I stepped out of my last Remaker treatment. Caretaker Paxor waited for me. Once I stepped from the machine, he took a scan. I watched the transparent green image of my body as it formed in the air in front of me.

“The wounds inside have healed completely. You may resume all normal activity.”

“So I won’t have any more pain like yesterday?” I asked.

The Caretaker shook his head. “All damage is healed.”

I sighed with relief. “Good. Thank you. I owe you my life.”

The Caretaker stuffed his scanner into his white coat pocket, and looked at me like I had just made a ridiculously obvious comment about the weather. “It is my duty as Caretaker.”

“I’m sure, but I still thank you.”

“Of course,” the Caretaker folded his hands in front of him and gave a bow of his head. “I will take my leave, if you do not require anything else.”

I pointed to the Remaker standing tall in my room. I wasn’t sure exactly when or how the large machine had been put in my room, only that it had been there when I’d woken up yesterday with Tessa by my side.

“Will this be removed then?”

The Caretaker looked back at the still open machine. “Ah, yes.” He walked over, pushed at a few glyphs on the machine and stepped back.

The Remaker’s door closed, and then to my utter surprise, the Remaker began to sink down into the floor. After it fully descended, leaving a gapping hole in the white stone floor, a thin circular white disk slid from the left top of the hole to cover it. I step forward and walked across where the Remaker had been. The surface had that solid white gleam that everything else in the palace did.

“That’s a neat trick. Where did the Remaker go?”

“The delivery system stores it in the Remaker Repository until you need again.”

“So it’s always there to be called up when needed?”

“Yes, along with the thousands of others used by those living or even temporarily staying in the palace.”

I threw a startled look at the Caretaker still standing as if at attention where I had left him. “Thousands? That’s a lot of Remakers.”

“A lot of people need healing, and Remakers work best if they are calibrated to only one individual.”

I raised an eyebrow. “So does that mean the Remaker I just used is the same one I was using on Vang’s ship?”

“No, I’m afraid that one is still on the Xlero, but Caretaker Benite had the calibrations for your previous machine and setup this one up for you after his return. We certainly didn’t expect to have to use it so soon.”

I nodded, taking in the information. It was nice to finally have a Caretaker who didn’t seem to mind answering questions.

“Where is Caretaker Benite by the way?”

“He is Head Caretaker of the White Palace. I imagine he is busy with those duties.”

I grunted. “Really? Head Caretaker? What was he doing on the Xlero?”

The other man shrugged. “I really can’t say. I will take my leave now if you have no other requirements for me.

“Of course, thanks again.”

Paxor gave me another bow and promptly made for the exit. He left me alone in the room. I wasn’t exactly sure when breakfast would be, but I decided I needed a shower. I still only wore a pair of loose pants, and while all the blood was gone, I was smelling a little ripe.

I made my way for the bathroom, realizing half-way there that the shower may have to wait as I remembered the mess the Protector and I had made of it.

I entered the door and stopped in shock. It looked like nothing had happened. The shower was complete once more and all the blood and mess was gone. Someone must have been in here cleaning things up when I had been unconscious. They certainly had made quick work of it.

At least that meant I could get a shower. I shucked off my pants and stepped into the shower. I turned the nob and water poured over me. It felt so freaking good. I stood there for a long time, trying my best not to think of the last time I was in here. But flashes of the fight with the Protector haunted me as I finished up.

I didn’t waste any more time as I threw a towel around my waist and made for my bedroom. Several minutes later, I managed to fish out some fresh clothes from the closet and dressed. I then made my way to the dining room that I had had breakfast with the Emperor my second day in the palace.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

I entered to find that the long table was already occupied by my father at one end with Admiral Vang and Master Kiev across from each other near the middle on each of the long sides. My place at the far end of the table was waiting for me. I hurried for my seat, noticing the other three were in the middle of eating.

“I’m sorry if I’m late. My treatment just finished and I needed a shower.” I sat down to my place and a servant quickly came to set a plate laden with food in front of me. The heavy aroma of it made my stomach growl. I didn’t realize how hungry I was.

“And did the Caretaker give you a full release?” The Emperor asked from his perch at the far end.

“He did,” I dug right into my food and took a large bite. My mouth watered around the savory meat.

“Excellent. Just in time too. The Admiral, Master Kiev and I have been discussing plans.”

That made me pause before I could take a second bite. “Plans for what?”

“The three of you will be leaving for Sora X later today so you can choose your Protector along with receiving an assessment from the quat-lo master there.”

The news shocked me. I was leaving the palace? This soon? I hadn’t even been here a full week yet. Though considering everything that had happened I suppose it shouldn’t have been that big of a surprise.

I set my eating utensil on my plate. “Why do I need to be assessed?”

This time it was Master Kiev that spoke up. “You have demonstrated that you know the very superior discipline of quat-lo. It is taught under the most strict conditions and exclusively to those within the Protectorate Program, and only by qualified masters. Aragon was most definitely not a qualified master of quat-lo. His training of you was not only illegal, but dangerous. If not taught properly, you could put yourself and others in serious jeopardy.”

My mind briefly touched on the new memories I now had from my dad. It made me feel like he was reaching out from the past to give me a great big hug and Master Kiev’s words made it seem like he was stomping all over that. I know my dad, and he would have never taught me anything he didn’t think I could handle.

“I understand how dangerous it is, Master Kiev. I assure you.”

“Perhaps, but it would put the entire Council of Directors of the College at ease if you were assessed, the sooner the better.”

Kiev bowed his head to indicate he meant no disrespect. I realized that all this had probably put him in a difficult position, and he was only relaying what he himself had been told.

I decided it would be best to play along. It wasn’t like I had much choice anyways. The Emperor had seen to that. “And what will this assessment entail?”

Kiev looked relieved at my question. “A series of tests to determine your ability to control and direct your skill.”

Unease twisted in my stomach. I didn’t like where this was going. My dad had gone way out of his way to help me, and I didn’t like the thought of anyone undoing that. Besides, I liked the idea of having another resource to protect myself. With the amount of enemies I was collecting, I knew it might save my life. Hell, it already had.

“And if I don’t pass these tests?”

“Then you will undergo additional training, unless of course, the Directors decide to lock your training away.”

“Absolutely not,” came the gruff reply from the other end of the table.

All three of us turned looked to the Emperor in surprise. I’m pretty sure my surprise was the most among us all.

Master Kiev gathered himself quickly and spoke. “Emperor with all due respect it might not be up to you. This is a matter for the College to decide.”

The Emperor threw a cold glare toward Kiev. “And who do you think keeps the College running? I know you get a hefty sum when your Protectors are bonded to their charges, but it takes a lot of money and resources to keep that College going, and my coffers make up that difference.

“I may despise Aragon for all he has done, but in this one thing, I completely agree with him. Adar has many enemies, including all of mine. This superior discipline gives him an edge most do not have, and I will not have it locked away. Do I make myself clear?”

Master Kiev looked like he had swallowed something sour. “But, Sire–”

“Do I make myself clear, Master Kiev?” The Emperor said with a harder tone that made it evident that any argument would end badly.

Master Kiev’s face paled. “Yes, Excellency.”

“Good, make sure to pass that message along to your Directors.”

“Yes, Excellency.”

A moment of awkward silence passed, and all I could do was sit there not sure I heard him correctly. I never thought a day would come that my birth father would actually agree with my dad on anything. It almost felt surreal.

I then noticed the Emperor giving me a look as if wondering why I wasn’t eating. I took the moment to give him a nod of gratitude. I didn’t worry whether he would understand or not. He had proven he usually did before I even did. Sure enough, I saw a ghost of a smile pass on his lips.

I had mixed feelings about that. He had threatened Earth only a few days before and here I was showing him something besides my utter distain. I decided not to think too closely on that and just take the small win I had just been given.

I turned my attention back to my food and took a second bite, but it didn’t taste as good as the first one. Yep, there was still plenty of distain left to go around.

“While we are on the subject, I would like you to confirm for us, Adar. Did you know quat-lo before you came to the Empire, or was it released during your confrontation with Captain Hame?” the Emperor asked.

“It was released during the fight,” I said, not the slightest bit surprised the Emperor had already figured that out.

The other man nodded. “I suspected as much. Then you only have two locks left.”

“Yes,” I confirmed.

“Might I ask if Aragon left a clue in the memories that were released as to what might unlock your other adaptable lock?” Master Kiev asked. His demeanor greatly changed from a moment ago. A light of eagerness twinkling in his eyes.

It was then I remembered the memory I had woken up to yesterday. Dad and I in the special training room. Him pulling me aside and the words he had spoken. In all that had happened with Tessa, and then Caretaker Paxor, I had almost forgotten about it. I took a moment to make sure I remembered the exact wording of what he had said.

“The Nadors are the key to your other adapted memories. Seek them out. Spend time with them. And the lock will release.” I said as I focused on the memory and the face of my dad. I felt a pang of sorrow at seeing his face and hearing his words in my mind’s eye.

I shook myself out of it, and then looked around the table at the three pairs of eyes looking at me. The intensity of it made me feel self-conscious and I glanced down to my plate of food.

“Those are the exact words he said.”

The room was quiet for a long moment, and I thought maybe I had made a mistake in saying that out loud, then I heard Master Kiev speak up.

“I suppose that would make sense. You did spend the first five years of your life with them.”