by Amy DuBoff
“All the same, we’ve agreed to take things slow. There’ve been so many changes for both of us, we want to make sure what we’ve felt isn’t just a product of shared experience.”
Jason rose from the bed. “Good for you. But yeah, that’s where the bro talk will end. I don’t really want to think about you sleeping with my sister, you know?”
Ryan nodded. “Sorry.”
“Nah, it’s all good. Compartmentalization is an amazing thing. I hooked up with a couple of our mutual friends on Earth—she and I have an understanding.”
“Okay, good. Because I would like us to be friends. I think we’re in this together for the long haul, one way or another.”
Jason smiled. “Yeah, we’re good. As long as you’re in Raena’s favor, I’ll have your back.”
“Thanks.”
“Now, we’re supposed to figure out our class schedules or something?”
Ryan groaned. “I have no idea what to study. I kind of wish they’d let us go back to the old way of them assigning us classes rather than having us pick.”
“Yeah, a lot is new this year, I think.” Jason sighed. “I guess I’ll take a little of everything and see what sounds fun.”
“Too bad there isn’t a class for ‘how to secretly be a High Dynasty heir and learn everything you need to know about being an effective leader without telling anyone who you are’.”
“I would one-hundred percent take that class with you.”
Ryan laughed. “I’ll suggest it for the ‘independent study’ block.”
“Perfect. Well, I’m going to go stare at a list of classes and pretend like I know what Applied Computational Astrobiology actually entails.”
“Good luck with that.” Ryan grinned.
“I’m gonna need it. I’ll see you at dinner.”
“See you then.”
Ryan reclined on his bed and returned to perusing the course offerings. A class on effective negotiation tactics for political engagements caught his eye. I think I’m going to need that. He enrolled. This is going to be quite the year.
* * *
Cris completed his refresh review of the incoming Agent Trainee files. He’d gone over all the applicants in the previous months as they were accepted into the training program, but to go through the list in one sitting reminded him of just how much things had changed since he joined the TSS.
The latest cohort would be nearly four hundred Trainees. That was more than double what it had been a decade prior. If this keeps up, we’re going to need a bigger facility.
Despite the new logistical challenges of accommodating the newcomers, he was excited for the future. This is a proud time to be High Commander.
As soon as he closed the personnel list, a priority call illuminated on the screen. Its origin was the head administrative office for Sietinen but the contact code was Marina’s.
Cris answered the call. “Hi, Marina. How are you?”
Her face was drawn. “Not great.” She wiped an eye with her hand.
His heart dropped. “What is it?”
“Cris…” Marina searched for the words. “Your parents Left.”
The air was knocked from Cris’ lungs as if he’d been struck in the chest. If they Left, then… “Are you sure?”
She nodded. “They provided a full accounting and everything that’s required for the transition. We’ll need you to come here right away.”
“I…” Cris leaned against his desk. How can they be gone?
“I’m sorry, Cris,” Marina said. “I lost my parents several years back. I know how difficult it is.”
“Did they Leave, too?”
“My mom did, after my father died.”
Cris shook his head. “The whole practice—”
“I agree. It makes it that much harder for us survivors, to know they’re still out there somewhere.”
“I can’t imagine walking away like that.” Cris wrung his hands, his chest aching. “I wasn’t ready for this.”
“You’re a natural leader, Cris. You’ll be fine.”
I don’t have a choice. When I escaped my life on Tararia, I knew I’d have to go back eventually. “Give me a day to sort everything out with the TSS.”
“Of course, but there are some immediate matters…”
He nodded. “Let me tell everyone what’s going on. Kate can help you while I wrap here.”
“All right. I’ll be in touch with her shortly,” Marina agreed. “And Cris, they left a note for you. I’ll forward it.”
Cris nodded and ended the call. He collapsed into his chair, shaking his head.
It was hard to believe his parents would participate in an antiquated practice such as Leaving, but then again only those with adequate means participated in the tradition in modern times. After deciding that life had been lived to the fullest, those that decide to Leave would make their final arrangements and then set out on their own to die in peace. Those last days or hours could mean different things to different people—a chance to check off one final wish list item or just to go out while still in possession of one’s faculties. The commonality was to die on one’s own terms, wherever a shuttle could take them.
For Cris’ parents to have Left, they must have felt a sense of closure. He couldn’t blame them for wanting to have a say in the end of their own lives, but part of him resented them for dumping the responsibility of the Dynasty on him without any clear warning. Though he’d been skirting his responsibilities for decades, he’d always envisioned there being some sort of formal handover. To have everything fall to him so suddenly was too much to process.
As he sat quietly in the midst of his thoughts, his desktop flashed with an incoming email from Marina. An attachment to the message was titled “To Cris”.
His throat tight, he opened the attachment. It read:
Cris,
We know our departure will come as a surprise to you, but we are confident the Dynasty is in good hands. With everything that will come in the ensuing years, it has become clear that our time has come to an end. We depart now as leaders from an old era so a new can begin.
It’s unclear where our final days will take us, but we look forward to a few moments free of responsibility. As we contemplated this decision, we often thought of you when you chose to depart Tararia to find yourself. Though our adventure comes at the end of life rather than the beginning, we hope to find the same sense of fulfillment you found.
Know that though we are gone from your daily life, our thoughts will always be with you and our family, even after we have finally passed. We hope you succeed in your mission. It’s time for a change and we know you’re the one who can make that a reality.
Take care of yourself. The future is what you make it.
Love,
Dad and Mom
The note left him speechless. Rarely had he ever called them Dad and Mom, yet he now wished he could give them a farewell hug and do just that.
He took several minutes to process his parents’ final words to him, then shook himself free of the fog. There was too much to do. He sent a telepathic message to Kate and Wil requesting they come to his office.
They arrived at the same time.
“What’s going on?” Wil asked, closing the door behind him and his mother.
“Have a seat,” Cris said.
“What’s wrong?” Kate asked. He knew she must feel his hurt through their bond.
“My parents Left.”
Kate inhaled sharply and Wil slumped back in his chair.
“Are you okay, Dad?” his son asked.
“It doesn’t feel real yet.” Cris swallowed the lump in his throat. “I’ve been summoned to Tararia.”
Wil nodded. “Right…”
“I need to step down as High Commander,” Cris continued. “Normally, command would pass to Lead Agent. But, officially, I’ve been an interim High Commander while you were on personal leave.”
“Yeah, I guess so,” Wil replied.
“Do y
ou want to take over now, or…?”
His son sat in silent contemplation for several seconds. “I’d thought about it before hypothetically, and I was certain I’d turn it down. But after what happened with Raena and Ryan, I know now more than ever what direction I feel the TSS should go. If Saera agrees, I’ll step in. I’m ready.”
“Then she should join us,” Cris replied.
Cris sensed Wil reach out to her. She was in her office just down the hall and it only took twenty seconds for her to arrive.
Saera’s face drained the moment she stepped into the room. Wil must have filled her in telepathically because she immediately rushed to Cris and gave him a hug. “I’m so sorry.”
“They lived full lives. There’s nothing to be sad about,” Cris told her.
“I know what this means for you, though,” she said.
Cris shrugged. “I had a good run. There are worse fates than a life as a politician… I think.”
She gave him a weak smile. “So let me guess, we’re here to figure out who takes over the TSS?”
Cris nodded.
“I’m willing to step up as High Commander,” Wil said, “but I don’t want to supersede you if that’s a title you want.”
Saera scoffed. “Are you kidding? High Commander is a bunch of administrative tedium. Lead Agent lets me have my own starship and go out on missions. No offense…”
Wil eyed her. “All right. Administrative tedium it is.”
“It’s not that bad,” Cris said. “Either way, I guess that settles it.”
“We should let everyone know about the transition,” Saera said, turning to business.
“Yes,” Cris agreed. “Call an assembly for tomorrow. In the meantime, I need to review some contracts with you to make sure no details are lost when I step away. And Kate, I told Marina she can coordinate with you in the interim for transitioning the Dynasty and SiNavTech.”
“Of course. I’ll help in any way I can,” she told him. “I’m here for you, my love.”
“Thank you.” Cris took a deep breath. “This is it. We have control of Sietinen now.”
Wil cracked a smile. “Let’s go make history.”
CHAPTER 24
I swore I’d never take a leadership role in the TSS again, but this is something I need to do. Wil stared out at the expectant faces gathered in the lecture hall on Level 5. They knew something big was coming but he doubted anyone would have guessed this news.
When the final Agents had found their seats, Cris stepped to the podium at the center of the stage. “Thank you for joining us on short notice,” he said into the camera at the front of the podium. “I make this announcement today with a heavy heart. I must resign as High Commander of the TSS.”
Gasps sounded around the room.
“As many of you know,” Cris continued, “I was born as the heir to the Sietinen Dynasty. That’s not a position anyone can take lightly, and though I recognized early on that I wanted to make a life for myself outside of that birthright, I knew one day I would need to fulfill my obligations to my family. I’ve had more than fifty years of doing pretty much whatever I wanted and probably getting into more trouble than is advisable, but I have no regrets.
“That time has come to a close now, though. I’ve been called upon to return to Tararia and so I must.” He took a slow breath. “While I wish my position within the TSS and my station as Head of Sietinen weren’t mutually exclusive, in this case they must be. No one person can offer the time and attention that’s needed for both roles. The TSS, in particular, is in the midst of a delicate transition, and it needs a leader to dedicate their full attention to making these changes a success.
“For that reason, there is no one more suited for the task than my son, Wil. He has already served you as Supreme Commander of the TSS during the Bakzen War so he understands the weight of the responsibility. But more than that, he, too, regards the TSS as his family. When I left Tararia, I never dreamed I’d find a place to belong in the way that I have felt within this organization. I am proud to call all of you my comrades and my kin, whether by blood relations or not.
“That is the future I see for the TSS—a place where those with abilities and those without can come together as one. No longer can we be those with abilities and those without. That is not how our people began and that’s not how we’ll be in the future. These have been dark times, but those times will soon pass.
“As difficult as it is for me to think of leaving the TSS, I am excited for the possibilities that will come from this momentous transition. To step into the position of Dynastic Head as someone with open telekinetic abilities is unprecedented, to say the least. This is truly the beginning of a new age that will bring the TSS from the shadows into the spotlight. With the changes we already have planned and the new opportunities this transition in power will allow, I have no doubt that we are about to begin the finest era of the TSS.”
The announcement would call into question why Cris was stepping up as Head of Sietinen now after all these years. Most would be able to read between the spoken lines, and that would be enough for now. During the silence that followed as the audience processed Cris’ words, Wil joined his father at the podium.
“I know I haven’t been very present within the TSS of late, but I want to pledge to you now that I will be the most attentive and true leader I can be for you,” Wil began.
Cris gave a nod and smile of approval before stepping back to the side of the stage.
Wil looked out over the audience. “I’ve spent my entire life here. For the first two-thirds of my life, this was an organization ravaged by war. We were trained in the ways of battle and that violence was the only way forward. I don’t know about you, but I hated having to use my abilities in that way.
“As we look forward to the path of this next generation who were never personally touched by that war, I hope the TSS can become something new. With the defeat of the Bakzen, the most immediate danger to us and the rest of the Taran people evaporated. For years, I’ve wished that the TSS could be a place for those with abilities to come train without the requirements of military service or expectation of battle. We don’t need our abilities to be used as weapons.
“Instead, I want this is be a place where committed, smart individuals—with or without abilities—can come together to learn how to be ambassadors for all Tarans. We can be mediators for those who need an outside voice to resolve a conflict, or we can provide protection when a community is in danger. These will be missions of peace, not war. No one will need to raise their hand or mind in battle unless they elect to participate. Academic or political studies that were once ancillary to the TSS curriculum will now be central to our training—a preeminent institution where someone can learn about their full self and how best to use their innate talents to benefit the greater good.”
The faces of those in the audience expressed a sense of joy—or even relief—as Wil’s words sunk in. The years of transition since the war had been a time without focus or direction. It was no fault of Cris’ but just a product of the times. The renovations and changes that had been in the works behind the scenes for years could now finally be brought to light.
I’m sorry he won’t be here to witness all of it in person, but I’ll make sure he has the chance to share in this success. Wil beckoned Cris and Saera up to the center of the stage with him. “Even though there will be a formal transition of leadership, I look forward to maintaining an open dialogue with the governing authorities across the Taran worlds. We will spread the word that the TSS is a safe place for all to come.
“To help oversee these operations, my wife, Saera, will remain in her position as Lead Agent. She has been instrumental in designing our new training curriculum and advising on new testing protocols to better match our future vision for TSS graduates.
“But, despite the time and thought we’ve put into designing these changes, I know we won’t get all of it quite right the first time around. Please know that we valu
e your feedback, and don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have concerns or questions. Thank you for going on this journey with us.”
Applause sounded in the audience as Wil stepped back from the podium but his focus had already turned to what came next. It was one thing for him to have moved down to Earth for the last sixteen years, where he was only a short shuttle ride or trip through the TSD away, but to have his parents moving to Tararia… They had never truly been apart as a family in his entire life.
Though he had been largely independent since he was a teenager, Wil had always found it comforting to have his parents nearby. Their departure to Tararia meant that Wil could no longer shy away from responsibility, as he had been inclined to do since stepping down from his leadership role after the war. He needed to be accountable and true to the words he had just spoken to the TSS. A new future was ahead and he was at the forefront of shaping that new reality.
Wil exited the auditorium with his wife and father, still trying to process what it would be like to have everyone looking to him for guidance again. He paused outside the door in the hallway. “Should you have sworn me in, or some sort of formal ceremonial gesture?”
Cris smiled. “We did that long ago. Technically you never formally resigned—I just kind of took over for you.”
“Yeah, I guess I didn’t,” Wil realized. “Well, I’ll try to do you proud.”
“You always do, Wil,” his father said, embracing him.
He pulled out from the hug. “Where’s Mom? I thought she’d be here for this.”
“She’s been busy handling the administrative aspects of the transition with the Dynasty,” Cris replied rubbing his temple. “I’ve been so preoccupied trying to tie up loose ends here with the TSS—”
“Dad, it’s okay,” Wil assured him.
“We’ve got it,” Saera added. “Between Michael and me, we can piece together the outstanding items. Take care of yourself.”
Cris nodded slowly. “I just can’t believe they’re gone…”
“Neither can I.” Wil placed a hand on his father’s shoulder. “But we’re still here, and we have a lot still ahead of us.”