This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot.

The original was posted on /r/hfy by /u/psycocod21 on 2024-10-28 16:10:22+00:00.

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Silence reigned in the cabin. Well… silence punctuated by ragged deep breaths. Marvin recognized the rhythm of the breathing as the one his son used to calm himself and regain control of his emotions. A quick glance confirmed that Josh’s eyes were closed, and his palms were up with his fingers outstretched and periodically spasming. Marvin recognized it as the calming routine that he had taught his son. And he didn’t blame him. He certainly deserved the vitriol filled diatrabe that Josh had let loose. What type of father tells his son that his mom had died and perpetuates that story for 11 years?

He sighed. What kind of man was he indeed. He was the kind of man who had tried to do his best. When Vizier Azeal died, Josh had become safe… well, safe-ish. Marvin and Mar’ia had discussed at length the options. They could return home… to Mar’ia’s home, (Marvin had been born on Earth) and facilitate their son’s ascendency to the Imperial Throne. Or… Mar’ia could return home and claim the throne and spend years fighting back chauvenistic cultural traditions that insisted the throne could only be held by males. But this meant that Josh and Marvin would always be targets for kidnapping, as one political rival or another would attempt to control the throne. So, the safest course of action was for Josh and Marvin to remain in hiding.

So they had faked an illness. And he told Josh that his mom had died and she left. His grief had been real. He hadn’t needed to fake his despair and sadness. Because to ensure his son’s safety, they needed to have zero contact. So for 11 years, he had externally played the part of a widower. But internally, Marvin knew he was married and maintained the vows he made.

He heard muttering and turned his head to watch Josh and strained his hearing. It took a moment, but he realized that Josh was reciting The List just under his breath. Or rather, he was reciting a version of The List. The List had gone through several versions with its longest iteration happening during the early high school years. When Josh got his associates degree and started working full time, The List shortened to about 18 items. Well, it was 17 items and the joke at the end of The List.

But it hadn’t been a joke. It had actually been really important.

Josh’s eyes opened after he finished mumbling the joke. His eyes met Marvin’s.

“Dad… why did you not want me to tell a squirrel my name?”

Marvin took a breath.

“Because without getting their intention code first, there would be no way to identify which faction a Sen-Sec Courier drone would be from. Only the Imperial Drones would use authorization code Alpha Sigma 4. If some other faction’s Drone had found you and you told it your name, it could have immediately activated and killed you. Or knocked you out… or whatever it’s programming was.”

His son considered this and nodded. Marvin waited as he could see Josh was considering his words.

“I’m sorry… for screaming at you, dad. I’m sorry for losing my temper … it… was…”

“Totally called for.”

Marvin finished for his son. He smiled gently, and Josh matched it.

“Yeah… but. That doesn’t mean I needed to unload both barrels. I am sorry.”

“I know. But you don’t have any reason to be sorry. Your reaction is totally understandable. I lied to you for years. And hid important life defining information from you. I allowed us to be exiled from your mom for 11 years, and my only excuse was that I was doing it for your safety.”

Josh could see the pain in his dad’s eyes and realized that hiding this information from his son and being separate from…

“Wait. Is that why you never dated…”

Marvin shrugged.

“I knew I was still married even if no one else did.”

Josh could see the pain in his dads eyes, but anything else he was going to say died as alerts and notifications started going off on the ship’s controls. Marvin turned back around and checked the messages.

“We’re there.”

The viewscreens suddenly filled with a flotilla of gleaming craft hanging in space as their smaller craft angled towards them. The Squirrel spoke for the first time since Mavin had placed it in the control port.

“Recieving communication cast from flagship Royal Paw. It’s from the Empress.”

Father and son both took a deep breath.

“Open our communication cast.”

The main viewscreen flared to life. It showed a large bridge. Several people were seated at controls and could be seen at the fringes of the cast. But the view was dominated by two figures, a tall woman dressed in a shapely but not ostentatious dress. She had a large amount of deep red hair flowing around her. To her side stood a younger image of her. Clearly, her daughter, she came up to the elder’s hip. She also had bright red hair and clutched what looked like a stuffed squirrel in her arms. Father and son felt their mouths drop open as the explanation exploded in their brains. The Empress spoke. Her voice filled with emotion.

“Welcome home, Grey Paw, and my son. Husband, may I introduce the princess Esh’tar… your daughter.”

The young girl spoke up shyly.

“Hi Dad”.