossed the rock aside, and gazed at Irillith contemptuously. *“Out of my way, slave,” he snarled at her dismissively.*

John raised his hand and his blade that was stuck in the Fulmanax flew into it. When the creature bellowed a defiant challenge, John’s eyes gleamed with anticipation, a sinister smile spreading across his face, and his sword erupted in bright blue flame.

Irillith now believes Tashana's story of Mael'nerak.