Post by CAMERON BEAUMONT on Mar 7, 2015 8:38:56 GMT
Cameron groaned as his eyes adjusted to the darkness. He could hear people moving around him and the almost silent hum of an engine. Suddenly lights flickered on and he had to squint from the contrasting light. But at least now he could see. He was on a ship, but not the one he had started on. No, this one didn't belong to his land. This was a Nova Terran ship. He could tell from the way the engine sounded, the way the straps worked on the seat he was currently in and - probably most important of all - they were flying over Nova Terra, he could see it through the window. He groaned again and promptly threw up into a bucket that had been placed at his feet. He heard a laugh from on of the crew but he just put up two fingers and threw up again.
"Those Alpha Terran's are weak, ain't they?" the pilot said, and her navigator agreed with her by nodding his head enthusiastically. Cam wanted to tell them all to fuck off, but he couldn't seem to find his voice. The magnitude of his situation was starting to sink in.
As the space ship lurched to start it's decent, Cam looked around the cabin and spotted the fighter he had been with silently scratching his skin as if he could escape the rope that held his arms together. Cam wondered briefly why his own hands hadn't been tied. But his mind was brought to an abrupt stop when he saw the lifeless body of the navigator the fighter had been paired with. He took in a sharp breath and had to cover his mouth to stop himself throwing up again.
"We didn't wanna kill 'im. But he tried to shoot us," the pilot said, turning to face Cam as if she had spotted the man's reaction. Cam didn't reply, he couldn't. What kind of person shot someone else? Okay maybe he had been sent to kill a few Nova Terra scouts, but that was different. They were traitors.
The ship landed in a port called Zenith, Cameron and the fighter were hauled to their feet and while the fighter struggled he was quickly restrained. Cameron's hands were finally tied together, but not because they thought he would fight, it was just to guide him around like a dog. He blindly followed, well, not blindly, but his eyes were glancing around Nova Terra. He had never seen it for real, only in pictures back on Alpha and they made it look like a wasteland. But it wasn't. It was the complete opposite. It was white, clean, bright. Even the huge factories were clean, unlike the ones on Alpha.
"Alpha slaves, Sir," the pilot said finally, passing Cam's rope and the fighter over to two men who were wearing grey uniforms.
"Slaves?" Cameron exclaimed, finally pulling at his ropes, "I am not going to be a slave. I'm the son of-" he stopped as the fighter kicked him in the shins to shut him up. The two men raised their eyebrows and one of them took a step forward, running his hand under Cam's chin and down his neck. The grip suddenly tightened and Cam gasped for breath.
"If we say you're going to be a slave, you're going to be a slave. Go it? Alpha scum," the man hissed, giving Cam's neck a hard squeeze before letting go and leading the two men out of the port and onto a contraption that looked like a car, but there were no wheels, it sort of hovered in mid air.
Cam looked down at his tied hands and remained silent the whole journey, even when the fighter moved closer to him as a sign of comfort. He had no idea what was going to happen, or how he was going to get out of the situation. Soon the car stopped and everyone got out. They were in the middle of a market place, thousands of people were already gathered to watch a man on the stage who seemed to be selling slaves. It was like an auction, people waving flags or cards to bid thousands of credits. Cam's eyes grew wide as a woman went for thirty thousand to a family in the back of the ground - she was clearly going to be the new babysitter. Cam hoped that would be his fate, something nice...rather than a cleaner or worse!
He was guided to a line of people to 'sign up' to slavery. His finger prints were scanned, and then scanned again. He frowned as the man scanning them called someone else over to look at his prints. Cam could feel his heart beating hard in his chest, but he was pushed on and found himself walking up the steps of the podium, standing next to the seller. He stood up tall, trying to look more appealing to families and people who wouldn't throw him around.
The seller smiled at him and made a gesture at Cam that seemed to mean he was going to make the seller rich. But Cam didn't know why, he wasn't particularly skilled, and no one knew who he was.
"And here we have a lovely boy. Alpha Terran, but don't let that put you off because this little beauty is the son of the president. That's right folks, this is Cameron Beaumont. Probably the most wanted young man in the galaxy right now. You can buy him, have some fun and then send him back with the bonus of the reward for him to come home to mummy and daddy! What do you say? Lets start the bidding at a thousand credits!"
Post by BENJAMIN MORDECAI on Mar 7, 2015 20:53:12 GMT
Auctions weren't something Benjamin Mordecai approved of. He was the new ruler of his planet and his own Empire. The people stood behind his monarchy, but, they were curious if he would hold the traditions of his father. Thus, Benjamin Mordecai made an appearance at a high profile slave auction that would be transmitted across the stars. Slaves were treated pretty well on Terra Nova. A great deal better then those from the original homeworld treated the early Terra Novans. But, he stopped before it and stood at the market, avoiding entering the market. Perhaps it was time to end it.
Cameron Beaumont. The name was announced at the televised slave market. Benjamin stopped in his tracks and looked up at the screen. Benjamin looked to his right at his guard that he had since he was a small child. He walked forward to the salve market and moved straight to the announcement room. Fifty thousand. He heard an offer. Benjamin walked up between the crowd and to the stage.
He stared at Cameron and smirked. "Hey, Cam. I wasn't aware of any state level communications between our worlds, ever since your father sent a warship to attack our colony." he blinked. It was a press nightmare. It was to be a successful colony, an example that Terra Nova was not a fluke and the people were successful enough to expand to more worlds.
Benjamin rose his hand and smacked Cameron hard across the face. "That is for last time you were here." he was still a bit bitter about what happened. He looked at the auctioneer. "He's mine. Ship him to my quarters. I need a new waiter." Benjamin looked back at Cameron for a second and walked away. "Also, send him stripped. Last time he was at my quarters he brought a weapon to assassinate the Dear Emperor." he smirked and walked away... Waiting to see if Cameron would say anything.
Post by CAMERON BEAUMONT on Mar 8, 2015 17:30:22 GMT
Cam looked down at his feet as people jeered numbers at him, putting a price on his life. He felt dirty, violated and nothing had even happened yet. His eyes flickered up to a woman who bid thirty thousand credits for him and then quickly over to an older man who bid forty. It seemed ridiculous that people would spend so much on him! Did they spend that much on other slaves? No. He wasn't a slave this was barbaric. His eyes grew wide as someone shouted fifty thousand and then there was silence. Was that it? No one went higher than fifty? Why did he feel disappointed by that?
Then, finally looking up, he spotted the reason behind the silence. Benjamin Mordecai. Cam felt his chest tightening and his teeth grinding together as the man approached. He straightened up as the man addressed him, a scowl apparent on his face despite what his mother had taught him to do when greeting people of note. Though he didn't really have Benji down as someone of note - he was a traitor to Alpha and not worth the shoes he wore.
Benjamin was trying to bait him, trying to get him to retaliate. He was close. But Cameron held onto his composure, ignoring the teasing voice at his ear. Then the hand came down on his face and Cam staggered under the weight of it. He held his hand up to his cheek trying to cover up the red tinge that had appeared. His eyes had begun to water, but he quickly blinked it away before the cameras caught sight of it.
"The last time I was here? I've never been here!" he exclaimed, his eyebrows furrowing. This had been the first time he'd left Alpha, and now look at where that had got him. Maybe his father had been right - maybe he wasn't ready to fight. Maybe he was still too young, or more suited to a desk job instead of out int he field.
"What are you even talking about? You're delirious! I didn't kill anyone!" he shouted, not bothering that almost a million people could hear him. "I'm not going anywhere with you! You're a moron!"
Post by BENJAMIN MORDECAI on Mar 9, 2015 5:48:38 GMT
"Hey kid," Benjamin smirked at a kid sitting with his father. He bent his knees and got down to look at the kid's level. "I'll give you twenty thousand credits to punch the slave that disrespected your Emperor. Sound good?" the father gasped and started nodding his head. The kid just stared forward and looked down at the ground. The kid's father started nudging him. Benjamin smirked. "Awh. You're a sweetheart, aren't you? It's okay." Benjamin reached into his pocket and pulled out a little chip that was worth thousands of credits. "Happy birthday, kid." Benjamin spoke, poking a finger into his birthday name tag for a place not far from the market.
"Are you seeking a servant sir, for your business or something?" the man nodded and quivered. "Oh yes, sir. I was wondering if it was worth the investment. I understand they get their freedom after a few years. Times have been tough. I'd prefer to hire a local. But, times been tough. Times are tough. But, we're surviving sir in your glorious city. We like living in Zenith. We very much appreciate being able to live inside the dome."The dome surrounded the entire city, once a remnant of humanity's largest ever constructed ship in history. It landed on the planet to begin the terraforming process. It had been many, many, years since then. The planet had breathable air. But, the ship became a gorgeous dome and a shining example of life and equality across the stars. Not counting the slaves. Pollution was regulated. Things were green. There weren't blackouts in the capital. It was clearly an economic and cultural hub of the entire sector.
"I understand. It's why my grandfather instated the rule. They're human... But, they must earn their keep while prisoners of war." The slaves were only prisoners of war or criminals. They were never civilians or Novan citizens. Criminals usually got bought out by the mining companies or other rough industries. Prisoner of War didn't have a sentence end, due to the ongoing conflict with Alpha. Usually the prisoners contracts were ended by the government every few years after negotiations went through and Nova Terrans were released. But, Nova Terra had the upper hand. It had been five years since any prisoner was released back to Alpha. Especially with relations ruined. "Sir, the colony mission is going onwards." Benjamin stood up looking around the room of the market. The media had caught he was there and was already piling in with a crowd. "The colony is moving forward despite Alpha Terran aggression. We have found and secured a gorgeous world for all of us... A home with animals. Real birds that fly through the air. Air so clean your children's lungs will thrive without needing to visit a hospital. The entire planet is as perfect as Zenith." Benjamin used the opportunity. "My new young friend here," he looked down at the boy. "And his father will be among the first settlers of our new world after a bloody and vicious battle to keep our claim from Alpha Terra. They tried to steal our colony. Our military is amassing a second fleet to protect a real, natural world at any cost. Times will be hard. Will be tough. Our economy will feel a strain..." Benjamin smiled and took a breath. "But, our new home will be away... Away from here. Away from the aggression of Alpha Terra so that we all may live in peace and thrive among the stars. There are dozens of suitable planets for terraforming within our new sector. I invite you all to one day see it within our lifetimes." he smiled.
"Who will protect Alpha Centauri?!" he heard a woman's voice shout the question. Benjamin was well aware of that. It was a fact taught in children's schools. They had found sentient alien life when mankind first ventured away from earth. "Nova Terrans have a duty to protect Alpha Centauri. It is a vital operation to keep our appearances there so the Alpha Terrans do not rape the rich lands that belong to the Centauri people." he gulped. "We have learned recently their space program has begun and is making remarkable progress. Soon, however, they may join our great civilization, but, it is their choice... Entirely. The Centauri must find their own way. Humanity will not stop their progress." It was a popular opinion to leave them alone on all the worlds. Nobody approved of destroying a sentient species. "We owe a debt to the Centauri people. If it were not for them, we would not have built our beautiful colony and world out here... Earth... The Alphans would still be here! Controlling us. Our distance bought our military the time. Our new colony will make it impossible for the Alpha Terrans to follow us. We can defend our new colony and Alpha Terra. Soon we'll thrive upon two worlds." he looked down at the kid. "Have you ever seen a real bird?" he asked to the kid. The kid shook his head. "The transport vessel leaves in a month." Benjamin looked at the child's father. "Here," he spoke pulling another chip out of his pocket. "Buy a servant or two. You'll need it. I won't lie. Life will be tough. Will you go to Orion for me?" The man stood up from his chair and sat his young son down on his feet. The man saluted Benjamin. Benjamin smiled and the kid did a little salute.
Benjamin turned back to look to Cameron. "Nova Terra is strong, united, and the dominant power in this sector. We are making the choice to leave Alpha Terra alone. This is my message for Cameron Beaumont's father and government. You give us ten years, leave us alone... Do not approach our ships or our territory... We will leave this sector entirely and move away and cut off all ties. Any attack on any Nova Terran territory will forfeit the life of Cameron Beaumont. Leave us alone, all prisoners of war will be released." he looked at the crowd. "I am pleased to announce the engines of Zenith have been repaired. The capital will move to Orion when the time has come..." The engines broke over a century ago. For the independence war it was salvaged to help defend their sovereignty. "Surrender your fleet, I'll give back all prisoners of war immediately." That was never going to happen. Benjamin knew it. "I call for a complete pause in all aggression."
Benjamin left the market. There was a crowd cheering and debating. There were arguments. There was all kinds of things happening. He prided debates. While he made the final decision at the state level, debates made his people proud. Benjamin stepped onto his transport to move away from the market and across the city, the dome, the ship, Zenith to his home overlooking an artificial sea that still held life brought with them from earth so long ago. It was a popular tourist attraction... The only sea with real life, real fish, and real seafood. Benjamin sat in a chair and watched as Cameron was thrown into the transport with him. The guard behind Cameron pulled out a blade and cut the shirt off. He moved his knife again, skillfully and cut the remainder of the slave's clothes. Benjamin looked at the nude slave. "Cam. Take a seat. We're going home. I guarantee you'll be treated like a guest of the state, if you behave. So. Choose. Sex or labor? Live as a king or with your lungs choking for air?"
