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Chapter 4

Mervin and Marvin were walking around the town. They were stashed in the second biggest city in the outer ring. They were asking around about rumors of the prince. They were using the cover story of a school project about the prince's return. They were getting some decent information about how the news about the prince's attempt on his father's life. Many people were quite defensive about the whole thing. No one would believe the prince would do such a thing. To get the information they needed they were told they would have to talk to the non-conformist or the rebellion groups. They were small groups of people who lived in the outer ring that did not like the royal family. They were mostly made up of foreigners who had made a home in the outer ring or persons who had failed their neuron implants and failed to become citizens.

Mervin was assessing the risks of trying to find such a group. If he was found to be the prince by these groups it would be trouble. But after digging themselves into a hole of trouble it would be stupid to return without any kind of information. So he would have to track something down.

Marvin on the other hand was trying a local restaurant. He knew that would be the best place to hear some information. He walked in and tried to find the a waiter. The restaurant was one of those where you had to order from the counter so he went up there and took a seat.

He asked the cashier for a glass of water and she brought it back he started to chat her up.

"Hey can I ask you about rumors about the prince? I been hearing some nasty stuff today and my dad won't shut up about it" He pretended to be frustrated with his father's constant babbling. But unfortunately it produced an unneeded complication.

Two black wolves instantly surrounded him. He already knew he was in trouble because these were members of the royal guard but they did not recognize him. Right away.

"Can I inquire why you are asking questions about the prince at his favorite restaurant?" One of the wolves asked him.

"Wait the prince's favorite restaurant? I thought he just got back." Marvin said legitimately surprised.

"Not prince Matthew. Prince Marquis. This restaurant is Prince Marquis favorite place to eat after a trip. That is quite common knowledge. Why do you think it is so empty right now?" The wolf responded.

It was then Marvin noticed that the restaurant was mostly empty. How could he have missed that? There were only some black wolves in street clothes lurking around. The royal guard had this restaurant on lockdown. This was troublesome for Marvin he should get out of here.

"I better go then if the prince wants the restaurant to himself." Marvin said while trying to leave. The wolves stopped him. And the bartender giggled.

"The reason no one is here is because I only open when the prince says he coming. And persons tend to not want to eat when the Prince is here attracting attention." The bartender explained and just then the doors to the restaurant opened. Three foxes stormed in. the first was a snow white fox about thirty five or so. Beside him were a young teenage purple fox and finally a young cub probably five years of age, that one was pink. It was the three princes. Matthew's younger brother Marquis and his two sons Markus and Mike.

Marvin was quite afraid now. Would his uncle or any of the royal guard notice him? He thought it better to play it cool. But he was already caught by the wolves so escaping now was almost impossible. He watched as his uncle slowly. Walk up to the cashier.

"Three orders of the usual Kathy, wait make that four." The fox then turned to Marvin. "I suspect this one wants a word with me. That is the only reason someone would actually walk into my personal restaurant."

The cashier nodded and then went into the kitchen. The poor fox was now traumatized. But the wolves just had to make it worse.

"Sir he was asking about the return of your brother. He said he did not know this was your personal restaurant. We suspect he might be a plant. Can we get permission to extract information from him?" The wolf asked his superior.

"Very well do not get to physical with him. I would to have a meal with the kid. He seems interesting somehow." Marquis responded to the wolf's request.

The wolf went to place his paw on Marvin's head but his arm was grabbed by another wolf's.

"What are you doing?" The wolf asked the other who was holding his arm.

"Stopping you from breaking law." The wolf then turned to marquis. "Sir we have a major security breach."

The foxes tensed. "Where? Is it the kid?" Marquis asked his guard.

"Him being here is the result of a security breach. This one of the princes that your father placed in hiding until they could achieve their citizenship. This is Mervin or Marvin one of the twins."

Marquis became quite curious now. "Interesting. You can remove the disguise now young man. Come on let me get to know my nephew over a nice meal."

Marvin removed his hat, and shades to reveal his face to the newly introduced uncle. He then followed his uncle to a table where they awaited their food.

"So how is my brother? I have yet to speak to him since his return." Marquis asked his young nephew.

Marvin was still a bit nervous but decided to answer. "I have no idea what is going on with dad. So much has happened."

"I guess. It must be a shock to you coming from such a backwards country to the most forward thinking country in the world. I imagine we have a really bad reputation from their perspective. I think I heard we are known as fagland there? Ah such amusement. Come on don't be shy tell me about yourself?" The fox was quite cheerful.

Marvin was becoming quite nervous and uncomfortable. He did not know what to say. Here he was in the presence of his uncle. One that he did know he had. He felt it better to no reveal too much but this was his chance to get some information and he did not want to pass this up.

"Dad is fine. In a ton of trouble but fine. Weirdly we did not hear anything about this place until yesterday when we arrived. I know nothing but I am concerned. Dad was extremely sad. Someone asked him a question about the rumor of whether he attempted to take grandfather's life. I want to find out if it was true." Marvin said not looking his uncle in the eyes.

Just as he finished talking the cashier brought out four servings of a weird pasta and meat. Marvin had never seen anything like it before so he was curious. His uncle had paused a bit. "Well Marvin. You seem to care about your father. Let's eat I will tell you everything about what happened. Kathy could you please leave for now this is highly classified material." Kathy the cashier just nodded and quickly vacated the room leaving the royals there with their body guards. Marquis brought his son Mike into his lap and brought his plate close and began to feed his little son.

"If you want to know if the rumor is true about Matthew attempting to kill my father. It is. But that does not even begin to describe what happened. Twenty six years ago is where everything went to hell." Marquis paused while Marvin took a bite of his pasta. "You father fell in love with a lovely girl from the outer ring. He was constantly sneaking into the outer ring to see her. And that our security measures back then while still exemplary weren't as prevalent as they are now. Back then we were just being targeted by some of the more connected terrorists. Matthew was putting himself in a lot of danger doing this and for naught. The girl he fell in love with was a resident who lost her parents and was in the process of becoming a citizen."

There it was again. The process of becoming a citizen. What was so important about that? "Why is becoming a citizen so important. Does it have something to do with our Neurons?" Marvin inquired.

Marquis feed another bite to his son. "Yes. A neuron is a requirement to enter the inner sanctum. The girl had just gotten hers implanted and was slowly trying to verify and learn how to use it. Matthew however became impatient. You see the final process in becoming a citizen is entering the inner sanctum and linking with the system there. The restrictions on the heir are pretty strict. An heir cannot marry a non-citizen or someone who has not been a citizen for five years. If Matthew wanted to take her as his heir she would have to get there quickly. But Matthew made a huge mistake. He let her into the sanctum before she was ready and her Neuron overwhelmed her nearly destroying her mind. She did survive but she lost her memories from the time the Neuron was implanted into her."

Marvin continued to listen attentively. He was finally getting some noted answers. He was also watching little Mike cuddle up to his father. "Then it happened. The girl was taken by a rival nation and the prince tried to save her. My dad however refused to give into the demands of a nation who just took back one of its own. Matthew would have none of it and tried to trade himself for the girl. When word got out such a thing was occurring there was an uproar. Soon enough it escalated into a huge international incident that ended when the girl was executed and her neuron was returned to us. My brother blamed dad for what happened and when he confronted him about it escalated so quickly. Matthew then proceeded to attack father in a burst of rage. Which was quite surprising as neurons have a habit of reducing actions based on pure emotion. Matthew failed miserably and was restrained by the royal guards for a few days. Dad then sent him on the cruise where he disappeared and hid in holy grace. You should know more about it from that point on than I do"

Marvin looked down at his empty plate. That was quite the tale. And it would explain why his father could not bear to return home. Something like that would really drive him insane. Marvin also found it weird how close Marquis was to his boys. Mike was obediently sitting still in Marquis' lap and Markus had finished eating was leaning up against his father. His father had wrapped his arm around him and was stroking his hand up and down Markus's arm.

Marquis turned back to Marvin. "The reason so many in the world are afraid us is not because of our technology but that in the inner sanctum the concept of 'Money' has been thrown away. Most countries are dead without their currency being valuable but the premise behind money was not needed in this country and soon it will be stamped out when the neuron system expands to parts of the outer sanctum. Our citizens rarely ever have to worry about food or clothing or needs. Heck the only thing they are required to do is continue to learn new things and expand their knowledge. That is the only requirement. Of course we have hobbies and other such things that can be used to create a profit for the outer ring where money is still in use. Countries are afraid of dealing with us because they have no way to control us. We do not adhere to their structure of trade. We have no limits to the resources we have at our disposal. But our society is thousands of years ahead of what the rest of the world is and most of the world refuses to go the direction we did. Greed and Envy drive so many nations right now. Wars fought over oil and land. Over religion and ideologies. Over species and heritage. Over culture and media. Those things have no meaning here. And that terrifies everyone else that we could achieve such a society."

Marvin realized that such a society was something he heard was impossible to achieve before and that it was needless to try. He knew the value of money as those without it had to struggle to get and those with it wanted more of it and tried to take from those with less. Such a structure could only lead to chaos. He understood now. There was going to be a lot more to learn about his home nation and why so many countries feared and why he as a prince was so important.

Marvin watched his uncle really be affectionate with his two sons who were half as sleep and leaning on him. Little Mike in his lap while Markus laid on his chest. This was quite a surprise to Marvin. Markus had to be his age but he was still cuddling up towards his father like that.

"Well the press has already gathered outside and is awaiting a statement from me. Stay here with Kathy for a while." Marquis changed his tone and posture to a more serious one. "Then she will escort you back to your safe house where you will stay until further notice."

Marvin jumped a bit at the change in his uncle's behavior but nodded in compliance.

"Alright then. Kathy I leave him in your hands. Please get him home safe and discreetly. I will lead the press away. If a picture of him is taken call the royal guard immediately." Marquis said and then started to walk away but stopped when he realized he forgot something. "By the way. How did you get away from your security detail? They may not be as skilled as the royal guards but they should be more than competent enough to handle a teenager. And also where is your twin brother?"

Marvin squirmed a bit before answering. "We used a potent sleep drug that we created on them. They should be sleeping for two more hours. I do not know where Mervin went. He was after the same kind of answers I was so think he went down to the beaches to listen in to rumors and what not."

Marquis did not look pleased. "You better contact him and get back to your room. If you two are not back there in two hours I will have no choice but sick my father on you two. I bid you adieu." And with that Marquis and his two sleepy sons walked out the restaurant and into the frenzy of cameras and reporters that had gathered outside.

Marvin was delighted that his uncle was something he thought he could get along with. Hopefully that would be proven true.

"Did you get your answers?" Kathy asked him. The Border collie who had been there the entire time was now getting dressed in some causal wear.

"Yes I did. And I better call my brother and let him know what I found." Marvin said while reaching for his phone and trying to call Mervin.

Mervin picked up on the third ring.

"Mervin I found out what he wanted to know!" Marvin said excitedly.

"Not now Marvin we have more pressing issues." Mervin in a bit of a fluster.

"What is going on?"

"I got caught up in something huge. I don't know if I can get out of it. I am in a hotel being locked down by terrorists I am going to ditch anything that they can use to trace me. Marvin get back to the hotel and tell dad about the situation and Hurry." Mervin then hung up.

"Kathy can you please call back my uncle? I need his help." Marvin said in a bit of distress. Kathy quickly went off and retrieved his uncle.

Marquis returned quickly but he was a bit annoyed. "What is it Marvin? A new situation just developed a few miles from here. A hotel is being taken over by terrorist."

"That is what I wanted to talk to you about. Mervin is one of the hostages." Marquis eyes went wide.

"This is not good. I doubt they would realize who they have but these terrorists can be ruthless sometimes. I am calling in dad." Marquis said then brought out his communicator. It was a holographic communicator that allowed him to talk straight to marcel.

"What is it Marquis? Why are you using an emergency signal?" Marcel looked around and noticed Marvin. "And what is he doing there?"

"He ditched his security detail and by sheer luck ended up here so I have him under control but we have a situation. The hotel crisis?" Marquis responded while Marvin took a few steps back.

"Yes I am aware of that crisis we are mobilizing a team from the inner sanctum right now to neutralize them. It should be over soon enough." Marcel said trying to get back to his business.

"Well the situation is a bit more complicated. Mervin is one of the hostages."

Marcel was now the one to be stunned. "That troublemaker. One day in the country and he is already acting like his father. Marquis get Marvin back to his security detail I will increase the number of agents guarding them. I will send the royal guards to handle this. It will cause some questions to be raised but we need to get Mervin out of there before anything happens to him. These terrorist aren't known for their mercy. What is with them today? First they kidnap that young boy Andy and then they capture a hotel? What is their objective? Marquis I am worried. You get home right now; spend some time with your brother while I deal with this."

Marquis nodded and then signed off. He turned to Marvin. "Alrighty kid get home as quickly and as discreetly as you can. Kathy try and make it look cute."

Kathy then changed her appearance. Instantly she was now a fox woman in her late thirties. "Will do boss." Kathy then took Marvin to the back exit while Marquis went back and addressed the media.

Meanwhile back with Merlin. The guard watching over him was in awe of what he was seeing. This kid who had just linked up his neuron with the global system was using it amazingly well.

Merlin was just standing there ready to throw a dart across his bed and at the wall. He threw it and then he caught it on the other side of his bed. He had already learned the enhanced movement mechanical controls that came with having such an advanced Neuron.

Only a member of the royal family could achieve such a feat. Literally mastering the most advanced technology in the world in a matter of minutes. Figuring it out like it all came natural to him even though it had only been active a few hours. Such was the ability of a royal prince.

Merlin had been so focused on learning his Neuron that his guard had quite the easy time keeping an eye on him.

The guard then received a call from the king.

"Hello your majesty. What is the problem?" the guard asked.

"Is merlin still doing well?" The king inquired.

"More than well. He is mastering the neuron at an alarming rate. He manually linked up to the global system already and has started to use enhanced movements and teleportation. He doing more than well." The guard said in complete adoration.

"Well His sons never cease to surprise. At least some do it in a good way. There have been security breaches at the other locations. Marvin has been recovered by prince marquis and is on his way back. I am sending back up to your location to help secure Merlin." The king responded

The guard was stunned. "A breach at both locations sir? How did that happen?"

"Mervin and Marvin outwitted their guards. And I suspect Marshal has done the same. Mervin is currently being held hostage in the hotel crisis but his identity is still unknown. For now just stay low and keep on alert. Especially on alert from Merlin."

"Yes sir" the guard said then turned to watch Merlin with more care.

"Good continue the good work." And with that the king signed off.

"My brothers all ditched their guards?" Merlin asked his guard.

"Yes. SO you better not get any kind of ideas." The guard responded.

"Mervin and Marvin would not do it without a valid reason. Something must have been bothering them. Marshal however. He must be going after Andy. I better start trying to find him before he gets into even more trouble." Merlin then began to look through camera feeds to find some kind of information.

Once again the guard was impressed at Merlin's skill. Merlin definitely had a bright future ahead of him.

But at the cottage where Marshal was being held there was an issue the issue being the guard that was assigned to him lying on the bathroom floor knocked out. Marshal was not awaiting a rendezvous with the supposed terrorists who kidnapped Andy.

Sure enough a black van soon pulled up and someone in front motioned for him for enter the back. So he jumped in and then the van pulled away.