Empire's Son: An Epic Science Fiction Novel Series

Markus and I had only a few moments to settle into the officer's lounge when my unity ring beeped, and I looked down with a grimace. My father was calling. He'd attempted to call a few hours ago when I had been in the middle of planning with the science team. I had meant to call him back when we were done, but we'd immediately gotten on the shuttle to meet with Havoreat. The last I had talked to him was the day before. A lot had happened since then, and I wondered what he wanted, though I half suspected I already knew.

I raised my wrist to show Markus who was calling. He immediately stood up and got the attention of the three officers talking quietly across the room as they sat over a finished meal. He made a motion toward the door.

"The Heir needs a moment to speak to the Emperor," he said, and that's all it took for the officers to stand and file out of the room. Markus followed behind, leaving me alone.

I was relieved for the privacy. I took a steadying breath and accepted the call. The Emperor's image appeared before me. "Father. Forgive me for not answering before. I was in the middle of a meeting with the Vanguard scientists and then Admiral Havoreat." I said, attempting to get out in front of blowing him off earlier.

His image frowned at me, telling me I probably wasn't going to like where this conversation was going to go. "Am I to understand that you've taken it upon yourself to mount a rescue operation for Rainus?" His voice carried a hard tone.

I stiffened instinctively, straightening my posture as I felt myself go further on the defensive. "Yes, father. I believe it's worth the risk, and we've put together a workable rescue plan."

"A workable plan?" His voice remained calm, but I could see the storm building behind his eyes. "With what authority? I have not even officially presented you as my Heir. Right now you do not have the training to even know what sort of responsibilities and authority you will have."

I maintained eye contact, refusing to shrink under his gaze. "I understand that, but Rainus asked me to look into the alien threat before we parted ways at Sora X. When I found out he'd been taken, I knew time wasn't on our side and we needed to act quickly. Markus agreed. He's also been extremely helpful in giving me the information needed to put things in motion.

"I also just spoke with Admiral Havoreat. He agreed my plan was solid enough to act on and will be commanding the fleet that will act as a distraction while a retrieval team goes to get Rainus."

My father's left eyebrow rose so high it almost disappeared into his hairline. "Did he really? He's not usually so cooperative with the Imperial Family in committing Vanguard assets. It must be some plan."

I shrugged. "Well, Markus endorsed me and the plan, so I think that helped."

"I see," was the answer from my father. He remained silent for a long moment, and I found it difficult to gauge his mood. His face had settled into its usual stoic expression. "Walk me through this plan of yours."

I blew out a nervous breath before I dived into what we were going to do and how we were going to accomplish it. My father listened without interruption, his expression remained unreadable as I detailed Gayle's tracer bond capabilities that would lead us directly to Rainus, and the two-part plan that comprised a distraction with the main fleet and then the insertion team that would extract Rainus. When I finished, silence hung between us for several seconds.

"And where will you be when this is going on?" he finally asked.

I hesitated, knowing my next words might not go over as well. "I'll be on the Retribution with Admiral Havoreat, monitoring the operation and providing tactical oversight in case there are issues with the retrofitted missiles."

My father's face remained unnervingly calm, but his eyes narrowed slightly. "You will do no such thing."

"Father—"

"No." The single word sliced through my protest. "You are my successor, or you will soon be. I will not have you placing yourself in the direct path of an enemy we barely understand. I also imagine Markus will want to be on the team to rescue his father, and that won't happen either. I know about the bond, which you should have told me about immediately. Instead, I had to hear about it from the College when I tried to find out what had happened with the invaders.

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"I don't like that his life is directly tied to yours, but I understand nothing can be done about it now. That means he needs to be protected just as much as you do. And I will not have that fool endangering you because he thinks he's invincible."

My jaw tightened, but I knew better than to say anything in that moment. The anger was now obvious in the Emperor's voice. The last time he'd gotten like that was when he'd threatened to destroy Earth. So with that in mind, I didn't dare push him too far, and part of me was afraid I already had.

The silence between us was thick, but neither of us said a word, and I was determined not to be the one to break the silence. I also wondered what this meant for our mission. How far would he go to make sure Markus and I weren't at risk? Surely, the Vanguard would continue with the plan even if the two of us couldn't participate?

Finally, he spoke. "I am impressed with the plan you have put together, especially in such a short time frame. It is well thought out and appears to have a reasonable chance of success, but I do not want you or Markus to take a direct part in it."

I felt my stomach turn itself inside out, but I wasn't surprised at his decree. I was, however, surprised at his endorsement of the plan. That made the blow of not being able to participate easier to bear.

"I also appreciate you taking the initiative to get things going to retrieve Rainus. That kind of attitude will take you far in your role as my successor and beyond. But until you have more training and my official backing, you need to talk to me before implementing any more missions or operations, big or small. We also need to discuss safety procedures now that you have this new vulnerability."

I did not like the way he said that last word. It made it sound like Markus was a weakness rather than a strength. I cleared my throat. "Father, I understand your concerns. But Markus is not a vulnerability—he's an asset. The bond has already proven valuable, and his expertise has been crucial to this operation."

The Emperor's eyes narrowed fractionally. "That I find surprising. Markus Nador has done little in recent years to make anyone think he knows what he's doing."

I pressed my lips together as I realized that my father's attitude about the double bond might be more about the Emperor's personal feelings about Markus. I really needed to find out what had happened between them.

I decided the best tactic would be to apologize and hopefully cool some of his anger. "I am sorry that I did not call and tell you about the bond or to ask your permission to put a plan together to rescue Rainus. I will endeavor to do better in the future."

"That's all I ask, Adar." He paused a moment before speaking again. "It is a good plan. I hope it is successful."

And with that, his image cut out abruptly. I breathed out a long exhale to steady my nerves. I really should have called him after the bonding with Markus, especially after everything that had happened with Zorren, but things had been so crazy it hadn't even occurred to me to do so. Well, I made a mental note to do my best to keep him in the loop from here on out.

After taking a few moments to myself, I walked over to the door and palmed it open. Markus was standing in front, preventing anyone from entering, even though the corridor beyond him looked empty. Maybe he had chased everyone away already.

"I'm done," I said, and stepped aside to allow Markus to enter the lounge.

"What's wrong?" He asked immediately. I figured he'd probably been reading me through the bond through the entire conversation.

"He doesn't want me anywhere near the rescue attempt, or you either. He knows about our bond, and he's not happy about it. Or at least the part where we are linked in death. I think he sees you more than a liability than an asset."

Markus snorted liked he wasn't the least surprised at my revelation. "Well, I have to agree with him about you not going anywhere near the Shixx. I know you wanted to be there with the fleet and even requested to be on the Retribution, but I was going to suggest that you stay back in the Quortous. Though I suppose he isn't wrong about the risk with me as well. I can hang back in the Quortous with you."

I eyed the other man carefully. I could tell he wasn't thrilled about the second part of what he said. I was pretty sure he had been thinking of leading the insertion team to save his father, even though he hadn't come right out and said it. Hell, I'd been thinking the same thing. With everything going on, it had slipped my mind about Markus's life now being tied to mine until my father had brought it up. So much had happened since my fateful trip to Razivi's lair.

But now I took a moment to really consider the consequences of what we had done. Someone else's life was attached to mine, and not just someone else, but someone I was quickly becoming close to and was starting to care about. I had even gotten to know him pretty well in the short time since we'd met, and I knew he wasn't the type to take a backseat during dangerous missions, especially not where a loved one's life hung in the balance. How did I have a right to rule someone else's life so completely? To take away his choice to do something that mattered so much to him.

I staggered as that realization fell over me. He reached out to steady me until I found a seat. "Markus, I'm so sorry." I wanted to say more, but I couldn't. The words wouldn't come. Though I'm sure my overwhelming guilt was more than clear through the bond.