Chapter 2 Family Lost and Found

Chapter 2 Family Lost and Found

"Blood relatives often have nothing to do with family, and similarly, family is about who you choose to make your life with."

Oliver Hudson 

The trip back to CCC headquarters was uneventful, except for the turbulence from the updrafts that hit us now and then. The kid seems to have gone another way. That's good for me because I don't think I can take any more of him this morning. We were going over the Camp City now with its vast array of buildings both wide as well as tall. The largest of these, like a giant double edged knife stuck in the earth, is the CCC main office. It houses the executives and most of the ranks eight through ten. What of the dull sun that struggled through the clouds refracted off of the main office and was at least nice to look at. As we land on the heliport that was placed at about one-third of the way down, one on either side of the building. I have a bad feeling about giving my oral report. Last night was not the best mission and I would rather not go through that with 'him'. The sound of the engine dying finally gives me a chance to hear just how fast I've been breathing.

I've got to calm down steady my breathing. Can't let anyone else see me like this. Come on, can't let last nights....incident get to me. Suddenly the dead mans face flashes through my mind. Dammit, not here! Do not break down here~* "....to go." The voice broke my train of thought. "What!?", I say almost yelling.

"I said that it is ok to get off now. The engine stopped, sir."

Crap I'm losing it. "Oh, right. Thank you". As I step off the plane the early morning wind chills my skin. Need to get inside quickly before I freeze. Inside the heater was working just fine and I started to feel warm for the first time in a long while, but I better keep my coat on till the chill stops clinging to me. The elevator down the hall would take me up to his office on the one hundred and fifty-second floor. But I need to go to the ninety-ninth floor, one down, to see my sister. Cattiy Orillis, she should be there sharpening her throwing knives in the armory, or making more. On the way down to the elevator I pass some of the cleaning staff as they gab on about nothing that I care about. The hall is four persons wide and had always had this wooden old world look to them, yet the elevator had a sleek futuristic metal look. It always looked weird to me, but a home's a home.

This elevator music will play in my personal hell. While I'm adopted Cattiy is the biological sibling, our father is a traditionalist in his business, and though she is older I'm the male. Personally I think she is far more qualified than me. I've never asked her opinion on the subject. She's never said anything either, but I doubt she feels good about it. Her power is Totalis Obspervatione. Anything she sees, hears, smells, feels, and tastes she remembers in all it's glorious detail. As I step off the elevator, I can already hear the sounds of blades sharpening from the ajar door to the armory. She was hard at work with her back to the door, already, this early. "Morning Harlow."

Damn she's good, "Morning sis".

She stops what she's doing and turns her head slightly toward me, "You know father hates it when you call me that".

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This again, "And you know that I can't help it, you're my family now. I can't be formal with you all the time".

"Yes, I do. Still, do not let father catch you, ok little bro?", she says as she turns back toward her work, "Anyway, why is your voice shaking? Did something happen related to the marks on your face?"

Crap, I can't hide anything lately, "Well, last night I....killed someone," my voice is shaky and getting worse.

This time she puts down her tools and does an about face, "Explain it to me," such a demanding tone.

"But, I can't d-"

"Now!", she cuts in, "you need to talk about this and I'm willing to listen to it. Now, talk to me." So I do.

By the time i'm done I'm crying again, in front of sis of all people. "....and then I came to see you sis."

She waits for me to stop, "Yea, my first time killing was hard on me too."

I end up feeling a little worse than I did, "How did you deal with it?"

What was her solution? "Well, dad was here to help me," what?! Dad helped someone? I've never known him to. "...and now I'm here for you." She thinks of me as family. It wasn't to long ago that I didn't even know them (father and sis) even though father still has reservations about calling me family. "Thanks sis, don't you leave me too"

She gives me a look of worry and concern, "Hehe. Stupid, I'm not planing to go anywhere."

She says it with such, reverence that it instantly calms me down, "Thanks again, sis. Now I've got to turn in my oral report to the president". He's not easy to talk to.

"Well, good luck with that. That's not an easy feat, even for me. Well, get going and good luck." She turns around and goes back to her work.

"Right." I turn around and go back to the elevator and push the up call elevator button, and then later get reminded of why I hate this song. It reminds me of 'then'. The time alone in vast wastes. Only the sound of your own foot steps and shadow to keep you company. I remember what someone told me back then. It was to be careful who you let get too close. The elevator doors open and the first step out feels like a hundred steps. Calm down, he won't like it but you must report your findings. The door to his office was made out of real wood, a rare find since the wood is hard to come by after The Crash. Cattiy was missing from her normal post at the desk outside the door. She acts as the CEO's secretary and bodyguard. I knock on the heavy wooden door, the sound it makes is as large and imposing as the door itself, a muffled gruff male voice responds to the deep rumbling of the door, "Enter." I take a breath, and open the door.

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He has his back to me, as is his custom, looking out at the city. He turns around slowly as I enter, the door closing behind me with a thud of ill intent, he looks me once over but shows no emotion, "I had heard you were back, welcome." The man at the head of CCC was sitting at his metal desk, the CEO and president, as well as...,"Hello, father,"...my father, Garfinador Orillis.

"I will NOT tell you again, if you chose to be a part of this company you will refer to me as 'sir', got it boy!?" I can't believe I said that. That was a mistake I can't afford at the moment.

"Yes, sir!", I say as I salute.

He glares at me for what seems like hours, "Good! Now on to more serious business. You reported that there was twenty-three of the assailants, is that correct?"

It was a test, he was trying to fool me, "No sir, there was only twenty-two of them, sir." He shifts in his charr and I notice that I'm unconsciously standing at attention.

"...And Ando?"

I think for a minute, "He is by my evaluation rude, callous, quick on his feet, and quick with tactical thinking. He is an expert sharpshooter and can follow instructions, but has a tendency to bend the rules for others. It is my opinion, he should not be moved up to nine stars."

Father shifts in his seat again while he thinks, "Thank you for checking on him for me. Your five star rank is now restored to you and you will get a bonus in your pay." Good, I was useful to father. He continues to speak, "As for you, I read that you killed for your first time, and I read that you didn't take that well. Along with the injuries, I will have to deny your request for six stars."

Damn it! Denied again. "Yes...sir. Is there anything else you need from me?"

He gives me one of his many glares, "Yes that is all, go to your quarters and await further instructions. Dismissed!" The monolithic doors behind me open and I leave. I stop just outside the doors as they close to gather my thoughts. As the wooden doors shut with a deep clu-clank I hear tapping to my left, "You know, he's only that hard on you because he cares." Cattiy was back at her post sitting at the desk.

"I don't know sis, he always seems to be angry with me."

She continues to type at the computer, "That's not true, in fact he was up all night worried about you."

The intercom cracks to life like an old radio, "Cattiy, get in here!" Maybe she was right, he seems angry with everybody.

"Yes father", She gets up and begins walking to the tall door, "Well duty calls. Latter Harllow" I nod and walk back to the elevator.

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In the morning I awoke to the sound of the alarm next to my bed, it was like glass in my ear, the reverberations of the alarm shattering any hope of sleep. Like all mornings these days it was dark, the shadows rising with me. From my window on the hundred and twenty-fourth floor I saw that the clouds hung over the world like a thick blanket, they didn't always seem that way. At one time they looked like a wall, a large wall that wouldn't let anything through. That heavy wall of clouds that let no light in, is not as scary as it once was but on some deep level they still scared me, as they did back then. Back then, after The Crash, it was hard just to live. No one had time to think of the future, of what life would become. Despair gripped the land and its people, all hope seemed lost. The rulers at the time tried to keep order by giving aid, trying desperately to save them. That is until the people showed signs of powers. Then the revolution began, the despair driven mad people of the earth lashed out against each other. They formed communities of like minds, but still killing each other like animals.

When father appeared on the scene at the head of CCC, whether for greed or to bring order to the world. He, along with everyone under the CCC banner, took control of the world. Sis tells me it was hard for them and he had to build this tower just to get by. This tower...was...what am I doing, thinking about that now? I need to get ready for the day, so stop starting out of the window. You've been doing that for two days now. Get up, get a wash, get dressed, and get your gun. My place is just two rooms, being the presidents son has no real perks. As father put it, 'If you want to be a part of this company. You'll have to make your own way up in this company.' ...Well, if I want to continue to live here I better go down to the post-bored on the first floor and see if there is a new job to-*knock**knock**knock* Someones at my door? As I open it the most monotone voice hits my ears, "Young master, the master wishes to speak to you."

It was my old teacher, "Hay, Gafriy. What have you been up to?" Gafriy Jalitosky the man who taught me all he knew about the world, and is my fathers other bodyguard. "Young master, I was given explicit intrusions, that I was to bring you to the master."

He's been this way as long as I have known him, "All right, you'll drag me away if I refuse I take it?" I have no idea what his power is.

"Yes, I was given instructions to that letter, young master. Now if you would be so kind as to accompany me to, the master's office." He uses no weapons at all choosing instead to fight with his bare hands.

"Tell him that I'll be up soon, I need to check on something."

As I turn to close and lock the door behind me he grabs my shoulder like a vice, "I insist that you come now, as the matter is urging you come and this matter requires your immediate attention." I turn to see him glaring at me over his rimmed glasses, "Now, young master." His grip tightens on my shoulder.

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"Ok, ok! There is no need for force Gafriy, if he needs me now, I'll go now. Lead the way." He looses his black gloved hand and steps back, "Of course, young master." He kept his voice steady the whole time, but that grip said urgency. Father wants to keep it private or he would have just paged me. What's going on?

As we step on to the elevator the music from my personal hell starts up. Crap....ummm, need a distraction, "So Gafriy, what have you been up to? I haven't seen you around lately." He really hasn't, and this might drown out that damned music.

"I have languid in the service of, the master and have used my skills in his service, young master." Never one to share, Gefriy not only serves as fathers bodyguard, and on occasion disappears without reason.

"Did you go anywhere sunny this time?" This conversation is so bland, but at least I can ignore that song.

"Young master, you know I am forbidden to speak of such things. The master instructed me, himself, that any and all information that I observe will never leave his office."

There he goes again, "Yea I know the president trusts you, I just wish father trusted me more...." Father never lets me in on anything that goes on around here.

"Young master, while I can understand your need to be close with, the master. You were given instructions to refer to, the master as mister, president, or sir." I'm slipping can't even maintain in front of Gefriy. "And another thing, young master, the master did not trust me at first as well, but you are being given a chance to earn some of that trust today." What!?

*bing* The elevator doors opens. "Now go, young master and make me proud to call you my student." He pushes me out of the elevator. That is the first time I have seen him compliment anyone. I turn around and see him smile as the doors close.

I hear sis clear her throat, "As funny as it is to watch you and Gefriy be all buddy buddy, time is short." I can't say I'm not embarrassed.

"Of corse.." I turn to see that the monolithic wooden doors to fathers office are opening, "...si- Ms. Vice President."

Father is glaring at me again. "Harllow! Get in here, now!" I nod to sis and practically jog inside the office. As he waits till the doors are closed, my eyes rest on the new edition to the room two chairs in front of the desk. "Sit!" I sit. "Harllow, what I'm about to say must remain between us alone."

This is what Gefriy meant, "Yes, sir." It must be serious.

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"The Emperor of Vicatiney, Lokanta Hasial's illegitimate son has been kidnaped. They have threatened to kill him if he refuses to hand control of the country to the Folkrium Parliament. If the kid is killed it will reveal the kids existence, and because of the law there that states that the Emperor can have only one son or be dethroned, Mr. Hasial needs to keep this under the table. Here is the file on that," he hands one of the many files on his desk to me, "look at that later. Now since CCC or Vicatiney can't be connected to this you will need to have a contact in the city. Their file is, here." A second file is thrust into my hands.

"Any questions?" I think that this is the most that father has spoken to me, ever.

"Do we have information on who did this?" I have no idea what to expect from anything he says anymore.

"We have only heard rumors that the suspect has the power of Umbra Serpo, the power of shadows, which makes you the perfect tracker. Now this little Q&A is over. The helicopter is fueled and ready on the helipad."

He wants me to go now? "N-now sir?" Oh shit! The look he's giving now would, if not for the distance between us, freeze my blood.

"Yes, now!"

I get out of the chair, "Sir!" Don't forget to salute. I run/walk out of the office, The titanic door slamming behind me. Before I can recover my composure sis pipes in, "Better hurry." I step on to the elevator. This is my first mission alone and by the sound of it I can't fail or Vicatiney will join Folkrim. Wait, what is Folkrim? Going by what dad said, they are not good for CCC. So for my new family, I'll do it.

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