Chapter 9

Nexus Mapping Sequence

4440 0023 – song – Operation Ivy – Unity

1111 8500 – song – Lizzo – About Damn Time

9230 7789 – song – Our Lady Peace – Somewhere Out There

* Nexus Mapping Sequence media is provided to support chapter contents.

In the golden light streaming through the window, Ethan sat at a sleek, minimalist workstation. The surface before him was pristine, save for a digital animation of Titan spinning gracefully in Saturn’s orbit. He glanced around and realized he wasn’t alone. Row after row of identical workstations stretched into the distance, each occupied by figures typing diligently, their movements mechanical, their faces obscured in shadow.

A chill crept up his spine. Something about the place was too perfect, too silent.

"It’s something to see, isn’t it?" a voice said from behind.

Ethan turned sharply, his heart pounding, and found himself face-to-face with someone startlingly familiar: Ethan Hawke. Not the younger, idealistic version from Gattaca, but the rugged and weathered actor Ethan had seen on IMDb—the one with streaks of silver in his hair and wisdom etched into his features.

Staring in disbelief, Ethan struggled for words. "Wait... what is this place?"

"This is a dream," the man replied, his voice calm, steady.

Ethan glanced again at his workstation, then at the silent rows of people. The animation of Titan pulsed softly on the screen, mesmerizing in its rhythm. "Oh... yeah, that makes sense," he muttered, trying to reconcile the absurdity of it all. He blinked at the man before him. "I mean, I love your movies, by the way."

The man let out a soft chuckle. "Oh, I’m not Ethan Hawke."

Ethan’s brow furrowed. "You’re not? Then who are you?"

"You can call me Aisha," the figure said, their tone shifting to something both serene and urgent. "And while I’m sure you have a million questions, we don’t have much time. It’s dangerous for me to contact you like this."

Ethan’s pulse quickened. The calm, almost dreamlike atmosphere now felt charged with tension. "Wait... are you the one who sent the crystal?"

"Yes," Aisha said, standing and gesturing to the endless office floor. The golden light cast strange, flickering shadows as they spoke. "And I need you and your friends to find me. You’ll need to reach the Nexus."

"The what now?" Ethan asked, confusion etched across his face.

"The Nexus," Aisha explained, her voice carrying a weight that made each word resonate. "There are six worlds. You know of your world and Chimera. The worlds are connected in a linear path. To reach Oblivion, the third world, you must pass through Chimera. From there, you’ll travel to Nirvana, then Infernal, and finally Desolation. Only from Desolation can you access the Nexus. That’s where you’ll find me."

Ethan’s head spun as he tried to process the revelation. "Okay, not that I don’t want to help you, but why should I? What’s in it for me?”

Aisha’s gaze sharpened, their expression suddenly grave. "Because both our worlds are at risk of destruction if you don’t. Gerry and the leukocytes are just the beginning. Their influence extends far beyond Earth. If they gain control of the Nexus, they’ll destroy the balance that keeps every world alive."

Ethan’s throat tightened, the weight of Aisha’s words pressing heavily on him. "So how do I even get to these worlds? And what exactly is the Nexus?"

Aisha’s gaze softened, her voice steady yet tinged with reverence. "The Nexus is the central, enigmatic force that binds the six worlds together. It’s the lifeblood of human creativity, emotion, and connection—a limitless energy that transcends physical realms to weave dreams, ideas, and inspiration into the very fabric of existence. The Nexus holds unparalleled potential, but it’s also precariously balanced. Its power can either nurture and create or corrupt and destroy, depending on how it is tapped into. Everything that you’ve created so far has been through the Nexus."

Ethan frowned, his brow furrowing as he tried to process her explanation. "So, it’s like... the universe’s heartbeat or something? But how does that help me? I’m just some guy—how am I supposed to connect to something that powerful without screwing everything up?"

Aisha smiled faintly, her expression a mix of patience and understanding. "The Nexus isn’t about raw power, Ethan. It’s about harmony. It doesn’t respond to force or ambition—it responds to intent, to who you are at your core. You don’t connect to it by trying to control it. You connect by understanding yourself and the role you’re meant to play."

Ethan blinked, taken aback. "So what am I supposed to do next? How do I get to you."

"Find the child," Aisha said, stepping closer, their voice almost a whisper now. "You’ll know her when you see her. She’ll know the way forward. And get the crystal back. Without it, you can’t return to Chimera. You’ll need the crystal to get to the different worlds."

"The child?" Ethan said, frustration creeping into his voice. "What child? You can’t just drop all of this on me and not explain—"

A loud bang echoed from somewhere behind him, like a heavy door slamming shut. Ethan whirled around, scanning the endless rows of workstations, but they were unchanged—eerily silent, the workers still typing away.

When he turned back, Aisha was gone.

The golden light dimmed, and the office seemed to stretch even farther into the distance, the silence now oppressive. Ethan’s breathing quickened as the weight of Aisha’s words settled over him.

He was alone again.

Ethan watched as a group of leukocytes rushed toward him. Before they could reach him, Ethan jolted awake, his heart pounding in his chest. Sweat dripped down his face as the memory of the dream lingered, vivid and unsettling. The image of a group of leukocytes rushing toward him burned into his mind.

"No!" he shouted, sitting upright in his bunk.

Across the room, Marco stirred, rubbing his eyes groggily. "You okay, man?"

Ethan shook his head. "No," he said firmly, throwing off the covers. "Get everyone together. I need to say something."

Without hesitation, Marco climbed down and left the room. Ethan followed, his legs shaky as the remnants of his dream swirled in his head. By the time he reached the living room, everyone was already gathered. Marco had worked fast.

"Alright, what’s going on?" Will asked, arms crossed as he leaned against the wall.

Ethan glanced at each of them, their faces a mix of curiosity and concern. Taking a deep breath, he stepped into the center of the room.

"I had a dream," Ethan began. "But it was more than that—it felt real. There was someone there, a woman named Aisha. She told me she’s the one who sent the crystal."

A wave of murmurs rippled through the group.

"What else did she say?" Marco asked, his voice cautious but intrigued.

Ethan rubbed the back of his neck, trying to recall every detail. "She said our world is in danger. Both our world and hers. She told me I need to find her in a place called Nexus."

Akima’s head snapped up at the word. "Nexus? Are you sure that’s what she said?"

"Yeah," Ethan replied, meeting her gaze. "She said there are six worlds, and ours and Chimera are just the first two. She said the worlds are linear—connected somehow. To get to Nexus, we have to go through Chimera, then Oblivion, then... I can’t remember the names of the others, but they lead there."

The room fell silent as everyone absorbed this revelation.

"Did she say anything about why our world’s in danger?" Alex asked, her brow furrowed.

Ethan hesitated. "Not much. Just that something threatens both worlds. She didn’t go into details. She said it was dangerous for her to talk to me."

"Why?" Marco asked.

"Before she could explain more, a group of leukocytes rushed toward me in the dream," Ethan said. "I woke up just before they got to me."

Akima’s face darkened. "If they had reached you before you woke, you might have been stuck there," she said grimly.

Ethan’s stomach twisted at the thought.

"So how do we get to Chimera?" Will asked, breaking the silence.

"Aisha said I need to find the child," Ethan said. "She didn’t say who the child is, just that I’d know her when I saw her."

"What does that even mean?" Marco asked, throwing up his hands.

Ethan shrugged, frustration creeping into his voice. "Your guess is as good as mine. But it’s all I’ve got right now."

The room settled into uneasy quiet. With little more to say, Ethan excused himself and headed back to his room. He sat on the edge of his bunk, replaying the dream in his mind, trying to piece together every fragment of Aisha’s words. Though the details were hazy, one thing was clear: they had a path forward, however uncertain.

When he emerged again, the aroma of freshly cooked food greeted him. Will stood by the stove, flipping eggs onto a plate.

"Grab a plate, kid," Will said.

Ethan did, taking his breakfast to the couch and sitting down.

As he forked a bite of scrambled eggs, another memory from the dream surfaced. "Oh, yeah," Ethan said suddenly. "There’s one more thing. Aisha said we need to get the crystal back. We can’t get to Chimera without it."

Akima froze mid-bite. "Well, that’s going to be near impossible," she said, her tone sharp.

"I get that," Ethan replied. "But we have to try. If what Aisha said is true, there’s no other way."

He stood up, setting his plate aside, and turned to face the group. Their faces reflected a mix of doubt and exhaustion, the weight of the past days etched into every expression.

"Look," Ethan said, his voice firm, "I know this feels impossible. I know you’re scared—I am too. But we’ve come this far, and I believe we can do this. We have to. If what Aisha said is true, this isn’t just about us anymore. It’s bigger than that. Bigger than all of us."

Ethan stood before the group, his voice steady but charged with urgency. "I get it. We're all scared," he said, glancing at each of them. "I don’t know how these powers of mine work or why I even have them. But one thing I do know is that we’re in danger, whether we stay here or try to get the crystal back from the leukocytes. Aisha didn’t explain everything, but she made it clear—our world is on the brink. If we do nothing, it’s over. We have to act."

A tense silence followed his words. Ethan scanned the room, his chest tightening as he waited for someone to respond.

Will broke the silence first. "I’m in," he said firmly.

"Me too," Alex added, her voice resolute.

One by one, the others followed, nodding or voicing their agreement—except Akima. She stood quietly, arms crossed, her expression unreadable.

Finally, she sighed and stepped forward. "This is a suicide mission," Akima said, her tone clipped. "But... we’re all going to die anyway, so I guess I’m in too."

Relief washed over Ethan, but it was short-lived.

"We’ll need a solid plan," Will said. "Akima and I can work on that."

Without waiting for a response, Will motioned for Akima, and they stepped outside. Ethan sat down heavily on the couch, his thoughts racing. The idea of infiltrating the leukocyte headquarters felt impossible, yet knowing he wouldn’t face it alone gave him hope.

Once breakfast was finished, Ethan retreated to his room, seeking a moment of solitude. Lying back on his bed, he pulled out the iPod and pressed play on the next track.

"A number of the songs I’ve picked out for you carry a message of fighting," his dad’s voice began, calm but purposeful. "Not fighting each other, but fighting against a corrupt world."

Ethan closed his eyes, letting the familiar voice wash over him.

"This world is so divided," his dad continued. "Red versus blue. Black versus white. Us versus them. Braves versus the Phillies—though I’ll always be a Braves fan, no question." There was a faint chuckle in his tone before he continued. "But seriously, everything is designed to divide us. Sometimes I wonder if it’s on purpose, like someone is pulling the strings to keep us apart."

The words struck a chord deep within Ethan. He could feel the truth in them, especially after what he’d learned about the leukocytes.

"We have to come together," his dad urged. "If the human race is to survive, we must unite. This next song isn’t just about unity—it’s about calling out the hypocrisy of hate. It’s one of the first punk songs I ever heard, and it changed my life. I hope you enjoy Unity by Operation Ivy as much as I do."

The music kicked in, raw and powerful. "There’s a war coming down between my brothers tonight," the lyrics began. Ethan felt a shiver run through him as the song continued.

It was uncanny. Every song, every word from his dad seemed perfectly timed to guide him. Ethan played the track again, just to hear his dad’s voice once more, and when it ended, he tucked the iPod away, a strange sense of peace settling over him.

Still restless, Ethan pulled out his phone and began scrolling through TikTok. He knew it was mindless entertainment, but it helped him kill time while Will and Akima finalized their plan. Video after video played until one stopped him cold.

It was a girl, maybe twelve years old, dancing to About Damn Time by Lizzo. Her moves were unremarkable, but her face—it was hauntingly familiar. He watched the video again, trying to place her. When he closed his eyes, her face appeared vividly, as if etched into his memory.

He bolted upright and ran into the living room, clutching his phone. Marco and Bobbi were watching an anime he didn’t recognize, but he didn’t care.

"I think I found the child," Ethan said breathlessly.

Marco raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah," Ethan said, holding out his phone. "Look. I found her on TikTok."

Marco squinted at the screen. "Well, it’s definitely a child. But how can you be sure?"

"I don’t know," Ethan admitted. "But I feel like I’ve seen her before. When I close my eyes, I can see her face perfectly."

Bobbi leaned over, studying the screen. "It’s worth a shot."

Bolstered by their support, Ethan hurried outside to find Akima and Will. They were standing by Will’s SUV, its trunk open and covered with an array of weapons.

"I think we have a plan," Will said, glancing up.

"Good," Ethan replied, his voice eager. "Because I think I found the child."

He showed them the video, explaining his inexplicable connection to the girl.

Akima frowned. "We can go to her after we get the crystal. That has to be our first priority."

Will nodded, clapping Ethan on the shoulder. "Alright, let’s gear up. It’s time to move."

The group gathered around Will and Akima, their expressions a mix of fear and determination. As Ethan looked at the faces of his friends, he felt a surge of hope.

They had a plan, a purpose, and each other. It wasn’t much, but it was enough.