by Amy DuBoff
I wish Raena were back here. This would be a lot more fun with someone else, he thought as he exited the elevator. A hollow persisted in his heart for the absence of his lifelong best friend. She had Ryan now, but Jason had been left alone.
It’d be one thing if he was still back on Earth, where he could be just any other teenager—dating, hanging out with friends, going off to college. But within the TSS, he was one of the Sietinen heirs, the son of the High Commander and Lead Agent. Despite Tiff’s offer, he imagined it would be unbecoming for him to have a casual girlfriend.
The situation was incredibly unfair when he looked at it in those terms—Raena getting to have sleepovers with her dream guy while Jason was forced into celibacy just because he didn’t want to make a lifelong commitment to someone at the age of seventeen.
He tried to suppress the thoughts and his frustration as he approached the designated freefall practice chamber where he was scheduled to meet his father. Bitterness wasn’t productive and there was too much at stake to be distracted by such things.
Wil was waiting outside the door, leaning against the wall while he reviewed something on his handheld. “Hey,” he greeted as Jason approached. He studied him. “Is everything okay?”
Jason found himself in a moment of weakness. Should I tell him? He hesitated. Keeping these feelings bottled up won’t solve the issues.
“Jason, if there’s something bothering you, let me know so I can help,” Wil urged.
“Let’s talk inside,” Jason suggested, gesturing to the door.
His father activated the door and they stepped into the gravity lock.
“Missing Raena?” Wil asked when the hallway door was sealed. He activated the lock and it began to cycle to null gravity.
“That’s part of it. We’ve never been separated for more than a few days before.”
“I miss her, too.”
“It’s more than that, though. Things around here… If I didn’t have this special training to look forward to, I’d feel like I didn’t have anything to ground me.” Just as Jason spoke the final words, the gravity had diminished enough that he began floating up from the floor. “I swear, that timing was not intentional.”
Wil smiled. “I know what it’s like to be an outsider among friends. It can be lonely at the top.”
“I get that, and I accept it. Some days, it just kinda sucks.”
“I hear ya.” His father nodded. “If I hadn’t had your mom, I never would have made it through.”
The inner door to the practice chamber opened, and they swung inside.
Jason grabbed one of the handholds along the wall near the door. “That’s just it—I don’t really have anyone to confide in now that Raena’s gone. You had Mom, and Raena was totally fine committing to Ryan right away, whether it’s from that nanotech messing with her head or something else.”
His father didn’t quite hide a wince.
“Sorry, Dad, I didn’t mean—” Jason tried to explain.
“No, it’s a complicated issue. I’m glad Raena and Ryan took their time getting to know one another for that very reason.” Wil released a slow breath. “For myself, my conclusion has always been that I love your mom, and now we’ve spent more than half our lives together. Regardless of what may have drawn us to each other initially, we have a love bond, and that wouldn’t go away if the nanotech were to vanish.”
“Yeah, I can see what you have together—I don’t doubt that.” Jason looked down. “I’m just not ready for that kind of commitment myself yet.”
Wil’s brow knit. “I hope I never set the expectation you’d find a partner immediately.”
“No, you didn’t.” Jason searched for the words. “More like… I feel I’m in a position where I can’t be with anyone without it having to be more serious than what I’m looking for. There’s almost this unspoken expectation in the family that there’s either insta-love or nothing.”
Understanding passed across his father’s face. “Ah. Hmm.”
“I know there’s probably not a solution, but it’s annoying.”
Wil looked pensive. “I suspect the limitations you’ve established are more self-imposed than anything.”
“Right, like you’d be totally okay with it if I decided to work my way through half the Primus Elites.”
His father scowled. “Well, that—”
“Okay, that’s an overly dramatic example. But, it seems like you and Mom and your parents were only ever with each other, and from early on. I feel like I’d be disappointing you if I can’t get it right the first time.”
“Jason, no.” His father looked him in the eyes. “All I want is for you to be happy.”
“What about expectations for the Dynasty?”
“Keeping alliances among the highborn and all that?” Wil waved his hand dismissively. “As far as I’m concerned, I think it would help our political case if you ultimately ended up with someone of non-dynastic birth. Or don’t ever marry—not everyone does.”
“Seriously?”
Wil shrugged. “Like I said, your happiness means more to me than anything else. If you want to date around, then do it.”
That’s not how I expected this conversation to go. “Well, thanks.”
“Of course.” His father smiled warmly. “I’m glad you spoke up. I’d hate to think you were miserable about something completely avoidable.”
“Yeah, me too.” Jason returned the smile. “I guess I’ll see how it plays out.” Maybe I will take Tiff up on that offer, after all…
“No need to rush anything,” his father assured him. “But, we do have a ticking clock on some other matters.”
“Taking out the Priesthood.”
“Precisely.”
Jason nodded. “No worries, I know that’s the most important thing going on. I won’t let anything else distract me from that.”
“You don’t need to be that rigid. Don’t stress out quite yet,” Wil countered. “I’ve been there, and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.”
“All right, I’ll try to keep it in perspective.”
“Good, because the entire Taran civilization is at stake,” Wil said with a completely straight face.
Jason’s heart leaped. “You just said—”
Wil cracked a smile. “That it’s important to remember how to breathe and unwind, even when you’re up against incredible odds.”
“All right, point taken.” Jason relaxed.
“Now, we have some practicing to do.” Wil drew himself to the middle of the freefall chamber and Jason followed. “The first skill you’ll need to master is astral projection.”
“That’s what you did with Raena, right?”
His father nodded.
Jason tilted his head. “What for?”
“To keep watch.”
“Please tell me you don’t intend for us to roam around keeping track of a quarter of the galaxy…” Jason said with a frown.
“It’ll be a lot more localized than that. We need to keep an eye on the rift. If you can become as proficient as me, we can watch over it without having to be physically present. Are you up for giving it a try?”
“Sure. I won’t turn down a challenge.”
His father smiled. “Good. Now, I find it easier to close my eyes. Clear your mind.”
Jason did as he was told. Floating in the chamber, there was little to perceive beyond his own breathing. He could sense his father near him, but everything else was a muted background hum.
“I’m here,” Wil’s voice sounded in his mind. “Follow me.”
The voice moved upward, and Jason lunged after it.
He could see again—not the vision of his corporeal eyes, but rather something more insightful. He was outside himself, still within the practice chamber, but looking down at his own physical form. A representation of his father floated nearby, also outside his physical body.
“This is so weird!” Jason exclaimed.
“But kinda cool, right?”
“Totally.” Jason thought for a moment. “Wait, why didn’t you use this to check on Raena when she was captured by the Priesthood last year?”
“Frankly, I was too upset to make an attempt. It requires calm and focus to achieve this state,” Wil explained. “But later on, I did try. They have some sort of shield. I haven’t been able to see anything inside the island.”
“This is the ultimate spy tool.”
“A skill we must use responsibly,” his father lectured. “Just like with telepathy, we have a code to follow for respecting privacy.”
“Of course.”
Wil nodded. “Now, we’re going out. Give me your hand.”
It was then that Jason realized his other-self outside his physical body still looked like him in his mind’s eye. He thought about reaching out toward his father’s image, and his right arm extended.
Wil grasped it. “Yes, you can alter how you appear in this state. It’s your consciousness—pure energy that’s not bound by physical limitations. The default is what’s most familiar.”
Jason hadn’t meant to share his wonder with his father, but he realized that in their elevated state, his thoughts were open.
“This way.” His father led him upward through the Levels of TSS Headquarters, then into the central elevator shaft and out into space.
Jason took in the sight, in awe of the starscape and Earth as he viewed them with new eyes. Everything had a depth and clarity beyond his normal vision, with every feature vivid. It seemed impossible that he could take in so much at one time, but still he yearned for more.
“And there is much more to see,” his father replied to the unvoiced request.
They set out to explore the stars, traveling faster and farther than any ship could while still taking in the sights of normal space. They skimmed the divide between physical reality and subspace, not bound to the mechanics of either, but truly free to roam. Star systems zoomed by, and nebulae in a rainbow of colors.
Eventually, their journey took them to the edge of the rift.
Jason sensed fear and concern emanating from his father. “The Priesthood will come for this place. We need to keep it safe,” Wil said.
“Aren’t we closing the rift?”
His father shook his head. “I thought we were, but when I came here with Raena, I learned something.”
Without warning, Jason felt himself being pulled—not up or over, but through. The stars faded and there was a flash of blue-green light. Then, motion ceased. The sensation disoriented him, but when Jason looked around, he saw the echoed starscape of being within the rift.
“I’ll show you,” Wil said, drawing Jason further into the spatial pocket.
Curious, Jason followed.
They stopped just beyond a dark mar near the center of the rift.
“What is this place?” Jason asked.
“It’s the site of the former Bakzen homeworld,” his father replied. “I destroyed it. But when I did, it created a dimensional tear. Both the Priesthood and the Aesir want to control that tear and use it as a power source.”
“Where is it?”
“Look.” Wil zoomed their vision toward the center of the darkness.
Jason didn’t see anything except blackness at first, but then a point of light came into focus. A sweet well of untapped power called to him, beckoning him inward.
“Don’t give in,” Wil said. “There’s nothing for us there.” He froze. “Stars!”
“What is it?”
Wil shook his head. “It shouldn’t be… The tear has grown. It’s only been two months since I last saw it, but this is noticeably larger.”
Jason sensed his father’s worry, and he recoiled from the tear. “What happens if it keeps expanding?”
“I’m not sure, but I suspect it will become an even greater target—the larger the opening, the more power that can be drawn from it.”
“What can we do about it?” Jason asked.
“Train and prepare as best we can,” his father replied. “Only the Aesir could hope to close it, if that’s even possible, but they won’t come near until the Priesthood is eliminated.”
“And if the Priesthood gets ahold of it instead?”
Wil gazed at the point of light before them. “They might ascend, and then there’d be nothing we could do to stop them.”
Part 2: Revolution
CHAPTER 12
Wil reviewed the latest reports from the training heads responsible for the covert training groups within the TSS. The independent units were all progressing ahead of schedule, and most of the Agent cohorts were nearing graduation.
Four years had passed since Raena and Ryan departed for Tararia, and Wil had been busy training Jason and the other Primus trainees with the weaponized telekinesis skills they’d need to hedge their bets against the Priesthood’s likely retaliation. Though he’d begun the exercise unsure if they’d be able to engage in the training activities without catching unwanted attention, they hadn’t run into any trouble—yet. And since no opposition had presented itself, Wil had decided to not go looking for conflict before they needed to make a definitive move.
Now, they were close to being prepared. When Cris was ready to make his political power play on Tararia, the TSS would be standing by to enforce the High Dynasty’s mandates. With their unified force, nothing would stand in their way.
He leaned back in the chair behind his desk in the High Commander’s office and smiled. We might actually win this thing.
A buzz sounded at his door and Saera entered a second later. “Have a few minutes?” she asked.
“For you, always.” He smiled at her.
“Romantic privilege for the win.” She grinned and took a seat in one of the visitor chairs across from him.
“What’s up?”
“I was thinking about the upcoming CR tests and graduation,” Saera said, drumming her fingers on the armrest. “Should Raena and Ryan participate?”
The arrangement for them to continue training on Tararia under the auspice of a TSS Agent—Wil’s former Primus Elite trainee, Kalin—had placed the duo in an unusual position. They hadn’t been full members of the TSS for the past four years, but they also weren’t civilians. TSS custom would dictate they go through the testing procedure, but that wasn’t something Wil could allow to occur. If Raena were to be tested, she would no doubt smash the 10 barrier in a matter of seconds, and it was unlikely the testing sphere would fare any better than when Wil had cracked it during his own test decades prior.
Cris remained the only person aside from Wil who was aware of Raena’s test from when she first joined the TSS. Now, with his wife eyeing him questioningly, Wil was unsure if this was the right time to come clean.
“You’re keeping something from me,” Saera said. “Out with it.”
I did promise no more secrets. I should have told her years ago. Wil took a deep breath. “I tested Raena—before her first term began.”
His wife sat in stunned silence for several seconds. “Why didn’t you say anything then?”
“Because your position as Lead Agent would ethically obligate you to making it official record. As it stands now, we can invoke the clause to assign a suitable CR without formal testing.”
Saera’s brow furrowed as she glared at him through her tinted glasses, then she softened. “I guess that’s valid. This is where things get tricky with the division of wife and fellow officer.”
“If it were just you as her mother, I would have said something.”
She nodded. “It must have been significant for you to want to keep it secret.”
“I stopped her at 9.8.”
“Whoa! And before classes even started?”
“Exactly.”
“Huh.” Saera slumped back in her chair. “What can she do now?”
“Kalin kept things by-the-book with the training. I suspect, however, that she’d be able to do anything Jason can with very little coaching.”
“I guess that’s not bad bac
kup to have.”
“No, we’re not tapping her for this fight. I didn’t tell her what she scored because I want her to focus on Tararia. The three of us can handle the TSS.”
Saera inclined her head. “All right. Then, like you said, we’ll assign a rank. What do you think?”
“I say we give both Raena and Ryan 9.3s and call it good.”
She looked surprised. “That’s all?”
“It’s more about sending a message than factual accuracy at this point,” Wil replied. “A 9.3 is advanced without overstepping the current senior officers.”
“Raena will know she’s being under-scored,” Saera pointed out.
“But if my father has done his job, she won’t care.”
“That’s true,” his wife conceded.
“Besides, the moment she’s sworn into an official political role, a TSS commission will become nothing more than a résumé entry.”
Saera shook her head. “I can’t believe we’re this close. Finally!”
“We’ve done our part,” Wil replied. “Now we wait.”
* * *
Long shadows stretched across the landscape outside Raena’s office window as she completed her tasks for the day.
The office was four meters square, making it cozy enough to work alone while not being cramped when she had visitors. Her wooden desk was parallel with the side wall, affording her a view out the back window and of the door. She enjoyed staring out at the lush gardens of the Sietinen estate whenever she had the opportunity to take a break from the affairs of politics and business that had become her day-to-day life. While she had no regrets about following that path, there were days when she wished for a vacation to journey amongst the Taran worlds.
When everything is in order here, we’ll have to take a trip. It will give us a chance to connect with the people in the outer colonies who’ve lost faith in Taran authorities. The thought brought a smile to her lips and she gazed up into the sky. That future isn’t so far off.
She was pulled from her reverie by a knock at the door. Before it opened, she knew it was Ryan—a happy tingle running through her core as their bond responded to the proximity.
“About time,” she greeted. “When you said it was going to be a quick meeting, I thought it would be fifteen minutes, not five hours.”