The Network
an excerpt

Prologue: The Harbinger

Nikki closed her eyes, focusing on the tiny motions and sounds around her. She slowed her breathing, focusing all her energy into her hearing. Standing motionlessly atop the hill, she listened. It took a moment, but then it all started coming to her. The tiny pinprick sounds made by the tiny motions of insects skittering across the ground, the faint humming of the fluttering wings of birds soaring high above, and most importantly, she heard the echoing tromps of the soldiers boots.
Nikki Johnson had always been told she'd had a talent for listening. Only recently, however, had she discovered the significance of that talent. If she tried, she could hear for miles. She'd been to researchers and hearing specialists, ultimately leading up to a meeting with Doctor Adrus Saladine, the planet's top geneticist. He'd told her that she had a Talent. That she was one in a million with a unique genetic code the enabled the enhancement of one of her senses.
By the volume produced by the boots she heard, Nikki estimated they were about a mile or two off. It meant they were probably making a collection from the nearby town of Malik. By noon today, they'd be in Carradine, the capital city of the planet Isoron, as well as Nikki's home. The soldiers were making life increasing difficult. Many people could barely manage to make a living to provide for themselves and their families, let alone raise the money or resources needed to pay the Baron's taxes. Baron Maxwell taxed the people heavily, and he send his soldiers collecting once a month. It was Nikki's duty to scout for their arrival, in order to warn the city of the soldiers arrival. In return for her services, she was paid well, and her family cared for. Her warnings gave time for the churches to provide money to those that would not be able to pay otherwise.
Nikki ran towards the city, almost stumbling down the hillside. As she approached the city gates, the guards saw her coming.
“They're on their way now!” Nikki yelled to them. The gates opened to let her pass. All the soldiers were familiar with her, at least to the point of being able to recognize her for what she was: a harbinger; a messenger for the city.
“When?” One of the soldiers asked in a rough voice.
“By noon.” Nikki replied flatly. “It gives us just under three hours, by the time they finish their stop in Malik and also pass through Talia. The guards nodded. As Nikki ran through the city streets towards her house, she heard the city announcement systems blare to life. Small, hovering drones dashed about the city streets, flashing the warning message, while speakers attached to buildings proclaimed the announcement in a mechanical tone.
About halfway to her home, Nikki paused for a moment to close her eyes and listen again. At first, she heard only the voices of those all over the city, frantically gathering together their payment to the Baron, but then...something else in the distance. She heard the disturbances in the air, the sound of something mechanical, and it was moving. It was growing steadily louder, and Nikki knew, all at once, that it was coming toward the city.
Her eyes flew open. She knew she didn't have much time. There was a City Guard headquarters nearby, and she needed to get there soon. She ran, almost slamming into the headquarters glass doors before they could slide open. She ran through, heading strait to the counter, ignoring the line of people waiting.
“Nikki?” A young man dressed in the blue City Guard uniform at the counter said. His name was Alex. He'd arrived a few months earlier, and the two had bonded. They were like brother and sister now.
Nikki panted, gasping for air. “Mind...Mind Cruiser. Inbound. Not much...time.” She said, her lungs vacant of air.
Alex turned to the back room. “Sandra!” He yelled. A young woman, also in uniform, appeared.
“Yeah?” She asked.
“Cover for me, will ya? Got business to attend to.” Alex told her briskly.
“Sure thing. Go.” She nodded to him.
Alex rounded the corner to join Nikki. “Follow me.”
He took her to the back room, to a locked door. He swiped his access card throug a slot and put his right hand on a fingerprint recognition pad that appeared in the wall. The heavy steal door swung open, and Nikki followed Alex inside. His fingers flew across a keyboard as he typed something into a large computer in the back of the steel room. A list of data and information come up on the screen, and he skimmed through it. He pressed a button, and it all disappeared.
He turned to Nikki. “We need to go. Now!”
He ran out the door, paused for a moment to wait for Nikki and close the door. Then, the two ran out the headquarters door.
“Alex!” Nikki said, confused. “What's going on here? Why are you in such a hurry?”
“Not now.” Alex shook his head. They ran about a half mile down to a small church. Nikki was still curious, but she knew she couldn't get Alex to explain, so she silenced her questions, storing them for later.
When they reached the church doors, Alex turned to Nikki, telling her to stay put. Without even waiting for a reply, he flew through the church doors. Nikki waited. She trusted Alex, and she'd never seen him like this before, which worried her. He usually had a calm air about him, but now something was driving him into a panicked frenzy, and she figured now was not the time to doubt him.
Alex returned moments later. “We need to leave the city. Right now.”
“Shouldn't we tell our families before we go running off?” Nikki asked.
“It's taken care of, the pastors will inform them. I've told them all they need to know. Now we both need to leave, and fast.” He looked off toward the east. “It may already be too late.” He muttered, shaking his head.
Nikki looked at him curiously. There's something he's not telling me. He told the pastors more than he's told me. She grimaced, but didn't voice her thoughts.
“Let's go.” Alex said, and started running west into the city, Nikki close behind. They headed to the Western gates leading out of the city and into the Terradign Forest. The guards at the gate saw them, and let them through upon recognizing who they were. A few minutes after they left the tall, protective city walls, the forest trees rushed up at them, giants that surround them and watched their every move. The leaves of the trees blocked off the sunlight more and more as they entered deeper into the dark forest.
They ran for what felt like hours, but could not have been more than thirty minutes. They stopped for a break at that point in order to catch their breath and rest their legs. Nikki paced slowly in a circle around a tree as Alex stretched.
“So,” Nikki stated suddenly.
“So?” Alex asked curiously.
“You gonna tell me why we left in such an abrupt hurry?” Nikki asked, curiosity and hints of frustration in her voice.
Alex looked at her for a moment before speaking. “When I looked on the database back at HQ, I found the reason for that inbound cruiser.”
“And?” Nikki pursued.
“They were coming for us. The Baron's been gathering up all those with the Talent. It sounded like some crazy experiment or something, almost as if he were trying to create an army.”
“Like the Mind?”
“Yes, but more powerful. Rather than give all the Mind soldiers the same Gene, they were developing a project they were calling Echelon. It was supposed to...enhance...the natural abilities of those born with the Talent.”
Nikki cocked her head to the side, perplexed. “You mean like some sort of genetic developer?”
“I suppose you could call it that.” Alex shrugged.
“But why?”
“Why what?”
“Why does the Baron want a new army? Between the Royal Guard, the Interplanetary Fleet, and The Mind, doesn't he have enough man power? He could take the other quadrants if he wanted! I mean, what's stopping him? He's got an army numbering in the ten millions, not to mention his special soldiers. Why are we still at war with the Shades?” Nikki was furrious at the thoughts. She hated the Baron, and anything that had to do with him. She'd lived in silent, inward defiance all her life, until now. She was a fugitive now, and they'd come looking for her and Alex both. There was nowhere safe anymore.
“I don't know. Maybe the Shades have a bigger army than the Baron's letting us know about, and he needs a new army to fight them. If you want my opinion, I think he's afraid. A frontal assault on the Shades would leave him weak, and he knows it. Maybe he's scarred the Neopolarians will waltz in here and take over if we defeat the Shades. In all honesty, who knows what he's planning?”
Nikki sighed. “True.” There was a moment of silence in between them. “Thank you.” Nikki whispered suddenly.
“Hmm?” Alex asked, returning his focus to their conversation.
“I said thank you.” Nikki repeated, slightly louder this time.
“What for?” Alex asked, taken aback by the sudden change in her tone.
“If not for who, heaven knows where we might be. I thank you for getting us out. Tell me, do you think the city...will be alright?” Nikki asked, fear for her family and friends edged on her mind.
“I'm sure once the Baron's soldiers realize we're gone, they'll leave the towns people alone.” Alex reassured her.
Nikki nodded. “What would I do without you?” She sighed.
“Crash and burn.” Alex grinned. “We'd better get going again. You ready?”
Nikki nodded again. “Let's go.”

They found a small stream let, and ran alongside it, stopping now and again for rest and water. They didn't stop for long though, knowing that the Baron's soldiers could be closing in at any moment. They continued deep into the forest before deciding to stop. They walked a bit further, knowing the dangers of simply coming to a complete stop after such a taxing run, then they stopped, and rested on a patch of grassy earth.
“We should sleep in shifts.” Alex suggested. “I'll take first watch. Sleep.”
Nikki knew there would be no arguing over the matter, so she lay down and let herself drift off to sleep as she gazed up at the dark leaves that blotted out the normally star-filled sky.

That night, she heard them in her dreams. Their boots trampling over the hard soil in perfect sync with one another. She heard every single movement they made, growing louder and louder, until they came within a mile, and she could hear their breathing. Rhythmic, and almost mechanical.
Her eyes flew open. She sat up, and looked around. Alex had nodded off. He had probably not wanted to wake her, and had let himself fall asleep after staying awake for as long as he possibly could. Nikki smiled. It was nice knowing that he cared about her, and more importantly, that he would be there for her. She knew that times were going to get harder, and they would have to find somewhere to hide soon.
We can't run forever. She thought to herself. It's only a matter of time before they catch up to us. She unwillingly admitted silently.

She couldn't have been more right.