What’s wrong, Askal?
They are here.
Who?
The second comers. Unforeseen. But I feel their hatred from above. They mean to end us before we can end them.
Who has come?
Askal’s mind went silent, for a long time, before he answered.
The Radaskim. Xenofall is here.
A chill passed over me. Quietus had said Xenofall wasn’t to come for another four hundred years. We still had time.
Didn’t we?
How have they come so soon? I asked, dreading the answer.
After Ragnarok, she kept some in reserve, dormant. Now, they sense their master’s need. Askala has called the rest of her children to Earth.
Everyone watched me, knowing from my whitened eyes that I was communicating with Askal.
“What is it?” Makara asked. “What’s he saying?”
“He’s saying the Radaskim ended Skyhome,” I said. “Not from Earth, but from space.”
“What do you mean?” Samuel asked.
“Askala…she kept some monsters somewhere in space, dormant. Close by, so when she was ready, she could call them down to deal the final blow.”
“So — what?” Makara asked. “We’re going to be fighting monsters from space, now?”
Apparently.
I turned back to Askal. How long?
Askal’s eyes burned into me, and from that gaze, I knew the answer.
They were already here.
We need you, Elekim, Askal said. Are you ready to accept your fate?
Until now, I wasn’t. I’d wanted to be me, at least for a little while longer. Perhaps I was Elekim in name, but I needed to fully accept my responsibility if the Elekai were to have a chance.
“I’m going into the pool,” I said.
No one said anything, understanding my intent. My mind reeled from all the changes in the past few days. The Wanderer’s death. My marriage to Anna. And now, Ashton’s death.
The Elekai needed a fully-fledged leader.
I turned to face Anna.
“Your eyes,” she said.
I brushed a strand of hair from her face. “I know. Soon, they’ll be that way forever.”
She looked at me a long moment before answering. “I knew what this meant, to marry you. I did, anyway. Because I love you, Alex.”
“I’ll always love you, Anna. Nothing will change about that, no matter what happens in there. I promise.”
She nodded, but I couldn’t tell what she was really thinking. It was time to accept my role in full. The Elekai needed a strong leader to survive the coming storm.
I kissed her, let go of her hand, and faced the pool. I waded in, the ichor wrapping around in embrace. I continued to walk, facing almost no resistance, even when the ichor reached my chest.
Soon, my head was submerged. I opened my eyes, waiting.
A Voice then spoke, not quite his, but deeply familiar.
Are you ready?
I am.
Then step forward.
I continued to walk, my vision fading to black. I walked until there was nothing but stillness — no senses — only my consciousness entering a dark void.
Time was absent as I swam through vivid images, absorbing the history of the Elekai. Dreams of fallen worlds and the stories of a thousand races flowed through my mind. I didn’t speak; I could only stand, mesmerized, as a thousand histories became my own.
And then, at the end of it all, came the prophecy from the Voice, the one the Wanderer had said was as deep as energy.
Though a thousand worlds will fall, one will remain.
But would it be ours?
In time, the images ceased, and all that was left was the void. Stars appeared, studding the cosmos, thicker than seemed possible.
The Universe is in your hands, Elekim, the Voice said. The Secrets of Creation lie within, Guardian of the Stars. The spirits of a thousand worlds fly with you. You are never alone, because even in darkness, the stars still shine.
The starry black void slowly reverted to the pink shimmering of the ichorous pool.
I paused a moment, collecting my thoughts. I felt no different than before. I still had no idea what came next.
One thing was certain; when I returned to that shoreline, I wouldn’t be my former self. While that part of me remained, there was also this new part, given to me by the Voice and its visions.
When I returned, I would do so as Elekim.
About the Author
Kyle West is the author of The Wasteland Chronicles. From a young age, he has been a voracious reader of sci-fi and fantasy. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in Professional Writing. He writes full-time and resides in the bustling metropolis of Oklahoma City.
Find out immediately when his next book is released by signing up for The Wasteland Chronicles Mailing List. Be sure to follow him on Facebook for updates, book giveaways, and general shenanigans. Xenofall, the final installment of The Wasteland Chronicles, will be released this summer.
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kylewestwriter[at]gmail[dot]com
Glossary
10,000, The: This refers to the 10,000 citizens who were selected in 2029 to enter Bunker One. This group included the best America had to offer, people who were masters in the fields of science, engineering, medicine, and security. President Garland and all the U.S. Congress, as well as essential staff and their families, were chosen.
Alpha: “Alpha” is the title given to the recognized head of the Raiders. In the beginning, it was merely a titular role that only had as much power as the Alpha was able to enforce. But as Raider Bluff grew in size and complexity, the Alpha took on a more meaningful role. Typically, Alphas do not remain so for long — they are assassinated by rivals who rise to take their place. In some years, there can be as many as four Alphas — though powerful Alphas, like Char, can reign for many years.
Askala: Askala has two meanings — one is the name of the Radaskim Xenomind dwelling in Ragnarok Crater, while the other form refers to the dragons the xenovirus spawns. While Askala and xenodragon (or just dragon) are interchangeable, the Askala themselves (at least the Elekai Askala) refer to themselves as Askala.
Batts: Batts, or batteries, are the currency of the Wasteland and the Empire. They are accepted anywhere that the Empire’s caravans reach. It is unknown how batteries were first seen as currency, but it is rumored that Augustus himself instigated the policy. Using them as currency makes sense: batteries are small, portable, and durable, and have the intrinsic quality of being useful. Rechargeable batteries (called “chargers”) are even more prized, and solar batteries (called “solars,” or “sols”) are the most useful and prized of all.
Behemoth: The Behemoth is a great monstrosity in the Wasteland — a giant creature, either humanoid or reptilian, or sometimes a mixture of the two, that can reach heights of ten feet or greater. They are bipedal, powerful, and can keep pace with a moving vehicle. All but the most powerful of guns are useless against the Behemoth’s armored hide.