Empire Uprising (Taran Empire Saga Book 2): A Cadicle Space Opera

by A. K. DuBoff

  “Oh, sorry,” Kira said. “Lexi, Jason. Jason, Lexi.”

  “I recognized you,” Jason said, stealing another glance back at her.

  There was another electric bolt through Lexi as their gaze briefly met. His glowing teal eyes seemed to bore into her, his gaze filled with surprise and intrigue.

  Does he feel this, too?

  She broke free and stared at the floor, overwhelmed by the intensity of it. There was a hum in the air—the kind of power she’d only sensed around other Gifted, but she’d experienced nothing on this scale before. This was an exceptionally powerful Agent.

  The sudden attraction felt out of place after the traumatic experienced she’d just been through—witnessing death and destruction up close. She should be rocking in the corner crying. Instead, just being in this man’s presence was somehow grounding, like she was being comforted by a longtime friend by simply being together in the same room.

  She didn’t understand it, and she wasn’t in a good mindset to figure out what it might mean.

  Lexi kept her gaze down until they reached space. A weight lifted from her chest as they left the atmosphere with the knowledge she wasn’t going to die down there, but she also felt a sting of guilt knowing there were so many still trapped on the planet’s surface.

  In the pilot’s seat, Jason punched in a few commands on the front console to set the ship to auto-pilot. He then swiveled around in his seat. “Okay, so what happened down there?” he asked Kira.

  “I don’t know much more than when we last spoke. But Lexi was able to get this.” Kira pulled out Lexi’s handheld from her pocket and tossed it to Jason.

  He examined the device. “What’s on it?”

  “I was able to access the Alliance’s computer network,” Lexi said, finally managing to find her voice. “It’s part of a project directory that might be related to a planet where the Alliance is setting up a new research lab.”

  “And likely where they took Leon,” Kira added.

  “Only partial?” Jason asked, looking at her.

  None of the intensity had let up. She refused to meet his gaze. “Yeah. The power cut out before the transfer completed.”

  He frowned. “Hopefully, that didn’t corrupt the data.”

  “That can happen?”

  “Depending on how their transfer protocol is configured.” He examined the device for a moment. “I don’t want to check it out on the ship here in case any kind of virus or malware also copied over. Better to open it on an air-gapped terminal once we get to TSS Headquarters.”

  Lexi felt a flush in her cheeks. “TSS Headquarters?”

  “Yes, we need to debrief you,” he explained. “You’re not under arrest or anything.”

  She shot a panicked look at Kira.

  “It’s okay,” her friend said. “I’ve always wanted to see TSS HQ. I heard it’s quite impressive.”

  “The best.” Jason smiled. “Though I am biased with it being home and all.”

  “All right,” Lexi agreed.

  Jason pivoted his chair to face forward again. “I’m going to let everyone know what’s up and initiate a jump back. Need to send any messages before we enter subspace?”

  “No,” Lexi said. “I don’t have anyone.”

  He glanced back at her before turning his attention to the front console.

  “Mind if we get cleaned up?” Kira asked.

  “No, of course not. Go right ahead,” Jason said. “I haven’t touched the cabins, so pick whichever ones you’d like and help yourselves.” He evaluated them over his shoulder. “There isn’t a fab on this ship so I can’t offer replacement clothes, but there should be a hydrosonic cleaner in the washroom, at least.”

  Kira waved her arms over herself as if displaying fine wares. “I’m going to start a new fashion trend with the tattered look. Isn’t it fabulous?”

  Jason smiled. “If anyone can pull it off, it’s you.”

  “I’m probably going to pass out as soon as I shower. Wake me up when we get there,” Kira said, giving a salute before leaving the flight deck.

  Lexi followed her out to the corridor, where Kira was palming open one of the cabin locks. As soon as the door slid open, Lexi pushed her inside.

  “What?” Kira snapped.

  Lexi waited for the door to close behind them before speaking. “Is that your TSS handler?”

  “Yeah. What about him?”

  “You never said he was gorgeous!”

  Kira laughed. “Stars, Lexi, you’ve been in the Alliance for too long. Go take a cold shower.”

  Lexi’s face burned. “Sorry. I’ve never been around an Agent before. Are they all like that?”

  “No. But if you’re going to make friends with any Agent, Jason is one of the best you could have.”

  Lexi shifted on her feet. “Is it just me, or was he staring at me, too?”

  “He most certainly was.” She patted Lexi on the shoulder. “Now, I mean this in the nicest way, please leave before I shove you out.”

  “I’ll see you later.” Lexi quickly excused herself.

  Back in the corridor, she glanced toward the flight deck where Jason was still seated at the controls, plotting a subspace jump. It’d been a long time since she’d been with anyone—had even wanted to be.

  Stop getting ahead of yourself. She took the cabin across the hall from Kira’s.

  A shower was definitely her first priority. Then a snack. Apparently, almost dying had a way of working up an appetite in more ways than one.

  — — —

  Half an hour into the subspace jump, Jason got up to stretch. The auto-pilot would keep them on-course for the duration of the voyage.

  Being a small ship, there wasn’t a lot of room to roam, unfortunately. He wandered down the central corridor. When he reached the galley, he heard someone inside.

  He was about to poke his head in when Lexi walked out.

  “Oh, hi. Looking for something?” Jason asked.

  “Yeah, sorry.” She blushed at the sight of him. “It’s been forever since lunch. I was just grabbing a snack.”

  “Sure. Help yourself to anything in the galley.”

  She smiled. “Good, because I already did!”

  Jason could feel Lexi watching him, radiating the confusion he felt internally about the strong connection between them. She had the aura of someone Gifted. Tons of potential churned as a mass of disorganized chaos beneath the surface, indicating that she lacked formal training.

  “Where did you study?” he asked her, captivated by her presence.

  Her eyes widened. “What do you mean?”

  “Your abilities. I can tell you’ve tapped into your potential, though not completely. You’re quite strong for a civilian.” He was downplaying it quite a bit. Truthfully, he assessed her potential to be in the upper Primus range. It was shocking that she’d progressed this far without anyone taking notice.

  “I’ve, um, had a few instructors here and there over the years,” she replied.

  Jason stepped a little closer, gauging her reaction. He couldn’t help being drawn to her, as though they were being reunited rather than just meeting for the first time. She seemed eager to be near him, too, but was clearly holding back.

  “I’ve worked with a lot of students,” he said. “You have significant innate talent.”

  “A fat lot of good it’s done me.”

  “Maybe you’ve been hanging out with the wrong crowd if you feel that way.”

  She let out a bitter laugh. “Oh, you have no idea!”

  There was the pain of loss in her tone. Jason recognized it because he often felt it in himself. Maybe that’s all there was between them—just two wounded souls who could see in one another the hollowness left behind by tragedy.

  For some inexplicable reason, he sensed they might be able to help each other heal. He spoke without conscious thought about what he was saying, thoroughly entranced by her. “The good news is, now you have the opportunity to try something new.
”

  They stared intently at each other, standing much closer than two strangers typically would.

  “Have we met before?” Lexi asked.

  “No. I’d certainly remember that.” He ventured a smile. I didn’t feel like this when I saw the video of her. How can I have such strong feelings for someone I just met?

  As they stood alone in the hallway, there was an almost electrical energy between them. The closer he moved toward her, the more intense it became.

  What do we do now? He couldn’t imagine walking away from her, though that was the most logical thing to do. She was the key witness in an ongoing investigation, and his job as an Agent was to escort her back to TSS Headquarters.

  Yet, standing so close together, his normally ever-present sense of reason evaporated. He yearned to be closer to her—this stranger who he should rationally be talking to in an interrogation room. Nonetheless, he stared at her, inexplicably intoxicated.

  “I’ve never felt something like this with anyone before,” she said softly, gazing into his eyes.

  “Me either.” As much as he wanted to reach out to her, he resisted.

  Almost as if she knew he wouldn’t make the first move, Lexi reached out and placed a hand on his chest, sending a tingle through him. “Why do I feel like I’ve known you my whole life?” Her hand slid from his chest to behind his neck, pulling him closer. Her warmth beckoned him.

  Stars, what am I doing? His TSS training told him that he should be acting like a professional, but all of his other senses told him that his was the moment he’d been waiting for his whole life.

  Jason could feel of heat of her up against him. Her breath on his cheek. The desire in those clear, blue eyes…

  A glimmer of logic and reason returned to his mind.

  “We need to slow this down.” He was so absorbed in Lexi that it may as well have been someone else speaking. He took a deliberate step back from her before he lost perspective again. “You don’t even know me.”

  Lexi’s arms dropped to her sides. “What are you scared of?”

  “I’m not scared. Just cautious.”

  “Sometimes, you need to let go.” She took a step toward him.

  He backed up to match her movement, holding up his hands. “No, there’s something more going on here. I suspect you feel it, too.”

  Lexi looked down the hallway but didn’t say anything.

  There was only one explanation. “Have you ever heard of a resonance connection?” he asked.

  “Yeah, but that’s…” She faded out. “Is that what this is?”

  “I don’t think I really grasped it until now,” he said.

  Understanding filled her eyes, but there was still confusion and worry. “The chances of meeting this way…”

  It really makes you wonder about fate. He left the statement unsaid, but her open thoughts echoed the sentiment.

  She crossed her arms, and Jason couldn’t help but notice how the motion accentuated her cleavage and toned stomach beneath her thin shirt.

  She really is stunning. It took a significant measure of his willpower to not test out their apparent physical chemistry. But he was a high-ranking TSS officer and had a family legacy to uphold. He couldn’t allow lust to cloud his judgment.

  Besides, this very well could be the start of the same kind of powerful connection Raena had with Ryan or that his parents shared. Lexi could be that special person for him. The potential relationship didn’t make any logical sense given the current social dynamics, but none of that mattered in the present moment. He sensed a deeper connection there that defied the circumstances of everyday life. It was worth exploring and nurturing that possibility—not a situation to rush into blindly.

  Stars! This is more complication than I wanted right now. Emotions warred within him. Lexi was beautiful, determined, and courageous—exactly the type of woman he adored. The recent past, though, made the situation tricky enough to give him pause.

  Neither of them spoke as they processed what this unexpected meeting might mean for their futures.

  The silence made Jason feel awkward standing in the central corridor. He opened the door to one of the unoccupied cabins and motioned her inside. “Let’s talk.”

  Chapter 14

  Lexi looked around the small cabin on the TSS transport ship as she wandered in, stopping near the two plush chairs next to a viewport. She felt incredibly warm and her pulse was racing.

  Who is this guy and why do I feel this way? Being around Jason was surreal. The physical attraction was obvious, but there was more to it—like she’d just been found a piece of herself that she hadn’t known she was missing.

  It was absolutely crazy. She’d just met the guy. And he was a TSS Agent! There was no way anything could work out between them.

  Jason followed her into the cabin and sat down on the edge of the bed. “This is totally unexpected.”

  “Yeah, I’ll say.” Lexi traced her fingers along the back of the chair, studying him; the distance he’d intentionally placed between them did not go unnoticed.

  “I wish I had more of an explanation for what’s going on here,” he said. “We met less than an hour ago, yet I feel like I’ve known you for years.”

  “Same here.”

  Given that odd sense of familiarity, this didn’t seem like a conversation they should be conducting from opposite sides of the room. However, when she took a step toward the bed, he held up one hand, palm outward.

  “I’d love to be close to you right now, trust me, but there are some important things we need to discuss first.”

  “Such as?” She could think of a number of issues related to his career and her recent association with criminals, but she was curious how he would respond to the question.

  Jason propped himself up with his arms angled back on the bed. “For starters, what do you know about resonance connections?”

  “It’s a powerful attraction.”

  “It’s more than that,” he said. “It’s indicative of the potential to have a very strong bond.”

  Lexi’s brows shot up with surprise. Telepathic bonds between Gifted people were formed through physical intimacy, as she understood it, so that seemed to be jumping ahead a bit. “Doesn’t bonding require a conscious decision?”

  “Usually. But in cases of resonance connections, it can happen spontaneously. I have to be upfront that I’m not in a position to take rash actions. We need to, you know, make sure we actually like each other before we consider doing anything more.”

  “And then?”

  Jason shrugged. “We either throw caution to the wind and go for it, or we keep taking things slow until we’re absolutely certain this is something we want long-term.”

  Is he genuinely considering a relationship here? It sounded like it. She’d thought that a TSS Agent would dismiss her out of hand. Except, if he felt this connection as strongly as she did, walking away wasn’t an option. “How often do relationships between people with resonance connections work out?”

  “All those I know about personally have.”

  She swallowed. “So, in the ‘caution to the wind’ scenario, odds are more for than against?”

  “Yes.”

  Stars! That’s it? You have an insta-love connection and your future together is a foregone conclusion? It was a lot to take in—to think that this could be the person she’d spend the rest of her life with. “If it’s so inevitable, then why wait at all?”

  Jason took a deep breath and let it out. “Because I’m not just a TSS Agent. I’m Jason Sietinen, twin brother to the Sietinen Dynasty heiress.”

  Lexi went from a state of awe to shock to confusion to concern in the span of a second. “No foking way.” She retraced their interactions with new perspective. I almost kissed a Sietinen heir. Stars!

  The hope that she’d started to feel evaporated. It was one thing to overcome the obstacle of being with a TSS Agent, but a High Dynasty heir? And the son of the TSS High Commander? That was another story
.

  “I have a nice heaping pile of responsibility on me that makes everything more complex,” Jason said, meeting her distressed gaze with surprising calm. “Service to my family and the TSS has always been paramount. Yet, I now have this profound feeling that I need you in my life, and I’m having difficulty reconciling that with the fact that I don’t even know you.”

  He… wants this? Lexi worked her mouth, not sure what to say.

  “Rushing into anything isn’t smart,” he continued after a pause. “Nonetheless, I know the power of these kinds of connections. It’s not something I can ignore.”

  Her pulse pounded in her ears. “I know how I feel about you, even though it doesn’t make sense. Then again, I’ve never really been one for careful consideration.”

  “I’ve had to work at that, myself.” Jason got up from the bed and came to sit down in the chair across from her. He leaned forward with his forearms resting on his thighs. “Lexi, I believe there’s something real here between us. If it is what I think it could be, I don’t want to mess it up.”

  Her heart leaped at the thought, but it seemed too good to be true. She stared out the viewport at subspace. “How could there ever be anything with us, given who you are and me being… who I am?”

  “You might know my family by name, but you don’t know them. It’s not as big of a barrier as you might think.”

  I doubt that. She ran her fingers through her dark-brown hair. “I don’t get it. How do these ‘resonance connections’ even happen?”

  “In some cases, it was the result of nanotech from the Priesthood as part of their grand genetic engineering scheme, but for other people it’s natural. Some kind of genetic instinct. I couldn’t tell you what’s going on with us. I feel it, though. More strongly than I ever would have thought possible.”