Chapter 5

Nexus Mapping Sequence

4412 1573 – song – Muse – Knights of Cydonia

6655 7298 – painting – Jackson Pollock – The She-Wolf (1943)

0012 4302 – song – Karen O & Danger Mouse – Woman

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

With his eyes still closed, Ethan stirred, the heavy fog of unconsciousness slowly lifting. For a fleeting moment, he hoped it had all been a bizarre dream—something he could shake off when he opened his eyes. But as his senses sharpened, disappointment crashed over him. The cold, salty air of the cave pressed against his skin, and the faint hum of the crystal filled his ears.

Reluctantly, he opened his eyes. The cave was still there, its jagged walls bathed in the muted red glow of the crystal. The light was softer now, no longer as blinding as when they’d touched it, but it still pulsed faintly, as if alive.

Sitting up, Ethan groaned and rubbed the back of his head. He turned to see the peculiar being lying nearby, unconscious on the ground.

"Don’t move," a woman’s voice commanded from behind him, firm but calm.

Ethan froze for a split second before instinct took over. He began to push himself to his feet, but before he could stand fully, a sharp force drove him back down.

The woman pressed her knee into his back, pinning him against the rough, salt-strewn ground. Ethan struggled, his breath hitching as she yanked his arms behind him.

"I said don’t move," the woman repeated, her voice steady and measured, as if this was all routine for her.

"What the hell is going on?" Ethan cried, his voice muffled slightly by the pressure on his chest.

"You are not where you’re supposed to be," the woman replied coolly, tightening her grip.

A groan from nearby drew their attention. The Chimera was waking up. He scrambled to his feet, his movements jittery and uncoordinated. When he saw the woman restraining Ethan, his eyes widened in panic.

"Oh dear, oh dear," the Chimera babbled, pacing frantically around the room. "I’m so sorry! He left his cell, and I didn’t know what to do!"

"You know the rules," the woman said sharply, throwing him a stern look. "You’re not supposed to talk to them."

"I know!" the Chimera said, wringing his hands. "But I thought I could fix it. I got him back to his cell, and everything seemed fine. But when we got here, the dream was gone! This cave—it wasn’t supposed to be here. I don’t know where it came from."

Ethan twisted under the woman’s grip, frustration boiling over. "Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on?" he shouted, his voice echoing off the cavern walls.

The woman pressed harder against his back, her knee digging into his spine. "You are a human in the dream world," she said bluntly. "Why were you unconscious?"

"We touched the crystal," the Chimera blurted out, his pacing growing more frantic.

The woman’s grip loosened slightly as she processed this information, but her tone remained level. "You touched the crystal?"

"I won’t fight back or run," Ethan pleaded, his voice breaking with exhaustion. "Please, just let me go."

The woman hesitated, weighing his words. Finally, she released his arms and stood, watching him carefully as he pushed himself up.

Ethan groaned, his shoulders aching from the tension as he dusted himself off. He turned to face the woman, noting her composed demeanor and piercing gaze. Whoever she was, she radiated authority and confidence, and Ethan instinctively knew she wasn’t someone to cross.

"Don’t try anything stupid," the woman said sharply, her voice cutting through the cave’s heavy air. Her tone carried a weight of authority, daring Ethan to challenge her. She turned her attention back to the Chimera, her piercing gaze flicking toward him. "What do you mean? You touched the crystal, and it knocked you both out?"

"Yes, that’s exactly what happened," the Chimera replied, his voice trembling with nervous energy.

Ethan squinted, trying to get a better look at the woman in the dim red light filtering through the cave. Her long black hair fell in loose waves, partially obscuring her face. Her movements were deliberate, each step carrying a sense of controlled purpose.

She stepped closer to the crystal, the faint glow of its red light illuminating her figure. She crouched beside it, inspecting its surface with sharp, calculating eyes.

"I wouldn’t touch it," the Chimera warned, his voice tinged with both fear and urgency.

Ethan’s heart raced. His gaze darted between the woman and the Chimera, the tension thick enough to suffocate him. His thoughts spiraled. This woman could be dangerous—deadly, even. The Chimera seemed too timid to protect him, and for all Ethan knew, he could be trapped here forever.

But then a thought struck him: the crystal had knocked him out before. Maybe it could incapacitate her too.

The moment the idea crystallized in his mind, Ethan acted. Before he could second-guess himself, he lunged forward and shoved the woman into the crystal.

Her gasp of surprise echoed through the cave as she collided with the glowing gem. The instant her body touched it, the crystal erupted with light. A blinding radiance consumed the chamber, searing through Ethan’s vision until everything around him vanished.

The sensation was overwhelming—like being yanked through space and time. The damp chill of the cave was gone, replaced by a warm, familiar air.

Ethan blinked rapidly, struggling to make sense of the sudden change. As the light receded, he found himself sprawled on the floor of Marco and Bobbi’s living room. The crystal hovered ominously in the center of the room, its ethereal red glow casting strange shadows across the walls.

"What the hell?" Marco shouted, his voice breaking the silence.

Ethan scrambled to his feet, his heart pounding in his chest. His surroundings were disorienting. Just moments ago, he’d been in the dark, salt-laden cave. Now, Marco’s living room—complete with the faint scent of stale popcorn and the glow of an unwatched TV—encased him in surreal normalcy.

In the chaos, Ethan’s gaze darted around the room. The Chimera lay on the carpet, looking dazed and confused. Beside him, the woman stirred, her expression shifting from shock to fury as she realized what had happened.

Ethan’s pulse quickened further. Just moments ago, he’d been asleep on the couch, Alex resting against his arm. Now, he stood in the aftermath of an act he wasn’t even sure he fully understood.

"What the hell did you do, Ethan?" Marco demanded, his wide eyes darting between his friend and the glowing crystal.

Caught up in the moment, Ethan struggled to find the words.

Now able to see her clearly, Ethan was struck by how stunning the woman was. There was a fierce elegance about her, the kind that made her seem ageless. For an eighteen-year-old like Ethan, everyone older felt impossibly distant, but he guessed she was in her mid-forties. Her long, dark hair framed her face, part of it falling in waves over one eye.

Without thinking, Ethan reached over and touched her shoulder.

The woman’s eyes snapped open instantly, her gaze locking onto his with startling intensity. Before he could react, her hand shot out, gripping his arm like a vice. In one fluid motion, she flipped him over, slamming him onto the ground. The air rushed from his lungs as he hit the floor, her weight pinning him down.

The room erupted into chaos. The sound of Scott Pilgrim played faintly in the background, a surreal soundtrack to the sudden fight. Ethan's heart raced, panic setting in as he struggled to think of what to do next.

Then, out of nowhere, he felt something solid in his hands. A weapon. He glanced down, stunned to see he was holding a massive hammer—Ramona Flowers' iconic weapon from the fight against Roxy Richter. It felt impossibly real in his grip.

With adrenaline surging, Ethan swung the hammer in a wide arc, the sheer momentum knocking the woman off him and sending her sprawling to the floor.

"Where did that come from?" Marco shouted, rushing over to help Ethan to his feet.

"Dude, that’s the hammer from Scott Pilgrim," Bobbi said, his eyes wide with disbelief. He crouched down and reached for it, grunting as he lifted it slightly off the floor. "It’s… it’s heavy!"

In the corner of the room, the Chimera scrambled to his feet, clearly terrified. As he backed away, he bumped into Bobbi’s stereo. His elbow hit the controls, and Ethan’s iPod suddenly sprang to life.

"Every time I hear Sir Duke, I just feel happy about the world," Ethan’s dad’s voice said through the speakers, his tone warm and nostalgic.

The woman stirred, her sharp movements cutting through the chaos as she regained her footing. Without hesitation, she lunged at Marco and Ethan.

"Look out!" Alex screamed, rushing to Ethan’s side.

Bobbi stepped forward, hefting the hammer with a determined grunt. He swung it at the woman, its weight sending a gust of air through the room. She ducked low at the last moment, sliding under the weapon with feline agility. Before Bobbi could react, she sprang up and tackled him, sending them both crashing to the ground.

The hammer slipped from Bobbi’s grasp, landing with a thunderous crack that splintered the floorboards.

"The song makes me feel like there’s still something worth fighting for in this world," Ethan’s dad continued from the stereo. "There’s beauty in a feel-good song."

In the corner, the Chimera cowered, his thin frame trembling as he watched the chaos unfold. His wide eyes darted from the woman to Ethan, his fear palpable.

Ethan scrambled to his feet, his pulse pounding in his ears. Alex grabbed his arm, pulling him back as the woman turned her attention to Marco.

Marco tried to hold his ground as she charged, his hands outstretched to grab her. But her movements were too swift, too precise. With a single, fluid strike, she knocked him to the floor, his body hitting the ground with a loud thud.

Ethan felt his stomach twist as he watched his friend fall. This wasn’t just a dream anymore—it felt real, far too real.

"I love this next song so much," Ethan’s dad’s voice echoed through the room, calm and nostalgic despite the chaos. "And while I’d usually play it from the beginning, there’s this part I love so much—"

Before the sentence could finish, the unmistakable sound of Knights of Cydonia by Muse erupted from the speakers. The dramatic chords and driving rhythm filled the room, pulsing with raw energy. As the song swelled, the lyrics rang out, almost perfectly aligned with the moment.

"No one’s gonna take me alive…"

Ethan felt a surge of adrenaline, the music igniting a spark of defiance in his chest. If there was ever a song to fight to, this was it.

The woman was back on her feet, her movements predatory as she prepared to charge again. Ethan clenched his fists, determined to stand his ground. He didn’t know how he had conjured the hammer earlier, but he tried desperately to will another weapon into existence. His mind raced, and for some bizarre reason, all he could think about was… hotdogs.

Why? Of all things, why hotdogs?

Before he could question it further, the thought manifested. In his hands appeared a six-foot-long hotdog, its absurdity matched only by its weight and heft. The oversized bun and glistening sausage seemed surreal, as though pulled straight from a cartoon.

Ethan stared at it for a moment, dumbfounded, before gripping it tightly. He didn’t have time to overthink it.

With his hotdog in hand, Ethan stepped forward, ready to fight. Beside him, Bobbi hefted the hammer, his jaw clenched in determination.

The woman charged, her movements precise and unrelenting. Ethan swung the hotdog with all his strength, the ridiculous weapon colliding with her and sending her sprawling to the floor.

The impact echoed through the room, punctuated by the music’s triumphant cry:

"The time has come to make things right…"

The woman rolled gracefully back to her feet, her movements fluid and cat-like. Even as she rose, there was something almost hypnotic about the way she moved—calculated, deliberate, and impossibly smooth. She locked eyes with Ethan, a fierce glint flashing in her gaze.

Before anyone could make another move, Alex stepped forward, her hands raised high.

"Stop!" she cried, her voice breaking through the chaos.

The woman paused, her head tilting slightly as if considering whether to comply. Bobbi and Ethan exchanged nervous glances but didn’t lower their weapons.

Seizing the opportunity, Marco darted toward the stereo, fumbling for the controls. After a few frantic seconds, he managed to cut the music, plunging the room into an abrupt silence.

Ethan stood frozen, still clutching the giant hotdog. His heart pounded in his ears, the absence of sound making the tension all the more palpable.

"You all need to get down on your knees," the woman commanded, her voice sharp and commanding. "I can make you all get down, or you can just… um…"

Her words faltered, her tone shifting from focused to confused. She blinked, her expression clouding as though she’d lost her train of thought. Ethan caught the change immediately, his first thought being that she might have a concussion.

"What did you do to me?" the woman suddenly shouted, her fiery gaze locking onto Ethan.

"I didn’t do anything!" Ethan shouted back, his voice defensive and raw with frustration.

Across the room, Marco broke the standoff with a panicked cry. "What the hell is that?" he shouted, pointing to the crystal. "And how is it just… floating there?"

"Everyone, just calm down," Alex said softly, stepping between them with her hands raised. Her voice was soothing, a stark contrast to the escalating chaos.

Ethan let out a heavy sigh, dropping the absurd hotdog weapon onto the floor with a soft thud. His legs felt like jelly as he walked to the couch and collapsed onto it, his head falling into his hands. Bobbi followed closely, setting the hammer down with deliberate care before flopping into a chair beside him.

"I fell asleep," Ethan began, his voice tinged with exhaustion. "I don’t know how, but I ended up in this weird hallway, like… another world or something."

"Yes," the Chimera spoke up from the corner, his voice quiet but steady. "He was in Chimera, where I’m from."

Marco turned toward the Chimera with wide eyes, as if noticing him for the first time. "Who the hell is this guy?" he demanded, his finger pointing accusingly.

The Chimera stepped out of the shadows, walking to a chair with a measured, almost reluctant gait. He sat down stiffly, his nervous energy evident in the way he clasped his hands together.

"Right," Ethan continued, rubbing his temples. "I was dreaming. It was my old house, and I was wandering around looking for something. Then I found a door. It led to this… this never-ending hallway, and that’s where I met him." He gestured toward the Chimera.

"I had to get him back into his dream," the Chimera said, his tone apologetic. "He was in a place he shouldn’t be."

Ethan nodded. "We ended up back in the room I’d escaped from, but when we got there, my house was gone. It had… changed into a cave. And at the cave’s center, we found that crystal. It was just… floating there."

"We touched it, and we fell asleep," the Chimera added, his voice trembling slightly as he glanced nervously at the woman.

"I’d say it knocked us out," Ethan clarified, "but yeah, we were out cold. Then this woman shows up and starts beating the crap out of me."

"I extended only the force necessary to apprehend you," the woman said tersely, her tone defensive. "Then you attacked me."

"Sorry," Ethan said, his voice softening. "I thought you were going to kill me."

The woman hesitated, her piercing gaze sweeping over the room before she finally relented. She crossed to a chair on the far side and sat down, her posture rigid as though still on high alert.

With everyone seated, the tension in the room began to dissipate. The surreal atmosphere of the moment hadn’t disappeared, but the shouting had stopped, and the air felt lighter.

"What is your name?" Bobbi asked, leaning forward, his curiosity cutting through the awkward tension in the room.

"That’s none of your concern," the woman replied, her voice sharp as she straightened in her chair, clearly trying to maintain control of the situation.

From the moment she’d appeared, the woman carried a stern, commanding presence. She fought with a precision and focus that left no room for emotion. But now, seated and surrounded by strangers, her stoic demeanor seemed to falter. The tension in her jaw eased, and her gaze softened as she scanned the room. It was as though the weight of the moment was eroding her defenses.

"My name is Akima," she finally said, the words almost reluctant.

"What about you?" Marco asked, turning his attention to the thin being from Chimera. "What’s your name?"

The being flinched slightly at the question, blinking in surprise. "Oh, me? I don’t have a name," he said simply. "Children of Chimera aren’t given names."

"Well, that sucks," Bobbi said with a dramatic shake of his head. "We need to call you something."

"You can call me a Child of Chimera," he offered, his tone earnest.

"No way," Bobbi replied, his brow furrowing. "That’s not gonna work. What are you interested in?"

The being tilted his head, genuinely puzzled by the question. "I don’t have any interests," he said, as though the concept were foreign to him. "Chimera don’t really have interests. Every day, I create dreams. When I’m off duty, I read from our sacred manual or clean my domicile."

"Yeah, Chimera are kind of strange beings," Akima interjected, her tone flat but carrying an edge of amusement.

The man nodded solemnly. "I make dreams," he said, his voice carrying a hint of pride. "That’s what I like."

"What’s your favorite dream to make?" Bobbi asked, his curiosity undeterred.

"Oh my," the being said, his face lighting up with childlike excitement. "I have so many favorites. Lately, I’ve been making dreams about beasts and monsters."

"Okay," Bobbi said, scratching his chin as he tried to think of a fitting name.

"Any beasts in particular you like most?" Alex asked, her voice gentle as she leaned forward.

The man’s eyes brightened. "Well, I’ve always been fond of wolves," he said with a small, almost shy smile.

"How about Wolf?" Ethan suggested, breaking his silence.

The being’s smile widened, and he nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, I like that. Call me Wolf."

"Okay, Akima and Wolf," Marco said, gesturing toward them. "I’m Marco, that’s Bobbi and Alex," he added, pointing to each of his friends in turn. "And you obviously know Ethan. Now, who the hell are you two, and what are you doing in my living room?"

"Well, I’m a Child of Chimera," Wolf said, his face lighting up with a beaming smile.

Marco blinked, clearly unimpressed. "What does that even mean?"

Alex leaned forward, her brow furrowing in curiosity. "Yeah, what is that exactly? Child of Chimera?"

Wolf opened his mouth to answer, but Akima spoke first. "Chimera is a planet that exists on a different plane of existence," she said, her words measured. A flicker of surprise crossed her face, as though she hadn’t intended to reveal that much. "We really shouldn’t be talking to you about this," she added, her voice carrying a note of hesitation.

Ethan’s mind raced. Something about Akima’s demeanor felt off, and he couldn’t help but think back to the crystal. Whatever it had done to him, it had clearly done something to her as well.

"Why not?" Ethan asked, his tone softening. "And… look, I’m really sorry for tackling you back in Chimera. I thought you were going to kill me."

Akima’s expression softened slightly, her eyes meeting his. "It’s okay," she said, though her voice carried an undercurrent of unease. She glanced down at her hands, flexing her fingers as if trying to ground herself. "Something doesn’t feel right with me. I can’t put my finger on it, but…"

"Yeah, me too," Wolf interrupted, nodding vigorously. "I feel strange. But it’s… a good strange. Like, something inside me is waking up."

Marco threw his hands up, his frustration breaking through. "Oh, it’s all bizarre! And can someone explain how Ethan made that hammer and—seriously—a giant hotdog?"

Ethan frowned, his mind flashing back to the fight. Somehow, the hammer had materialized when he needed it, followed by the ridiculous hotdog. He still couldn’t make sense of it.

"I’ve been wondering the same thing," Ethan admitted, his voice low. "I thought about something, and it just… happened. Like my brain pulled it out of thin air."

Bobbi smirked, leaning back in his chair. "So, what, we’re saying Ethan’s some kind of magician now?"

"Maybe it’s tied to the crystal," Alex suggested, her voice thoughtful. "I mean, it’s clearly not just some ordinary glowing rock."

The room fell into a tense silence, the weight of everything that had happened pressing down on them. Ethan glanced at his friends, his mind swirling with questions. He had no idea what was happening to him, to Akima, or even to Wolf. But one thing was clear: whatever the crystal had done, it had set something in motion.

"Your kind can’t create like that?" Wolf asked, his voice brimming with curiosity as he glanced at Ethan.

"Our kind?" Alex repeated, her brow arching. "What do you mean?"

"You know, human," Wolf replied matter-of-factly. "I can make anything appear. Well, at least I could in Chimera. I’ve never actually been to Earth before."

Wolf stood up, his excitement clear as he began waving his arms in exaggerated motions. Ethan bit back a laugh, watching as Wolf’s gesticulations grew more theatrical.

Suddenly, a form began to materialize in front of him. At first, it was a shapeless blur, but within moments, a massive wolf emerged, its fur bristling and its sharp teeth bared in a menacing snarl. The beast reared back as if ready to lunge at Alex.

"Whoa, sorry!" Wolf cried, panic flashing across his face.

Before Wolf could act, Ethan surged forward, tackling the snarling creature to the ground. His arms strained as he wrestled with the wolf’s raw power, its glowing eyes locked onto him. But as the struggle continued, Ethan felt an odd shift.

In an instant, the ferocious wolf was gone. In its place, Ethan now held an adorable golden retriever puppy, its tail wagging and a pink tongue lolling out as it yipped playfully.

"What the hell?" Marco shouted, his wide eyes darting between Ethan and the puppy. "How did you do that?"

"I have no idea," Ethan replied breathlessly, standing up with the wiggling puppy in his arms.

He turned and walked to the couch, where Alex reached out with a smile to take the puppy. Gently, Ethan placed the little dog in her lap and sat beside her, his mind racing.

"I think it has to do with that crystal," Akima said, her voice thoughtful but tinged with concern.

"That would make sense," Ethan agreed. "Everything went weird after I touched it."

Marco suddenly jumped up, his face alight with determination. "I want to summon giant hammers and puppies!" he shouted, running toward the floating crystal.

Before anyone could stop him, Marco slapped his hand against the glowing gem. Everyone braced for another burst of light, but nothing happened.

"Well, that’s a bummer," Marco said, pulling his hand back. "No tingle or anything."

"Maybe it only works in Chimera," Bobbi suggested, his tone practical.

"I should really report this to my boss," Akima said, her voice growing tense. She glanced at the group. "Every part of me says I should detain you all, but I… I can’t bring myself to do it."

Marco flopped back onto the couch, reaching over to scratch the puppy’s ears as it squirmed happily on Alex’s lap. "So," he said, looking at Akima, "we know what Wolf is and a little about Chimera. But what—or who—are you?"

"She’s a leukocyte," Wolf answered proudly, as if sharing a fun fact.

"A what?" Ethan asked, tilting his head.

"Well, a monocyte, to be specific," Akima clarified.

"Aren’t those white blood cells?" Bobbi asked, his scientific curiosity piqued.

"Technically, yes," Akima replied, her voice carrying a hint of reluctance.

"Wait, you’re a white blood cell?" Marco asked, his tone incredulous.

"No," Akima said firmly. "It’s just a name. My boss said our organization functions like white blood cells do in the body."

"Organization?" Marco pressed.

"The leukocytes," Wolf chimed in helpfully. "There are five different kinds."

"Really?" Alex asked, distracted as she gently stroked the puppy.

Akima sighed, glancing at Wolf before shaking her head. "Every part of me is screaming not to say anything," she admitted.

"But you can’t help yourself," Wolf added with a grin.

"Yeah," Akima said, folding her arms. "We’re a covert organization that’s existed for thousands of years."

"What, like the CIA?" Marco asked, his eyes narrowing.

"Think CIA, but without government oversight," Akima replied. "With the ability to reshape society as we see fit."

"How do you do that exactly?" Ethan asked, leaning forward.

"I’ll guess it has something to do with infection," Bobbi said.

"You could say that," Akima replied vaguely.

She stood, walking to the window. Peeking through the blinds, her expression darkened. She glanced at her wrist, typing something into a sleek device that wrapped around her forearm like a high-tech gauntlet. A 3-D hologram flickered to life, projecting a map of the neighborhood. The green dot marking Bobbi and Marco’s house was surrounded by descending red dots.

"This place is about to be swarming with leukocytes," Akima said grimly.

"What does that mean?" Marco asked, jumping up to peer at the hologram.

"It means we’re surrounded," Akima said bluntly.

Alex ran to the window, scanning the street. "I don’t see anything," she said, her voice tight with worry.

"They’re there," Akima assured her. "Leukocytes can blend in easily. They could look like utility workers or police officers."

"What do we do?" Ethan asked, his voice rising in panic.

Before Akima could respond, the front door exploded inward, splintering wood as it slammed against the wall. A team of SWAT officers poured into the room, their weapons raised and their movements sharp and efficient.

"Everyone on the ground!" one of them barked.

Before Ethan could react, a cylindrical device flew through the air, landing in the center of the room.

With a deafening bang and a blinding flash of light, everything went white.