Book II: Brinus Helios - From Criminal to Hero

Brinus packed his bags next to the dresser as Simmie laid on the bed in his pajamas with his ankles crossed. He shivered and teeth chattered because Brinus had the AC at full blast. The bedroom was quiet, with only Simmie and Brinus in it.

"You know, you could use your trust fund." Said Simmie.

"No. I wonna buy that there shuttle myself."

"Why do you want a junker? You could buy anything."

Brinus smiled and laughed. "Cuz it would be cool! I could go to my launchpad on the weekends and tinker with that there ship."

Simmie laid on his stomach on the bed. "Still. You can pay with your trust fund for a proper ship. Why don't you?"

Simmie came off of the bed and kissed Brinus on the neck, wrapping his arms around his waist.

Brinus began packing his pajamas. He said, "Ya' know Simmie, I'll miss ya'."

"I will too, but it's only for a semester."

Brinus resumed folding his shirts after packing PJs and then said, "I refuse to use my trust fund money. My other bank account is something I worked for and earned."

Simmie put his hands on Brinus's front side and began unbuckling his belt.

Brinus pushed him off and snapped, "Sweetie, I'll miss my shuttle if I don't finish packing. We can have all the fun you want when I get back."

"I'm gonna go smoke. See you later." Simmie slapped Brinus on the ass and left with his vape pen in his hand.

Brinus shook his head and laughed to himself. I wished Simmie would quit smoking. But I know why he can't. Simmie's one of the few people I really care 'bout, Brinus thought as he packed more gym shorts into the suitcase. I barely quit myself and I still can hardly stay clean.

I'm so nervous about this here training' program after I failed in the student war games. He saw Simmie's back up vape on the side table and swallowed like he wanted to take hit. So, the way this here course works is that the best from each officer's training school from all over the academy system attended. I ain't got the temperament for the student war games. They said prolonged combat was too stressful for me. Medical did not clear him for the war games because of psychological reasons. Brinus sighed in disgust. I'm a fuckin' coward — just a dirty, rotten coward who can't be relied on in battle.

Brinus finished packing and then put on his wedding ring. He walked out with his luggage behind him.

Four days later he arrived at the admiralty. A receptionist checked people in as he waited. Brinus noticed the Space Fleet Navy Office Barracks lobby had a game room with various consoles and a gym. The room itself had simple wooden furniture and painted drywalls. The floors were Stained Oak Wood native to Saffron. It was a darker stain but also cheaper and didn't have the fine grains that earth oaks had.

The room was smokey and smelled like cigarettes, but the smell came from the smoking room in the back. The chandelier's light shined beams of light through the smoke like rays of sunshine through the clouds.

"Next officer!"

Brinus came up to the reception desk.

"Name, rank, and starship, sir," snapped the receptionist.

"Midshipman Brinus Helios of the Starship Victory."

"Can I see your military ID, sir?"

Brinus produced his wrist, and she scanned his microchip.

"Revelry is at 0600 hours, breakfast is at 0700 hours, and curfew is at 2400 hours. Saffron is on a 36-hour clock. Do you want a smoking room or a nonsmoking room, sir?"

"Nonsmoking."

"Also, before you go to your room, you will need to check your weapon into the armory, sir." She pointed at Brinus's wand in his back pocket.

The receptionist looked at her computer terminal. "It looks like room 666 is available. Otherwise, all the rooms we have are smoking rooms, sir."

Brinus groaned. The thought of climbing six flights of stairs with his luggage did not appeal to him, so he took the elevator after checking in his wand with the armory.

After checking in and getting his room card, Brinus came onto the elevator. It stopped on floor two when someone came on with a cigarette in his mouth. Brinus rolled his eyes and sighed. He pressed the button three and got off on the next floor. He then went up the stairs to his room. He was in the men's barracks, and someone was in the top bunk reading a notepad.

The room had a wooden bunk bed, an A/C unit, a desk with an office chair, a computer terminal, and a window.

Brinus's triquarter buzzed, and it was his mother. He answered, "What do you want?"

"Why are you staying at the Navy barracks? HOW DARE YOU?!"

"Do you have anything meaningful to say to me? Otherwise fuck off." Brinus hung up his TriQuarter and muted her for 24-hours.

A text message appeared on his phone from an anonymous number: You will pay for this!

Brinus: Text me again and I'll block your sorry ass!

His bunkmate put his pad down. "Girl trouble?"

"Just family drama. What's your name?"

"Castillion. We both have class tomorrow. What's your name?"

"Brinus."

Castillion was a tall man with pinkish pale skin, brown hair, and brown eyes. He was physically fit and a midshipman like Brinus.

"Oh, you took out Redback Ladder last month in that huge fight. That third round was amazing."

Brinus smiled and then asked, "What'ch ya readin'?"

"Humpdale Godfry's Commentaries on the Conquest of Mouse Utopia Worlds."

"Who wrote it?"

"It's a collection of daily logs from army troopers on worlds with perfect societies after they collapse. I see you have a wedding ring on. Are you married?"

"My husband's name is Simmie."

Castillion put down his book, and his eyes got wide with excitement. "I never met a homosexual before! How do you have kids?!"

Brinus rolled his eyes and sighed. Every week, someone asked this question when they found out he was married to a man. Homosexuality was uncommon in the Confederation, but it didn't make the intrusion into this privacy any less annoying.

He smiled and looked Castillion in the eyes with dilated pupils. His smile didn't quite go up to his eyes. "Most gay couples have to adopt. The adoption process is a lot harder for people like me and my husband. But for me and Simmie, it would be impossible 'cause I am servin' a criminal sentence in the Navy and have dozens of felonies on my records."

"Do you want kids?"

Is this here guy fucking serious? Brinus said in a calm and even voice, "No, me and Simmie can't have kids 'cause I'm a convicted felon in the custody of the Navy. Convicted felons ain't allowed to adopt children."

"Aren't you like the son of a duke? Couldn't you just have your mother pull a few strings?"

"I don't want no kids. I already got a family."

He swallowed and then went back to his book. Brinus pulled out a pill bottle and took some of his medicine. I just want to smoke, but at least I got this here medicine.

Just as Brinus began unpacking, everyone's phone made the emergency alert tone, much to the annoyance of Brinus and Castillion.

Brinus silenced his phone. And Castillion groaned, "A fucking amber alert. Probably some custody dispute on the other side of the planet."

"Why do they even issue those? They're really vague and ain't very helpful. Do you wonna go to the cafeteria? I think it's lunchtime."

Brinus looked at his itinerary. "They serve lunch in 12 hours. Breakfast ended 4 hours ago. If you're hungry, they got vendin' machines down the hall."

"Nah, I'm good."

Brinus popped a piece of chewing gum and stripped down to his gym shorts. He then jacked up the AC because he was hot and lay on the bed.

Marci was on the camera — tears streamed down her face — in front of the news crews at a press conference. She said with her hands buried in her face, hysterically crying, "…m-m-my son is in the hands of murderers and k-k-kidnappers…" She put her hands in her face and sobbed loudly for a moment to elicit sympathy. "I don't know where he is. Please bring him back! I love him! He is my only son! Please!! Please!! I will offer two million credits for information relating to his release!!"

Marci fell to the ground, crying hysterically. Four police officers came and picked her up, forcing her off the stage. As soon as she was alone, she smirked and dried her eyes. That went perfectly. She thought. Her lady's maid came up behind her and began applying fresh cosmetics in the makeup room.

"You're gonna get in trouble for this. When they realize you filed a false report and then issued the fake amber alerts. You're going to lose your office."

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

"Shut up and do my makeup. I don't pay you to think."

"You don't pay me at all anymore! I fucking quit!" she threw Marci's makeup brush at her.

The lady's maid walked out of the room and slammed the door.

Marci slammed her hand into her mirror and screamed. After a moment, she calmed down. First, my son defies me, and now my servant disobeys orders. Fuck them all!

She put the makeup on herself and left. She needed to go on a sympathy tour.

Brinus was gaming on his handheld Game Boy. It was basically a modern Earth gaming PC in his hand. His bunkmate continued to read. A second amber alert was issued and this time it flashed across his game just before he could kill the boss, causing him to die.

Brinus read it. "What the fuck? Why's there an Amber Alert 'bout me?"

"Don't be paranoid. No one is issuing amber alerts about you."

Brinus pulled it up on his Game Boy and began reading. "A 22-year-old blond-haired, blue-eyed man who is six feet four with an athletic build, last seen at the spaceport in a military uniform consistent with a midshipman."

Castillio's eyes widened. "Bro, you need to call the police."

Brinus said with a slight smile on his face. "I spent all day tryin' to get past this here boss, and now my mother's issuin' fake amber alerts? Hell naw. Let the bitch burn."

"This is between you and her. Do you wanna go to a bar? I have a couple of friends who might enjoy you."

"Sure. Let me get ready."

Brinus was in his uniform with hair groomed and teeth brushed within 15 minutes. His bunkmate and he walked into the lobby to find 5 young men and two young women there.

Immediately when he saw Brinus and recognized him from the fighting circle, one of the young men cussed and said, "I refused to drink with criminals."

"He's cool, trust me."

"Again, I don't drink with felons." The young man walked out of the lobby.

The entire lobby was so tense that a knife could cut through it.

Finally, Brinus mumbled, looking at his feet, trying to break the tension. "I'm gonna check out my wand and then we'll go."

Brinus headed for the armory. The receptionist handed him his wand, and Brinus signed it out. The gaggle of friends waited for him, which Brinus did not expect. They talked amongst themselves.

"So it is true you're in a relationship with a man?" asked one of the women as Brinus put his wand in his back pocket.

"I've been married to my husband fer two years."

One of the two ladies frowned and then said, "I thought the syndicates discriminated against LGBT?"

Brinus put his hands on his hips and snapped in a tone that ended the conversation, "So am I going with you or not?"

"Sure. Why not? You're fascinating and seem like you're having a bad day." Said castillio, the group leader.

"You saw the Amber Alert?" asked Brinus.

One of the boys shrugged. "The police issued another one a few minutes ago, just as we were getting down here."

Brinus rolled his eyes and sighed in disgust. "Whatever. Can we just change the subject?"

Brinus was at a pool table with one of the female members of the group. The bar overall was smokey, with about a dozen servicemen of various ranks enjoying drinks with friends. It was mostly quiet with low chatter and everyone except for the group Brinus was with smoked. The smokey ambience, complemented by a crewman first class playing saffron jazz on the public grand piano. The pool hall on the side end of the end bar had three brand new pool tables and a cigarette vending machine on the other side of the room.

"What's the syndicate like?" asked the midshipwoman with the name Georgia on her nametag.

Brinus hit the scratch ball, which then hit the eight ball, knocking it into the corner pocket. "It was tough. I was on edge all the time 'cause they didn't tolerate mistakes. It wasn't a good place to be," He stated in a tone that didn't invite further conversation.

Georgia said nothing. She was quiet as she hit a striped ball and knocked three stripes into two different pockets. She was short but physically fit at 122 pounds. She had tanned skin and straight brown hair with gray eyes. To Brinus, she looked like a never-smoker because of how smooth her skin was. If Brinus was attracted to women, she would find her irresistible.

The rest of the night, no one discussed the syndicate. Finally, after an hour, four of the group mates went for smokes, and Brinus took his meds again to deal with the cravings.

Brinus looked at the group. "Anyone want drinks?"

"Do you think you should be drinking alcohol? Teddy has already had five ciders. What medication did you take?" asked one of the group mates.

"The meds are to help with nicotine cravings and my mood. Yes, I can drink one or two glasses of alcohol."

Georgia snapped narrowing her eyes and putting her hands on her hips, "I think cigarettes should be illegal. They are a disgusting habit." She looked around the room at the smokers enjoying their drinks.

Brinus ordered hard cider and then cleared his throat, "I don't think they should be illegal because that is how you get black markets. But they do need to be restricted. I don't think three-year-olds should be able to walk into a store and buy a carton of cigarettes."

"You would know," sneered Georgia in a mocking tone, slapping Brinus on the shoulder.

"The Orin Syndicate is more into legal crime," said one of the group mates

Everyone laughed, and Brinus smiled.

Brinus's phone buzzed.

Muted Number: You need to get home right now or worse, things will happen.

Brinus blocked the number as his hard cider arrived. When he went to pay, his phone was locked out. He looked at Castillion. "I need your TriQuarter."

"Why?"

Brinus rolled his eyes, crossed his arms in front of his chest. "My mom locked me out of my phone."

Everyone glared at Brinus with an awkward half smile of contempt.

"Family drama."

Georgia handed Brinus her phone. "I won't ask questions."

Brinus opened up the phone and wrote a script to jailbreak his phone. It took ten minutes, and then he attached a USB cable to her TriQuarter and in seconds he was in. He found the file Marci used and deleted it.

He unblocked her number and then sent her the text on his phone number: I am cutting you out of my life. Go fuck yourself.

Marci: I am cutting access to your trust fund

Brinus: sends ten laughing emojis and then blocks her while she is typing.

Brinus paid for his cider as everyone looked at him. "What?"

One of the guys in the group asked, "Isn't she your mother?"

Brinus's cider arrived, and he clapped his hands together and yelled, "My drink arrived! What are y'all's thoughts on the new Navy recruitment standards?"

Brinus spent a pleasant evening with his new friends and they came back to the barracks at around 23:30 hours.

The emperor ate breakfast at around 5:30 am. The breakfast room looked like Buckingham Palace but with gold-plated furniture, mirror-paneled walls, and stunning artwork. He reached for his newspaper and saw the front page. He looked at his wife, the empress, who ate duck eggs and toast.

"Why does it say Brinus was kidnapped? He is at the Admiralty, about to attend an internship."

"The police know that as well. He was spotted last night on camera at a bar with a group of midshipmen. I believe they were laughing and joking most of the night."

The emperor looked at his wife. "That doesn't sound like any kind of kidnapping to me. So let me get this straight, the three amber alerts, the press conference, the magi report, the police search—all of it was fake?"

The empress nodded. "I believe the police are now opening a criminal investigation against Marci. In fact, on your docket is a request to remove her diplomatic immunity so they can formally charge her at the conclusion of the investigation."

"I will do that first thing. Also, I will need my press agent to prepare a statement disavowing her actions and condemning them. What about Brinus? Is he involved?"

"Based on the text messages and data the police retrieved, Brinus is the clear victim of this crime."

"I will have him prepare a statement as well. Why don't we hire our usual gal for scandals to help him? It will be on me. I want to see him after revelry. Also, we'd better call Saul Redman and get the ball rolling on the management of the Marci Estate. She has gone too far this time."

As the sun rose, six trumpet players began blasting the confederation national anthem up and down the halls of the barracks. During this process, Marci, while at a coffee shop, noticed six cop cars and an unmarked police car pull up in front.

Five cops, two detectives, and a magi agent came into the shop and surrounded Marci, with the agent stepping forward.

"Marchella Von Blankenship?"

Marci stood. "What? Did you find my son?"

"You are under arrest for filing a false magi report, misuse of emergency services, filing false amber alerts, gross negligence, and abuse of public office."

Two cops stood and forced her to turn around as she screamed that she was innocent. Nearly everyone in the coffee shop had their phones out and were recording.

The magi officer continued after they forced her into cuffs: "You are not obligated to say anything. However, it may harm your defense if you do not mention, when questioned, something you later rely on in court. Everything you do say will be taken down in writing and used against you in court. Do you understand?"

"I AM INNOCENT! I DID NOTHING WRONG! IT WAS FOR MY SON!"

The magi waved her wrist as Marci was taken to the back of a police car.

The lady's maid was in the unemployment office filling out job applications for lady's maid positions when six cop cars pulled up. Five police officers came into the room with one detective.

They surrounded her as everyone pulled out their phones and began recording.

"Gloria Truelove?" asked the detective.

She nodded.

"You are under arrest for being associated with a conspiracy to defraud the public, a conspiracy to misuse emergency services, accessory after the fact, and gross negligence."

She was put into handcuffs as she screamed and fought the cops. They ultimately had to taze her and gas her to force Gloria into the car.

Brinus ate breakfast with his new classmates in the officer's barracks. Six men and two women in suits and ties came into the room. They spotted Brinus and walked over to the table.

"Brinus Helios?" asked the leader.

"Yes, sir?"

"You are ordered by the Emperor to come to the palace." The lead officer showed his royal guard's badge.

"Do I have a choice?"

"No midshipman, you do not. The emperor commands your presence."

Brinus put his fork down. "Let's get this over with."

Brinus came up from his seat, and he noticed most of the mess hall recorded the interaction.

Brinus arrived at the palace with over 200 streamers and newscasters waiting for him. The Royal Guards came out of the SUVs first and then formed a human shield around Brinus. Opening the door, they forced him to bend down with two more guards hiding his body. They pushed their way through the crowd and opened the gate which was loud and chaotic. The media swarmed the body shield like wasps attacking a direct threat to their nest. More royal guards came out in riot gear. They formed a line with their shields and shock sticks in perfect lockstep and formed a tortoise formation around Brinus.

Over the intercom, the lead officer said, "Media! Disperse or be arrested for trespassing on government property! This is your only warning!"

The media stepped back in front of the gate, and the riot police sergeant locked it.

They quickly ran Brinus into the palace, where he collapsed and went into hiding under a bench, shaking in fear, curled in a balance

"Is he okay?" asked one of the royal guards.

"Give him a few minutes. Tell the Emperor he needs to decompress."

"Yes, sir!"

The emperor came into the lobby a few minutes later to see Brinus sitting on the bench, covered in sweat. "What was all that noise about? Why is Midshipman Woodstack freaking out?"

Two royal guards came to Brinus, giving him a whisky. One of them addressed the emperor. "Sorry, your majesty. The media were waiting outside and swarmed us, and we had to call the riot police. We're trying to calm him down now because the incident triggered his PTSD."

"I want him in my office in an hour. That's an order!"

"Yes, your majesty."

Twenty Minutes later, Brinus walked into the emperor's office. It looked like something from 18th-century Europe with marble floors, mirror-paneled walls with eight block marble paneling, high crystal windows, and gemstones embedded in the crown modeling of the marble columns. The room shone with the opulence befitting the royal family. There was also no smell of cigarette smoke anywhere in the palace.

Brinus sat in the brass-plated, neo-imperial chair in front of an epoxy, tree wood desk with gold melted into the wood--- African Black Acacia wood, which was the rarest wood in the galaxy. Dressed in a suit and tie and had custom made barefoot dress shoes on his feet.

"Sorry about the chaos. Here at the Royal Palace, we want to maintain professionalism and order. The media is being dealt with now. I had my lawyer draw up documents to transfer ownership of the estate to you. However, because of your felony status, we are going to put a custodian over your estate. Also, I am hiring the best PR person in Saffron to deal with your scandal. It is on me. You are the clear victim of this whole mess. Do you want a drink?"

"No, Your Majesty, I have had two whiskeys already."

"Right. Your medication."

Brinus saw from the second-story window the streamers and newscasters being arrested and put into prison vans by over four hundred policemen.

After a moment of silence, the emperor asked, "What will happen to the duchess?"

Brinus looked the emperor in the eyes and sighed, "Well, in prison, you're a nobody. I don't think she'll last two weeks before she gets cut."

"I am sure you know of her enhanced nicotine program. It has been a disaster for our medical system, and we don't know how to roll it back. Then there is the problem child, Smaul, with his repeated scandals. Then there is the recent shitshow with the amber alerts. If she dies, I won't shed a tear. I am making you the acting duke of District 12 and appointing one of my sergeants, Alfred, as your administrator until your serve your sentence."

"I wonna know. I ain't seen Smaul in the news lately. What happened to him?" asked Brinus, titling his head to the side and kicking his feet in front of him. Last time I saw him, he was homeless just before the war 'cause he was disinherited."

"Last I heard, he was in the army. I think me made corporal. He's doing well. Now, you need to get back to your unit. Good luck to you."

Brinus was escorted out of the palace and realized life was about to change.