Chapter 4 : Family Matters.
Both Carlos and Dom sitting at the table in the busy lunch room eating quietly, kids scattered around the tables chanting loudly as they ate their food. The two brothers still worried for their friends, it been a week since something happens to the Fenix family.
They both felt sorry for Marcus and his adopted siblings when their mother was involved in some accident since that phone call had come from Adam who just been told that their mother was in some accident. They didn't know what really happen but their father wasn't telling the details. Their thoughts interrupted when Luke and Leia along with Marcus just show up at their table with the expression of sadness and grave looks.
Carlos wrapped his arms around Leia who returns the hug, Dom hugged Marcus and then Luke. Then they all sat down on the table until Marcus break his silence.
"Moms gone and she not coming back," said Marcus sadly with his hand holding his sister's hand.
"There was an accident and dad don't know much." Said Marcus looking at the table." Dad didn't take it too well. But my gut tell me that there something else going on."
"Marcus we don't know that." Protested his younger brother.
"I know somethings is going on I can feel it." snapped Marcus back.
"Boys!" Added Leia "We are all feeling emotional now."
"I am really sorry about your mom."said Dom "Then what happens next?"
"Thanks Dom , we really going to need you." Said Leia softy.
Luke stared at his food and answered "Dad planning the funeral but I don't know when but I just feel like crying for hours."
"Come man we are really sorry about everything, you miss your mom I see it." Said Dom offering his comfort."We be there for you, Leia and Marcus."
"We will be there."
After school , both of the three Fenix sibling stayed at Dom's house for the night and they all sleep together with each other. Dom and Carlos along with his mother watch them slept on the couch.
"Poor Marcus." said Dom sadly
"We look out for them, we take care on of our own."said Carlos mother."Make sure you are there for them because they will need you."
Carlos and Dom along with their parents attended the funeral the next week and his family let Marcus and his siblings stay as long as they want. Soon Marcus slowly drift away from his siblings and his father and stay at Santiago's house more.
Back at home, Luke stood at the window of his bedroom watching outside with utter pain on his face, he hopes to see Marcus coming home. But it hurts when his adopted mother was gone in an empty casket worse when he need his brother the most he wasn't there. He turned to to his sister sitting on her bed looking restless from the grief of their adopted mother and Leia glanced at Luke with silence knowing that Marcus wouldn't be there for him. His older brother was there when he and Leia had nightmares, he wish he was there now.
Luke then wonder to himself what did he and his sister ever do to deserve this. Luke then slept poorly last night.
Four years later
Marcus arrived with Carlos arriving at the front doors of his estate, Leia emerged from the front door in a summer like dress to see them both. Leia squealed with joy at the sight of Carlos in his military dress uniform rushing towards Carlo before kissing him.
"Carlos! You came back." Laughed Leia. Carlos smiled holding his girlfriend "You are so beautiful Leia."
Marcus then caught the glimpse of his brother in a causal shirt and pants as he stood at the front door, Luke smiled at Marcus who smiled and then look amazed by Carlo's dress uniform.
"Hey Marcus and Carlos."
"Luke it is good to see you again." Called out Carlos."Like the new look man?" Showing off his uniform.
"That cool Carlos when are you going off to basics?" Asked Luke "Leia was making plans for the academy and she is going next officer program I think."
"Next week I off to basics. Luke , you know Leia will make a good officer and probably my second second." said Carlos
Leia giggled with her arms around Carlo's neck."Permission to become second in command for the day.I love to be the commander Carlos and where the fun in that?"
"Wheres Dad something important I got to tell him." asked Marcus.
"He is in the house and don't tell me you are joining the Gears right." Asked Luke as a cruel realization fallen upon him."Oh, wait a minute. Oh shit you are."
"Hell yeah I am going to but the only person that is holding me back is you." Scoffed Marcus."You begged me a million times not to join the army for no reason."
"Coming on Dad wouldn't want that." Protested Luke only for Marcus to grumbled with annoyance.
"Really, that the place that would only understand me little brother not at home." narrowing his eyes at Luke as Marcus continued "Beside You and Leia and I wouldn't understand each other right when I am doing this."
"You sure you want to do this now?" Asked his sister. "Dad wouldn't want this. What is this going to achieve? Leaving me and us alone. You don't want to do this and it not worth it going go to war over imulsion."
"Do I look like I care?" Marcus fired back "He been fine about it I am pretty sure. You and Leia can take care of yourself not me."
"Guys , can we settle this like people."plead Carlos.
"How exactly are we all going to repair this when you get back?" Questioned Luke only Marcus to grew weary of Luke's pleas. "I am talking to dad. You with me Carlo?"
"Yeah man."chucked Carlos as they followed Marcus "It is true that you peeling on them to make them look soft." Marcus asked right behind him
"Yeah, works well in body armour too." Called out Carlos.
"When I get back. By the way don't worry about the boots. Not to much metal inside , you got to soft them up first if you want to take a field trip to the frontline." Pointed his military boots."You get use to them when you are in the field."
As they walked on the concrete stairs. "You break them before they break you." Carlos called back as he walked up the stair with some difficulty.
"Joining the army is surprising and me attending the academy but I am worried about Marcus." Said Leia only for her boyfriend to simile back "Marcus is a survivor; he got you and Leia and us."
"That not enough, please Carlo talk to him; I just feeling all these years that I didn't even know my brother any more." Her hand tighten around his hand as they walked into the marbled hallway. "He has been drifting off every single day and he and the rest of us. It just problems every day."
Carlos sighed hard , he and Dom know that Marcus strained off his family and his mother death took a toll on Marcus. Both Luke and Leia were still strong holding on to each other even though they need Marcus. He rarely come home with his so call family. He was there with Marcus to support his decision to join the army as he break the news of his enlistment.
"Dad I am not going to be an officer, I don't care if Leia joining some officer program at some university not me. I am not going to university" Protest Marcus."My choice I am enlisted." He stared hard at his brother and father in the hallway.
Luke's eye widen with surprise, "Have you lost your mind?" His younger brother questioned. "Why would you do this to us?"
"Not that again Marcus." protested Adam.
"I said I was enlisted, it done Dad and Luke it my call and there nothing you can do to change that. I had my letter send to the recruiting office.""
" Being on the frontline is a death sentence Marcus." Added Luke " You going to get yourself killed or worse crippled. Come on Marcus you are no better than dad or the Indies. We are a family."
"You don't know that?"
" Luke is right, Marcus you are throwing away a brilliant 's not done and we still need to discussed this." Said his father
"It has already been discussed." Said Marcus crossing his arms. "It okay for you developed weapons. But not okay for me to fight? Carlos and others put their lives on the line, but the job isn't good enough for your son."
Luke clutched both his fists staring hard at his brother while his adopted father look upset. Both Leia and Carlos watching the whole thing from the corner of the hallway. Leia just look away while Carlos stood there in silence.
"I didn't say that, Marcus." Shoot back his father.
"I got've to do this.I can't sit out the war."
"There're no got to do will think any less for you for not fighting."
"I think less of me. And it's the only thing thats going to make me feel alive." Retorted Marcus."My call been made."
Then Adam glanced at Carlos who stood by Marcus's side. "Can you talk some sense into him, Luke and Leia begging him not to. You are the only person that listen to him."
Carlos shallowed a small gulp and Leia shocked her head mouthing don't encourage him. Carlos sighed knowing this could be harder to convince Marcus to back down.
"Listen, I bring Marcus back in one piece." Said Carlos much to Leia and Luke's protest.
"Carlos!" Exclaimed Leia's with outrage. "You are going to talk him. You said that."
"Carlos!" Protested Luke.
"I am sorry Leia really but it's Marcus's call. No turning back. Marcus wouldn't take no for an answer." Plead Carlos.
"Got to go dad and I will see you and Leia and Luke for dinner tonight. Dads got prep talk at the university." Said Marcus darkly before turning around and leaving the hallway.
"It okay Leia, I be back just like today." Said Carlos planting a kiss on her forehead before catching up to Marcus.
Both Leia and Luke looked crushed and glanced at their father who sighed from the heated argument and the blinking between their brother. Luke was almost at tears and Leia just crossed her arms looking down at the ground with a hint of defeat.
" It is not your fault." said Adam sadly "You tried to hold him back. You did your best. It is not your faults not even a single one. It my fault for this."
"Dad is not your fault." Protested Luke until his father raised his hand. "Stop both of you. Walking with me outside."
Once the twins were outside, "Look you two, you are good in this family." addressed Adam. "I tried my best with you and you are not like me. I made many mistakes but you two are not one of them."
Adam paused and stared at the garden behind him. "You will soon make your own choice in the future just like Marcus did even it is the most irreversible decision he made for himself."
Placing both hands on the shoulders of the twins. "Not all, I kept some things from you but I know this isn't the right time. You will make your own choice and I can't stop you but I wouldn't lost all of you my children from this. Please understand this I can't hold you back forever."
"I think it is time to talk to you about your true mother." Said Adam seriously as the twin's eyes widen with surprise.
"Tell me what I don't know." Asked Leia looking confused and Luke as well.
They all sat down at the patio leisure , both Leia and Luke embraced for the news their adopted father held for so long.
"I held the truth for so long." Said Adam "Not a day goes by when I think of her. You were both only children and now you deserve the truth."
"I found your mother when my unit and I were stationed at the frontline." Said Adam looking at his hands closed together."She was pregnant by the time we found her at our forward operation base wandering for help." Adam went silence as he process the truth carefully knowing that the same woman he tried to help actually came from a space ship. He wasn't going to make up the truth from outer-space, is this what he was going to say to them.
Leia's eyes watered with tears as Luke squeezed his sister's hands. Adam struggled to stay the words as the unpleasant memories surfaced back from the past.
"Her water broke and we did the best we could. But she couldn't...make it. The only name she told me was Padme." Continued Adam. "She gave birth to you. She pass away in childbirth. Her only words were to name you."
Adam placed a hand on his mouth. "She made me a promise to take care of you. I took you in, gave you and your sister a home and family."
Rosing from his chair and singled them to followed them into his office."I kept some of her belongings. Not much and they both to your mother." Said Adam as he opened a drawer in his desk.
He presents them ash canister with the name Padme and a Japor Snippet even a photograph of her holding her children.
"That she and I saw her in my dreams." Chocked Luke as he and his sister took the photo and stare at her beauty.
"I remember she was beautiful but sad." Said Leia as she felt the sorrow and closure of her true mother.
Adam stared at the snippet for a moment, "this belongs to your mother and I never have seen any necklace like this before. If she was here with us, she would want you to have this." Before giving the snippet on Leia's hands
Leia wiped tears off her face and continued to cry turning to bury her face into Luke's shoulder along with Luke who closed his eyes tight as a single tear poured down on his face holding the ash canister of his mother's remains with both hands. The truth of their real mother came to light
"I am the last person to turn against you." Said Adam sadly."This is the only truth I kept from you." He walked up to the grieving twins wrapping both his arms around his children. "Her last words , there is still hope for you two." The three huddled together with comfort mourning the woman who gave birth.
Meanwhile , in one of the street in some district in Eyphra, Marcus paused at his coffee and stared blankly. "Marcus ?" Asked a puzzled Carlos lending forward on the table."You okay?"
"No, whatever happen back at the house, I didn't ...shit I didn't know what came over me." Muttered Marcus looking at his coffee. "Carlos it just nothing."
"They are still family." Reminded Carlos seriously.
Leia was putting a layer of clothing into her luggage bag before staring at the mirror of her bedroom with the snippet hanging on her neck. A letter from the academy on the table stated accepted into the officer program .
Luke, on the other hand, sat on the couch looking on the ground then a flick of fire sparked inside him and he turned to the wall with photo frames and achievements and a poster of a COG soldier with a rifle on guard. Making a choice. He was going to be a soldier.
Luke quickly packed everything in his backpack and step out of the mansion into the city, Luke journeyed his way through the streets filled with honking cars , hordes of walking people and the chipping of birds echoing. He stood in front of a recruitment office and he took a deep breath before walking right in opening the door.
"Interested in the career of the army young man?" Asked the officer at the counter.
Luke just smiled back and grinning.