Brinus packed his bags next to the dresser as Simmie laid on the bed in his pajamas with his ankles crossed. He shivered and teeth chattered because Brinus had the AC at full blast. The bedroom was quiet with only Simmie and Brinus in it.
“You know, you could use your trust fund.”
“No. I want to buy that shuttle myself.”
“Why do you want a junker?”
Brinus smiled and laughed. “Cuz it would be cool! I could go to my launchpad on the weekends and tinker with my ship.”
Simmie laid on his stomach on the bed. “Still. You can pay with your trust fund for a proper ship. Why don’t you?”
Simmie came off of the bed and kissed Brinus on the neck wrapping his arms around his waist.
Brinus began packing his pajamas. He said, “You know Simmie, I will miss you.”
“I will too but it is only for a semester.”
Brinus resumed folding his shirts after packing PJs and then said, “I refuse to use my trust fund money. My other bank account is something I worked for and earned.”
Simmie put his hands on Brinus’s frontside and began unbuckling his belt.
Brinus pushed him off and snapped, “Sweetie, I will miss my shuttle if I don’t finish packing. We can have all the fun you want when I get back.”
“I’m gonna go smoke see you later.” Simmie slapped Brinus on the ass and left with his vape pen in his hand.
Brinus shook his head and laughed to himself. He wished Simmie would quit smoking but knew why he couldn’t and it broke his heart. Simmie was one of the few people he truly cared about.
He also was nervous about this training program after his failure in the student war games. Apparently the best from each officer’s training school from all over the academy system attended this course. Brinus didn’t have the temperament for the student war games. Basically, prolonged combat was too stressful for him. Medical did not clear him for the war games because of psychological reasons. This program was an alternative program for many academy students who didn’t have the personality for the war games but had skills valued by the military.
Brinus finished Packing and then put on his wedding ring. He walked out with his luggage behind him.
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Four days later he arrived at the admiralty. A receptionist checked people in as he waited. Brinus noticed the Space Fleet Navy Officer Barracks lobby had a game room with various consoles and a gym. The room itself had simple wooden furniture and painted drywalls. The floors were Teriror Stained Oak Wood. It was a darker stain but also cheaper and didn’t have the fine grains that earth oaks had.
The room was smokey and smelled like cigarettes but the smell came from the smoking room in the back. The smell disgusted Brinus but whatever—there was nothing he could do about it. The chandelier’s light shined beams of light through the smoke like rays of sunshine through the clouds.
“Next officer!”
Brinus came up to the reception desk.
“Name, rank, and starship, sir.”
“Midshipman Brinus Helios of the Starship Victory.”
“Can I see your military ID, sir?”
Brinus produced his wrist and she scanned his microchip.
“Revelry is at 0600 hours, breakfast is at 0700 hours, and curfew is at 2400 hours. Saffron is on a 36-hour clock. Do you want a smoking room or a nonsmoking room, sir?”
“Nonsmoking.”
“Also, before you go to your room you will need to check your weapon into the armory, sir.” She pointed at Brinus’s wand in his back pocket.
The receptionist looked at her computer terminal. “It looks like room 666 is available. Otherwise, all the rooms we have are smoking rooms, sir.”
Brinus groaned. The thought of climbing six flights of stairs with his luggage did not appeal to him so he took the elevator after checking in his wand with the armory.
After checking in and getting his room card Brinus came onto the elevator. It stopped on floor two when someone came on with a cigarette in his mouth. Brinus rolled his eyes and sighed. He pressed the button three and got off on the next floor. He then went to the staircase to his room. He was in the men’s barracks and someone was in the top bunk reading a notepad.
The room had a wooden bunk bed, an A/C unit, a desk with an office chair, a computer terminal, and a window.
Brinus’s triquarter buzzed and it was his mother. He answered, “What do you want?”
“Why are you staying at the navy barracks? HOW DARE YOU?!”
“Do you have anything meaningful to say to me? Otherwise fuck off.” Brinus hung up his TriQuarter and muted her for 24-hours.
A text message appeared on his phone: You will pay for this!
Brinus: Text me again and I’ll block your sorry ass!
His bunkmate put his pad down. “Girl trouble?”
“Just family drama. What’s your name?”
“Castillion. We both have class tomorrow. What’s your name?”
“Brinus.”
Castillion was a tall man with pinkish, pale skin, brown hair, and brown eyes. He was physically fit and a midshipman like Brinus.
“Oh, you took out Redback Ladder last month in that huge fight. That third round was amazing.”
Brinus smiled and then asked, “What’ch ya readin?”
“Godfry’s Commentaries on the Conquest of Mouse Utopia Worlds.”
“Who wrote it?”
“It’s a collection of daily logs from army troopers on worlds with perfect societies after they collapse. I see you have a wedding ring on. Are you married?”
“My husband’s name is Simmie.”
The kid put down his book and his eyes got wide with excitement. “I never met a homosexual before! How do you have kids?!”
Brinus rolled his eyes and sighed. Every week someone asked this question when they found out he was married to a man. Homosexuality was uncommon in the Confederation but it didn’t make the intrusion in this privacy any less annoying.
He smiled and looked Castillion in the eyes, “Most gay couples have to adopt. The adoption process is a lot harder for gay couples and for me and Simmie it would be impossible because I am serving a criminal sentence in the Navy.”
“Do you want kids?”
Is this guy fucking serious? Brinus said in a calm and even voice, “No, me and Simmie can’t have kids because I am a convicted felon in the custody of the navy. Convicted felons are not allowed to adopt children.”
“Aren’t you like the son of a duke? Couldn’t you just have your mother pull a few strings?”
“I don’t want no kids or children. I already got a family.”
He swallowed and then went back to his book. Brinus pulled out a pill bottle and took some of his medicine. He craved a vape and if he didn’t have his medicine would likely go to the vape store in the barracks.
Suddenly everyone’s phone made the emergency alert alert tone much to the annoyance of Brinus and Castillion.
Brinus silenced his phone. And Castillion groaned, “A fucking amber alert. Probably some custody dispute on the other side of the planet.”
“Why do they even issue those? They’re really vague and ain’t very helpful. Do you wonna go to the cafeteria? I think it’s lunchtime.”
Brinus looked at his itinerary. “They serve lunch in 12 hours. Breakfast ended 4 hours ago. If you’re hungry they have vending machines down the hall.”
“Nah I’m good.”
Brinus popped a piece of chewing gum, removed his shirt, boots, and socks, and then put on some gym shorts. He then jacked up the AC because he was hot and laid on the bed.
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Marci was on the camera, tears streaming down her face in front of the news crews at a press conference. She said with her hands buried in her face hysterically crying, “...m-m-my son is in the hands of murderers and k-k-kidnappers…” She put her hands in her face and sobbed loudly for a couple of minutes to elicit sympathy. “I don’t know where he is. Please bring him back! I love him! He is my only son! Please!! Please!! I will offer two million credits for information relating to his release!!”
Marci fell to the ground crying hysterically and was taken away by two cops. As soon as she was alone, she smirked and dried her eyes. That went perfectly. She thought. Her lady’s maid came up behind her and began applying fresh cosmetics in the makeup room.
“You’re going to get in trouble for this. When they realize you filed a false report and then issued the fake amber alerts. You’re going to lose your office.”
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
“Shut up and do my makeup. I don’t pay you to think.”
“You don’t pay me at all anymore! I fucking quit! ” she threw Marci’s makeup brush at her.
The lady’s maid walked out of the room and slammed the door.
Marci slammed her hand into her mirror and screamed. After a few minutes, she calmed down. First, her son defies her and now her servant does as well. She then resumed putting the makeup on herself.
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Brinus was gaming on his handheld gameboy. It was basically a modern earth gaming PC in his hand. His bunkmate continued to read. A second amber alert was issued and this time it flashed across his game just before he could kill the boss causing him to die.
Brinus read it and realized it was about him.
“What the fuck? Why is there an amber alert about me?”
“Don’t be paranoid. no one is issuing amber alerts about you.”
Brinus pulled it up on his gameboy and began reading. “A 22-year-old blond-haired, blue-eyed man who is six foot four with an athletic build, last seen at the spaceport in a military uniform consistent with a midshipman.”
Castillio’s eyes widened. “Bro, you need to call the police.”
Brinus said with a slight smile on his face. “I spent all day tryin’ to get past this here boss, and now my mother’s issuin’ fake amber alerts? Hell naw. Let the bitch burn.”
“This is between you and her. Do you wanna go to a bar? I have a couple of friends who might enjoy you.”
“Sure. Let me get ready.”
Brinus was in his uniform with hair groomed and teeth brushed within 15 minutes. His bunkmate and he walked into the lobby to find 5 young men and two young women there.
Immediately when he saw Brinus and his tattoos One of the young men cussed and said, “I refused to drink with criminals.”
“He’s cool, trust me.”
“Again, I don’t drink with felons.” The young man walked out of the lobby.
The entire lobby was so tense a knife could cut through it.
“I’m gonna check out my wand and then we’ll go.”
Brinus headed for the armory. The receptionist handed him his wand and Brinus signed it out. The gaggle of friends waited for him which Brinus did not expect. They talked amongst themselves.
“So it is true you’re in a relationship with a man?” asked one of the women as Brinus put his wand in his back pocket.
“I have been married to my husband for two years.”
One of the two ladies frowned and then said, “I thought the syndicates discriminated against LGBT?”
Brinus put his hands on his hips and said in a tone that ended the conversation, “So am I going with you or not?”
“Sure. Why not? You’re fascinating and seem like you’re having a bad day.”
“You saw the amber alert?”
One of the boys shrugged. “The police issued another one a few minutes ago just as we were getting down here.”
Brinus rolled his eyes and sighed in disgust. “Whatever. Can we just change the subject?”
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Brinus was at the pool table with one of the female members of the group. They played a game of pool.
“So what is the syndicate like?”
Brinus hit the scratch ball, which then hit the eight ball, knocking it into the corner pocket. “It was tough. I was on edge all the time ’cuz they didn’t tolerate mistakes. It wasn’t a good place to be.” He said this in a tone that didn’t invite further conversation.
Georgia said nothing. She was quiet as she hit a stripe ball and knocked three strips into two different pockets.
Georgia was short but physically fit at 110 pounds. She had tanned skin and straight brown hair with gray eyes cut. The hair was cut militarily. To Brinus she looked like a never-smoker because of how smooth her skin was. If Brinus was attracted to women she would find her irresistible.
The rest of the night no one discussed the syndicate. Finally, after an hour Four of the group mates went for smokes and Brinus took his meds again to deal with the cravings.
Brinus looked at the group. “Anyone want drinks?”
“Do you think you should be drinking alcohol? Teddy has already had five ciders. What medication did you take?” asked one of the groupmates.
“The meds are to help with nicotine cravings and my mood. Yes, I can drink one or two glasses of alcohol.”
Georgia said, “I think cigarettes should be illegal. They are a disgusting habit.”
Brinus said after ordering hard cider, “I don’t think they should be illegal because that is how you get black markets. But they do need to be restricted. I don’t think three-year-olds should be able to walk into a store and buy a carton of cigarettes.”
“You would know.”
Everyone including Brinus laughed. “The Orin Syndicate was more into legal crime.”
Everyone laughed even harder.
Brinus’s phone buzzed.
Muted Number: You need to get home right now or worse things will happen.
Brinus blocked the number as his hard cider arrived. When he went to pay, his phone was locked out. He looked at Castillion. “I need your TriQuarter.”
“Why?”
“My mom locked me out of my phone.”
Everyone looked at Brinus.
“Family drama.”
Georgia handed Brinus her phone. “I won’t ask questions.”
Brinus opened up the phone and wrote a script to jailbreak his phone. It took ten minutes and then he attached a USB cable to her triquarter and in seconds he was in. He found the file Marci used and deleted it.
He unblocked her number and then sent her the text on his phone number: I am cutting you out of my life. Go fuck yourself.
Marci: I am cutting access to your trust fund
Brinus: sends ten laughing emojis and then blocks her while she is typing.
Brinus paid for his cider as everyone looked at him. “What?”
One of the guys in the group asked, “Isn’t she your mother?”
Brinus’s cider arrived. “My drink arrived! What are y’all’s thoughts on the new navy recruitment standards?”
Brinus spent a pleasant evening with his new friends and they came back to the barracks at around 23:30 hours.
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The Emperor ate breakfast at around 5:30 am. The breakfast room looked like Buckingham Palace but with gold-plated furniture, mirror-paneled walls, and stunning artwork. He reached for his newspaper and saw the front page. He looked at his wife, the empress, who ate duck eggs and toast.
“Why does it say Brinus was kidnapped? He is at the admiralty about to attend an internship.”
“The police know that as well. He was spotted last night on camera at a bar with a group of midshipmen. I believe they were laughing and joking most of the night.”
The emperor looked at his wife. “That doesn’t sound like any kind of kidnapping to me. So let me get this straight, the three amber alerts, the press conference, the magi report, the police search—all of it was fake?”
The empress nodded. “I believe the police are now opening a criminal investigation against Marci. In fact, on your docket is a request to remove her diplomatic immunity so they can formally charge her at the conclusion of the investigation.”
“I will do that first thing. Also, I will need my press agent to prepare a statement disavowing her actions and condemning them. What about Brinus? Is he involved?”
“Based on the text messages and data the police retrieved, Brinus is the clear victim of this crime.”
“I will have him prepare a statement as well. Why don’t we hire our usual gal for scandals to help him? It will be on me. I want to see him after revelry. Also, we better call Saul Redman and get the ball rolling on the management of the Marci Estate. She has gone too far this time.”
As the sun rose six trumpet players began blasting the confederation national anthem up and down the halls of the barracks. During this process Marci, while at a coffee shop, noticed six cop cars and an unmarked police car pull up in the front.
Five cops, two detectives, and a magi agent came into the shop and surrounded Marci, with the agent stepping forward.
“Marchella Von Blankenship?”
Marci stood. “What? Did you find my son?”
“You are under arrest for filing a false magi report, misuse of emergency services, filing false amber alerts, gross negligence, and abuse of public office.”
Two cops stood and forced her to turn around as she screamed that she was innocent. Nearly everyone in the coffee shop had their phones out and was recording.
The magi officer continued after they forced her into cuffs: “You are not obligated to say anything. However, it may harm your defense if you do not mention, when questioned, something you later rely on in court. Everything you do say will be taken down in writing and used against you in court. Do you understand?”
“I AM INNOCENT! I DID NOTHING WRONG! IT WAS FOR MY SON!”
The magi waved her wrist as Marci was taken to the back of a police car.
The lady’s maid was in the unemployment office filling out job applications for lady’s maid positions when six cop cars pulled up. Five police officers came into the room with one detective.
They surrounded her as everyone pulled out their phones and began recording.
“Gloria Truelove?” Asked the detective.
She nodded.
“You are under arrest for being associated with a conspiracy to defraud the public, a conspiracy to misuse emergency services, accessory after the fact, and gross negligence.”
She was put into handcuffs as she screamed and fought the cops. They ultimately had to taze her and gas her to force Gloria into the car.
Brinus ate breakfast with his new classmates in the officer’s barracks. Six men and two women in suits and ties came into the room. They spotted Brinus and walked over to the table.
“Brinus Helios?” Asked the leader.
“Yes, sir?”
“You are ordered by the Emperor to come to the palace.” The lead officer showed his royal guards badge.
“Do I have a choice?”
“No midshipman you do not. The emperor commands your presence.”
Brinus put his fork down. “Let’s get this over with.”
Brinus came up from seat and he noticed most of the mess hall recorded the interaction.
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Brinus arrived at the palace with over 200 streamers and newscasters waiting for him. The Royal Guards came out of the SUVs first and then formed a human shield around Brinus. Opening the door, they forced him to bend down with two more guards hiding his body. They pushed their way through the crowd and opened the gate which was loud and chaotic. The media swarmed the body shield like a wasps attacking a direct threat to their nest. More royal guards came out in riot gear. They
formed a line with their shields and shock sticks in perfect lockstep.
Over the intercom, the lead officer said, “Media! Disperse or be arrested for trespassing on government property! This is your only warning!”
The media stepped back in front of the gate and the riot police sergeant locked it.
They quickly ran Brinus into the palace where he collapsed and went hiding under a bench shaking in fear curled in a ball.
“Is he okay?” asked one of the royal guards.
“Give him a few minutes. Tell the Emperor he needs to decompress.”
“Yes, sir!”
The Emperor came into the lobby a few minutes later to see Brinus sitting on the bench covered in sweat. “What was all that noise about? Why is Midshipman Woodstack covered in sweat?”
Two royal guards came to Brinus giving him a whisky. One of them addressed the emperor. “Sorry, your majesty. The media was waiting outside and swarmed us and we had to call the riot police. We’re trying to calm him down now because the incident triggered his PTSD.”
“I want him in my office in an hour. That’s an order!”
“Yes, your majesty.”
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Twenty Minutes later Brinus walked into the Emperor’s office. It looked like something from 18 century europe with marble floors, mirror paneled walls with eight block marble paneling, high crystal windows, gemstones embedded in the crown modeling of the marble columns. The room shone with the opulence befitting the royal family. There was also no smoke smell or cigarette smoke anywhere in the palace
Brinus sat in the brass-plated, neo-imperial, chair in front of an epoxy, tree wood desk with gold melted into the wood which was African Black Acadia wood. Black Acadia African wood was the rarest wood in the galaxy. dressed in a suit and tie and had custom made barefoot dress shoes on his feet.
“Sorry about the chaos. Here at the Royal Palace, we want to maintain professionalism and order. The media is being dealt with now. I had my lawyer draw up documents to transfer ownership of the estate to you. However, because of your felony status, we are going to put in a custodian over your estate. Also, I am hiring the best PR person in Saffron to deal with your scandal. It is on me. You are the clear victim of this whole mess. Do you want a drink?”
“No, Your Majesty, I have had two whiskeys already.”
“Right. your medication.”
Brinus saw from the second-story window the streamers and newscasters being arrested and put into prison vans by over four hundred policemen.
After a moment or two of silence the Emperor asked, “What will happen to the duchess?”
Brinus looked the Emperor in the eyes and sighed, “Well in prison, you’re a nobody. I don’t think she’ll last two weeks before she gets cut.”
“I am sure you know of her enhanced nicotine program. It has been a disaster for our medical system and we don’t know how to roll it back. Then there is the problem child Smaul with his repeated scandals. Then there is the recent shitshow with the amber alerts. If she dies I won’t shed a tear.”
An older woman entered the emperor’s office with two young women and a young man.
“Woodstack, let me introduce you to your new crisis management team. They are from the law firm Tangie and Associates.”
Tangie spoke as she took off her overcoat and handed it to a footman. “Sorry, we’re late, your majesty. The main entrance is a shitshow.”
“You could have come through the service entrance.”
Tangie shrugged her shoulders and then presented the documents. After signing them with a digipen, the Emperor sent Brinus on his way back to the barracks. Brinus would meet Tangi after his first day of training.
He sat in the car thinking how he was now officially a duke. He had no idea what to do with that knowledge or how to wield that power. He certainly didn’t want to hurt people like he had been hurt or treat others the way he’d been treated. He may hate people but he didn’t want to spread the misery.
His phone rang and it was Simmie.
“Hey, sweetie! How are you?”
“Not as bad as you. I heard you’re now officially the Duke of District 12 and your mother is in jail. Is that true?”
Brinus laughed and then put his phone on speaker. “Yeah, she fucked up pretty bad. I’ll tell you more about it tonight. It was a clusterfuck. I just want to relax and do some metalwork.”
“Good luck with training.”
The call ended as they approached the admiralty.