Brotherhood Bar-Talks

[Othman]

Julio was hardly gulping the drink down and he barely realized the figure approaching him upon hearing some footsteps. This was Lucendez, and he seemed inclined to talk. Julio tried to sit up a bit, upon a brothers arrival because he was teached to always respect a brother and it was not for him to lay down on the ground as a helpless man. Yet, he still could not keep from judging himself whether giving himself to drink was right or not.

In the first attempt he failed to straighten up, he failed again in the second to do so and in the third he succeeded with the help of his brother nearby. They took chairs and sat down.

Julio began to talk, thanks to the slight relaxation rum had provided him with.

''Pedro was like a father to me, he really was. I lost my parents when I was 6 years old. I lost them againt the Hessian scum. We were listening to the tales of the Elders in that age, and it is not easy to recover from such an incident and grow up without parents. The only thing that was left behind them was my little sister Luciana and I had to earn a life to look after both myself and her. Thus, I began to work amongst the repair crew in Cadiz and served for 7 years there. My childhood passed with experiencing the harsh conditions our people faced in the remote systems. There were times that it was nearly impossible to talk to the centurion pilots more than once those who I repaired ships for just because they were either missing or dead. One can not know how bitter this feels.

My first encounter with Pedro was in Gamma, I was on the tail of an Outcast bastard. Yet, it had made me a bit worried of having inferior firepower when compared to the other vessel. After a while some brotherhood and coalition vessels showed up on my scanners, and Pedro was leading them. We destroyed the vessel together and I was congratulated by Pedro with the willingness I showed that day. He was such a polite and frank man. I did not hesitate for a second when he offered me to join the brotherhood.''

For a moment, words sticked to his throat. He went on though,

''Pedro was like my second father since I put him in my mind as he was so. He was so caring about me in my young age maybe because he knew I was grown up without parents. Every new day meant more wisdom for me to learn and experience. I just cant forget the days training against Pedro. I had a lot to learn from him, and now.. I still cant believe.. We lost him too early..''

Julio could not neither further talk nor drink, he had already passed the barrier of intense intoxication..

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On the uncharted lagoons of anguish, I sail with a canoe made of my sins.