Scions of Change

by Amy DuBoff

  Raena nodded. “I don’t blame them. I hope the renovation tones down the spookiness factor of the place by… a lot.”

  “And you’re sure that’s where you want to settle?” Ryan searched her eyes.

  “It’ll send the right message,” she replied. “We’re not them. We can make that place something better.”

  “All right.” He reached over to stroke the side of her face, and she placed her hand over his. “You know I’ll go anywhere with you you’d like.”

  “Same.”

  He smiled. “It figures, though, that you’d pick a castle.”

  “It’s not a castle… exactly. More of a converted monastery.”

  Ryan raised an eyebrow. “Uh huh.”

  Raena sighed. “Okay, I’ll admit it’s pretty castle-like. I watched way too many travel shows on Europe while I was a kid, what can I say?”

  “We’ll have plenty of room to expand operations, I’ll give you that.”

  They finished eating and then went to meet up with Cris in the administrative wing for their morning strategy session. He was waiting for them in his office, looking refreshed and energized.

  “Look who’s chipper this morning,” Raena commented as she sat down in her usual guest chair across the desk.

  Ryan took a seat next to her.

  “I had a realization this morning,” Cris replied.

  Raena raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

  “I’ve actually accomplished something I’ve been working toward my entire adult life,” her grandfather said. “It was always looming out there somewhere in the future, but now it’s behind me. I’m free to do… whatever. It’s liberating.”

  “Well, don’t get too wild just yet. We still need to make sure this new political structure is stable,” Ryan cautioned.

  “Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere.” Cris folded his arms on his desk. “But on that note, nominations have come in for the Health Council and the Banking Alliance.”

  “How’s it look?” Raena asked.

  Cris smiled. “Really good. Lots of smart people with real-world experience.”

  Raena glanced between him and Ryan. “Hopefully they can govern.”

  “We’ll have some trial and error,” her grandfather said. “I just feel great knowing we have people with their hearts in the right place. I think we’re going to be just fine.”

  “You’re right,” she agreed. “That freedom you feel for yourself—that’s everyone. Rigid status quos of the past have been tossed aside and now everyone has a hand in shaping what we want for our lives, even if it’s just in a small way. Slowly, we’re giving a voice to those who’ve been on the outside.”

  Her grandfather nodded with satisfaction. “We might not get it correct the first time, but a step in that direction sure feels good.”

  Ryan evaluated him. “I have to ask… You grew up here as a High Dynasty heir just like all the others before you. What made you want to make things different for the common citizen?”

  Cris chuckled. “Believe it or not, a couple of drunk guys in a shitey spaceport.”

  Raena raised an eyebrow. “Seriously? You’ve never said anything about that before.”

  “I was just a kid—about a year after I ran away from here.” Cris shrugged. “I’d seen what life was like in the outer colonies, but it wasn’t until I heard someone say that they had no faith in the High Dynasties that I realized they were speaking the truth. There was absolutely no reason for anyone to trust the High Dynasties, not when the leadership had no idea what was really going on outside the core worlds. And that was never going to change unless someone already on the inside took a stand. I left Tararia to find myself, but what I really found was a purpose. When I met Kate, everything came together. Maybe, just maybe, we could restore trust and find a way for all voices to be heard.”

  “Here I thought you had a meeting with a wise man while on your internship or something,” Raena said.

  “Nope, just a couple of drunk guys.” Cris grinned.

  She laughed. “There’s probably something really poetic about that.”

  “Maybe not the word I’d use, but it’s something,” her grandfather said with a chuckle.

  “In any case,” Ryan began, returning their focus to the task at hand, “we should get the new advisory groups in place as soon as possible. If we don’t formally fill the administrative gaps left in the Priesthood’s wake, others will try to step in and take advantage of the situation.”

  “Right.” Cris’ chuckles subsided, but the amusement remained in his eyes. “Let’s get to know our new colleagues.”

  * * *

  The mood around TSS Headquarters had changed. Everyone seemed lighter—more carefree.

  Jason studied his comrades as he walked down the main administrative hall toward the High Commander’s office. Having the Priesthood’s cloud hanging over us must have had a bigger impact than I’d realized.

  Now that public use of telekinesis was permitted, there’d been a surge in applications to the TSS. The Headquarters facility was insufficient for that volume of students, but the interest in training was the perfect opportunity to take the TSS’ evolution to the next level. The intent for years had been for the institution to move away from strictly military training and focus on academic pursuits, but that vision had been placed on hold in favor of training teams to assist with the revolution.

  The experience had underscored that the TSS needed to maintain a military presence, even if it was at a reduced level, but the individual training team model offered a foundation for other specializations to be cultivated. Under the guidance of experienced Agents, new TSS campuses could be established on other worlds, training those with abilities in the lost arts of healing and craftsmanship using their abilities. The Aesir’s former temples throughout the Taran worlds, which the Priesthood had sealed, would make the perfect locations to continue those efforts.

  It’d take time for those programs to develop, but the building blocks were there. All they had to do was put it into action.

  Jason, for one, saw himself remaining in the main Headquarters on the military track. Now that he’d had a taste of high-pressure scenarios on a spaceship, he was hooked.

  As far as he knew, Tiff and his closest friends in the Primus Elites intended to make a career on the military side of the TSS, as well, so he’d be among friends. He was certain he’d want something more for himself eventually, but for now, everything felt right.

  He reached the door to his father’s office and knocked.

  Wil beckoned him inside via a flash on the control panel next to the door.

  “Hey,” Wil greeted when Jason entered. “Have you seen that list of applicants?”

  “Crazy, right?” Jason took a seat in his favorite visitor chair on the right.

  “Heirs from Vaenetri, Baellas, and Talsari. I never would have believed it.”

  “No reason to hide anymore.”

  Wil leaned back in his chair. “No, there isn’t. It’s a good feeling.”

  “It really is.”

  His father studied him. “What about you? Now that you’ve graduated, you’re not stuck here.”

  Jason shrugged. “I dunno. I was thinking some time as a flight instructor might be fun.”

  “I am not the least bit surprised by that.”

  “Does that mean there’s an opening?”

  Wil smiled. “I think we can make that happen. The position I have in mind would keep you based here in Headquarters most of the time.”

  “Works for me. I like it here.”

  “Good.” His father studied him. “I was impressed by how you handled that situation out in the rift. Many people would have backed down.”

  “I knew what I could do with the ship.”

  “Still, you have a knack for command, if that interests you.”

  Jason folded his hands on his lap. “Are you asking if I’d like to be on the advancement track for High Commander?”

  “It’s cr
ossed my mind,” Wil admitted.

  “I’m pretty sure there’d be some complaints about nepotism.”

  “Perhaps, but you have a CR score on record to back it up. After anyone has spent some time with you, I don’t think they’d question it.”

  “I’ll consider it,” Jason replied. “I’m not ready to make a career commitment quite yet.”

  “Fair enough. I’m in no rush to go anywhere.”

  Jason nodded. “Good deal.”

  “Regardless of what role you want to play, I know the TSS has a bright future. We’re finally in a place where this organization can be what I dreamed it could be.”

  “I’m excited to be a part of that,” Jason told him.

  “I’m glad.” His father paused. “When we chose to raise you on Earth, I was afraid you might reject the life we have here—rebel against us for keeping it from you.”

  “I almost did. Then I realized I like it too much here to want to leave.”

  “Good, because I think your mother would be tempted to drop everything and follow you if you wanted to leave. It was hard enough with Raena going to Tararia.”

  “And she is not coming back,” Jason shook his head.

  “It was surreal seeing here there. She was in her element.”

  “Totally. In retrospect, I don’t know how she made it a year in the TSS.”

  “Seeing my dad there was strange, too. He was an Agent for my entire life—even after five years, I hardly recognize him when he’s not wearing Agent black.”

  “Still way more recognizable than when I saw you in uniform for the first time,” Jason countered.

  Wil let out a long sigh. “That day of your Awakening… it was a crazy one.”

  “I’m sure there’ll still be some crazy days yet.”

  “I have no doubt.”

  Jason grinned. “But hey, may as well keep things interesting.”

  * * *

  Wil settled onto the couch in the quarters he shared with Saera. It felt even more like home now that he knew his son would be staying close for the foreseeable future. While he missed Raena, at least he knew she was happy with Ryan and near other family. If they couldn’t all be together, being in two little groups would have to do.

  He’d tried to move on from his final encounter with the Priesthood, but one lingering detail continued to pester the back of his mind. The Aesir insisted that his genetic line held the key to breaking the Generation Cycle, yet the Priesthood professed only direct intervention would produce the necessary results. Every time he’d run a model of the potential outcome, the results had been different—but that lacked the detailed genetic history contained within the Priesthood’s data archive. With that information, he could run one definitive analysis.

  Saera wasn’t due back from her check-in meetings for another half an hour, so Wil decided he may as well answer the question once and for all.

  After activating the viewscreen across from the couch, Wil brought up the various records related to the genetic analysis and began constructing the model. He left it to run in the background while he cleared out his email inbox.

  Twenty minutes later, he received a notification that the analysis was complete. Here we go…

  His heart sank as soon as he saw the results. Without direct intervention, there was no better than a five-thousand-to-one chance of the joined Sietinen and Dainetris line resulting in a viable Generation Thirteen with the necessary sequence to create a genetic patch. Such a patch would be the key to restoring abilities for all Tarans, but without it, the Twelve Generation Cycle would persist and they’d never be able to take full advantage of the Aesir’s technology.

  Fok! Was the Priesthood right? He didn’t want to believe it.

  The door clicked open and Saera entered.

  Wil quickly minimized the model on the screen.

  “Wait, was that a genetic analysis?” his wife asked.

  “Yeah,” he admitted.

  Saera frowned. “I thought that was behind us. What were you looking at?”

  “Double-checking something. But it doesn’t matter.”

  She tilted her head down and gave him a look that made it clear he’d need to provide a more satisfactory answer.

  “It’s something Raena had heard years ago, when she was kidnapped,” he explained, “that there’s no guarantee that our genetic line will produce a cure for the Generation Cycle without further intervention. With the new information we got from the Priesthood’s archive, I wanted to confirm those results. So, I ran the analysis myself.”

  “And?”

  “They’re right. The only way to be certain the traits will express in the desired way is to cross the lines back: a pairing between Raena and Jason, and then back to me.”

  Saera’s expression passed from initial shock, to horror, back to disgust, and then she burst out laughing.

  Wil joined her. After everything they’d been through—all the planning and aspirations to present a solution to their people that would restore lost abilities—they’d still come up short. The Priesthood would have eagerly passed that threshold of decency, but their family was no longer beholden to the perverse whims of their former shadow-masters.

  It took well over a minute for them to regain composure.

  “So, obviously,” Wil said at last, “I just have to say fok the odds—computer probabilities only show so much. Everything will work out, or not, on its own course.”

  “After all, no one predicted Raena’s level of ability.”

  He nodded. “Very true. And, honestly, I’m sick of plotting the destinies of people before they’re even born.”

  “Amen to that.” Saera shook her head.

  “You know, fate, or luck, or whatever it is that’s had a hand in leading us here—that’s only part of it. Our future is what we make it.”

  His wife took his hand. “I couldn’t agree more.”

  “So, I will choose to focus on the present. We’re poised for a new Taran renaissance, the TSS is already transforming into something we’d only dreamed it could be, we’re united with friends and family… We may not be able to undo all the harm the Priesthood caused during their reign, but we played our part in trying to set things right.”

  “You especially,” Saera told him. “I officially give you permission to pass off those worries to future generations. You’ve done your part.”

  He smiled. “I suppose I have.”

  She eyed him knowingly. “You’re not quite done yet, though—are you?”

  Wil shrugged. “Well, there is the matter of Earth.”

  “Yep, there it is…” Saera chuckled. “You’ve spent too many years plotting to know how to relax.”

  “Probably,” Wil admitted. “But from here on out, I will be but a humble observer of fate’s hand.”

  Saera smirked. “Until you see it fit to intervene.”

  “We’ll see.”

  Additional Reading

  The Priesthood has been overthrown and the Taran civilization is entering a new era. As Earth prepares to enter to Taran fold, a new menace may threaten the future of the empire. Stay tuned for future releases!

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  Acknowledgements

  Thank you, the reader! Without you, I doubt this book would ever have been written. When I pu
blished Architects of Destiny, I was thrilled to sell a few dozen copies. To now have thousands of readers is so surreal and so very super-cool :-D. I am touched by every message I have received from readers saying they have enjoyed this story world that is so near and dear to me. I’m happy I could share it with you!

  I began working on this series in the late-1990s as a pet project, never expecting it to see the light of day. At the time, self-publishing was far from an accepted avenue for books, and I never would have considered it. Wow, have things changed! This has been the perfect venue for me, because it’s allowed me to tell the story I wanted to tell. The initial books are too short for a traditional publisher to continue, but through the self-publishing platform, I was able to present the story I envisioned.

  It’s still difficult for me to believe that I’ve published seven books in just over two years’ time. What’s even more surreal is that I’ve been working on a book series for twenty years and I can finally call it “complete”. While I wholly intend to write more in this story universe, this main Cadicle story arc is wrapped in the way I originally planned. I hope you enjoyed the ride (and that you will want to come back for more)!

  Thank you to my amazing beta readers Eric, Kurt, Liz, Charlie, and Dewald for their helpful suggestions, for their eagle eyes to polish this book, and for their contributions to the rest of this series. Thank you also to Nick and Bryan for their diligent assistance with the final touches.

  I owe my mom for her assistance with draft review and editing, and for her continual support. These books would not be what they are without her.

  And I must thank my husband, Nick. He’s the behind-the-scenes hero of this project. When I met him in 2012, the initial draft of the Cadicle series had been sitting on a digital shelf for years collecting cyber dust. It is his encouragement alone that got me writing again. It’s also thanks to him that I was able to leave my day job to pursue writing full-time. That’s such a huge compliment to have a spouse believe in me like that—I can’t even put it into words. Thank you, Nick, I love you!

  Lots more writing is ahead in the coming months and years. Thank you for going on this journey with me!