Empire's Son: An Epic Science Fiction Novel Series

Markus wiped the sweat from his face with a cloth and then tossed it in the laundry bin at the back of the training room. He eyed the eleven others in the room with him, wondering if the drills they had been doing for the last twenty-seven hours would make any difference. Ever since they'd met up with Nathias and his three corvettes, those chosen for the rescue team had been training hard with only a handful of breaks. It had been a grueling day, but Markus was determined to get everyone as ready as possible with the combat tactics he'd laid out to go up against the Shixx.

"I think they are as ready as they are going to get with the little time that we have, but I'll put them through the simulations again after a break. You should get some rest. You look terrible. How long have you been up?" Nathias said, coming up to Markus to toss his own soiled cloth in the bin. His friend had been training just as hard with the rest of them, and he was looking a little ragged too.

"I'm fine," Markus replied, even though he could feel the weariness in his bones.

He had gotten a few hours of sleep as the Quortous as well as Havoreat's fleet had traveled to meet up with Nathias and Gayle, but that had been nearly twenty-eight hours ago. Since then, he'd been going just as hard as the rescue team. Normally, such intense training wouldn't be terribly difficult. He'd trained his body and mind to go days without sleep if need be, but with the new bond, he felt like he hadn't slept in several weeks.

"We are only about four hours out from Rainus's location according to what Gayle says. You should get what rest you can. You are newly bonded after all. Rest is important with new bonds, or did I get that wrong?" Nathias asked with a raised eyebrow.

Markus grunted. Part of him regretted spilling everything to Nathias to get his cooperation in talking to Gayle about getting the tracer bond. He wasn't so concerned about Dexter and Shiperii finding out he'd told someone outside the College about the double bond, but about how this was going to be one more thing his friend was going to nag Markus about, and he was already getting started.

"No, you didn't," Markus sighed heavily. He was too tired to for an argument. He also knew his friend was right. The last thing he needed was to collapse from exhaustion once on the Shixxaminti ship.

"Maybe you should sit this one out?" Nathias added quietly.

And there it was. He knew his friend had been trying to find the nerve to say it ever since Nathias, Gayle, and the men chosen for the mission had started the training.

"Adar and I already had this conversation. He thinks I should go," Markus replied.

"And what do you think?"

Markus eyed his friend, surprised he would ask such a question. "He's my father. I have to go."

Nathias snorted. "Really? You spent the last ten-plus years running away from that man like he had some sort of life-ending plague, and now you want to run into certain danger to save him? And what of Adar? You've been dreaming of him coming back for almost as long as I've known you. Not only that, but you've quickly catapulted yourself to being the most important person in his life. Are you really okay if something happens to you and it hurts him in turn?"

Markus glared at his friend. "Are you seriously trying to talk me out of saving my father? I thought you cared about him."

"I do care about him," Nathias said, his voice softening. "And I care about you too, which is why I'm asking. This isn't just about the mission—this is about more than that. I know your father well, Markus. He would much rather die so that you and Adar lived. He would be upset if he had somehow been the cause of your death."

Markus turned away, focusing on the soldiers as they continued drilling in smaller groups. All of them clad in the MX4 suits. The Guardians had adjusted quickly to having the new enhancements of the suits and learning Markus's unorthodox combat tactics. They still weren't as good as he would have liked. There was hesitation and some confusion in their formations, but time was running out. They would have to make do.

"I'm the most qualified person for this mission," Markus finally said, his voice low. "I know these formations better than anyone. I've studied the enemy, Nathias. I know I can do this. I know I can get in there, get past whatever defenses they put up, and get my father out. I'm not going to die, and neither will my father, but I can guarantee Shixx are going to die, and probably a lot of them if I have anything to say about it."

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Nathias studied him for a long moment, his face revealing nothing. "And what about Adar? What if you get yourself––and by extension him killed––trying to be the hero?"

"I told you, that's not going to happen." Markus turned to face his friend fully.

Nathias snorted. "You know, for all your avoidance of the man, you're more like him than you realize."

Markus flinched. "That's not—"

"The same stubborn determination. The same willingness to sacrifice everything for what you believe is right." Nathias shook his head. "I've seen it in both of you."

"He's a man who follows his duty," Markus said, his voice tight. "I'm a man who follows his instincts."

"And yet, here we are." Nathias gestured broadly around the training room. "Same outcome."

Markus rolled his shoulders, trying to loosen the tension building there. The bond with Adar pulsed in the back of his mind, a constant reminder of what was at stake. It wasn't just his life on the line anymore. It wasn't just his father's.

"Look," Nathias continued, his voice dropping. "I know you. You will do what you want. You always have. Mine and everyone else's objections won't slow you down. I just want to make sure you see the bigger picture too. That you really understand what's at stake. It's not just about saving your father. It's about what comes after."

Markus ran a hand through his sweat-dampened hair. "You think I haven't thought about that? With every decision I make, I feel Adar there, in the back of my mind. I know what's at stake. I know what I am doing. I don't have the luxury of sitting this one out," Markus said. "I have to do this."

Nathias finally nodded. "Yeah. Okay. Just be careful."

Markus gave his friend a big smile. "I'm always careful."

Nathias rolled his eyes. "Yeah, right." He paused for a moment and spoke with more seriousness. "Fine, come if you must, but I insist on some sleep before the mission. Take a sedative if you need to. At this point, I think you need rest more than training."

"And since when did you become the expert on what I need?"

"I am your friend, Markus. I know you, and I know when you are reaching a limit. You're nearly there. Go rest."

Nathias slapped him on the shoulder and walked off to address the others. Markus nodded. "Yeah, okay."

He began to remove the MX4 suit he'd been wearing. His new abilities were still fluctuating, so would need the suit just as much as all the others on the upcoming rescue mission for its physical enhancements. He was just glad that he could convince Chief Commander Dexter to allow non-College personnel to use them. They would need every advantage they could get on the coming mission.

Markus had removed the entire suit and stood in his sweat-drenched bodysuit when his feet were swept out from under him and he landed hard on his back. Markus braced himself to face whatever had upended him, but stilled when he saw Gayle's face over him.

"Oh, did that hurt?" Gayle asked in a sickly sweet tone.

Markus grunted. It was the first time she'd spoken to him directly since their ships had rendezvoused yesterday. Since then, she had either addressed Nathias or had said nothing at all. She'd certainly been a part of the mission tactics planning and training, but had refused to work with Markus directly.

"Thank you for doing this, Gayle, and I am sorry about the bond with Adar. Maybe it would have been better for you to be bonded to him than me," Markus said as he pulled himself up off the floor.

Gayle was quiet for a long moment as she stood back and watched. Finally, she spoke. "So gratitude and an apology all in one sentence? Are you ill? You must be, because I think that's the first apology I have ever heard from your lips. And I mean ever. "

"Ouch, I apologize," Markus said, defending himself.

Gayle's eyebrow rose high into her hairline. "Since when?"

Markus opened his mouth and then closed it as he really thought about that for a moment, and realized she was right. "Point taken."

"So?" Gayle asked as she rested her hands on her hips, obviously still expecting an answer.

"I'm tired. Dead tired. That's my excuse."

Gayle snorted. "You look pretty ragged. You should get some rest."

"Yeah, Nathias already convinced me of that. I'm headed there now."

The woman nodded. "I'm still mad."

"Yeah, I know."

"But I appreciate the apology even if it was from delirious exhaustion."

Markus nodded. He let a long moment pass before he spoke again. "Look, I know that after all this that you probably won't want to see my face for a long time, but I'm putting together a protection team for Adar. Shiperii and Dexter are demanding it be from Pledges and retired Protectors. I'd like you to be on it. I know you want your own charge, but I trust you, Gayle, more than most people. And I can't think of a better person to help me protect Adar."

The woman didn't seem to know what to say at first, but after a moment, she finally broke the silence. "I'll think about it." She then turned on her heel and marched away.

Markus exhaled as the weariness felt stronger than ever. He really hoped he hadn't messed things up beyond repair with her. He'd done that with too many other people. Gayle was worth keeping around. At least she was talking to him. That was a start. Markus made his way out of the training room to find a bed to crash in for a few hours. They would prepare to rescue his father in just under four hours, and he needed to ensure that he was at his best, or nearly so, when that moment arrived.