Deep, under currents, the rock would be surrounded by a protective wall that held between the water and the miners. There wasn't much underwater; not that couldn't be found elsewhere, but the Prince Phobos was a clever young man. A prisoner could always escape it's workplace. But a prisoner wouldn't if his only option would be almost instantly drowning in the higher pressure of the waters depths. It was thoughts like this, that would prove to be among his most evil, and yet, the young Prince would never cast an eye on his prisoners. He didn't like to look, and many would assume it to be his high standards of living.. But that was exactly what the prince would like for them to think.

It was worse though, where the prince couldn't see; Aketon felt a bead of sweat run down his face - ice on his cold skin, because it was fear itself that promoted this sweat. The air; bound to be a limited supply from above, was thick and Aketon gasped for oxygen within the metallic, gassy clouds that he could already feel poisoning his lungs. The stink was tremendous - a vile gas of the mining yields and the sweat of men who worked as long as they could stand, and then were beaten to death when they were useless. Where the bodies went, Aketon was still unsure, because Caleb had pointed out long ago that nothing had washed up, and a dead body floats in water. Perhaps they were weighted down, by the least useful of the very rocks they'd been mining, and Aketon winced as he was walked past frail bodies and distantly familiar faces: faces of whom the names had been forgotten. Some didn't even bother with their heavy helmets, and Aketon wondered if their heads couldn't carry the weight.. Or maybe they hoped that if a landslide fell on them, they'd be hit on the head and die faster. "BACK TO WORK!"

A whip cracked, and Aketon jumped at the pained cry of a man far closer than he'd expected, then stumbled back as his assigned guard laughed and shoved him forcefully by the torso. His eyes widened as a machine behind him groaned, but carried on chewing at his caught vest; this was it, Aketon pulled desperately at the shirt's material, praying for his son that it would give or tear away..

"Efcharistoúme!" Aketon groaned the word with relief, as the material ripped; Aketon not having had missed the body who'd practically thrown itself in his direction to cut him away from the turbine about to crush his bones. The man's hand grasped his own and pulled him up with an obviously shaking strength, and Aketon wondered how long a man could survive like this. "Thank you my friend."

Dark eyes stared at him for long seconds, and Aketon had a momentary sense of drowning, because apparently you could live like this longer that he'd assumed. Julian had been lost and presumed dead for two years once the nearing autumn was gone. And yet beneath the heavy beard and the hollow cheeks, Aketon could still see the man who'd left the rebellion their savior. And his awed features became frowning slightly, as he wondered about Caleb. Julian would want to know.. "I said.. BACK TO WORK! THAT MEANS ALL OF YOU!"

Aketon jumped at the guard suddenly standing next to them, but Julian did not wince, and the guard cackled as he walked away; shoving a few other slaves, who clumsily fell with lack or strength. But Aketon's mind was on Caleb, and thinking alike Caleb was a dangerous thing, because too often it meant relying on luck, because Caleb sensed things that normal people couldn't. But luck would have it's way with Aketon today, as he threw a spade into the turning machinery. Or so he would think, not seeing the watching yellow eyes of a passling as he worked. "Warden! This radian tong is broken! I'll need the vice from my shop!"

It was an outright lie, and Aketon was relying on Caleb's word that the Guards were fairly unintelligent in the workforces they were leading, but as the guard came over he only looked at the spade with a puzzled expression that confirmed this being didn't possess any knowledge in mining.

"Without it, y-you can't regulate the gears," Aketon wished his voice wouldn't shake, but he ignored it and kept going. He needed to get out, and he couldn't risk being linked to the rebellion. "P-production will come to a s-stop."

...

Irma sat with her chin firmly planted on her palm as she frowned at Will. It was bad enough that Caleb had ruined her yard, not a few months since her father had had to fix it (though luckily he'd seemed far more concerned with Will at the time, to scold her, plus the fireworks were obvious to anyone as foul play), but now the brunette had been sitting for ten minutes, ignoring whatever anyone was saying; Will, incidentally, and focusing entirely on how insane Will would have to be not to notice. Caleb eyes had not left the redhead's since he'd sat down. And it might've been petty, for Irma to think such things, but Caleb was usually Irma's own personal wingman when it came to trouble. He was like a male Hay Lin, but smarter, taller, and he wasn't actually mentally insane.. Though she was starting to rethink the last point. It was just plain.. Unfair.[0]

...

"Aldarn?" Aldarn practically fell off his chair as Drake backed out to make himself scarce. If his father was back, guards would be escorting him, and Aldarn grinned as Drake left; shaking his head as he did. Aldarn strode towards the front store, with a slightly flushed face because he'd been about to send for Drake to set an attack, and Aldarn knew that not only would Aketon scold his emotional silliness, but Caleb would be furious. But Drake wasn't about to listen to him, and Drake wouldn't tell anyone, as Aldarn beamed at his father's weary smile.

"Where have you been?" Aldarn felt nervous tears threatening, as he thought back to his earlier frantic state, and he pressed his face into his father's chest as they embraced. "Faínesai chália!"

"Prince Phobos has sent me to the underwater mines to repair tools." Aldarn's eyes widened as he stared at the man in disbelief. It was only then that he noticed his father was shaking. "I have to go straight back."

His father then picked up a spade, that seemed heavily contorted, and Aldarn watched the man mournfully as he pushed it into the vice and lit up the fire.

"You must find your friend Kanénas." Aldarn's eyes widened as Aketon stared down at his new work. Caleb would refuse, Aldarn knew, but it was only more shocking that Aketon would dream of wanting to be saved. His father had always said he'd rather be tortured for a thousand years than waste good men in battle for him.

"Kanénas is.. With his wife." It was a poor explanation, but his hope was that any suspicions of Caleb that might have arisen would die at the mention of a wife. And Aldarn knew his father would understand. Caleb was on Earth. "It's not safe.."

Efcharistoúme - thank you

Faínesai chália - you look awful

[0] note that Irma is jealous that Will is getting attention, because Caleb is her friend. Don't take it the wrong way and think she likes him or anything.. :L :L