As Matt rises to near-mythic power among the V’ren, T’mari faces the reality that their paths may no longer run side by side. In a quiet, reflective dinner that follows a galactic-shaking livestream, they confront status, grief, and the weight of unintended destiny—with one last moment of normalcy between them.
As the sun sets over the Freehold, global headlines and grassroots voices converge. From denim diplomacy to neural tech whispers, June 1 marks a day of cautious hope, cultural exchange, and an ambassador who still mows his own lawn.
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.
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.
When T’mari and L’Tani arrive at Matt Marmaduke’s Freehold, their reception is more than diplomatic. As the younger sister battles grief and the older watches everything, a turning point in Earth-V’ren relations quietly begins—inside a farmhouse steeped in myth.
In the quiet of Matt’s kitchen, T’mari meets Angelina Reyes—part friend, part gatekeeper, and wholly in charge. Over coffee and conversation, belonging begins not with permission, but with an open seat and a shared meal.
Discover the background, leadership style, and legacy of Matt Marmaduke—Freeholder of central Missouri and the man who changed Earth’s future during humanity’s first contact with the V’ren. Farmer, strategist, and one of the last sovereign landowners on Earth.
Global headlines and social media explode as Matt Marmaduke, Freeholder of Missouri, offers sanctuary to 120,000 V’ren refugees. His defiant, grounded leadership redefines first contact—turning a cornfield into the fulcrum of human history.