A little education goes a long way

[Zapp]

The message was short:

Jarod, your brother went to jail and didnt come back.

Immediately Jarod took the first Junker ship he could back to Buffalo, not caring who saw him board it. A reporter who had met Jarod at the college took a picture, and then hired a Rhino to follow it at a distance. The CSV went straight to the old Ithaca station via trade lanes, and then set in for the trip to Buffalo. The Rhino wouldnt follow past Ithaca, but it was enough. There was no question where he was going now.

Once Jarod got onto the base, his father met him at the landing deck. All anger at Jarods defiance and his leaving home were forgotten as they shared grief over their brothers fate.

Son I just want you to know Im sorry. The words grated, but they came. I was stupid, and now I see how youve done for yourself. You make me proud, boy.

Jarod could barely contain the tears he knew were coming in all his life, he couldnt remember ever hearing that. His father hadnt been proud of a son that couldnt fly, he hadnt been proud of a son that had wanted knowledge rather than to pillage.

Weve learned some things since I sent the first message. Apparently Joe, his brothers name, fell in with the wrong crowd. The Xeno crowd.

Jarod gasped. Joe may not have been the smartest person, but he wasnt that dumb.

Lad, youve never been to jail, so you dont know, but when the Xenos go to jail to recruit, they send the most charismatic sons-of-bitches youve ever met. Hypnotize you just by talking. But this is no way to spend our first time together in years. Come, lets go get a drink. His father clasped him on the shoulder, and they went off to talk of old and new times.

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