Surrender

AUTHOR's NOTE: Nearing the end of the line, will only have a couple more Chapters left to upload after this one. And Lisa, the million dollar question is will Arabel and Devo get a break? Only time will tell. ;)

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Stafon beamed Devo’s unconscious form onboard his ship that had just entered the atmosphere of Iterlan. After sensing something was wrong and initial communication failed he realized that the Prince would require their assistance.

“He’ll wake up in a few minutes.” Stafon said as he had immediately radiated a heal spell through Devo’s body ascertaining that he was only slightly injured. “What about surface scans of that mountain, any other signs of life?”

“None,” Woen replied as he glanced back at his unconscious friend. “The Queen was right to send us along.” Gillian had ordered them to stay out of sight and remain inconspicuous while Devo told Arabel the truth. Thus they had remained about a league away from the planet and only jumped into action when Devo had been injured.

Devo regained consciousness with a start. He glanced up and saw both Stafon and Woen looking at him expectantly. “Where is Arabel?”

Woen and Stafon glanced at each other before the silver-haired man spoke. “We were about to ask you the same thing.”

Devo sat up and brought a hand to his head. “By the One, the Scryers must have him.”

“There are scryers here? We sensed nothing,” Stafon stated.

“They are somehow hiding their spiritual energy. Its how they got the drop on me.” Devo got to his feet realizing that time was of the essence. “Do a scan for Arabel’s DNA marker, with any luck he may still be on the planet.

Stafon moved to promptly obey and within a few minutes he had pinpointed Arabel’s location. “I found him, he’s in the city. I can beam us to his location.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Woen asked Devo.

“I’m fine,” Devo quickly replied.

“How many scryers were there?”

“I only saw the three, including Medaq.” Devo’s voice hardened with mention of the violet-eyed scryer that had been the proverbial thorn in his side for far too long.

“Here we go,” Stafon said as all three of them began to disintegrate from view.

They appeared in the parlor of a local drinking establishment. Devo heard the rowdy laughter coupled with cat-calls before he even saw what was happening. A crowd of men had formed a circle around a table in the bar and they were the ones making the most of the noise. Devo grew alarmed when he didn’t see Arabel right away, but when he finally focused on what some of the bar men were saying; realization dawned on him.

“Stick it to him good, Charley; yea ram that big dick up his ass!”

“I want to be next!”

“No, Smeethe is next; you’ll be after him Kenoy!”

Devo had heard enough, he ran towards the crowd and quickly shoved the closest men aside to see what he had begun to fear. Arabel lay slung over the table with one man fucking his ass while the other pumped a cock in and out of his mouth. He heard the angry protests of the men he had shoved aside but all he could think about was what he was currently witnessing. He finally found his voice and issued a gruff order. “Get off of him!”

“We were here first stranger, you wait your turn!” One man protested.

Devo saw Arabel release the cock in his mouth that had just erupted a stream of sticky come all over his face. He noticed when Arabel smiled at him and his next words left him flabbergasted.

“Devo, you came for me. I’ll just finish with these and then you can fuck me for as long as you like.”

“Devo, as in Prince Devo?” One man said as he began to literally shake with fear. He almost immediately began to run from the bar and several others followed suit.

The men that remained with the intent to continue raping Arabel were either too drunk or too stupid to realize that they should have followed the other men out of the bar.

Stafon and Woen stepped in to pull the remaining men off of Arabel and deal with them accordingly. Stafon wasn’t exactly sure what was going on, but he knew something was very wrong with Arabel; it had been obvious he was servicing those men willingly.

“Arabel, are you hurt? Did Medaq do this; did he somehow put you under Euphoria again?” Devo realized that had to be it, Arabel would never let these disgusting men touch him otherwise.

“Euphoria?” Arabel began to laugh which sounded much like a cackle. “No, I’m not under Euphoria – I simply know the truth now, and I feel liberated.” Arabel paused to lick his lips and the rest of the semen that still clung there.

“The truth?” Devo asked as a sense of doom began to overtake him.

“Yes, the truth you kept from me. My people are dead, Anata is dead and I’m all alone in this world.” Arabel stared wildly at him before placing a hand between his legs and beginning to fondle himself.

“Stafon,” Devo glanced back at his Uncle.

Stafon nodded and quickly pressed the remote control teleportation button that immediately beamed them all to the deck of the Suvian vessel.

//I need to speak with him alone.// Devo sent his thoughts to Woen and Stafon.

// Are you certain? It’s obvious he’s not himself.// Stafon replied.

//Please, leave me alone with him.//

//As you wish.// Stafon and Woen left the room together.

Devo noted Arabel’s position on the floor. There was an odd look in his aqua eyes that he had never seen before. “Arabel I was about to tell you the truth, that’s why I brought you here. You weren’t supposed to hear it from Medaq.”

“You think the outcome would have been different regardless of who I heard it from? Besides, I don’t care about that anymore; I just want to fulfill my destiny. The reason I’m still alive. Do you know what that is, Devo?” Arabel continued to idly rub his penis as he stared up at Devo.

Devo swallowed hard then shook his head. He didn’t want to believe what was happening here, but it seemed Gillian had been right about her initial prognosis of Arabel’s memory loss.

“Once a whore, always a whore. Lucien Dotren said that to me just before you allowed him to rape me. I didn’t know then just how right he was.”

“No, he was wrong! You are not a whore; you are a pure and decent human being!” Devo didn’t mean to raise his voice but the disturbing things that were falling from Arabel’s lips prompted this.

Arabel leisurely got to his feet and looked Devo up and down. “Eh – whatever. Why don’t you take out that big cock of yours and fuck me raw. Call your friends; I wouldn’t mind having two cocks up my ass and one in my mouth at the same time.”

“Stop it! You need to mourn the loss of your people. This is not the way to deal with that pain.”

“What better way to deal with pain than to add more pain? They cancel each other out, don’t you think?” Arabel took this opportunity to grasp Devo’s cock through his pants. “Fuck me, make me bleed – please.”

Devo brushed past Arabel and moved to stand near the ships’ control consul, putting some distance between them. He turned around and noticed that there was a slight frown on Arabel’s beautiful face.

“Well if you’re not going to fuck me, return me to the planet where there are more than enough men willing to do the job.”

“Stop it!” Devo was quickly loosing his composure. He quickly pressed on the buttons on the ships’ controls to set a course for Atika. He had to get Arabel back there as soon as possible for treatment.

“I don’t understand what’s causing you such discomfort, you use me, I use you. We both benefit.”

Devo stared at the ships monitor unwilling to look at Arabel for fear that he would break. There had to be a way for them to reverse this change in him, Gillian would know how.

“Come on, Devo. I forgive you for withholding the truth from me. Now come over here and shove that big cock of yours up my ass,” Arabel gasped. “Or if you’d like my mouth. That would work if you want to shut me up.” He began a breathy chuckle as he gained pleasure from his wit.

Devo heard Arabel’s breathing increase which prompted him to look back at the younger man. His golden eyes widened when he saw a tool box located in one of the side compartments strewn open with its contents all over the floor. What concerned him the most was the fact that Arabel was holding a sharp-pointed tool and was now cutting his leg with it repeatedly.

Devo shadow-stepped to Arabel’s side and quickly grabbed the tool out of his hand. He knelt and placed a palm near the bleeding wounds on his calf and began a short heal spell. As he concentrated on the healing process, he didn’t notice right away when Arabel picked up a long spiky tool and prepared to shove it up his ass. Devo snatched the tool away from him before he could penetrate himself with it and cause further injury.

//Stafon I need you.// Devo had no choice but to summon his uncle realizing that Arabel was a definite danger to himself.

Devo eventually had to grasp both of Arabel’s hands to ensure he didn’t pick up anymore of the dangerous tools. He watched as Arabel struggled against him and the pout returned to those pretty lips.

“Its fine, you can hold me down. Nail me down if you like.” Arabel chuckled. “Just fuck me – hurt me, please.” Once Arabel realized the pleading wasn’t working his anger took the forefront. “Come on, fuck me you worthless prince! What are you waiting for? Make me your good, obedient, little whore!”

When Arabel suddenly went limp in his arms, Devo glanced up to see Stafon standing behind him. His uncle still held his fingers to Arabel’s neck where he had rendered him unconscious.

“I will take him to the medical ward, but am afraid I’ll have to restrain him.” Stafon stated.

Devo stood up shakily, shocked to the very core of what had occurred. “I can’t believe this is happening. Damn that Medaq.” He ran a hand through his hair as he realized that the scryer had once again managed to escape. He now realized that must have been Medaq’s plan. Once the scryer had learned that Arabel was suffering from amnesia he must have decided to tell him the truth in the most traumatic way possible, knowing that would hurt Devo more than if he had captured Devo himself for torture at a later date. Devo should have known that Medaq certainly wasn’t doing him any favors by letting him go free.

“Don’t worry, we will return to this planet to hunt for them. They’ve crossed over into our galaxy which means they must want a fight. And after what they’ve done to Arabel, am certain Gillian will be willing to give it to them.”

~*~

Devo stood outside the medical room Arabel had been placed in. A psychologist was currently in the room with him. Devo could see through the glass window on the door where Arabel lay on the bed wearing white slacks and a straight jacket. Upon their arrival at the fortress, Stafon had suggested it as the only way to prevent Arabel from further injuring himself.

Devo immediately felt Gillian’s presence when she joined him outside the doorway. “I’ve failed him, mother.”

Gillian placed a hand reassuringly on Devo’s shoulder. She could feel the stark pain emanating from him. In her heart, she was the one who failed him; she was supposed to protect him. Yet this Medaq had been allowed to do her son harm, not once but twice. She regretted not killing him when she first encountered him. But if she had anything to say about it, it was not too late to make the scryer pay for his crimes against her family.

The psychologist exited the room at that moment. Devo recognized her as Miko Tanan one of the best Suvian psychological doctors’ of their time. “Dr. Tanan, what’s the prognosis?”

The dark-haired woman glanced at Gillian before returning her attention to Devo. “I’m afraid it’s not good. It’s as you suspected, he has gone mad.”

“What can we do to reverse it?” Devo wanted to know.

“He is still for the most part a human. There is very little that can be done once insanity takes hold. Perhaps through years of treatment some part of his old self will re-emerge; but even then there’s no guarantee.”

“If you’re suggesting we give up; that’s unacceptable,” Devo stated sternly.

“Thank you doctor, you may leave,” Gillian quickly dismissed her realizing that there was nothing else Miko could do. After she was out of sight Gillian turned to look at Devo. “I want to apologize; I take full responsibility for what has happened to Arabel.”

“It’s not your fault; you predicted this would happen if he was not told the truth in the proper manner and you were right.”

“But I am the reason you didn’t tell him sooner. Whatever Medaq said or did when he revealed the truth to him must have been most traumatizing.”

“That bastard!” Devo gripped his hair tightly as he continued to stare at Arabel’s sleeping form through the window.

“Stafon’s team is currently searching Iterlan. If Medaq is still there; they’ll find him.”

“What do we do in the meantime?” Devo turned and gave his full attention to Gillian.
“There has to be a way to reverse his insanity – please mother; tell me there is a way.”

Gillian glanced away to stare at Arabel’s sleeping form through the window. She was silent for a long time as she pondered the situation.

Devo realized that her silence indicated the truth. “There is a way. Mother, you must tell me what it is.” Devo placed both his hands on her shoulders willing her to look at him once more. “Mother please, I love him. I can’t live without him. I want the Arabel I knew back.”

Gillian turned golden eyes to meet her sons’. “There is one way, but it’s too dangerous I can not condone use of this method.”

“Mother, please…”

“I can’t! You could die.” Gillian quickly turned away and entered Arabel’s room. She heard when Devo entered behind her but ignored him as she stared at the boy she thought would one day be her future son-in-law.

“Arabel is lost. You didn’t see the way he reacted when we rescued him. It seems as if he’s become completely masochistic. He suffered through so much and for so long; this is all he can relate to now – the pain. I want a chance to show him that there is something more to life but if you don’t help me; then I’ll lose him forever.”

Gillian was near tears as she listened to Devo plead his heart out. She wanted to help him but she couldn’t. She just couldn’t risk loosing him.

“For so long I thought I’d never find anyone who’d love me for me, instead of what my title is or who my parents are. I thought perhaps I’d simply have to settle for someone who annoyed me the least. But then through a turn of events, I traveled to Andrenon and there was Arabel. I have never regretted meeting him, even on the days he infuriated me the most.” Devo chuckled at the memories of their first meeting. “He had quite a temper, but as I got to know him I found it was something I admired about him. And coupled with what I’ve learned of him recently during his period of amnesia. I know that he is my perfect match.” Devo paused when he heard Arabel scoff and realized that the young man had woken up.

“Will you stop with that mushy banter, you’re making me sick.” Arabel glared up at both of them with venom in his azure eyes. He glanced down at his body and began to struggle against his restraints. “Is this really necessary Devo, if you want to fuck me there’s no need to tie me down.” He began to snicker.

Gillian glanced at Devo and instantly realized what her son had been talking about. Arabel was now a stranger to them. “Arabel, if some part of you is still in there – fight this; come back to us.”

Arabel threw his head back and laughed at her words. “Shut up bitch; don’t pretend you care.”

Devo closed his eyes and rubbed his fingers against his forehead. He wasn’t sure he wouldn’t loose it himself if he had to deal with Arabel in this state for much longer.

“Arabel you must ask yourself; is this what Anata would have wanted for you to succumb to despair? If she was the last thing you had left in this life, then why not do right by her and return to your former self.” Gillian suspected that her words would fall on deaf ears, but she had to try.

“My sister was a fool, she should have just left me in that brothel; but no she had to keep trying to rescue me. Her death is her own fault!”

“NO! I know you don’t really believe that; you loved Anata more than life itself. You must honor her memory!” Devo couldn’t stand to hear him talk about her that way especially when he knew it couldn’t be further from the truth.

“I’ll do whatever the fuck I want. Now release me; there’s an army of Suvian men I’m ready to fuck my way through.” Arabel glanced at Devo with a grin on his crazed face. “You want to watch?”

Gillian placed her fingers over Arabel’s eyes and almost instantly he lost consciousness.

“Have you seen enough? Are you ready to help me do what needs to be done?” Devo stared at his mother, his eyes unwavering.

Gillian returned his gaze and slowly nodded. She turned to leave the room with Devo and found Kenlan waiting for them outside. “Kenlan? Something’s wrong.” Gillian could instantly discern that before the mystic even spoke.

“We’re getting reports all across the galaxy. Entire civilizations are under attack by these Tolatrians; and they are doing it with the Suvian name on their lips.”

Gillian lowered her gaze as she realized the war she had sensed coming ever since she learned that the Scryers were in Tagasus had arrived sooner than she had thought. She hadn’t expected such an underhanded tactic to attack worlds that had nothing to do with the Suvians. But she should have known that they’d play dirty, anything to win. “Deploy troops to those worlds to assist them.”

Kenlan nodded his understanding but felt the need to point something else out. “You do realize that is probably their plan, to divert as many troops away from here as possible so we’ll be lightly defended when they focus their attack on Atika.”

“What would you have me do Kenlan, stand idly by while they destroy the rest of the galaxy? This is a Suvian problem, we created this; thus we can not turn a blind eye to it.”

Devo listened to the conversation in silence and saw when Kenlan nodded his agreement and left to do as he was instructed. Devo had brought this unrest to his people especially to his mother and the guilt that caused him was crushing. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t ever apologize; this isn’t your fault.” Gillian smiled at him reassuringly. “Now let’s go save Arabel.”

~*~

D’ken observed the scene before him solemnly. Arabel had been moved to the royal chambers he shared with Gillian and now lay unconscious on a bed with Devo laying opposite him. This was the plan Gillian and Devo had decided on the previous day to save Arabel from his insanity. He didn’t like it, especially since Devo would be placing his life in grave danger.

Devo was going to completely meld his mind with Arabel’s. That way he’d be able to enter the younger man’s subconscious. Gillian believed this was the only way Devo would ever get through to him. Arabel’s mind was encompassed with pain, rage and sorrow. There was no way to reach him on the surface.

There was a monitor hooked up to both of them to measure their mood fluctuations. Devo was still conscious as Gillian moved to his side. “I ask one more time, are you certain you want to do this?”

“It’s the only way, you said it yourself,” Devo replied giving her a half smile.

“You must be careful my son; his mind is now programmed to try to stop you at any opportunity. I shouldn’t need to tell you, that if your mind dies there; so does your body. I wish you’d let me go in your stead.”

“I understand the danger, and you know I’m the only one who can do this. Part of Arabel did love me at one point, and if we’re to recover that part of him then it has to be me. Please don’t worry, I will be careful.” Devo glanced at his father who stood behind her then back at Gillian. “I love you both.” He closed his eyes then began the meld process.

Gillian looked from Devo to Arabel and saw as their closed eyelids rippled with indication of the mental activity that was taking place. Once the rippling stopped she knew the meld was complete. She felt when D’ken wrapped his arms around her to offer some comfort.

“We have to trust him, that he’ll be able to get through this,” D’ken stated.

Gillian nodded, but couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that something terrible was about to happen.

~*~

//Devo instantly recognized where he was; the ruined capital city on the planet Talion. It was the same city Anata had taken him too when he’d first come to Andrenon galaxy. What was left of the ghostly tall buildings blackened with a history of destruction towered above him.

Devo heard the sound of impact tremors before he even saw what made them. He was within Arabel’s subconscious which meant that normal everyday physics may not apply. If Arabel thought it, he could make it happen here. Steeled with this knowledge, Devo was not surprised when what appeared to be a large mechanical monster come into view. He quickly took cover behind some rubble and watched the beast as it walked towards him. When it got closer he recognized that the body was made up of what appeared to be a Tolatrian battle ship; thus this scenario began to make more sense to him.

Once the beast passed by, the environment changed and was replaced with what appeared to be a dungeon of sorts. There were chains hanging from the ceiling, a fire hearth burned in the center and boxes containing various torture tools were spread throughout the room.

Devo was startled when Captain Tillman appeared in the dungeon, followed by a naked Arabel suspended from the chains in the ceiling. When the torturers appeared and began to beat him and brand his skin with hot pokers from the hearth, Devo thought he would be sick. The Prince was stunned when he heard a voice speaking in the background; he recognized it as Arabel’s.

//At least you’re safe Anata; please never return for me. My heart couldn’t take the pain if something happened to you.//

Devo choked back a sob as he heard the words and realized that this memory must have taken place while Anata was in Tagasus. This was the torture inflicted on Arabel that had caused Anata to pass out that day he met her by the river-bank. To actually witness what Arabel went through was horrifying but he had to steel himself against these images and concentrate on the goal at hand.

Devo was grateful when the scene changed but not for long. He recognized Arabel in what appeared to be a man-made forested arena. He was running for his life, his eyes wide on his fear stricken face. Devo soon saw what he was running from, dozens of Tolatrian soldiers were in hot pursuit of him.

Eventually, Arabel hit the end of the line when he ran into a solid brick wall. Devo noticed when he swallowed hard and turned around to face the horde of men that now stood there. His admiration for the younger man grew. He didn’t cower in fear though he had to be terrified. And he didn’t beg or plead for mercy when the first group of men approached and began to pummel him to a pulp.

Devo’s hands balled into fists at his sides as he observed the rest of the scene. Arabel was thrown to the dirt floor and raped repeatedly. He was horrified to see the men continue to hurt him while they took their pleasure. Thick meaty fists were repeatedly slammed into his jaw, his chest and even his groin. Arabel’s pain-filled screams were short lived, for all too soon he dissolved into a series of gasps and wheezes. His body shuddered and his lips remained parted as he struggled to breathe. Devo soon realized this change in him was due to the fact that he was on the brink of unconsciousness. Even when he did succumb to the darkness, the men continued to use his body until they had taken their fill. Devo had their faces engrained in his memory, if he encountered any of them during this upcoming war, they would die by his hands.

The scene suddenly changed and Devo found himself in a darkened room. He glanced around but couldn’t make anything out in the darkness.

“Have you had fun watching?”

Devo recognized the raspy voice as Arabel’s, and eventually he began to discern a hooded figure standing in the distance.

“Why did you come here?” Arabel asked.

Devo began to walk towards the figure. He hadn’t been certain if Arabel’s subconscious was aware of his presence or not, but now he knew. “I think that should be obvious, I came to save you.”

Arabel began to cackle. “You’ve come to save me? From what, myself?”

“From the despair you’ve fallen into, I’m here to show you that there is a way out of this.” Devo had now closed the distance between them and was standing mere inches away from the hooded Arabel.

“No, I think you came here to torture me some more. To remind me of what a fool I’ve been to place my trust in you.” Arabel suddenly removed his hood revealing his face to Devo.

Devo stifled a gasp when he saw Arabel’s appearance. There were scars running along his cheek and jaw line. His head was practically bald and his eyes were opaque white with no hint of an iris or pupil. “What – what happened?”

“Have you ever wondered what I’d look like if I hadn’t been patched up by the Cadence Palace healing machines ever so often? I doubt even you would have held any interest in fucking me.” Arabel opened his black robe revealing his heavily scarred naked body beneath it. “Do I disgust you? Do you still plan to convince me that you’re here because you care?”

“I don’t simply care for you – I love you.” Devo gazed into those lifeless eyes hoping that something would click between them. There was nothing except a slight frown that crossed Arabel’s lips.

“You love me?” Arabel scoffed at the admission. “Love this!”

Devo wasn’t prepared when black tentacles suddenly sprouted out of Arabel’s body from every direction. They shot forward at lightning speed and several of them impaled Devo’s body through the chest, legs and arms. Devo glanced at Arabel and saw that his frown had turned into a smirk.

“Die,” Arabel said in a breathy whisper.

It was the last word Devo heard before his body slumped forward. He would have fallen to the ground had the tentacles not continued to hold him up.//

~*~

Gillian instantly knew something was wrong, even before Devo began to cough violently and blood spattered from his lips. She was instantly at his side, wiping the blood a way with a napkin. Eventually his movements stilled and she realized that his life was in grave danger. She glanced up at D’ken and saw the horror-stricken look on his face.
Suddenly, the doors burst open and Kenlan walked into the room. “I’m afraid I have bad news.”

Gillian glanced up at Kenlan and didn’t think their situation could get any direr, but she soon learned how wrong she was.

“A fleet of Tolatrian war ships just appeared on radar. They have primed their weapons, we await your orders my Queen,” Kenlan stated.

Gillian glanced from Devo’s unconscious form to Kenlan and back again. She had a choice to make, save her son or save thousands of Suvian lives. //By the One, please help me.// Gillian said to herself as an explosion lit up the forested landscape not far from their balcony window.