by Amy DuBoff
“I’m pretty sure I read some history article about a guy who only lasted one night. You’re already an old-timer.”
He smiled over at her and she leaned against him.
“Everyone ready?” Marina asked the room.
“Yes, please!” Cris urged.
Marina placed her handheld on Cris’ desktop and selected one of the files to appear on the holoprojector.
The data was organized by corporation, with votes tallied for each of the current Dynastic Heads—who also doubled as CEOs—to remain in their current positons of authority. The intent was for anyone below a fifty percent approval rating to be up for potential replacement, pending a search for candidates and election of a suitable individual.
Raena scanned over the results. “Well, I’ll be…”
Every single Head’s position had been ratified with at least a sixty percent approval rating. Apparently, getting out the truth regarding the Priesthood had won the favor of most. If everyone did their jobs well in the coming years, they might continue to hold onto those positions.
More impressive, though, were the results for Sietinen and Dainetris. Cris had garnered a ninety-six percent approval score, and Ryan an unprecedented ninety-nine percent—not that there were currently any other employees of DGE.
Cris slumped against his desk. “I’d prepared myself for an outcome where everyone called us scheming liars and demanded our necks.”
“I had, too, but I didn’t think that would ever happen,” Raena admitted. “When it comes down to it, very few people would actually want our jobs. We’ve demonstrated a desire to change things, and that’s more initiative than anyone’s ever shown before. Better to stick with what you know than upend everything all at once.”
Marina shook her head. “But a rational outcome from the masses…”
“When you break it down to the individual level, people are innately reasonable,” Cris pointed out. “Issues have always stemmed from looking only at the big picture. When you treat everyone the same and group people in massive categories, of course you’re going to get groupthink going in crazy directions—that’s how the Priesthood was able to maintain so much control. But treat people like the individuals they are, you’ll get the rational reaction you’d expect from a one-on-one conversation.”
“That was our theory from the very outset of this venture,” Kate added. “I’m so happy to see it held true.” She wrapped her arm around Cris’ waist and held him close.
“Now we keep proving ourselves every day,” Raena said.
Ryan took a deep breath. “I still have no idea how to go about determining what’s best.”
“If those answers came easily, other people would want our job,” Cris said with a smile.
Ryan smiled back. “Fair enough.”
“Besides,” Raena added, “now we’re not in competition with each other. We can work through problems to find mutually beneficial solutions rather than focusing on what will make shareholders the happiest.”
Cris admired her from across the desk. “A few public speeches like that and I think Sietinen will have support for many years to come.”
Raena gave a bashful shrug. “I really never intended to be a politician.”
Kate chuckled. “I think it’s a little late for that.”
* * *
“Yes, my lord,” an attendant said with a bow of his head and withdrew from Ryan’s new office.
I’m not sure if I’ll ever get used to that. Ryan shook his head and resumed gazing out the window.
While everything was in transition, Cris had arranged for one of the outbuildings on the Sietinen estate to be temporarily repurposed as an administrative center for DGE’s resurrection. Even more useful were the staff members who’d been reassigned to assist with the efforts.
Just when Ryan would start to feel like he had a handle on the business scope, he’d inevitably be presented with a new conundrum that made him second-guess his understanding of the entire venture. However, he’d learned long ago that all of life was a learning experience, and he may as well embrace that he’d never know everything. The best he could do was remain malleable and surround himself with smart people who’d help him along the way.
He was pulled from his thoughts by a light knock on the doorframe. He looked up to see Raena grinning at him.
“Hi,” he greeted her. “Sorry, I should have noticed you come over.”
“You have a few things on your mind, don’t worry.” She slipped into the room and closed the door. “I hope you don’t mind a mid-afternoon visit.”
“It’s very welcome.” He beckoned her over, and she eased onto the edge of the desk next to him.
“How goes it?” she asked.
“Well enough. I think we have a solid transition plan in place.”
“About time.” Raena sighed. “This has been the longest week ever.”
“You’re telling me! It still weirds me out every time I turn on a news broadcast and see my face.”
“Crazy, isn’t it? It’s no wonder my dad was so willing to give up his place in the succession line.”
“At least you have a mentor on your side of things,” Ryan pointed out. “I’m two steps from feeling completely on my own here.”
“You’re very far from being on your own.” His wife placed a hand on his shoulder and looked him in the eyes. “Well, at least three steps.” She grinned.
“Ha.”
Raena leaned in for a kiss, and the good-natured needling from moments before vanished from memory.
“So,” she continued as she pulled away from the kiss, “now that everything is out in the open, we have to think about if we want to introduce any new policies and all that.”
“I don’t think I have the headspace to think about that quite yet,” Ryan replied. “We probably have a solid month of transition activities for DGE to get running on its own power. They want me to go tour all the facilities—it’ll be a lot.”
“I don’t suppose I can go with you?”
The request caught Ryan by surprise. “You have time for that?”
“Well, my grandfather will be helming things at SiNavTech for some time to come. Now that we’ve weathered the worst of our little revolution, my tasks aren’t terribly time-sensitive.”
Ryan took her hand. “I’d love to have you along. Truth be told, I was hoping you’d want to come.”
“Always.” She rubbed the top of his hand with her thumb.
“I’m so glad I don’t have to go through this alone.”
“Same. It’s so much to process…” She eyed him. “How’s your mom taking all this?”
Stars, that’s right! Ryan closed his eyes. “Fok, I’ve been meaning to call her. There’s been so much on my mind—”
“Oh, so you haven’t talked to her since everything went down?”
“No, I have not,” Ryan admitted. “Shite, how do I even explain everything?”
“Probably not much to explain at this point. You’ve sorta been all over the news.”
He groaned. I haven’t known what to say so I’ve put off the conversation, but I can’t just leave her hanging. “You’re right, I need to call her.”
“I really thought you had last week.”
“I’ll do it right now.” Ryan let out a heavy sigh. “I should probably do that on my own.”
“Of course.” Raena returned to her feet.
“I don’t have much left to get done today. I’ll call her and wrap up a few things, then meet you back at the main manor, okay?”
“I hope it goes well.” She leaned down and gave him a light kiss.
“Thanks. I’ll see you soon.”
Once Raena departed, he took a couple minutes to compose his thoughts. After futile attempts at playing out the conversation in his head, he decided to just dive in. He initiated a video call via the viewscreen on the wall.
Nearly thirty seconds passed before Marie accepted the call and her image appeared on the screen.
Marie’s eyes began to glisten as soon as she saw him, on the verge of tears. “Ryan! The news…”
He worked his mouth, trying to find the right words. “I never meant for you to find out this way, but things had to happen quickly, and in private.”
She shook her head. “So you’re…?”
“Yes,” he confirmed. “You are the descendent of a Dainetris heir. When my father came to you, he knew that. He was friends with Cris Sietinen, and he knew a pairing between those two High Dynasties… Well, let’s just say that he found a way to give you the child you wanted while laying the foundation for a much bigger plan.”
“So it’s true.” Her voice was filled with disbelief. “It really is you on these broadcasts.”
“Yes.” Ryan took a deep breath. “I’ve been sworn in as Head of Dainetris. Raena Sietinen and I were married last week.”
Marie stared at him in silence for ten seconds. “I don’t know what to say.”
“There are no words that can set everything right. We had family that the Priesthood hunted down and eliminated like vermin just because they tried to speak the truth. I wanted to tell you as soon as I found out, but we were worried that they might go after you, too, if they suspected you were in on our coup.”
His mother shook her head. “I’m glad I didn’t know. I don’t think I would have had the stomach for it.” She scoffed. “It explains so much… why your father insisted on your paternity records being doctored the way they were.”
“No more manipulation,” Ryan stated. “We’ve all committed to a new way forward.”
“I’ll believe it when I see it.”
“Well, I know what my priorities are—and Cris feels the same way. Between Dainetris and Sietinen, we can have a significant impact.”
Marie considered the statement. “That’s an alliance no one would have expected. I’d always wondered why the Sietinen heiress was never betrothed to another dynastic heir.”
“Yeah, that got a little tricky to navigate toward the end. Raena and I have been together for about five years now,” Ryan revealed.
“I wish I’d known about the wedding…”
“Her parents weren’t there, either,” he hastily cut in. “It wasn’t a party, trust me.”
“Well, I’d love to meet her sometime. She seems like a lovely girl, from what I’ve seen of her,” Marie murmured.
“We do need to get together—and not just a quick visit. Now that people know about me, you don’t need to keep living there.”
She shrugged. “This is the only home I know.”
“I felt the same way when I thought about leaving here, but I’d like us to have a chance to get to know each other.”
Marie smiled. “I’d like that, too.”
“Well, I’ll set up a dinner together for sometime soon and we can take it from there,” Ryan told her.
“Where would that be?” she asked tentatively.
“Probably here at the Sietinen estate.”
Her face paled. “Me? There?”
“It won’t be how you’re thinking. Keep in mind that Cris and Kate spent most of their lives in the TSS—they’re super casual.”
“I still can’t believe you’re on a first name basis with High Dynasty leaders…”
I am one of those High Dynasty leaders now. Ryan gave her a reassuring smile. “It’ll just be a nice dinner with my in-laws, don’t worry.”
She nodded. “All right. I look forward to it.”
“I’ll be in touch soon.” Ryan ended the call and sighed. It was hard enough for me to adjust to thinking about myself as anything but a Ward, but after half a lifetime, how will it be for her?
Only time would tell.
Ryan completed his remaining tasks for the day and then locked his desktop and went to meet Raena.
He found her on the couch in their shared quarters
“How’d she take it?” Raena asked, rising to greet him.
“As well as can be expected. She wants to meet you.” He smiled.
“I’d like to meet her, too.” Raena placed her hands on his hips. “We can get her out of that quartered housing. For that matter, we’ll need to figure out where we want to live.”
“I was wondering if maybe we should unbury Dain.”
Raena thought about it. “Wouldn’t that be disruptive to the current population? We’d have to relocate everyone. Maybe it would be better to just complete the repairs and leave it as-is.”
“Then where would we go? I mean, I guess we could stay here, but Cris is running SiNavTech for now, so DGE is really where I should focus my attention. We’ll need our own offices.”
“Well,” Raena said slowly, “this might sound strange, but what do you think about the Priesthood’s island?”
“You can’t be serious.”
“It’s not like it was when the Priesthood was there. As soon as the final fight was over, it… changed,” she explained. “After what happened to us there, I feel almost like it’s our duty to make it into something better—to overwrite all the bad that’s happened on that island over the years and turn it into a place of joy.”
Ryan considered the suggestion. “I guess I’d have to see it for myself.”
“Of course.”
“It’s not something I would have considered, but I can see the rationale.”
“After all,” Raena continued, “it was set up with administrative facilities and to house full-time residents. There are those smaller structures along the southern coast, and, once you get past its former creepiness, the architecture of the main structure is really quite breathtaking. The center of the island is basically just one giant garden…”
Ryan gazed into her eyes. “That’s what you saw in your vision, isn’t it? Us there together.”
She nodded. “It didn’t make sense at the time, but now… it feels right. I think we could make a home there.”
“I’m still a little skeptical, but think I can get on board with that plan,” Ryan agreed. “I will have to insist on renovations, though.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Raena smiled. “We could even bring some things from the former Dainetris estate—art, furniture, or whatever catches your eye.”
“Perfect.” He gave her a light kiss. “I’m excited to be starting this new life with you.”
“Me too.” She laid her head against his chest, holding him tight. “And this is just the beginning.”
CHAPTER 21
Cris gazed out at Lake Tiadon in the morning sunlight, a warm breeze ruffling his hair. He took a sip of his morning brew, admiring the sight in silence.
Behind him, he sensed Kate approaching.
“Is it still true?” she asked. “Is the Priesthood still really gone?”
Cris smiled back at her. “I’m sure there are some lurkers out there, but as of this morning we’re still free.”
Kate placed an arm around Cris’ waist and leaned against the railing next to him. “We planned this for over fifty years. I can’t believe it finally happened.”
“And that it worked!” Cris chuckled and shook his head incredulously. “This never would have been possible without you.”
His wife squeezed him tighter. “You were the one with the vision.”
“I only looked so far ahead, though—you made it happen.”
“It was a team effort.”
“Indeed it was,” he agreed. “We may have set a new direction for Tarans, but there’s still a difficult path ahead.”
“We’ll figure it out.” Kate smiled up at him. “We always have.”
Cris set down his mug so he could embrace her with both arms. “You have been my constant through it all. I know I can face any challenge so long as I have you by my side.”
“Me too.” Kate held him in silence for a long while, looking out over the lake together.
“You know,” Cris said at last, “I finally feel like I belong here.”
“Becau
se we do.”
For the first time, he actually believed her. “I do miss the TSS, though,” he added.
She let out a wistful sigh. “They’ll always be our second family.”
“But what we have here and now, with Raena and Ryan—I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
Kate gave him a knowing smile. “Good, because we have a civilization to run.”
“I suppose we do.” He took in a breath of the fresh air. “But I have to admit, I’m excited about this future.”
* * *
One hundred twenty-seven emails greeted Raena when she checked her handheld in the morning. She took one look at the device and tossed it back onto its charging pad on her nightstand.
“How bad is it?” Ryan asked from in bed next to her.
She rolled back over and nestled into the crook of his arm, placing a hand on his chest. “I’m just going to pretend for a few more minutes that the outside world doesn’t exist.”
“I’ll join you in that.”
Raena allowed herself ten minutes of dozing before she dragged herself out of bed.
She showered and dressed. Just as she was entering the common room, there was a light knock on the door—likely a servant with breakfast.
Her suspicion was confirmed when she glanced at the viewscreen next to the door, and she let the servant in to set up the breakfast spread on the round table by the open doorway to the terrace. She thanked the worker and took a seat.
“Smells great!” Ryan emerged from the bedroom with damp hair and sat down adjacent to her.
“I could have these pastries every day for the rest of my life and never get tired of them.”
“That’s a theory you can test.”
Raena took a bite of the flakey deliciousness. “And I suspect I will.”
Ryan shook his head and chuckled, but he took two for himself.
“So,” Raena said around a mouthful, “what’s on the agenda for today?”
“More startup details. Fortunately, I think most of the key staff from the ship manufacturing division of SiNavTech have agreed to move over with the transition to DGE. Selling people on a move to the island has been tricky, though.”
