Chapter 17. The legendary hybrid

She was beautiful. Tall and slender, her silhouette so airy it looked like it was painted in space by watercolors, her skin glowing with amazing pearl shade. Her long fair hair was falling on her back like a heavy cape and her eyes had a very rare blue and green color to them – the color of ocean waves on Earth.

If she was a bit more average, or rough, or even human-like, she'd be disappointing. Because her name was surrounded with such amount of rumors and legends that she just had to be divine. Everyone expected her to be a goddess, no less.

Damian had never met her before – they existed on different levels and had no chances of crossing paths. So now he was studying her with the same awe as the students. She didn't use any make-up, but she didn't need it, she was perfect. Each of her movements was filled with grace, her smile was hypnotizing, and her gaze kept all the mysteries of the space in it.

She looked like she was twenty-five. Damian knew she was actually ninety-seven. Octavia was one of the strongest hybrids of all times – from the foundation of the Second Breed.

The news of her coming to Ceres spread across the base like wild fire. The students, who hadn't been expecting anything like that, were thrilled beyond belief. The management considered her visit an honor, but they weren't surprised with her decision to address the new generation before the exams.

She wasn't going to make it a long visit. A hybrid of her level had more important things to do! Octavia was to arrive in the morning and depart after her lecture for the students.

She appeared right on schedule. With all her obvious perfection, she was still very friendly and open. She showed with neither words nor gestures how superior she was in comparison to the hybrids around her. That made Damian feel uneasy; he didn't like meeting higher-level hybrids, because that reminded him that he'd missed his chance to become one of them.

All students gathered in a large lecture hall. Octavia stood before them. The young hybrids were wearing their uniforms, while she came in an open-back sundress.

"Hello," she said. Her voice was quiet and melodic. "Thank you for coming here. I'm flattered by a chance to talk to you."

Nobody skipped that meeting. Even Karajo, who usually ignored these kinds of events, was one of the first to enter the hall; now she was catching every word greedily. Damian kept looking from their guest to the students and back. They'd never viewed him with such admiration… but he understood them and wasn't jealous.

He believed that everyone created their own destiny. He made a mistake – and he was paying for it now. He had rarely talked about it, but during his first years on Ceres he was among the top students. He had no doubt that he'd be recommended for receiving higher levels of power, and he forgot about discipline. When he reached level six, he was getting ready for more – but was denied.

They said he failed the psychological test: a hybrid like him shouldn't get too much power. He was crushed by this… Most of the teachers who were training him couldn't forgive him for blowing his chance so stupidly. That explained the cold attitude Lady Laura demonstrated towards him.

But Octavia's life was different. Her level was eight and a half, and she had reached it when the Second Breed had only begun its development. It was really tough back then, because very few women were allowed to become hybrids… but she made it, and she earned her right to become a legend.

Damian forced himself to forget his shame; he was listening to her as attentively as the new generation.

"Your first exams begin next week. Most of you will continue the training, while others will return to Earth. But I'd still like to thank you for trying to become hybrids. We're facing complicated times now, when the Second Breed's reputation is at stake. We can survive and thrive only with your help. No matter what our enemies say, we don't become hybrids for fame and money. The true hybrid way is serving people. Yes, we get paid for it. But who doesn't? Police, army officers, doctors, rescue teams – they all have their salary. But not all of them make the sacrifice that every hybrid faces sooner or later. To become a hybrid, one must have a very strong soul, because most sacrifices we make are of spiritual nature. The power we get is not only a privilege, but a seduction. During your training on Ceres you must develop your own system of values and always remember about it. Your knowledge and skills are your tools, and your values are your true essence."

Damian couldn't argue with that. He'd been working for a couple of years only, but he knew that the skills they got on Ceres were very basic. Battlefield was to become their school, while their values remained the same. That was the only thing that could keep them human within their new bodies.

"Your first year of practical training was tough," Octavia continued. "Probably the toughest when it comes to your personal development. You received the first part of your power and understood that it was different from what you'd dreamed about. But I believe that each of you will find your own way. Some of you will become humans again, and that's okay. Taking twenty percent of the hybrid matter out is very simple, no risk involved. Your memory will be corrected after that, but you'll get to keep your main achievement – your emotions and beliefs. However, I've already had a chance to look through the preliminary results of your training. You are a very strong generation. I believe that most of you will join the ranks of the Second Breed."

"But not all of us," Iutah Kerengee suddenly said. "As far as I know, a very small percent of each generation has a chance to rise above the seventh level!"

Damian cringed involuntary: that guy again! Sure, the hybrids were told they could ask questions to Octavia. But they should be more polite about it!

However, Octavia wasn't offended by his lack of manners. She nodded lightly.

"That's true. Some of you will be expelled after this year and the next one, with the hybrid matter taken out of you. Most young hybrids will leave Ceres after your third year here with the sixth level of power – and that's okay, because level six is considered to be the optimal amount of power for an average hybrid. Level six hybrids have always been the core of the Second Breed."

"The expendables, huh?" Iutah just couldn't shut up.

"We don't use such terms. Our amount is limited, and each hybrid is extremely important. Choosing such life is a brave decision involving a lot of trials. So during this year and the following ones keep thinking whether you're ready for this or not. Imagine not only the advantages and rewards, but also the hardships. Leaving after this year is easy and safe. After the second year, it'll be much tougher: getting forty percent out of your body is quite dangerous. But after you receive sixty percent, there is no going back. You are the ones who make the final decision, and you'll be the ones carrying the responsibility for it through the rest of your life. I'm sorry you have to grow up so fast. But at the same time, you receive a chance that most people will never get."

Her calm attitude was even more influential than her perfection. The students relaxed, and even Iutah grew quiet. They felt who was in control now instinctively.

"What hardships can there be?" Alexander St. Rio inquired, sounding surprised. "We all knew what we were agreeing for when we left Earth!"

"That's the way of thinking you need to abandon. Hybrids are not heroes, or businessmen, or saints, or demons. We are humans who are entrusted with an unusual mission. We often say the words "Second Breed" these days. But still many of us forget that the full name of our species is the Second Breed of humans. So you're humans, never forget that. We must follow our mission within the limit of human qualities, including the right to make mistakes. For instance, you, young man… What do you imagine when you think about your future?"

She was looking at St. Rio, and he answered her.

"I'm imagining helping people. I'm in the Green Team now, getting ready to become a rescuer!"

"That's great, but being a rescuer is just a profession," Octavia reminded. "And our life doesn't consist of profession only. You need to remember that the Second Breed is different from the First one… from normal humans. You won't get sick – and won't grow old. Is that a good thing?"

Most of the students were nodding enthusiastically, agreeing with the fact it was a nice bonus to being a hybrid. Olivia Samara was the only one who said quietly:

"It's not always a good thing. Because the rest of the world won't stop growing old."

The hall became quiet in an instant. Damian hadn't observed anything like that before: dozens of voices just stopped sounding. But he understood them… is was a dark discovery for him too in the past.

"Exactly," Octavia confirmed. "Your parents, friends, relatives, everyone you knew in your life before Ceres… for them nothing will change. They will grow old and eventually leave this world, and you'll remain the same. I've never known a hybrid who died of old age. Our life expectancy is unknown, because we die during our missions. Your task is to postpone this sad moment. But because of your work, and the fact time will lose its power on you, it'll be harder for you to make friends among humans with each year. One day you'll start avoiding it deliberately, because losing them will get too painful for you… You'll be so scared of that pain that you'll limit your communication. Many hybrids do it in advance: they break all past connections and change their names right after they leave Ceres."

"Like you did?" Rita Samara asked. It was clear that this question cost her a lot of effort. She was afraid to anger Octavia, but the higher hybrid was just as friendly as before.

"No, for many years I've been using my real name. But then I changed it… A person dear to me died, and I knew I wouldn't be the same anymore. So I took the name you call me now. It was so many years ago…"

It wasn't the talk they expected before their exams. They thought Octavia would be telling amusing stories from her past, making them believe that being a hybrid was cool, terrorists weren't a threat at all and life was one big candy land.

But she was talking about the cruel part of the hybrid world that usually wasn't shown on TV.

"There's another thing you need to remember," she added. "Hybrids normally don't start families. Sometimes we live with romantic partners, but… It's not a real family. One of the reasons is different age situation. Humans grow old, and the union of two hybrids is not always possible – we're talking about feelings here, they're unpredictable. Besides, hybrids don't have children. That's the unfortunate side effect of accepting more than forty percent of the hybrid matter. There have never been any exceptions – and there won't be in the future. We have friends, we fall in love, sometimes we marry officially, but the hybrid way still includes a great amount of solitude. I'm talking about a very deep layer of your personality… Humans need connections to survive. But for hybrids, it's easier to survive alone, and any form of connection is a great privilege not everyone can afford. There've been cases when hybrids adopted human orphans. But those cases are very rare and include a lot of formalities. You must understand… You'll have a big house and a lot of money. But this house will be empty most of the time, and you'll be spending this money only on yourself."

Another long pause followed. Students were exchanging confused glances, but not saying anything. Even the Silver twins, who rarely shut up, remained quiet for once. And Damian could feel his respect for Octavia growing – all rumors about her turned out to be true.

The audience seemed to freeze, and in that moment a single hand rising up was especially noticeable.

"I think I've already allowed you to ask questions without permission," Octavia smiled. "I believe that many of you will become my friends and battle comrades in the future."

"I just wanted to show you my respect," Immanuel Cuyo explained. "I'd also like to know… Why are you mentioning only the drawbacks of our future life? There are many advantages too!"

"Because people tend to remember about them and forget the drawbacks."

"But they may not know some advantages at all," he insisted. "To be a hero is not an advantage of becoming a hybrid – it's just a process. For instance, what was the best thing about new life for you?"

She thought about it for a couple of moments, and then she answered.

"Many things. First of all, being able to change the world. Crime, terrorists, suffering ��� all those things have always existed. But I had to watch them happen helplessly at first. Becoming a hybrid granted me with unbelievable power: I could walk into a burning house, protect the weak, prevent a nuclear explosion! Those of you who really want to save humans… You'll get enough resources to do that. But there were also things that were important to me personally. My life has often been lonely, but it's never been boring. I dived to the bottom of the ocean and walked into open space without a special suit. When I was a little girl, I couldn't dream about anything like this! But I've had those memories… and I'll have more. Not getting sick and old was an advantage for me, my life was very different from the life of my peers. I accepted it and never had any regrets. That's why I'm telling you to think and make a conscious choice. If the hybrid way is truly your way, you'll be free of doubt and sorrow. I came here today not to show you that being a hybrid is a good thing or a bad thing. My main goal is to remind you that the choice you make today defines your destiny."

They listened to her, enchanted by her voice and the things she was saying. Damian looked at Arriz, who was sitting in the back row. The curator was noticeably pale, his forehead covered with large droplets of sweat, giving away his inner turmoil. The only human among the students was clutching his medallion desperately, the one he kept on since the New Year's party. Damian had no idea what was happening in his soul at the moment.

"Is it true that your level is eight and a half?" Light Silver asked.

"Yes. But we don't like announcing that such level exists. On most occasions we claim the eighth level to be the highest. That's statistically true, since at the moment only four hybrids have the eight and a half level."

"I've heard that this level is dangerous," Iutah noted.

"It's a complicated level," Octavia replied vaguely. "Very few of us are allowed to reach it. But I received it after getting the blessing of Ar'yan."

Seeing this young beauty before them made it very hard to remember her true age. But the mentioning of the name of the Second Breed's founder brought them back to reality.

"When you reach the sixth level, the hybrid matter unites with your body permanently," she continued. "From level seven and up you'll have a constant amount of the free hybrid matter within your system that you can transform at will. I know it's hard to understand now, but it'll come with time. You are already aware that hybrids can rebuild the destroyed cells of their bodies using the biological resources around them. The higher level hybrids are faster at this. For instance, I can heal a trauma that'll leave a level six hybrid paralyzed for an hour in a minute. And some things I can do now are possible only on the eighth level of power."

While she was talking, huge wings were forming behind her back. They looked like those of a butterfly, but they were translucent, with an ornament of golden threads on them – the same color as her hair. The wings were reflecting the light, which made them shine, stunning the audience with their exquisiteness.

Damian knew how she was doing that. As any level eight hybrid, Octavia could transform the molecules of her body easily, which granted her the power to receive such wings, a new set of hands, gills, a tail – anything! However, the more new flesh she created, the more cells she needed. But any hybrid had a certain "reserve" of cells in their body, adapted to their needs in advance. That should be enough for such fragile wings.

They were as thin as lace and looked like a mere adornment – before she moved them, rising elegantly to the ceiling.

"That's another advantage of a hybrid. I needed both the eighth level and a lot of experience to create them. Experience is vital, it gives even the seventh level hybrids a chance to create their own unique techniques. Level eight hybrids always have such techniques. We are to bring evolution to the Second Breed, we can't expect the world to simply accept us the way we are. We must prove that we're worthy of living side by side with normal humans."

"Having to prove anything means we're worse than them!" Red Yeremeya exclaimed.

"Nonsense. We must prove that to ourselves, not them – reminding that being hybrids doesn't stop us from being humans. It takes wisdom, humility and a certain amount of power."

The golden wings were gone. But before Octavia reached the floor again, a set of barely visible threads appeared from the tips of her fingers. Those threads were multiplying fast, reaching out into the hall – and stopping in front of the students, almost touching them. Damian had no doubts that this technique was actually a lethal weapon that could easily kill them.

"I've always been part of the assault teams," Octavia explained. "I've been assigned there. But even when I was very young, I remembered that attacking a living creature is a resource that you should use carefully. I saw most of my comrades understanding it too. Thus the rumors about all higher level hybrids being aggressive and cold-blooded are greatly exaggerated by our enemies. Even when we attack first, it's for the sake of protecting someone."

"Not everyone can be that wise," Iutah remarked. "There can be someone who'd start a war gladly."

"Indeed, someone like that may appear. But if that happens, the whole Second Breed will be to blame. It'll be the fault of this hybrid's generation, because they didn't stop him, didn't notice the odds in his behavior. Not only your points determine whether you should be allowed to continue the training or not. There are also psychological tests and expert opinions. I've witnessed extremely talented hybrids being left on level six, because that way they could be useful – while on the eighth level they'd drown in their power. They'd be great warriors… but bad people. Sometimes not becoming a hybrid is as important as becoming one."

Hearing that made Damian look at Lady Laura. Only after finishing his own training he had learned that she wanted to become a hybrid too. She finished two years of studying on Ceres before she received a very serious injury. The hybrid matter in her body saved her life, but it mutated, turning into human cells completely. But she decided to remain with the Second Breed, even in the new quality. Just like Octavia, she gave up her friends and family, choosing her lonely life on Ceres. But she still seemed to be happy…

"Are you saying the most important thing for a hybrid is not power or higher levels?" It was the first time Arriz talked since the beginning of the meeting.

"No. Controlling your power is a lot like sports exercise, you just need some practice here. The most important thing is keeping your human soul intact. It's the only thing that allows you to make the right decisions and do the thing you want so much – change the world."

Octavia kept speaking with them for hours. They begged her to tell about the battles she fought and the legendary warriors she personally knew. She'd been so frank and friendly that the students had probably believed that it was just a tradition for the higher level hybrids to talk to the new generation like that.

But Damian knew things weren't that simple. If Octavia herself arrived on Ceres to meet this generation while they were still on level two, there had to be truly exceptional warriors among them…