Chapter 3: Brother bonds
COG Research facility
Location : Classified
"This is beyond interesting of my time." Said Chairman Dalyell as he stand in the lab where two droids were cooperating with the two scientist and engineers. Both droids had plugs over their circuit boards as COG engineers were working to gather data from the droids.
" These bots are technological outdate but effective than our stranded JACKs but they are capable of other uses than." said a Chief engineer. "Never seen anything sophisticated like this. They both have advance software equipment that we don't have the tools to posses sir."
R2 has cables plug into a console and displaying a hologram bubble of data and information for the scientist and the chairman to see.
"This is beyond our expectations." Said the Chairman with curiosity looked the sight of hologram images of maps outlining the outer sectors in the galaxy.
"This is a map." Said a technician
" It seems we are not alone in outer space and god knows how many civilizations or species out there with underestimating capabilities in their might ." said the Dalyell as he glazed his eyes on the holo map with symbols and charted sectors
the golden droid who was busy chatting with another scientist. "What about him." Point his finger at the golden droid.
"Sir this droid had a name C-3P0." Said the technician. "He claims to be a translator of a thousand languages of different species."
The Chairman simile " Whatever classified information these droids can provide for us , we could be prepared five times ahead against something big out in outer space. They could be the key to new expansions and technologies the COG are never familiar with."
"This will change all of Sera sir. "said the technician." Would it."
" Yes this is just the beginning of a new tomorrow only if we win the war for good. An end to wars to end all wars ." said the Chairman with a profound simile on his face. "We will tell the public the truth about this new discovery , all of Sera has to know that we are not alone only when this war is over."
"What if the public is not ready for the big news and the rest of Sera wouldn't be thrive that we aren't the only ones in space." Said the technican.
"Uh excuses me sir , I think my circuits are fired ." said 3P0 only to make the chairman and the technician laughing out loud
Ephyra
School
Luke took a bite out of his sandwich and rubbed his head as he look at his lunch and Leia was next to him barely touching her lunch. Marcus stared them with the worry on his eyes. After last night , the three didn't spoke on what happen at night.
Marcus breaking his silence " I think we are on the silent game for too long. What happen last night ?"
Luke hesitated for a second before answering " I don't know what came over me last night I mean it strange do you think. I saw a ghost of a lady in our house."
" Ghost ?" scoffed Marcus " Weird ,I thought ghosts exist in fairly tales. What did she look like?" asked Marcus .
" It a lady but beautiful than awesome." Said Luke "that all I remember." However deep down in Luke he swore he was connected to her mysterious but he don't know how. Marcus raised an eyebrow "You little sister ? Tell me what you are dreaming of."
Leia bit her lip and hesitated for a moment "I was dreaming of a place." Leia said "I ….I saw volcanoes …and I saw someone fighting with glowing sticks."
" Glowing sticks?" said puzzled Marcus and Luke.
" Then I saw a woman laying on the ground…..I can't say anymore " choked Leia as a sole tear pouring from her eyes as the nightmare remained fresh in her mind.
"Leia , I am here, don't be scare" said Marcus attempting to console her. Luke held her hand " I am there too."
" So what the heck just happened." Asked Carlos along with his little brother Dom as he came along Marcus and his siblings at the table.
" Funny night that's all." said Marcus with a nervous simile on his face. "Just a nightmare we all have."
" Tell me about it." Chucked Dom "It is about being Gears."
" Let me guess you are Dom right ?" said Leia " I am Leia and this Marcus and Luke." Greet the Fenix sibling to the two brothers.
" I told them about you guys." Said Carlos sitting next to Leia " Dom here if you-"
" Hey save Dom for later and now I want to know him." Said Marcus presented himself with a smile on his face.
" Joins and we be friends." Said Leia as she offer a spot for Dom. The five started to chat as Joshua sat on another table watching them.
During math class with Major Fuller , Luke excused himself to held to the washroom. He step into the washroom alone , Luke took at himself in the mirror with his hands on the skin. " What is wrong with me ? I feel it." Luke said to himself
" Where your bitch sister now." A voice calls out.
Washing his face with water as he look up to the mirror to see Joshua right behind him in the reflection. Luke turned to face Joshua head on and he saw the hate in Joshua's eyes but Joshua was willing to settle a score after that skirmish yesterday.
Luke frowned and gave Joshua the hard look." I said where your sister?"growled Joshua as he came closer.
"What did you say?" hissed Luke with venom in his tone as he held his own ground.
Then Joshua's threw a punch at Luke who quickly dodge and then Luke respond with a punch but missed and Joshua tripped him into the ground. Luke landed flat on the ground and attempt to crawl away from Joshua
" Settling the score Fenix , I am going make you pay first then your brother." Snarled Joshua " Then I make your sister bleed for kicking my bother ass."
Seeing red , Luke got up from the ground and charging head as Joshua charged too and the two boys clashed against each other into the ground ; rolling and trading fists.
Joshua managed hit Luke right into the face , blood splatter on Luke's nose and Joshua placed both hands on Luke's neck as he pinned Luke again. Luke struggled and held his breath and trying to push Joshua away from him.
" Think coming here is easy Fenix." Sneered Joshua as he squeezed Luke in the neck. Luke shut his eyes tight as he could but something happen shockingly as he push Joshua from his both hands.
Joshua screamed in shock as he flew away from Luke, slide on the ground and slammed into the wall before going out cold.
"What?"gasped Luke as he looked at his hands and look up to Joshua who was groaning in pain on his face before passing out.
Luke scrambled backwards on his knees and back against a wall ignoring the bleed from his noses and stared at his hands with horror. Suddenly he swore he could hear people rushing towards the scene.
Oh boy thought Luke I will never get out of this one as Major Fuller burst into the bathroom and found Luke in the corner on the ground staring at his hands.
Fenix Household
Luke sat outside the house looking at his hands as his brother was next to him patting him on the back. Both of his parents in the mansion were arguing about the incident happen at school. His father claimed that Luke was protecting himself and Eliane argued about the consequences of Luke being expelled from school over a fight that almost injured another child.
"This isn't your fault Luke. I should've been there. I knew Joshua was coming for you. Dam it." Said Marcus and his sister were patting him on the back. "I don't know what I did. I am scared." Said Luke as he hugged his legs. Then his father show up with concern mixed in his face. "Luke." said Adam as he sat next to his children."This isn't your fault. You are still my son and this is your home it will always be that way Luke."
"I don't want something to happen to you son . We will do this together" Adam hugged Luke tight in a fatherly embrace while Elaine glazed at Luke with worry on her face , Leia was hugging her mother but little does Adam or Elaine know they were gifted in the force. Marcus glazed at Luke when he knew something else was going on with Luke.
During the night , Adam was working alone in his office , he would hear Luke, Marcus and Elaine were watching TV downstairs and a door knocked and open revealing Leia in a night grown with a smile on her face.
"Leia my dear , come to see me." Sighed Adam as he smiled at the sight of his daughter.
"What are you working on dear father." said Leia as she leaped into her father's hands.
"My dear Leia , I would like you to tell a secret that you can keep. "said Adam was he glazed at his paperwork then Leia.
"What's that daddy?" asked a curious Leia.
"I am making something that would help win this war Leia."said Adam quietly hugging his daughter but he failed to see his pen near a stack of paper floating in mid air.
That night , when the whole family was in bed asleep , Luke groaned and toss in his sleep as a new vision emerged in his dream. He could see a woman in a beautiful dress with a smile on her face staring right at him.
"My dear son." Said the woman stroked his face "The force is strong with you and it will be your destiny will come"
The woman sat beside his bedside placing a hand on Luke's check as Luke listen with heart. "The Force is with you and You are the one in the Force."
5 months later
Togather, Luke and Leia both blew out the candles on a large birthday cake on the table. Dom and Carlos along with Eliane and Adam cheered .
"To my baby brother Luke." Said Marcus handing a present to his brother Luke now 13 years old then hand another present to his sister too. " And my baby sister." The three siblings hugged together in joy joined by the Santiago brothers
"That's my little girl." Said Eliane with a smile. "That my little Luke." Said Adam then raised the camera.
"Picture time. Say cheese" Called out Adam as the camera flashed revealing a photo of Luke , Leia , Marcus , Carlos and Dom around the birthday cake with similes plastered on their faces.
That night, Luke wimped and twisted in his bed and blanket , trying not to scream and a low cry spill from his mouth.
A tired Marcus was sitting next to him on the bed listening to his brother cries , this was the fourth time his brother woke him. The brother placed his hand on Luke's shoulder as he woke up
"Hey ,It's okay Luke , you don't have to be scare anymore. I am here." Said Marcus turned to face him with a smile on his face. "How many times do I have to tell you there are no monsters under the bed. Marcus scolded " with a tired sigh
"Sorry Marcus , I am seeing monsters clear as daylight and they are coming to get Dad , Mom , you and Leia." apologized Luke at his brother.
"Come on little brother , no monster aren't going to touch us and leia too." as Marcus wrapped his arms around his brother. "As long as I am here with you."
Three years later
Dom's Residence
"I swear that boy and his brother grows every time I look away." Said Eva Santiago as she set on the table , pausing couple of times to look out the window. "I can't believe he's the same kid along with his brother."
"They are always like this." Said Leia to Dom's mother "That my big bother and my baby brother." The two share a laugh as they set up the table for lunch. "I am just glad both of my sons are there for you and your brothers." Said Eva as Leia smiled before heading out of the house to check on Carlos and Luke.
Carlos , Luke and Marcus were all in the garage working on the old Engine and Luke mostly relied on Dom's father who taught him on mechanical basics. Dom's father and the other boys were urprised that Luke was learning fast on engineering . The kids were already grown up to 13 or 14.
" They love your cooking." Said Dom " Luke said you are the best cook in the world."
"What are his folks like ?" asked his mother
"They are nice," Dom said " But something you should know. Luke and Leia are having nightmares every night and Marcus never seen them live this been happening over a week now."
"Why would you say that sweetheart."
" Leia and Luke been seeing thing when they are sleeping but Marcus doesn't know what it was neither did his folks. Him and the twins are close to him ; they are always competing against each other sometimes. "
"I see Dom." Said Mom "You are smart about people, Dom; I am proud that you and Carlos are there for Leia and Luke even Marcus. I glad he has the twins with him."
"Having you noticed that Dom had a thing for the girl next to his house. I am plenty sure he been watching her for days." asked Luke to Marcus while Carlo and his father were working on a large car engine.
"How should I know?"scoffed Marcus "With that detective look, Luke but honest I think so."
"As I suspected Dom has a crush with someone." Smirked Luke to Marcus who smirked back "Yeah can't wait to tell that to his face."
"Yeah."
The group was called from the house for lunch, while the kids and the adults ate their lunch on the table both the twins and Marcus listen to Dom's father as he told his time as a gear in the army; being taught a trade, the friends he fought with and everything in the military was like magic. Fighting as a Gear in the military was a major contribution in citizenship of the COG.
"Do you miss the service Mr Santiago because Marcus is here going to be a enlisting when he eighteen. I am joining too can't waiting to get a gun on the field."said Luke
" Me too can't wait to join the army too. Marcus is also joining the academy to be an officer" said Leia excited.
"Aw come Luke , Leia ,you two such a buzzkill." Groan Marcus who reiterate back. "Luke said he going to an officer just like Leia. Desk duty! PS Leia has a crush on Carlo."
" Hey ! What ! Take that back Marcus." shouted Leia with her check puffed with red with embarrassment only for Carlos and the family erupted with laughter
"Just like Luke said , I going to enlist soon when I am eighteen." Said Carlos but his mother scolded him for completing his high school first.
" Marcus you breaking my heart." Carlo giggled through the laughter and Dom was out of his seat laughing his guts out. "Boys and Girls ! Boys! Just be kids as long as you can. " chucked Dom's father raising his hands out claiming the laughter down
After Lunch , Carlos , Leia , Dom , Marcus and Luke went outside to work on the engine part. Dom and Leia even Luke couldn't stopped thinking about the war and the army along with Maria as well. Luke was obsessed in joining the army as a gear then his thoughts came to a halt when Dom's mother came to the back door.
Her eyes widen with shock however Luke and Leia knew something happen in their gut that will change their lives forever.
"Luke , Leia , Marcus ! Your father wants to talk to you all and something happen." Said Dom's mother . Luke and his siblings froze and completely knew something happen.