Revenge of the Heir

Joining the world

Eric Heinrich had developed an idetic memory when he was 3 years old, and remembered his parents well. That was when his thirst for knowledge began, and his parents were hard pressed to satisfy his curiosity as he grew.

His father began teaching him the ropes of his financial empire, and by the time he turned four he was able to easily predict what the market was going to do. His father had learned to listen to him, as children's shows drove him crazy. He spent his days with tutors that he would learn nearly everything they knew within weeks.

By the time he turned 5 he had read nearly a book a day for the last two years, about subjects most scholars would have trouble deciphering. This was also when he began pestering the cooks to learn about their craft, as the science of cooking fascinated him. Within weeks he was cooking at a level that most professional chefs spent their careers trying to achieve.

All the while he remembered traveling with his parents, neither of them ever too busy when he had questions that the tutors didn't want to answer. His worst memory was when Commandant Green from West Point Academy came to his parents.

He offered a scholarship to the Military Academy, that meant Eric would be able to study until he was 21 no matter how much he learned. His parents eagerly accepted, and that was the day everything began to change.

It was the day his parents told him to forget the name Eric Heinrich, as he would be at West Point under the name Christensen. He didn't know that when he got on the plane with Commandant Greene, it would be the last time he saw his parents.

After 16 years at West Point, he was finally ready to graduate at the tender age of 21. He had mastered all but a few of the subjects they offered there, even attending classes at other universities remotely when they didn't offer what he wished to study. It was irony, that his birthday always fell on the day of the ceremonies, and he had always hated them.

He was not joining the Military, not having been offered a commission when he applied for graduation at the beginning of his last semester. He found it odd, a week before graduation when he was ordered to report to Commandant Greene's office just after the last final exam had been completed. Until his birthday in a week however, he was still part of the Military Establishment.

He was called into the Commandants Office, and found himself greeted by a surprising sight. There was a Civilian Attorney in the room, and he had a vague idea as to why. "Cadet Christensen reporting as ordered sir." he said saluting the Commandant before standing at attention.

"At ease Cadet, maybe you should have a seat." Commandant Greene said indicating the chair facing the two men.

Eric sat, and looked at them curious. "What is this about sir?" he asked ignoring the civilian.

"Cadet, this is William Prescott. He is an attorney for the United Imperial Government. He has some things he needs to discuss with you." Greene said introducing the man who sat next to him.

"Hello Eric, first I need to ask you a few questions. How much do you remember of your early childhood?" Mr. Prescott asked.

"If you had read my file sir, you would know that I developed an idetic memory at the age of 3. I perfectly recall everything since than." Eric replied matter of factly.

"What do you remember of your parents?" he asked making Eric look at him.

"What is your point Mr. Prescott?" Eric asked him refusing to answer the question.

"It is difficult to know where to begin Mr. Christensen." William Prescott said as he looked at his hands.

"Their names were Steven and Joann Heinrich, and 3 days after I came here under the name Christensen they were killed. It was reported I was with them, and ever since I have lived here with a scholarship in an ad hoc witness protection off of the map and radar of anyone who would want to kill me simply because of who my parents were.

"Steven Heinrich was an investment banker, who at the time of his death had a net worth of about $250 Billion if memory serves me properly." Eric told the man who sat across from him. "Does that make it any easier?"

Both men looked at each other, surprised he remembered those details. "Yes he was, and as such, he did leave behind a last will and testament. His family has been fighting it since you were assumed to be with them, but we have held them at Bay through the courts. You however now have a choice to make, and only a short time in which to make it." William Prescott said to him.

"What is that?" Eric asked him.

"First choice is to continue as you are, secured in this identity as no one ever suspects you are alive. It however requires you to relinquish all rights to your inheritance. It does however come with a commission in the Imperial Army as a Colonel upon graduation." Commandant Greene said as he laid one file on the table.

"The other is to submit a DNA sample to the courts, and take possession of your inheritance. The rest of the Heinrich family will retain a vast array of money and power, you however would gain sole ownership over his assets. Due to some of his companies, it would not be entirely possible for you to join the Military and perform the tasks that the Empire would need of you." William said as he laid a second file on the desk.

Eric looked at both of them, and shook his head. "Is this the reason I have not been offered a commission of any kind sir?" Eric asked ignoring both files.

"Yes Cadet, it is." Commandant Greene answered honestly.

"What is it that the Imperial Government believes I cannot due if I joined the military, and claimed my rightful inheritance?" Eric asked Mr. Prescott.

"I am not sure, however I do know that a large part of your father's estate was centered around supporting the military." William answered him honestly.

Eric looked at both of them, and sighed. "Than we have an issue gentlemen, because that is the path I wish to take. If it is not an option, I will take neither of them."

Neither men had been expecting that response, and had never considered it. The terms of his scholarship were not attached to mandatory service, and he could easily argue he could make far more significant research contributions than mandatory service in a combat position.

"We are not sure that is possible, it would have to be approved at a level higher than we are." William said knowing he had quite the amount of power inside the Imperial Government.

"I would suggest you make it possible Gentlemen. Is there anything else sir?" Eric asked as he stood up at ease.

"No Cadet, that is all we have for you now." Commandant Greene said before dismissing Eric who saluted before turning smartly and walking out of the office.

What neither man knew was Eric had long been working on strategies to destroy the people who should have been his family. He had some money left over from his scholarships every year, and as a technical ward of the Imperial Government, the refunds had been issued to him. Over 15 years the amount had grown faster than most would have believed. It did help that because of his abilities, he was receiving nearly a $1 million in scholarships per semester. Tuition, room and board with all of his school supplies had only ever amounted to $50 thousand. The rest he had invested semester after semester.

He had invested it wisely, and nearly doubled the amount he had actually invested. He had $50 million waiting for him to do something with it after his 21st birthday.

It was Sunday morning when he was paged to go to the Commandants Office, and he begrudgingly went there instead of too breakfast. Sunday was the only day they offered the buffet, and Eric loved it because they would put dishes you couldn't get any other day out.

He was surprised when there were two men standing on either side of the door, and one glance told him they were armed and trained to the teeth. Even his skills would likely pale in comparison to theirs, as he knew they were part of Imperial Security.

"Name?" the one on the left asked him.

"Cadet Eric Christensen." he said looking at the man who opened the door.

"You may enter." he said waving with his other hand to the open door.

As soon as Eric stepped in he recognized the President of the United Empire, and saluted him smartly. "Sir, Cadet Eric Christensen reporting as ordered sir."

President Tycho looked at him smartly, nodding as he saw the man before his was indeed an excellent soldier. "At ease Cadet." he said after returning the salute formally. "Seems we have a few things to discuss regarding your future." He said as he sat back down.

"It would seem so sir." Eric said as he watched the President pace around the room.

"Is there a reason my carefully crafted solutions are not acceptable?" Tycho asked him.

"I do not understand sir." Eric replied simply.

"Normally people in your position want one or the other, money or power. Rarely do they want both." President Tycho said. "Which is it you want?" he asked curious as he invited Eric to sit with a hand gesture.

"Justice sir." Eric said as he sat down and the door opened.

"I had my men bring some food up from the buffet, I hope you don't mind but I am going to eat while we talk. You are of course welcome to join me, take anything you would like." Tycho said as the trolley was wheeled next to them so they could sit, eat and chat. "Now it is I who does not understand."

Eric smiled as he swallowed a bite and looked at the President. "I know there was an investigation done when their plane supposedly went down. It however has been classified since that day. Who has been punished for what occurred to my parents?" he asked before he took another bite while the President chewed on his answer.

"I see your point. What if I said it could possibly be detrimental to the overall welfare of the Empire if you were to seek justice for what happened?"

"Than I enact option 4, and you deal with greater consequences when I weaponize it against all it will harm." Eric answered before taking a sip of coffee as if they were discussing an approaching thunderstorm.

"You have balls kid, I will give you that." Tycho said as he looked at him. "How far are you willing to go?"

Eric considered it for a moment, before he looked at the President of the United Empire. "I will do what it takes to ensure those who killed my parents pay for what they did." he declared assured he would make it happen.

"Than you should know the challenge you face. The investigation was never conducted, because not even I have the power to openly oppose the interests your parents opposed. Claiming your inheritance and denying his family from what they believe is theirs could place a target on your back. The Military can afford you some protection, however his business empire will have to be managed. It has been tied up in litigation since, as it has long been known that you actually survived. That however is about to end, and only you claiming it will keep it from his families hands." President Tycho said as Eric smiled.

"You might be surprised how easy it can be to run a company, and there are plenty of experts that can operate his numerous businesses. It may take years to discover the truth, and I have nothing but time Mr. President. If you will allow it, I would like to claim my inheritance, and join the Military. I wish to serve the Empire to the best of my ability." Eric told him.

"Very well, the official for the court to collect your DNA samples will be here soon. It will take 4 days, and ironically will be in the day of graduation. The court will require a hearing the day after the results are due, that you will be expected to attend." Tycho said as Eric smiled.

"I think I can convince the court to allow me a few measures to protect my identity. There are a few details I remember from than that the Heinrich Family will not like." Eric said as he considered how he would handle it.

"I suggest an attorney Mr. Christensen. How is it you would like to serve the Empire?" Tycho asked him.

"A research post might be advisable until the court issues are resolved. After that I would like a combat role." Eric said as President Tycho nodded.