Intermix Nation

Nazirah fingers the goldbangle the Deathlandic girl gave her on the bus. The girl’s motherrecognized her, sympathized with her. Niko is right. This issomething she can do … something only she can do. So, althoughNazirah can think of a million reasons to say no, she says, “Yes,Niko. I’ll do it. I want to do it.”

Nikolaus breathes a sigh of relief. He getsup and walks over to her. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me now,” she huffs. “I haven’tdone anything yet.”

“But you will,” he says. “Don’tunderestimate yourself. You’re more likable than you think.”

“You’re so sweet,” she says.

He laughs, but then turns serious again.“Listen, this campaign isn’t to be taken lightly, okay?”

“I’m entirely serious about it,Nikolaus.”

“That’s not what I mean,” he says. “I’mtrying to say that this isn’t a job for one person to handlealone.”

“I thought that’s what Aldrik is there for,”she says slowly.

“Aldrik will be there, yes,” Nikolaus saysevasively. “He has the formidable task of wi

“And how is Aldrik pla

“To be perfectly honest,” Niko says,“probably with bribes.”

“Well, it certainly won’t be withcharm.”

“Agreed,” he laughs.

“And how do you expect the Medis to reactwhen we cut off their access to food, water, and whateverelse?”

“Not well, obviously,” he says, “Which iswhy our window of opportunity is so small. It’s now or never.”

“Okay,” she says bluntly. “Your pointbeing?”

“Aldrik has good intentions …”

“I’m sensing a ‘but.’”

“But,” Niko continues, “like yousaid, his delivery isn’t great. We need someone there to negotiate.Someone with the military background and monetary backing to securealliances and make sure our allies follow through.” Nikolaus looksat her, waits for her to comprehend.

Nazirah doesn’t need to ask. “Niko, noway!”

“It has to be him.”

“You can’t possibly expect me to spend weekswith him!” she cries. “This isn’t a two minute conversation where Ican leave when he starts pissing me off!”

“I’m sorry,” he says. “But it can’t beavoided. He’s the best option we have.”

“The best option?” she yells. “If Morgen isthe best option the rebels have, then we really have no chance inhell! He’s killed half the country, for God’s sake! You reallyexpect people, intermix people, to ally with him? I don’t think allthe bribes in the world could make that happen!”

“I think you’d be surprised by what peoplewill do for money,” he says, “especially hungry people. Like yousaid, everyone in the country knows him too. You’ve heard whatpeople are calling him. Renatus, Irri. They are naming him afterthe damn country, in whispers, all over! He’s exactly who peopleneed to see in order for them to give us their trust and support.Can you imagine how this will help us?” His eyes glaze over. “Twoformer enemies, of completely different races and social strata,appearing together as a united front?”

“Only we’re not twoformer enemies,” shehisses. “We are very much in the present!”

“Stop being dramatic.”

“You don’t understand!” she tells him hotly,flashing back to all of their previous encounters. “Morgen isseriously deranged! He is mentally unstable.”

“Everyone’s a little unstable,” Nikolausreplies callously.

“Are you trying to upset me?”

“I’m not saying he’s the friendliest Medi onthe street, Nazirah. Of course he’s a little mentally …preoccupied. But aren’t we all, with everything that’s beenhappening?”

“He called me ‘Nazi!’”

Nikolaus snorts. “That’s my fault. I mayhave mentioned your childhood nickname once or twice.”

“You talk to him about me?” she shrieks.

“Sometimes.”

“Niko!”

“Nazirah!”

“You can’t do this to me!”

“This isn’t open for discussion. We’re inthe final stages of this and we need Morgen. Either you decide toget over yourself or you don’t, but he goes either way.” Nikolausgrabs a thick binder from his desk. “I have to go discuss the finalschedule with Aldrik. Think about it over the weekend. If youdecide to go, the car leaves for Rafu first thing Mondaymorning.”

“How am I supposed to pretend, before theentire country, that I’ve somehow forgiven him?” Nazirah asks.“Because isn’t that what you’re really asking of me? How can Ipossibly make anyone believe it?”

Nikolaus leans into her. He says, entirelyserious, “Become an amazing fucking liar.”

#

Nazirah sits alone in Nikolaus’s office fora good ten minutes, trying to process everything her disillusionedbrother has asked her to do. She rubs her temples, feeling amigraine forming in her skull. Ready to seek out the nearest bottleof tequilux to drown her sorrows in, Nazirah’s eyes befall thesilver briefcase.

She stares at it, intrigued, remembering howunsettling she found Adamek’s appearance with it. Nikolaus tried todismiss Nazirah’s curiosity, but she isn’t crazy. There are notraining sessions today, Nazirah is almost sure of that. He usedthe Iluxor on himself. But what was he looking at … and why?

Nazirah stands rapidly, the chair scrapingagainst the floor. She walks over to Nikolaus’s door. Nazirah putsan ear to it, listening but hearing nothing. She turns the lockbefore she can talk herself out of it. This is an opportunity shemight never have again. And maybe, with a little luck, she’llfinally get some answers.

She grabs the briefcase off the bookshelf,pulling it over the ledge with two hands. It’s heavier than sheexpects. Nazirah hauls it over to Nikolaus’s desk, struggling tolift it. She runs her fingers over the keypad, trying to rememberwhat code Adamek entered the day of their first lesson. The caseunlocks on her second try, with a hiss.

Like a warning.

Periodically glancing at the door, Nazirahquickly fills a syringe to the top with translucent serum.Hesitating for only a second, Nazirah injects herself in what shehopes is the vein, grimacing in pain as the syringe empties. Sheremembers what Adamek told her that first day, about how the Iluxorstores the last memory it picks up. Nazirah argued then that it wasan invasion of privacy, but she isn’t arguing now.

She places a shaky hand on top of the glass,watching with trepidation as the sparkling white mist fills thecube.

Don’t ask a question, if you don’t want toknow the answer.

“Take a risk,” she whispers.

Nazirah closes her eyes, hesitantly touchesthe corner of the cube. And she gets her answer.

Chapter Thirteen

The party is already in full swing.

Nazirah opens her eyes slowly, taking in thegrand room covered in crystal and marble. In every direction, inevery crevice and corner, there’s lush opulence and indescribableluxury. Women dressed in corsets and velvet walk around withleather parasols. They laugh softly, dance slowly, sipping electricblue champagne from long-stemmed flutes. Their bodies are coveredin glitter and shimmering dust. The men, not to be outdone, aredressed in gunmetal suits, liquid black waistcoats, bright top hatsand crystal canes. They play cards and drink brandy, completelyunfazed by the literal circus around them.

There are tigers and snow leopards andcheetahs with diamond collars, lazily chained to chairs and tables.A breathtaking mural of the sky and stars is painted on theceiling. The centerpiece in the room is somehow both a waterfallcrystal chandelier and a winding staircase that opens onto theroof. Near the stairs, a woman covered entirely in gold sequinsserenades partygoers atop a fuchsia piano. Four electric violinsback her up beautifully.

Most mesmerizing of all are the walls. Thereare no windows, only floor-to-ceiling glass. Nazirah sees the viewoutside, sees the glittering skyline she’s only ever read about,confirming what she has already guessed. She’s in Mediah.