The story is a work of fiction and has no basis in reality.

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If you don't want to read about gay people in love.

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"Ok, now Josh you circle around the opponents to distract them as Peter and Vic advance." The instructor directed. "This will divide their attention among you. As soon as you see that they are distracted, Peter, you hit them with a thought of fear. Try it."

Josh slowly moved to the left, keeping his attention on the opponents in front of them. When he was almost to the side of the men that were playing the opponents, Peter concentrated on fear. Suddenly all three of the opponents looked scared and started trembling. That is when Vic and Josh attacked with Peter right behind them. It was like taking out a bunch of untrained weaklings, even though they were some of the best trained fighters in the Benoit family.

"Excellent! Most excellent gentlemen! You will be a formidable force." The instructor commended.

They had been training for several weeks. Becoming a team. Vic insisted that he would be a part of the team and neither of the boys argued the point. Actually they were glad to have him with them. Vic was a very talented man. He had been raised as a spy and trained by the Degardo family as a personal bodyguard to Joshua Degardo. Josh felt as if he had the second most important person in his life with him in Vic. Peter being the first.

'Peter, I need the three of you in my office as soon as you can get here.' Alexander thought transmitted.

'Right away uncle.' Peter thought back.

"Josh, Vic. Uncle Alexander requests our presence in his office ASAP."

The other two nodded and followed Peter back toward the compound. Peter knocked on Alexander's door as soon as they arrived.

"Come in!"

Peter opened the door.

"Please come in and have a seat gentlemen. I think we have our first mission for the three of you. We have just received information from Capistrio that might be of interest to you Peter. There seems to be a little uprising at one of the Degardo family factories and one Thaddeus O'Connell is the instigator." Alexander explained.

Peter looked as his uncle. A puzzled expression on his face.

"Why would this be of interest to me?"

"It seems that this Thaddeus O'Connell knows you."

"The name doesn't ring a bell."

"Let me see, I think there is a photo of him from an arrest that occurred a few years back. Ahh, yes here it is."

He handed Peter the photo. Peter's expression went from apprehension to excitement. He suddenly jumped up and started dancing around the room.
"He's alive! He's alive! THAD IS ALIVE! Josh, you remember? Thad?" Peter said as he grabbed Josh and pulled him into a vice-like hug. "He is alive Josh."

"Yes Peter, I remember you telling me about Thad. This is great. What does it have to do with us?"

"I don't know and I don't care. I have to see him. If it wasn't for Thad, I wouldn't be alive. I owe him Josh."

"I know you do Peter and I understand. If he saved your life, then I owe him, too."

"I don't think that will be a problem at all." Alexander interrupted. "The idea is for the three of you to go to Capistrio and assist Mr. O'Connell in his endeavors."

"What endeavors? Do you mean that you want us to stir up trouble?" Josh asked.

"Yes, that is exactly what I want you to do. Help Mr. O'Connell stir up trouble."

Peter smiled at Alexander. "Ohhh, I am good at doing that!"

They all laughed and Alexander laid out the plans for getting the three to Capistrio. It wasn't going to be an easy task, but it was possible.

"You three aren't the first to leave Delvar, nor will you be the last. We have the capability to get you to Capistrio and fairly quickly. Peter, why don't you write a note to Mr. O'Connell and tell him that you will be there soon."

Peter smiled and immediately went to the nearest vidcomp. He sat for a while thinking about how he wanted to word what he was feeling. Memories of what he and Thad experienced together ran through his mind. His emotions were jumbling his concentration. He knew he loved Thad but it wasn't the same love he had for Josh. How could he tell Thad? What could he say that wouldn't hurt Thad and still let him know that he cared for him.

Thad,
I am so excited to hear from you. After what happened that last day we saw each other, I thought you had been killed. I was devastated, I walked around aimlessly for days after that, not knowing what to do. Things have happened since then that are beyond belief. It is a very long story best told in person and that is exactly what I am going to do.

We will be on Capistrio within a few days. What I mean by we is that I have found someone. This someone is very important to me and has stolen my heart. I know this may be difficult for you to hear but I love you too much to lie to you. You will always be very dear to me and when I found out that you are still alive, I danced around the room with happiness and joy. Thad, if it hadn't been for you, I would not be alive today. You will always have a piece of my heart and my soul. I hope you understand.

We will be coming to help you with your work. Actually there will be three of us. Our team will do everything in our power to win the battle you have begun. Hold on to what you believe in. That power will win and victory will be ours.

Yours in heart, mind and soul,
Peter

Peter read over what he had written. "Well, I never claimed to be a writer." He said to himself and punched the transmit button. He closed his eyes and let his mind drift back to the years he had spent with Thad on Capistrio.

----------------------

"Hey runt, wat u gonna do now?" Thad teased as he held Peter in a head lock, a big smile on his face.

"This!" Peter exclaimed as he stepped to the side so he could get his hands in position. One in front of Thad and one behind. He then brought his hands together quickly, hitting Thad in the groin and on the butt at the same time. Thad immediately let go of Peter and crumpled to the floor withered in pain. Peter smiled at his accomplishment then suddenly realized that he had hurt Thad more than he had planned. He quickly knelt next to Thad.

"Thad, I am sorry, really I am sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. Please forgive me." Peter said as a tear started forming at the corner of his eye.

He put his hand on Thad's arm. Thad moved with blurring speed. He grabbed Peter's arm, throwing him over on his back, then Thad rolled over on top of him. Peter looked up into Thad's face where he saw a large grin.

"I gottcha with that one dinnit I."

"You jerk, you asshole, you perv. You let me think that I had really hurt you. That wasn't nice at all." Peter screamed.

"Yeah but it worked dinnit! That'a learn ya!"

"It isn't fair Thad. You know that I wouldn't ever do that with someone else. You know that I wouldn't really hurt you on purpose."

"That's sometin' ya gotta learn. Never trust no one."

"You mean you don't trust me?"

"Naaa, I trust ya Peter. Yas the only one though."

"Thanks Thad, that means a lot to me."

-----------------------

"Peter! Peter, hello! Anyone at home?"

Peter opened his eyes and shook his head trying to clear his thoughts of Thad. He looked up to see Joshua staring at him with concern.

"Josh, I'm fine. I was just thinking about Thad. It has been a long time since I even let myself remember him. It was too painful. Now that I know he is alive, I could almost jump for joy."

"I think you already did that with the little dance you performed earlier." Josh said with a grin. "I thought you were going to go into orbit all by yourself."

Everyone got a laugh out of that. After things settled down a bit, Alexander continued to explain how they were going to get to Capistrio.

"We have a small transport hidden on Delvar II. A shuttle will transport you there in the morning. While you are in transit, we will complete the arrangements for your cover. Josh, with Vic's help we have been able to break into the Degardo's main computer system. All the reports, that discredited the actions that you took on Epsilon he has altered. They now show your actions as having been necessary for the security of the Degardo's. Investigations into those claims have resulted in some very interesting results. They now show that you are responsible for thwarting a serious security breach.

Those investigations continue as we speak. What this has resulted in, is that you have been given a top ranking position in the Degardo family's security apparatus and you are now an active family representative, with a lot of authority. You will be given access to anything and any place you request. Vic is already known as your body guard and Peter is now a part of your personal staff. Peter has been cleared of all charges against him. The reason that we have to sneak you off of Delvar is that we don't want anyone to discover what we have hidden here. Josh, you will report that you have taken it upon yourself to remove Peter from Delvar and give him a position on your staff. You will need to formulate a story that makes Peter a vital part of your actions on Epsilon."
Peter and Josh looked into each other's eyes. Then they moved their gaze to include Alexander and Vic. They couldn't believe it. How could things happen like this? It had to be some type of novel. Yeah, that's what it is, fiction at it's best.

"Wow! This is really something. Almost too good to be true. How?" Josh asked.

Alexander smiled. "Actually it was all Vic's doing. Having lived with your family for many years, he knew all of the ins and outs of the family security. He also had access to most of what was going on at Energy on Epsilon. He just took all of that knowledge and twisted it around to our benefit. Quite talented isn't he?"

"Come on now Alexander. You know that you and everyone else had a very large part in this whole thing. I can't take all of the credit." Vic replied sternly.

"Ok, ok Vic, if that is the way you want it. But without you none of this would have been possible. Just accept the compliments will you?"

"Just make sure you give credit to everyone that was involved."

"Wait a minute here." Josh interrupted. "Will you two quit with the arguing and that is an order. We have a lot to do before we leave in the morning. Vic, you get everything together that we need. Arms, armor, supplies and while you are at it, try to figure out a way to integrate Peter into this mission. Alexander, I am going to need to send a few messages. Can they be altered to appear as if they originated from a transport?"

Everyone sat there with their mouths open. Then suddenly Vic started laughing.
"Joshua Degardo, I knew you had it in you."

Josh's face turned several different shades of red. Some of them a red that had never been seen before.

"I, I'm sorry."

"No Josh, don't be sorry. That is exactly how you need to act from now on. You are in command. Don't forget it." Alexander explained. "You are the leader of this mission Joshua. Vic and Peter will be taking orders from you. The only thing you have to remember is that even those under your command can be a valuable asset. Listen to their advice and their feelings. Carefully consider what the say."

Josh nodded his agreement. Still a little embarrassed at his actions. Peter moved closer to Josh, placed his finger under his chin and slowly, lovingly, raised Josh's face toward his own, and made him look up at him.

"Joshua, I love you. Every time you do something, I love you even more. I will happily follow every command you give." With that being said Peter leaned to Josh and kissed him.

"Josh, the same goes for me." Vic said as he tried to kiss Josh too.

"Hey now, wait a minute Vic. I thought you loved me as a brother?"

"I do, I do! I just wanted a little loving too!" Vic laughed as he hugged Josh and then Peter.

"Ok, enough of the sappy love stuff. We have a lot to get done before we can leave." Josh said as he assumed his position of authority once again.

Copyright S. John Holder 2001

If you have enjoyed reading this story, you will find other stories by me at John's Lovescape

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