Feb 7, 2350, Kepler system.

  Janise didn't even make it to work before she received a call that would change her life forever.

  "Sorry ma'am there is nothing we can do for your husband, and we are already searching for your son." The female officer said. Janise always thought the movies dramatized these situations, but now that she was in it, she didn't think so. The officer continued to speak, but it was muffled. All she could hear was the sound of her heart beating, everything else drowned out. She pressed the button on her watch phone to end the call. She didn't need to hear anything else the officer had to say anyway. Janise started to think, what was the last thing that she had told her son. "I hate you, why can you not just mind," Was the last thing Janise could remember telling her baby. Now he and Mark were gone for good. She was no fool, a missing child was never found out here. She fell down on the concrete and sobbed like never before. It hurt, god knows it hurt. She loved both of them so very much.

  "Janise get ahold of yourself," Bernise, Janise's sister told her.

  "Bernise they are gone," Janise managed to choke out between sobs. For her part, Bernise's stony expression softened.

  "Get in the car, I'll take you home sis," Bernise said as she helped Janise into her black sedan. "Did they say what happened, or who did it? Maybe if anyone saw anything."

  Janise shook her head. "No clues. Bernise the last thing that I told my baby is that I hated him. How Bernise, how do I live the rest of my life knowing my baby thought I hated him?" Janise yelled through her tears.

  "One day at a time sis, one day at a time. We will find him. If one of us goes before the other we will keep looking," Bernise said solemnly as her eyes were fixed on the road.

  "Bernise it hurts, it hurts so very bad," Janise said as snot ran down her nose.

  "That's how you know that you care. Just remember that pain Janise. Remember it well because that pain burning in your heart is how you will be reconnected with your baby one day. Whether in this life, or the next you will see him again." Bernise said as she stopped outside of the yellow caution tape. Cops with their dogs swarmed the house looking for clues as to what happened but fell short. Bernise looked at the house and couldn't find any signs of a break-in.

  "Ma'am I need you to get back." A cop yelled as Janise tried to hug her late husband. He may have been a drunk, but she drove him to it. He never wanted a kid, but she did, so he gave her a kid. It led to him having to work more hours at a dead-end factory job that he hated.

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  "Please officer, please just let me say goodbye to my husband. Let me have this closer," Janise pleaded as she held Mark's head, part of it missing. The officer gave her a nod and walked off. "I am so, so, sorry Mark. I wouldn't take Henry back for the world, but you deserved someone who didn't want kids either. I loved you every day. I will find our son, and the person who did this to you and make them pay," she said as she rubbed the half of his remaining face.

  "Janise let's go so the cops can do their jobs. You can stay at my place tonight," Bernise said as she put a hand on her sister's shoulder.

  Janise looked up at Bernise and gave her a nod. It's all she could manage. Bernise helped Janise up, lifting her up by the shoulder. Janise patted the grass and dirt off of her dress as the two walked back towards Bernise's car. The pain of losing them both would hurt for a long time, she knew that, but if Henry is out there, alone and scared, she would find him. She would spend every day for the rest of her life trying to find him, she had to.

  "Listen Janise, I am sorry about what is going on, the situation is fucked, but if you need any help just let your big sis know," Bernise said as she turned on the car and started to go forward.

  "I will, and thank you Bernise," Janise said as she sat back and watched the buildings go by as they passed.

  09 Oct 2359 Alpha, Alpha Centauri 0900

  Henry thought to himself about what to do. Sure, he had free time on the trips to and from Edin, but schooling and maintaining his armor took up most of his time.

  "R&R does mean to relax Henry. You deserve it," Albert said inside of Henry's mind.

  "I know, I just don't know how to relax," Henry replied as he wandered aimlessly around.

  "You could just go for a walk and enjoy the scenery," Albert said sarcastically.

  "Hardy har har," Henry said as he continued to walk, noticing a restaurant.

  "Albert, when will I have money? I want to try a restaurant," Henry asked his AI companion.

  "To put it frankly, I don't know," The AI said and paused for a moment, almost like he was running calculations. "I can let you use some of my funds," The AI said with his projected avatar pulling out a wallet. Albert pointed his pipe at the restaurant and said, "Don't just stand there, let's go."

  Henry walked into the restaurant and was immediately assaulted by the colors and music.

  "Welcome to Elvises 1950s throwback diner! what can I get started for you?" A blond woman with a black outfit and white apron asked.

  Henry ate something new that he never got to have while in training, He had a steak burger with fries and a vanilla milkshake. "Albert this was amazing," Henry said, causing others to look at him. He didn't pay them any attention. They are regular humans that he protects, nothing more. After the incident on the ship Henry accepted that he would never be treated the same, his fate was to always be the outsider. Henry was all alright with that, after all, the goal is to be as lethal as possible. He doesn't need people to like him to accomplish that goal.