Most people take a sabbatical after being involved in a terrorist attack. It was offered to him, of course, but Jude had steadfastly refused the time off. Whether it'd be called commitment or just plain stubborn determination, Jude was back at Helioborg the next day, insisting he be allowed to pick up Professor Haus's research and continue where he left off. It was his way of coping with the loss of his mentor, an opportunity to make good on the promise of keeping their work going in the man's absence.

His superiors were certain this wasn't a good idea, especially when news broke of who was responsible for the attack: an anti-Rieze Maxian extremist group called Exodus. From the way the news painted it, they were a puritan group set on keeping the merger of the worlds from happening, and strongly opposed the aid offered by their benevolent neighbors.

Yet if you changed the channel, they were just considered a strongly opinionated party that thought it better for the people of Elympios to resolve their own issues without involving another country. Jude found it strange how one reportedly bi-partisan station could have such a conflicting view from another. He supposed that was just an Elympion thing; Rieze Maxia didn't have much in the way of public broadcasts outside from notices circulated by courier around the trade routes.

But having a name to the face didn't diminish the danger that Jude was apparently in. After the incident, he had been taken in for questioning. Did Haus have any enemies? Would anyone want him dead? Was he using funding improperly? Was he receiving bribes? All questions he didn't know the answer to, because they all seemed so far off-base from what he had come to expect of his mentor. Yes, Professor Haus could be a little eccentric, but what scientist wasn't? Even their superior in the lab, Balan, tended to be a little on the odd side, even going so far as to use his own body for new spyrix prototypes.

Thankfully, the both of them had been cleared of all wrongdoing and sent on their way, and Jude had been buried in work ever since.

The police's orders were clear: stay away from windows, unlocked doors, open areas. Have someone with you at all times, just in case something were to happen. It was clear to them that Jude was a likely secondary target if the assassination was anything beyond racially motivated. So having Jude show up to the lab Monday morning was more than a little alarming.

"I admire your dedication," Balan stood before him, pushing up his glasses with a perturbed expression usually reserved for unpaid interns and overzealous coffee-runners, "But is it really wise to be here right now? They still haven't caught the shooters."

Being confronted with the same declaration for the third time that day was really beginning to get to Jude. To hear it from Balan, the man who would live in the lab if his boss would allow it, was especially irritating. He knew it was just because they were worried, not only for him but for themselves. If there was another attack at Helioborg like the one at the event hall, the civilian casualties would be doubled from the patients in treatment alone. No one wanted that, especially not Jude.

But work was the only thing keeping him sane, and Balan knew this, yet continued to badger him about taking a break.

"Look, I know you want to finish Haus's research into spyrix stabilization, but consider your health and safety for once."

Big words coming from the man with the unstable prototype strapped to his leg… Jude grimaced, wrapping an arm around his middle, lowering his gaze. "I get that, but after what happened… I feel like the only thing I can do is keep working. Professor Haus put everything he had into this research. I don't want to waste it."

Balan shook his head, planting a hand on his hip, "Be that as it may, you're risking everyone by being here. Until this dies down, you need to lay low, maybe get out of town for a while. Perhaps go see your parents?"

His parents… They were the last people he wanted to see. Jude had no doubt they had caught wind of the incident by now, especially with how much Leia and his mother talked on their GHS's. His mother would be worried sick, while his dad insisted that this was too big for him and to just give up and move on. His relationship with his dad had been strained at best recently; his harsh and critical nature was one of the big reasons he wanted to pursue his education elsewhere and not near his family.

Yet in spite of this, going back to Leronde would be a good idea. Hell, getting out of Elympios was a good idea, but he couldn't bring himself to do it.

There was so much that needed to be done, so many leads left unchecked. If he left now, he'd probably go stir-crazy just thinking about all that he had left behind.

"Listen, Jude, I'd hate to have to do this, but if you don't take a break, I'll have to revoke your clearance…" A serious threat, especially from Balan who admired progress above all else.

Jude was about to go on the defensive, when the door to the lab slid open with a mechanical whir, "That won't be necessary, Balan."

Pressed suit, tanned skin, white hair with a stunning smile. Jude had only met the man once, but his presence alone resonated with power and money. A real man of status, and one not to be trifled with, the CEO of Spirius, "President Bakur…"

The prestigious man aimed a smile Jude's way, hands tucked behind his back as he spoke, "Your resolve is commendable, Dr. Mathis, even if it is a bit unwise."

"That…" Wasn't really a compliment… Jude thinks, but lowered his gaze respectfully at the man standing before him. Without President Bakur's interest in his and Professor Haus's skills, they never would have had the opportunity to work in a technologically advanced lab like Helioborg. Not only that, but it was his influence that allowed him to be admitted into the university in Trigleph as well. He owed a lot to this man and his faith in their research.

"I understand the strain that the tragic incident at the award ceremony must have caused you. Therefore, I have arranged for you to telecommute your research for the time-being." Telecommuting, another concept foreign to him. Elympions possessed the technology to have information and materials transferred via wires and prompters, something Jude had never experienced before the border was opened. He knew Balan had several pieces of equipment at his apartment for this purpose, so he could continue to participate in work on days where his leg was especially bothering him.

Jude knew well what this meant, "So you're also saying that I shouldn't return to the lab…"

Bakur nodded, "You must understand our position, Dr. Mathis. While we appreciate the work you are doing for the good of Elympion citizens, until the issue of the assassination is resolved, we need to prioritize the safety of others on base."

So I'm a liability… Great… The worry must have been apparent on his face, because Bakur did not stop there. "Ah, but it isn't as if we are completely abandoning you in your time of need. Come, there is someone I would like you to meet."

His words were far from comforting. Jude wasn't looking to be coddled or treated like an unfortunate victim damaged during a horrific event. He just wanted to continue working quietly, even if his ideals were enough to put a target on his back. But he couldn't very well deny his boss's requests of staying clear of the facility, nor could he turn down virtually anything offered to him. Doing so would be career suicide and Jude knew it.

Jude silently followed Bakur as he lead him from the lab and out to the main entrance, all the while wondering just who he was supposed to meet and for what reason.

At the front gate there stood a man, tall with a muscular build, chestnut hair slicked away from coppery eyes. He wore a finely tailored suit of navy blue and bold violet, a yellow scarf around his neck in place of a tie. He looked his way only when Bakur approached, offering a cocky grin to the two of them. "There you are." He exclaimed with a playful grin to the president, "Took you long enough. Did he fight or something?"

"Hardly, I was merely explaining the situation." Bakur turned to Jude, motioning to the strange man, "Dr. Mathis, this is Alvin Svent. Your new bodyguard."

"Bodyguard?" He wouldn't have guessed that was the reason he was being brought here. His research was important to Spirius that much he knew, but Jude had no idea that Bakur held so much stock in it that he'd go out of his way to hire a personal guard for him. He's flattered, but still very, very confused.

The guard, Alvin, wasted no time in getting friendly with his new charge. A hand was offered to Jude to shake, a broad smile on the man's face. "Just call me Alvin. Pleasure to meet you, kid."

Jude grimaced at the nickname, but took the hand with only minor hesitance. "Jude is fine, and… I wasn't expecting this, sorry." He returns the shake firmly if only to prove that his height was not an indication of how skilled or intelligent he was. Jude had always been a little on the scrawny side.

Bakur clears his throat, catching the men's attention, "Until further notice, Alvin is to remain at your side at all times to assure your continued safety. Given that these extremists have already taken the life of one of our most valued researchers, we are sparing no expense for your protection."

It was strange to hear his importance validated by this man, and even stranger to hear that his work was important enough to garner around the clock protection. Jude did stop to wonder why Balan wasn't being extended the same courtesy, but the answer to that seemed clear; he was Rieze Maxian, and Balan wasn't. Exodus had no interest in executing their own, just the "monsters" that lived just over the border.

In the end, he could only thank him. "I appreciate your concern for me, President Bakur. I hope that this is cleared up quickly so I don't trouble you further."

"Worry not, Dr. Mathis. Everything will become clear in due time. For now, you are to stay indoors and continue working from the safety of your home." He glanced to Alvin, who offered up a wave, one Bakur did not bother to return, "Alvin will see you onto the train. I expect a report on your progress by week's end."

"Yes, sir."

"Do you really have to follow me everywhere?"

"Yep, that's my job," Alvin answered with a shrug, clearly taking amusement in Jude's embarrassment. "Wherever you go, I go, that's the rules."

Jude was very much against these rules.

They had been in each other's company for under an hour and Jude was already finding Alvin's constant presence irritating. It wasn't just that he was a complete stranger, he'd get used to that eventually. It was more that he had been hired to be within a certain radius wherever Jude went. Alvin had sat in the seat beside him on the train, kept close as they wove through the busy crowds at the Trigleph station, and even stood next to him when he ducked into the restroom to relieve himself. For someone who valued his privacy as much as Jude, having Alvin glued to his side was becoming very frustrating, very fast.

To make matters worse, Alvin was supposed to stay with him at his apartment. His very small, very messy apartment.

Jude unlocked the sliding door and carefully navigated the cluttered entryway into his apartment. He was hardly ever home, and when he was, he was either too tired from work to bother cleaning up, or too busy studying to care. Bringing Alvin into the chaos that was his quarters marked the first time a stranger had come into his home, which only served to add to Jude's already frayed nerves.

"Sorry, I don't have a guest bedroom. It's a pretty small place." Jude commented as he stepped over a collection of unread research papers piled in the living room, taking a moment to clear the mass amount of books from the couch. The least he could do was offer his guest a place to sit; the table was already overtaken with books stacked higher than he was tall. He'd tackle those another day.

Alvin looked around the living space with mild curiosity, noting the overstuffed shelves, the absence of anything that could be considered a luxury. Save for the old television set sandwiched between two of the shelves, Jude's apartment looked less like a home and more like a catchall for his research materials. "I thought researchers made a lot of gald?"

Jude merely shrugged, trying to organize the books into a cohesive order before setting them aside. He'd alphabetize them properly later. "Most of my funds go to procuring research materials outside of the lab's budget. I barely have enough to cover this place as it is."

"And here I thought I was assigned to watch over a prolific researcher and live in the lap of luxury while doing it."

There was a distinct twitch in Jude's left eye as he tossed yet another stack of books onto the growing assortment on the table. "I didn't become a researcher for the money."

"Why not?" Alvin asked, genuinely curious, "Most researchers I've met are either obsessed with glory or gald. I didn't peg you for the mad scientist type, so..."

"It's not about that. Did you become a bodyguard for the money?"

Alvin cocked a brow, "Yes, I did."

And there went Jude's argument. Of course, why would someone put their life on the line for something other than cash? It wasn't like everyone had some true and pure motivation to pursue their careers, especially not Elympions…

It was that train of thought that brought him to a halt. Generalizations like that were what extremist groups like Exodus used to justified their actions. He couldn't think the same as them.

With the couch sufficiently cleared, Jude turned to the desk to begin clearing it as well. The equipment for his job was to be delivered in the morning, and he was going to need room for all of it. "Anyway, I've got some studying to do. You can watch television or something…"

Alvin flopped onto the couch and began fiddling with the remote, "All right. Let me know when you need to go out so I can go with you."

"Is that really necessary?"

Jude was cut off by a wave of Alvin's hand before he could protest further. "Bakur's orders were protect you from any potential attackers," he repeated for what felt like the sixth time since leaving Helioborg. "So, yes, I'm going with you wherever you go. Whether it'd be the store, the lab, on a walk," his voice dipped lower, "or on a date…"

"D-date?"

Alvin gave him a playful wink, which only served to make the heat rise in Jude's cheeks, "Even on a date. Where you go, I go. That's my job."

Something told him he wasn't going to like this. Not one bit. But before he could voice this, Alvin interrupted, as if he too sensed the discomfort in the boy's mind. "Look, the guy who did that to Professor Haus is still out there. Until we find him, I'm sticking to you like a shadow."

"But… How do we know they actually want me dead?" That was another thing Jude couldn't wrap his head around. If he was a target as well, would they have not taken the opportunity presented at the event hall? He was right there, completely unguarded and too exhausted from trying to save his mentor to heal himself had he been hit. Would it not be an opportune time for an assassin to strike?

Again, Alvin seemed to have the answer, "That's just it, we don't know. They wanted Haus dead, and Haus and you were partners in your field, so it serves to reason they would want you out of the picture, too."

He was right. Damn Alvin and his logic.

"Fine, but please leave me be while we're here. I'll have to work double-time if I'm going to pick up where Professor Haus left off." And with that he flopped upon his desk chair and went to work, efficiently shutting out Alvin and his stupid logic. He didn't have time for this; there was so much work to be done and not being in the lab made it harder to complete.

The conversation came to the end, Alvin flicking on the aged television set that he was sure came with the already run-down apartment. For a time the only noise to fill the room was the quiet ramblings of the news broadcast and Jude's hasty scribbling. As usual, the lackluster happenings of the world hardly held his attention, and soon his focus drifted to the boy sitting at the desk across the room.

"You sure do work hard, don't you?" He asked, attempting conversation if only to ease the tension between them.

The interruption had the opposite effect, Jude's shoulder's stiffening as soon as he spoke, "I'm the only one who can continue this line of research. No one in Elympios has the ability to."

"Huh… Is it because you're some kind of super genius, or something?"

"Uh… Well…"

"How old are you anyway?" Jude wasn't small, nor was he particularly muscular. His slight build was accented by lithe muscles and calloused hands, his youthful amber eyes darting across the paper with each line written. Young was a fair way to describe him, far younger than someone claiming the title of doctor should be.

Jude gave up on writing notes for the time being and turned his chair to face Alvin properly. It was only polite if they were to have a conversation, after all. "I'm sixteen, and I'm still in school. But by Rieze Maxian standards, I've already earned my PhD."

"Sixteen and a doctor?" Alvin was impressed and it showed.

"Yes, Dr. Jude Mathis… But like I said, the criteria for being a doctor by Elympion standards are higher, probably because of the differences in technology."

"Oh yeah, that's right… Is it true that doctors in Rieze Maxia can heal people using just the power of spirits?" He wasn't trying to be rude, Alvin was just genuinely curious. He had met so few Rieze Maxians that had a proper grasp of the spirits around them, and even fewer who were willing to answer a simple Elympion's questions about them. Jude seemed willing enough, at least.

"Not all of them, but yes, with the proper training someone who is well-versed in Spirit Artes can heal anything from cavities to sprains to broken bones."

"But not gunshot wounds."

The proclamation shook Jude, his gaze lowering to the floor. It was a harmless comment, he knew, but the timing… It hurt, it really did. "I… I tried to save him, you know." He sighed, tucking a bit of stray hair behind his ear. It was getting too long again. "But the wound to his head… I wasn't able to…"

"You were lucky to get out alive." Alvin interjected before Jude could deprecate himself further, "Be grateful for that."

"But Dr. Haus…"

Alvin shook his head, "You're continuing his work, aren't you? That has to count for something."

As harsh as the words were, Jude couldn't help the somber smile on his face.