All Chapters of The Children of Triune: Chapter 11 - Chapter 19

With her equipment assembled, Gilly moved swiftly to the Bay. She perched on a low crate like a silent observer, watching Tobey work with the kind of concentration that made the rest of the world fall away. He glanced over his shoulder once, then bent back to the mini gopher as if the machine were the only thing that mattered.“Do you think they’ve already decided?” he mused aloud, fingers steady as he fitted a tiny gear. He took pride in everything he touched, making sure each piece clicked into place with a private satisfaction.The Bay was Tobey’s domain: a metallic promenade that tunneled into the planet’s depths, lit by bioluminescent strips that threw warm, wavering shadows across cavernous walls. Row upon row of equipment lined the space, gleaming parts and machines arranged with obsessive care. Tools hung from pegboards, each one shaped for a single purpose: turners, sawdrivers, diagnostic wands. The air smelled faintly of oil and gasoline, and the soft hum of idle motors was a

“Adelaide? Oh, such a pretty name,” Gilly cooed, stepping closer. “She’s beautiful. So delicate looking.”“Don’t let her beauty fool you.” Tobey walked over to the dormant android and jabbed a finger at its plating. “Those components, that plating, everything about her is stronger, better, and far superior to any other android ever made. She’s a Regenerative; her systems repair and regenerate themselves.”Little Sister peered at the hibernating humanoid and reached out, smiling. “What’s wrong with her?”“Nothing that I know of,” Tobey shrugged. “Just a once‑over. Mother brings her down right before each batch’s Final Binding for inspection.”“So she’s been at Keystone House this whole time?” Little Sister crossed her arms and tapped her chin. “Interesting.”Gilly shrugged. Tobey made a ridiculous face that said he had no idea either.“You two, I swear.” Little Sister turned away from the android and faced them. “I knew you’d be thick as thieves the moment I saw that epic game of Ruine

“Everything is perfect. All two hundred of them made it through the grow process with staggering results,” he said, stepping deeper into the shed. Pride warmed his voice and made his chest feel full. The stained glass painted his face in shifting mosaics as he moved.“Mother says that has never happened before. Normally they lose at least a handful during the initial germination phase.” Sophia smiled and squeezed his shoulder, her fingers cool and steady. The touch was casual but intimate, a small anchor. “She told me how delighted she is with your progress. She said some of the features you gave the next group not only look amazing, but serve multiple functions.”She gathered her spell materials with careful hands, folding cloth, returning jars to their places, and shelved them with the same reverence she gave the seedlings. She glanced back over her shoulder and raised an eyebrow at him, mischief and pride mingling.“She even hopes the next batch will be born with preprogrammed gift

“Father!?” Gilly gasped, scrambling to regain her balance and secure herself back into her rig. Her heart hammered against her ribs. For the briefest instant. So quick she questioned her own senses. His face had twisted into something monstrous, a flash of unstoppable, ancient evil. And then, as if it had never existed, it was gone.“Grand afternoon, young lady.” His deep, resonant voice carried a thread of annoyance. “What in the world are you doing so far down in the Deep? And more importantly, why are you perched all the way out there while your tool bag sits over here?”Up close, he looked exactly as she had imagined him: chiseled features, dark hair lightly threaded with grey, pulled back and loosely woven to keep it from his face. He no longer looked young, but the strength radiating from him made youth seem irrelevant—he was stronger than any youth could ever hope to be.“I—um—I’m not…” Gilly swallowed hard and gestured awkwardly toward her tool bag, her eyes darting around f