The Thanksgiving weekend soon came to an end. And with it, Daisy and Carter’s leave time. But before they returned to planet Hachikō, there were still numerous preparations they needed to complete. Carter went to Liberty City, beginning without her, wanting Daisy to spend more time with her family. But, in truth, there was a second reason. He needed alone time from everyone, including Daisy. He needed to get lost in his work. The holiday failed to take his mind off of Clive’s uncertain fate.

  Carter entered his and Daisy's apartment, carrying their suitcases. As he rested them in a corner, he went to the kitchen. Once there, he opened the refrigerator.”Time to work!” Taking out a beer as he headed to the living room.

  Carter dropped onto the couch, opened the beer, taking a drink. He took out the holophone panel in his pocket as he was relaxed. And he began scrolling through its files, reading the information. The files were confidential data on the latest developments in the war. He and Daisy would need to memorize it all before the next meeting. But, for now, he would consume it and give her the summary when she returned.

  However, as he began getting lost in his work, the sound of the door opening drew his attention. At first, he thought Daisy had returned but quickly dismissed it. They had agreed to reunite in two days, and she would have called if plans changed. Nor would it likely have been the other women because they were supposed to come with Daisy. And with those possibilities ruled out, his combat instincts were active. Whether the enemy was a common thief or a Nemesis intruder, Carter refused to take any chances. He hurried to the suite cases, removing his sword, and went to the door.

  “You picked a bad day to break into my home!”

  Carter ran towards the door at blistering speed, his sword pulsing red. Depending on who the intruder was, he was ready to kill. But as he arrived at the door in the blink of an eye with his sword overhead, ready to slay any opponent, he looked at their terrified faces in shock. It was his mother, Elaine, and younger sister, Missy, as she carried his newborn nephew, Shoto!

  “Mom, Missy?” Carter rested his sword on the floor. ”Why didn’t you call? I could have killed you!”

  “Well, why are you willing to kill someone with a sword?” Missy panted.

  “Why do you think, Sis? There’s a war going on!” Carter shouted.

  “Enough!” Elaine said.

  “Just tell me why you’re here!”

  “Why else, son? We want to know about Clive!”

  As Carter heard Elaine, a frown grew across his face. He grabbed his sword from the floor and walked to the living room.”Come on!” Leading them forward. Again, his plan for getting his mind off Clive failed. Now, for the sake of his mother and Missy, he had to face the hard truth head-on! That he genuinely didn’t know if Clive would live or die!

  The family soon arrived in the living room, taking seats on the couch and other chairs. Carter looked toward Missy, gazing at his sleeping nephew in her arms. He didn’t know how his sister and mother would react to his information. In many ways, not knowing was worse than having Clive confirmed dead! At least, in such a case, they could begin the grieving process. However, not knowing could keep them up at night, filling their minds with the most outrageous assumptions. But perhaps he could soften the blow first by discussing something more joyful.

  “So that’s the kid, sis?” Carter forced a smile.

  “Yes!” Missy leaned forward, presenting her son to Carter.”Say hello to Shoto Ashido!”

  “Sorry. I couldn’t be there when you pushed the kid out!”

  “Well, like you said! There’s a war going on!”

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Where’s your hubby?”

  “Oh, Enji’s-“

  “Carter!” Elaine interrupted.

  “Yes, mom?”

  “You’re stalling!”

  Carter groaned.”I could never get anything past you, Mom!”

  “Just be honest with us!” Elaine took a deep breath. “Is Clive dead?”

  “I don’t know!” Carter placed his hand over his face. “But if I had to guess, I would say he’s still alive!”

  “Why?”

  “He’s my lieutenant! He has enough valuable information on our operations for them to keep him alive long enough to interrogate it out of him!”

  “Interrogate? You mean torture,” Missy said.

  Carter nodded yes.

  “When is the rescue party?”

  “Sis, we don’t even know where they are! And trying to rescue them could cost us big!” Carter removed his hand. “We need soldiers, weapons, money!”

  “So there’s no hope?”

  Carter bent his head backward on the chair, thinking over what to say to Missy. He debated whether it was worse to inflict false hope or true despair. If Clive were confirmed dead, it would destroy her with sorrow only surpassed by his. Even though he wasn’t blood, Clive was their brother!

  Carter still remembered the day when he joined their family. It was years ago when he was seven. Liberty City was still his home, but his and his family’s economic status was night and day different. The Barnes family, like many, had fallen on rough luck, having to take up cheap residence in a bad neighborhood, Hood Heights.

  It was after school had concluded. Carter went to walk alone as the parents and guardians came for the children. His parents and teachers told him repeatedly to stay put until his father, Wallace, could come. But he ventured off anyway, believing he was too strong to get hurt. In many ways, Carter was right. He had a talent for combat beyond his years, which made him a formidable opponent. However, as he went down the neighborhood, he soon met the first true challenge to his strength, Clive.

  Clive jumped out of a dumpster with a knife.”Give me your money!”

  “Get out of my way, loser!”

  “I said give me your m-“

  Carter punched Clive in the face, sending him tumbling into garbage cans. Clive quickly got up, resting his knife on the ground. He could have used it to help him rob Carter, but he saw Carter’s punch as a challenge. He, like Carter, assumed he was too strong to get hurt. It was the first time Clive had met a rival!

  Clive hastily rushed toward Carter for the attack. Carter again readied a punch, using little effort. But as he shot it at Clive. ”What?” He caught it, hitting Carter in the face with one of his own, knocking him away.

  As Carter jumped back to his feet, enraged, he clutched his throbbing head. He looked at his hand, seeing drops of his blood in shock. Never before was Carter hurt like this. Never before did he have to render effort in defending himself. And, like Clive, he saw it as a challenge!

  The two young boys swiftly engaged in a contest of fists. They hit each other repeatedly in the body and head to see who would yield first. The fight lasted hours, with both combatants having seemingly equal strength. But finally, Carter was victorious, punching Clive down for the count.

  “I won!” Carter dropped down, exhausted.

  “I’ll get you next time!”

  “Anytime, anywhere…what’s your name again?”

  “Clive, Clive Rogers!”

  “My name is Carter!”

  “Whatever, get out of here!” Clive found the strength to stand, walking away from Carter.

  “Sure! Go cry to your mommy about how you lost,” Carter said mockingly.

  “I wouldn’t do that even if I had one!”

  Carter looked at Clive in shock.”Your Daddy?”

  “I don’t have a mom or dad, stupid!”

  “Why?”

  Clive stopped walking, turning to face Carter with a depressed expression.

  “I don’t know! They just dropped me off at the dump one day!”

  “A mommy and daddy would do that?”

  Clive nodded yes with tears in his eyes.

  “Want to come to my place?”

  “For what?”

  “I-I guess I just want to help! I can’t imagine not having my mommy or daddy!”

  Clive puffed his cheeks.”I don’t want a pity party!”

  “Hey, stupid! You want to eat out of the garbage?”

  “I-“

  Wallace ran down the street, spotting Carter, hurrying over to him.

  ”There you are, young man!”

  “Daddy!”

  “How many times have we told you not to wander off?”

  “I’m sorry!”

  Wallace took Carter up.”Unfortunately for you, you’re getting punished this time!”

  “But can my friend Clive come with us? He doesn’t have a mommy or daddy!” Carter pointed to Clive.

  Wallace followed Carter’s direction, finding Clive.”What?” Seeing that the boy, no older than his children, was in tattered clothes and covered in cuts. He realized there had to be some truth to what Carter was saying. And immediately, the sight ignited his compassion.

  “Why don’t you come with us, son?”

  “I don’t even know you!”

  “I promise we won’t bite!”

  “Please, Clive!”

  “Well, since you want to so bad!” Clive deflated his cheeks, exhaling, embarrassed.

  Wallace accepting Clive into their family was a cornerstone of Carter's identity. Like any father, his actions shaped the boy’s perception of manhood. Wallace had so little but was still prepared to give. However, as Carter recalled his past, shivers ran down his spine. Wallace would later do something that would haunt his son to adulthood and threaten the galaxy.