Xenofall (The Wasteland Chronicles, Book 7)

by Kyle West

  It was a hard question to answer, because even I didn’t know enough, and I was Elekim.

  I strode forward and entered the warm liquid, walking until I was waist deep. As the ichor soaked through my clothes and made contact with my skin, I felt my eyes warm. I knew then that they had whitened. This was something I could control, but I allowed my eyes to change this time.

  I turned to face the shore. Everyone’s eyes widened a bit – no matter how often they saw me with white eyes, some part of them would always be shocked by it.

  “Alright,” I said. “Who’s first?”

  Unsurprisingly, no one took me up on it. After a moment, Anna stepped forward.

  “I’ll do it.”

  As she entered the ichor, I was actually glad she was first. I would have been extremely surprised if she was infected, because at Bunker 84 she would have sided with Michael.

  She held my hands, and I looked into her green eyes. Unlike the others, she didn’t seem nervous to look at me. She had accepted it.

  “Alright,” I said. “This shouldn’t take long.”

  I closed my eyes, focusing on Anna’s mind.

  To my surprise, there was a connection. I felt a surge of fear, but nothing bad happened. I still stood in the ichor, holding Anna’s hands. I opened my eyes, looking at her. I felt surprise and fear clouding her thoughts.

  And in a moment, I realized the truth.

  You’re Elekai...

  She looked at me. From the widening of her eyes, I could see she had read my thought.

  That’s how I was able to find you, she said, in realization. It all makes sense, now.

  You didn’t know?

  She shook her head. I imagined how our conversation must have looked from the shoreline – the others would just see Anna and me staring at each other.

  “You guys alright?” Makara asked.

  “Yeah,” I said. “Just a second.”

  I’ve been Elekai all this time, she said. How could it have happened?

  You were infected with the Elekai xenovirus, somehow...

  Nothing was different about me, until you attacked that writhe. Something inside me snapped, made me reach out to you. I didn’t understand what it was. Maybe I’ve always been infected...it just took that crisis to awaken my abilities.

  I turned back to the shore. Everyone was looking toward us questioningly.

  “Should I tell them, or should you?” I asked.

  “Okay,” Makara said. “You really have to tell us what’s going on. You’re making me nervous.”

  “Alright,” Anna said, gathering herself. “When Alex attacked the writhe infecting Michael, he would have died. I haven’t told this to anyone, yet, because I didn’t think it was that important. Somehow, I was able to help him fight it. That probably saved his life. I didn’t know what made me able to do that...but now, I do.” She looked at everyone on the shoreline for a moment before continuing. “I don’t know how, or why, but I am Elekai...just like Alex.”

  Everyone looked at her in shock. Whatever they had expected her to say, it wasn’t this.

  “You’re Elekai?” Makara asked. “How...”

  “I was infected with it, somehow, at some point. I didn’t realize it. Not until now. But when I saw Alex fall to the floor, after fighting the writhe...” Anna shook her head. “Something inside me must have snapped. I was able to go to that dark place with him. All I wanted was to save him from Askala.” She paused. “Now, I know why I was able to do that. I’m Elekai.”

  “It makes sense, actually,” Samuel said. Everyone looked at him for further explanation. “They are husband and wife. It might have happened that way.”

  “Or maybe it was when Anna was healed,” Ruth said. “Her rib was fixed by that ichor. Maybe it made her Elekai in the process.”

  That was something I hadn’t thought about. No one else, besides Anna, had ever been healed by the ichor. Maybe part of that process involved becoming Elekai. The closest equivalent was the Wanderer and Ashton being put into the ichor – it was a way for them to join the collective consciousness of the Elekai. Maybe it also imparted the Elekai into whomever it healed.

  “Maybe that’s it,” Anna said. “For some reason, that seems more correct.”

  That was what I thought, too. I looked at Anna again, unbelieving that we had this connection. All along, it was there – there just had to be something to bring it to the fore. For Anna, that was seeing me battle the writhe. Her being Elekai meant we could speak to each other with just our thoughts. It meant she could speak with the dragons, and understand everything they said.

  It meant that I didn’t have to be so alone.

  I had so many questions. Would her eyes turn white when she was communicating through her thoughts? So far, it seemed like the answer to that was “no.” Her eyes were as green as they ever were.

  “This is all interesting,” Samuel said, “but we should probably move on.”

  I knew Samuel was right. All these questions would have to be answered later.

  Anna stayed with me in the ichor. I knew, without her even speaking it, that she wanted to help me. In case anyone else had a writhe, she would be that extra layer of protection. I didn’t know how I knew this was her intent – either I intuited it, or I read it in her thoughts.

  “I’ll go,” Lauren said.

  She stepped into the ichor, a bit stiffly, as if afraid it might attack her. She walked until she was standing in front of us.

  “Let’s just get this over with.”

  “Shouldn’t take long,” I said.

  I connected my thoughts with Anna’s. You ready?

  Her response was nearly instant. Yes.

  I was nervous. I knew Lauren probably wasn’t infected with a writhe, but the possibility of it was still unsettling. Hesitation would be my worst enemy. So, I reached out, feeling Anna’s presence with the action. Somehow, she had managed to join her intent with mine.

  Together, we sought a connection inside Lauren’s mind, but there was nothing there. After a moment, I let go of the power, when I was sure there was nothing there.

  Clear, Anna said.

  “Nothing,” I said.

  Lauren’s eyes filled with relief.

  “Did you feel anything?” I asked.

  She shook her head. “No. Nothing. Was I supposed to?”

  “No,” Anna said. “If you felt something, that would mean there was something in your mind to connect with. It’s a good sign that there was nothing.”

  “I’m good to go, then?”

  I nodded. “Yeah. You’re good.”

  As Lauren headed back to the shore, Anna and I remained in the ichor. We worked our way through everyone else – Samuel volunteered next, followed by Ruth and Julian. Makara, to my surprise, was the very last to volunteer.

  As she stood before Anna and me, she seemed very nervous.

  “Let’s just get this over with.”

  So, we did. Makara was also clean, and she looked extremely relieved to be going back to the shoreline.

  “That’s everyone,” Anna said.

  It was everyone – everyone except Char and Marcus, or even Augustus or Carin for that matter. Testing everyone who could be host to a writhe would take far more time than we had. We had tested every person that would be going with me to Ragnarok Crater, and that was what mattered.

  I saw everyone’s gaze shift past me, so I turned to see Askal entering the chamber from one of the back caverns. It was strange to see a dragon swimming. The massive creature pretty much floated in the ichor, relying on the currents to push him toward us. From time to time, he would give a flap with his large wings to reorient himself in our direction. A moment later, he was before us, floating twenty or so feet away in the lake.

  Did you know Anna was Elekai? I asked.

  I felt surprise from Askal. No, Elekim. When did you convert her?

  I didn’t, I said. Wait...convert?

  Yes, Askal said. The Elekim has the ability to
allow anyone to join the Elekai, given that person is willing.

  That was certainly how it had worked with the Radaskim dragons, but I couldn’t remember converting Anna like that.

  Somehow, it happened to Anna differently, I said. I never did all that.

  Then the Wanderer must have.

  The Wanderer? Would he have been able to make Anna Elekai without her knowing?

  It must have happened during healing, Askal said. I never realized it, but it makes sense: to have access to the ichor and its healing powers, one must first be Elekai. The Wanderer must have converted her, first; only Anna must have been willing to be converted to accept the healing.

  So she had to have known, I said.

  I didn’t, Anna said, adding her thought. I know for a fact I didn’t. I must have forgotten, for some reason. I don’t know why. Maybe...the Wanderer wanted to hide it from me, for some reason. Could he have done that?

  It’s...possible, Askal said. Perhaps Anna accepted only for the purpose of being healed. Perhaps the Wanderer did keep that knowledge, that self-awareness, from her. But that lack of knowing did not change the fact that Anna was Elekai. Yet the potential was always within, to be unlocked, should she remember and embrace it in full.

  So she knew about it, and she didn’t know about it? And now she knows again?

  Something like amusement came from the dragon. It’s confusing, I know. But that’s the best I can explain it. Even I never sensed that she was Elekai. For me to have done that, Anna herself would have had to be aware of it.

  It was very confusing, but I guessed that now Anna was aware of the fact that she was Elekai, she could embrace its powers and abilities.

  Now that I think about it, Anna said, directing her thought to both Askal and me, I heard the Wanderer’s voice while I was being healed. I must have accepted then, but I don’t know why I would forget something like that.

  There are many mysteries, Anna, Askal said. Some even the Elekai do not understand. Whatever the case, you are welcome here. Your brothers and sisters will be anxious to meet you.

  Is that why you came here? I asked.

  Yes, that is part of what drew me, Askal said. The other part was to bring you to our council. The dragons are meeting by the Glittering Pool with Quietus and me. We were deliberating how best to divide our forces – whether to aid the army in the east, or to help you in the north. We are much divided on this question, and need your guidance.

  I’ll do what I can, I said. So, the Elekai are healed from the previous battle.

  Yes, Elekim...and we are ready to fly at your command.

  We still have a problem here...with Michael. He was infected with a writhe.

  I then told Askal the entire story, directing my thoughts into his consciousness. Anna, from time to time, would fill in a pertinent detail. Such a telling did not take long – images and feelings communicated far more efficiently than words.

  The writhe is a powerful evil indeed, Askal thought. Anything imbued with the Dark Voice of Askala is powerful. It is clear that Michael needs the cleansing of the ichor, but I would not be surprised if your other friend needed it as well.

  You mean Ruth?

  Yes, Elekim. The power of the Elekai protected you and Anna from the worst of the exposure, but Radaskim thought has a poisonous quality. My guess is that Michael was possessed for far longer than Ruth – however, it is necessary that both of them be cleansed in full.

  Askal paused a moment, looking toward the shoreline from where everyone was watching. I looked to see Michael still there on the gurney.

  Bring them both to the pool.

  I turned to face the shore. “He says that both Michael and Ruth need to come to the pool.”

  Ruth’s face blanched. “Wait. He wants me there, too?”

  I nodded. “He said you might have traces of the writhe’s damage. It’s just to be safe.”

  I felt bad for Ruth; she’d thought that this was over, but I knew Askal was right. It was better to be safe than sorry.

  “It shouldn’t be that bad,” I said.

  Ruth said nothing, walking toward the pool. While she entered the ichor, the others helped with carrying Michael off his gurney. It was hard to look at him, completely helpless like that. In fact, as Samuel and Julian worked together to drag him to the pool, he looked all but dead. No wonder Lauren had tears in her eyes as she watched. She came into the pool, toward where Samuel and Julian were dragging Michael.

  Ruth stood next to Anna; Michael now floated on his back next to us. With tears in her eyes, Lauren held her husband’s head above the ichor. Samuel and Julian backed away, stepping out of the pool and standing on the shoreline with Makara.

  “Let’s give them some space,” I said.

  Lauren looked at me. “His head will go under.”

  “I know,” I said. “Both of them will. It will be scary. I had to watch it happen to Anna. But I promise: he will be okay.” I turned to Ruth. “You both will. I know you’re probably scared, but there’s nothing to be afraid of.”

  It was easy for me to say that, because I didn’t have to go through it. It was the only way, though, for them to heal.

  I turned to face Askal.

  What now?

  Command the ichor, Elekim, Askal said. All that the Wanderer could do, you can do. You must reach within yourself and find it.

  Find what?

  Your power. Your authority. Your ability to heal.

  At first, I didn’t know what Askal was getting at. The closest I had gotten to doing something like this was converting the Radaskim. But if what Askal said was true, then no one could be healed by the ichor until they became Elekai.

  That meant Michael and Ruth had to become Elekai. It made sense. At least, as much sense as it could. The Eternal Song of the Elekai had been the key to making the Radaskim convert. Would it convert Michael and Ruth as well?

  There was nothing to do but try.

  Chapter 12

  Everyone but Michael, Ruth, and I now stood and watched on the shore. Ruth and I held Michael above the surface, waiting until I was ready to begin the conversion.

  “Hold him up,” I said to Ruth, who nodded nervously. “There’s no reason to be afraid.”

  “What will happen to me?”

  “I really don’t know,” I said. “Just close your eyes and listen.”

  “Listen for what?”

  “You should hear a song, soon,” I said. “After that...”

  Ruth looked at me, waiting for me to continue.

  “Just close your eyes and listen.”

  After Ruth had done so, I closed my own eyes and expanded my awareness to seek the Eternal Song, becoming conscious of all life in the cavern – the ichor and its countless life forms, the dragons in the cavern, and even the million upon millions of alien plants sprouting from the fungus. Even the air teemed with life, alien microbes singing in harmony with the consciousness of the Elekai.

  It was hard to believe that I was Elekim, supposedly the leader of all this. The same power the Wanderer possessed was now mine.

  When every Elekai was in tune with my consciousness, my thoughts turned upward, the direction from which the Eternal Song streamed. At first I heard nothing, but as time drew on, I could hear the harmonized singing flowing from hundreds of stars. I wondered at the sources of this Song – how could there be any singing when the Elekai were all but destroyed on every world the Radaskim had conquered? Apparently, a remnant of these Elekai had been left behind...something out there was singing.

  I remembered that the Wanderer himself had asked if I was willing to become Elekai, and that it wasn’t realized until I had agreed.

  That meant I had to ask both Michael and Ruth that very same question. I turned my attention back to them. Ruth’s eyes were still closed, and she still held Michael’s head above the surface. I felt as if I were in a dream, and I could feel the power of the Song flowing through me.

  Ruth?

  Her eyes seemed t
o focus, if only a little.

  Ruth. Can you hear me?

  Slowly, she nodded. A connection had been made.

  In order to be fully healed, you have to become Elekai. Being Elekai will drive the last vestiges of the writhe from your mind. Do you want to become Elekai?

  Yes.

  Every muscle in her body slackened, and she slipped below the surface of the ichor. Everyone on the shore cried out in surprise, but I held up my hand. This had happened to Anna, when she had become Elekai. After a moment, Ruth broke the surface, coughing. She opened her eyes and looked at me.

  After she’d caught her breath, she spoke to me.

  “I heard you speaking in my mind.”

  “You’re Elekai, now. You can pull the same stunt on me, if you want.”

  Her eyes widened. “Seriously? That sounds weird, so maybe I’ll hold off on that for now.”

  I turned my attention to Michael, still full of the power of the Song. I could hear the notes in my mind, voices in a language I couldn’t understand. I had no idea if my voice would reach Michael, but surely the song would.

  Michael. It’s Alex. Can you hear me?

  I felt Michael’s consciousness stir at my words. He was much less responsive than Ruth. I could feel how much damage the writhe had done to his mind, as if whole parts of it had been killed off to protect the rest from its poison. I could only hope that any brokenness could be healed by the ichor.

  Alex?

  There was a connection. Now, the question has to be asked.

  You’re in the ichor lake of the Xenolith. I don’t know what the writhe, or Askala, did to you. I don’t know how much you remember about it. Everyone’s okay, though. Makara, Samuel...they’re both okay. Lauren is waiting for you. She’s here right now. I can bring you back, but you have to become Elekai before the ichor can heal you. They’re worth coming back for, aren’t they?

  There was a short pause before Michael answered.

  I have one question about becoming Elekai.

  What’s that? I asked.