by Amy DuBoff
“Outsiders with influence—a chance to effect real change,” Raena murmured.
“All right, so your father did mention our little plan.”
Jason laughed. “Yeah, revolutionizing the entire political system… Just a ‘little’ plan.”
“We have a bad habit of starting trouble,” Saera said with a somewhat mischievous smile.
“Speaking of Dad, where is he?” Raena asked.
“He’ll be here soon. When we were meeting with the Aesir, he had to draw on a lot more telekinetic energy than he has for a long time. He needed to let it discharge before getting too close to you, considering you’re still in a pretty sensitive state.”
“All right, because we have a tour to finish,” Raena said.
“We were about to check out the simulators,” Jason chimed in, some of his enthusiasm from before the ordeal with the Aesir beginning to return.
“Definitely a highlight of the tour,” Saera replied. “We can make that happen.”
“But first,” Raena said, “I think we need to take a detour to the cafeteria.”
“I’ll second that,” Jason agreed. “Please tell me you have real food here and not some weird goo in packets or something.”
“We have feeding tubes,” Saera said with a completely straight face.
Raena just about choked. “What?”
Their mother laughed. “Your faces! That was priceless. No, we have a mess hall with three squares prepared fresh every day. And dessert, I’d like to note.”
Raena sighed with relief. “You had me going for a second there.”
“I guess I really shouldn’t tease you after the day you’ve had already.” Saera patted Raena’s leg then rose from the couch. “Now, let’s get you fed.”
* * *
Wil allowed the energy to stream out of him in the practice chamber. Bolts of lightning, seen only in his mind’s eye, shot from his fingertips and danced across the spherical walls of the room lined in ateron. The coating absorbed the energy and dissipated it around the interior surface like ripples on the surface of a pond.
Discharging energy in that manner was a far cry from actually focusing the power toward a target, but it felt good to have the energy coursing through him once again. There’s so much of myself that’s laid dormant in the name of our new life on Earth. I’m scared to see what I might become if I tap into that power again.
The years since the war had forced him to view his abilities in a different way—more as a remnant of his old self. However, being around the Aesir and their radiant strength reminded him of what he’d been, and what he could be again if he let loose and embraced his full self.
No, I can’t. That person is who destroyed a planet and a whole people. There’s no place for him in this new life. He hurriedly discharged the energy that he’d allowed to linger in his body. The emptiness that remained seemed so unnatural after the sweet power he’d felt only moments before, but he had other things to fulfill him now.
Wil left the practice chamber and proceeded up the central elevator to the mess hall, where Saera had telepathically said they would wait for him.
When he entered the spacious common area, Wil found his family seated in one of the booths along the back wall. Raena and Jason appeared to be taking in the other occupants with fascination, and Saera was in the final bites of completing her meal.
His wife looked up from her plate as Wil approached them. “Hi,” she greeted. “Feeling better?”
“Yes,” Wil replied, not wanting to admit that tasting the power was actually his preferred state of being. “Looks like you’ve all been fed?”
Jason nodded. “You know, this was actually really good.”
“Told you,” Saera said through her final mouthful. She swallowed. “Ugh, I was ravenous. I got the call to come home right before lunch and completely forgot to eat on the transport ship.”
“I’ve been there,” Wil replied. I should probably have something, myself, but I’m too wired to sit still right now. “So, I believe we were about to check out the simulators?”
The twins straightened in their seats.
“Yes!” Raena exclaimed.
“Can we go in one?” Jason asked simultaneously.
Wil smiled. “No test flights today, but I will show you the holographic projector that trainers use to watch pilots’ interactions.”
Jason smiled. “All right, sounds good.”
“But first,” Wil continued as he slipped into the booth seat next to Saera, “we do have an official matter to discuss.”
Raena’s smile faded. “Why so serious all of a sudden?”
“This might be fun right now to experience new technology and have new worlds opened up to you, but there’s more to this life than just playing around in simulators. The responsibilities you’ll need to fulfill for Tararia run deep and are of paramount importance. Unfortunately, with a family like ours, you were born into those obligations whether you like it or not.”
Jason slumped back in his chair. “That doesn’t mean we can’t still have some fun. This is hard enough as it is.”
“I know,” Wil replied. “But before we get caught up in other details, I want to make sure you have a clear vision of the path ahead. There are two options, really. The first is you focus on Tararia and learn everything you can about the political system and SiNavTech right away. With that path, your abilities would largely go undeveloped, and it’s a big unknown how the Aesir would react in that scenario. The second option is to commit yourselves to the TSS and train as Agents. When it comes time to engage in Tararian politics, you might be underprepared, but the TSS will grant you a solid foundation for anything you may face in the future. Either way, you need to decide in short order whether you want a TSS career track or will just attend for the first year.”
Raena was silent for several seconds. “I didn’t realize we’d have a choice not to join.”
In my mind, there’s no choice at all. “I had a future thrust on me, and I vowed not to do the same to you. Some aspects are set—like needing to step up as heirs to Sietinen—but how you go about that path is your decision.”
“What would you do?” Jason asked.
“Understanding and growing my abilities was how I found my true self,” responded Wil. “I would choose the TSS every time, if I had to do it all again.”
“Assuming this hasn’t all been an elaborate hoax, it’s definitely the TSS for me,” Jason said without hesitation. “Politics don’t interest me in the slightest.”
Raena searched Wil’s face. “It isn’t a choice at all, is it—really?”
Wil exhaled slowly. “Some people can ignore their abilities, if they choose. For others, it’s so engrained in our identity that we’d sooner die than leave behind that part of ourselves.”
“I’m too curious,” Raena admitted. “I was sold the moment you mentioned telekinesis in the car ride from school.”
“So you’re in?”
“Heck yeah!”
Wil smiled at Saera, then looked back at his children. “Then let me be the first to officially welcome you into the TSS.”
“As Lead Agent, it is my honor to offer you provisional placement in a cohort of Primus Elite trainees,” Saera stated. “I think you will find yourselves in very good company.”
“Is that as fancy as it sounds?” Raena asked.
Saera nodded. “Oh yeah.”
“Cool.” Raena smiled at her brother. “So much for going to college in California.”
Saera frowned. “You were going to apply out of state?”
Jason inched back from her glare. “I was considering it. But it’s irrelevant now—this is way better.”
“You’ll like it here. I have no doubt,” Wil said.
Raena clasped her hands. “Awesome. Now when can we go play with the simulators?”
* * *
Cris stormed into his father’s office. “You seriously want to impose beacon usage fees on the TSS?”
; Reinen looked up from his desktop with surprise. “Did Marina let you in?”
“I let myself in.”
“This is really a matter for you to discuss with Fredrik—”
“No,” Cris interrupted. “What’s really going on here? This is just a ploy to get me to come back to Tararia, isn’t it?
Reinen minimized his open work projected on the holographic display. “Cris, I’ve been asking you to come home for a long time and you’ve never listened.”
“You know how important my work with the TSS is!”
“Yes, and I’ve respected that. I’ve given you all the leeway you needed for the last two decades.”
Cris sat down in the guest chair across from him. That’s true. We did have a good run after Wil’s wedding.
“Now…” Reinen’s voice was uncharacteristically faint. “I’m old, Cris. I won’t be Head of this Dynasty forever.”
“Taxing the TSS isn’t a great way to get me to take over for you.”
“Then how else?” Reinen asked. “You always have an excuse whenever I ask you directly.”
“There are important things—”
“You have a duty to fulfill, Cris. Soon you won’t be able to avoid it any longer.”
Cris hung his head and took a deep breath.
“I need to know—will you be here for our family?” Reinen asked.
“I will. You don’t have to question it.”
His father nodded. “That sets my mind at ease.”
Cris cleared his throat. “So, about Wil and the twins…”
“Yes, I heard about their impending arrival.” Reinen folded his hands on the table. “We must now focus on the next generation.”
* * *
Taking in the sights within the TSS made for a thrilling afternoon, but by the time Raena had eaten dinner she was ready for some quiet alone time. Jason also seemed to be relieved when their parents showed them to temporary quarters where they could stay until TSS classes officially began in two weeks.
“Don’t get used to the spacious accommodations,” Wil said as he palmed open the door. “Junior Agent quarters are pretty luxurious compared to Trainee or Initiate rooms.”
“Sounds like the budget for that renovation you were telling us about wasn’t used so wisely,” Jason quipped.
“Yeah, well, wait until you see the new spatial awareness chambers,” their mother replied with a smile. She stepped into the common room. “You’ll have the place to yourselves until we leave for Tararia.”
Raena’s heart skipped a beat. “When will that be?”
“Two or three days, depending on when Irina gives you the go-ahead to travel,” Wil said. “Not surprisingly, there’s some demand for you to go as quickly as possible.”
“So we can be inspected for our fitness to bear the family name?” Raena asked.
Wil frowned. “Apparently you chatted about this with your mother earlier.”
“A little advanced warning seemed prudent after my experience with your grandparents,” Saera replied.
“They’ve gotten a lot better since then, but I won’t pretend that they’re the most welcoming of outsiders,” Wil admitted. “I can assure you, though, that we’ll be on the first transport back here if they so much as look at you funny.”
That’s reassuring… I think. Raena gave him a weak smile and then eyed the doors in the side walls that presumably led into bedrooms. Nothing but sleep sounded appealing at the moment.
Her mother stepped forward and gave her a hug. “Yes, go to bed. It’s not surprising you’re exhausted.”
“Thanks.” Raena held in a yawn as she pulled out from the embrace. “How do we find you in the morning?”
“There are handhelds on the charging pads next to the beds in the two rooms at the back,” Wil said. “Pick up the device and it will walk you through the setup. You’ll find all the contact info you need in there. But, they’re blocked from communication with Earth for the time being.”
Jason’s eyes narrowed. “So that’s it? You take us on a partial tour like everything’s fine and now you’re just leaving us here alone without any connection to the outside world?”
“Yeah, what about contacting our friends?” Raena asked. “Katie will be worried.”
“It’s all taken care of for the short term,” her mother soothed.
“We posted a notice to your Feeds that you’re traveling,” Wil elaborated. “We’ll let you send a message in a few days once you have a better perspective on everything that’s going on.”
“We can’t just walk away from our lives like that,” Jason protested.
“I know it seems that way now,” Saera responded, “but give it a couple days. It’s not a matter of saying goodbye, but rather figuring out how to say ‘see you later’.”
“I guess anyone that doesn’t understand probably wasn’t a very good friend, anyway,” Raena realized.
“Exactly. You’ll always be able to pick up where you left off with the right people,” Wil stated.
Jason shook his head, clearly not convinced.
Raena glanced at her brother. “All right, we’ll give it some time.”
Their parents smiled. “Good,” Wil told them, looking between Raena and her brother. “Clothes are in the wardrobes and toiletries are in the bathroom. Message us if there’s anything else you need.”
“Fine. See you in the morning,” Jason muttered.
“Good night,” Saera said. “Call us anytime. We’re just the next corridor over.”
“Sleep well,” Wil said and stepped into the hall with Saera.
“Good night.” Raena closed the door. She giggled.
“What’s so funny?” Jason asked.
“We’re inside the frickin’ moon right now!”
“Supposedly.” He crossed his arms. “Really, how do we know where we are? They never took us outside. All I know for sure is that I saw a lot of really fancy tech today.”
Raena raised an eyebrow. “And telekinesis. Seriously, after that and those flight simulators and the engineering labs you’re still in doubt?”
“I don’t know.” Jason frowned. “This whole day has been a completely unreal level of crazy.”
“I know, right?” Raena let out a heavy sigh. Life will never be the same.
Jason eyed the door. “I’m way too wound up to sleep.”
“Well I’m exhausted.” Raena took a step toward the couch.
“Fine, but I’m going out. I need to see the rest of it for myself.”
“Rest of what?”
“Outside Headquarters,” her brother replied.
“Jason…”
“You’re just going to take their word for it?” he asked. “For all we know this is a government-run lab in Nevada and we’re about to be experimented on.”
Raena scowled. “I’m pretty sure Mom and Dad wouldn’t do that to us.”
“They did give us implants and nanobots without our knowledge,” Jason pointed out.
“True, but—”
“You don’t have to come.” Jason walked over to the door.
After spending their whole lives together, Raena knew there was no way to talk her brother out of an idea once he’d made up his mind. She also knew it was a bad idea to let him go roaming on his own. “All right. What’s your plan?”
“Head for the elevator. It goes to the surface, right?”
“That’s what they said.”
“They took us all around the facility but not up there. So let’s go see if we’re really in space.” Jason opened the door and poked his head outside, then glanced back at Raena. “It’s clear. Come on.”
Reluctantly, she followed him into the hall. Without an escort, the uniformity of the corridor was disorienting.
“This way,” Jason said assuredly, heading to the right.
“I’m sure they’d take us up to the surface if we insisted…” Raena ventured.
“But what’s the fun in that?”
Trying to set as
ide her misgivings, Raena followed her brother down the corridor toward the central lobby. As they approached the open space, she spotted several Agents waiting for the elevator. The Agents turned to look at them and Raena immediately recognized one of them as Tom.
She hastily turned away, but Tom called out to them, “Hey! What are you doing out on your own?”
Busted. Raena faced him and put on her best smile. “Just out for a walk.”
“And your parents are okay with that?” the Agent asked.
Jason shrugged. “They didn’t say we couldn’t.”
A smile touched the corners of Tom’s lips. “Where were you headed?”
“The surface,” Jason replied without hesitation.
Tom chuckled. “And you didn’t think we’d have the access restricted?”
“Come on, Jason, this was a bad idea,” Raena urged.
Jason stood his ground. “Are you hiding something?” he asked Tom.
The Agent took a slow breath. “Students like you are why we need security measures in the first place. Hold on—an escort will be here soon.”
I never should have gone along with this. Raena edged back toward the corridor leading to their quarters.
“Really? Sneaking out to the surface?” their father said from behind them before she had a chance to retreat.
How did Dad even know where we were going? Raena wondered, then realized that Tom must have filled him in telepathically.
Jason groaned, turning to face him. “Come on, Dad! How do we know we’re really in the moon right now?”
“Seeing outside will convince you?” Wil asked.
Her brother shrugged. “It’d go a long way.”
Their father sighed. “All right, then we’ll go to the surface.” He called the elevator.
“It’s not that we don’t believe you—” Raena tried to explain.
“Speak for yourself,” Jason interrupted. “Yeah, some weird things went on today and you’ve shown us some cool stuff, but traveling to a secret moon base…?”
“I guess I’d still be skeptical, too,” Wil replied. “If a field trip is what you need to make this real, then we’ll take a field trip.”
The elevator arrived and their father stepped inside. “Coming?”