"Her" - a theory

In VoH at the beginning of the book, Nalini describes the plight of the F-psy. It is natural to think that she's speaking directly about what could happen to the character she's introducing (Faith Nightstar). In the next chapter we have Faith herself imagining a possible fate

they' probably shove aside her PsyNet shield and monitor her on the most intensely private level--through mind control. All for her own good, of course.

(Chapter 2, page 17 of the paperback)

At the end of this story (Chapter 26, page 316 of the paperback) she has a brief moment thinking about her cousin

An idea that might save those like her cousin Sahara, people who'd disappeared into the mystery of the Net, but might still be alive. Caged. Brutalized for their abilities.

I've come to believe that this was sowing the seeds for the future of the series, and I also believe that those seeds are about to bear fruit.

In the latest book, ToN, Kaleb, who was introduced in VoH, and who has been looking obsessively on the Net ever since we met him, finds "her".
She is mentally in a guarded 'vault'. He takes an imprint of that mind and then teleports to her location.

-but the mind he'd seen in the vault had already been stripped, its shields destroyed. ..., he found himself in a small white cell, the walls padded, the glare from the single ceiling lamp cutting. No windows. No natural light.

So, what is my theory? That this is Sahara and she's actually being held by... Clan Nightstar.

Why would they hold her like this? Let's say something happened to her years ago that broke her conditioning and her sanity but not her ability to forecast. That would make her still usable but vulnerable. And with the Psy Council being as dangerous as it is, it would probably be necessary to conceal not just her condition but her entire existence.

Anthony, head of the Nightstar Clan has shown no desire to go on the warpath personally against any of the other Councilors, something I'm sure he'd do if he believe one of them was holding one of his 'family' hostage.

There is also a moment in his conversation with Vasic when he mentions that the F-psy who predicted an upcoming catastrophe would've been in deep trouble if they'd not been monitored. Vasic assumes that one of those might have been Faith, but what if it was also/instead Sahara?

So, what if this is Sahara that Kaleb has found? What now? Does he just run off with her and damn the consequences? Can you see Anthony allowing that to happen?!

And if she's an F-psy lost in her own hell, what can be done to bring her out, or is it even possible?

Somethings to think about, eh?

That's a pretty mind blowing theory. I don't want to think that Anthony would torment one of his own people, but maybe he doesn't see this as torment....I don't know.

Good theory though.

it would only be torment if she's aware, and it doesn't sound like she is.

I think she was a victim of a cascade that left her with fully functioning F abilities but a vegetable otherwise.

degdelta wrote:it would only be torment if she's aware, and it doesn't sound like she is.

Yeah, you're right....

But why her? What happened and why does Krycheck want her? There is more to this than just power. Krychek feels something for her...no, he feels that he owes her something. He killed Bonner for her.

i'm thinking he encountered her as a result of something Enrique did. my problem with this theory is that if Anthony had known Santano was messing with one of his family there would've been repercussions of the extreme kind.

but it is obvious Kaleb knows her from 7(?) years ago, and she made an very significant impression on him.

as mentioned, i'm re-reading VoH and just came across some possible clues regarding the mysterious 'her'. (all from Chapter Eight)

It was why certain NightStar telepaths had trained in the specialist area of blocking. When F-Psy crashed for the final time, it was the blockers who kept their madness from leaking out into the PsyNet, providing the shields the fractured F-Psy could no longer maintain.

Then there's this -
(Faith speaking to Vaughn) -

..., the ones who saw the dark visions could never be allowed to speak to the rest of us. It would bring the success of the entire Protocol into question. They'd have to be locked away, caged before they fell victim to the mental degradation.

and -

You think the Council or the PsyClan might be keeping them captive, working them when they're lucid and letting the dark visions ravage them when they're not?

and possibly Kaleb met 'her' through the dark visions via the Dark Mind.

i'm obsessing about this, aren't i?

degdelta wrote:
and possibly Kaleb met 'her' through the dark visions via the Dark Mind.

i'm obsessing about this, aren't i?

Just a bit...but you're coming up with some mind-blowing theories!

All good theories.

I think she's being held by Shoshana though as it's mentions that she may have a pet F-psy.

I think she has also had that final crash into insanity and has been sheilded in the psy-net.

You made a very good point when you said that Kaleb could have 'met' her via her visions through the Dark Mind, I hadn't thought of that.

It's healthy curiousity not obession

Agree with tabitha. That would make sense. Alas, both the shifter and the Nightstar-chick would make sense. Daaarn.

Damn, that's a great idea - if Kaleb knew HER through the net mind(s), that might explain why he knows her so well!

Also I think if Sahara is alive and held captive (ie as Tatianas pet F psy), I am sure Anthony doesn't know she is still alive. That would kinda fit the back cover blurb to HOO, wouldn't it? ("a woman who's existence has been erased")

What I have always wondered is why, if Kaleb is in fact not all bad (and everything points to that) he would have witnessed what Enrique did without doing something, anything, to stop him (and save the innocent Victims)?! So if HER is Sahara - maybe Enrique knew about her and threatened to kill her if Kaleb didn't become his protege?
And if it is not Saharah - maybe it was one of Enriques victims (ie the swan changeling woman) and he killed Bonner for her cause she was tortured by a psychopath herself? (but then why didn't he stop Enrique with all the vast power he has)?

Damn, that's a great idea - if Kaleb knew HER through the net mind(s), that might explain why he knows her so well!

Also I think if Sahara is alive and held captive (ie as Tatianas pet F psy), I am sure Anthony doesn't know she is still alive. That would kinda fit the back cover blurb to HOO, wouldn't it? ("a woman who's existence has been erased")

What I have always wondered is why, if Kaleb is in fact not all bad (and everything points to that) he would have witnessed what Enrique did without doing something, anything, to stop him (and save the innocent Victims)?! So if HER is Sahara - maybe Enrique knew about her and threatened to kill her if Kaleb didn't become his protege?
And if it is not Saharah - maybe it was one of Enriques victims (ie the swan changeling woman) and he killed Bonner for her cause she was tortured by a psychopath herself? (but then why didn't he stop Enrique with all the vast power he has)?

just because kaleb isn't all bad doesn't mean that he's all good. Also, keep in mind that he's 1 of the Enrique's innocent victim as well.

Yes, that's true... I am pretty sure Kaleb is parts bad and parts good.

And yeah, I guess he os one of Enriques victims, too... You are right.

I guess we will have to wait for hia story till we know for sure what his motives are and exactly how and why he was connected to Enrique...

The topic thread "Countdown to the finale - let's play ... Kaleb" has some really interesting theories on Kaleb's motivations and past. Degdelta suggested that perhaps Enrique controlled Kaleb for periods, which would make sense.

I can buy Sahara as the missing girl and it seems the most logical choice, but I don't believe Anthony had anything to do with her disappearance -- it doesn't fit with his character. If it is Sahara Nightstar (which would fit the star charm Kaleb carries) or even some other character, I will be very excited to learn their connection. The theory that he might have discovered her through his connection to the PsyNet is very interesting!

several folks have suggested that the woman he's looking for might be a swan changeling mentioned in an earlier book. I have to doubt that for one simple reason - there would be no reason to hold a non-Psy's mind in a psy-guarded vault.

So I'm still thinking long-lost Sahara is about to make an appearance.

And the conditions would not be cruel and unusual for an F-psy who is, literally, not in their right mind. It might even be necessary when they are so far gone that they might do something self destructive in the darkness.

Of course, it could be that Henry's wife is the captor, but that begs the question Why wasn't she better prepared for all the crap that came down around her ears?

We should soon know one way or the other, but not soon enough!

I have reread Faith´s book and there are some interesting hints in connection with Sahara and generally Psy who have "dark" visions.

How they were considered crazy, but kept under lock and hidden incase they predict one or two useful things once in a while

degdelta I think you're probably right

Although I think maybe it's the Arrows who have been protecting Sahara hence their involvement with Anthony.

I agree with the person Kaleb is trying to find being one of Enriques victims though.

I don't clearly remember this part of the series, but in another thread I think others decided that is Tatianna, not Shoshanna who was believed to have a pet F-Psy. As she seems to have rode the waves of this rebellion a little better than Shoshanna (although I don't Shoshanna has been mentioned except to say she is in hiding?), that could make sense.

And upon discovering her, doesn't Kaleb mention something about the mystery woman's shields being completely stripped away? That is the ultimate nightmare for a Psy. For F-Psy that lose the ability to shield, family members learn to become blockers for them. From the way Kaleb found her, I think we can say without a doubt she is Psy (no changeling would be hooked into the PsyNet). I also think that the lack of shields and the harsh conditions, suggest the woman is being badly cared for and held forcibly against her will by not nice people, not people trying to protect her.

Although, broken F-Psy are locked away, doesn't Faith comment that at their predictions make it possible for comfortable surroundings (ie you might still in a locked, padded room, but at least it looks pleasant?).