The female takes over. ‘The physical and spiritual realms are connected by a nexus—a transspatial existence that bridges the gap between our physical dimension and the spiritual worlds. By creating a collective mind, the transhumans could bypass physical death and enter the spiritual realm using high-frequency psychotronic harmonics. That gave them access to the nexus, but still prevented them from entering the higher spiritual realms they sought. In order to gain access, they needed another life-form—a host species—one capable of reproducing these psychotronic harmonics within the nexus itself. From genetic catalogues, the transhumans selected a species once indigenous to the planet. Using advances in gene splicing and cybernetics, they began cloning and genetically manipulating generations of these biological creatures to serve their own selfish needs.’

A volumetric image appears before them. It depicts a crater-shaped sea of silvery, almost metallic liquid. Moving just below the surface are immense serpentine creatures, their broad backs churning the undulating broth.

Dominique’s eyes widen. ‘It’s the creature—the one that rose from the Gulf of Mexico, the one Mick destroyed in Chichén Itzá.’

‘Tezcatilpoca,’ Jacob whispers. ‘The Mayan name for “smoking mirror.”’

‘The mirror into the soul,’ the female adds. ‘These docile, intelligent beasts were genetically altered and enhanced to exist on both sides of the “mirror of existence.” It is their harmonics that summoned the wormhole. Their posthuman masters used the Tezcatilpoca to pass through the nexus into the spiritual world. Our fellow castaways—our own fallen brothers and sisters—followed them down this same dark path. Now the vanquished cry out to us for salvation. They must be saved.’

Jacob circles the female elder. ‘The Nephilim, the Fallen Ones. These are your fellow castaways?’

‘Yes. All evolved into transhumans within years after being exposed to the planet’s water supply.’

Dominique fights to remain in control. ‘What does any of this have to do with Mick, or my sons?’

‘Michael and your sons carry the Hunahpu gene.’

‘I know that! What I don’t know is what a damn Hunahpu is.’

The female answers, her motherly demeanor intended to soothe. ‘Before they escaped from Xibalba, our Guardian founders took samples of posthuman DNA. The samples were taken onboard the Balam when it journeyed through the wormhole, chasing after the Xibalban transport vessel carrying the creature. The Hunaphu are a Homo sapiens bloodline genetically enhanced with posthuman DNA.’

The older male takes over. ‘The Abomination’s plan was to send one of the Tezcatilpoca on a transport ship back through the wormhole to Earth, where the creature’s presence would create a cosmic bridge between both worlds and time periods. Fearing the Abomination would attempt to lead her people to old Earth, the Guardian downed the vessel, only they failed to kill the creature.’

‘Fortunately,’ Jacob says, ‘my father, possessing Hunahpu blood, was able to circumvent their plan.’