“Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here to celebrate the lives of Jacob and Junie Vanyork”

  The priest stared out at the gathered crowd as he wiped a trail of sweat running down his nose bridge.

  “A mother and father to three graceful children", He paused then resumed shorty "Ahh but a great legacy cut short”.

  Heads nodded in agreement at the last statement.

  “The viewing is now open, Starting from the back rows”.

  Rows on top of rows from the back of the chapel people stood and walked the aisle to view the twin coffins, The couple looked slightly alive but that was the norm these days.

  A soft intake of breathing and a steady pat on the shoulders resounded in the chapel as the guest passed by. The three sat alone with no comfort from any guest in attendance, Nora the middle child sucked in the wet tears as they crossed her lips, she stared forward refusing to avert eyes from the scene and faces of the onlookers walking by.

  Her baby brother Conner hung his head low remaining still as both of them were clutched tightly under the arms of their big brother Declan, the two younger siblings dressed in formal black clothing while Declan who was a recent Marine Corps officer graduate wore his dress blues.

  As the rows of people came to an end it became the sibling's turn, Declan pulled them to their feet and marched them forward. “Tell them goodbye” Conner and Nora flinched at the tone and voice of their older brother, he hadn’t said a word since he turned up a week ago and both had come to accept it for what it was grieving and all that. With a release of his arms, the two kids stood in front of their parent’s coffins and cried their eyes out.

  Declan stood with them his back to the crowd and did not flinch or move, the moment passed, and he pulled the kids back and headed for their seats. The funeral continued for another 30 minutes until each guest stood and shook Declan’s hand, As the day struck a new hour only the siblings and the priest stood over the bodies. “As in accordance with Confederation Law, I am required to burn the bodies so as to prevent the (Amalus)”,Declan finished his sentence for him.

  “Go ahead, they wouldn’t want to turn into those things”, The priest nodded at that and pulled up his datapad, and punched in a few commands. Declan began ushering his siblings out into the hot air of Mars and its overreaching buildings.

  A black hovercar waited on them a few feet from the steps of the chapel, he wasted no time and pulled them in as the doors slid open to take them and a knock on the glass window signal the closing of the doors.

  “Listen to me you two” Declan's gaze turned soft as his eyes met theirs, they acknowledged him but said nothing “Their hurting deeply, it seems mom and dad did right by them huh” he shook the thought off he had no time for this.

  “They are back on their home planet and as their kids, we have done our duty to them”, Nora looked up in shock “OUR DUTY!!, WE ARE NOT IN THE MARINES YOU FOOL, THIS SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN OUR DUTY; CONNER IS BARELY 13 AND YOU DARE TO SPEAK TO US ABOUT DUTY” spittle flying from her lips as white-hot rage shone on her face.

  Her outburst shook Conner, and he looked up at her shock running over his features, the car jerked and tossed them slightly off balance and as they righted themselves, they gazed at the elder brother’s eyes and silence rained in the cabin he was not happy.

  Nora wasn't finished though “At least, you have the Marines to go back to” Declan audible sighed at that “The Marine core and I have parted ways , sighting that since these are trying and extenuating times I have been deemed unstable and my commission has been terminated, A honorable discharge was my parting gift”. His siblings looked at him as if he had grown two horns on his forehead, It needed to be said that the confederacy doesn’t just release its soldiers, the car dipped, and they felt gravity tug on their ride.

  “We need to get off this planet and out of Sol’s system and back to our own, it will take me a few hours to finish compiling and clear out what’s left of our parent's lives and the business”.

  He pause and glanced out of the window for a moment “Hopefully after all the sharks are done with what they want” he thought to himself. “In the meantime I’m leaving you with Tenavee follow his words and get ready for a sudden rush on us leaving, Do you understand me” He looked at them intently which they both nodded slowly.

  The car came to a stop and slowly descended until it became motionless, the door slid open, and the man named Tenavee stood off to the side waiting.

  The siblings hopped out and Declan locked eyes with him one of his family’s trusted relatives, He received a nod as a response the doors to the craft slid close and Declan raked his knuckles on the glass once again.

  A soft hiss sounded, and the car lifted and swiftly pulled off the ground, with the silence of the hovercraft drawing him in his emotions warring came to the surface.

  The newly minted Marine Lieutenant broke; a vicious scowl spread across his face with tears began to stream everywhere. As the firstborn, he had been the test subject to their terrible parenting and when he turned 17, he enlisted in the Marines without a shred of hesitation in his heart; it took his parents 2 full months to realize he was gone by then it was too late to do anything about it.

  Nora resented him for leaving her and she resented the core more for taking him, He knew it from the letters she wrote him when she was younger but as she got old they stopped coming all together.

  Conner was just too young to remember him well, but the kid was impressionable. For a while he sat their lamenting on their death and pain followed the feeling but The pain wasn’t from them dying really, he thought to himself but the loss of the core behind it left a jagged wound.

  He began tearing up and they wouldn’t stop flowing and as he thought on the pain he saw his siblings go through and the whole shit situation just made him feel bitter. His head feel into his hands and he wept gripping on the roots of his hair and finding the pain centering his chaotic mind.

  The motion of the car slowed which signaled Declan to gather himself which he did swiftly as if a switch had been flipped; he leaned back into the seat, swept his hair back and blew a breath out slowly.

  The car came to a motionless hover and he wasted no time stepping out of it. He froze, senses on full tilt his training screaming at him, his eyes doing the work his body had been trained not to, tipping his hand to an enemy was not in his blood; he was a Goddamn marine.

  His steady pace to the building's doors never faltered he gave nothing away, as the doors slid open; he stepped in and they slide close behind him. Eyeing the receptionist and stepping forward she looked a bit startled at his sight, “Vanyork… I mean Mr. Vanyork you’re here” Declan just stared at her and she wilted “their upstairs, having a meeting” he nodded at that and headed for the elevators, as he stood in front of the glass waiting he felt the presence of two men approaching on both opposite sides of him but he paid them no mind.

  The glass doors slide open and the three stepped in no words were exchanged “This idiot on the right is going to swing first I can feel it” When a right hook came at his head 5 seconds into the lift of the elevator he all most laughed out loud, Declan’s left foot was already in motion before he really registered his on movements.

  The heel of his dress shoes met the knee cap of the fool and a soft creak and he felt the bone give, he pivoted right throwing a hook that collided with the jaw of the second man laying him out cold. He reoriented himself to catch the sight of the first man buckling under his own weight, The man gasp from the shock of pain.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  Declan stared at him and shook his head “If I had my augments online I might have kill this Idiot without trying” with a swift kick to the man’s jaw ending his suffering.

  “Ding” The elevator glass doors slide open and he stepped over the bodies and into the hallway, memories from his youth assaulted him, the late night and loneliness he felt when he had to wait on his ever-busy parents as they ran the company.

  He felt oddly detached from it all, this wasn’t his home the core was but that want home now either but what was done was done he had served his time “Cut short but it is what it is” he stared at the ceiling for a moment thinking on that.

  “Uhh” A sharp intake of breath pulled him from his musings, eyeing the man scoffing slightly as he walked passed his stunned sight while straightening his uniform. The meeting room wasn’t far he remembered it clearly as the see-through glass came into view he walked calmly across them heading for the door entering without saying a word and taking the head seat that was left empty.

  All eyes were on him but he shrugged them off “Continue sligeá” Declan waved at the only standing man who visibly swallowed at the command, Sligeá Bernard was his legal name the one his bio parental family had given him upon his birth but he had hidden it from records a data archives, Bernard in his youth had refused to acknowledge the name “ How” Bernard tried to shake the thought off, “I need to drive the stake home, and no ground pounder is going to stop me”.

  Bernard gathered himself and stood straighter “Uhmm, As I was saying everyone; with the passing of our esteemed chairman and his wife we are left with a whole that needs filling, So I believe it would be appropriate to elect a competent CEO to manage our combined holdings” he swept his eyes around the room locking eyes with the gathered shareholders but nun of them was showing signs of agreement.

  Irritation spread across his face but he knew why “These bastard Vanyorks” he looked over to where Declan sat in his pressed and straightened dress Marine blues and he internally scoffed at the man.

  “Bernard my dear; the law is clear on how we will commence from now on, we can’t deviate too much” the voice of a female with a stale air about her spoke out looking bored and uninterested in the proceedings.

  Declan smiled at that “How many replacements have you all prepared” The room became silent once again, A stout and very fat man spoke up his voice coming from his nose instead of his throat “We have… the most senior of staff chosen surely”.

  The fat rolls under his neck giggled as he spoke and turned his head locking eyes with his fellow board members. Bernard eyes Declan suspiciously but the young lieutenant waved him off again, “Continue” The words were spoken with finality to them.

  “We the board of shareholders deem it fit to elevate Peeyon Bernard to acting CEO of Van Holdings Ltd” The fat man eyeing Bernard and Declan swirly, Declan shook his head but a thin smile split his lips as he gazed at all seating in the board room. “No turning back for them huh, Sad I would have let sum be at ease but I guess not”

  He began tapping the table in a slow rhythm “Have you all started the procedures yet” The flatness of his tone was chilling as it rolled through the room. There was a collective slow but sad nod of the heads in the room. Declan’s smile grew larger “Ahhh, I’m sorry to inform you all that such decisions as shareholders of an independent entity under the confederate law are deemed a Hostile attack which doubles as a terrorist act” Declan’s words reached each person sitting leaving them stunned to silence.

  “You…YOU, YOU HAVE NO RIGHT AND NO POWER HERE TO UTTER SUCH THINGS, WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, YOU SHOULD KNOW WHO WE ALL ARE BOY HOW DARE YOU!!” Bernard flew back to his feet as he had already sat down he was pointing a very accusatory finger in Declan’s direction.

  Bernard received a nod in return but with an sudden movement he shifted his hat to the left of himself and place his right thumb down which the table responded with an audible click a hollow screen flickered into existence, It rotated showing its contents for all to see.

  The Vanyork crest and business logo that dated back to the founders of the organization sat on the head of the letter. “Unfortunately for you and fortunate for me, the lot of you all the Vanyork blood doesn’t flow in your gains, and by confederate law blood triumphs all, My father knew this and when I enlisted I forced his hand; so he hid it well but in his scheme of expansion into SOL’s system on this rock of his birth planet the confederacy already knew of this he just didn’t report it when he took over from my grandfather, Tsk sad thing too but it seems they have a bigger stick I suppose” Declan chuckled to himself at that last bit “ I should know I’m a damn marine myself”.

  The moment stretched no one could speak but the woman from earlier cleared her throat eyes found her but she did not waver.

  “Mr york you expect us to just believe this…this asinine statement and be branded as terrorists, Do you know how long we have all been in this game, a boy like you fails to make the correct move” Declan eyed her and her face and name clicked into place for him.

  Snapping his fingers making a show of exasperation “Mrs. Tensai right, You and your members do not have to believe a word I’ve said but sorry to say this, but the confederation does”.

  She paled “If I had known about this goddamn blood will I wouldn’t have invested and staked my money into this sham” thought ran through her. Bernard seemed even worse than before the man looked as if someone had stepped on him, Declan smiling turning his head, and waving at the glass windows of the board room which prompted the whole room to look out.

  Traffic outside the building had frozen, which was a clear indication that a major Inquisitor action was about to take place. All eyes found Declan again and he did a slow deliberate nod, “So my dear terrorist you have… hmm I’ll say about 15 minutes before the C.I.D(Confederate Inquisition Department) comes looking; so who wants to buy their freedom”.

  The grin…the devils grin the one only seen by the man’s enemies while he was a sergeant of Marines, he knew and so did they; that he had them bent over with and a pistol was shoved up their collective asses. These were powerful people Declan was playing with, but it was plain to see the Confederacy was still backing the young lieutenant.

  “Buy, you think we will pay you off you bastard” The fat man shouted, and his neck rolls jumped as he did, Anger flushing on his face and breath but Declan paid him no heed. “It’s quite simple really by the end of this meeting this thing… My father created will cease to exist and from its ashes the foundations my ancestors wanted shall shine through and to do so I’ll be selling the subsidiaries and auxiliaries companies that reside on mars off to the highest bidder here. You are all knowledgeable and the heads of your respective organizations so the decision is yours and I would like to add since we have begun this topic 5 minutes have elapsed”.

  The room was silent again, this was becoming a norm at this point, It’s safe to say Declan had a way with people. The boardroom became a cage and just like sharks when presented with food their eyes became clouded and as blood was added to the water hunger and greed rose to the surface.

  The scene before Declan brought him back to his tours on Actriten 08 a hot ball of sand and brown stone that lay on the edge of frontier space, A dry and moist air whipped against his T.H(Tactical Helmet)as he and his men marched closer to the sleeping city “Sergeant York, Tighten up your team your men are drifting too far west of the O.Z”

  Declan glanced at his team’s position and noted the young private drifting, with a mental click he cursed “Copy that Lieutenant”.

  Marines weren’t the elite of the Confederacy but they were damn close with their augments and tech the confederacy made sure that on the ground a marine was a dragon without wings, with a mental click he pulled up the private's coms “Seáko, your drifting pull back into the formation” he watched on his read out that the private did just that. “20 seconds till interception, All troops ready up” the voice of the skipper came across all com links, Declan pulled his 2.23 up and forward facing tightly to his shoulder his T.H lined up an optical for him, He raised his hand left hand showing 5 fingers to his men.

  The old habit was hard to kick from boot camp and as the seconds reached 5 he began counting down with the readout, At one he curled his fingers into a fist “ASSAULT, ASSAULT” came over the coms and he flung his fist forward matching each shout. Assault they did marines flooded the city giving no quarter if you so much as twitched you’d die, This was the city of tart 2.7.8 the home to pirates and killers “Rats to the global system” Declan thought to himself as he put another 2.23 bolt through the chest of a running rat, This was an extermination mission and him and the marines were pest control.

  “Sarge 6mins” the voice brought him out of his memories and his eyes focus back into the board room. “Just like them crooks and robbers and once again I am pest control to my own family's fortune” he shook the thought off as the room came to a calm murmur.

  “Declan, are you saying to us that the Vanyork family is pulling out of Mars” the stale voice of Mrs. Tensai spoke up and her face had a quizzical look about it. With a soft scoff, Declan stared at her “Vanyork is but one of many first families on Mars but” he held up a fingerprint quieting the room.

  “Unlike many we didn’t make our fortune on Mars or even in the SOL system for that matter but as the eldest child I see this whole system to be a e congested and not worth the effort my father was putting into it, SOL has its guardians why choose to fight them for it however never the less I am a Vanyork so no we aren’t pulling out completely, As a parting gift I’ll let you know that as this impromptu Auction ends I intend to appoint our relatives the Vanners as heads of this branch”.

  Declan end with a smile glacéd at his data pad and back up at the members of the board “So it’s now time to buy out of this sinking ship ladies and gentlemen or you can face the Inquisitors” the Devilish smile returned which sent shivers down the spine of all in attendance.

  “Bidding will now begin” he tapped the table and a list showed “First up, Solace Electronics” The room stilled in seconds they realized he was serious and then the war began. In nothing more than 5 minutes Declan had sold off 15 years of what his father had built on Mars and without saying another word he stood from the table and headed out of the board room. “Lieutenant, we have in coming it’s time to bug out” the voice came to his ears as he stepped in front of the elevator.

  “Copy Gunther, Plan B the heading for the roof, Have Maxie meet me in 2mins ohh and connect me to Tenavee” The line went died for a second before it pick back up “Declan my boy how did it go” Tenavee’s voice spoke to him as he stepped into the elevator and motion for it to go up, He glances around no sign of the bodies he had left in here told him that his enemies where in the building already.

  “Uncle Ten I’ll make this quick Get me siblings on a transport to the Space field I have people there waiting for them and I’ll be meeting them there, And as for how it went no blood has been spilled yet, Thank you for your loyalty to the family this branch on mars is for you and yours the documents should be arriving soon I need them signed before the three of us ship off, Take care of the ancestor's homes and I’ll try to keep out of the SOL’s system for a while I don’t want to cause you any trouble” .

  There was a pregnant pause and then a choked Tenavee said “Thank you Declan and I understand I will miss you dearly my boy you are too kind for this world,” Declan thought about that “If he knew the things I’ve done and seen” He started taking off his uniform revealing the black tactical gear underneath “I’ll be seeing you Unk ten,” He said grinning as he cut the connection.