A Truck for a Brother
As a public thank-you for his tireless work, Matt gifts K’rem a fully customized truck—complete with V’ren-language interface and all the horsepower one needs to feel truly at home in Missouri.
Side Quest
Side Quest
Vignettes and side stories nested within the main narrative arc. These scenes offer character moments, social depth, and cultural insight that expand the world of Missouri Matt without advancing the central conflict.
Side Quest
Farm Boy
Kevin’s nerves nearly get the best of him as he asks Mall to the fair, but her answer—and the way she reaches for his hand—changes everything.
Side Quest
Homecoming
Matt and L’tani return from their whirlwind lake escape to find work underway and emotions running deeper than expected. A glimpse into desire, restraint, and rediscovering human connection on a warm Missouri afternoon.
Side Quest
Into the Mystic
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.
Side Quest
Handle With Care
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.
Side Quest
What to Wear When You Want a Baby
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.
Side Quest
On Deck
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.
Side Quest
Try Not to Look So Human
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.
Side Quest
Meeting the Neighbors
On a quiet Missouri morning, Matt takes T’mari on a road tour through farm towns, family kitchens, and cultural contrasts. Between coffee stops, samosa orders, and Amish encounters, something deeper unfolds—a glimpse of home, humor, and the humanity that bridges worlds. Sometimes, a truck ride says more than diplomacy ever could.
Side Quest
The Sandwich, the Olive, and the Invitation
Matt explains to T’mari that it’s time for the wider world to meet the V’ren—beginning with his own community. What starts as political prep quickly turns personal as he invites her to join him, not just as a representative, but as something more. She sees through it, but doesn’t pull away.
Side Quest
Mayo, Memory, and the Fire Watch
A sandwich, a team photo, and a hint of lemongrass mayo pull Matt and Angelina into a quiet conversation about memory, loss, and why the fire tower still matters. It’s about grief that lingers, food that remembers, and the dry Missouri practicality that keeps everything stitched together.
Side Quest
Sunsets and S’mores
A V’ren technician and Matt share a brief moment between language training sessions, revealing the quiet human rituals—coffee, sunsets, flirtation—that persist even after the collapse of nations and the arrival of alien refugees.