Chapter 22: Seeing Them Off
"So we all know that I'm next in line for a big sendoff celebration. By the way, I'm open to hear about everyone's gift ideas later." Nate joked as he entertained the enormous crowd that was now gathered in the ballroom of his family's mansion. "Speaking of gift ideas, I've always wanted my own planet or maybe a moon. Dad, get on that ASAP." he humorously ordered soliciting laughs from the audience and a scowl from his father who was seated with Tess at a large, elegant looking, circular table in the center of the room along with their closest friends and family.
"Keep pushing it, Nate." Mal warned him in a somewhat ominous tone. He knew the boy was stalling for time while his siblings got ready. He also suspected why they were running late but chose to keep his theories to himself.
"Okay, okay, I take it back. Just give me a dreadnought and we'll call it even." Nate playfully continued.
"What are you planning to give him?" Dartak, one of Mal's krogan cousins asked out of curiosity.
"Right now, a good foot in the ass." Mal irritably responded, garnering laughs from everyone nearby.
"What's taking them so long?" Tess pondered.
"They're probably catching up with Angelica. She'll be leaving before morning so this is the last chance she'll get to see them before they finally head out." Mal quickly explained.
"Nice save, Boss." Mason whispered.
"It's probably partly true." Mal replied while shrugging.
"Those three really did grow up fast." Lance mused. "And Lou has such a cool father, covering for him like that."
"You mean to tell me his uncles would actually rat him out?" Mal asked while raising an eyebrow.
"Nah, but if Leo or Tess catch on, all bets are off." Lance quietly quipped before turning his attention back to Nate's show along with the others.
"Finally! I was starting to think I'd never get to see you three." Angelica happily stated before hugging her younger brothers and sister.
They had all agreed to meet inside the mansion's art gallery which was fortunately deserted just like the rest of the house now that all of the partygoers were gathered in the ballroom for the final celebrations. Their friends and companions had already departed to do what they could to ease the tardiness of the guests of honor who would be further delayed as a result of their meeting.
"You guys have really grown since the last time we saw each other. Lou, Leon, you two are almost as big as Dad now." Angelica mused while examining her siblings. "And Liv, you-"
"I'm still a little girl, no matter what." Olivia quickly cut in while glancing at Vince.
"Angelica, it's good to see you. I wish we had more time but Nate won't be able to delay things much longer." Lucas urgently stated.
"And we've still got a few events to attend including a late night barbecue." Leon added.
"We also have to be ready to leave by noon tomorrow. Zaeed's hangover won't be slowing him down. We all know that." Olivia continued.
"Tell me about it." Vince joked. "I once saw the old man kill a yahg while he was drunk with nothing but a knife, an old Predator heavy pistol and a half empty bottle of whiskey."
"We're definitely gonna have our work cut out for us, aren't we?" Leon asked in exasperation causing him and Vince to laugh.
"Then I'll make this quick. First, I want to wish you three a happy birthday and give you this." Angelica nervously stated before summoning an image with her omni-tool. The picture showed an extremely younger version of herself sitting together with the triplets when they were toddlers on top of a large, stuffed Kakliosaur toy. The children in the still were all smiling happily while waving at the cameraman. "I asked Dad to send me this picture and I reworked it into a holo-image. I've encrypted and embedded the data into my omni-tool and I was hoping you'd let me do the same for yours. It may sound silly but...this way the four of us will always be together and connected no matter how far apart we are." she quietly explained.
"It doesn't sound silly at all." Lucas kindly responded before extending his omni-tooled hand. Once Angelica completed her work, he quickly embraced her. "If the angel ever finds herself in need of a wolf, don't hesitate to call." he firmly added before releasing her.
"A real man always carries at least on baby picture around with him." Leon joked while approaching. After receiving his own image, he took a moment to hug his older sister himself. "We'll see you soon, Angelica."
After they separated, Olivia reluctantly made her way forward to receive the picture herself. Once the data had been transferred to her omni-tool, she took a moment to admire the image and appreciate the nostalgia that came with it. "Thank you, Geli." she whispered before embracing her older sister who grew slightly teary eyed.
Vince simply smiled while observing the emotional exchanges before remembering how late they all were. "I hate to break this up but we've gotta get moving. Mal might be at his breaking point with Nate by now." he joked.
"Right, right. I'm also planning to treat you all to a night out once you get back. We can go over the details later though. For now let's hurry." Angelica hastily explained after parting from her sister. Afterwards, the siblings promptly departed. Sadly, it would be a year before they'd all be together again.
"…I'm just saying, if Vince got a brand new stealth equipped-"
"Nate! My last nerve, you just stomped all over it!" Mal shouted in agitation. "Either hand the mic to someone else or prepare for an ass kicking. I'm not afraid to embarrass you in front of everyone right here and now." he warned.
"And now I'll hand things off to Ray." Nate quickly announced before passing the mic to his younger brother and taking a seat.
"No need, they're finally here." Ray declared after receiving the mic and pointing out the long awaited arrival of the Hunter triplets.
Their entrance was marked by a tumultuous applause that lasted for several minutes even after they took their seats at a special table reserved for them near their parents. What followed was a cavalcade of presents and speeches from all of the senior members of the Terminus Wolves, relatives and family friends. When it was time for Mal to finally present his own gift, he reluctantly stood from his spot and approached his children's table.
"I'm terrible at this and everybody knows it. Just ask any Wolf or Fang here tonight and they'll tell you. My speeches have always been short and to the point." he humorously began garnering laughs from every soldier under his command who'd ever heard one of his pre-battle pep talks. "But that won't fly this time. I've been obsessing over what I'd say for weeks and I kept your poor mother up half the night while I wrote drafts and took notes before finally, I just said 'Screw it' and decided to shoot from the hip like I always do." he continued while facing his children. "I was seventeen when your grandfather sent me out to face my own trials. I only had to spend six months with Zaeed though, so I guess I'm actually meaner than my old man was." he joked, gaining a few laughs from the crowd. "Now I'm sending you three off with him."
Mal took a moment to pause as he gently placed a hand on Olivia's face while she reciprocated by placing her hand on his. "Damn it, I really am lousy at this." he muttered. "I wasn't there when you three were born and I'll never forgive myself for that. I've tried to make up for it over the years but there were times when I almost let myself get dragged away from you again without even realizing it. This…all of this. I never planned to build any of it. I just wanted to be a merc, a simple soldier-for-hire." he stated in exasperation before releasing a sigh while meeting eyes with Lucas who experienced a sudden realization. "But here it is, in all its glory and it exists solely for you. For you and all of our other children, for our Wolves, for our Fangs and for our Vorcha." he continued resolutely gaining no small amount of applause.
"On top of what to say, I also thought about what I'd get you. Your aunts and uncles have all beaten me to the punch when it comes to the good stuff. I mean honestly, luxury sky cars? Thanks a lot, Virgo." Mal joked once again soliciting laughs from the audience and a wink from Virgo who also blew him a kiss. "Ships, tanks, guns, armor, that'll all come next year. But for now, I'm planning to give you something else, something important because I love you. I love you and I trust you. I said it before. Everything that I have and everything that I've built, it's all for you. So…happy birthday rugrats." he quietly added before sending a message to the triplets with his omni-tool.
A few moments later, Olivia gasped in shock while Lucas and Leon sat dumbfounded after reading the message. "Daddy, what did you do?" Olivia whispered with tears in her eyes.
"I gave you what's yours." Mal casually replied. "Me and your mother. We've officially given you three our shares in Terminus Wolves Inc. That's seventy-five percent of the company which makes you the chief shareholders of all our corporate holdings.
The revelation instantly stunned the crowd and gossip quickly erupted across the room as speculation ran rampant in regards to Mal's decision. "What does this mean?" Stan pondered while sitting with his beautiful colleague at table nearby.
"It means that the Terminus Hunter will be choosing his successor from among those three and that we'll have a new boss in the future." Adriana calmly surmised before smiling. "Well done, Mal."
"Sure, go right ahead and paint an even bigger target on them." Rabbit sarcastically quipped in desperation at his table. "I'm gonna be working overtime to keep her safe now." he anxiously added.
"We all will, Rabbit." his associate, Fox, informed him in a serious manner from a seat nearby.
"Rough times ahead, eh buddy?" Dylan joked while sitting with Vince and Angelica.
"You know it." Vince replied while grinning.
"I can't…he actually…how-"
"He's Mal, Angelica. Stuff like this shouldn't even surprise you at this point." Vince gently interjected. "Our father has always been a pretty crazy guy." he humorously added while admiring Mal.
"Good, this works out perfectly. He's already putting the pieces into place." Wrandok stated before chuckling at the head table. "It'll be interesting to see who ends up leading the clan."
"What are you on about now old man?" Dartak asked.
"You should probably ignore Grandpa, Dad. He's obsessed with forging Mal's children into the perfect warriors." Zel'me casually stated.
"I wouldn't call it an obsession but it has transformed into far more than a mere passing amusement for him." Nasiz calmly added. "I've tried to intervene when necessary but he's become quite fixated on Ray in particular. This latest news will only serve to drive him harder in his ambitions."
"I knew I should've followed you three to this station." Dartak scoffed. "I'll have a talk with the boy myself later. I'm not letting my father's influence be the only thing that shapes him." he added resolutely.
"I call bullshit. If they get the company, I should at least get the station or Heshtok. Actually, forget about Heshtok. Ray can have that." Nate humorously stated while sitting with his siblings.
"A clown like you doesn't deserve anything. You'd run whatever you got into the ground faster than a thresher maw burrowing. I hope Dad remembers that." Ray derisively responded.
"All according to plan so far." Layla casually mused while eating sweets with her twin sister.
"Looks that way. Daddy will definitely give us what we want when it's finally our turn, if for no other reason than the fact that no one else will want it." Sasha cheerfully concluded. "Something wrong, Jordy?" she curiously inquired after noticing how quiet their younger brother had become. "Are you worried there won't be anything left for you?" she joked.
"No, the opposite actually." Jordy replied in a serious tone before once again growing silent.
Back in the center of the room, both Mal and Tess were locked in an emotional embrace with their oldest children who were still in shock over what their parents had gifted to them. "We don't deserve this Dad, I don't deserve it. But damn it, I won't squander it. I swear." Lucas vowed.
"Mom, why did you let him…why did you agree to this?" Olivia asked through tears while her mother held her.
"Because you're our kids." Tess replied plainly while shedding a few tears herself.
"I'll keep it all safe, Pop. Everything and everyone. I promise." Leon swore as his father tightened his embrace around his sons.
"My stupid boys." Mal quietly replied while reminiscing about how he used to change their diapers and chase them around the house as they rode their pet varren. "Alright, I think we've all cried and gossiped enough!" he suddenly announced after separating from his children. "Let's dance!" he shouted, signaling the beginning of a new wave of revelry. "Olivia Rika Hunter, would you do your daddy the honor of sharing a dance?" he politely offered afterwards while extending a hand to his daughter who eagerly accepted.
After making their way to the dance area and beginning their routine, Olivia slowly buried her head into her father's chest in contemplation. "Daddy, you aren't leaving us are you?"
"Of course not. We're all gonna have one helluva mess to clean up in the morning." Mal humorously replied.
"Please, don't joke right now." she seriously pleaded. "Are you and Mom planning to leave us, to leave me?" she asked again more fervently.
"Not anytime soon, Firebrand." Mal assured her. His statement was at least half true.
"That was definitely one for the record books." Lucas groaned in a groggy manner while pouring himself a cup of hot cocoa in his family's kitchen.
"Don't worry, we'll be sure to top it next year after you get back." Mal joked before taking a sip from his own cup.
It was early morning and the immediate results of the party were clearly visible all across the mansion. Trash, spilled drinks, overturned tables and broken furnishings were only a few of the remnants of the bash. The house was also littered with unconscious friends and family who'd fallen asleep or passed out in various areas of the dwelling.
"Are we sure Zaeed will be good to go by noon?" Lucas humorously inquired as they both observed the snoozing old merc who was sprawled across the kitchen counter while snoring.
"He'll be fine, trust me. I've seen him get up from worse." Mal replied before chuckling. "Actually, I'm glad you're awake. There's something I've been meaning to show you. Come on."
The duo proceeded to make their way across the house to the armory. After confirming his identity and unlocking the door, Mal led the way to his desk inside the room. Once they reached it, he carefully slid his computer console to one side and tapped the top of the desk twice before placing the palm of his hand exactly where his console previously rested. After doing so, a hole suddenly opened up in the middle of the room and an elevator soon appeared from its depths. Lucas didn't have time to be surprised or impressed as his father continued to lead the way onwards by boarding the newly arrived lift and beckoning him to follow. They both entered the elevator and within minutes found themselves traveling below their home and into the Terminus Hunter's secret sanctuary. After reaching the bottom and exiting the elevator, Lucas immediately found himself stupefied. The area that they were standing in could've easily been seen as a museum of sorts, a gallery dedicated to the Terminus Wolves.
Pictures of the original members dotted the walls, their old armors and weapons occupied display cases, memorabilia from their first ships sat on shelves and a massive holo-display showed the entire team of vets while standing outside a bar on Omega. A smaller image below it held images of Mal, Tess, Brix, Mason, Taya, Zade, Lira and TED. The ones who started it all.
"I'm a sucker for nostalgia, I guess." Mal quietly remarked while leading his son to a particularly notable display case. It contained a set of armor and weapons that were especially important to him. "This is my old Terminus Assault Armor. It's the first set I ever had and saw me through a lot of tough battles. Your grandfather got it for me right before I started helping him out on his jobs. He gave me the guns after I turned eighteen along with my first ship. I want you to use them now." he explained while gazing at his old armaments.
"Dad, I…I can't." Lucas replied in awe while struggling not to succumb to the flood of emotions that were threatening to overtake him.
"Yeah, you can. You're about my size now, so it should fit okay. And Zaeed won't have any complaints. I had him track down a set for Liv and Leon too but I want you to use this one and maybe someday you can pass it on to your own son." Mal fondly explained. "The guns too but I guess they'll be even more outdated by then." he joked while glancing at his old M-11 Wraith and M-77 Paladin. "I'll give Leon my Mattock, he could use the practice with rifles and Liv can have your mother's Suppressor. Tess is already planning to give it to her later once they're alone."
"This is too much, Dad." Lucas finally replied while fighting the lump in his throat. "You're giving us too much."
Mal simply smiled before walking over and embracing his son. "You're my children, Lou. There's no such thing as too much."
For all the celebrations and fanfare that surrounded their birthday, the final farewell to their parents and siblings was decidedly more subtle and low-key. The Hunter Triplets and their family exchanged their goodbyes alone in a docking bay that Mal had ordered be clear earlier in the day. He didn't want any interruptions while he and his family saw his older children off. There were hugs, tears, promises and a little bit of laughter.
"Take care of my pups, Zaeed." Mal quietly demanded as he and the old merc stood near his ship and observed the emotional partings.
"They'll either make it or they won't." Zaeed warned him. "Just like you did." he added gruffly. "I wouldn't worry though. They've got you for a father, don't they?" Mal grew quiet for a few minutes before taking a deep breath and finally giving his former mentor the nod to depart. "You squared away? Got your gear?" he barked, instantly getting his newest protégés' attention. "Good, let's go."
The scene reminded Mal of his own departure with the old man so long ago and without realizing it, he smiled a little as his oldest children boarded their ship.
"Our little wolves have left us." Tess sadly announced after they all observed the ship's takeoff.
"For now." Mal replied before gently lifting her chin. "But we've still got plenty of pups who haven't run off yet." he humorously added after turning to face their other children. "So, how about we have a few pancakes for lunch?" he asked in excitement.
"Yes!" Jordy eagerly shouted.
"No!" Nate and Ray both groaned.
"Daddy!" the twins whined.
Mal promptly ignored their responses before hoisting his wife into his arms and cheerfully strolling off while whistling. Sometimes it was good to be a king.
Later...
"Was it difficult parting with them?" Aria curiously inquired while sitting with her former student at a large, circular table within the confines of a secret meeting room on Omega.
"Yeah, it was. Don't tell me you actually have sympathy for me." Mal calmly responded.
"I do but more importantly I have a vested interest in whoever takes your place. I think you understand why." she casually informed him.
"I love it when you get all sentimental, Aria." Mal quipped. A few moments later they were joined by three more mysterious figures who entered the room and promptly took seats at the table. "Ladies, gentlemen. I think we have business to discuss." he announced while leaning back in his chair. It was time to lay out a few plans.