CYTM12

=Chapter 12=
==Can you tell me where can we start over?==
Donegal, Lyran Commonwealth
Late 3048
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"I'm not going to make it, Pat."  Henry explained, He managed to keep his grades from being a complete failure-but only enough to barely 'pass' the Academic Placement Exams at the end of year 12.
"So you're just going to give up then?"
"No." the middle Ngo child shook his head, "I'm not just going to 'give it up'...but I ain't Nagelring material, that's for damned sure.  Dad's still missing?"
"Yeah...dude, you don't have to pick an academy now. You've got the semester break ahead, you maybe can pick it up from a lower-tier school and still make it your Junior year..."'
Henry sighed, "I have an 'in' Pat, and it's cheap."
"Where?" Patrick asks
"Blackjack.  I did score high enough for Blackjack, just not Sanglamore or The Nagelring...and before you give me 'the speech'-"
"Dad went to Blackjack.  I'm not gonna give you 'the speech' Hank, you don't wanna go to an A-Tier school? fine with me, if you're serious about Blackjack."
"Hey, it's like starting a family tradition, Dad was the first 'mechwarrior in the family, he went there, he's a Kommandant now.  SO I go, and who knows? maybe I'll make Colonel. Since you're going back to Kowloon after your tour's up, that's like, keeping TWO traditions in the family, right?"
Patrick sighed, "Yeah...you're thinking of being a lifer like DAD?"
"Not like Dad." Henry said, shaking his head, "I figure Blackjack, then a tour in the Regulars. Then go home and be your Militia enforcer." Henry grinned, "We'll have you as the Duke. Lizzie can do her weird science projects and be the court wizard and I'll be your Knight. Maybe marry some Foreigner or something-not totally like Dad. More like what maybe Grandfather thought Dad would become when he bought that Shadowhawk...how's Lizzie doing, anyway?"
"She's in rehab." Pat said, "You should know, she claims she calls you..."
"She does, but it feels like she's holding something back."
"You'll have to ask our sister." Patrick says.
"SO...you know something."
"I didn't say that."
"You didn't have to, I know you, and you never could keep a secret.  It's eating at you, too."
"I don't want...******.  Henry, it's not good, okay??"
"What, is she into something that's gonna get her in jail at Twelve??"
"Um...no.  Hank, our sister...and don't you ****** tell her I told you...she's got what Grandpa's brother had-what he died of."
"You're...no..no..no! That's-"
"It turns out Mom had a grandmother die of the same thing, it was hushed up over on Kirklin side." Patrick explained, "Lizzie won't live to be an old lady-the rehab is to keep her safe while Mom gets treated for a breakdown, okay?  It's really ****** things up."
"Dad knows?" asks Henry
"Dad knows, I think that's why he volunteered for that mission coreward-getting out of the house so he wouldn't have to deal with it."
"Our dad's a ****** ******, you know that?" Henry spat.
"I know...he's our dad though.  So...still wanna go to Blackjack?"
"Yeah...now I want to go to spite the old man." he said
"Well, good luck." said Patrick to his angry brother
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