Chapter 18 - THE GHOSTS OF YESTERDAYLater that afternoon, I drove out to the private cemetery on the outskirts of the city, where the air smelled of damp earth and pine needles.
The heavy stone marker of my father’s grave sat quietly beneath the shade of an old oak tree. A single, polished silver star medal rested against the gray granite base—left there as a silent tribute from a daughter who had kept her promise.
I knelt down, brushing a stray autumn leaf off the engraved lettering.
“You knew they would try, didn't you, Dad?” I whispered, the wind rustling the branches overhead. “You knew they would try to strip the company, rewrite the will, and erase everything I fought for.”
A gentle breeze swept across the grass, carrying the faint scent of rain and dust—reminding me of distant valleys, roaring chopper blades, and brothers-in-arms who would never grow old.
“You left me the tools to finish the fight,” I continued, standing up and brushing off my knees. “And we won. Titan is safe. The traitors are behind bars. Your legacy is secure.”
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I stood at attention for three long, silent seconds, then executed a crisp, flawless military salute to the stone marker.
Turning on my heel, I walked back toward the waiting vehicle where Colonel Carney held the door open, ready for whatever mission lay ahead.
