They could see Akillian on the horizon. Duke Maddox had let them borrow a comfortable ship with good seats, to make sure I'Son had proper rest. Although he had been released as being well enough to be cared for at home, the muscles was still sore, and the fractures to his spine would still need time to heal. That made him sit down very slow, to prevent more pain than need be. As they approached, I'Son gently set course for the astroport. His father would come to greet them. He also had brought his things from Technoid base. From what Duke Maddox said, he would not return to that place any time soon. Better let someone else have the dorm room. As the decision was made, a cleaning crew had taken care of it, and the dorm was now occupied by another up and coming scientist in the gifted youngsters program.

I'Son had not given himself much time to dwell on what had happened. It even seemed he forgot parts of the details, at least, that was how it seemed when he read the things the psychiatrist whom had worked with him said. There was almost like there was big holes, spots where he could not remember anything.

And also, he had noticed an ever so slight shake in his hands, if he saw images of certain places. He had not even told Helena what reaction the very sound of the name Bleylock gave him now. But it was fear, a deep penetrating fear he had never felt before.

I'Son forced himself to let go of the thoughts. He looked over to Helena, whom had a headset on, and listened to some music on their trip. It made him curious.

"What are you listening to? You seem so relaxed" I'Son said.

He had been at the controls all the way, and he started to feel tired. Somehow, his body had remained subconsciously tense ever since they departed Technoid Base. She just had not noticed.

Helena smiled softly as she removed the headset.

"Its my favourite band, The Trio. It is three girls from the planet Stellar Unix. They have an incredible talent. Their songs always makes me relax, I would almost say it is healing for the soul" she said.

Then, an idea sprung into her mind.

"Here, lets put it on the speaker system. I think it would do you some good too" she said and uploaded the file.

The tones were soft, and he had to agree, it felt soothing in a way he could not describe in words. I'Son relaxed more as the song faded.

Helena smiled as she saw him relax. To go to the concert on the Obia Moon next month she felt would be a great idea.

I'Son contacted the tower on Akillian and was given landing permission.

"Time to let you see the beauty of my home planet, It does not compare to you off course, but it is a very good second" he smiled.

That made Helena laugh...

At Ascaron, the Chissian elite military had planted new explosives, and got ready to make a new attack. Sergeant Corso Takashi looked at his men. All so young, but war often took out the most experienced first. Technoid was not welcome here, after they chased locals from their homes,to use it to build a compound. It angered them and someone with connections, had contacted the chissian army. There were quite a few settlers from chissia on Ascaron, wich led to the army getting involved. But not a regular army troop. They sent in the special forces, an elite soldier group, platoon 33, from regiment 44. They had suffered losses in the bigger battles. First, the general, killed by a hidden bomb, then, the lieutenant whom was alive,but could not participate in battle. It came down to the sergeant, Corso Takashi, to lead the battle. He was known for his anger against Technoid, over the attack at the childrens hospital years earlier, some said he had no heart, that he suffered a great loss that day, that it killed him. But as a soldier, he was like a machine. Seeking the hardest battle grounds. Active duty, how many medals that had earned him, he did not seem to care, he lived for the fight, it was hard to tell if he even wanted to live, or hoped to get killed in action.

Now, Sergeant Takashi was viewing the compound through his binoculars. It was an open stretch of land, no where to hide. This called for an attack where they needed to create a diversion. Some grenades and bombs to level the playing field. Sounded easy enough. Sergeant Takashi gathered his troops to pass out orders. A four man team would take care of the job. Sergeant Takashi kept an eye on them, as they started the job.

"Sergeant, the Technoid compound opened their doors open wide, should we prepare for battle?" The corporal asked, looking at his sergeant for an answer.

Sergeant Takashi thought it over.

"Lets wait till our team is back from placing the explosives. I got a feeling we will need all the help we can get with this" he replied.

The Corporal continued keeping an eye on the compound.

"It seems they want to engage in combat, they deployed their forces to attack us, again" he said.

Takashi grinned.

"It did not serve them the last time, and it wont work this time either, Get ready! We will need to secure our comrades return. Everyone to their assigned position!" he said as he rolled over on his stomach and loaded his rifle.

The army from the compound got closer, and now, it started to become obvious things was not like they had prepared for.

The corporal checked his binoculars again, and now, he was clearly frightened.

"This is not a human army...its droids..weaponized droids" he informed Sergeant Takashi.

Corso felt the fear grip him from inside. They expected humans, and they had to fight a new enemy. They still had to use the strategy they had, just adapt it to a new way of doing this.

"We will fight with all we have. We have been trapped, there is no way out. We need to make that way. Everyone, ATTACK!"...

It felt good to be home, it had been so long since last time he was here.

As soon as they had docked, his father and sister came to help them unload.

"Dad, it has been a while" he said as he embraced his father.

Evander embraced his son back, but carefully. He knew from Duke Maddox, what kind of injuries his son had to his back, and they would not allow him to make any heavy lifts that could effect his back. His father took two rather heavy bags. I'Son winched as he saw his father lift two rather heavy bags. When he wanted to help out, his father gave him a look.

"I can handle it I'Son, I am more concerned with getting you back to health right now. How come you did not press charges?" he asked.

I'Son did not like the question. In fact, he had no good answer for it himself either. It was a strange mix of guilt, and perhaps also shame, that he needed to analyze further before he would tell his father.

Helena joined them, with her things.

"Who is this beautiful angel Son? I would make a move if I was not married to your mother" Evander joked.

I'Son smiled as he pulled Helena into a warm embrace.

"Dad, this is my girlfriend, Helena. And about being an angel, I agree. She was the one that found me after the attack, and made sure to get me to the emergency room. Without her, I might not have made it" he said as he kissed her.

Evander smiled. He had his son back home on Akillian, where he was safe from Bleylock. I'Son would be fine, he had found a girl whom truly seemed to love him. His wife,Bethany, would love this girl as well...

Bleylock had sent out a drone to watch the ongoing battle with the chissian special forces. This sergeant seemed to know about good tactics. Too bad he had painted himself and his platoon into a corner. The droids gunned them down, despite the desperate attempt to flee. Hah,so much for the chissian elite forces. He needed to tell Lieutenant Marshall about this. He was not going to take the blame for the platoon being murdered. He needed a scape goat, no matter who was left standing when it was all over. Then, his gaze fell on a small metal case. Duke Maddox had not confiscated that one. Well, too bad for him. Now that Duke Maddox had taken I'Son from him, he was going to take out this heavily important strong hold the Technoid compound on Ascaron was, as an act of revenge. While he gave the order to evacuate the compound and take all important documents with them, Bleylock made his way to the partially dug out entrance to the planets core. With the darkness in him taking over his soul more and more, he had no compassion left for anyone that would possibly loose their lives as a direct consequense of his actions. Once he reached his destination, Bleylock placed eight small rods with a reddish liquid around the center of the core. He may not know how far down he needed to go to get to the core, but it did not matter. He had already lost everything dear to him, and now, Technoid was both his employer and his worst enemy. And they hid the one he truly loved from him. Bleylock was at this point far away from seeing his own involvement in what had gone down, so black was his heart, he failed to see I'Son had good reasons for escaping him. All he knew, was that I'Son was injured, and taken to a secret location to recover and undergo medical evaluation. Not a word about what I'Son had explained, only that he did not want to press charges. But it did not matter any more. He would find out where they hid him, but to do that, he needed to be at Technoid base. Technoid had several compounds spread out across the galaxy. He had even had Professor Monteague removed just days earlier, he had been relocated to the plant on Akillian, to continue his research there. The rods with the reddish liquid was his invention, a powerful explosive, one Bleylock intended to amplify. In the steel casing, he took out eight other rods, this time with a more bluish coloured liquid. I'Sons home made tubes that he used to teach his classes. A seemingly harmless liquid, more designed to amuse the students, when he explained the chain reactions. But Bleylock knew what the mix consisted of. And this would amplify the red rods. Bleylock grinned as he placed them. He made his way back out. And as soon as he was back, he gave the order to evacuate all personell. The attacks had caused irreprable damage to the weapons under ground, they would explode in a matter of hours, perhaps days, if lucky. They were not going to risk it.

As he sat aboard his ship, evacuating the planet, he looked down on the battle ground. A bloody site, soldiers scattered everywhere, the droids had been a perfect weapons test, and concealed his activities. Now, he would be in the clear about things...

This was a grizzly site indeed. Aisha looked around. Plenty of weapons, high grade and still functional. Still, all these dead bodies made her feel sick as she commanded her group of soldiers around, looting what they could. What had taken place here was shameful. And for each fallen soldier, they would check for signs of life. The pirates was not killers. They stole to survive, but taking life was something no pirate leader allowed for, unless it was a matter of you or them. Her team also checked, and there was this look of devestation for each dead body they found. She moved towards the upper corner of the rocks where a soldier had been using his rifle. She crouched down beside. Surely another dead body. His eye had been blown out, and he was covered in blood. Then, a small sound. It startled her for a second. Then, she checked his pulse.

"Give me a hand here. We got a live one here. Lets bring him with us to the base,maybe he can tell us what happened here. And if he survives, he may teach us how to use these high grade weapons. Technoid evolves all the time, we need to keep up if we are to survive this" she said.

A make shift stretcher was made and Sergeant Corso Takashi, the sole survivor of the bloody attack between droids and humans, was saved from the true horror that was to follow...

Helena fell in love with Akillian. The flowers, the colours, the waterfalls. This was paradise. And she got to share it with her love, I'Son. They had been here for a few weeks now, and were about to move into their new home in the old city of Arcadia. I'Sons mother, Bethany, made sure they had all the pots and pans, and other things a properly equipped kitchen would need. Her son was no longer a bachelor. He had finally found a woman whom loved him to share his life with. I'Son felt helpless to watch. He was not allowed to do any kind of heavy lifting due to his injuries. That was when his father gave him a good advice.

"I'Son, your friend Peter has asked about you. Instead of you feeling useless since you cant do much now because of your injury, why dont you drop by his place and pay him a visit? I think he would be thrilled to see you" Evander smiled.

I'Son looked at Helena.

"Would that be ok with you Helena?" he asked softly.

Helena put down the box she was unpacking and went over to kiss him.

"Yes my love. There is not a whole lot you can do around here. And I can tell it bothers you. Maybe seeing an old friend is the best way for you to keep your mind occupied with other things now. So go, catch up with friends, I will see you later" she said as she kissed him.

I'Son smiled. His friends place was only a short walk from their new home. A walk would do him good. He decided to head over on foot.

Before long, he rang the buzzer at his friends house.

"I'Son! It has been too long" Peter exclaimed, as he hugged him gently.

He then looked him over.

"Your father told me. I am just happy you are still alive with what happened." he said silently.

I'Son nodded.

"You were right Peter, I never should have gotten involved with Bleylock in the first place. I thought I could help him change, but.." he sighed.

Peter opened the door.

"Come inside and lets talk this over. I know you I'Son, and what I see right now, is a version of you that has seen true evil in the eye and survived it. I know you would not tell of this to a psychiatrist, that is not you. You need someone closer, someone you trust, to open up about this. That and a pint or 6 of fine Akillian beer" he smiled.

I'Son grinned as he heard was still the same he had always been, and right now, he could use a friend to sort through the inner turmoil.

"In that case, how can I say no to your generous offer? You still make the best beer in all of Akillian, or did anyone make something better I have not heard of yet?" he teased.

Peter grinned.

"Still the best in Akillian" he said as he filled two pints with the beer and showed I'Son to sit down on the padded recliner. He came to observe a slight shaking in his friends hands.

Clearly whatever had happened, had shaken I'Son to his core. And he needed to get this out.

"I'Son, do you feel ready to tell me, what did Bleylock do to you?" I know you. This is not about being roughed up, you never had a problem with that on the pitch or anywhere else. You are a fighter, and you are good at what you do, be it science or other things. I am just sorry he ever laid hands on you" he said.

I'Son sighed, and put his pint down.

"At the moment, I have no idea how long I am going to be on sick leave. Or how long I need to wear a back board. I should have moved sooner, after the first attack..." he sighed.

Peter roared as he heard that.

"He has done this to you twice already, and you still stayed? God dammnit I'Son. This man tried to kill you, twice,and this time, he almost succeeded. We are more people that care about you, imagine how we would feel if you came home in a coffin!" Peter said.

I'Son looked down, feeling ashamed.

"I know now" he said.

Peter pulled his chair closer to I'Son. Then he took his hands.

"I know you better than most of our friends. I introduced you to that world that he is part of. I dont regret what we did, it was a fun experience to both of us. But I am going to be here for you I'Son. All the dirty details that you withheld from your psychiatrist, all those things he did to you that makes you feel like vomit, I will listen to. You need help I'Son, to get it out. And like I was the one that showed you what it meant to have a male partner the first time, I will be the one to help rebuild you back to who you were before Bleylock got to you. I swear, I can already sense what you are going to tell me, and I want to kill him for this. I hoped he would treat you better, I should have known he would not. Not with his reputation" he said.

I'Son downed his pint. If he needed to tell this story, he needed this.

"Sit down Peter, it is a brutal tale I got to share"...