Cyrus 1

 “It’s from your Brother”

Jac looked up in surprise. He was a large man, muscular, his brown hair just starting to show flecks of grey. His wife stood before him, one good hand trembling slightly as he offered him the electronic holo pad. Her red hair was tied back in a practical bun, her face tired as always, and the most beautiful face in the Empire as far as Jac was concerned, as always.

“You’re serious?” Jac asked in disbelief. “He hasn’t talked to me since I left the service”

“See for yourself,” Red said brightly, handing him the Pad.

Jac took it and read quickly, eyebrows rising. It was indeed from his Brother: Cyrus Krueger, youngest officer to ever make Captain of a Typhoon-class Battleship and, once upon a time, inseparable from his twin brother. Now, Jac scanned Cyrus’s writing carefully, trying to read between the lines of the state-mandated formalities.

“It’s an invite” Jac finally said. “He wants us to come on the maiden voyage of The Fortress Maximus. And… he wants to meet his Nieces and Nephews”

“Really?” Red asked, her eyes shining. “That’s… well, that’s amazing!”

Jac sighed and looked out on their camp. It was no Ship of The Line, but this was their great accomplishment, the largest charity outreach in the Empire. Especially impressive, given that their Faith was decidedly banned by the Empire. “I don’t know. Remember, he didn’t leave us, I left him”

“Dear, that was decades ago,” Red reassured him. “And he knows you were right, deep down, I’m sure of it. The Safeguard force was no place for a man like you, or him, for that matter”

“That makes one of us” Jac muttered, running a hand through his hair. “Do you think… Do you think he knows?”

“Know what? That we’re on the List?” Red said nonchalantly. “It’s not the first time. Besides, I don’t think the Emperor is in the business of telling his Captains when he plans on having their families executed”

Jac chuckled grimmly. “If this isn’t the first time in twenty years he’s thought of me as Family, I’ll jump in as black hole”

“Come on, be fair” Red consoled, placing her hand on his shoulder. “You can’t pass up this opportunity. This is Cyrus we’re talking about”

Jac smiled and took her hand in his. “Alright. But the kids have lives of their own now. Besides, who wants to hang out with their Parents? Especially if they’re going to be executed, that’s just embarrassing”