He was Almost Absorbed by the System

Chapter Ninety Two - Capture

Author's note; Didn't end up with a time skip after all.

Aldon Krause might have only been in his seventies, still youthful as far as Imperials were concerned, but he looked like a man nearly twice his age.  The past four years had aged him.  Dealing with corrupted politics, the stability of his own reputation, the search with Jezmi for his boys and the never ending problems his sister sent his way was wearing him thin.  One such problem was sitting opposite him now.  Did Haellen think that just because he had shown little interest in the women she threw at him, he would be interested in a man instead?

Although he internally was scowling, his expression remained neutral and cold.  Haellen sat beside him, flirting with her husband and beside that man was the husband's younger brother and Aldon's latest suitor.  The dinner in between them looked unappetising.

It had taken Haellen no time to replace Jariden in her life, barely a year after the man had walked away from her, his sister was introducing him to a new beau.  They had married in grand splendour three years ago.  Her husband was on the board of several industries including Bodenstein Industries and Chang Enterprises. His younger brother, Dusktin had just finished university.  He was a small man with slightly feminine features, making Aldon wonder what happened to Haellen's schemes regarding his lack of heir.  Had she accepted that even if they were lost, the twins were his sons?

Aldon pushed aside his thoughts and listened to the boy speak about his degrees.  The conversation was very boring. 

His phone chimed in his pocket and he noted that it was Jezmi with her latest update.  She usually sent him a text once every two months, though they seldom said anything more interesting that "Nothing yet."  He glanced at the latest message, before losing his grip on the phone.

"The Sabine has been found.  On way to intercept."

Tears sprang in his eyes, causing silence at the table as they stared at the man who had retained his cold demeanour throughout the whole meal and now looked on the verge of breaking.  "Is everything alright?" The younger brother asked.

Aldon nodded.  "Please excuse me," he said, unable to regain his mask completely as his eyes were rimmed red and the corners of his lips were curved softly.  "I just received some good news."

"It must be amazing, then," the boy thought aloud, his heart racing and face flushed.  He had always thought that his sister-in-law's older brother was handsome, despite the coldness and slight weariness he usually expressed, but he positively glowed at that moment and even looked more youthful.  His black eyes had turned warm and his skin luminescent.

"Do share," Haellen pressed, eager to hear what had her brother so happy.  She was an overbearing woman, but she did want some form of happiness for the man, she just preferred that it was she that caused it.

Aldon's smile dropped and he turned away from her gaze.  His eyes lost the warmth and had the boy who worshipped him wondering why.  "It's nothing of importance," he said dismissively.

Haellen's features froze, her eyes slightly narrowed.  She was not stupid.  She knew what was going on between him and Jezmi.  She sipped her wine to cover her disapproval.  It seemed she needed to get involved herself and stop this senselessness.

A few seconds later, Aldon received another message; the border with the Alliance was under attack.

*****

The Imperial Space Fleet was made up of twenty regiments, but they were not all of the same size nor did they have the same levels of importance as far as the military were concerned. For example, there were two regiments assigned to protecting the borders and these were considered of greater import than those within the regiment 'borrowed' by V.I.P's as extra security measures. The regiment that protected the Imperial Palaces and Imperial family were considered more important than those who chased pirates.