Path to Becoming the Greatest Space Mercenary

Avery nervously tapped his fingers on the controls of the Dauntless as he kept his eyes glued to the main viewscreen.
Right now, they were traveling through the last hyperlane that would bring them to the Yuson system.
Considering what had been going on at his home, the slightly longer than two-week journey had felt nearly endless for Avery.
"It’s going to be fine, Avery. We already received word from Urs a couple days ago that the attackers were repelled and that your parent are safe."
Having just entered the cockpit, Jasmine walked over to Avery and comfortingly rubbed him on the back.
Ever since they had begun their journey back to the Yuson System, he had been incredibly wound up.
Despite her urgings and attempts to comfort him, he had barely been sleeping and eating. At most times he was sitting in the pilot’s chair. Ready to spring into action even though there was nothing that he could really do.
"I know, but I can’t help but feel on edge. I’m the one that brought this danger to my parents. It’s my fault, Jasmine. So, I feel that I have to be prepared at all times. Just on the off chance that there’s something that I can do to help." Avery said, the look in his sleep deprived eyes a bit manic.
Perhaps if everything could be considered one hundred percent wrapped up, he could have relaxed a bit, However, there were still enemies at large and potential threats to his parents.
A portion of Cerein’s fleet had managed to escape, and while it was unlikely that they would turn back around to try for Avery’s parents again, there was still a chance of this happening.
The enemy vessels possessed high quality stealth technology as Avery knew well. It was possible that they could sneak back for another attempt.
Then there was also the fact that one of the two ringleaders was still potentially on Yuson II.
Urs had given Avery a brief overview of his fight with Rook in one of the transmission he had sent.
While the man had been heavily injured and fled, he had not been found by the Alliance Police yet.
He could have sneaked off of Yuson II at some point, but it was equally likely that he was still onboard somewhere.
With a potential threat as dangerous as Rook possibly lurking around, Avery could not keep calm no matter how much he was reassured that his parents were safe now.
"My mother’s people are also looking after them. There are dozens of members of Azade’s Keepers of the Peace keeping watch around the clock. They’re probably the most well protected people on the station right now."
"That’s true. Until I see them safe and sound with my own eyes though, I just won’t be able to get rid of this sinking feeling in my chest." Avery said, clenching his hands tightly around the Dauntless’ controls.
Seeing that her latest attempt to assuage some of her fiancé’s worries had failed, Jasmine merely sighed and took her place at the copilot’s seat.
Soon this would all be over. So, once he had confirmed his parents’ safety with his own eyes, Jasmine would force him to finally get some rest.
He had been pushing himself unbelievably hard since the corrupt Alliance Police had attacked them. With the only decent rest he had received being when he was asleep during his treatment for the inexpiable brain damage that had knocked him unconscious.
After around another hour and a half of travel through hyperspace, they reached the exit at the edge of the Yuson System.
The portion of Avery’s team that had come along with him all dropped out into normal space at once and began setting course for Yuson II.
"I’ve already sent a communication out to both Urs and your parents. But are you sure you don’t want to set up a call with them? We can talk to them in real time now without any latency issues."
Avery hesitated for a few moments at Jasmine’s suggestion, but he ultimately shook his head.
"No, I want to see and hear them in person. If we call them now, I feel like I won’t have enough energy when we arrive."
Avery knew that he was holding himself up by a thread.
It was only thanks to his enhanced body that he was even still able to keep going. If he saw and talked to his parents right now, he felt like the relief would dimmish the tension in him and he would be unable to stay awake.
That was not what he wanted.
He needed to be ready just in case, and he wanted his reunion with his parents to be in person.
Eventually his team reached the space around Yuson II.
Currently, it looked far different compared to how Avery had ever seen it.
There were dozens of Alliance Police vessels patrolling around, and large scars of the recent battle could be seen on the station’s exterior.
Hundreds of work crews were crawling around it like ants, fixing the damage that Clarien’s fleet had caused.
"They’ve already run our registrations and identities three times already. How much more do they need to do?" Avery grumbled as the boarding procedures took for longer than usual.
Unfortunately, due to the attack that was fresh in everyone’s minds, the port authorities were being extra careful with their checks. Especially for a band of heavily armed mercenaries.
It was partially their fault that the forces Rook was leading had been able to infiltrate the station.
The laxer and quicker checks during an emergency had allowed three hostile ships to board without any resistance.
So, Yuson II’s port authority was being extra careful now to make sure that there were no more mistakes on their watch. Some of their jobs were already on thin ice, and another slipup would almost certainly mean that they would be fired.
"Okay, you’re all free to land in hangar seven now. Just make sure that none of you cause any trouble. The Police don’t have any tolerance for disturbances right now, so don’t expect to be let off with any warnings."
Now that they were permitted to enter, Avery’s team followed the instructions given to them and landed in their designated hangar.
"It almost feels like a waste that I brought everyone with me." Avery said as he and Jasmine disembarked.
The only ones that would be accompanying him were going to be her, Kasandra, and Ezra. Everyone else was just going to be waiting on standby.
"Well, we couldn’t foresee that the fighting would be over before we even arrived. I still think that it was the right move even if it turned out to be unnecessary."
Avery naturally thought the same, he just felt somewhat bad for having wasted everyone else’s time.
Thankfully, his team was considerate, and no one held it against him that he had dropped everything and rushed to his parents’ side when they were in danger.
Once Avery and Jasmine had met up with Kasandra and Ezra, the four of them headed into Yuson II proper.
For three of them, this was a fairly nostalgic return.
Avery had lived most of his life here, while Jasmine had served as a part of the Alliance Police on this station.
As for Kasandra, she had not spent as much time here as Avery and Jasmine, but this was the place where the trajectory of her entire life had changed.
"Okay, Urs just sent me the location of where my parents are. Let’s go."
Leading the way, Avery boarded the station’s public transportation comfortably and seamlessly navigated through the colony.
This had been his home for many years, so he knew his way around well.
Around twenty minutes later, they reached a business area populated by everyday shops.
Apparently Urs had a connection with one of the people here and had set up a safe base for all of them to wait.
"That must be it." Jasmine said, noticing some members of Azade’s Keepers of the Peace keeping watch around a building.
The place turned out to be an import shop that mostly focused on brining in rare fruits and drinks that normally wouldn’t be found in a more rural system like Yuson.
Still, the owner must have been doing well for themselves considering the large storefront.
When they moved to go inside, the guards from Azade saluted them, or more specifical, Jasmine. It seemed that they were paying their respects to their chancellor’s daughter.
Inside the store was completely cleared out, and several makeshift rooms had been made with temporary walls.
It looked more like a barracks rather than a shop. Though perhaps that was only natural considering how many members of Azade’s Keepers of the Peace were present.
Already having been told where to go, Avery and is companions headed for the top floor.
There, they found his parents and Urs waiting for them around a large table,
Seeing his parents, Avery froze for just a moment.
The heavy feeling in his chest finally lifted. Bursting like a damn.
The stoic appearance that he had kept up the entire time peeled away, and tears began to fall freely from his eyes.
As fast as his feet could carry him, he rushed over to Robert and Serena who had just stood up from their seats.
"Mom, dad, I’m so glad you both okay." Avery said as he pulled them both into an embrace.
Right now, he did not bear any resemblance to the strong mercenary he had become. He was just a boy happy to see his parents alive and safe.