Julia welcomes her former sorority sisters to the Marmaduke Freehold—and immediately regrets it. As influencer energy collides with post-collapse pragmatism, Angelina lays down the law, Priya quietly observes, and the house begins testing everyone. Some came to study a culture. They didn’t realize they were stepping into one.
Leonard Wood enters Matt’s world with caution, obligation—and a buried need. What begins as a personal plea turns into something more enduring: a command forged not by force, but by trust. With one quiet exchange, the future of Earth’s defense shifts from corporate indifference to something far more human.
Corporate leaders reel in the aftermath of Matt Marmaduke’s unexpected rise as High Lord of the V’ren. Amid blame, paranoia, and the realization that they’ve been outmaneuvered, one truth becomes clear—he didn’t take power, they gave it away. And now, the Midwest isn’t theirs to reclaim.
At dawn, seven V’ren shuttles descend onto Missouri soil, and a coronation takes shape beneath rising sunlight. Matt Marmaduke receives the trust, blades, and oaths of alien captains—declared High Lord of the V’ren by rite of weapon, witness, and will.
Matt and L’tani’s high-speed road trip to the lake turns from reckless fun into a heartfelt mission of healing as they meet with Matt’s cousin and her blind daughter. Amid teasing, threats, and tenderness, a bond forms—and the possibility of restoring sight brings new hope.
A hungover Matt stumbles into the kitchen only to find the people he loves already ahead of him. Over coffee, bacon, and ballads, something long-dormant stirs back to life—connection, rhythm, and the sense that maybe he’s not so tired of being lonely after all.
L’tani seeks advice from Julia on how to dress for a date—and possibly conceive an heir—with Matt Marmaduke. First contact meets first instincts.
Critics came for the folk songs, the khakis, and the Spanish verses—but Matt Marmaduke met them with multilingual flair, ruthless humor, and unapologetic charisma. From “Toga!” to “magnificent chest,” he dismantled their arguments with style. It’s not just soft power—it’s performance sovereignty in real time.
Faced with late-night social media criticism, Matt Marmaduke grabs his dobro, steps onto the deck barefoot, and livestreams a music set that turns the night into legend. Between shoutouts, shoutalongs, and shots of rum, the Freeholder blends charm, cultural fluency, and emotional honesty into a performance that rallies his people and reframes the narrative on his terms.
In a single day, Matt Marmaduke buried his past, saved two lives, welcomed spies, and fielded millions of opinions. May 20, 2440 saw Freehold tested—and strengthened—by blood, barbecue, and diplomacy. From social media flare-ups to citizenship offers and sacred rituals, the world saw a new kind of power take root on Missouri soil.
A detailed guide to acquiring, maintaining, and understanding citizenship and residency within the sovereign Marmaduke Freehold, governed by hereditary authority under the Confederated Corporation Agreement of 2123.
T’mari delivers her resignation and a quiet plea: how does a once-equal officer navigate love and loyalty after her bondmate becomes High Lord? W’ren listens—and answers with approval, strategy, and a reminder not to lose herself completely to Earth.