Marco

A human who is abducted by Amicus while studying abroad in Rome. Stranded on Adastra until the imperial throne is filled, he assumes the role of Amicus's semi-intelligent pet in order to protect himself.

Catches a common pox from a sickly girl in the street while in Adastra City following Amicus's presumed victory. His complete lack of immunity and the wolves' inability to treat his species results in his falling into a seemingly permanent coma. He wakes up in the gardens fully healed three days later, the Parents having saved him from certain death./

Is discovered naked in bed with Amicus by Cato and Cassius. Their secret outed, Amicus is forced to throw the third round to protect Marco from harm before being imprisoned in the palace dungeons. Marco is placed on house arrest, having become a Khemian citizen./

Stalks Alexios with Neferu and discovers that he is an Omorfan spy. Alexios agrees to get them access to the Archives if they stay silent. Marco and Virginia access the Archives and erase Marco's record from the palace security records, and Marco is shown a vision of his own gruesome death by the Parents./

Is framed by Cato for Cato's own poisoning of Emperor Cassius and confined to Amicus's bedroom. He escapes and forces Alexios to release Amicus from the dungeons./

Saves Amicus from being killed in battle by Cato by stabbing Cato in the back and neck, but Cato nevertheless manages to slit Marco's throat. Marco bleeds to death in Amicus's arms, but is brought back to life after Amicus submits to the will of the Parents. The Parents also reveal that Marco and Amicus's meeting was by design, and that they each still have jobs to do. Marco must go back to Earth and bring the human race into the galactic fold, a process that will take eight years./