This chapter is somewhat short, but necessary. I'm almost done with school and finals and everything, and I'm coming close to a rather big chapter for this story. I have so many plans, and summer is gonna give me a lot of time to write them.

Not much happens in this chapter. Mostly just Orion growing. Time does go back a bit to where we left off with him last, but then it continues, and catches up to the spot it was in last.

Also, one more character will be introduced, and I'm sure you will be happy.

And without further ado, on with the show!


Orion was woken up and dragged inside by one of the house servants the morning after he slept on the porch. The servant that guided him in had his fun dragging him by his ears and slamming his head into the wall, which didn't surprise Orion that much, since that particular servant seemed to hate him. Though, as soon as he heard the voice of Alpha Trion walking down the hall while talking to somebody, the servant immediately stood the boy up and gripped him by his shoulder instead.

"Orion, where have you been?" Alpha Trion asked.

"Found the kid sleeping' on the poarch. He was out past curfew," The servant tried to hide the glee in his voice, excited about Orion potentially getting in trouble. He failed miserably, but Alpha Trion ignored him.

"Well, he missed breakfast, and all that's left are some scraps. I'm sure getting stuck eating those is punishment enough," Alpha Trion said simply, before waving Orion to come with him. "I'm glad you enjoy your friend, Orion, but if you want the better breakfast you're going to have to make sure your in the house to enjoy it,"

The scars from the whipping where still burning like crazy, but Orion decided to deal with it, happy that Alpha Trion hadn't told the servant to deal with him. The beating wouldn't be worse than the whipping, but he didn't want his nose broken again.

Orion enjoyed the breakfast scraps; which was a small amount of leftover scrambled eggs, four one-inch cubes of beef, and several different bread heals; and he drank it down with water. He then made his way to the lab where he continued to assist Alpha Trion with his experiments.

He was given a few more breaks than usual that day, probably because Alpha noticed his exhaustion and pain. This he was grateful for. He spent the day trying to pretend he hadn't gotten whipped, fearing what his master would do if he discovered his own slave got into trouble. However, much of his work involved bending over to grab things, which pulled at the scabs on his back. Eventually, the wound cracked open, and blood began to seep out, first into his bandages and then into his white tunic.

"Orion, what is the meaning of this?" His master asked calmly, gesturing to the blood soaked onto the back of his shirt. Orion opened his mouth to try to come up with an excuse, but Alpha Trion just sighed and shook his head. "You got whipped yesterday, didn't you?"

"How'd you?" Orion hesitated.

"News travels fast around Iacon," Alpha Trion summed up. "A small, red-haired slave getting whipped for both absquatulation and the assault of a tall, dark-skinned free boy. There were few possible people it could be,"

"I was just playing with Ironhide," Orion tried to explain, starting to shake.

"Yeash," Alpha Trion sighed. "I can't have you in bad condition, Orion. With your help I get so much more work done, it's really a miracle I was able to find someone like you. If you get beaten like that again, tell me, and I'll take you straight to Dr. Ratchet.

True to his master's word, Orion found himself in Ratchets office, getting his wounds recleaned, bandages reapplied, and in places where there was enough skin to work with, stitches to his wounds. Orion had been strapped down to Ratchets hospital bench tightly, so he wouldn't flinch too much while getting his wounds repaired.

"Whoever gave you the initial bandages did a good job for having so little supplies," Ratchet mused, impressed, while snipping off the leftover thread of a stitch.

"It was Ironhide's mom, Stargazer. She works in the mines, but she had some medical supplies on hand," Orion explained.

"Well, the next time you see Stargazer, tell her I said 'good job'" Ratchet chatted. Normally, he wasn't one for chit-chat, but he sometimes found it could keep a patient calm. Besides, this boy wasn't actually to terrible to talk to; intelligent enough to hold a proper conversation, but humble enough to not constantly talk as if he was the greatest thing born to mankind.

"On the subject of health, you need to be getting more calcium," Ratchet informed the boy. "Your rather small for a boy your age. If it was a familiar thing I wouldn't be so concerned, but you've described most of your family members as being on the taller side,"

"I used to really detest milk when I was little. I don't even know why, I love milk now, but I would refuse to drink it when I was younger. So I guess that's part of the reason," Orion explained. "I was also much more of a indorrs person than my brothers where, so I never built up as much strength as they did. Though, I like going outside much more now that I'm spending most of my time in the lab,"

"That makes sense," Ratched responded, making a mental note to tell Alpha Trion to let him leave the house more often. "Alright, done," He told the young boy, unstrapping him and helping him sit up.

"Thanks!" Orion cheered, stepping off the table, and wobbly wondering out the door, with the old doctors help of corse.

"I want you to tell Alpha Trion that you need to drink more milk, and should be let outside more often. Doctors orders,"

As the months began to crawl by, Orion fell into a routine. Monday through Friday, he would help with lab work, then on Saturday, Alpha Trion would go shopping for lab supplies, and have Orion come with him, both to help carry things, and to give the boy a chance to get out more often. Sunday was also a lab-work day, but Alpha Trion would take Orion to Beta's pastry shop and order him a large glass of milk sometime in the middle of the day. On the third day of every new month, Orion would get the day off, which he usually spent the day at the park, playing with Ironhide and his friends. The dark-skinned boy had been noticeably more careful not to let his smaller friends gloves come off, but other than this new development, Ironhide and Orion's relationship barely changed; if anything, they grew closer. For the most part, Orion was content with this routine. It was tiring, but it wasn't torment.

There were days when Alpha Trion would be in a bad mood. When those days would come, it would be hard to tell, but those days where torment for Orion. He wouldn't be allowed breaks, and would often get meal privileges taken away, but those days where far and few between, so his health wasn't at risk.

Orion began to notice differences in himself. Ironhide had been the first to point this out, and Orion eventually discovered it when he looked at reflections of himself in the glass of a few building windows on sunny days.

The milk had paid off. He was taller now. Still not as tall as Ironhide, but while he used to look small by comparison, he was now beginning to catch up to his friend.

He was more muscular too. The exercise he got when outside helped to give him a more solid build, and carrying heavy Alchemy tombs as well as supplies had built up muscles on his once scrawny body. His muscles weren't defined yet, but they were there. This, Orion had to be proud of.

He was starting to have to shave. He only grew little spindle hairs on his chin, but they were still facial hair's none-the-less. His face looked more defined, and he had started growing his hair out, partly because he didn't really have time to cut it, but also partly because his eldest brother had long hair, which he had kept in a ponytail, and Orion was curious to see if it would good on him also.

He finally looked like a fifteen-year-old boy. No, sixteen.

That's right. He had turned sixteen, and barely noticed. The year just dashed by quickly, and he had forgotten it was his birthday. He hadn't remembered until the month ended. He guessed there was nothing he could do about it now. The year just passed by so rapidly. The nameless boy he befriended would be eighteen now.

He had the day off, so he decided to go to Beta's pastry shop to get himself a belated birthday treat. He was able to convince one of the butlers to give him some pocket change, and he quickly dashed to the shop, excited to treat himself. He had wandered off alone before, but never had he been able to buy his own food. Even before he became a slave, his mother or father were always buying whatever Orion was having at the time. Was this what it felt like to be sixteen? To have independence?

To his surprise, Beta wasn't at the counter. In her place was a girl with chin-length, strawberry blonde hair, silvery eyes, and somewhat plump lips. She was wearing a pink dress, with a lilac cloak over it, and a pair of white cotton gloves over her hands. It was possible that she was hiding a brand mark on the back of her hand.

"Is Beta not here today?" Orion asked. He may not have noticed himself, but his voice had gotten deeper over the year. It was the mid-puberty alto-pitched voice many boys his age experienced.

The girl smiled, shaking her head. "No, she's visiting a family member," She explained. "I'm Arial, and I'm taking care of the shop today,"

"Hey Arial," Orion said pleasantly. He remembered the name from hearing it tossed around a few times by Alpha and Beta. She was Beta's slave. "I'm Orion Pax," The growing boy introduced himself.

Arial stopped for a second, before turning around, smiling. "Orion Pax, huh? The slave who can read,"

"Yeah, I guess," Orion stuttered awkwardly, unsure of what to do with Ariel's question. The girl turned back towards the counter, putting away some of the glass cups.

"When I was sold to Beta, she named me Arial. Didn't even ask what my real name was," The girl informed him, a bitter tone edging in and out of her voice, obviously hating the fact that she was just renamed like some sort of doll. "But," She turned around to face Orion, slipping the white glove off her right hand, revealing her brand mark. The brandmark was supposed to be a wall; a separation; a symbol that declared someone less than human. But on her hand, it looked like a symbol of unification and trust; a special trust from one slave to another. Orion mimicked the same movement, their branded hands feeling lit with something stronger than fire, greater than slavery. A sacred promise that no matter what, the both of them were human.

"My real name is Elita. Elita One,"


Done. I hope you all enjoyed. Read and review. Whatever.

Interaction between Optimus and Elita coming soon.

~Mother Universe signing out!