neural-strata
A shared or collective mental space or habitat that characters can transfer into or control, central to the conflict.
2 chapters across 1 book
The Neutronium Alchemist (1997)Peter F. Hamilton
In Chapter 06 of The Neutronium Alchemist, Rubra observes the ongoing possession crisis where returned souls take over bodies, causing malignant cellular growths and social disruption. He monitors the arrival and subjugation of Deadnight children, strategizes resistance against the possessed, and engages in a tense negotiation with the energistic-powered Bonney Lewin to form a precarious alliance against a mutual threat, Dariat. The chapter explores the complexities of possession, the strategic interplay between characters, and the fragile balance of power within the Confederation.
In Chapter 10, Bonney mobilizes a large crowd to hunt down Dariat by crippling the habitat's transportation system, escalating the conflict into open sabotage and violence. Dariat contemplates a critical decision to join Rubra in the neural strata to confront the possessed, while arranging for Tatiana's escape amid the chaos. The chapter explores the intensifying struggle for control over the habitat and the psychological and strategic dilemmas faced by the protagonists.