The Last Praetorian Read Online Free PDF Page B

nature of
the cargo you will be carrying I expect you to personally deliver this piloting
the Eternal Light .”  This was an even greater shock to Jon as while he
had flown the Eternal Light on numerous occasions this was the twin ship
of the Star Light , the emperor’s personal shuttle.  As far as he was
aware only the Emperor and his family ever travelled on this ship, which raised
an interesting question of who, or what this cargo is, to which Jon had a
terrible premonition…
    “The cargo that I will be transporting is?”  Jon inquired
hesitantly.
    “Is my only daughter, Sofia,” the Emperor responded,
confirming Jon’s worst fear. “You have some concerns regarding this
assignment?”  He inquired, noticing the frown on Jon’s face.
    “Not at all!”  Jon hurriedly tried to reassure his master. 
“Your daughter is certainly a lovely person….” The sudden silence that appeared
after that statement seemed like a black hole that was suddenly engulfing.  
“And she had a great personality,” Jon was quick to add.  “And I find her
company to be very…” he continued.
    “Yes?” The Emperor prompted.
    Demoralising.  Uncomfortable.  Maddening.  Painful.  “Delightful,”
Jon muttered, and somehow managed not to choke on the word.  Jon clamped his
mouth shut before he could do any more damage.  The Emperor just pinned him
with another one of his searing gazes and Jon once again wondered just how much
he knew about their relationship.
    “My daughter is to finish her education on Eden Prime before
commencing work at the Imperial Senate.” Jon knew for a fact that the Senate
had been based on Eden Prime for the past two decades.  With a sigh the Emperor
motioned around the darkened room, with just the two occupants. “This is not
the environment that I wanted to raise my family, however with the death of her
mother I could not take the risk of being separated from her, however, now my
little girl is growing up, she deserves her own life, to be able to stand on
firm ground, to look up at the sky and feel the sun on her face.”
    “Who knows,” the Emperor continued after a brief pause
giving Jon a knowing look, “she might meet somebody on Eden Prime and decide to
settle down and start a family.”  Jon kept his face impassive but inside was
debating what action he would take if any such suitor approached Sofia.  Thoughts
of choking such a suitor to death felt very appealing.
    “I will protect your daughter with my life if necessary,”
Jon reassured the Emperor. “No harm will come to her on Eden Prime while she is
under the protection of the Praetorians.” 
    And I’ll be making damn sure that no one comes within ten
meters of her!   Jon did not voice aloud.
    The Emperor frowned for an instant, as if he had been
expecting a different response, finally acknowledging the response.  “The Eternal
Light is being refuelled on my orders as we speak.  I expect you to be
departing within the hour,” the Emperor ordered in a clear sign of dismissal. 
    Jon was taken aback for an instant at the abrupt departure
but quickly dropped to one knee and bowed his head in acknowledgement of his
orders.  Quickly striding from the room, grasping the sword at his side tightly
to avoid tripping over it in his haste, his thoughts were ablaze with
preparations to be made for their early departure.      
    *****
    Jon was therefore distinctly annoyed that upon exiting the
Emperor’s apartments that he came face-to-face with the last person that he
wanted to meet – Commodore Harkov.
    Harkov was a thin man who, upon first seeing him, Jon
thought look sleep-deprived and erratic.  Jon had taken an instant dislike to
the man.  He maintained a high level of security and ran his ship very
strictly, discouraging his subordinates from acting outside of their orders or
asking unnecessary questions, all of which led to low morale on board.  One
incident, which Jon had been present to observe, occurred