~7 Years later~
"And that's how I got promoted to vanguard commander." Atlas finished, giving the class of warlock trainee's a grin. They applauded enthusiastically, and chattered about his story until Ikora Rey shushed them.
"Thank you, Commander Cassidy for that…" Ikora sucked a breath in between her teeth. "Wonderful story." she said finally.
"Well it was my pleasure." Atlas replied with a sarcastic grin.
"Are there any more questions before the commander leaves?"
"Come on now don't be shy. Ask me anything." Atlas pressed.
Hands shot into the air then, waving exuberantly.
"You." Atlas pointed to a lanky looking awoken kid, who grinned widely and pushed his glasses up his pointed nose upon being picked.
"Is it true that you survived the venus atmosphere for a whole ten minutes while you waited for oxygen?"
"Well I wasn't counting. But it sure felt like ten minutes."
"That's impossible." another student piped in. "Venus atmosphere outside of the terraformed area kills humans within seconds."
Atlas shrugged. "I guess I got lucky. Next...you...Exo boy."
The exo's eyes lit up, and the gears in his exposed neck shifted as he gulped back nervousness. "I read once that you befriended a cabal clan on Phobos, and that you actually led them for a time. Is that true?"
"I did meet with the Phobos cabal, and they didn't kill me so...Yeah I guess you could call that friendship." He pointed to another eager hand, a smile lighting up his face.
"What's your gun of choice?" The student asked.
"Pulse rifle. Can't go wrong. Perfect balance between bolt and automatic. Stable, reliable. Damn good gun. I also like to carry around a cute little Havok number. Pigeon 110. And for good measure...A Gjallarhorn 683."
"The Gjallhorn?!" Someone said in awe. "Those aren't coming out for months yet. How'd you get one?"
"A gun like that needs testing." Atlas said simply. "Who better to test it then an expert in destruction?"
Atlas answered some more questions, ranging from war stories to military tactics. He thought he was finished, when a human girl raised her hand, and instantly began batting her eyes at Atlas.
"Is there a Mrs. Atlas Cassidy?" She asked, biting at her lip suggestively.
Atlas chuckled. "Well ain't that a question." He noted. "No. No there isn't. In my line of work...Relationships can be difficult. The only woman who holds my heart is my mama."
There was a bit of a chuckle from the students.
"No. I'm serious. She taught me everything I know. I talk to her every week. And y'all better do the same. Your mama's brought you into this world...Lord knows she can take you out just as fast."
"Thank you, Commander." Ikora said, looking annoyed and pleased all at once. "You never fail to entertain."
"Damn right." Atlas agreed with a curt nod. "Speaking of entertainment. Jacky-boy!" Atlas did a twirl, and pointed dramatically to his younger brother. "You an' me are off to see Ma an Pa Cassidy in...Well once youre done with this class. Gather yer shit and meet me in Hangar 7."
Jaxon went beet red with embarrassment, slumping down in his desk. All eyes of his classmates turned to him.
"That my little brother." Atlas said with a grin. "Treat him right or you'll have me to answer to."
With that, Atlas gave the students a casual salute and sauntered out of the class.
"Well, Cass." Amanda Holliday said as she crawled back out from under Atlas' ship. She wiped at the bridge of her nose, a streak of grease mingling with the spattering of freckles there. She heaved a sigh, patting the nose end of the craft like a cowboy would pat a stallion. "She's all fixed. Should get you where you need to be."
"What was wrong with her?" Atlas asked around a mouthful of sour gummies.
"Frayed wire connecting the warp to the drivers." She shrugged, jerking her chin at Atlas' snack.
He extended the bag to her. "I coulda fixed that." He mused.
"I know you could of." Amanda agreed. "But the tower doesn't pay me to let you fix your own ship."
"Right." He agreed, tossing more gummies into his already full mouth.
"Did you have to embarrass me like that in front of the class?"
Atlas turned to grin at Jaxon, whose face was twisted into a frown as he approached. "It's my job as you big brother to embarrass you."
"Well cut it out. They already tease me enough as it is."
"Do I have to kick some little warlock ass?"
"Shut up, Atlas." Jaxon mumbled, pushing past the titan. "Let's just get out of here."
"What'd you do?" Amanda asked, licking the sour powder off her fingers.
"Hell if I know. Kid's been touchy as a new trigger lately."
"He's probably home sick." The shipwright noticed.
"Maybe." Atlas shrugged, folding the bag up and handing it to Amanda. "Good thing I can fix that." He gave the shipwright a high five before clambering up into the cockpit where Jaxon was moping.
"See you, AC!" Amanda yelled, jogging out of the way for the ship to launch.
Atlas eased the ship into the air, his stomach still taking a leap of excitement as he took flight. He turned the ship around, pointing it into the darkening sky beyond the Tower. "Setting course for home." Atlas murmured, punching the coordinates into the nav-system. He sighed, leaning back in his chair and looking to Jaxon who sat slumped and aggravated in the passenger seat.
"Care to do the honors?" Atlas asked, gesturing to the warp stick.
Jaxon rolled his eyes, but was soon smiling as he grabbed the stick and pushed it forward. In a blur of stars and space, the ship was blasting off, rocketing to its final destination.
Atlas chuckled. "It never gets old does it?"
The smile faded, as Jaxon remembered he was supposed to be surly. "Whatever." He mumbled, slinking back against the leather seat.
"What's your problem?" Atlas asked. "You better not be like this 'round mom. She'll kick your ass."
"I don't have a problem." Jaxon protested.
"Bullshit. I aint seen you this sore since dad took your sparrow away when you were ten."
"Just forget it, Atlas! Damn I can't be pissed without a reason?"
"No you can't."
"Well it's not something you'd understand anyway. So just drop it and drive."
"Or...I could let Maria drive-" Atlas flicked on autopilot, and the robotic femme fatale voice chirped 'autopilot engaged.' "-Thank you, Maria- and pick your issue back up."
Jaxon groaned, rubbing at his eyes in exasperation. "Jesus just leave it."
"Nope. What the hell has got your panties tangled with the stick up your ass?"
"Fuck off, Atlas!" Jaxon screamed.
Atlas sat back in his seat, watching as his brothers face twisted with anger. "'fraid I can't do that Jax." He said quietly.
Jaxon sighed.
"Tell me what's wrong, kiddo. Maybe I can help."
"You can't fix everything."
"I can damn well try."
"Fine. You wanna know how you could fix this?" Jaxon snapped, turning in his seat to glare at his older brother.
"Yes. I do."
"You could have gone to the academy at a normal age like everyone else. You could have followed orders, and been a regular goddamn soldier, and not been a hero on Venus."
"What the hell are you talking about, boy?"
"Ever since you we were kids everyone tells me how I oughta be like you. 'Jaxon...Why aren't you more like Atlas?' 'Atlas would have done it this way.' 'When Atlas was your age...'." Rage filled the young man, and he gritted his teeth. "I'm tired of it. I didn't even want to be a warlock."
Atlas felt his heart break for his brother. "I didn't know you felt that way." He murmured.
"Yeah well I do. I guess you've never felt inadequate."
Atlas furrowed his brow, looking into the inky black canopy stretched before the ship.
"Like I said…" Jaxon continued. "You wouldn't get it."
Atlas switched off the autopilot, gripping the controls and switching his focus back to the ship. "
"Prepare for arrival." Maria droned, and Atlas didn't even have the heart to murmur a 'Thank you, Maria.'.