Chapter 9. Neira's Enclave

The technomancers' enclave wasn't marked on any map.

Alex and Zoi had been walking all day, venturing deeper into the mountain ranges east of Cascade Pass. The trail that Zoi followed became increasingly less obvious, sometimes disappearing completely among the peculiar biocybernetic formations that grew especially dense here. Strange crystalline trees with branches made of light-conducting fibers. Fields of fractal ferns, each leaf representing a miniature computational structure. Enormous mushroom-like formations emitting information spores, visible as sparkling clouds of data.

"By evening," Zoi finally said, stopping on a rocky ledge and looking into the gorge ahead. "We're almost there."

Alex, exhausted from the long journey, gratefully sank down onto a flat stone covered with luminescent lichen. To an untrained eye, there was nothing visible in the gorge ahead except the wild landscape of the periphery—a chaotic pile of rocks transformed by the Resonance into bizarre structures, partly stone, partly metallic, partly organic.

"I don't see any signs of a settlement," he remarked, peering into the gathering dusk.

Zoi smiled, her golden eyes softly glowing in the evening twilight.

"That's precisely why the enclave has existed for so many years," she said. "Camouflage. Not technological, but... informational. The technomancers' settlement... is part of the flow. It doesn't oppose the environment, but... dissolves into it. Becomes indistinguishable."

She raised her hand, and the patterns on her skin glowed brighter, forming a complex, constantly changing pattern.

"Look deeper," she advised. "Not with your eyes. With your Node. Like at the pass, when you were searching for resonant structures in the cascades."

Alex nodded and closed his eyes, concentrating as Zoi had taught him. He allowed his perception to expand, extending beyond ordinary senses into the realm of information flows. At first, he sensed only the background noise of the periphery—the chaotic movement of data without clear pattern or direction. But gradually, focusing deeper, he began to discern more ordered structures.

And then he saw it.

Amidst the seeming chaos of information currents, there was order—subtle, almost imperceptible, but undoubtedly artificial. Hidden patterns guiding data flows along specific paths. Barely noticeable information markers, like light buoys in an ocean of darkness. It was a navigation system, visible only to those who knew what to look for.

"I see... a route," Alex said slowly, keeping his eyes closed. "An information trail."

"Exactly," Zoi confirmed. "The enclave's signature in the flow. An invitation for those who can read it. A path indicator for our own."

She rose to her feet effortlessly and extended her hand, helping Alex stand.

"Now we follow this information path," she said. "The physical trail may deceive the eyes, but the flow... doesn't lie."

They began descending into the gorge, Zoi in front, Alex following, both focused on the information trail invisible to ordinary observers. In places, the physical path disappeared completely, and they had to navigate through areas that seemed absolutely impassable. But the information markers unerringly led them forward, indicating hidden passages, natural bridges, and safe routes among dangerous formations.

As they ventured deeper into the gorge, Alex began noticing other signs of human presence. Some plants were arranged too regularly for natural growth. Certain crystalline structures reflected light too precisely. Rock formations contained barely visible carved symbols, similar to the patterns on Zoi's skin.

"Observers," Zoi said quietly, pointing to a particularly dense cluster of bioluminescent lichens forming an almost perfect spiral on the gorge wall. "They already know we're approaching."

Indeed, the further they progressed, the more distinct became the sense of being watched—not threateningly, but attentively. As if the air itself recorded their movements, and the stones beneath their feet transmitted information about each step.

"A quiet reception," Zoi explained. "Without excess... noise in the flow. Safety through invisibility."

Finally, the path led them to a dead end—a high rock wall covered with moss and climbing plants with translucent leaves resembling fiber optic cables. At first glance, the wall seemed an insurmountable obstacle, but Alex, using his new perception, could see through this illusion. Behind the apparently solid surface was a passage—not a physical tunnel, but an information anomaly distorting perception.

Zoi approached the wall and raised her hand. Her patterns glowed brightly again, forming a sequence of symbols similar to those that were barely visible on the rocks along the way. In response, the leaves of the plants on the wall began to glow, creating a answering pattern of symbols.

"Greeting and response," Zoi said. "An ancient security protocol of the technomancers. The gates are open for us."

Indeed, a passage began to manifest in the wall—as if reality itself was parting, creating a tunnel where seconds ago there was none. This wasn't a physical movement of matter, rather, a change in the observer's perception. The wall was simultaneously here and not here, depending on the informational state of the viewer.

"Selective perception effect," Zoi explained, noticing Alex's surprise. "One of the pinnacles of technomantic art. The fusion of informational and perceptual fields. Reality... is pliable for those who know its code."

They stepped into the tunnel, and for a moment Alex experienced a strange sensation—as if his body was dissolving into streams of data, then reassembling. It wasn't painful, more disorienting—like stepping through a thin film between two states of existence.

And then they were inside the technomancers' enclave, and Alex froze, stunned by the sight before him.

Stretching out before them was a hidden valley, surrounded on all sides by mountains, creating a natural amphitheater. But most amazing was not the natural surroundings, but the settlement itself. It wasn't a collection of buildings or structures in the conventional sense. The technomancers' enclave represented a single, complex organism—a huge biocybernetic structure growing from the earth like a gigantic tree.

Or, more precisely, like a neural network.

The base of the structure extended deep into the ground, where glowing root-cables intertwined with the natural geology of the place. From this foundation grew dozens of "trunks"—organic columns supporting a complex network of living modules. These modules resembled huge cocoons or fruits, suspended on branch-bridges connecting the main structural elements. Between the modules stretched thousands of thin fibers, transmitting information and energy—like the axons of a gigantic brain.

The entire settlement pulsed with an inner light, creating the impression that it was breathing, living, thinking. And for a technomancer, this was literally true—the entire structure was simultaneously a living space and an enormous biocybernetic interface, enhancing their connection to information flows.

"Neira's Enclave," Zoi said with undisguised pride. "The oldest settlement of technomancers. Grown on the site of... a pre-Resonance laboratory. Having assimilated and transformed its technologies."

They began descending the spiral path leading to the valley floor. Along the way, Alex noticed figures of technomancers engaged in various activities. Some meditated in special niches built into the enclave's structure, their bodies connected to biocybernetic interfaces through thin fibers. Others worked on strange objects that looked like a combination of plants and mechanisms. A third group taught younger ones, judging by their size and the simplicity of patterns on their skin.

All the technomancers shared similar features with Zoi—characteristic glowing patterns on the skin, eyes with unusual colors and pupil movement patterns, and a special grace of movement. But there were differences too. The elder technomancers had more complex patterns covering larger parts of their bodies. Some had obvious modifications—additional biocybernetic components integrated with their bodies.

As they approached, the technomancers paused in their activities and observed the newcomers with undisguised curiosity. Alex attracted particular attention—an outsider without characteristic patterns and modifications, but with an informational presence perceptible even at a distance.

"I've been away for many years," Zoi noted, noticing the attention of her compatriots. "And visitors from outside... are rare. Especially ones like you, with an active Node."

In the center of the enclave, where the main structural elements converged to form something like a square, a group of senior technomancers awaited them. In the center of the group stood a woman whose appearance made Alex pause in involuntary surprise.

She was tall, with impeccable posture emphasizing her natural grace and strength. Her dark skin was almost completely covered with glowing patterns—not just lines or geometric figures, but complex, constantly changing fractals resembling maps of the night sky. Her hair—silvery-white despite her relatively young face—was gathered into dozens of thin braids, each interwoven with bioluminescent threads, creating the effect of a starry halo around her head.

But most remarkable were her eyes—completely white, without visible pupils or irises, glowing from within with a soft pearlescent light. These eyes seemed to see not only the physical world but all layers of informational reality simultaneously.

"Neira Somova," Zoi introduced, respectfully bowing her head. "First of the Circle. Teacher of teachers. Keeper of technomantic arts."

Neira studied Alex with her strange white eyes, and he physically felt this attention—as if fine fingers touched his consciousness, gently but with undeniable power.

"Zoi Kishi," Neira's voice was deep, with a slight accent, as if she had long spoken another language. "My rebellious student has returned. And brought... a guest."

She stepped forward, and the apparent distance between them suddenly shortened, though Alex didn't notice her actually crossing the space between them. Spatial distortion? Or just a perception trick?

"Alex Kovich," Neira pronounced, and a shiver ran down Alex's spine at the sound of his name from her lips. How did she know? "Bearer of the Nexus Node. Part of the ancient pair. Long awaited... and yet unexpected."

Alex cast a questioning glance at Zoi, but she barely shook her head, urging patience.

"You... know about me?" he cautiously asked.

Neira smiled, and her patterns momentarily formed a complex symbol resembling two spirals intertwined around a central axis.

"I know the pattern," she answered. "The signature of the Nexus Alpha Node. There are things written in the flow itself. Stories that technomancers read like open books."

She gestured with her hand, and the group of technomancers behind her began to disperse, returning to their activities.

"Come," she said. "Let's not conduct important conversations amidst common space. My residence offers... necessary privacy."

She turned and headed toward one of the enclave's central columns, where an especially large and complex cocoon module was located. Alex and Zoi followed her, ascending a spiral staircase that seemed to form directly from the living tissue of the column as they climbed.

Neira's residence proved to be a spacious chamber resembling simultaneously a laboratory, a library, and a meditation hall. The walls were living membranes, pulsating in rhythm with some internal rhythms of the enclave. Instead of ordinary furniture, there were biocybernetic constructs growing from the floor and walls, forming functional zones.

The center of the room was occupied by something resembling a pool filled with liquid the color of fluid silver, its surface absolutely still, reflecting the ceiling like a perfect mirror. Around the pool were areas filled with strange objects—combinations of books, crystalline data storage structures, and living organisms functioning as biocybernetic interfaces.

"Sit," Neira invited, indicating structures forming from the floor resembling comfortable seats.

When they were settled, Neira made a gesture with her hand, and part of the wall dissolved, revealing a niche containing containers with food and drinks.

"Refresh yourselves," she said. "A long journey behind. An even longer one ahead."

Alex accepted the offered nutritive substance, outwardly resembling thick honey but with a more complex flavor profile. It was simultaneously a nourishing substance and a mild stimulator of neural activity—something that technomancers used to maintain high concentration during complex information interactions.

While they ate, Neira studied Alex with her unusual eyes, as if reading every detail of his physical and informational state.

"Zoi has been teaching you," not a question, but a statement. "Basic control techniques. Flow meditation. Selective perception. A good start."

"Alex is a talented student," said Zoi. "His Node is... extraordinarily responsive. There's a natural predisposition for technomantic practices."

Neira nodded, and her patterns formed a new pattern—something like a diagnostic tool.

"Telling," she remarked. "The Nexus Nodes were created with... compatibility with technomantic principles in mind. Although in those times, technomancy as an art didn't yet exist. Only theoretical foundations. Foresight... of possibilities."

She addressed Alex directly:

"You came for training. For control. For understanding."

Again, not a question, but a statement.

"Yes," Alex confirmed. "My abilities are becoming... unstable. Since the activation of the second Node—my sister's Node. I've had episodes of information sickness. Uncontrolled energy discharges. And memories are returning, fragments of the past that I can't fully integrate."

Neira listened without interrupting, her white eyes following the movements of his lips intently, as if she were extracting information not just from his words but from the very act of speech.

"Now," she said when he finished, "I need to see your Node. Directly. Without perception filters. Will you allow me... a diagnostic?"

Alex nodded, although the idea of direct contact with his implant caused some anxiety. But if anyone could help him understand what was happening with his abilities, it was Neira Somova.

She approached and stood behind him, her long fingers with thin glowing lines on the skin hovering over the scar on his nape.

"It will be... intense," she warned. "Don't resist. Allow your Node to respond to my query. This isn't an invasion, but... a dialogue."

And she placed her fingers on the scar.

The effect was instantaneous and overwhelming. Alex felt his consciousness opening, like a flower under the sun's rays. All his perception suddenly expanded, encompassing scales he couldn't even imagine. He saw information structures not only around him but far beyond the enclave—the entire data network enveloping the region, continent, planet.

And through this network, he felt... Sara. Like a bright star in the night sky, her presence glowed in the information field, creating resonance with his own Node. The sensation was so strong, so clear that for a moment it seemed to him that she was here, beside him.

And then before his inner vision appeared the image of an unknown man. Tall, with gray temples and piercing blue eyes. The Architect, Alex realized. Creator of the Nexus Nodes. Initiator of the Resonance Protocol. The man's face expressed anxiety, urgency, as if he were hurrying to complete something critically important but running out of time.

And another image—a glass chamber inside which he and Sara were connected by thin threads of data, activating the Nexus Nodes. The moment before the Resonance. The last moment of the old world.

"The connection must be maintained," a voice, woven into the memory itself. "Without stable synchronization of the Nodes, the transformation will be chaotic. Unpredictable. The Second Resonance may not occur. Or occur... catastrophically."

Alex felt Neira gently guiding his consciousness back, leading him out of the deep immersion in the Node's memory. Gradually his perception narrowed to normal limits; he again felt his body sitting in the strange biocybernetic chair in the chief technomancer's residence.

Neira removed her hand from his nape and slowly walked around the chair to stand before him. Her face expressed a mixture of surprise, awe, and concern.

"Amazing," she said. "The Nexus Alpha Node isn't just active. It has... evolved. Integrated with your neural structure at a level deeper than its creators intended. Become... part of you. Not an implant, but an organ. An informational organ."

She paused, as if choosing her words.

"And now this organ is undergoing a process of... awakening. Activation of all its functions. The connection with the Omega Node is being restored, creating resonant fluctuations in your neural network. Hence the instability. The information sickness. The energy discharges."

"Is it dangerous?" Alex asked, still feeling echoes of the expanded perception.

"Yes," she answered simply. "But not in the way you think. Not for your life. For... the stability of your personality. Your 'self.' The Node contains information structures alien to the human mind. Patterns created for another type of consciousness. By integrating them without preparation, without control, you risk... transformation of your identity."

"What might I become?" Alex asked quietly.

Neira shook her head, her patterns flickering unevenly, reflecting the complexity of her thoughts.

"Unknown," she replied. "Perhaps something greater than human. Perhaps something less. What's important is that the transformation happens... consciously. Under your control. That you remain... yourself. Preserve the core of your personality despite the changes."

Zoi, who had been silent all this time, finally intervened:

"Is it possible? To teach him such control?"

Neira turned her gaze to her student, and in her white eyes flashed something resembling pride.

"Possible," she nodded. "But it will require... deep training. Not only in techniques for managing information flows but also in methods of preserving personality integrity during transformation. Ancient practices of technomancers, created in the first years after the Resonance, when many of us went through similar changes."

She turned back to Alex.

"But there is something else," she said. "Something I saw in the structure of your Node. The 'Binary Twins' project was... not just an experiment. It was a key component of a larger plan. You and your sister were created as... regulators. Controllers of the transformation process."

Alex listened, holding his breath.

"At the moment of the Resonance," Neira continued, "the connection between your Nodes was severed. This led to the transformation process becoming unmanageable, chaotic. The world changed, but... not as intended. Not completely. The first phase was completed, but the second... was postponed. Until the restoration of the connection between the Nodes."

"The Second Resonance," Alex whispered, remembering the message received from Sara. "It's approaching because our connection is being restored?"

"Exactly," Neira confirmed. "With each moment of synchronization between you, the informational structure of the world approaches a new bifurcation point. A new leap in transformation. And you and your sister must be ready... to direct this process. To control it. Otherwise..."

She didn't finish the sentence, but her patterns formed an alarming pattern—something resembling a visualization of system collapse.

"Otherwise, the transformation might become destructive," Alex finished for her, understanding the implications. "Chaotic. Unpredictable."

"Worse," Neira said grimly. "It could lead to complete destruction of the informational structure of reality. To the collapse of the new world born from the Resonance. To a return to chaos."

She paused, then added:

"And that's exactly why your training is so important. That's exactly why finding your sister is so important. And that's exactly why... the Architect and those who follow his vision are so dangerous."

Alex shuddered.

"The Architect? He's alive?"

"Not just alive," Neira replied. "Active. Working on his plan all these years. The creator of the Nexus Nodes, the initiator of the Resonance Protocol—he always planned the transformation in two stages. But his vision is... radical. Ruthless. He's willing to sacrifice much for his goal."

She approached the silvery pool in the center of the room and passed her hand over its surface. The liquid inside began to move, forming a three-dimensional image—a diagram resembling a DNA double helix, but with information structures woven into it.

"This is the scheme of your project," Neira explained. "'Binary Twins.' Two people, genetically identical, but with complementary neural structures. Two Nexus Nodes, created as parts of a single system. The key to controlled transformation of reality."

The image changed, showing two human figures connected by multiple thin threads of data, forming a complex network between them.

"You were supposed to function as a single organism during the Resonance," Neira continued. "Synchronize at an unprecedented level. Become... an interface between the old and new reality. A bridge between worlds."

"But something went wrong," said Alex. "The connection was broken."

"Yes," Neira nodded. "At the critical moment, a failure occurred. Perhaps deliberate sabotage by those who understood the Architect's true intentions. Perhaps just an accident. The result was an uncontrolled Resonance. The fusion of information and matter without proper structure. Chaotic transformation instead of a smooth transition."

She waved her hand again, and the image changed to a complex diagram showing the development of the biocybernetic ecosystem after the Resonance.

"But even in this chaos... patterns were preserved," she said. "Basic structures embedded in the transformation process itself. And these structures are still active. Still evolving. Moving toward a predetermined goal, albeit more slowly than planned."

"Toward the Second Resonance," Alex slowly pronounced. "Toward the completion of the transformation."

"Exactly," Neira confirmed. "And the closer to this moment, the more active the Architect becomes. He has waited twenty-seven years for this. Prepared. Adapted his plans to the changed conditions."

She turned to Alex, her face becoming extremely serious.

"And now that the Nodes have begun to synchronize, he is on the move again. He will seek both of you—you and your sister. To use you to direct the Second Resonance according to his vision."

"And what is his vision?" asked Alex. "What does he want to achieve?"

Neira exchanged a glance with Zoi, and between them, there seemed to pass a silent dialogue.

"We don't know for certain," she finally said. "But there are... hints. Traces in the information flows. Data fragments from the time before the Resonance. The Architect believed in... an evolutionary leap. In the transcendence of human consciousness through fusion with information. In creating a new type of mind, free from the limitations of biology."

"Sounds... lofty," Alex remarked. "But why does it cause such concern?"

"Because of the price," Neira quietly replied. "The price of such transformation. In the Architect's vision... not all forms of consciousness will survive. Not all will survive the transition. He spoke of 'necessary sacrifices.' Of 'natural selection at the informational level.'"

She paused, and her patterns formed a symbol resembling a skull.

"By our estimates, if the Second Resonance occurs according to his plan... more than half of all forms of consciousness on the planet could be... erased. Absorbed. Integrated against their will into the new information structure."

Alex felt a chill run down his spine.

"But that's... genocide," he whispered.

"For the Architect, it's simply... transition," Neira replied. "Evolution. An inevitable process in which the most adaptable survives. He sees it not as destruction, but as... transformation. A transition to a more perfect form of existence."

She came closer, her white eyes looking directly into Alex's.

"And this," she said, "is why your training is so important. Why your meeting with your sister is so important. You two are the only ones who can direct the Second Resonance in a different direction. Create a transformation that doesn't destroy, but unites. Doesn't absorb, but integrates while preserving individuality."

"But how?" asked Alex. "How can we oppose a plan that has been developing for decades by the very creator of the Nexus Nodes?"

"You don't need to oppose the plan itself," Neira shook her head. "Only its... ruthless nature. You are the keys, the controllers of the process. At the moment of the Second Resonance, it will be your intentions, your decisions that will shape the structure of the new reality."

She smiled, and her patterns formed a symbol of hope—an ascending spiral, expanding into infinity.

"That's exactly why we, the technomancers, have waited so long for your awakening," she said. "That's exactly why Zoi found you and brought you here. We offer not only training in controlling your Node but also... an alternative vision. A path of transformation that preserves rather than destroys. Unites rather than absorbs."

Alex looked at her, realizing the scale of the responsibility opening before him. It was more than he could have imagined. More than finding his sister or understanding his past. It was a question of the future of the entire world.

"I... I'm not sure I'm ready for such responsibility," he honestly admitted.

"No one is ready," Neira said gently. "No one can be fully prepared to shape the future world. But you're not alone. You have your sister. You have us, the technomancers. There are others who will support an alternative vision of transformation."

She looked at Zoi, then back at Alex.

"Rest today," she said. "Tomorrow we'll begin your training. Real training. Not just in controlling the Node, but in understanding what it can create. What you and your sister can create together."

Zoi rose, ready to escort Alex to the living module assigned to him.

"One more thing," said Neira as they were already heading for the exit. "What I saw in the structure of your Node... There is something that even the Architect may not have foreseen."

Alex stopped, waiting for her to continue.

"The Nexus Nodes haven't just evolved over these years," said Neira. "They have... acquired their own form of consciousness. Not completely autonomous, but... supplementary to yours. Symbiotic. And this consciousness... it remembers. Everything. From the moment of creation to the present day."

She paused, her patterns pulsing slowly, as if measuring her words.

"In your Node is information that exists nowhere else in the world," she continued. "Information about the true nature of the Resonance. About the details of the Architect's plan. And about his only weakness."

"How can I access this information?" asked Alex.

"You can't yet," Neira replied. "It requires complete synchronization with the Node. Deep integration, which is possible only upon reaching a certain level of control. This will be... the true goal of your training."

She nodded, dismissing them.

"Rest. Tomorrow will be a long day. The beginning of a long journey."

When they left Neira's residence, Alex felt his mind overflowing with new information, new discoveries, new concerns. He walked behind Zoi along the complex network of bridges and platforms of the enclave, barely noticing the surrounding beauty and strangeness of this amazing place.

"Did you know?" he finally asked when they reached the small cocoon module intended for his stay. "Did you know the scale of all this?"

Zoi stopped at the entrance to the module, her golden eyes studying his face.

"Not completely," she answered honestly. "I suspected. Saw fragments. Technomancers have long gathered information about the Resonance, about its true nature. About the role of the Nexus Nodes. But the details that Neira revealed... some of them are new even to me."

She paused, then added:

"But I always believed that your coming... was significant. That our meeting was not a coincidence. That our paths crossed... with purpose."

Alex nodded, finding no words to reply. His gaze turned to the night sky, visible through the translucent membrane of the enclave. The stars seemed brighter, closer than he remembered. Or perhaps it was just a consequence of his expanded perception.

Somewhere out there, under the same stars, was Sara. Also with an awakening Node. Also, perhaps, frightened and confused before the unfolding perspective. The second part of the pair. The second half of the key to the world's future.

He had to find her. Had to reunite with her. Before the Architect realized his plan. Before the Second Resonance changed everything forever.

"Tomorrow," Zoi said quietly, as if reading his thoughts. "Tomorrow, the real training begins. And the path to your sister."

With these words, she left him alone in the strange, pulsing with life cocoon that was to be his home during his stay in the technomancers' enclave.

Alex lay down on the soft, adapting surface that served as a bed and closed his eyes. But sleep wouldn't come. Instead, in the darkness beneath his closed eyelids, he saw information flows—thin, luminous threads connecting all living things. And among these threads, one glowed brighter than the others—the connection between him and Sara, invisible but undeniable, stretching across the entire changed world.

A connection that was destined to either save the new reality or completely transform it according to the Architect's vision.

A choice they would have to make together.