The Complete Pendomus Chronicles Trilogy: Books 1-3 of the Pendomus Chronicles Dystopian Scifi Boxed Set Series

by Carissa Andrews

He sighs slowly and nods.

  “Yeah, I just—I guess I didn’t expect to feel like this. We’re just a few meters from Fenton’s mainframe room. Being back here—it’s like nothing happened. But everything’s changed. It sucks.”

  “I know what you mean. I wish there was something I could do. All this,” I say, waving my hands at my body, “the Daughter of Five stuff—and I can’t do anything that truly matters to us. I can’t bring Fenton back.”

  “That’s not your burden to bear, Runa. It is what it is. People live, people die. You can’t save them all,” he says, his eyes gazing at the floor.

  “Come on,” I say, grabbing his hand, “Let’s get through this together.”

  We walk slowly, taking our time. When we finally open the door to the Haven, I suck in a breath. Everything—everywhere—it looks like the whole space was tipped upside down and shaken. Fenton’s mainframes are smashed. Books, candles, pots and pans—papers, it’s scattered everywhere.

  “Videus’ doing?” Trae says. “Looks like the Archive’s—and that was his doing, turns out.”

  “I—I don’t know?” I say, looking around. “It doesn’t look targeted. It looks more like a fit of anger. Is anything missing?”

  Trae shrugs, “Hell if I know. Doesn’t matter now anyway. This isn’t home anymore.”

  We move through the rooms, checking each to assess the damage, not for how to fix it—but for our own curiosity. Kani’s room is the worst. Her swaying fabrics and paintings are ripped to shreds and crumpled in heaps across the room. Frames are broken into shards and lying in scattered sections.

  “Whoever the hell did this has a serious grudge against Kani,” Trae says, swiping his hand out in front of him.

  My brain is pinging back and forth, trying to play out more scenarios than I could possibly consciously work out. It feels like it’s going backward and forward in time, trying to sort out different versions of the past and present. The energy is almost overwhelming, and I feel myself start to sway.

  It’s been a long time since I felt like passing out from the energy bombardment.

  “Runa, you okay?” Trae says, grabbing hold of my wrist.

  I suddenly get flashes of the Caudex. No words, no advice. Just flashes. The wave passes, and my head starts to clear.

  “Yeah, I— I think I need to get back to the Archives.”

  “What? Now? I thought you wanted to—What about all the people in the Lateral now? I thought you needed to check on them?” he asks.

  “I know, but I have to get back. My guides—they’re telling me—I need to get something,” I say, sitting down on Kani’s bed.

  Trae’s face lightens, his eyes open wide, “You mean the enormous book?”

  I stare at Trae for a moment, unsure what to say. I’d hidden the Caudex from him specifically—but now I don’t know—it’s almost like he’s back to being his old normal self.

  I nod.

  He nods in return, his tongue skating across his lower lip.

  “It was glowing. When you left, I woke up confused. Then, Ammon found me and the book, it started glowing so bright. I hid it for you, in case anyone came back to the Archives to finish the crazy destruction. Kinda glad now, since Videus was the one who was there.” Trae says.

  “How do you know it was Videus?” I ask.

  “When I was in the Helix—when he thought I was— he let it slip that he was the one who messed with Kani, and my mind.”

  My gaze softens, as I think about the consequences. This mess at the Haven could very well be his doing…

  “Why would he want to hurt Kani—or mess with your mind?” I say.

  Trae shrugs, “I suppose to get intel on you. Runa, I have something I need to tell you about—”

  “Where did you hide the Caudex?” I blurt out.

  Trae sighs, his gaze flitting around the room.

  “You know, maybe you’re right— let’s ditch this place. I’ll show you where it is,” he says, grabbing my hand.

  I’m inexplicably nervous. Why would the book shine when I wasn’t around? Why didn’t Trae tell me about this before now? Is it simply because it didn’t get brought up? Or is there more to it than that?

  Should I be suspicious after everything that’s happened? He was inside the Helix, after all. What if he’s an agent for Videus now? Could that be why I sense the AirGlider energy?

  So many thoughts ramble around in my head and it occurs to me, I need to ask something I’ve been wondering about for a while. It will confirm or deny my suspicions.

  “Trae, I need to know what’s been going on with you. How did you know about Tethys being the last Waterbear? And what’s with all the strange behaviors since I got back?” I ask, staring him directly in the eye.

  Trae’s tongue slides across his lip—a signature move of his and I realize it’s a bit of a tell. Part of who he fundamentally is.

  He shifts awkwardly, then takes a seat next to me.

  “There’s not really an easy way to say this, so I’m just gonna spit it out,” he says. “I’ve—I’m not the only one inside my mind. There’s someone else in here.”

  He taps the side of his head.

  I inhale sharply. It’s one thing to contemplate and even conjecture about this being the case, but it’s a whole different animal when it’s confirmed from the man himself.

  “I kind of assumed. Well, no, more than that actually, I sense something else. I didn’t at first, but I do now,” I say.

  “What do you mean?” he says, his dark eyes surveying mine.

  “I sensed something in you—not long ago. I wasn’t trying to pry, I was just trying to connect mentally with the AirGliders,” I say, casting my eyes to my hands folded in my lap.

  “I see,” he says, licking his lip again. “So you know it’s not human.”

  “Do you know a name?” I ask, suddenly curious.

  Trae pauses for a moment, holding my gaze, then shakes his head.

  “No, no idea,” he says, shaking his head. “They’re just kinda there. I’ve managed to take back control, though. I can sense them—but that’s about it.”

  “I suppose it would be difficult, knowing who they are when they’ve taken over?” I offer.

  “Yeah,” he nods, “I know I’m not in control at times, but things are hazy. Kinda like being in a dream, I suppose. Then, when I am myself, I can’t remember what I’ve done when I’m not me. I think I have it under control now, though. At least, I hope.”

  He runs a hand along the back of his neck as he scrunched his face.

  “We need to find a way to get whoever it is out of there. We can’t allow Videus access to our plans, regardless of how much control you think you have. I wonder if Landry could help?” I say, thinking out loud.

  “He’s been pretty damn preoccupied. Dealing with Fenton’s death and the EMP situation. If we can figure this out without him, that’d be better,” Trae says.

  “That’s true,” I say, remembering the warning from future Trae.

  Was this what he was referring to?

  Regardless, Landry’s been through so much, he needs a little respite.

  I take a deep breath.

  As much as I want Trae by my side, is it really wise? Am I putting everything in jeopardy, just being near him right now? What if this AirGlider can access everything we say and do, even if Trae’s in control?

  “Trae, maybe I should go alone. Can you tell me where you hid the Caudex?”

  Trae shakes his head, “I don’t think that’s a smart idea. What if Videus shows up and you’re alone?”

  “What if whoever’s inside controlling you makes a reappearance and it’s you who attacks me?” I counter. “Could you live with that? What if I have to stop you? How could I live with myself the way Kani’s had—”

  “I really don’t think that’s likely to happen,” Trae says, shifting slightly. His eyes drop to the floor.

  “How could you be so sure?” I say. “Who knows how Videus controls them? Or h
ow much he sees even through your own eyes? What if he’s able to record everything?”

  Trae stands up, and begins to pace. His eyebrows flicker upward as he considers.

  “Look, if you really don’t want me to continue on with you, all you need to do is say so. I don’t want to jeopardize your mission, or put you in danger.”

  I stand up, taking his hands in mine.

  “I know you don’t. Which is why I think it’s best to go our separate ways for now.”

  As soon as I speak the words, I get a flash of Trae being on the ground, surrounded by blood.

  Rubbing a hand across my face, I realize there’s no good answer here. No good way to handle things. If Trae’s on his own, he’s vulnerable. If he’s with me, I’m vulnerable. At least with me, I can control my actions and reactions. But if he got hurt—especially because I sent him away—I don’t know I’d be able to live with myself.

  “Alright,” I say, “I’ve changed my mind. Maybe it’s better we stick together.”

  “But what about everything you just said?”

  “Well, if Videus is doing those things, he already has enough information to make a move. Don’t you think? We just need to make sure we’re faster than he is,” I say, trying to be optimistic.

  “Alright, but I’m grabbing Jayne,” Trae says walking to the room he shared with Fenton. He tugs a box from beneath the bed, and lifts out the sonic resonator. Cradling it in his hands, he takes a deep breath.

  Then he hands it to me.

  “Take this. I want you to be in charge of her. If anything happens, even if it’s me, I want you to pull the trigger,” he says.

  I shake my head, “Trae, I have my own way to fight. I don’t need this. It’s better left here or with you.”

  I try to hold it out to him, but he pushes it back at me.

  “At least hang onto it for me,” he says, “just to be safe.”

  His eyes glisten with concern.

  “Alright,” I agree. “Let’s get back to Tethys.”

  We take our time, slowly walking the tunnels that lead us outside, lost in our own thoughts. Will it be the last time I see the Haven? It feels like everything I’ve gone through has been preparing me for the next few big moments. The time of reckoning is almost here.

  As we pass the kitchen, I linger in the doorway, remembering my first encounter with food. The trip to the Oasis that interrupted the barrage of insults from Kani. Fenton’s teasing and references that didn’t make sense at the time. But they’re starting to now.

  I miss both of them. I may not have liked Kani at first—and I’m certain the feeling was mutual—but I know now she was just protecting herself and the men in her life. She always was a true badass.

  I smile, but it fades as quickly as it arises. I wish I could have saved Kani—brought her back with us. Taken her away from everything. How did this all get so messed up?

  Trae stands by my side, silent and strong. I feel the energy rolling off of him—like a mixture of agitation, anticipation, and excitement. The AirGlider inside him is dormant, quietly sitting in the background. I can’t put my finger on it, but there’s something so familiar about his or her energy.

  We continue down the main passage, past the common room, the mainframe, and to the main door. Trae locks everything up and we continue to the exit in silence. Both of us lost in our own thoughts.

  As we leave the tunnel together, walking out into the snow, Tethys is instantly by our side. One moment, my feet crunch across the snow, the next, we’re inside her bubble.

  We both climb up on her back, and she senses we’re on the mission for the Caudex. Her mood lightens, as though this is something she’s been waiting for.

  My mood on the other hand—it’s quite different. Closer to Trae’s, I suppose. I want this over. I want to put things right and—move on.

  Is that even a possibility? Moving on?

  With Trae’s arms around my waist, I think about what it would have been like for the two of us. If we were allowed to simply follow the normal course of time, of humanity, where would we be?

  “Where did you hide the Caudex, Trae?” I ask.

  “It’s with the Tree—your tree,” he says. “I figured it was the safest place for it. Videus couldn’t see it before.”

  My eyes widen, and I gasp. Had Videus taken me up on my offer to get the book—it would have been right where I said it was. And I had no idea.

  “You okay?” Trae says.

  “Yeah, I just—it’s nothing,” I mutter, shaking my head.

  That was a close one.

  We sit in silence for a moment or two, while Tethys course corrects to the Tree of Burden.

  “What are you thinking about?” Trae asks.

  I sigh.

  “I’ve been wondering what things would have been like for us—you and I…if we were allowed to be ordinary humans. No prophecies or crazy sociopaths controlling things. Where do you think we would have been?”

  I look over my shoulder, and Trae’s cheeks flush slightly.

  “What is it?” I ask, my eyebrows tugging in.

  “Nothing,” he says shaking his head, “I guess I could see us together. You know, like Kani and Fenton,” he pauses for a moment. “Maybe one day, having kids. Have you ever thought about kids? I can say honestly I haven’t…until I met you.”

  My eyes widen.

  “Until you met me?” I say, surprised.

  Trae shrugs, “I could just see it, I guess. Like it became a pathway I could travel down, if we wanted to. You know?”

  “Hmmm,” I say, considering.

  What would it be like having children with Trae? I only have a few memories with both of my parents and in all honesty, my mother wasn’t the best. Though I do understand her motivations a bit more, now that I’ve met Ammon. It was a survival instinct for her. Knowing now she was also a Labot in disguise… I’m not sure what her distance would mean for me. Would it impact the way I handle things? What kind of mother would I be?

  My mind follows the logistics of things, but it occurs to me I’ve never seen the necessary equipment at the Lateral to support the reproduction of humans.

  “Trae, how are the children born outside the Helix? Does the Lateral have an incubation lab?” I ask, looking over my shoulder.

  Trae sucks in a quick breath and a hand flies across the back of his neck. Once again, his face flushes.

  “Ahhhh,” clearing his throat, he finally says, “When two people—well, when they—See, Runa, humans…”

  He struggles to search for the right words, and I wonder why. Is it something bad?

  “What is it?” I ask, casting my gaze out at the snow in front of us. The trees zoom past with amazing speed, and I know we’ll be at the Tree of Burden soon.

  “Runa, do you feel anything with me? When I kiss you—does something stir inside you?” he asks, his eyes searching mine when I look over my shoulder at him.

  I smile, “I do. But what does that have to do—?”

  “Humans, in order to have babies in, I don’t know what you’d call this—nature, I guess. It’s not just about babies, either. But that’s the purpose, I guess. Ugh, this is all coming out wrong. Our bodies are meant to connect, yours and mine. Men and women. Hell, sometimes men and men, women and women, too—but that’s not the point. Uhm, to make babies, our bodies sorta intertwine. Genetic code is passed from,” he clears his throat, “are—are we there yet?”

  “Nearly,” I say, hanging on his words, “Genetic code is passed how? For what purpose? How does this connection take place? Is there some sort of port?”

  He scratches the top of his head, and snickers slightly.

  “Kinda, I suppose,” he says.

  It’s nice to see him more himself, but I can’t place why it’s such a difficult conversation for him. Children are a logistical component of continuing the population. Family units seems to be more complicated out here than in the Helix, but that’s to be expected, I suppose.

  T
rae takes a deep breath, then something shifts in his demeanor. His shoulders release a bit and he takes another cleansing breath. Deeper than the first.

  “In order for an infant to be born, genetic code is passed from the male to the female by way of sexual intercourse. It is a mating ritual occurring across all species of mammals. The combination of the male genetic code with the female code melds together to create a new human child,” he says in an oddly monotone voice.

  “Okay? How does sexual intercourse work? Why do I get the impression it’s uncomfortable?”

  “It is not uncomfortable—quite the contrary. However, it is difficult to explain, yes,” Trae says, biting down on his lip.

  We arrive at the Tree of Burden, and Tethys comes to a halt. Her energy is beginning to border on excitement again. I look around, wondering if there’s something she senses out here that I can’t see.

  She drops her shield and Trae drops off her back, making his way through the snow. He edges toward the Tree of Burden, his eyes on the sky.

  I slide off as well, walking over to Trae to finish our conversation. Raising an eyebrow, I wait for more.

  Shaking his head, almost as if he’s struggling with himself, he holds a finger up.

  “Give me a moment,” he says, walking away.

  I stand beside the Tree of Burden more confused than ever. I thought it would be a simple question, but instead, I’m met with even more questions.

  After a few long moments, Trae walks back. His awkward demeanor has returned as he points up at the Tree. He runs a hand along his neck, his cheeks flaming.

  “You know, I really think we should just get the Caudex,” he says, his lip darting out and running along his lower lip. “We can revisit this later.”

  I take a deep breath, shaking off the curiosity, and confusion. He’s right.

  “Where is it, then?” I ask.

  “It’s sorta…up there,” he says, pointing up to the top of the Tree.

  My eyes flit from him, following the trunk of the crystalline Tree, up to the very top branches. Cradled in its upper most embrace is the Caudex.

  “How—?” I say, my mouth dropping open.

  Trae shrugs, “The Tree sorta took the book from me. That’s where it ended up.”