by Amy DuBoff
Word of her departure spread through the group over the following day, and she held one-on-one goodbyes with friends as she prepared to leave.
Ryan, likewise, exchanged parting words with the teammates who’d had his back. Everyone would be in for quite a shock in a few years when they’d learn Ryan’s true identity and why a relationship with Raena should never have been questioned. For now, though, everyone just thought the Sietinen heiress and a lost Bankris heir were returning home to learn about operating a company and managing political negotiations.
Raena was content to have them think just that.
As the time for their departure grew near, there were still final goodbyes that Raena wished she didn’t have to make. She knew it was more of a “see you later” than a true farewell, but to leave her brother and parents while she journeyed to another world meant a complete change in the family dynamic that had been the underpinning of her entire life.
With her personal effects packed into three bags and only an hour before the transport ship was set to depart, eventually Raena could delay the conversation no longer. She dragged her luggage into the common room and then approached the doorway to Jason’s quarters.
One of Jason’s roommates, Leon, was working at his desk, but he quickly left when he saw Raena.
“Safe travels,” Leon said as he passed by and gave Raena a quick hug.
“Heading out?” Jason asked as he stood next to his bed.
She nodded. “I know we’ve only been in the TSS for a year, but it’s so much harder to think about leaving here than it was to leave Earth.”
“That wasn’t breaking up the family,” her brother said. “God, it’ll be so weird not having you around.”
“You’re telling me.” Her eyes began to sting. “Who’s going to keep you out of trouble when I’m not around?”
“I’ll try to behave myself, but no promises.”
Raena shook her head. “Gah, come here!”
They embraced each other and laughed.
“I’m more worried about you,” Jason jested. “I mean, you’re outright going to Tararia to make trouble.”
Raena grinned. “You’ve been a terrible influence.”
Her brother chuckled. “Try not to blow up the planet. I’ll try to keep things in line around here, too.”
“Deal.”
They exited into the common room, where Ryan was saying his final farewells. He nodded to Raena as she approached with Jason.
“I guess this is it,” Raena said. “Thank you, everyone. Know you’ll always have an open invitation to come visit on Tararia.”
“You better come back here at some point, too,” Leon said.
Ryan smiled. “I’m sure we will.”
“Look after each other,” Jason told Ryan, shaking his hand.
“I will.”
Before anyone could initiate another round of goodbye sentiments, Raena and Ryan telekinetically gathered their bags and exited into the hallway.
“I can’t believe we’re leaving,” Ryan said as soon as the door to the Primus Elite quarters was closed.
“Neither can I.” Raena shook her head. “I’ve never been away from my family before.”
“You’ll have a chance to get to know your grandparents, at least.”
“True. I am looking forward to that part.”
They walked in silence down the hall with their luggage levitating behind them.
“Honestly, though,” Raena said after they’d passed by six doors, “I thought I’d be more upset about leaving. I guess I’m not because I’ll still have you.”
Ryan smiled. “We are pretty stuck with each other now.”
She nudged him. “Good.”
He grasped her hand. “I never really had a sense of family before, but I do with you.”
“And you won’t have to be alone again.”
Raena could hardly believe how close they’d become in just a year together, though it was also crazy for her to think about there ever having been a time when they weren’t in each other’s lives. She didn’t expect anyone else her age to understand how she could be so certain and make that kind of commitment already, but it wasn’t anything she needed to justify. The love and bond between them was as real and certain as anything ever would be.
When they approached the elevator lobby, Raena spotted her parents standing in the center of the space—nearly empty at the mid-afternoon hour. Even through their tinted glasses, she could tell they were on the verge of tears.
“You better not make me cry,” Raena said, trying to swallow the lump in her throat.
“Us? Never.” Her mother pulled her into a tight hug and rocked her back and forth. “I’ll miss you so much.”
“I’ll miss you, too, Mom.”
As soon as Saera released her, her father hugged her in turn. “You have only great things ahead of you. We’re just a call away if you need us.”
“Thanks.” She gave him a final squeeze and stepped back. “I love you both. Thank you for not putting up a fight about me going.”
“It’s the smartest move,” her father said. “We love you—you’ll do great.”
Her mother nodded and looped her arm around Wil’s, taking a deep breath.
“Stay vigilant,” he added.
“We’ll have each other’s backs,” Ryan said.
“Good.” Wil nodded. “Well, the transport is ready for you. Kalin will be there in a few days to resume your training.”
Knowing that training wouldn’t end just because they’d no longer be living in TSS Headquarters had also eased Raena’s anxiety about departing for Tararia. Kalin, one of her father’s former Primus Elite trainees, had volunteered to relocate to Sieten and serve as their instructor—an offer they’d readily accepted. Presumably, two new trainees would be pulled from one of the other Primus cohorts to take their places in the Primus Elites. Raena was skeptical that her friends would fully accept new arrivals after a year of bonding, but she was trying to be optimistic about everyone getting along well enough.
“Thank you for everything,” Ryan said. “I’m truly indebted to you.”
“Taking care of our daughter will be thanks enough,” Wil replied.
“We’ll see you soon,” Saera said
“See you soon,” Raena replied, though everyone knew it would be months, at least, until they could even visit. Likely, they’d never be living under the same roof ever again. This isn’t the end—it’s just a new beginning.
With final waves for farewell, Raena and Ryan gathered their bags and boarded the elevator, which took them to the port on the surface. Ryan wrapped his arm around her as soon as they were alone in the elevator car while Raena fought back tears.
“Tararia is just a few hours away,” Ryan soothed her. “It’s not like we’re going to another galaxy.”
She nodded. “Pretty soon we’ll be too busy to even think about what we’re missing here.”
“Exactly.”
Steeling her resolve, she traversed the rest of the way to the transport ship with him.
They settled into a lounge room on the ship for the subspace voyage, selecting chairs in the center of the room. The time passed quickly while they played on their handhelds during the subspace jump, paying little attention to their surroundings. After becoming absorbed in a game, Raena was surprised when she looked up and saw a starscape outside with a partial view of a sprawling spaceport.
She took a deep breath. “Home sweet home.”
“For one of us, it actually is.” Ryan grinned.
“True. I suppose it will be soon enough for me, too.”
They gathered their things and departed the TSS transport ship. A complement of guards met them at the foot of the gangway, to Raena’s surprise.
“I guess they’re not messing around,” she said privately to Ryan.
“Two heirs walking around on their own… It doesn’t surprise me. I don’t think we’ll have a lot of privacy out in public settings.”
Ryan chuckled. “Tell me about it.”
A shuttle took them from the spaceport to one of the centrally located landing pads on the Sietinen estate. While they were landing, Raena spotted her grandfather waiting for them.
The pilot told them their luggage would be brought to their new quarters, and they exited the shuttle out the side door.
“Welcome to your new crazy life of Taran politics,” Cris greeted with a smile.
“Oh, can’t wait,” Raena smiled back.
“Stars, it’s so weird to be back here,” Ryan murmured.
“You’re not who you were before,” Cris told him.
Ryan hesitated. “Are you sure it’s okay for me to say I’m a Bankris heir?’
Cris tilted his head. “It’s true, isn’t it?”
“I guess…”
“It’s half the truth, and it will carry enough weight for us to begin moving forward,” Cris said. “The rest will be revealed when the time is right.”
“And when will that be?” Raena asked.
“When all the pieces of our plan are in place,” he replied. “Right before we put the two motions to a vote with a council of High Dynasty delegates.”
“But you need to make sure you know how that vote is going to go ahead of time?” Raena prompted.
“Exactly.” Cris nodded. “The information you brought back from the Aesir makes a compelling case, so we’re on the right track.”
Raena crossed her arms. “I need to figure out what my vision was pointing to on Tararia. There was something beyond just us being here.”
“We’ll figure it out,” Cris assured her. “Now come on. Let’s get you settled in.”
He led the way to the main Sietinen mansion and took them to the residential wing for family.
The corridor was airy and ornately decorated like the rest of the estate, but portraits of past family members gave the passageway a homier feel than any other portion of the manor Raena had encountered.
Cris stopped outside a door in the middle of one of the halls. “Raena, this is my former suite—it has one of the best views in the whole estate, so I thought you might like it.”
She beamed. “Sounds great!”
Ryan shifted on his feet next to her.
“What about…” Raena began.
Cris smiled. “I thought you’d be concerned about that.” He continued down the hall to the next door. “Now, it’s important we keep up appearances—I know you two are together, but from a political perspective, it’s premature to announce any sort of betrothal.”
At the next door, Cris gestured for Ryan to palm open the biometric lock. The door clicked open.
“So,” Cris continued, “as far as anyone is concerned, I have taken the son of my dear friend under my care as one of the family.” He entered the quarters.
The common area was arranged with a couch, entertainment center, and terrace overlooking the lake. On the wall adjacent to Raena’s quarters, there was a door, which Cris approached.
“It just so happens,” he said, “that these two rooms have internal access.” After physically unlocking a deadbolt, he swung the door inward, revealing that a matching door in Raena’s assigned quarters was already open. “Some might consider it one, big suite—but how that space gets used is entirely up to you.”
Raena and Ryan smiled at each other. “I’m sure we can figure it out.”
Cris smiled back. “I thought you might.” He showed himself back out to the hallway and paused at the door. “Oh, and now that I’m running things around here, dinner doesn’t call for formal eveningwear, unless you want it.”
“Yeah, no, I’m good,” Raena replied.
“Thank the stars!” Ryan breathed.
Cris looked them over. “I’m really happy you’re both here.”
Raena took Ryan’s hand. “Me too. It was tough to leave my parents and Jason, but I believe this is where we’re supposed to be right now.”
“I believe so, too,” Cris affirmed. “Well, I’ll leave you to get settled in. Are you hungry?”
“I could eat,” Ryan said.
Raena nodded. “Same.”
“All right, I’ll have the kitchen prep some dinner. Half an hour?” Cris asked.
“Perfect.” Raena smiled.
“See you then in the usual spot,” her grandfather acknowledged and departed, closing the door behind him.
Ryan let out a long breath. “Okay… we’re really doing this.”
Raena grinned. “You bet we are.”
* * *
There was a somber tone in the common room of the Primus Elite’s quarters following Raena and Ryan’s departure. Jason was certain that some of the mood was projected from his own sense of loss, but that would be temporary. New ventures would soon demand his full attention.
As he passed through the common room on his way to the main door, Tiff emerged from her bedroom and jogged over. She intersected with him in the front corner of the common room away from the other Trainees.
“Hey, how are you doing?” she asked him.
He shrugged. “Fine.”
“I already miss Raena. I know you two were close…”
“Yeah, I’ll adjust.” He forced a smile.
“Well, if you’re feeling lonely and ever want to talk, or,” she tilted her head and looked him over, “anything else, you know where to find me.”
Did she just proposition me? The statement caught him by surprise. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
She glanced at the other Trainees in the common room, but no one was paying attention to them. “The three of you were always together, so I didn’t want to butt in before.” She lowered her voice, “Sorry if I’m being too forward, but I got the impression you’re not quite as prim and proper as your sister.”
“You could say that.” Jason looked down. I guess I am on my own now. But introducing new attachments now won’t do me any favors. He swallowed. “Look, I don’t know what you’re after, but—”
“No agenda,” she hastily replied. “Sometimes it’s nice to just have the company of a… friend.”
He couldn’t argue with that. It had been entirely too long since he’d had that kind of company. “Yeah, thanks. I’ll think about it.”
Tiff nodded. “All right. I’ll, uh, see you around.” She slinked back toward her bedroom.
Well, that was unexpected. Jason shrugged off the encounter and filed the proposition away as something to consider at a future time. For the present, he was late for a meeting with his father.
Since their discussion two months prior, Jason had only spoken with Wil twice regarding the plan to implement a new weaponized telekinesis training program. With Raena and Ryan now on their way to Tararia and a new TSS term about to begin, this was the prime opportunity to put those initial plans into action.
He arrived at the High Commander’s office and pressed the buzzer next to the door. Two seconds later, the door clicked open.
Wil was seated behind the desk toward the back of his room, seemingly in a contemplative state.
“Hey,” Jason greeted.
“Hi,” his father replied. “Close the door and take a seat.”
Jason complied. “So, how’s this going to work?” he asked while settling into one of the chairs across from the desk.
“That’s what I’ve been trying to figure out for the last two months. I don’t have a definitive answer yet.”
“Last time we spoke, it sounded like an urgent timeframe.”
“It is,” his father said. “We should have been underway by now, but I wanted to make sure things get done right. I’ve been through a war—I know how quickly things can go sideways if the wrong people get involved.”
Jason nodded. “And you’re trying to figure out screening?”
“Not exactly. More who to approach directly. This isn’t a matter where we can put out a gene
ral call for volunteers.”
“Why not?”
Wil’s brow furrowed. “Well, it’s a similar issue we ran into while I was trying to train the first round of Navigators to use the independent jump drive. It’s not just a matter of enthusiasm, but also competence.”
“Aren’t all the trainees and Agents pre-vetted?” Jason questioned.
“To an extent, yes. But weaponized telekinesis goes beyond basic telepathic aptitude. When we restructured the TSS over the past few terms, we began taking some Eighth and Twelfth Generation students with abilities present, but at levels far below our historical guidelines for Agent trainees—in the 4 range of potential.”
“Some of the Trion Agents are around 5, right? It’s not that much lower.”
Wil exhaled heavily. “When taking the number at face value, no. Except, the intensity measures are exponential. You can’t tether a 4 with a 9 and not have it be completely overwhelming for the weaker Agent.”
Jason crossed his arms. “Then Trion is out completely.”
“That’s what I’ve been trying to decide,” his father continued. “I’m toying with the idea of different units or teams—grouping people by ability level so all skills can be maximized without risking burnout.”
“Makes sense.”
“Yes, but the issue is which teams to assign to which kinds of tasks. Not to mention, the broader the categories we open up, the more likely it is that people will start talking, and eventually someone will say the wrong thing to someone.”
“Hmm.” Jason slumped back in his chair. “Well, if the teams were to follow existing groupings, then it might be possible for each to function independently—and they wouldn’t have to know there were any other groups.”
“That’s the solution that came to the forefront for me, too. It’s practical, given our present needs, but it also goes against everything I’ve tried to stand for as a leader. My tenets of command are openness and honesty whenever possible.”
“Maybe this is one of those time when it’s not possible to be so transparent.”
Wil scowled. “I figured you’d say that.”
Jason raised an eyebrow and leaned forward slightly. “Were you just looking for someone to agree with you?”