Chapter Text
3rd person PoV:
Night had fallen on Corsica and enveloped the camp in complete darkness. Only in one building was the light still turned on. It was a laboratory, fully equipped with high-tech equipment and all kinds of chemicals, as well as test tubes and microscopes. The person who was still sitting in the room, eagerly researching, was none other than Doctor Aquilius Orion himself. He had been working on his project for hours and worked tirelessly. It was already late, but Orion knew that he still had a long night ahead of him. That's why he regularly supplied himself with coffee, which a Darkon served him at a signal. In a good porcelain cup, of course. Orion loved luxury, but even more he loved the recognition for his genius, and he would soon get it back, it just needed some perfection and a few hours more work.
With his new project, he wanted to finally get Lennox to join his Gretzers. Despite countless attempts and tests, Orion could not compete with Lennox. He had underestimated the willpower of the Oblivion, he had to admit. But not much longer and Lennox would be just as enslaved to him as the Darkons.For weeks, Orion had been working on the serum for the Master's Oath, which was extremely difficult to produce. The effort was worth it. While Nelani actively supported him with ideas for the magic virus, the further development of his anti-magic, he always took care of his other, equally important project.
With a broad grin, Orion straightened up. A few seconds earlier, he had looked through the microscope and.... he found out he had succeeded. Excitedly, he instructed the Darkon - the doctor couldn't remember his name, but that was completely irrelevant - to bring him the handcuffs. In preparation for the oath, he had Lennox handcuffed in the shed every night. Unfortunately, the electric ankle bracelet he wore while working in the quarry falsified all blood tests. Carefully and thoroughly, Orion smeared the handcuffs with the serum. He had a devilish grin on his face the whole time. Once again, one of his plans was a resounding success, but how could it be otherwise? It had been quite a bit of work, because he had also mixed the antidote for the virus into the serum. He knew that Lennox, after the Master's Oath, would be optimized to a complete oblivion. In addition to the increased skills. For days, Orion had imagined the most beautiful visions what useful powers Lennox would get and how Orion himself would use them. Once Lennox succumbed to him, he wouldn't be able to resist him when it came to taking part in the garbage dumps. Orion sighed comfortably. If landers ever got in the way of his business, Lennox would simply make them forget. Almost bursting with pride, Orion tidied up his workplace and ordered the Darkon to keep the prepared handcuffs safe. Tomorrow morning, Orion would bring the boy to his laboratory and perform the oath with him. There would be no escape for Lennox. No one would be there to help him. Because the Alpha Cru was history and was now sailing through the seas, untouched and without memory. They knew nothing more about the sea world, him and his plans or Lennox. They had forgotten everything. With an extraordinarily good feeling, Orion went to his bedroom. He wanted to treat himself to some rest, he had earned it.
His husband, Jinx, was amazed the next day when Orion told him about his success. Smiling, Jinx leaned forward and gave him a peck.
"This means that nothing stands in the way of our plan. Should we have the Oblivion fetched immediately?" Orion laughed, but he could understand his partner's excitement, he felt it himself.
"Think about what options we have after that. We can make him pay for all the problems and difficulties he has caused us. He will kneel before us and won't be able to resist us!" Jinx continued, his eyes shining.
He reached for the doctor's arm, apparently so excited that he squeezed a little too hard, which made Orion wince in pain. Jinx noticed, and his gaze showed a mixture of remorse and concern:
"I'm sorry, I'm just so happy."
Orion smiled:
"I can understand that. That's why we're getting the boy right now."
"Darkon, here!" he thundered and summoned the same man who was with him in the lab yesterday directly to him and with him, Zeirus, the Darkons' chief.
"Bring the Oblivion here, with the handcuffs prepared! Then the serum enters his bloodstream, because the metal rings are specially sharpened. Go ahead, we don't want to lose time!"
The Darkons murmured a quiet "Yes, sir" and disappeared.
Orion and Jinx were now anticipating and the doctor began to pace restlessly. Finally, he ordered Hagen, who was leaning in the corner and waiting for instructions, to get Nelani out of her shed as well. His colleague was supposed to take part in this solemn moment. Of course, she would worry at first, but then it was already too late for help. After a few minutes, which felt endless to Orion, Hagen, Zeirus and the other Darkonian entered the laboratory again, the prisoners in tow. Orion pulled him towards him by the handcuffs. Lennox hissed:
"What do you want from me now, you sick bastard?"
Jinx stepped toward the Oblivion, but Orion signaled him to hold back. He looked at the bleeding wounds left by metal rings. Blood dripped onto the floor. Orion was now very close to the boy, only a short kiss was missing to seal the oath. Lennox tried to retreat, without success. In his eyes, Orion read irritation and disgust. He did not know the doctor's plans. Then the time had come. Doctor Aquilius Orion licked his lips and kissed the boy. With wide-open eyes and a shocked face, he pushed Orion away. But that didn't matter. With a beam the doctor straightened up. A quick sideways glance was enough to see that Jinx had turned away during this time. Orion focused on the Oblivion again. He pulled his hand into his field of vision.There they were, the scars. Everyone gathered around, looking surprised. Jinx had not missed it either and stared at the now cat the Oblivion spitefully-triumphantly.
"Raise your right hand, Lennox!" Orion said.
Astonished, Lennox did what Orion wanted. Then he opened his eyes wide and touched his head.
"And now..... kneel before us!", a hideous cheerfulness flowed through Orion as he humiliated the Oblivion with his newly received power.
He threw Jinx a loving smile and then turned to Lennox and the gathered group.
"Our plan worked perfectly. My dear Lennox, from this day on, thanks to the wonderful Master's oath, you are just as enslaved to me as the Darkons. In the process, you've been optimized to a full Hajaro and your skills have been boosted to the max. We'll test all this in more detail later. You will have to follow my every command. Let's start with a few simple rules." He rubbed his hands. "I forbid you to ever run away! For assignments, you can be away from me for weeks, but after that, you will always come back to me! Furthermore, you will never help with escape attempts and standing ups against us! Oh, and of course you'll never attack Jinx and me or do us any harm!"
He thought about it and tapped his temple:
"Oh and before I forget: You will join our entourage and support the Gretzer! If magicians appear, you too will chase them away with the Anti-Magicum and make landers forget with your gift!" He uttered these words with the greatest pleasure. "By the way, you have now also received the antidote for the sea people's virus from me. This means that you can now enter the water without Rofus and are immune."
Lennox gave him a hateful look. Tears gathered in Nelani's eyes and she sobbed softly. The Darkons looked even more broken than usual. Horror in her eyes. Hagen just stood there, an impenetrable poker face put on. But none of them could do anything. Lennox was hopelessly subjected to Orion's will.
A few days later
Lennox stood alone at the bow of the ship. Meanwhile, the Darkons unloaded tons of toxic waste. Tears ran down Lennox' cheeks. Not even the fact that no magicians had appeared so far and he didn't have to scare them away could comfort him. He felt terrible. He had to obey Doctor Orion, whether he wanted to or not. If only he had known all this beforehand... Why hadn't Hagen told him about these plans? But Lennox felt no anger. Hagen probably didn't know anything about it either. The man had entered his shed and apologized. But even he couldn't change it. He would have informed Lennox immediately, but he had no idea.
During the last few days, Orion had done various tests with him, which Lennox had endured in silence, since he couldn't do anything anyway. Apparently, he could now overcome gravity and walk straight up a wall. He had improved hand-eye coordination and strengthened combat skills.
His thoughts wandered, like the waves when they hit the shore and flowed back. He thought of the Alpha Cru, who had lost the memories of all the events of the past weeks because of him. And of his wonderful Yavani, who has been transformed into a lander by Orion's DNA shifter. How often had he wishfully looked at the North Star at night and asked Alea for forgiveness, confessed his love to her. He didn't know if he would ever be able to look her in the eye again.
Will he see her again? What would she see him as then? Did she still know him? Did she feel a connection in her heart?
Tears made their way down her cheeks. He sobbed. No, he was no longer a protector. He was no longer the warrior of the Elvarion. The devil Orion had taken away their destiny from all of them, but they could never stand up against him.
He was now turned into a broken monster. What would become of him? From him, Lennox Scorpio.