Surrender

AUTHOR's NOTE: To my reviewers; Lisa, thank you for the review. I like science fiction so most of my stories revolve around that theme. However, it does make my day to learn that someone who is not into the heavy Sci-fi theme found the story interesting.

Lilac, you have been my loyal reviewer; thank you so much. As for how Arabel ended up in the brothel, it was touched on in chapter 3 just before Anata's escape to Devo's galaxy. Here;

//“Actually, there won’t be a next time. I’ve decided your sister has to be stopped,” Gregon stated.

“We had a deal, as part of my capture you were to let her go and never pursue her!”Arabel shouted.

“Yes, unfortunately it didn’t include having her harass us every step of the way. And now Cykun is dead so; forgive me if you’re offended when I say, the deal’s off.” Gregon turned to Lalkor and Vexal and said, “Find her.” He returned his gaze to Arabel once more. “As for you, we’ll deal with you later.”//

I didn't go into detail, but I allowed the reader to imagine what trouble Anata had gotten herself into that resulted in Arabel trading himself to free her.
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Arabel was taken to Tillman immediately upon his arrival at the Palace. His hands were cuffed behind his back and he was thrown to his knees before the unscrupulous Captain.

Tillman was leaning against his desk, quietly observing him. He waited to see if the young whore would go into a diatribe concerning his re-capture but nothing seemed forthcoming. In fact, Arabel had not even raised his head to look at Tillman, almost as if he were ashamed of something.

“What’s the matter with you? You must have known you’d be back here eventually regardless of your recent heroic escape,” Gregon said with a smirk. His grin soon faded when he realized that Arabel continued to refuse to acknowledge him. Arabel’s hair had fallen forward obscuring his features from view.

Gregon motioned to the guard present and the man roughly grasped Arabel’s hair and pulled his head back. Gregon came to stand above him and noticed that Arabel’s eyes were still lowered almost as if he hadn’t the strength to face him for whatever reason. “This submission is unlike you, especially when not under the effects of Euphoria, what has happened to you?”

When Arabel continued to ignore him, Gregon responded by kicking him in the stomach. Arabel grunted and winced in pain but did not look at him. Gregon was contemplating his next attack when Arabel finally spoke.

“You’ve won, just stick me back in my cell or leave me alone; I don’t care anymore.”

“And what has brought about this change? Hmm? Was your would-be rescuer not what you expected him to be?” Gregon asked.

Arabel fought back tears as he squeezed his eyes shut. Tillman didn’t know the half of it. It hurt as if Arabel had been stabbed in the chest with a sharp dagger repeatedly. Hearing Devo admit to that scryer what Arabel had been fearful of all along. He was only using him. All the instances of kindness aboard the ship and in their cabin had been a ruse. Arabel had fallen in love with a cold-hearted bastard. He’d known this could happen when he’d put it all on the line. But he’d decided to take a leap of faith and ended up with a broken heart. It was a feeling he was most unfamiliar with. He’d never loved anyone like this before, and most likely would never love anyone else again.

The anger Arabel should have felt for Devo’s betrayal was instead replaced by a great feeling of emptiness and loneliness. Devo had used him no better than a client at the Palace; and what’s worst was that Arabel submitted to him freely. It had taken a while but the amber-eyed man had finally broken down his defenses and now Arabel would pay for it dearly.

He realized that despite the great pain he was in, there was unfinished business between him and Tillman. He raised unfeeling aqua eyes to the Captain. “You have me, now let Anata go.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that, why would I release her so she can once again cause problems for me? I can’t forget that she has been the cause of great headache these past few months.”

“Let me speak to her, I will convince her to leave me be.”

Gregon scoffed, “As if that would work. She’d never leave you unless you could make her believe that you were now happy here.”

Arabel pleaded with him, “Give me a chance, what can I do to convince you?”

Gregon had an idea though it would have been something he’d consider ludicrous to try with this whore only a couple weeks ago. He glanced up at the guard and ordered him to leave them alone. The guard didn’t question these orders and obeyed. Gregon then proceeded to unzip his pants and expose his semi-hard cock to Arabel’s view. “If you truly wish to convince me, then make the ultimate sacrifice. Submit to me willingly and I will release your sister.”

Arabel paused for a few minutes before finally replying. “You must promise never to pursue her again.”

“You have my word,” Gregon replied.

Arabel stood up and closed the distance between himself and Tillman, then once again fell to his knees before the older man. He cleared his mind and concentrated on one thing, doing this would free his sister from this man for good. It had to be done, and he could do it. After all these months of submitting to strange men while under euphoria, he certainly had the knowledge of what his clients liked best.

Leaning forward, Arabel flicked his tongue out and ran it up and down Tillman’s shaft. He circled the tip twice before engulfing the entire head in his mouth.

The guard who had escorted Arabel stood outside the office listening. He was quite surprised when he heard Tillman moan in release. Arabel was one whore that could never be used while not under Euphoria, it seems since his escape things had changed. This was good news indeed, especially for the other guards in the palace that enjoyed using the attractive slave. He would be sure to let the others know of this change in Arabel. With those excited thoughts, the guard left the hallway and waited to be summoned back to the office to take Arabel to his cell.

~*~

Tillman remained true to his word, after Arabel’s willing submission, he had ordered Anata released from the dungeon and given treatment within a healing room. Then she was clothed and taken to Arabel’s padded cell located in the Atrium for one final goodbye.

Upon entering the cell, Anata forgot all about the guard that stood nearby to run into her brother’s arms. She held his naked and thin frame to her for what seemed like a really long time before finally letting him go. “To be this close to you again my brother, let it not be the last time,” there were unshed tears in her glossy eyes as she gazed at him with heartfelt emotion.

“But it must be the last time Anata, when you leave here – you must never try to rescue me again,” Arabel ordered.

“I can not leave you to rot here, I will not …”

“You must!” Arabel didn’t intend to yell at her but realized it could not be helped. However, he lowered his voice before continuing. “I’m afraid my heart can not take the strain anymore; this constant fear and concern about what you will do, and the consequences of your actions. This is the only way for us both to survive and live out the rest of our existence.” However miserable that existence may be, he thought to himself.

Anata regarded her brother. His beautiful eyes were red rimmed and there were distinct bags beneath them. She could not tell if he had been crying or if he was simply extremely tired. However, there was something different about him that she could put her finger on. “What has happened to you?”

There was a confused expression on Arabel’s face. “What do you mean?”

“The way you’re talking; something has changed.” Anata knew this for a fact, but the question was had he changed since his incarceration at the brothel, or since his time away with Devo, speaking of whom. “What happened with Devo?” She noticed when Arabel’s mood seemed to darken almost instantly. It lasted but a few short seconds before he once again replaced an emotionless mask on his face. It was enough for Anata to surmise that something had indeed occurred with Devo.

“He did as you asked. He took me to Canlon and we waited to rendezvous with you. After we realized that you were captured and I could sense Tillman torturing you, we decided to return here.”

“Yes, I realize that – but what happened between you two?”

“Nothing,” Arabel squeezed his eyes shut for a few seconds when he realized he had responded too quickly. That certainly branded him as guilty of something.

“Arabel, we’re twins, I know when you’re lying to me.” When he refused to meet her gaze it only further cemented the fact that something unpleasant took place between the two. However, Arabel’s body didn’t seem to be battered, so if Devo hadn’t physically hurt him then what could he have done to cause this reaction in her brother? Like a light switching on Anata gasped as realization suddenly dawned on her. “By the gods, you two didn’t…” She couldn’t finish the sentence; she saw when he glanced behind her at the guard who stood silent sentry in the doorway. Apparently they were not trusted to be alone together and although the guard seemed to be ignoring them, she wouldn’t be surprised if their entire conversation was being recorded. But it didn’t matter; Anata had to know what Devo had done to him, apparently their having sex was not the only thing to it.

“Tell me what he did to you, please brother. You are sending me away, I may never see you again; I must know what he did to you!” Anata’s eyes were filled to bursting with unshed tears.

The sting of tears held at bay around Arabel’s eyes threatened to overwhelm him. Regardless of how much it hurt to talk about it, he had to tell her the truth. “I learned for the first time what it’s like to fall in love – and then fall out of it.”

The tears finally broke their damn and began to flow silently down Anata’s dusky skinned face. She had been suspecting this before he even said the words; Arabel had been hurt by the Prince in the worst way and the experience had left him a broken man.

“The scryer who found us, Devo admitted to him that he was only using me to find his way back to his planet, and if he could find another method of doing so that did not involve either you or I, then he’d gladly jump at it.”

“That bastard, how could he do this to you? Oh Arabel I’m so sorry.”

“Perhaps I was the foolish one, he never made me any promises,” Arabel stated calmly.

“NO, you are not a fool. If you fell for him, then it certainly wasn’t by accident.”

“Your time’s almost up,” the guard barked from outside the room.

“Sister, I have yet to hear you promise that you will cease all pursuit of me. This is not only a part of your release deal, but it is contingent upon my continued well-being,” Arabel explained.

“Do you realize what you’re asking me to do?” Anata’s silent tears continued to stream down her face as she looked at him with a feeling so overwhelming it threatened to crush her spirit.

“Yes, I’m asking you to give us both a chance to live – our lives may not be ideal, but at least we’ll be alive.”

“But what kind of life will it be?”

“Anata, you have an opportunity to carry on our race. It is quite possible that we are the last of our kind; do not allow us to die off in vain.”

The guard entered the room then; he grabbed Anata’s hand and began to literally drag her out of the cell. Arabel watched her go, as he said his final words to his beloved sister. “Do not forget what I’ve told you, and always remember that I love you.” When the door closed behind them he heard Anata wail in pain and frustration, eventually the sound faded away as she descended the elevator.

Arabel rested his forehead against the padded wall and wrapped his arms around his trembling frame. He couldn’t believe that things could be worse now than they were a month ago. Back then he was a whore, but was only used as such while under Euphoria. Now, as part of Anata’s release deal, he would only undergo Euphoria while servicing clients, but for the remainder of the Palace personnel that wished to use him privately, he would have to submit willingly. Any defiance on his part and they would track Anata down and enslave her, or worse.

To top it all off, Arabel had to deal with the added grief of Devo’s betrayal. He wished he’d never met the man. Devo had allowed him to imagine what it would be like to settle down with someone and live a life other than what he had been subject to for the last couple years. Nothing was more gut-wrenching than having that all pulled out from under him.

Arabel felt the wet tears on his face and wished he could cease shedding them for someone as unworthy as Devo. But they came involuntarily coupled with the pain of the nightmare his life would now revolve around. He hadn’t been left alone for more than a few minutes when another guard entered his chambers, he recognized him as Jayled.

“Come on, time is money and you’ve got a big night tonight after being gone from the selection list for so long. I imagine our clients will be using you until the wee hours of the morning.” Jayled chuckled as he grabbed Arabel by the arm and escorted him to the elevator pad.

~*~

Devo soon learned that attempting to contact the owner of the Cadence Palace proved more difficult than he had first anticipated. He couldn’t even gain admittance to see the Captain who ran the place in Mr. Draymond’s absence. He had a feeling that Medaq had something to do with it, he was almost certain that Tillman would at least want him for questioning. However, he was being outright refused which could only mean that none of Devo’s requests were actually reaching Tillman’s ears. He had seen Medaq’s red-headed scryer companion speaking quietly to one of the entrance guards. Certainly proof that Medaq had his reaches throughout the brothel. Yet, all he cared about was getting in to see Arabel so he could explain everything.

He was refused admission to the brothel without a credit card, which apparently was the procedure they used to keep the good, paying customers in and the unsavory, poor ones out. Devo also learned that he could not teleport into the brothel. Apparently the building was made of some type of shielding. With his teleportation skills taken out of the mix he had now used up his options of getting in to see Arabel.

Devo didn’t want to have to wait for his confrontation with Medaq the following day to get things resolved but as it seemed he had no choice. So, he returned to the hidden chute and found someone he didn’t expect to see. “Anata, they released you.” He stated the obvious.

Anata saw when Devo entered and walked up to him calmly. She looked him up and down, he was wearing different clothing from the last time she saw him not that it mattered.

Before Devo could say something else, Anata slapped him across the face soundly. The personal attack spoke volumes; no doubt Anata had already spoken to her brother. “Allow me to explain.”

“How could I have been so wrong about you? Here I was thinking you were a perfect and honorable Prince, yet you used my brother as if he were a common whore then tossed him aside when it suited you!” Anata’s aqua eyes flared as she glared at him.

“I’m afraid there’s been a big misunderstanding. I need to speak to Arabel; I need to make him see that I didn’t mean what I said.” If only it were possible to send his thoughts to him, as it was since he was half Suvian, he could strike up mental conversations with only those of his own kind. Other races were out of the question.

“You’ve ruined everything, we would have been better off had I not come to your galaxy.” The tears were back as they once again spilled down Anata’s cheeks in streaming rivulets.

“I’m sorry that I hurt him and I’m sorry I hurt you, I simply want a chance to make it right,” Devo pleaded.

“It’s too late, you didn’t see the defeated look in his eyes; his Talion pride is crushed!” Anata cried.

“You have to believe me when I say I was trying to protect both of you from Medaq. That Scryer has his eyes on me and I didn’t want him to be able to use either of you as pawns against me. That’s the only reason I said what I did, and that’s the truth.”

“Well,” Anata stared at him as her tears finally dried up; “Did it work?”

Devo sighed and shook his head. “No, Medaq was smarter than I thought.”

“How so?”

“All I know is that he wants to fight me, and if he is victorious he wishes me to join him. His plan was to use Arabel so that I’m forced to comply.”

Anata continued to stare at Devo as realization dawned on her. Even if Arabel was wrong about him it didn’t change the fact that Devo had hurt him deeply. She wasn’t sure if anything Devo said could ever change that.

“So shall we go back to our original deal? After I defeat Medaq, he will be forced to give up Arabel and then the three of us can escape from here,” Devo suggested.

“Even if you were able to defeat the Scryer, do you really think he’d release my brother? Regardless of the outcome, I’m certain Tillman would have objections to that. The Captain made sure to remind me each day after he’d ceased my torture how much money he was losing not having Arabel at the Palace. They’ll never let him go; and its worse now that he…” Anata’s voice trailed off as she was unable to finish her sentence.

“That what?”

Anata sighed before leveling her gaze at Devo. “That he doesn’t want to leave. His last orders to me were to get on with my life and forget about him. He wants me to…” Anata paused as her voice broke. “To carry on the Talion race; he full well expects to spend the rest of his life in that brothel.”

“That’s not going to happen; I won’t let that happen,” Devo said adamantly.

Anata was slightly surprised by his tone. “Am I to understand that you feel something for him? It wasn’t just lies?”

Devo paused for a few seconds before replying. “I’m not quite certain what I feel as yet; but one thing’s for sure is I’m too involved now, there’s no turning back. Please; what else can you tell me about these Scryers and their abilities?

"we knew they were responsible for the mass destruction of our cities. It wasn't simply the Tolatrian battle ships that burned our great buildings to the ground. Most of their actions were behind the scenes and we never witnessed much one on one with them during the height of the short lived battle."

"I see -- tomorrow I fight Medaq; then we get Arabel and we leave. Can I count on you to have a portal spell ready?”

Anata supposed if this plan was all Devo’s idea then she could go along without essentially breaking her vow to Arabel. She knew she was walking a very thin line; but if it meant a chance to save her brother then she had to take it. “Yes, you can. But Devo, you need to win.”

“I intend to,” Devo replied.

“How? Even if you fight him one on one I’ve seen his allies at the Palace. They are as powerful as he is and there is no guarantee that they won’t join in.”

“That would go against the rules Medaq put forth. I know it’s a long shot to trust that he has any honor at all, but I don’t have a choice in the matter.”

Anata thought of something she’d heard Daria say during their conversations and decided to ask Devo about it. “I’d heard that the Suvians were shape-shifters, is this something that can aid you in battle?”

Devo sighed and ran a hand through his silky hair. “Not in my case.”

“You can not change form like the rest of your people?” Anata was curious.

“Yes, but I can only do it once in my lifetime and it won’t help me battle Medaq,” Devo explained.

“What exactly do you transform into?” Anata was curious

“I thought you knew that when you were asking me these questions.” Devo raised an eyebrow in her direction.

“My informant on Reldion told me much about you and your people but am afraid there were some parts that were omitted,” Anata explained. She noticed when Devo fell silent and had to wonder at that. She was even more curious now as to the Suvians morphing ability and was about to repeat her question when he spoke.

“Now would be a very good time for my rescue team to show up.”

Anata’s eyes widened. “Rescue team?”

“You didn’t think my people would be doing nothing to try to find me did you? Am sure my Uncle Kenlan has a team hard at work as we speak. But I think the delay is due in part to them encountering the same problems you did, hundreds of galaxies to pick through.”

Anata was impressed, she full well expected Devo to be trapped here until she found a way to return him to his galaxy. However, something else just occurred to her. Devo’s powerful family and friends would not be too pleased with her when they arrived. “You will explain to them that we are now allies, correct?”

For the first time since their conversation began there was a hint of a smile across Devo’s lips. “Worried are we? In any other case you would have every right to be. But Arabel has helped your cause significantly, so you’ll be safe.”

“I do want to apologize for getting you into this mess.” Anata knew her apology was long overdue.

“Well I’m not going to say all is forgiven but; after having met Arabel I now understand why your desire to save him was so strong. He’s an incredible young man.”

There was a far away look in Devo’s eyes as he spoke about Anata’s brother and she had to wonder as to the extent of his feelings for Arabel. If the Prince had indeed fallen in love with him then perhaps when he returned to his galaxy he would take them with him. They had nothing left here with the Talion race gone. Anata had even suggested to Arabel that they leave the galaxy at the time of the Talion’s defeat but he had hoped to perhaps find more of their people alive and free. It had been two years and the chances of finding any left had grown very slim. Perhaps Arabel would be more open to this idea now, especially after he learned that perhaps Devo really does care for him.

“Do you know any wealthy men that could get us into the Palace tonight? I’m very anxious to speak with Arabel,” Devo stated.

Anata shook her head. “Even if I did, getting you in to see him would be a direct violation of what he made me promise not to do. If Tillman were to find out that I was still in essence scheming, then I would let Arabel down all over again.”

Devo sighed and realized it could not be helped; he would have to wait until he defeated Medaq the following day to disabuse Arabel of his misinformed thoughts.

“I need some air,” were Devo’s last words to Anata as he quickly teleported out of the flat.

~*~

The sun had already set in the horizon yet a pink hue continued to dominate the sky. The city lights were eager to provide the illumination for the duration of the night. There was a lonely road leading from Tobkar’s entertainment block gates that were surrounded by a vast desert. This is where Devo would meet Medaq for their first and hopefully final showdown.

Devo had his staff summoned at the ready, but the blade was not as yet elongated. While the street itself was not very busy due to most passengers opting for air travel, there were a few passerby’s that he did not wish to startle with his armed appearance. He’d told Anata to stay away from the scene but had a suspicious feeling that she remained nearby. The last thing he needed was her getting hurt or worst; Arabel would never be the same if that happened. At this point he no doubt felt that Anata was all he had left in his world. Until Devo could disabuse Arabel of that notion it was imperative that Anata remained alive.

Devo had begun to wonder what was keeping Medaq when suddenly; his hair began to stand on end with static electricity. He teleported away with only a split second to spare as a bolt of lightning arced into the road where he had been standing. Glancing across the street, he saw the one responsible for the attack standing there with a wide grin on his face.

Medaq stood with his hands in his pant pockets as the light wind flapped his white jacket back and forth revealing the rippling pectorals of his chest. “I’m so glad you decided to come! But the question is, will you last longer than a minute?!”

Devo was ready when he saw Medaq summon a lighting rod to use as a weapon and teleport toward him. Although the Prince had anticipated the blow, he hadn’t expected the force Medaq used behind it. Devo was immediately lifted off his feet as they flew backwards, weapons crossed they moved across the desert several feet before Medaq finally broke the contact vanishing from view.

After Medaq teleported from sight; Devo glanced around desperately trying to locate him. That’s when he noticed a dense fog that began to envelop the area. It was rather curious that this fog seemed to have come out of nowhere. Devo remained on heightened alert as he braced for Medaq’s next attack. “Where are you? Come out and face me – or do you prefer to fight like a coward?” There was silence in answer to Devo’s taunts which surprised him. He didn’t think Medaq was the type to be unresponsive to barbs against his person.

The fog had grown so dense that Devo could not see his hands before him. This did not bode well; he’d have to rely on his senses alone to deflect Medaq’s next attack which he could almost smell coming. There was no moisture in the fog; the air had not changed in temperature which could only mean that this was an illusion. Anata had admitted earlier that she had been tricked into revealing their position to Tillman. She’d told him that one of the Scryer’s had used an illusion which made her believe that Arabel was still Tillman’s prisoner.

Devo did not blame Anata for giving them away. She had done it believing that she was protecting Arabel. Either way it did not change the outcome of their situation. Devo realized he had to remain focused and quickly cleared his head of these thoughts. That’s when the attack came; Devo saw movement in the fog and turned to block Medaq’s attack but felt nothing but air. What he’d seen no doubt had been another illusion, and unfortunately it had given Medaq the opportunity he wanted.

Devo felt when the pointed tip of the electrified staff plunged into his side. The blow had come from behind, and Devo could feel his life’s blood dampening his shirt as the fog suddenly cleared. Medaq quickly withdrew the weapon causing an involuntary grunt to escape Devo’s lips.

“I’m disappointed; I really thought you'd put up more of a fight,” Medaq said dryly.

Devo clenched his injured side and turned to face Medaq. “It’s not over yet,” He said through clenched teeth.

Medaq scoffed as he waved his blood stained staff before Devo. “Do you really think you can continue fighting me with that injury? If you’d had something else up your sleeve, you lost your chance to play that card. I know you’re stronger than this; but if you surrender now I won’t hurt you anymore.”

“Never! I will fight you until my last breath!” Devo roared and attacked swinging his staff at Medaq’s head.

Medaq deflected the blow with his own staff expertly and grinned at the look of anger on Devo’s handsome face. “Nice, you have renewed strength, even after taking a direct blow from my Spark staff. But it’s only a matter of time; you will eventually begin to feel Spark’s effects. I think you're feeling them even now.”

A lone bead of sweat trickled down the side of Devo’s face. There was a numbness that had begun to emanate from the wound in his side and spread throughout his body. So, there was a poison in Medaq’s weapon that it seemed even his advanced physiology could not counter.

“Join me so I won’t have to kill you.”

“I’d rather die than join you,” Devo retorted.

Medaq’s smile had faded and his face had taken on an unfeeling mask. Raising Spark once more, the scryer moved in for the final blow. “So be it.”