Empire's Son: An Epic Science Fiction Novel Series

Markus absorbed the punch like it was nothing, even though it sent an explosion of pain through him as the fist contacted his left cheek. He just gritted his teeth and shook it off as he thrust a counterattack at his opponent. His punch landed, causing the other man to stumble back with blood gushing from his nose.

"Damn, Markus! That hurt!" Adar said as he immediately tried to staunch the blood flowing down the front of his dark blue shirt.

Markus relaxed his fighting pose as he went to a shelf along the wall of one of the smaller training rooms on the Quortous. He pulled out a white cloth and went back to hand it to his new charge. Adar took it, placed it against his nose and tilted his head back. It obviously hadn't been his first bloody nose.

"I apologize, but holding back won't do you any favors. If it makes you feel better, you've gotten a few good hits of your own, and they've been stronger each time. I really felt that last one." Markus rubbed his still sore jaw just to show him it really hurt.

Adar gave him a skeptical look over the bloody cloth. "You could have fooled me. You barely flinched."

"Part of the training," Markus shrugged as he crossed to the small cooling unit in the corner. He retrieved two bottles of water and tossed one to Adar. "Never let your opponent know how much they've hurt you. Information is an advantage."

Adar caught the bottle one-handed, which was impressive since Markus was still across the room. It was good to see the fast reflexes of the bond were starting to kick in. The other man lowered the cloth, checking if the bleeding had stopped.

"I know. Aragon said the same thing when he was training me."

Markus grunted, not surprised about that in the least. He eyed his charge carefully, not only paying attention to the now non-bleeding nose, but checking for any leftover signs of the violent nightmare that had woken Adar nearly an hour before.

It had certainly jolted Markus up from a dead sleep—the crushing weight of fear that came through the bond from Adar. It had caused Markus to leap from his bed, grab the blaster pistol he always kept under his pillow, and make a mad dash from his room to Adar's. He arrived to find his charge shaking uncontrollably and unable to speak for several minutes. Once he'd calmed down, Adar told him about the dreamscape, meeting Razivi, and the evil presence he'd sensed just before he'd woken up.

Once Markus knew his charge was safe, at least physically, he suggested the practice sparring session, not only to help Adar work out his still high anxiety from the darkness he'd felt in the dream, but to also to help expel Markus's frustration. How was he supposed to fight against something that happened in a dream? It had made him angry at the idea that these invading aliens seemed to get so close to Adar, even if in a dream. It also unnerved Markus that it seemed Adar was opening up a new Dome-ni that he hadn't even heard of, and what was worse, a place that Markus could not go.

"Razivi says I may still connect with you through the dreamscape in time," Adar said as if he could read Markus's mind, though perhaps it was more his mood. Even after the practice session with Adar, Markus's frustration still lay close to the surface.

The Protector took a long drink from the water bottle, trying to calm himself. "How am I supposed to keep you safe if I can't even go where you are going?"

Adar's bright blue eyes met Markus's with unexpected intensity. "I don't think it's always going to be dangerous in the dreamscape. I think maybe the close physical proximity that the invaders were to Razivi bled through somehow because she was dreaming during their arrival. Maybe I don't know."

"I still don't like it, and I think you should stay out of this dreamland or whatever. It's not like you don't already have enough stuff to learn and occupy your attention."

"I'm not sure I have a choice, Markus. It wasn't like I was looking to go there when I laid down to sleep. It just happened."

Markus sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I understand that, but I'd still prefer if you tried to avoid it. At least until we know more about what we're dealing with."

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"I'll try," Adar said, though his tone suggested he wasn't entirely convinced it was possible. He lowered the cloth completely, checking for fresh blood once more. Finding none, he tossed the cloth into the nearby disposal unit. "But I think the real takeaway here is that this dream walker Dome-ni could be a good thing. Look at what I've already learned about these invaders. We even have a name for them now."

"Shixxaminti. What the yavit kind of name is that?" Markus growled. "And what's this business about our galaxy once being their home? I remember nothing called the Shixxaminti in my history lessons."

"I don't know, but it gives us a place to start." Adar opened his water bottle, knocked it back, chugged it down, and then tossed the bottle in the disposal unit in a matter of moments.

Markus grunted as he went to pick up Adar's greatcoat that he'd set aside before starting the practice session and handed it to his friend. For a moment, Markus registered his own attire of simple gray pants and shirt, something he'd grown accustomed to wearing over the last few years. Now that he was an official Protector, he supposed he'd have to start wearing the black uniform. Markus wasn't sure he liked the idea of going back to dressing in formal attire on a regular basis. It had been nice to wear commoner clothes all the time.

"I know we only ate a few hours ago, but do you want something before you start up your research project, or try to get more sleep?" he asked his charge.

Adar took the offered coat and put it on, closing it over the bloodied shirt. He shook his head. "No, I don't think I could sleep right now, not after that." The man shivered and then headed for the exit of the training room. "I'm not hungry, but feel free to get something if you need it. I want to get started on learning more about the Shixxaminti and how to stop them."

Markus followed his charge into the ship's corridor. "You hear from pavi yet?" He knew Adar had sent out a message to his father shortly after waking to let the old man know what he'd discovered and wanting to know how the College had fared after the attack.

Adar shook his head. Markus felt a burst of concern coming from the other man. "No, and that worries me. It's been nearly three hours since we left Sora X. The Shixxaminti should have come and gone by now."

"Maybe the attack disrupted communications and they are trying to get it back up?" Markus suggested.

Adar stopped at a four-way intersection and looked around like he was trying to figure out which way to go. Markus slipped past him and took the right corridor. He heard the bootfalls of his charge following close behind.

"Maybe," Adar muttered.

Markus expertly navigated through the Quortous. It had been a while since he'd been on a battle cruiser and this ship in particular, but he knew the layout well since all cruisers had the same general design and he'd spent a lot of time on them in his time in the Vanguard and childhood as he accompanied his father in his travels.

"You want to go back to your quarters or pavi's office to do your research?"

Adar took a moment to respond as he thought about it. "If I'm going to meet up with those scientists, it might be better in an office setting."

Markus took the left turn up ahead instead of the right. Within moments, they were standing outside the door leading to his father's office. He placed his palm on the scanner beside the door. It slid open, and Markus gestured for his charge to enter first. Adar brushed past him.

Instead of stepping through, Markus hesitated a long moment. Being back on the Quortous had been difficult as it brought back many unwanted memories, but he'd been determined not to let it get to him. Instead, he'd kept himself busy trying to get Adar settled and attempting to anticipate his friend's needs. It had helped to keep much of the unresolved turmoil buried. Standing at the entrance of his father's office, Markus was suddenly overwhelmed by the vivid memory of their last face-to-face conversation in this very room, which had taken place ten years ago.

It had been the day before he had left to sign up with the Protectorate, and the memory of his father's anger as he tried, yet again, to get Markus to stop shirking his duty and start his training to become the next King of Avi-da. Naturally, Markus had stormed off, tired of the constant nagging, and decided to go somewhere his father didn't have a direct influence.

Adar turned around and gave Markus a questioning look. "Is everything okay?"

Markus steadied himself and stepped into the room, attempting to push back the bad memory and the years' worth of hard feelings he had towards his father.

It was strange coming back here, being back on this ship, and even having somewhat civil conversations with the old man in recent days. Markus understood he and his father had an uneasy truce between them because of Adar, but he wasn't sure how long that would last or how it would affect things going forward. It certainly didn't help to keep being reminded of all that had gone wrong between him and his father.

"I'm fine. It's just been a long time since I've been in this room."

Adar studied him for a long moment, probably picking up on the turmoil that was still raging inside Markus.

"We can go back to the suite if that's better for you," his friend suggested.

Markus shook his head as he locked his feelings down tight. He wasn't going to let them rule him. There were more important things to focus on right now.

"It's alright. I'll be fine. Do what you need to do."

Adar looked like he wanted to protest, but after a moment, he nodded and stepped further into the room.