The only sound in the room was the soft scratch of an old-fashioned pen. Oyric Lansinatis preferred it to the glow of a screen; it felt more real, more private, for thoughts like these.

  ‘Life is a funny thing. Everyone else gets to worry about their hair. I have to prepare for war. Or, okay, not war-war yet. I have to prepare to hold down this fort when Rixon leaves. He’s the biggest headache in the galaxy, but when he was at basic training… Mom and Pops turned all their “you need to be more responsible” beams on me. I’m fourteen. He’s eighteen. Like come on, Let me breathe! But fine. Whatever comes, you know me. Oyricy over everything.’

  She dotted the final period with a satisfied flourish. The journal’s lock clicked shut with a magnetic thump.

  “Oyricy!” The shout from downstairs was followed by the thud of something being kicked.

  “Come down here and pick up your things before Mom and Pops get home.”

  "‘Rix, who do you think you're talking to?' She ran down the stairs and jumped, attempting to land on his back."

  Rixon, with a smile of nothing but conniving thoughts, said, “Oh so you want to do this the hard way, huh?”

  Oyric, not liking the tone, said, “Oh nah let me get down”

  Rixon grabs her leg not letting her escape

  “Rixxy my dear brother you have my legs do you mind allowing me down so i may pick up my transgressions,” she says with an eerie smile.

  Rixon doesn't answer, almost like he is blatantly ignoring her. “Man I'm tired, Imma sit on this couch and just relax for a moment”

  “You wouldn’t dare”

  Rixon draws closer to the couch as Oyric twitching to be released

  "Rixxy, you dare think about squishing your poor little sister? I thought soldiers had high morality!"

  Rixon smirk deepens as he goes to sit down on the couch.

  “Wait!” Oyric said in almost a panicking commanding tone

  Rixon halts for a moment before laying backwards.

  “See i knew you could hear me........ My pet”

  Almost like she cut the wrong wire to an explosive bomb. He drops backward onto the couch with his full weight crushing her stomach. With all the fight she can muster up she returns the favor by attempting to choke him out.

  Next thing they know they hear the house Phazzer garage open

  Both freeze and begin to go down a list as if their survival depended on it. Moments ago enemies now the closest allies

  "Dishes?" Rixon's voice is clipped, military.

  "Done."

  "Room?"

  "Done."

  "Homework?"

  "Done."

  "Training?"

  "Done."

  "Vacuum?"

  Oyric hesitates. "Not done."

  They explode off the couch. Rixon grabs the wireless vacuum from the charging dock and tosses her the second unit. They move like a synchronized unit—which, in a sense, they are. As their parents trained them both.

  The screech of a Berelus beast cuts through the air above the house. Mom's arrival signal.

  “They are here! Hurry up, I am not working out and cooking dinner because you forgot to vacuum.”

  Oyric focused like a vacuum savant. “Let me work, I will clutch this out! This is me we are talking about here.”

  Phazzer Garage closes

  Rixon throws himself onto the couch, tapping his wrist-screen to pull up a sports feed. Oyric kicks the vacuum into the closet, slides across the polished floor, and lands beside him. Her social-glasses materialize over her eyes just as she settles into the cushions.

  They both take a breath.

  The front door opens.

  “We’re home! Come put up the groceries. Your father decided today was a great day to throw out his spine helping some skank in the store."

  The delivery droids float in behind her, baskets loaded with food and supplies. She taps her wrist and they align themselves against the kitchen counter with military precision.

  Rixon laughing as he sees his dad break the threshold and holding a cane for the first time in his life.

  “Pops you know, you are one of the Planetary Continental Generals? Your job is literally be fit and show that ‘We are the galaxy’s greatest species”

  Oyric jogs over and hugs her mother and her father.

  His pops amused by the situation “See son the moment you chose to beat on your dear ol’pops and not show no love or compassion was the moment you lost the will to your sister”

  Rixon in slight disbelief ‘Come on Pops, its all love but do you think you could stop running into these… What do you call the women mother?”

  "Don't mind if I do, son." She snaps her head toward Pops. "Skanks."

  "When we brought you into this world. I said to myself, 'Finally, someone to help me against the tyranny in my own home.' But every time there's a chance to earn favor with the Queen of the House, you take her side."

  Their mom laughs “To be fair the skank was ugly so it worked out. Nonetheless, are all the chores done?”

  Rixon and Oyric catch each other’s eyes and lock in

  In unison “Yes ma’am”

  “Recon!”

  A surveillance droid shoots out from its charging port in the wall, landing in her palm. The holoprojection shows everything. The dishes. The rooms. The homework assignment completion proof. The training logs.

  But Rixon and Oyric forgot the number one rule of horse playing, keep it out of sight of the recon droid. Within seconds they see him squishing her and both of their parents break out in laughter with tears swelling up in their eyes.

  A surprise to them as they thought she was about to lose it on Rixon as Oyric is a girl and he is a young man in his early years of strength.

  “Well that's perfect. Can you go and sit on the couch, your pops and I bought take out, so good eats tonight and no cooking. But first we want to see if you guys want to do something”

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Both shocked but confused.

  “Mama please don’t do an exit meeting with us as if you could get rid of us, we are not one of the generals in your military you could throw away.” Oyric says as she walks to the living room

  “Exit meeting, Oh your mother don’t do those, or rather she gives it another title meeting. How does it go love? ‘Exit in a stretcher’”

  They all exchange laughs and get comfortable on the couch.

  Their mother sits in front of them and gives off the energy of serious but loose.

  “So as we all know our son and your brother, Rixon, will be getting activated in the next 4 months for active duty in the Delisus Planetary Aethermarines Corp. That one is not something to take lightly that corp is one of my favorite corps because they do it all for whatever this planets needs and can survive in hell if they left there long enough.”

  Their father, smiling and shaking his head in a comical sense, said,“Did you have to pull rank even home love? Like come on me and Rixon both know you are the high commanding General of all the forces on the Delisus Planetary Military Corps.”

  “Honey in that moment you actually just big upped me even more. I surely appreciate you letting the house know who is in control.”

  Rixon and Oyric laugh and for a moment both of their parents do a light chuckle as they stare at their children being kids. Which to Rixon and Oyric comes off as little weird.

  “Ok mom, is this a meeting about me going early? Is this why you had to bring us to the couch, and why you bought takeout?” Rixon saying clasping his hands back leaning back in a childish manner

  “Oh my baby boy, never change, please,” she says as she wipes her hand across her face.

  Rixon nods in a playful manner with his sister Oyric joining him and mocking the act of seriousness.

  “Anyway, look how do you feel about taking your sister to the Freelucid festival on the Haposteneses station in the Valor sector of the galaxy?”

  Both of their jaws drop in pure shock.

  “Pops get a towel. I think my mother is sick. She just suggested that we go have fun for a week and act as kids. This surely must be a sickness.” Oyric says as she sits up with an excited feeling but concerned face.

  “Oh hush girl, Now I owe your pops 100 dadries for that statement.”

  “Like mother, like daughter. It’s too easy” Their father says as he hears a chime and receives money on his wrist wallet

  “Anyway but yeah. I want you guys to have a great memory before you don’t see each for a while and don’t worry I got you a ship Rixon to take to the Festival. Me and your father bought it and made sure it didn’t have any modifications, as we know you wanted to make your own.”

  Rixon jumps up in pure excitement “Let’s fu-, Let’s freaking gooooooo!”

  His father smiled. “Way to go, son, that demon would have killed you if you let that out. And I can stop your mom from a lot of things but murder of her child I think would be my hardest task yet.”

  She tilted her head and spoke in a tone almost like a silent storm that can be heard by everyone in it, “Don’t get ahead of yourself young man just because you are hanging with those soldiers, don't let your soul get lost now, you hear me?”

  “Yes ma'am, reeling it in now.” Rixon sat back down.

  “Now you leave tomorrow since it's a month away. By the time you get there it should be starting. We got all yall favorite snacks from the store so go pack. And Rixon I sent the coordinates and all the events that will take place at the Festival, make an itinerary and share it to your sister.” As she regains her smile and is relaxed once more

  “Yes ma'am,” they said in unison.

  Both get up and kiss their parents on the cheek, then run upstairs to pack.

  When their father notices they are out of ear shot “I know you got faith in the boy, but this journey still feels way too risky. I want them to live but this feels like we may be sending them down a road of pain and…”

  Their mother cuts him off

  “Love, see, you said the key word ‘Live’. If I can give them the ability to continuously live and experience that word then I think that will be fine in my soul. And remember both of them are trained killers, it's up to them when they awaken it and become the beast that they will need to be.”

  The next day comes and Rixon takes a stroll to his favorite music bar. When he walks in he sees his comrades that he went through boot camp with.

  “Is that the young kid Rixon?”

  “Oh relax Ilonus, we are the same age. All of us.” Rixon gestured at his 3 friends.

  “Rix, did you see what your mother bought in the ship yard? Like that thing is smooth but boring you should take it for a joyride.” Hedio says as she invites him to sit beside her

  “Oh I will be taking that bad boy on more than just a joyride. Me and it are one.”

  Hedio jumped up and slammed her hands on the table, leaning back with shock and excitement. “Are you telling me that the crew now has a ship where we can travel the galaxy?”

  Rixon looks up and slightly leans to the side with a sly smirk

  “Oh you know my sister of the stars, we will be able to travel wherever we want, however we want, when we are not on a war tour of course but yeah.”

  “You know, most rich kids or well off kids ask for a space yacht for vacation trips or like some of the newest stuff on the Galaxy Market but you asked for a generic ship and plan on putting on all the modifications yourself. Like why did I choose to be friends with the self-sufficient rich kid?” Ilonus says as he looks at his dream ship on his social glasses

  Excelius shook his head in agreement. “We should have known we didn’t hit the jackpot when he was going through bootcamp for the Aethermarines. Like what poor bastards do that when they have a choice?”

  Rixon laughed and got up. “Anyway, you poor saps, I'm going to go see it before I leave today and make sure it is good for flight, so ill see you guys later, peace.”

  Rixon walks out the shop and just stares at the sky for a moment. All he sees is spacecraft and Berelus beast being flown around. The winged creatures making loud screeches of signaling acting as ships for those who still wish to live somewhat in the times of the past when they used to be considered the only source of travel. Rixon snaps out of it and grabs a city mini hover ship and flies it on autopilot to the atmosphere elevator.

  When he gets there, he hears the social pad on the wall of the station and in the elevator that Delisus will probably have to prepare for war due to the Yornkata Empire looking to not make peace with the planet. Rixon feels slightly uneasy about leaving during a time like this but feels though he will be back before the war breaks out. When he makes it up to the Outer Atmosphere space station he goes to the coordinates where his parents told him where the ship will be docked. To his surprise his parents were there with his sister packing her and his things.

  “Why so early? We don't leave out for another 5 hours. Like Oyricy can be impatient but this here is a little overboard” Rixon says as he walks up the bay door of the ship.

  When he steps on the ship his eyes lit up and grew full with excitement. As he walked on the ship every step glowed with an LED response. He couldn’t help himself and began to walk it. He saw the small 50 person cafe area where people could eat and chat and where he and his comrades could knock back some drinks.

  He came across the dorms that were lining the corridors. They came with a bed and a small desk. And at the heart of the ship right before you make it to the cockpit, is an open-concept common space with a simple table.

  No holo-projections.

  No unnecessary tech.

  Just a table.

  What made the space even better was that to the left are the Captain and Co-Captain suites, blending seamlessly into the wall.

  Rixon continuing his walk in a trance as he makes his way to the cockpit

  His father walks up beside him. “She is a beauty isn’t she? I made her to do all the things you ever told me you wanted her to perform. She comes with all the new specs of controls but I made sure that the artificial intelligence system stays inside the circuits and does not materialize with sound. With that said, how do you like it my son?” His father asked him not knowing Rixon was letting down streams of tears as his father was talking but he straightens up and wipes his face.

  “It's wonderful. Can’t wait to give her a spin and go to the festival” Rixon said as he walked over to the pilots chair and looked out into the ship yard

  “Wonderful because you have to leave in the next 30 minutes. This is the only time you can leave today due to the construction they are doing on the station.” His mom said as she walked in and sat in the co-pilot seat across from Rixon.

  “Dang, a little earlier than what i was expecting but i guess now or never with this bad boy” as he starts clicking things on and starting up engines and reactors of the ships.

  His mother out of nowhere embraces him tight. Feeling the weird tension he embraces her back as he wanted to enjoy the moment as his mother did not always hug him.

  “You take care of your sister out there. You will be gone for at least two months but when you come back, I want you to know the world as you know may be different as….you are going into active duty with the Military. That will not be an easy task. You might even feel broken some days but you must remember this one thing that I drilled into you and your sister since you were conceived and I pushed you out of me. ‘Ti-uda’. To be the last to fall. Never fall first and make sure that you are you at the end of your journey my son. As the General I will not be able to see you except on holidays so this may be the last time we talk for a while before you and I are a part of this war.”

  Rixon recognized the moment and took it by the reins “Understood. Mama, I love you. I don’t wish for any other mother in this world except you. From the time you coddled me with words of comfort to the time you disciplined me with hellish workouts. Nonetheless all of it for me and to me was love. Now General, go win whatever war they think they want to have with us. Afterwards we will bask in the glory of me living and you and Pop's success as Generals.”

  They embraced one more time and then his father said his goodbyes and his well wishes on their journey. They were all in good spirits as Rixon and Oyric left the station but as soon as they jumped to go to the festival. His mother went straight into General mode.

  “It is done. Call all active duty members to each Continent headquarters to let all Generals know that the war will be upon us in one month's time. We must win this so I can see those beautiful kids once again.”

  Her husband answers in kind “All has been done as soon as our son came up the elevator and his social link no longer was connected to the wireless network satellites. It's time my love. The High Senate is expecting us to debrief them at 37:00.”

  She looks to where he she last saw her children then locked in “Understood lets get on the move, shall we my love.”