by DuBoff, Amy
Saera’s chest was tight thinking back to that night and everything that followed. She bit her lip to keep it from quavering, thankful that her tinted glasses hid the tears forming in her eyes. “Justin somehow found that you and I… I was walking home from the school when he showed up with his friends and they all took me up to the Pointe, and…” She didn’t want to complete the thought. To remember that it really happened.
Michael sat in silence, but Saera could see him fuming under the calm surface.
“I don’t remember most of it, fortunately. I think they drugged me. And they must have been careful to make it not look forced, because I wasn’t bruised or anything when I woke up on my front lawn in the morning. But I knew what had happened.” She swallowed. “The worst part was my parents just figured I had been to one too many parties, and it was time for a change of pace. So they sent me away to boarding school. By then, I didn’t care if they believed the truth—I just wanted to get away and leave everything behind. I know I should have said goodbye to you, but I knew you’d ask why I was leaving, and I didn’t want to have to say it. So I left for the new school and started to rediscover myself. I’d been there for a month when the TSS found me.”
Michael took a slow breath. “Oh.”
“I wanted to forget everything that happened. Like it was a nightmare and I’d finally woken up.”
“I can’t believe those fuckers—”
“And that’s the other reason I didn’t want to tell you. I didn’t know what you’d do.”
Michael took a shaky breath, his face flushed.
“We all needed to move on. And now we’re here.” She paused. “But I did think about you. And I always wanted the best for you. When I saw your picture in Wil’s list of candidates, I thought about what the TSS had done for me. What it could do for you.”
Michael thought for a moment. “This is a welcome change, don’t get me wrong. Even a dream come true. But…” he shook his head. “Fuck. I never stopped loving you.”
“It was—”
“It was just dumb kids mistaking our latent telekinetic abilities for genuine attraction, right.”
Saera composed herself. “I’m with Wil, and what I have with him has given me a whole new perspective.”
“And while you got to meet your prince—literally—things haven’t been so great for me. Like you, when I came here I thought it was an escape. Except, the only girl I ever loved is now engaged to my commanding officer. Classic.”
If I knew he still felt that way about me, I never would have suggested he come here. But how could I have known? That was years ago. “I’ll tell Wil you want out on your behalf, if you want.”
“No.”
Saera nodded. “He’d rather hear it from you, anyway.”
“No. I’m not going anywhere,” Michael said, resolute. “Ever since my abilities emerged and my dad told me about the TSS, I’ve wanted to come here.”
“Even knowing that they could have saved your mom but they didn’t?”
Michael’s face twisted. “That’s precisely why it’s so important people like us are also part of the TSS. Ambassadors for Earth. Maybe we can help make Taran science available so others won’t have to suffer.”
As long as the Priesthood is around, I wouldn’t count on it. “You did always try to fight for the greater good.”
“Even so, I’ve spent too much of my life on the sidelines. Being here is my chance to finally make a real difference. I’m here to stay.”
“And what about us?” Saera asked.
“There is no ‘us.’ You’re with Wil.”
Saera eyed him. “With what you’ve said, I can’t trust that your feelings for me won’t interfere with your relationship with Wil.”
Michael shrugged. “What other choice do I have?”
“There are other trainers—”
“Give up the Primus Elite opportunity because of you?” He shook his head. “No, I already gave up enough of my life to you.”
“You’ll see me with him, you know. It won’t be a secret forever.”
“So I’ll be a good friend. To both of you. Just like you always wanted and needed me to be.” Michael stood and headed for the door. “I’m sure you’ll have a very happy life together.”
Saera stared at the closed door and gnawed on her bottom lip after he left. She had no illusions that there wouldn’t be drama, but at least Michael cared. That would make him committed to the cause, even if it was just displaced affection toward her. He might resent the circumstances, but there was time to adjust. At least, she hoped so.
It’ll only be awkward if you make it that way. Saera took a deep breath and departed. Only time would tell.
* * *
Michael shook his head with disbelief. Why does everything in my life always lead back to her?
Finding out about the TSS and the ancient culture his dad had left behind when he moved to Earth had changed Michael’s perspective—or so he had thought. But when it came down to it, he couldn’t grasp the galactic scale of his new reality. Interpersonal bonds always came to the forefront, and his childhood friendship with Saera was one of the most impactful.
She had been there for him when his mom got sick and slowly wasted away. She had defended him when others mistook his hurt for a flawed personality unfit for friendship. She had been so many of his “firsts” that he’d lost count, but it had given her an enduring place in his heart.
He wanted to feel bitter that she had so easily moved on, yet he couldn’t. After only a couple of days training with Wil, Michael could already see how there must be a perfect complement between Wil and Saera. He was no competition for their connection—but moreover, he didn’t want to come between them. He had his own life to live, even though it intersected with theirs.
On the rest of the walk back to his room, Michael concentrated on moving past the meeting with Saera. Whatever feelings still lingered for her needed to be boxed away.
The Primus Elite quarters were in the middle of the Primus Initiate residential wing on the third floor of Level 2. Michael passed through the hall lined with plants in transparent canisters mounted to the walls, and little nooks with padded benches made impromptu social areas between the private study rooms. He had felt instantly at home.
Michael unlocked the door to his quarters with the palm of his hand. The door slid open, revealing the common room at the center of the four bedrooms that each contained five beds. The spacious common area included several couches. A round table surrounded by twenty-one chairs was the main fixture at the back of the room.
More than half the Primus Elite trainees were gathered around the table, and profiles of several young women were displayed on the holoprojector. A few of the students glanced up when Michael entered.
“Time to weigh in,” Ian said.
“On what?” Michael asked as he walked over.
“We’re trying to narrow down the list of who Wil’s fiancée could be,” explained Ian.
“I don’t think Wil would want you doing that.” Michael scanned over the profiles up on screen, but Saera didn’t appear to be among them.
“Oh come on, you’re not even a little curious?” Kevin asked with a mischievous glint in his eye.
“That’s not the point.” I know exactly who she is.
“We already have a list of definite contenders,” Ethan continued. “But there’s some debate over anyone we may have overlooked.”
Michael’s stomach sank. “Who are the others?”
Kevin grinned. “Ah ha! So you are interested.” He minimized the current set of profiles and brought up another file with five women—two initiates and three Junior Agents. Summary notes were displayed next to each profile with a rationalization for why each was a potential match.
Of course, Saera was at the top of that list. Michael tensed. How couldn’t she be? It was on the record that Wil had provided her midterm evaluation, she was at the top of her class, beautiful—
“So who’
s your pick?” Ian prompted.
Michael shook his head. “I’m not taking any bets. And you shouldn’t, either.”
Ian rolled his eyes. “Oh, come on.”
“We’re here to learn and are preparing to go to war,” Michael shot back. “This is—”
“An amusing diversion,” Curtis interrupted from the other side of the table. “Don’t be so uptight.”
Michael looked at the faces of the young men around the table. They were completely absorbed in the exercise. Nothing he could say would change their mind. “Let it go,” he said one more time and headed for his room. There were bigger battles to fight.
* * *
Wil led the Primus Elites to breakfast in the mess hall, feeling pleased with how the group was coming together. We survived our first week. That has to count for something.
The team was in good spirits—laughing and joking around as they entered the buffet line. Already he could see the friendships forming. There was true camaraderie—exactly what he had hoped to see, and what they would need to make it through the trials to come.
They helped themselves to food, then took a seat at one of the large tables in the center of the room. As they sat down together, Wil glimpsed Saera having breakfast with her roommate Elise on the other side of the mess hall.
“Good morning,” he greeted her telepathically from afar.
“Good morning!” she replied. “Any time for me to come by tonight?”
“Please do—any time after dinner is fine. I miss you.”
“I know you’ve been busy with them.” Saera snuck a glance over at Wil and the Primus Elites as she took a sip of tea.
“It’s making me miss our old study dates.”
“Ah, the good ol’ days—”
“What’s on the agenda today?” Ian asked, interrupting Wil’s private conversation.
“Love you. See you soon,” Wil said to Saera before turning his attention to the trainees around his table. “The agenda for today is more of the same. Physical and mental conditioning until you’re ready to start the real work.”
A collective groan passed around the table.
“Hey, this is the easy part. Enjoy the laps and basic freefall maneuvers while you can.” Wil dug into his meal. After a few bites, he noticed Ian and Curtis whispering to each other at the other end of the table.
“But she’s right there. It would just take a minute,” said Curtis.
Ian shook his head. “It’s a violation.”
“There was nothing in the rules about interrogation,” Curtis insisted.
“Regardless, it’s an unfair advantage,” countered Ian.
“You’re just upset you didn’t think of it first.”
“I—”
“What are you two scheming about?” Wil asked them.
Ian and Curtis tensed. “Nothing, sir,” Curtis responded too quickly.
“You sure about that?” Wil pressed.
“It was just some silly speculation about your fiancée,” Ian admitted after a moment.
That’s all we need. “Whatever you’re planning, stop it.”
“We were just going to talk to a few of the girls it might be—” Curtis started to explain.
“No,” Wil cut him off, firm. “Don’t make me regret telling you anything.”
Ian gave Curtis a shove.
It was difficult to believe that the same individuals who demonstrated focus and leadership could engage in such trivial undertakings as speculating about his love life. “Clearly you’ve had too much idle time.” Wil stood. “Let’s get to it.”
The men hurriedly finished up their remaining bites of food and followed Wil out of the mess hall.
Wil led the group down to Level 11 and lined them up in their usual training room. They were all poised with anxious anticipation, eager to learn. Even knowing the burden that Wil carried—that they would all carry—they stood ready to face the challenge.
Wil met the gaze of each one of his men. They have no idea what they’re in for. And I’ll be training right alongside them.
At the end of the line, Michael gave him a resolute nod.
Wil nodded back. “Let’s get started. We have a lot of work to do.”
Part 2: Partnership
CHAPTER 8
Cris ended the video projection of a recent training session from the Primus Elites in freefall. “I can’t believe how far they’ve come in just a year and a half.”
Banks nodded from behind his desk. “It’s all exceeded my expectations.”
The maneuvers Wil was running with his group were quite advanced—the sort of exercises performed by Junior Agents. It helped that the Primus Elites were already manifesting telekinetic abilities. Wil’s request to have them spend the majority of their time outside of the subspace bubble seemed to be paying off. That, or just being around Wil made a difference. Their progress wasn’t as marked as Saera’s had been after Wil bonded with her, but it was evident that exposure to his profound ability level did have a measurable impact on others.
“At this rate, they’ll make it to Agent on your insane timeline,” Cris said as he rose from the guest chair.
“They’re still a long way off from being Agents.”
“True,” Cris conceded, “but they’re already on pace to exceed their CR estimates.”
Banks steepled his fingers. “It would be unprecedented for all of them to exceed 9.”
“I could see it happening.” And I don’t want to think what they could all do when combined with Wil.
The High Commander sat in quiet contemplation, his mind guarded as usual.
“What are you thinking?” Cris asked.
“I’m concerned about them becoming too distanced from the other trainees. They train, eat, sleep, and go to class together, but how much interaction is there with others?”
“Many of their classes are with the rest of the population. I made sure of that.”
Banks tapped his fingertips together. “I’ve talked to some of the instructors. Even though the Primus Elites are in classes with the other students, they don’t really talk to them. The three or four Primus Elites in each class will form a subgroup and work ahead of the rest of the class.”
“They’re a smart bunch.”
“But they’re not winning favor with the others. They need to be viewed as trusted leaders, not genius outsiders.”
Cris shrugged. “What do you suggest?”
“I think Wil needs to instruct them to be mentors. Have each of the Primus Elites step up as an instructor in some way.”
“The other students might resist.”
“We’ve seen time and time again that every trainee wants to improve” Banks responded. “They’ll take an opportunity to grow if it’s handed to them, even if it’s begrudgingly at first.”
“I’d say it’s unusual for Initiates to take on mentees, but ‘usual’ lost its meaning a decade ago.”
Banks cracked a smile. “Talk to Wil. Let’s see what kind of leadership potential these future officers of his really have.”
* * *
“No, no, no!” Wil ended the simulation. “Are you trying to get us all killed?”
Ian cursed into the comm. “It seemed like a better idea in my head.”
“You can’t defy physics.” Wil rubbed his eyes. “Maybe we need to go back to the spatial awareness chamber.”
“We’ll get it,” Michael interjected. “These controls are new. We just need some more practice.”
“A lot more.” Wil knew it was unfair to expect much from his men after only two days of practice in the flight simulators. Flying a combat jet was quite different from freefall training, regardless of what instructors told their students. And he was pushing the timeline. Under other circumstances, he would have waited several more months—or even a year—before moving onto the next phase of training. However, given the deteriorating conditions in the rift, the uncomfortably brisk pace was a necessity.
“Let’s run it o
ne more time,” Wil instructed. He restored the holographic interface around him that provided a simultaneous view of each of his trainee’s flight simulators.
Wil’s command post was at the center of the twenty pods, each equipped with a set of flight controls for a TX-70 jet. The pods could simulate heavy G-forces and be retrofitted with controls for any craft in the TSS fleet. Ultimately, Wil needed to train his group on the IT-1 jets, but the controls were far too complicated for the newer pilots. One step at a time.
The holographic screens around Wil illuminated with the vantage of each simulated jet in his fleet. Four squadrons of five jets were situated in a mock battlefield amid drifting asteroids. The environment was ideal for testing both maneuvering and tactics.
“All right, you know the drill. Take out the bad guys.” He activated the AI enemy. The group had been through so many tactical drills in freefall that Wil was eager to see how autonomous they could be when carrying out his general orders. His Captains needed to take charge of tactics so Wil could focus on overall strategy, but based on how things were going so far, they weren’t quite ready for Wil to step back.
“Form up on me,” Ethan said. He flew his jet forward from the starting point of the simulation, heading toward the enemy base hidden behind one of the larger asteroids.
They had run through the same scenario multiple times already and the map was familiar. The target was an enemy base on the back side of the asteroid, but it was guarded by a fleet of jets equipped with rift drives. Wil had considered modifying the layout, but considering they had yet to make it past the first wave of enemy defenses, there was no point.
The TX-70 jets piloted by the Primus Elites arranged in four triangular formations behind Ethan’s jet.
“The scout will be here any moment,” Ethan said. After four prior iterations, they knew the opening of the scenario by heart.
Ethan flew toward the mammoth asteroid and waited behind ones of the smaller rocks drifting through the debris field. He spotted the enemy scout—a single jet slightly larger than his own, built for speed. “I’ll take him out.”
Wil sighed inwardly. He couldn’t figure out how the men had got it in their minds that attacking the scout was a good opening move to the engagement. Yet, they took that approach every time. Staying hidden until the scout has given the all-clear would be so much more effective. He decided to let them try one more time before stepping in with specific instruction. Failure was an important part of the process so they didn’t feel invincible.