Empire Reborn (Taran Empire Saga Book 1): A Cadicle Space Opera A.K. DuBoff (guided reading books TXT) 📖

“Jason, I would never think of you as ‘holding me back’.”

“I didn’t mean it like that. Just… attachments change how we approach situations. We always did things together, but with our respective duties to the Empire, that couldn’t continue. We both needed freedom to grow in different areas.”

“It did force me to find my new ‘normal’ once I got to Tararia,” she admitted. And help me get even closer to Ryan.

“Hey, and now you’re an ambassador for the Taran Empire to bring Earth into the fold. I’d say it worked out pretty well.”

“And we’re here together, when it counts the most.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Outside, the conversation was progressing. Raena had been half-listening while she talked with her brother, but now she fully tuned back in to make sure everything was on track.

“What are your proposed next steps?” Jessica was asking.

“Humans and Tarans diverged a long time ago, but we have an opportunity to move forward together. We are prepared to begin offering access to our technology to aid in your planet’s continued development. We hope this can be the start of a new, prosperous friendship between our people.”

“And how do you propose to do that, given your instructions to leave government out of this conversation? You may represent your people, but I can’t speak for mine.” Jessica really was a pro; she’d no doubt be getting a nice promotion after this.

“Nor can I speak for mine in all regards,” Wil said. “We are very fortunate, however, to have liaisons who understand the nuances of both cultures and can help navigate this transition.”

“Hey, I think that’s our cue.” Jason nodded toward the shuttle hatch.

“Right. Yes.” Raena was struck with an unexpected wave of nerves. She smoothed her dress and quieted her thoughts. This is going home. Nothing to worry about.

The two of them walked together down the ramp. Fully exposed, the crowd seemed much larger than it had from within the shuttle.

“Speak as you would to your friends,” her father said in her mind.

She stopped next to him, and Jason stood on her other side.

“My children, Raena and Jason, grew up here,” Wil introduced. “I lived here, but it was never my home in the way it is for someone who was raised on this soil. They know what it’s like to find out about the Taran Empire and begin integrating into that much larger civilization.”

“It seems crazy, right?” Raena began. There were a few chuckles in the audience and many nods. “I thought the whole thing was a massive prank when I found out, too.” She motioned to the sleek shuttle. “Seeing ships like that helped make it real, but it’s all so… big. I don’t think you’re ever really ready to hear about something like a galactic empire when you’ve lived your whole life here on Earth. It’s the stuff you read about in books or see in movies. And the concept of aliens is something totally foreign. To know that there’s a race that looks like you but has all of this advanced technology—and they want to share it… It’s like a dream.

“But I’m here to tell you, it’s true. I completely understand feeling skeptical right now. I would, too. All the same, I urge you to keep an open mind. Let us prove ourselves to you. Because, I’ll be honest, there are bad things out there. Tarans—and our human cousins—are not alone in this universe, and not even in this galaxy. So, we need to work together. We have our differences, but we have far more that unites and binds us.

“Let this be the dawn of a new age for our Empire, reborn under a shared mission of advancement. We will earn your trust, just as you will earn ours. Please, give this partnership a chance. Let us close this many millennia-old divide and take a step into the future, together.”

When Raena finished, hearty applause sounded in the audience.

Jessica gave a warm smile. “Well, that says it all, doesn’t it?”

More clapping and cheering rose from the crowd.

“We are here to unite with the people of Earth, not any single government entity,” Wil reiterated. “Of course, integration will take time. We come to you now to open the door. I’m sure you’ll have many questions, and we’ll do our best to answer them. Ms. Rodriguez, thank you for the thoughtful dialogue. I’d like to open it up to the rest of the press now to start getting into specifics.”

She bowed her head and stepped aside.

“Great speech,” Wil said in Raena’s mind.

“Thanks. You got them all warmed up!”

“A team effort, for sure. Thank you for being here for this.”

“I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”

—     —     —

Breathing the air of his homeworld brought Jason back to his childhood. He’d been down to the planet on several occasions since officially moving away, and each time, he felt more removed. How could this have once felt like where I belong, but now I just have memories?

Watching Raena and his father interact with the press confirmed the nagging feeling that the TSS was now the only place that felt like home. It was strange, given that there was no divide between his ‘work’ and ‘home’ lives. He was an Agent. The two couldn’t be separated, in the same way Raena was a dynastic heiress. Some roles transcended the normal boundaries in one’s life.

I may as well embrace it. When he thought about it, though, he realized that he already had. That was why he’d let Raena go all those years before. Instinctively, he’d recognized that they would need to give their full selves to their roles. Though there was certainly overlap in their respective duties to Tararia, both mandates were too important for there to