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Before I could act on them or discuss them with the others, Maurick was there, urging us to our beds.

“I’ve placed you and Pari together, Emil.” Maurick said, “Obviously, Jacques and Inka are together, the same as Pal and Mera. Kait, I have put you and D’vid next to each other. Tobais, you’re next to them. I’m really getting worried about you two,” Maurick directed the last remark at Kait and D’vid, who were busy blowing kisses at each other.

The carefree atmosphere masked the trouble to come.

Carefully, I helped Inka to settle onto her bed, and then I clambered up mine. My misgivings started again as I lay there staring at the top of the stasis chamber and taking deep breaths to calm myself. A nurse put a drip into my arm, and then I was strapped down.

The stasis chambers came with three big thick bands that close over the body to hold it in place. I remembered telling myself that it was just a precautionary measure, but that wasn’t helping. To try and relax myself, I glanced towards Inka only to find my view obscured by a nurse. I growled in protest, but the idiot didn’t move, so I looked back up at the ceiling.

They added another IV line, connecting me to the monitors. I tried to occupy my mind with thoughts of what Inka and I had talked about last night, but they had gone. They had deserted me, my non-existent children.

Suddenly, Maurick appeared over me, holding a syringe full of an amber fluid. He gave it a quick spray to remove any air bubbles.

“Maurick, let me up,” I cried for some unknown reason. I wasn’t sure why, maybe my danger sense was kicking in.

Panicked, I started to struggle as several people began to demand the same. Something was seriously wrong. I was unsure how I’d guessed, but I had, and here we all were, tied down with no hope of escape.

My blood froze.

“Jacques,” Inka gasped.

“Let me up!” I yelled, but Maurick seemed oblivious.

Panic set in harder.

“Now Jacques, it’s just a little needle, such a small prick. This won’t hurt at all.”

Fully aware of the danger, I couldn’t comprehend that it came from Maurick. I had known him my entire life. This, by the blood of the Creator, was Maurick! What was happening?

“Emil!” I heard Pari scream, “No!”

Terrified, I turned my head and gasped in shock as I saw a stasis chamber begin to lower over the bed, where Emil lay pale and lifeless.

“Maurick, what have you done?” I cried as people began to shriek and cry out in alarm or pain.

A babble of voices rose in an increasing clamour. It was hard to distinguish one from another. I struggled so hard that I drew blood. Maurick watched, fascinated. The needle came closer.

“Immortality, Jacques. Is it not tempting? Is it not what men long for? What we all want?” Maurick muttered, his eyes becoming glazed.

“Immortality?” I screeched, hurting my throat. You know that sense of impending disaster? Yes, well, I had it.

“Jacques! I’m sorry that you don’t understand. But this must be. The council forbid us to tamper and holds us hostage to their own fears. This won’t hurt. Honest. When it’s all over, tell me what you experienced. Explain what you thought; I must record it all.”

“Maurick!” I cried. “You are mad; release me this instant. What the Hell do you think you’re doing?”

Then, my heart skipped a beat.

A terrified scream erupted from my right side. Inka! Oh, sweet Creator, not my Inka.

Abruptly, I was free and sitting up.

Pandemonium erupted around me.

“Jacques’s loose!” Maurick screamed, struggling to hold me down. With a mighty push, I sent him sprawling across the room.

There was a sickening thud as his head connected with the wall, but I didn’t consciously pay any attention to him.

My horrified eyes had found Inka, and my brain was desperately telling me not to believe what I was seeing.