Part 3

The convoy escorting Cashius reached the halfway point of their journey to Stella, the planet where the Star Council resides. They stopped at a nearby moon that was a fueling station. When the guards boarded the carrier on to the station, they tried to check in with Sage. They noticed there too the terminals were jammed. The guards quickly got frustrated and started scrabbling around. They knew they were traveling without any backup or the ability to call for help.

The lead guard responsible for transporting Cashius approached him and said, “Sir, my Star Lord… We are having really bad communication problems with home base and I don’t think it’s safe for you.”

Cashius looked confused at the guard, “So what are you saying? We’re going back to Sage then?”

“Well I’m not sure what to do sir. It’s not smart to travel blind like this, we have no way of asking for help if needed.” The lead guard truly was concerned about Cashius’s safety. A young guard who was standing behind Cashius stepped up to the lead guard.

“Sir, I can take him. If we go in a private carrier, we’ll get there in no time. It’ll be a lot stealthier sir if we went in something a lot smaller…” The young guard made his point and was confident about his plan.

The lead guard sighed deeply and looked at the young guard. He knew his plan was the only option other than turning around, “Ok Samson… I trust you to get this done and report back immediately upon your arrival. That’s an order!”

“Thank you, sir. You won’t have to worry. The cloaking device on the private carrier makes this all easier to get around unnoticed. I’ll have the Star Lord in Stella in no time sir.” Samson bowed to his leader and approached Cashius who was excited not to be going back to Sage. Cashius nodded to the lead guard and walked away with Samson. Their plan had worked out…

“Hot damn Samson! You convinced them… I was afraid we were going to be stuck here for a while.” Cashius asked his companion. Samson jumped in the back behind Cashius in the two seater ship. They started flipping the switches quickly trying to boot it up as fast as possible.

“It was easy… I told you because of the signal jamming issues they wouldn’t know what else to do. Without the terminals tracking the signals we’re totally off the radar. If it hadn’t of been for your terminal computer virus we wouldn’t have gotten this far. Now we can finally finish my father’s work Cash…” Samson shouted in victory, “Wow! This is crazy!” Cashius sat up front as Samson piloted the carrier. He inputted coordinates into the computer which changed the destination of the ship. The small carrier quickly turned to the left and then picked up speed. Samson could only see the coordinates but not the destination yet. His job was to make sure they didn’t hit any debris that showed up on the radars. “You know where to find him?”

Cashius turned his head slightly over his shoulder and replied, “In Gerok’s last correspondence he said he lived in the South Colonies of Mortha. I’m sure once we land there we can find him.”

“Gerok thinks he’s been talking to my father. Why you didn’t ever tell him the truth? That he passed two years ago.”

“I had to work it to my advantage. I needed him to believe it was Proctor still was supporting him. Don’t worry Samson, your father taught Gerok and I everything we know. We will carry out his plans… We should be in Mortha in two days.” Cashius knew what Samson wanted to hear. He knew the only way to keep Samson on board was to make him believe he was following Proctor’s every word. Proctor was the bread and butter to all the underground rebellions.

The man known as ‘the Sagen Computer’ was well respected throughout Sage for his technological advancements. Proctor was a high class, prestigious, very intelligent Third born. He was tall and skinny with dark brown skin and silver white hair. Proctor really made a name for himself when he invented the terminals that were placed on each habitable planet. The communication devices that allow anyone around the universe to reach Sage or any of the ally planets. The same terminals that are jammed everywhere at the moment.

Proctor also had a lot of deep secrets. He blamed Sage’s royal family especially King Jaron for not believing in all possible advancements. He didn’t agree with Sage’s inclusive way of life. Proctor low key supported what the Saijerian Colonies stood for. He believed they had the right idea and saw firsthand how powerful they could become. Only the ‘outsiders’ or Saijerians were allowed to take refuge on the Sagen moon Blackius. He saw the benefits and the potential for further growth and expansion.

Proctor preached often to the Sagen Council about opening the doors and allowing others to live among them. The idea was always shut down for the Sagens were not interested in merging or mingling with other populations. Sage was content with how it was and no one wanted it to change. The wealth overflowed into Sage but Proctor wanted more. He wanted Sage to be the leaders of everyone else. To take and learn from others around the universe in order to enhance Sage. The Sagen Council told Proctor ‘to be thankful that they had a planet to call their own. That they didn’t have to share it with anyone.’ He called all of them fools.

When Cashius was young, Proctor took him under his wing. He knew Cashius had no family after his mother died. He also noticed how different he was from the rest of the star children. Proctor molded and taught him things outside of what the priests taught the others. He befriended Cashius and made him feel special. Once Proctor learned the truth about Cashius, he really got into his head. He drilled how primitive Sage was being for not opening their doors to others. How they couldn’t truly live free…

Proctor really saw something in Cashius and thought of him as his adopted son. He was smart to keep his friendship with Cashius a secret because it allowed him to mold without judgement. Cashius was taught computer coding and how to add or change programs on Sage’s mainframe. The same mainframe Proctor created himself. Repeatedly, he told Cashius that he would not make the same mistake again.

As Cashius got older, he saw all the mistakes Proctor’s first apprentice made. All the different ways and techniques of successfully smuggling for the Saijerians and to fund their rebellion. He made the mistake of putting his own wants and ambitions before the cause. The cause that Proctor taught them was the most important thing. His first apprentice didn’t know how to balance both having power, love and having a secret agenda. Gerok almost completely ruined everything Proctor and his underground followers worked hard to achieve. When Gerok failed at overthrowing the Sagen king sixteen years ago, Proctor ordered him to take all of his followers with him. Those followers would be named Gerok’s Saijerian Clan. Proctor knew he was going to have to start over… and he did with Cashius.

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The two days went by quick as they arrived to Mortha. The purple and white tinted medium sized planet was interesting looking. The planet looked like one big ball of purple gas. Samson slowed the small thin carrier ship as the approached the inner atmosphere of the foreign planet. Both of their foreheads were glued to the windows looking down as they approached the surface.

As the carrier was closer to the ground, their surroundings got darker and darker. Once they reached the surface the thick purple and white cloud blocked majority of the sunlight. At first Samson was too afraid to get out of the carrier so Cashius reassured him they were going to be fine. “Samson look at me… you’re a guard for crying aloud. Be a damn guard…” Cashius grabbed him by his shirt and shaked him straight, “How long do we have until Stella sends word about us not being there?”

Samson was smaller in size compared to Cashius. He took off his Sagen guard armor so no one would recognize them. His fade hair cut with braids on top made Samson look much younger and green. He was too frightened and kept looking around in all directions until Cashius snapped him out of it. He looked Cashius in the eyes and stuttered answering his question. “Prob.. Probably a few weeks… How long do we plan on being here? It’s creepy as hell.”

Cashius looked up and around with Samson and agreed with the creepiness but he wasn’t worried. “Well Samson, we’re not on Sage anymore. So stay close and let’s get this phase of the plan over with ok. The sooner we find Gerok, the sooner we can leave to Stella.” Cashius looked around once more and saw a small town not too far. “We should make haste before the sunlight completely goes out. There’s a small town or something in that direction. Trust in me Samson, I have a great feeling about this.”

Samson however did not share the same feeling but walked behind Cashius anyway. Once they reached the town, Cashius noticed it was more like a slum. Dirt and sand as the floor with broken down two story buildings standing in rows. The market was in the middle filled in the open space in between the buildings. People stood along the streets stared at the new visitors. Whispers and small chatter surrounded them as Cashius and Samson walked by. The locals seemed to be a blend of different people and creatures. Species neither them had ever seen before, only in books. It was hard for them not to stare and gawk at what they came across. Everything from tall slimy creatures with long tentacles coming out of their faces to others that walked on all fours.

Half naked women stood along door openings dressed in rags reached out and tried touching the boys as they walked by. Cashius snapped his arm back with one who was being extra aggressive about wanting to spend the night. The market was run down but still fully operated. Anyone could find anything on Mortha. They were known for having all kind of exotic things. The underground black markets where people made their living with no shame.

People knew right away the two young men were new to Mortha. Two extra-large and very muscular men approached them as they walked slowly looking around. Cashius bumped into one of them and his attention quickly went down to his hands. He knew this is what he was looking for. The large half-dressed, ugly and dirty man’s hands were tattooed a light blue. The tattoos covering his body were also the same blue. They were almost like giants compared to Cashius and Samson. The men that approached them were Blue Paw Barbarians who they worked for Gerok. Cashius looked up at the tall Barbarian who was inches away from his chest. He made eye contact but didn’t blink an eye. Cashius wanted the man to know he wasn’t intimidated. At the end of the market he noticed a different type of building. It didn’t look as run down and ruined as the others surrounding it.

The Barbarian towered over Cashius and leaned down to his level. When he opened his mouth to speak the Barbarian’s breath smelled like death. “You two look lost…”

Cashius turned his head to avoid having to breathe in anymore of the man’s toxic air. “I’m looking for Gerok. I know he’s here…”

The Barbarian stood straight and tall. Again he walked closer to Cashius who still didn’t flinch. “Who?”

“Tell him Proctor is here to see him.”

“I think you’re in the wrong place boys… the girls are back that way.”

The other Barbarian spoke up, “Wait… you said Proctor?” The tall men looked at each other and nodded. “Wait here.”

Samson and Cashius were relieved when the barbarian men walked into the building they were headed to. Moments later, a light brown man who looked like kin to the boys popped out of the building. He had on a white apron covered in blood and was wiping his bloody hands with a towel. Gerok took one look at them and swung the towel over his shoulder. He turned to the Barbarians and said, “Kill them… neither of them are Proctor.”

Samson jumped behind Cashius holding his arms waiting for the Barbarians to attack. Cashius stood still then replied, “You wouldn’t want to kill Proctor’s only son, would you?” Samson popped his head from Cashius’s back.

“It’s me Uncle Gerok, Samson… we had to go through a lot to get here.”

Gerok stood still looking between the boys unsure what to believe. “Where’s Proctor if you’re his son?”

“Dead… he’s been dead for two years now.” Cashius replied.

“Dead? So who have I been talking to this whole time?” Gerok started walking closer towards Cashius.

“Me… You’ve been talking to me. I’m the one who jammed the signals. I’m the one who made sure the Sagens didn’t know where to find you. Me, Gerok, Proctor’s little secret just like you were once upon a time.”

Gerok stopped and examined Cashius from all around. “Proctor’s secret huh? And who the hell are you?”

Samson moved from behind Cashius and stood by his side, “This is Cashius… he’s the new Star Lord…”

Gerok jumped back startled and quickly got upset, “You brought the Star Lord here! You’ve brought death to us Samson!”

“No, no! He’s on our side!” Samson jumped in front of Cashius trying to calm the tension between everyone but it was too late.

The tattooed Barbarian pulled his sword from his sleeve screaming out at Cashius, “We should kill him now! We can end the rein of the Star Lord once and for all!”

Cashius cut his eyes at the threatened Barbarian and replied, “You can try…” His comment made the Barbarian furious, lounging at him with his sword. Cashius calm demeanor intrigued Gerok. Running in full speed the Barbarian swung his sword in full force trying to kill Cashius in a single blow. Instead Cashius pushed Samson to the side then moved out of the way just in time.

Without blinking Cashius kneed the large man in the gut making him hunch over. Cashius grabbed his sword out of his hands then stepped back. The Barbarian lounged at Cashius again, he countered the Barbarian’s attacks with his own sword. When the moment was right Cashius thrust the sword directly in the middle of his opponent’s chest. Blood squirt all over Cashius face as the man dropped down to his knees. His eyes glowed bright white, showing all that he was not lying about who he was. The circle surrounding Cashius and Samson jumped back. Some even dropped down to their feet bowing to him. Cashius wiped his face with hands looking around to who else might attack.

Gerok held up his hand holding back any more attacks on the proven Star Lord. Gerok felt there was something unique about Cashius, other than him being half Star. He had to know more about why Cashius was doing all of this. “What is your end game? I’m still not sure what to believe…”

Cashius replied, “It’s simple… I have an offer for you, one you could never refuse…”

Gerok gave Cashius a look, trying to read his ambitions. Gerok never passed up any opportunity that wouldn’t benefit him. He waved his hand towards Cashius and Samson welcoming them inside. “Come then… we have much to discuss.”