Planet of Sol,
Ashford underground base.
A million miles away from the Azran planet
Omen had been couped up at Ashford's secret hideout with his siblings for weeks. Thanks to his family's wealth and power, their safety was guaranteed. Fortunately, he had seen only his father so far. No mother that acts like he didn't exist, no Bram to be compared with.
Though Amelia was still paranoid and the twins were skeptical, he hoped that this little peace would last until he figured out this whole situation.
His father hasn't said a word since they came back. The man was super busy and unbothered about the crisis the entire galaxy is facing.
Omen stepped into the office, where his father was busy with documents, his face cold.
Omen had to admit, Bram took every resemblance and character from their father, but only took their mother's ruthless and Machiavellian tendencies.
The man behind the huge glass work desk was deeply absurd into work. He didn't look up for once at Omen, who quietly stood by the door.
"What's the emperor doing about what's going on?' Omen swallowed thickly, hoping his father would answer. He wrapped his arms tightly around himself for warmth.
There was no response. Omen was embarrassed, yet he stayed.
"The empire is under a lockdown,' Gavriil suddenly stated, his eyes still on a document. "The protective shield was activated immediately they sensed the crisis.
Gavriil looked up at him, his whiteish pupils resembling Bram so much. Even his black silk hair looks so much alike that Omen felt that old inferior feeling again. He fights the urge to look anywhere other than his father's face. He felt so intimidated.
"Your mother went for an audience with the emperor,' Gavriil sighed as he stood up. His huge frame threatened Omen, who stood wide-eyed and sweating.
"I'll need you and the rest to lay low and stay out of trouble,' Gavriil walked to the self.
"Is there anything I can do to help?,' Omen sighed helplessly. "With the impending war against the Crokun, I know there is a lot to prepare for.
Gavriil turned to face him. He couldn't help but wonder what this weak child of his could help him with.
He can't fight; his powers are pathetic. He's both impulsive and closed-minded. Eager to please anyone to survive.
"For now, we lay low,' Gavriil gave an indifferent response.
"How about the others? The unified Federation might do something about this, right?'
"Bram is part of the organization, so I guarantee a solution on the way,' Gavriil smiled faintly as he thought of his most beloved son. A successful specimen that was ever created in all his experiments.
Omen felt overwhelmed when he heard the name that made his gut twitch. It seems that Bram still affected him even when absent.
"However, knowing what Bram is capable of, I doubt the galaxies will get it so easy. With Bram's nature, everyone will grovel at his feet to get a drop.
Gavriil smirked as he imagined Bram's stoic face.
Omen was not okay with the statements his father made. It gave him goosebumps that his father found it funny. The living were turning into Crokuns, yet no one is doing shit to put a stop to it.
"You and mother always let him have his way; now the whole galaxy will suffer in his hands,' Omen exclaimed bitterly. He didn't know if he was feeling jealousy since Bram was more favored than him and the rest, or if he was trying to blame his parents for making Bram the way he is.
He doesn't know, yet hot tears slip down to his cheeks.
He looked up at his father, only to see an unimpressed expression looking down on him. He felt pathetic talking and crying like a child. His father must be wondering how he became his child.
He had always maintained a strong neutral mindset whenever Bram was mentioned. However, it seems he is still a narrow-minded fool seeking approval from his parents, who see nothing but trash whenever they look at him.
"I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…
"You all were different from Bram,' Gavriil sighed. He watched his second son sniff and huff over something unreasonable. Maybe, just maybe…
"You all have more emotions than Bram,' Gavriil turned back to the shelf filled with high-quality books.
"Your mother carried you all in her womb; whatever she felt, you all could feel it too,' Gavriil stated nonchalantly. "She loved you all in her own way. But you all had been nothing but disappointments. With such a personality, the Ashford lineage and years of achievement will go extinct.
"First, you, eldest brother, you and the rest were never on the successor's register. Bram shouldn't have existed if you all had a sense of responsibility.
Omen breath hitched. He was in total shock.
"But..
"Your mother suggested to make Bram,' Gavriil interrupted swiftly. "However, through a machine that can carry two DNAs at a time to make a perfect being. Bram was uniquely born to us, so much so that your mother became overly obsessed with him. Well, what can I say, whatever my wife wants she gets.
"You don't need to get your hopes up, your mother is long gone with her obsession. And I see you all equally as my offspring. I neither hate nor love you, Omen. But I do appreciate a once-in-a-lifetime prodigy; a hundred percent of the whole galaxy population can never remake a specimen like Bram.
Omen was speechless. He didn't know what to think or what to say.
What can he say? He wasn't even an Ashford anymore after severing ties with his parents; he was no longer a heir candidate. Even if his father managed to take them in, their mother would practically kill them on sight.
Omen watched his father get busy once again, ignoring his existence. He really hoped things wouldn't turn out for the worse.
.........…
The planet of Vita,
The Unified Federation base
Tan watched as the guards pushed a plate of mash potato into the cell of the test subjects. Bram has just arrived, and soon the experiments will commence. He had to make sure none of the test subjects were damaged during transportation.
"Hey!
A hoarse voice came from the cell. The loud red-haired man had been trying to call for his attention from the time he was captured. But as usual, Tan ignored him; he was going to die on the cold experiment table anyway. They all do. He was used to it, and it never gets old.
"Hey, I'm talking to you,' Vist yelled, full of energy. "You can't lock us up in here. We are the citizens of one of the prestigious planets in the galaxy. You will regret this.
'They will regret nothing,' Carl thought weakly. 'Nobody even knows we are here. Nobody cares.
"Let's cut to the chase, a cold, monotonous voice echoed in the cell hall. Bram walked up to a table filled with all sorts of chemicals and equipment for slicing a body into pieces.
"Which one of you is a healer?'