There, finally. The last badge of the chemical mixes were completed. I'Son checked the content, to be sure things were as they were meant to. As soon as he was satisfied, he gave his go ahead to ship it out, with spesific dosage adjusted to the amount of sun.
Abraoxor was a hot place, and no wonder, close to a scorching sun, and this sun had burned through the shields that protected the planet, causing the draught. Well, at least that was what the scientists here had told him. But I'Son was a sharp observer, even when it seemed he was consumed in his work. And something struck him as odd. This was not how Bleylock had described it, he had painted a picture of suppression, and being forced against his will, to do things neither he, or many other young abraxians wanted. He had told him, the more wealthy the family you came from, the more lust for power. And I'Son recalled the sharp warning. Trust no one on Abraxor. They would tell you one thing and spy on you to bring you to your knees the next.
The few times he had seen Bleylock these past days, he had seemed tense. Watchful. That was a clue better than anything, that something here was not the friendly enviroment he was met by.
As they had scouted locations for new green houses, I'Son had silently observed the things he had not seen the first days. There was a strong limit as to how many green houses there was. And the shadow he had seen, well, that location was a bust. They had not even gone to scout that spesific location. This had puzzled him. This was a planet, filled with starving people. A people that seemed almost frightened to ask for their rations of food that he and Bleylock had brought. This had bothered I'Son, and instead of letting it consume his mind, he made sure to ask General Bleylock directly.
Bleylock looked at him.
"I told you, this is not a good place. It is not the image you were shown. That is all an illusion. Anyone associated with Technoid is greeted with that scenery. The truth..well, that is guarded." he said.
I'Son looked at him.
"Then, what is whit the scorching sun? I am no fool Bleylock. It does not take a genius to figure this planet must have had some shielding against this, until very recently. This draught is not a natural phenomenon around here. Want to tell me why? What happened to the shields that is supposed to protect this planet?" he asked, crossing his arms, as he looked at Bleylock to clarify.
Bleylock nodded. He knew I'Son would figure this out. And that held the potential of putting him in grave danger. Abraxors secrets best remained as they were, secrets. But that look in his eyes, Bleylock knew, he had to tell his lover at least some of what was going on.
"Abraxor is not a peaceful planet I'Son. But they like to give you an illusion of it. In truth, the flux wars that so many seems to think is over, is still going on. But it is not visible. So far, what you have been showed, is families of power, working side by side to overcome a natural disaster, right?" he asked.
I'Son nodded.
"The truth is, our planet has had all use of our flux banned. This is because of the inner conflicts among families of power. Flux is powerful weapon. It is regulated by the flux society for good reasons. But here, it used against the people. The people you meet at dinner, this is from the most influential families here. The people of power. They, like myself, because this is how I was raised, carry masks. They will be polite to your face, but stab you in the back as soon as conditions permit. The people you saw, that came for their rations, these are the people of Abraxor. Many of them, enslaved by the weatlhy, power hungry families. Always at war, with each other, with the galaxy, the neighbouring planet" he said.
I'Son looked at him.
"It does not answer my question General. What happened to the protective shields?" he asked.
Bleylock sighed.
"Retaliation, from one of the moons. Abraxor military attacked first. They retaliated. It damaged the shields in the southern region, my familys territory, and two neighbouring families territories. It causes not only our miners to starve, but extreme heat inside the mountains. We mine the components for Abraxor steel and also, minerals used in Technoids labs, we get the cleanest samples, you are one of those lucky enough to benefit from that. But back to your question. Our military will launch a new barrier tomorrow, but they are not sure how long it will hold against the heat. All the minerals that can make a protective shield will be shipped express to Technoid now, to make the new shields. This is a stricht military operation I'Son, it is not for us to worry about. We will be out of here by the end of the week. Then all this will just be a distant memory" Bleylock explained as he sat down on I'Sons bed.
I'Son turned his back on him, seemingly thinking.
"So, the green houses is the only areas where food is grown? The planets resources, is it used to produce weapons of war, instead of food to a starving people?" he asked.
Bleylock nodded.
"New wars, more deadly than the previous, is being planned I'Son. I dont even want to know the details. And to be honest. Abraxor is an old, tired and worn planet. Most of its resources has been plundered already, and the planets people never learned how to replenish what they take. It is greed, and war. Not a life I would invite anyone into. I..I just dont want to talk about it I'Son. But, to enlighten you some on what you ask, here is the story of the planet, as long as it is known, and anything else you would need to know. But dont tell anyone I gave you this. I am sure to end up taking a hard scolding from the family patriarch then" he said, and handed I'Son a book and a disc.
I'Son nodded with a small smile, as Bleylock sent him a small smile, and left him in his room...
Hours later, I'Son had read up on things. He could see Bleylocks point of view. This planet was far more advanced than it appeared. What he had been shown, was what all people associated with Technoid was shown. A shell in a sort, that looked innocent, where the planet was looking more like a harmless farming planet. But, it would not take long or even much digging, to realise, just under a thin lair of soil,the planet had batteries of military weapons. High grade, most of it, far more advanced than anything Technoid had available. It struck I'Son, if Technoid had known of this, Abraxor would end up on their watch list, and General Bleylock was possibly in a high position to exersize some kind of control with a people that was known for its volatile nature. Not that anything suggested the people here was really like that, but the families of power definately fit the bill. He had observed much these last days, at dinner in particular. It was a theatrical act to him, where the ladies were dressed to impress, and new alliances form. The text book example of how to groom and prepare to have more of what you already had. Power, control. Though, it was attempted hidden, I'Son had since early teenage years developed a strong feeling of sensing dishonesty. He even tested that on General Bleylock. And did not find the deceits there, rather, he found discomfort, a sense of wanting to leave as soon as it was possible. But the overall feeling he had from his lover was insecurity, and the times he saw Bleylock interact with his father, a sense of fear. But what the fear was about was a bit unclear. He had also been very careful around him, even though he could sense, if Bleylock would have found a safe way to do it,he would have made sure they had a quick round in the bedroom. But off course, with the attitude that ruled here, this was not possible.
The book, on the data pad, and the video file, had told him all the things Bleylock was either ashamed to say out loud or scared to reveal. It did not really matter wich one it was. And in the middle of it all, he had felt Bleylocks gaze on him, several times. And with it, a sense of being protected. Bleylock would rather risk a severe punishment himself, than let anything happen to him. I'Son sighed as he put things away. It was late, and the following morning, they were to see a small mining community, about the possibility of growing certain kinds of food in an abandoned mine shaft. I'Son found the idea of using this area of the planet to be a good one. Whatever minerals had been excavated here, had left an area suited for growing certain kinds of food, and being inside a mountain, it would shield against scorching sun, and also serve to grow more food. I'Son wished he could do more to help the Abraxor people, but his time here was limited. And by making sure the crops was salvaged, and new areas planted, he did what he could to help them anyway. If other forms of help was needed, he did not know what that was, and at the moment he could not do anything either. Focus I'Son. Do what you are here for. The sooner you do, the sooner you can leave, and Bleylock may lower his shoulders again. I'Son turned out the lights, as he pulled up the covers, and went to sleep...
Bleylock was being careful. To be invited to his fathers cave, alone, and to have the strong Abraxor wines was a sure sign that his father had some plans to discuss. And he feared,these plans involved him.
His father wasted no time getting to the point.
"There are several ladies at the right age available. You have a responsibility to your family line, to choose one of them as your future bride. The Bleylock family line must be continued. As the only son, you are expected to make a call within the next year" his father informed him.
Bleylock felt his heart sunk like a stone. This was not at all what future he had envisioned for himself. That was the big difference between his own planet and Technoid. At Technoid he could at least breathe, be who he truly was. Here, he had to put on a mask, pretend to be someone..something, wich he was not. And who was this girl anyway?
"The girl is a celebrity. Beautiful voice. With a look like hers, you are sure to birth beautiful children, a way to further assure a strong alliance with the most wealthy and influential families" his father said to clarify.
Off course, it was never about feeling a damn thing for any of the ladies. Superficial things, like looks, and power they could add through their own families decided your worth. And it was not the life he wanted. I'Son had shown him, there was something better. Something more free, more who he was. But then there was the familiy duties. Bleylock looked down. He was not strong enough to pick up this fight yet. His father still had a too strong grip, and he still had to clean some fears. Deep inside, he found that he wanted to fight himself free. But for now, he had to accept what his father said. He would have to find a way to tell I'Son about this. Maybe he would come up with a brilliant solution to the problem?
Bleylock nodded, but inside, he felt nauseous. He excused himself, and made a get away to his room...
Why he had woken up, I'Son had no idea of, but after a while, tossing and turning, he decided to get up and out into the green area of the mansion. I'Son got himself dressed, to have a walk. The night was clear, and now that the threes was flourishing again, it almost gave the sense of being able to better breathe there. The calm walk filled him with a sense of peace, wich became ironic to what he had read this place was all about. I'Son continued his walk, listening to the sounds, when something caught his ear. A sound that sounded out of place in this scenario. It sounded like someone was choking a sob. That made I'Son frown. He was well aware by now, emotions was a sign of weakness, especially if you were from the planet. It was tolerated with guests, like himself. And to his knowledge, he was the only outsider, the only one to not come from or have close ties to Abraxor. Maybe it would have been a better idea to send someone else in rather than going himself. But then, he shook his head. He had been too curious about Bleylocks home planet, the customs, and who he was. Curiosity is what killed the cat I'Son reminded himself. There was that sound again. This sounded like a human, someone in pain, hiding. Without giving it a second thought, I'Son started following the sound. The beautifully sculpted labyrinth now had become someones perfect hiding spot. I'Son stopped to listen, to make sure he was on the right way. After a few missed turns, he finally ended up in the middle of it, seeing a beautiful fountain, in the middle, and at the side, staring into the water...
"General Bleylock?" I'Son slowly approached his lover.
To see this proud General in what could only be described as an emotional breakdown, was a very new experience. He was always collected, to a certain extent,like other abraxians, he could come across as a bit emotionally cold. I'Son knew this to only be a mask though. If anything, General Bleylock was a man that was only starting to find his true self. A self that did not fit the image of how an abraxian was meant to think or even act. If he thought of it, he found Abraxor, for a man, the way he knew General Bleylock,to feel very wrong. And it seemed to him, Bleylock had the chance to cut these ties, but to do that, he had to become strong enough. And if he was breaking now, that meant it was still a job to do.
"I'Son..I am glad it was you that found me, and no one else. I..dont want to be seen this weak" he managed.
I'Son sat down next to him. Bleylock tried to compose himself in the face of his lover.
"Is anything wrong,General?" I'Son managed, placing a supportive hand to the other mans neck.
General Bleylock just looked down, into the water in the fountain.
"My father. Why wont he just leave me be? I had hoped..that sometime in the future, I could return, triumphant, with the one I truly love, as my spouse, to open doors for a better future, the future that I wished I had, but like all other fellow Abraxians, was told was wrong. To him, all I am, is a tool, something he can trade, to obtain more, nauseating power" he said, sounding defeated.
I'Son was lost for had read about this, but not really paid too much attention. Now, Bleylock was telling him just why he hated it here, why he had tried to flee.
"He told me, some girl is lined up to become my future bride. I got the rest of the year to prepare for it. I just wish..I was strong enough to tell him no. If I am to marry, at any point, I want it to be someone that I love, someone I want by my side. Someone..like you" Bleylock whispered.
I'Son looked at him, then, glanced around, to make sure no one was spying on them. Then, he pulled Bleylock into an embrace.
"We will find a way Bleylock, I promise. We will wrap up things after the viewing tomorrow. Then, we go back to Technoid Base. You were right, with what I know now, this is not a place for me to stick around too long. And despite being abraxian, you dont belong here either General. Such a place, with so many restrictions...there are more ways than one to die, what being raised here entails to, I would call a zombie state. I am grateful I have not seen any of those victims to this." he confessed.
Bleylock looked at him
"You are truly a one of a kind I'Son. The galaxy needs more people with your way of seeing things" he said.
I'Son smiled softly.
"That is why I decided to take Duke Maddox up on the offer of starting to give lectures. It is a new arena for me, but like you said, the galaxy needs more that share my way of seeing things. To give lectures may be the best platform to do so. If I can help shape the galaxy into a better place for future generations to live, a future free of wars and destruction, I accomplished a lot" he said.
General Bleylock nodded.
"How about we get some sleep first. My father wants an early start, and if we both look like we have not slept, it may cause suspicion to what we really did. The last thing we need, is to have all eyes on us.I dont want to put you in danger. But before I can tell my father no, I need to grow stronger" he said.
I'Son nodded.
"I will help you" he said.
General Bleylock nodded.
"You already do I'Son, simply, by being you" he said.
I'Son rose. Bleylock pulled him into an embrace, and without giving it a second thought, gave him a kiss.
Then, they headed back to the mansion, side by side, before going to their respective rooms. None of them had seen the eyes hiding in the dark, whom smiled an evil grin at them. This information would certainly give her family the upper hand in the battle for power...
