Empire Reborn (Taran Empire Saga Book 1): A Cadicle Space Opera by A.K. DuBoff (jenna bush book club TXT) 📕

“For that matter, we don’t even know what the Gatekeepers can do—or what their true form is. You interacted with, what, two of the Taran-Gatekeeper hybrids?” Cris asked.

“Yes, it was a strange encounter,” Wil replied. “The hybridization is interesting, as an approach of their race. Xenophobic, wary of interaction with outsiders. So, they cope by creating hybrids to actually become one with the race they’re studying. Forget walking in shoes, they get right up in their skin.”

“There is something to be said for being able to understand how another thinks through shared experience.”

“Very true.” Saera nodded. “How can an energy being understand the life of fleshy meat-bags without living as one?”

Wil smiled at the unexpected phrasing, despite the somber mood after their discovery earlier. “Really flattering way to characterize our way of life.”

“Hey, just speaking the truth.”

They reached the next point where the map indicated a suspicious dead-end. Wil began his assessment of the wall and area beyond. Unlike the last few places, he didn’t sense solid stone this time. In fact, it did seem like there might be a pocket of open space.

All right, now we might be onto something! There were no visible seams to indicate an operable door, and the wall was thick enough that it took conscious probing to see through—not something a Gifted person who was casually looking around might stumble across accidentally. The setup was what Wil had envisioned when he set out on the expedition, but the question remained if it held what they were looking for.

“Over here,” he said.

He could visualize the space on the other side of the wall. It was a large cavern, carved into the rock. The composition of the material was unusually dense, masking the presence of the chamber. It occurred to him that it was possible members of the former Priesthood hadn’t even known it was there.

They spent centuries hiding information from the public with the hope we’d forget. Maybe they forgot some things themselves. That would explain how they so profoundly lost their way. Such an explanation wouldn’t forgive their actions, but it would soften the evil of their deeds to know that they were misguided rather than willfully ignorant.

“Oh yeah, there’s definitely a hollow through there,” Saera confirmed.

Cris smiled. “Well, this just got interesting.”

—     —     —

Routine had helped Jason ease into life within the TSS after leaving Earth, it’s what had kept him centered when Raena left for Tararia, and it was what would get him through this turning point in his relationship with Tiff. He would adjust, adapt, and move forward. Until he found his new normal, his students would be a good distraction.

As if the mere thought of the woman had summoned her forth, Jason’s handheld buzzed with an incoming text message from Tiff: >>Hey, I’m heading out to Alkeer.<<

>>Already? I thought those transfer orders usually took a while.<< He wasn’t sure if that was true. Perhaps it had just been wishful thinking that her departure would be delayed because of everything going on.

>>Got the deployment orders first thing this morning.<<

>>Oh.<< While he was trying to think of what else to say on the matter, another message from her came through.

>>I think it would be easier if you don’t see me off.<<

He was struck with the impulse to ask her to stay. Don’t be selfish, he reminded himself. But it wasn’t just self-interest; he was concerned about the Rift, and Alkeer was one of the closest TSS outposts. He’d feel better if she was headed anywhere else. At the same time, though, he couldn’t tell her to run from danger—not when he would run toward it himself. It was all part of being a TSS Agent.

Putting up a fight would just drive her further away. He valued their friendship too much to risk it. So, he said the only thing he could, >>Safe travels. May the stars be with you.<<

The indicator popped up that she was typing a response, seemingly a long message. When the reply came, however, it simply read, >>Take care.<<

Jason sighed and shoved his handheld into his pocket. They’d figure out the ‘just friends’ thing eventually without being so awkwardly formal.

He headed to his upcoming class, taking the central elevator down to Level 11 suspended two kilometers beneath the ten primary rings that comprised the Headquarters structure. It was used exclusively for zero-G spatial awareness training and telekinesis practice, so Jason spent a good portion of his time on the level. An added bonus was its substantial distance from his office, making a convenient excuse for dodging last-minute administrative requests.

Unlike some Agents, he didn’t have a single, dedicated group of trainees. Rather, he offered specialized training in certain areas, in line with his own interests and strengths. Most of those lessons fell under either flight instructions or telekinetic combat.

His telekinesis students were typically Junior Agents nearing graduation—some of whom were close to his own age. Despite being young, his innate talent had given him automatic seniority in the ranks. In terms of raw potential, he was tied with his father for the highest score on record in the TSS, which directly determined rank; unofficially, it was known that the test had to be aborted for the safety of all those involved, so their actual limits couldn’t be measured. People had commented on more than one occasion that they hoped to never find out what that limit might be. After all, the rumors that his father had single-handedly destroyed a planet were true, and even then, he hadn’t hit his limit.

Jason had only put his skills to the test on a handful of occasions, but that was enough to give him an appreciation of the immense power of his abilities. He recognized that only his father within the TSS was in the same tier, and his sister Raena was probably