by A. K. DuBoff
They found a secluded area in a nearby park where Leon shared the news.
“Why didn’t you invite Lexi along?” Kira asked.
“I thought you’d want to know first and see if you want to bring her in. I think they’re working on some sort of bioweapon.”
Kira’s eyebrows shot up. “Like a virus?”
“That’s what I’d originally thought. They gave me research to look over that seemed disease-like, but now things have started to go in a different direction.”
“Which is?”
“It’s difficult to explain, which I know sounds ridiculous since it’s the bomaxed thing I’m working on. But it’s weird stuff, and the tasks have been so discrete that I—”
“Breathe, Leon.”
He took a deep breath. “Sorry, all this sneaking around is getting to me. I know I signed up for it, and all, just…”
“It’s okay. You’re doing great.” She rubbed his upper arms. “Now, what about this research you’re doing?”
“Right. Uh, the best way to describe it is that they are trying to isolate the part of the genetic code tied to Gifts—the telekinetic and telepathic abilities.”
“The Priesthood did that already, and that’s what mucked everything up.”
“This isn’t about the Generation Cycle. They’re trying to go after the connection to the energy well on the higher dimensional planes that those people tap into to use their abilities.”
“Are they trying to synthesize some means of Ascension, in the way the Priesthood was?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know the endgame, but that’s a possibility.”
“How does that connect to the bioweapon?”
“I don’t know. Maybe it doesn’t.”
Kira’s brows knitted. “Regardless, does this new research have promise?”
“I think they’re getting close to… something. The thing is, there’s no known way to force the separation of consciousness from someone’s physical being. We know from those rare few who can do astral projection that it is possible to disconnect the ‘self’ from the body, but it’s something the person controls themselves.”
“Not disconnect. Distance,” Kira corrected. She had a lot more experience working with Gifted people than he did, so it wasn’t surprising that she picked up on the distinction.
“Right. That ‘distancing’ without disconnecting is actually key. In the modeling we’re doing for these genetic modifications, we’re getting close to opening a more direct pathway for transdimensional energy flow at a cellular level. However, I can’t begin to speculate about what this would mean for the interaction of consciousness and the body. Does only the mind ‘Ascend’? Does the physical self go away?”
She nodded thoughtfully. “In any case, it’s not something a group of rogue scientists should be working on without oversight.”
“Which is why I came to you alone.”
“And what about the bioweapon? In what way is it connected?”
“The mechanism for connecting to the higher dimension to draw energy. Whereas my previous research was about taking something from our dimension and elevating it, from what little I saw of the Alliance’s research, it seems they are trying to create a vessel that can function as a tether—or avatar—in spacetime.”
“Oh, shite.” She paled. “Do you think they’re trying to find a way to enable the Erebus to walk among us?”
“I don’t know.”
“You’re right, this is bad. I need to talk to Jason.”
— — —
Jason’s heart lifted when his handheld lit up with an incoming voice call from Duronis. Finally!
The timing wasn’t great, since he was in the middle of a lecture, but his flight students could wait.
“Sorry,” he told the class as he picked up the device from the lectern at the front of the room, “I need to take this.”
He rushed out into the hallway. Before the door had even closed, he accepted the call, not wanting her to hang up because it was taking too long. “Hey. How are you?”
“Oh, getting by,” Kira replied.
Jason walked down the corridor toward one of the nearby study rooms where he could speak in private. “It’s good to hear from you in real-time. I was getting worried.”
“Yeah, sorry about that. Oren has ramped up his typical jerk-face, controlling tendencies, so I didn’t want to call undue attention to myself when I didn’t have anything useful to report.”
“Makes sense.”
“That’s changed. We may finally have some movement—and I’m concerned about the direction the situation is trending,” Kira reported.
“What’s going on?”
“Those plans that the Alliance have been hinting at? We’ve learned that it involves a remote planet—but we don’t know which yet.”
“That’s hardly an improvement.”
She sighed. “I know. This whole thing is weird, Jason.”
“Something else?”
“Leon is under the impression that the research they want to do is some kind of transdimensional tethering at a genetic level. That may or may not be connected to other research into some kind of bioweapon.”
“Fok,” Jason whispered under his breath. “That doesn’t sound good.”
“Funny you should say that—I thought the same thing!”
“It reminds me a little of the research the Priesthood was doing before their demise.” He was hesitant to draw any comparison to that barbaric genetic experimentation and the Priests’ attempts to ‘ascend’ to a higher state of being, but the parallels were too similar to ignore.
“I have a bad feeling about all this.” She paused. “Jasmine has been logging everything, and the scenario models she’s constructed based on the available data don’t paint a pretty picture.”
It was never a good sign when an Artificial Intelligence determined a worrisome narrative. Jason knew Jasmine, in particular, to be rather optimistic and upbeat for a sentient AI. From her position embedded inside Kira, Jasmine would be able to monitor and analyze everything Kira experienced, adding a crucial second layer of review to all observations. For both of them to be concerned, there was definitely a situation developing that would require the TSS’ attention.
“What have you determined?” Jason asked.
“In broad strokes, it appears the Alliance is very well-financed, and whoever is behind it wants a territory in the Outer Colonies under their sole control,” Kira explained. “That’s no surprise, but what’s recently popped up is the possibility that the TSS isn’t the Erebus’ sole point of contact among Tarans. This new transdimensional genetics thing is sending up all kinds of red flags.”
Could the Erebus be working with the Coalition? The implications were disastrous. It would explain why communications had been so minimal since the standoff at Tararia. “Can you send those analyses my way?”
“Not via this burner handheld. Getting anywhere with a secure connection to download would be tricky. I can try—”
“No, don’t risk it,” he told her. “I think pulling you out might be the best option at this point.”
“I’d like to stay under a little longer,” she countered. “This Alliance office doesn’t seem to have anyone from the larger Coalition involved in day-to-day operations—I’ve known that since very early on—but I’ve been looking for a lead about where to go to get the answers that we need. I’m convinced there’s awful business at work behind the scenes here, with bad intentions for the Empire as a whole. I won’t let that happen, and it’s downright frustrating that I’m having so much difficulty figuring out where to take the investigation from here.”
“The research planet may offer a new lead.”
“I’m hoping so. If we can get them to invite Leon in, that could give us the entry point we’ve been trying to find.”
Jason’s chest constricted. “I’m not too keen on that plan. I was okay with him going in as a civilian because you were with him. If he takes t
hat position, there’s little guarantee that you’d be reassigned, too.”
“He can look after himself.”
“Kira, I know he’s capable, but these people are dangerous.”
“Believe me, I wouldn’t suggest it if I thought there was any chance of him being in danger. He’ll be in a research lab, or whatever. That’s far away from the ‘action’.”
“I would still feel a lot better if you made the assignment be a package deal—either you go with him or he stays put.”
She nodded. “Shouldn’t be a tough pitch.”
Jason pinched the bridge of his nose between his eyes. “Okay, try to sell them on it, but under no circumstances are you to let him go off on an assignment on his own.”
“Aww, I think you’re even more concerned about him than I am.”
“And why aren’t you?” he asked pointedly.
“Because I’ve been hanging around with these people for the better part of a year, and they’ve been all talk. Leon’s my world. I wouldn’t suggest anything where he might get hurt.”
“Have you talked about this with your contact—Lexi?”
“Not in so many words.”
“Well, let’s not forget that her friend disappeared after she joined the Alliance, so these people might be capable of more than you’ve seen.”
“True.”
Jason hesitated. “Kira, don’t take this the wrong way, because I hope you know I have tremendous respect for you—”
“I do.”
“I don’t know if you can be an impartial judge in this matter. I totally get it, because I struggle with the same thing. When you have unique abilities that set you apart from others, it can be easy to forget that those around you have different limitations. Even those we love and think of as superheroes.”
She nodded. “I hear you. I guess it’s been long enough since I got these nanites that I’ve started to forget what it was like before the upgrade. Jasmine agrees that you make a good point about taking unnecessary risks with Leon.”
“His skills do offer a great potential entry point into other groups within the Alliance—or Coalition, or however they define themselves at that level. Just… be smart about it.”
“Will do. At any rate, some careful questioning is in order.”
“Yes. I hope you find something. I share your frustrations about the slow progress.”
She groaned. “Right? I honestly thought I’d be in and out of here within a month.”
“Clearly, there were miscalculations in that approach.”
“No, it’s more than that. I think something changed within the organization right around the time I got here. It’s like everything went on hold while they sorted something out at the top and only now is the new leadership filtering down to the bottom levels of us peons. I still believe that entrenching and waiting it out was the best approach—as annoying as it’s been.”
“I can give you another two weeks, but then we need to have a serious conversation about extracting you if nothing has changed.”
“All right. Either way, you owe me a good meal after this is over. The Alliance’s cafeteria makes the Guard’s mess hall look like fine dining.”
“Sorry. I’ll get you and Leon a special date night as a thank-you, I promise.”
“Deal.” She let out a long breath. “Okay, I should get back to it. I’ll be in touch about whatever we can find out about this new research planet.”
“Sounds good. Talk soon.”
Even once Jason had ended the call, he couldn’t relax. The part of himself that sensed shifts in the cosmic energy patterns tingled. Disruption was coming, and he had no idea how to stop it.
Chapter 6
Raena Sietinen reviewed the latest report from the Taran researchers working on Earth. The reports were an ancillary part of her oversight duties as the official ambassador for the Taran Empire to the newly rejoined planet, but she found the archaeological projects to be one of the most interesting aspects of her responsibilities.
“So, there really might be something there?” she asked Trevor, the liaison who’d furnished the confidential information she was now reviewing on her tablet.
“It appears so, my lady,” the young man confirmed from her viewscreen. “It is still too early to say what it might be, but the properties observed at each site are too similar to be a coincidence.”
Raena stared with wonder at the information in front of her. Is it really possible that these sacred sites on Earth have ancient alien tech hidden beneath them?
Such tall tales were the kind of thing she’d read about or seen on overly dramatic ‘real-life mystery’ shows during her youth on Earth. She’d found it fun to daydream about, but she had never considered it a genuine possibility. Of course, her perception of what was feasible had been radically altered when she’d learned about the Taran Empire. Even so, the concept that Earth may be hiding secrets that predated modern Taran history was intriguing and exciting.
“We’ve done everything we can from the surface,” Trevor continued. “The next stage of investigation will require excavation.”
“Do whatever you have to do.”
He bit his lip. “There’s a problem. The political situation is tricky.”
Raena set down the report and focused her full attention on him. “Walk me through it.”
“Well, we started the investigation under the guise of a resource survey, like we had planned. A, ‘Hey, welcome to the Taran Empire’s neighborhood, let’s see what you have and how we can help you,’ kind of thing. The us-helping-them scenario was easy to sell. But now that we need to dig, it’s going to look like we’re trying to take something.”
Raena nodded. “I’d hoped we’d be further along with our diplomatic relations by now.”
“You know how it’s been for us onsite. I’m worried that with tensions already running high, the moment we try to break ground there’s going to be a scene.”
“It’s imperative that we don’t make waves.” She paused in thought. “Let me make some calls. Hold for now; tell the team to take a little vacation and soak in the local culture for a few days while we get this sorted out.”
“Yes, my lady.” He bowed his head.
“Thank you, Trevor. I appreciate you being my eyes and ears for this.”
“It’s my honor.”
“Talk soon.” She ended the vidcall.
None of the news was unexpected, but Raena had hoped certain challenges would have worked themselves out before they reached this stage in the investigation. She’d done her best to lay the diplomatic groundwork, but certain government leader personalities on Earth had set back their progress.
The planet simply had too many political players for anything to get done quickly and without facing some form of opposition along the way. Even with the United Nations on good official terms with the Taran Empire, their influence was not absolute. Ultimately, setting up massive dig sites—especially near major international tourist attractions—was going to require the signoff of each country, and the request was almost certain to be denied unless a magnificently compelling reason could be given.
I didn’t want to do this, but we don’t have a choice. Taking a deep breath, she reached out to Ryan telepathically. “Hey, are you available to meet?”
“Wrapping something up. I’ll be free in fifteen.”
“Okay, I’ll head to you.”
She used the time during her walk across the Morningstar Isle estate to her husband’s office to prepare potential solutions to forthcoming problems.
Opposition was a given. Everything related to Earth and the larger political concerns throughout the Empire had set the Taran leadership on edge.
Ryan, in particular, remained in a delicate situation as the youngest and least experienced dynastic Head. Through her role as a diplomat, Raena had been positioning her wins as accomplishments for them as a couple, building goodwill and favor wherever possible. This latest situation had the potential to undo a
ll of that progress if it was handled incorrectly.
By the time she reached her husband’s office, Raena had formulated a plan and how she was going to sell it.
Ryan beckoned her into his office when he saw her in the reception area.
Raena smiled as she closed the glass door. “How’s your day going so far?”
“Not bad.” He combed his fingers through his dark hair. “We finally got the quotes for the autonomous robot welders from that other vendor on Lynaeda. Thirteen million, but the increased capacity compared to the bots spec’d in the bids out of Beurias should pay for itself within five months.”
“Can’t argue with that return.” She strolled to one of the plush visitor chairs facing the desk and took a seat.
“My thoughts, as well. The rest of the board agrees.”
“Good. One more thing to check off the list.”
He studied her. “As happy as I am to see you midafternoon, I imagine there’s a reason for this visit?”
“Yes. Unfortunately, we’ve hit a roadblock with Earth.”
“I’m not surprised.” Ryan leaned back in his swivel-chair. “What, specifically?”
“The need to excavate.” She rearranged the skirt of her dress as she crossed her legs.
“Ah, of course. And the government officials aren’t too keen on letting aliens root around for no clear reason?”
“You’ve got it. But it’s more than that.” She paused. “Over the last year, I’ve watched a lot of footage about the protests in the Outer Colonies—Duronis, Naevo, Erosaen, and all the other places. And now we’re seeing it on Earth.”
“Humans aren’t that different from us,” Ryan said.
“No, but I grew up watching the news on Earth. The way people respond. Something about this seems… different.”
“The galaxy opened up to them, Raena. It’s natural that Earth’s citizens would react differently now that they know they aren’t alone in the universe—and especially while we’re snooping around on their planet.”