Adrian controlled his breathing, trying to master his anger. He loved his son, but sometimes the boy was foolish. He didn’t think critically enough about what had happened and what he could have done differently to change the outcome.
“No, boy.” His father was barely able to keep his anger at bay. “There weren’t too many. The two of you would have been able to wipe them out easily if you’d used the brains the gods gave you both.”
Adrian gripped the footboard until his knuckles were white and looked at them, forcing himself to calm down. The anger came from love, from his deep desire for his son to make something of himself and be greater than the father. He knew he was betraying his mandate by showing emotion.
Without looking up, he spoke. “Romulus, my time with you is running short. That’s not what I want since I’ve enjoyed having you as my son, but that is the way of life. You are mine for a short time, and then you are the Solar System’s. If you do not learn the lessons I seek to teach you, you won’t survive out there. Someone stronger, faster, and smarter will take your life from you, as well as everything you’ve tried to build.”
He took a deep breath and slowly let it out, then placed his hands behind his back. His countenance returned to stillness.
“Think, Romulus. Tell me what went wrong. There weren’t too many. What happened?”
His son’s eyes closed for longer this time. He was going deep, trying to figure out what had happened, which was what Adrian wanted.
He didn’t open his eyes as he spoke. “I went in too quickly. I rushed, thinking Triam needed my help. If I’d waited…” He opened his eyes and found his father. “If I’d waited a little longer, they would have been focused on Triam. I could have cut them down with one stroke.”
Adrian didn’t smile though he wanted to. He’d let his son nearly die for him to learn this lesson. It was a proud moment that could not be shared. “That’s correct. You didn’t let your enemy expose themselves. You forced yourself into a fight when it wasn’t necessary. If you wait, your enemy will show their vulnerability. They will undo themselves. Let them, and when you see their underbelly, cut it wide open.”
Part II
Chapter Ten
“The universal language isn’t math, it’s money, my dear.”
—Jeeves, Artificial Intelligence Entity
It took them five days to make it to the planet. The pod, given its higher speed, made it much sooner, though Jeeves couldn't calculate its exact time of arrival. The AI had made the necessary arrangements with the planetary government to okay their landing.
He'd also connected Alistair with the Terram, translating their guttural language for the Earthborn. The conversation hadn't been an easy one; he had to tell them the refugees would need to stay there longer. He let them know they wouldn't return for some time and had given the names of the refugees who’d take leadership positions until their return.
The only good news he had for them was that the Commonwealth and the Myrmidons were no longer over their planet. The enemies had left.
In the end, the Terram acquiesced, though they used very colorful language. They were good people, and Alistair understood he owed them a debt. When he could pay it, he would.
The ship was in its final descent, rushing through the planet's atmosphere. Jeeves was controlling the speed to avoid damage to the outer panels. They had no idea how many jumps they might have to make in this ship, and limiting the damage over time was important. Faitrin was on the lookout for other ships they might be able to purchase or acquire by less legal means, as long as they could transfer Jeeves into their new vessel.
Alistair had become a fan of the AI. It had a man's voice that spoke in a strange dialect, and over the five days, he made Jeeves tell him it was from England, before the Ascendant's rise. Such an accent no longer existed because of deliberate extermination by the Commonwealth. Getting rid of nationalities was important, the need for “One People. One Purpose” all-encompassing.
Alistair sat in his chair as Jeeves spoke. "You're going to feel a large change in speed very shortly. This is because we've finished the initial part of our descent and have to slow to land on the planet."
Faitrin was in the pilot's chair. She'd given Jeeves permission to update the crew, probably because she was tired of it. Alistair didn't care and didn't ask. He trusted her to make the right decisions.
"You okay up there, brothess?" Relm asked Faitrin.
"Would be doin' better if you’d let me concentrate on my job," she called to him.
Relm smiled and leaned his head back against the chair.
Just as Jeeves had said, the ship entered a hard slowdown phase. Alistair glanced at Faitrin as his body pressed against the restraints. She was pushing against hers too, though her eyes remained gray and her face was focused on whatever her mind saw.
The panels in front of them cleared, and Alistair turned to look at the planet.
"The gods themselves made this," Servia whispered from the back.
Alistair could think of no argument against what she said. This place made Earth and every other planet inside its Solar System look like apes or their direct descendants had built it, and they were only staring at a small portion of this massive planet.
From what Alistair could see, the world was one huge city. The buildings went on and on, seeming to have no end. He had known to expect this from his studies on the way, but seeing it was different.
The ship slowed further, and Alistair leaned back in his seat.
Jeeves spoke again. "I've arranged sleeping quarters and meals. I've told authorities the duration of our stay is one week and that I would let
