Slash dodged under Dominic’s reaching hand, a shudder of revulsion running through him as he moved backward toward the tent wall. Dominic burst into a fit of laughter, doubling over slightly.

“Oh. Oh I am sorry, but the look on your face. Completely worth it.”

A shooing motion toward the guards and they disappeared again. Dominic calmly sat at his chair once more, motioning again for Slash to sit as well. Slash didn’t move from where he stood. The mirth drained from Dominic’s face.

“Listen. Mind melding can only be done willingly. And only to the degree the mind allows it.”

The faint memory of a skittering noise running through an alternate Nexus sent another chill up Slash’s spine. The fire was gone, he was shaking and afraid. A frightened adolescent boy in the hands of someone he wasn’t even sure was human, was even less sure was benign.

“That bracelet. You’re with the Speluncam.”

It wasn’t a question so much as a statement of what Slash already knew to be fact. Dominic’s answer still sent waves of dread through him.

“More of an… ambassador. A partial meld was required on my part, a small sacrifice considering what we’ve been promised in return. I am quite in control of myself, if that’s your worry.”

For now, maybe, Slash thought. He remembered what the Eve of the alternate Nexus had told him. When Greg had melded with the Speluncam, he had seemed normal for a span of time. Of course, it was possible that a stronger, adult mind might hold out forever or even indefinitely. Somehow Slash doubted it.

“What do you want? Why not just let us go?”

“Because they want you, Vance. Yes, I can sense their desire for you even now…” A hunger flashed in Dominic’s eyes, but was quickly quelled. He cleared his throat. “Since melding with them I have found myself haunted by strange dreams…. And nightmares. Many of them feature you. Imagine my surprise when I found out you were real.”

Slash said nothing.

“Yes. It is strange, isn’t it?” Dominic said, interpreting Slash’s silence. “You’re the missing piece. I’m not sure the others believe me, but I know it to be true. We have leverage against Nexus, against the Auroran government, against…. Certain elements within HQ itself. But not against the… what did you call them? Speluncam. We’ve been calling them greens, because of the species they tend to prefer inhabiting and because it sounds innocuous to anyone listening. But without leverage over these Speluncam, ‘Greens’, whatever you want to call us - er, them,” here he fretfully adjusted his bracelet, “I fear that it won’t be long before the homeworlds, before humanity, pays the price, whatever the outcome of the war with the border worlds. So it is imperative that you tell me anything you might know about why they might want you.”

There was something desperate in Dominic’s voice that belied his easy demeanor. This didn’t seem like a man fighting for his world or humanity, but rather for his own soul. Perhaps he had realized his mistake in joining with the Speluncam. Slash certainly had no intention of helping him. He had all but said outright that he and the other students were pawns to be used as leverage. Besides that, who knew what this man might do if he knew what fate awaited him. If anything, it would only make it come sooner. He remembered the skittering sound once more on the other Nexus. How Eve has said Greg’s began to gain a sensitivity to any thoughts about him. Maybe Dominic’s own ignorance and his hope that this was something he could undo was buying him time. One thing was certain: it wasn’t safe here. Slash had thought the only thing to be afraid of was some sort of extended isolation while the military, while HQ, measured the risk of the possibility of their secret getting out. Even in his worst nightmare the worst that would have happened was death, and that had been unlikely in the first place.

Now he was being reminded that there were things worse than death. Invisible things that could snatch a person’s mind, crawl into their soul, warp their body. Slash kept his expression perfectly blank as a cool panic blossomed in his chest.

“I don’t know anything. If they do want me, I don’t know why -”

“DON’T LIE TO ME!”

Dominic picked Slash up with one hand as if he were sack of leaves. The rainbow bracelet glowed, showering Dominic’s face in mixed shadows along the creases of his hateful grimace. But he soon brought himself back under control and placed Slash lightly on his feet.

“I am sorry, Victor. That was inappropriate.” Dominic stretched his neck until it popped. “You are dismissed. Get back in line. We’ll have another chat together later.”

Slash nodded, leaving the tent calmly and doing his best to not let any emotion show on his face. Carol hadn’t looked at him on the way in, but though he didn’t turn toward her Slash could see her scanning every iota of his demeanor and expression and he sat back in his place next to Lynn. The next person, a boy, got up and entered the tent.

After Carol went back to her clipboard Slash looked at the crowd. If anyone had heard the outburst in the tent or noticed the armed guards who had entered, they weren’t showing it. It was all so strange.

After all of the debriefing sessions were done, the group was given the chance to shower and change into new uniforms before being sent to a large tent that served as a temporary mess hall. The tent was empty except for two guards near the entrance, one that paced up and down the center aisle of tables, and one near the food. None of the guards were armed, and all of them had their masks off. They said nothing, and many of the former Nexus students rushed to the trays to get food while it was still fresh and available. In line Slash managed to get near Vora Veer and Mac, though Alex was nearer that back of the line for some reason.

“Well, so far so good,” Vora said under his breath. Mac nodded. Clearly their interviews had gone differently from Slash’s, but it wasn’t altogether surprising. Slash was fairly sure at least some of them would be called in for a second interview, and was anxious to know exactly what had been asked and said in Vora, Mac, and Alex’s interviews.

The trays were plain, the food as well, but fortunately the space was large enough for the group to secure a space to themselves until Alex got through the line. Lynn and a friend of hers sat down a few seats away at the same table in engaged conversation. The group ate in silence until Alex arrived.

“Hey guys,” he said, sitting down. He was smiling a little, and so were Vora and Mac. Despite everything, they were home. As far as they were concerned these interviews were the only remaining thing between them and their families. In their minds this was almost over. But Slash knew differently. Somehow, even having travelled untold distances, the danger had followed them home. No, it had been waiting for them here the entire time. Nexus was a safer place, a place where the Speluncam couldn’t follow. But Alex, Vora, and Mac had been on the ansible station. They had missed a lot. Basically, everything. Slash’s heart sank. He had been concerned about what Dominic and HQ might think of the truth, but he was realizing now that he should have feared this moment more.