The Last Praetorian Read Online Free PDF

slightly at her obviously impulsive
action, “thank you for not hurting him.  I had better get back before father
starts to wonder where I am.”  Nodding in understanding Jon released his arm
from around her waist, which seemed to have moved there of its own volition when
she had kissed him. 
    As she stepped through the door, Sofia looked back and
commented with a smirk, “So you thought I was the most beautiful girl at the
party?” 
    However, the door slid shut before Jon had a chance to
reply.  Shaking his head at the entire surreal encounter, Jon decided that it
was time that he got some rest.      
    *****
    “…I left the young man in the care of the senior flight
surgeon Doctor Richardson,” Jon said.  “He assured me that the young man would
make a full recovery.”
    The room was completely silent for a few moments as Jon
finished recounting the events that transpired in the senior officer’s lounge
the previous evening.  Jon had come to the conclusion several hours earlier to
leave out what had transpired in his quarters after the fight in the officer’s
lounge.  That would have raised more questions than answers.
    Eventually the Emperor seemed to rouse himself from his
contemplation and gazed at the Commander unblinkingly for a moment.  Meeting
the Emperors gaze unflinchingly, inside Jon idly wondered if the Emperor
already knew about his daughter’s late night visitation.  It was not as if the
Emperor was lacking enough spies within the Imperial Fleet.
    “Shortly after I had a visit from the foolish boy’s mother,
you might know her…Senator Rione of the Callas Republic?”  The Emperor suddenly
announced, breaking the silence. Jon visibly winced; the Callas Republic was
one of the larger factions within the Imperial Senate, very old and very
powerful.
    “She requested your head, followed by your corpse,” the
Emperor added.  “I forgot to inquire which she wanted first,” he added drolly. 
Jon was about to respond but a raised hand from the Emperor forestalled any
response. “Some time later, I had a visit from the young gentleman who
stridently defended your actions… I couldn’t fully understand all his arguments
as his nose was heavily swollen and he had to keep stopping mid-sentence to get
his breath, but I think I understood the essence of what he was trying to
saying…” Jon had to forcibly close his mouth, which had opened in shock.
    “The senator’s son…defended my actions?” Jon inquired
incredulously.  
    “Indeed,” the Emperor let a small smirk appear on his face. 
“You seemed to have made quite an impact on the young man, if you will pardon
the pun.  He was strident in his desire to join the fleet as an officer.”
    “He is certainly brave enough,” Jon muttered under his
breath.  Having the nerve to first draw a weapon on a Praetorian Guard and then
demand an audience with the Emperor himself. “This was why you required my
presence?” Jon inquired, surprised.
    “No,” replied the Emperor, “although I must confess to a
certain amount of curiosity about what transpired, as it is the talk of the
fleet, about how you tried to kill my daughter and were only stopped by the
valiant efforts of one of her friends, or how you saved my daughter’s life from
a determined assassin… depending on which set of stories you want to believe.” 
The Emperor stated with a glint in his eye.  Jon could only roll his eyes at
the fleet scuttlebutt, by the end of the week the story would only have grown
more absurd.
    “I have a task for the Praetorians,” the Emperor continued
to explain his real reason for the audience.  “I have an important cargo that I
want delivered to Eden Prime.  This cargo is priceless and I want it delivered
unharmed.”  Jon raised an eyebrow at these unusual orders; it was not the
Praetorians usual duty to act as cargo-haulers – not even for extremely
valuable cargo. There was something that he was missing… “Due to the