Titus winced as the whip cracked sharply against Ryven's bare back. The young man's flesh parted under the repeated strokes of the long whip, now reddened by blood. Ryven grunted from the pain, and Titus swelled with pride at the man he had begun to view as a son. Truthfully, Ryven may have actually been his son, but the subject would probably never come up. It pained Titus to order this brutal display of punishment, but such was the price of insubordination.
Lieutenant Krennel had spoken his mind and questioned an order. That simply could not be allowed. The outcome was favorable, but the act still required answering. Still, Titus hated doing it. He had resigned himself to its necessity. Then, after giving the order, he opened up a line of communication to his personal attorney, a young Achura named Li Kora. He informed Mr. Kora to draft up a last will and testament naming Mr. Ryven Krennel his sole beneficiary, to inherit his amassed wealth, which was quite substantial, and his mercenary corporation, HSG. He truly loved the boy, but the realities of life as a soldier of fortune were not kind, and Titus figured this was the best way he had to express his paternal feelings. He sighed in relief when the final lashing sounded out its sharp note, and Ryven was unbound. Titus had to look away from the hatred in the young man's eyes.
Ryven's promotion to Lieutenant Commander a month later only slightly reduced the rift between them.
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