by A. K. DuBoff
“My work is transferable and replaceable. You are not.”
She squeezed him. “I really don’t know what I did to deserve you.”
“I think I got rather lucky myself.” He pivoted to look into her hazel eyes. “I love you more than anything, Kira. If you want a change of scenery, I’m all for it.”
“Thinking I’d lost you… it made me realize that what’s most important to me now is the people I’m with. Since my team was broken up, I haven’t had my Guard family. I don’t know if I’ll find that again.”
“Yeah, you will. In the meantime, you’ll have to settle for me.”
She scrunched up her nose. “I guess that will have to do.”
“Do you have anything else in mind?”
“I dunno. We’ll see how it goes. I wouldn’t mind working with the TSS more; it’s been nice being around other telepaths who understand what it’s like to be inside someone’s head.”
“They have all the resources the Guard has to offer, and more.”
“Oh, stars, and the food! Especially after the Alliance slop… Shite, you’re not going to believe the menu in the Mess.”
He smiled. “You make a compelling sales pitch.”
“But they might not be interested in me, so don’t get your hopes up. I don’t really know what I’d do, to be honest.”
“Concerns for another time,” Leon said. He kissed her. “Right now, being back with you is the only thing that matters.”
— — —
Raena closed her eyes and turned away from the screen. So much loss. When will it end?
When she opened her eyes again, she noticed Ryan was still taking in the scene on the viewscreen next to his desk.
“We swore to protect our people, but what have we done to keep them safe?” Ryan shook his head and slumped in his office chair. “More civilians caught in the crossfire of greed and corruption.”
“No one expected a betrayal like this—for them to work with an internal enemy.” She sat down on the edge of Ryan’s desk next to him.
“What happened to pretending the Erebus are our friends?”
Raena had never genuinely felt that way, and Ryan knew it. “We don’t know for sure that the Coalition is working with the Erebus.”
“But it certainly seems that way, doesn’t it? Nothing else explains that weapon on Quel. It’s unlike anything of Taran design.”
Raena was reluctant to admit that there might be a rogue faction within the Empire in possession of dangerous alien tech. Our greatest threat might come from within. How do we know who we can trust?
Ryan took her hand. “I know. I don’t want to think about it either, but denial won’t help us resolve this issue.”
She nodded. “We need to find a way to unite our people. We can’t let these actions continue to divide us.”
“Agreed. Right now, this isn’t a society I’d be proud to hand over to future generations.”
“We need to change that, but I don’t know how.”
“No more secrets,” Ryan said, squeezing her hand. “We need to finalize security and start bringing guests here as soon as possible and show that we aren’t the self-absorbed elitists everyone expects us to be.”
“I wish we could share the new revelations about Earth, but we need to keep that part quiet for now,” Raena said.
“How much longer do you think the investigation will take?”
“Weeks. Months. I’m not sure yet. We’re sending more people next week to assist with the excavations. There’s a lot left to uncover.”
He nodded. “I hope it goes well. We might need that secret weapon soon—if that’s indeed what’s buried down there.”
“A weapon could either bring Tarans together or turn this social divide into a chasm that will be impossible to bridge.”
He gazed into her eyes. “I won’t let that happen. Whatever it takes, we’ll find a way for all of our people to move forward together. I want a legacy our future children will be proud to inherit.”
“There are always going to be people who won’t want to get along with others,” Raena said.
“And we’ll take those in stride. The important thing is that we show up for the people who need us the most.”
She nodded. “Let’s get to planning.”
— — —
Jason went to meet with his father immediately upon his return to Headquarters. When he entered the High Commander’s office and saw that it was just the two of them, he wasn’t sure what it meant.
“Dad, I—” he started as soon as the door was closed.
“Have a seat, Jason.” Wil’s neutral tone didn’t give away if this was a reprimand or something else.
Jason sat in silence, waiting for his father to continue.
“I’ve been over the scans and all the footage. There was absolutely no indication of a planetary-scale threat, or even of a regional concern. Your precautions at the facility were reasonable and proportional.”
He only nodded in response.
“I know that doesn’t make it any easier. And I also know how reactions to other events can get projected. The similarity isn’t lost on anyone. The frightening thing is that the Erebus and the Coalition might be working together.”
Jason had tried to avoid drawing parallels between Quel and Alkeer, but it was inevitable. Life in both places had been un-made in moments, without any warning that such destruction was even possible. Only, the incident on Quel was worse—an accident resulting from willful ignorance as people had tried to wield powers beyond the scope of their understanding.
None of us knew this experimental technology could be just as destructive as the Erebus. He’d already tried to reassure himself more than once, but the guilt kept sneaking back.
“It appears our enemy has decided to be friendly to our face while plotting against us with those who should be our allies. We’re being played from two sides.”
“What do we do about it?”
Wil shook his head. “We continue making preparations to protect ourselves as best we can, but we must be even more vigilant.”
“The Coalition might be working with the Erebus! ‘Be vigilant’? We need to do something!”
“What more can we do right now? We’re still waiting for a clear lead to point us to the organization’s leadership. We will interrogate the guards you brought back from Quel, though, they are likely so low-level that they won’t know anything of substance. It’s a slow process because those we’re pursuing know how to cover their tracks extremely well.”
“You’d think alien collaborators would stand out.”
“They specialize in deception,” Wil pointed out. “Though we have extraordinary abilities, the galaxy is immense. There are many places to hide within the confines of the Empire and beyond.”
To hide, and to grow stronger. The more time that passed, the greater the potential threat. Jason could see in his father’s eyes that he was thinking the same thing.
“We’re in uncharted territory, Jason,” his father said. “I had once thought the Erebus might be some kind of cosmic overseers. But no, they’re just powerful beings, as fallible as any other.”
“The suspicion that they’re teaming up with Taran terrorists doesn’t bode well.”
Wil shook his head. “It doesn’t. Unfortunately, we have no way to know if the Erebus all feel the same way—if they’re some kind of collective consciousness or individuals. Some may mean well, and others may be selfish, while others may seek vengeance.”
Jason didn’t have much hope that any Erebus would come to Tarans’ aid, now or in the future.
“As it stands,” Wil continued, “the Erebus have levied judgment on our race because of actions taken by our long-gone ancestors. We Tarans don’t punish the friends and family of a criminal, and I hold others to that same standard. So, until the Erebus are willing to acknowledge that Tarans are autonomous people and each person must be weighed by their own merits and actions, they will remain a threat.
Nothing about them is inherently worthy of our reverence. We must put our own people first and foremost.”
“And any Taran who acts in the interest of the Erebus over their own people is on their own, as far as I’m concerned,” Jason said.
Wil inclined his head. “I hope it doesn’t come to that kind of choice.”
“I fear it already has.” What Leon had told Jason about the activities on Quel suggested that the people involved were acting against their fellow Tarans. Perhaps they were obeying an Erebus master.
“In any case, we have a long road ahead of us,” Wil said. “I’ll be counting on you to help see us through what’s to come.”
“I’m ready,” Jason said. I hope I’ll have Lexi’s support. I’d rather not face this on my own.
“Thank you. Your mom and I have been working on some ideas for restructuring the TSS to be more agile. Stay tuned for updates.”
“Okay.”
His father looked him over. “I know this last year was difficult, but I doubt it’s going to let up any time soon. It can be good to know who you can lean on when things get really bad. Cultivate those relationships while you have the chance.”
Is he talking about Lexi? Jason tested the waters. “Rushing in too quickly can be a mistake.”
“Some things you know right away. Waiting only delays the inevitable.”
Well, that seemed definitive enough. He nodded. “You’re not worried about how others might react?”
“I don’t want to influence your personal decisions one way or another. I just want you to know that you have my full support in all respects no matter what you decide.”
“Thanks, Dad.” He hadn’t expected an explicit blessing regarding his relationship with Lexi, but it was nice to know there wasn’t any concern there. There’s no reason to hold back any longer.
They said their goodbyes and agreed to meet up soon to strategize further about how to approach the next phase of the Coalition investigation. For now, Jason needed time to decompress after the difficult day. He returned to his quarters, feeling slightly better about what had transpired.
As the door slid open, his heart lifted at the sight of Lexi on the couch. I’ve missed coming home to someone.
Jason smiled at her as stepped inside. “Well, the meeting went better than I expected.” He kicked off his shoes. “In some ways, it might have felt better to be yelled at for doing something wrong. To instead be told that sometimes shite just goes sideways and you’ve gotta move on doesn’t lend itself to catharsis.”
“Yeah.” Lexi was lacking her usual vibrance. She sniffed and crossed her arms.
“Hey, what’s wrong?”
Lexi shook her head. “Sorry, I’ve been thinking about Melisa. I let myself get my hopes up that maybe she’d be in that place. But I need to accept the possibility that she might be dead.”
Jason sat down next to her. “Does it feel that way, in your gut?”
“No, and that’s what makes it so difficult. For whatever reason, I feel like she’s still alive.”
“Then I wouldn’t give up hope.”
“Something’s not right, though.” She scrunched up her face. “I sense she’s somewhere, but… distant, somehow. I can’t explain it.”
“Well, I don’t pretend to understand how we experience connections with others, but I can tell you that it’s real. So, if your instincts tell you she’s alive, don’t give up on her.”
“It’s been so long. Why has she gone this long without reaching out to me if she’s okay?”
“These people know how to control others. They tried to cut you off, too.”
She swallowed. “They did. And it was easy for me to let them because I was used to being alone.” She met his gaze. “I don’t want to be like that anymore.”
“Good, because I’ve been thinking about how I want to grow closer to you.” He traced his fingertips along her hand. “In every way.”
She shifted closer to him. “Aren’t you concerned about bonding?”
“After today, I know this is right.”
She placed a hand on his chest. “No more holding back?”
“I’m all-in if you are.”
Lexi pulled him into a passionate kiss.
Her warm hands were under his shirt by the time they reached the bed, helping him strip it off. She took off her own before lying down, pulling him with her.
He was drawn to her, needed her, more than anything else.
“You’re sure about this?” he asked.
She smiled up at him. “You said it was bound to happen. Why wait?”
He’d already committed to her in his heart. He had the day they’d met—even if it had taken him a while to confirm that instinctual connection. There really wasn’t any reason to stay apart.
He gazed into her eyes. “There’s no one else I’d rather be with.”
Her lips found his, and the rest of the universe faded into the distance.
— — —
Lexi lay back on the bed next to Jason, feeling a level of contentment she hadn’t thought was possible. Yet, she’d expected to feel… different.
It doesn’t seem like we bonded. Would I feel a change?
She rolled her head to the side to study Jason. The adoration in his gaze back at her melted her heart all over again.
He shook his head, seemingly with disbelief. “Wow. That was…”
“Pretty incredible, I must admit.”
“Have you ever been intimate with another telepath?”
“Not like this.”
Jason nodded. “It’s always more intense—since you experience everything with your partner. Even so, this was special.”
“I don’t have a good point of comparison, but I know what you mean. It was like I’ve known you for a lifetime and this was a reunion.”
He ran his fingertips along her back, sending tingles all the way to her toes and fingertips. “That’s a good way to put it.”
“Still,” she said, “I was expecting some sort of discernible moment of change with the bond. Actually, I don’t feel all that different.”
“No, there wasn’t a spontaneous bond,” he confirmed. “There’s not a guarantee it will happen.”
“So all that waiting we did before was for nothing?”
He brushed her hair away from her eyes. “I’m still glad I got to know you better before jumping into bed. I don’t consider any of it wasted time.”
“Yeah. I don’t, either.”
“Honestly, I suspect the caution against spontaneous bonding is more applicable to younger people who aren’t as in control of their abilities. Young love sparked by a resonance connection—rushing into things as teenagers. I could see how emotions would get out of hand and the bond could be formed out of subconscious desire rather than by making a conscious choice.”
“Meaning, it’ll take an intentional decision to make this official?” she asked.
“Likely. Though, I wouldn’t have minded if the link formed on its own.”
“It still might.” Lexi propped her arm under her head. “This was only one time, and I must confess that I’m still reeling from what happened on Quel.”
“Same. There’s no rush. I’m looking forward to growing with you—and getting closer—at whatever pace feels right.”
“Yeah.” She ran her hand along his chest. “I guess today was a good test for how we work together under pressure.”
“You were great out there.”
“Thanks. You were pretty impressive yourself.”
He smiled. “We make a good team.”
“I was thinking the same thing.” She paused. “I’m still trying to figure out what my life would look like here, with you and the TSS.”
“Yeah, there’s a lot to consider.” Jason took her hand. “But I’d really like to figure it out.”
“Me too. But it does scare me. This isn’t my world.”
“The TSS isn’t anyone’s world when they first get here. That’s what make
s it a special place—we each make it our own,” he said.
“When you got here, you were with your family.”
“True, but there’s a lot more to the community than my parents. And all of them will welcome you, too. You just need to be willing to take the chance.”
“I am.”
“You’re not alone anymore, Lexi. We’re here for each other.”
“Thanks.” She bit her lower lip and shook her head. “You. This. It still feels like a dream.”
“Not every unexpected twist in life needs to be a bad thing.”
“Yeah? I suppose I got dealt a bad hand early on that made me jaded.”
“Understandably. But that’s all in the past now. I’m looking forward to exploring our future together.”
She kissed him deeply. “I suppose we have time to tempt fate some more before getting back to the outside world?”
“Absolutely.”
Chapter 26
The incident on Quel wasn’t the worse loss of life Wil had seen, but it was among the most senseless. The parallels to Alkeer Station made it that much worse. “Those poor people.”
Saera had sat quietly while he reviewed the latest update on the clean-up efforts. “I know, it’s a tough one.
“The orbital station has broken free. Looks like they’re going to try their hand at being a floating city until they can find a new place to call home.”
Saera nodded. “You’ve got to respect their grit.”
“Indeed.”
“There’s the other issue, though—how Leon said that this incident wasn’t the first,” Saera said.
Wil had been particularly distressed to hear that during the debrief. “I haven’t been able to figure out where the previous test might have been conducted. The Enforcers have responded to a lot of incidents and don’t always know what they’re looking at. Plus, they were probably bought off to call it a natural disaster, or whatever.”
“Then we may never know.”
He shook his head. “I wish I could say this would be the end of it. The researchers took a new approach on Quel after their first attempt failed, and that also was a disaster. People like this will keep trying until they succeed.”
