by A. K. DuBoff
The others echoed his sentiments.
Jason beamed at them. “Even if I never have another training group, I’ll be happy to have ended on such a high note.”
He said his remaining goodbyes and then quickly retreated to his quarters before Alisha could corner him. She’d never quite let go of her teacher-crush, and that had become even more awkward over the past several months of his singleness and subsequently Lexi entering the picture.
To his surprise, Lexi wasn’t there when he got home. He took the opportunity to shower and change out of his flight suit.
As he was returning to the living room, dressed and beginning to unwind, the door clicked open.
Lexi startled when she saw him. “Oh! You’re back already.”
“Yeah, last class so I ended early. What have you been up to?”
“Still helping Kira. I think we’ve got it down to five planets where Leon might be, but it’s still a lot of guesswork.” She sounded tired and her eyes were a little unfocused, likely from staring at a screen all day.
“I’ll join you tomorrow. I’m full-time on the Coalition investigation from here on out.”
Lexi sauntered up to him. “Speaking of which, any updates on the data from my old handheld?” she asked.
He shook his head. “Not good news, I’m afraid. The tech team has been able to recover some files, but there doesn’t appear to be any information that will aid in the investigation in terms of location data.”
She frowned. “I was afraid of that.”
“It was worth a try. Not every plan works out.”
“Yeah.”
“They’ll get your old handheld back to you soon so you can pull off any personal files you’d like—all the Alliance tracking has been disabled.”
“Thanks,” Lexi said. “As disappointing as it is that the data wasn’t helpful, I’m looking forward to working with you.”
“Me too. Though I’ll miss working with my students and getting the flight time. I dunno. It’ll probably be a good thing in the end.”
She bit her lip. “Did your dad give you this assignment because of me?”
He shrugged. “It may have been a factor, but I’m sure that wasn’t the driving force. He’s been trying to get me to take a more active leadership role for years now.”
She drew him in for a kiss. “Well, this is the start of a new chapter. We should celebrate tonight.”
“Actually, I have other plans for us. We’ve been invited to dinner with my parents.” They’d been bugging him about a get-together for days. Jason had been inventing various excuses in order to give Lexi time to acclimate, but he’d been ambushed by a ‘celebrate your promotion and introduce us to this new girlfriend-like person of yours’ offer and couldn’t refuse this time.
Lexi wiped her hands over her eyes. “Oh, no. I knew this was coming.”
He rubbed her shoulders. “Hey, it’ll be fun.”
Her terrified expression indicated that she believed it wouldn’t be anything of the sort. “I’m not used to interacting with the elite.”
“It’s a family dinner.”
“With none other than Wil Sietinen!”
“It’s dinner with my dad and mom,” Jason insisted.
Lexi shook her head. “I’ll go. But nothing you can say will convince me this is a casual event.”
“Well, it is very casual. No dressing up or anything.”
She took a deep breath and let it out. “When are we doing this?”
“Right now.”
“Now?!”
“Precisely for the reason that you won’t have further time to overanalyze and build up the event more than you already have. They just want to get to know you.”
“All right, I guess we’re doing this.”
— — —
Lexi couldn’t very well refuse the offer to attend a social dinner with Jason’s family, but that didn’t make her stomach any less knotted. This whole thing has to be a test to see if they approve of me.
She felt at ease with Jason, and were he anyone else, she’d be confident they were off to a great start in their relationship. As much as she wanted to believe that their vastly different backgrounds didn’t matter, the reality was that Jason had a legacy to live up to. Lexi, meanwhile, had spent most of her life as a borderline criminal. That hardly seemed compatible with a family renowned for its leadership of the TSS.
At Jason’s insistence that the meal was a casual affair, Lexi tried not to overthink her plain outfit of a long-sleeve shirt and pants—some of the fabricated clothing she’d been offered upon arrival in TSS Headquarters. The items were light gray, which she’d determined was the color for first-year Agent Trainees. It was yet to be determined if there was an implication in the clothing.
Jason seemed completely at ease as they headed over to the private gathering. Of course, he wouldn’t be stressed; they were a close-knit family.
Her palms were sweating by the time they reached the door.
“There’s nothing to be nervous about,” Jason assured her, noticing her discomfort.
“Easy for you to say.”
He hit the chime on the door.
Wil answered a few moments later. “Hi,” he greeted. “Thank you for joining us.”
“I appreciate the invitation, sir,” Lexi replied.
He smiled and shook his head. “Please, you can call us by our first names. Formality has a time and place, but not here.”
“All right. Thank you.”
Jason placed his hand on the small of her back, offering a measure of reassurance.
This is so weird. Can people like them really be so normal? She was careful to keep her thoughts guarded, knowing of their advanced telepathic skills. With a turn of her stomach, she realized that they could probably read her innermost thoughts without her knowing, if they were so inclined.
“Hey, relax,” Jason said in her mind. “They’ll see what I see in you, trust me.”
As they entered the residential suite, she noticed that it was larger than Jason’s place. In addition to the couch and chairs, there was also a dining table set for four people.
Figures the High Commander and Lead Agent would have nicer quarters. She looked over the space but didn’t see any personal effects. That’s odd.
“Oh, this isn’t our place,” Wil said when he noticed her looking around. “Actually, this is where I grew up. My parents had two suites combined so they’d have room for an extra bedroom when I was young. Saera and I are still in my original quarters, and this suite is reserved for visitors or gatherings like this.”
“Oh.” Lexi’s face felt incredibly warm. “Jason had said you were born into the TSS, but I didn’t realize it was so literal.”
“It wasn’t a bad childhood, but not one I wanted for my own kids,” Wil said.
Saera walked over to join them from where she had been tending to the table. “Hi, Lexi, it’s nice to see you again. I hope you’ve been settling in.”
“Yeah, it’s good.” She wasn’t sure what to make of the ‘settling in’ part. Are they expecting me to stay here? Then she realized how silly it was to wonder that. Of course they were. Jason was here, and he wasn’t going to leave the TSS. If the two of them were going to be a couple, then she would need to make a life for herself here.
Wil exchanged glances with his wife. “Let’s have a seat,” he suggested.
“Good idea.” Jason sat down across from his father.
Lexi took the chair opposite Saera with Wil to her left. The table was filled with various serving dishes. Delicious aromas beckoned her.
Everyone began dishing up food from the serving dishes, covering a range of mains and sides. It was likely the same fare found in the Mess, but somehow the presentation and company made it seem much fancier.
The combination of inviting scents and being in the presence of the three powerful Agents had Lexi’s head buzzing. What do I say?
“I can’t believe you’re real.”
That was not what she had intended to say. The words spilled out before she could stop herself. What she’d wanted to communicate was how amazing it was to be in this incredible place with people she’d spent her whole life reading about, and how they were being so gracious to invite her into their personal lives when she was a nobody. No, instead, she’d thoroughly planted her foot in her mouth.
Her cheeks burned. “Sorry, I mean…” She faded out. Nope. No way to salvage that.
Wil chuckled. “I know you must feel overwhelmed right now.”
“You’re…” Lexi decided to embrace the awkward. “You’re Wil Sietinen! You’re famous! And your family…”
He took a sip of water. “We can’t choose what family we’re born into. I happened to get lucky, but none of my friends are highborn. I hope you can come to look at us as Jason’s parents rather than anything else.”
The words rang true and genuine. Though Lexi was still on edge, she did feel a bit of her tension dissipate. “I’m trying. Still, I have to ask, is it true that you’re the smartest person alive?”
Jason almost spat out his drink.
Wil laughed. “Yes, that’s what they tell me. I appreciate that you’re forthright with your curiosity.”
“He’s being modest, as usual,” Saera interjected. “The things he’s been able to piece together stumped the greatest minds for hundreds of years.”
“Not all of that was a matter of intelligence.”
Saera loaded her fork. “Sounds like something a modest, super-smart person would say.”
“I won’t deny that I’ve had some significant breakthroughs. The independent jump drive changed a lot of things.”
“There’s quite a black market for those drives in the Outer Colonies,” Lexi said.
Wil shook his head. “That’s what I’d always hoped to avoid. The technology is potentially dangerous in untrained hands.”
“I haven’t heard about people getting lost in subspace or dropping out inside planets,” Lexi told him. “The saving of transit times is just too valuable to ignore.”
“Which is why it’s continuing to be adopted in broader circles. Still, I worry about well-meaning technology being used to do harm.”
Lexi looked down at her plate. “Yeah, I know all about having the best intentions.”
Saera was quick to jump in. “So, this must be quite a change of scenery for you. Have you spent much time with other Gifted people?”
“Not many. Especially not at one time,” she replied, thankful for the change of topic.
Saera nodded. “It feels different, huh? Especially with these two.” She nodded to her husband and son. “You get used to it, but it always stands out. Elsewhere seems… empty.”
“It’s even more pronounced in places like the Aesir cities. Everyone in their population is Gifted,” Wil added.
“What’s the deal with the Aesir?” Lexi asked. “I’ve heard them mentioned a few times. Sounds like they’re super-powerful.”
“A common misconception,” Wil replied. “It’s not so much that their abilities are stronger. Rather, the people are more… attuned.”
“What does that mean?”
“There are certain energy patterns throughout the universe. Think of it as various threads, some of which overlap and pull on each other. Select members of the Aesir have learned how to interpret these energies to glean insights.”
“Sounds a little…” Lexi shook her hand and made a soft warbling sound.
“I thought that, too, until I gazed into the nexus and had a vision of my own,” Jason said. “I still don’t know how it’s possible, only that it is.”
His father nodded. “It’s an ongoing journey to learn more about ourselves. In many ways, the Erebus have given us a whole new perspective.”
They talked a little more about Wil’s latest theories regarding the nature of their abilities and the potential transdimensional connections that could explain their power. It was fascinating for Lexi, though not at all how she imagined typical family dinner conversation. Then again, this wasn’t a typical family.
As they finished up with a dessert of decadent chocolate cake, Wil suddenly turned serious. “Much like we continually learn more about our place in the universe, I’m also intrigued to hear more about the different Taran worlds. It sounds like you’ve traveled around a fair amount, Lexi.”
She tensed. “Yeah, a couple dozen places, probably. It was difficult to stay in one place after I left Cytera as a little kid, but I’m sure you’ve looked at my file.” So the interrogation begins.
“I prefer to speak with someone rather than to go strictly off what’s written in the record. Rarely does a document capture the full picture.”
“Where do you see yourself going with your life?” Saera asked.
Jason set down his fork. “That question might be a little too loaded for the moment.”
“Well, uh…” Lexi floundered. “I’m kind of playing it by ear right now.”
“You have very strong abilities for someone with so little training,” Wil continued. “Do you know much about your family history?”
“Not a whole lot.”
Wil studied her. “There’s no way to ask without this sounding like an odd request, but may I have your permission to complete a genetic analysis?” he asked.
Lexi nearly choked on her bite of cake. “Excuse me?”
“Dad!” Jason hissed.
Saera sighed and shot her husband a warning glare.
“I know it’s strange and intrusive,” Wil continued, “but I assure you it’s not for any devious ends. I have a hypothesis I’d like to check out.”
Jason gave him a semi-disgusted look across the table. “What, exactly?”
“It’s related to the focus on genetic lines on Cytera. When I first heard about the planet, I was under the impression that the advent of their caste system was newer—within the past several hundred years. However, I now suspect that it’s, in fact, a remnant from a bygone era. A world lost in time.”
“It’s a foking shiteshow of a world, that’s what it is,” Lexi grumbled.
“I understand the sentiment, and I don’t disagree. However, the level of details in the genetic records is second to none. It may offer some insights into other issues we’ve been trying to solve for a very long time.”
Up to the recent turn in the conversation, Lexi had thought things were going rather well. Sure, the topics had been a little more esoteric than she was used to, but everyone was congenial. She now realized that it had been a distraction to get her defenses down so they could go in for the attack.
Lexi exchanged glances with Jason.
“I’m so sorry,” he said in her mind. “I have no idea where that came from.”
“I do.” Lexi turned her attention to Wil. “May I speak bluntly?”
“Of course,” he consented.
“You also want to check me out to make sure I’m actually a good match for your son.” It was a statement, not a question.
He looked down momentarily before meeting her gaze. “It’s understandable that you don’t trust my intentions; I wouldn’t, either, after what you’ve been through. I’ve already told Jason, and I’ll tell you now, that I fully support him in however he chooses to proceed with a relationship. I know the power of a resonance connection firsthand, and I’ve seen what it does to people when they try to fight it. Needless to say, it’s a lot more pleasant for everyone involved to just embrace the feelings and figure out the rest.”
“I don’t see what my genetic history has to do with anything.” Lexi’s shoulder blades itched from the tension in her back. It took all of her self-control to keep from storming away from the table.
“You’re absolutely right, Lexi, lineage doesn’t define us,” Saera said.
Wil nodded. “But it does play a factor in who we become, as much as we might not want it to. It’s not the only component, by any means, but certain realities can’t be ignored.” He paused, looking over Lex
i again. “I’m sorry to have spoken out of turn. I have a rather unique perspective on things like genetics and destiny.”
Lexi crossed her arms defensively and leaned back slightly in her chair. “The Cadicle.”
“Yes. Not a title I enjoy.”
She shrugged. “Doesn’t seem so bad being labeled a hero.”
“There’s a lot more to it than that. Even if I’d never seen a map of my own genome, it wouldn’t change that I have abilities that go far beyond normal Taran comprehension. Being uneducated about that potential would be ignorance; it wouldn’t change me.”
“And you think my lineage on Cytera might be equally illuminating?”
“Potentially. Either you learn nothing and you’re no worse off, or you could gain an entirely new sense of yourself. What’s there to lose?”
She did have to admit that she was curious once he put it in those terms. But it still seemed like an invasion of privacy. Though she didn’t know what might be revealed, it just felt strange to know someone wanted to evaluate her based on codified data.
“I can’t stop you from performing whatever analysis you want,” she said.
“I don’t ever want someone to feel like I’m going behind their back. My authority doesn’t absolve me of common decency.”
“Well, I’m sure you can get away with doing whatever you want.” Lexi was well aware that her tone had taken on a hostile edge, but she wasn’t about to sit idly while she was treated like the product of a lab experiment.
“It is precisely because I have so much power that I work so hard not to abuse it,” Wil replied. “I apologize. I overstepped with the request. Truly, my only aim is to help you better understand yourself.” The explanation sounded genuine enough, and Lexi detected no attempts to deceive her.
Jason glanced over at her. “He means it,” he said in her mind. “He gets ‘ideas’ sometimes that go off the rails.”
“What if we don’t come back as a good match?”
“It wouldn’t change anything for me. If there’s a chance that this kind of analysis can help you understand your history, it may be worth doing.”
Lexi took a deep breath. “If you want to do an analysis, go for it.”
