Chapter Text
Twin golden suns rose on the planet of Phthia casting a saturated glow upon the land.
‘ It's probably like this every morning ’, Patroclus silently hoped as he stepped off the ship and onto the sandy platform.
There was a lot of sand here, but that was due to how this planet was mostly ocean. It was known to even young Patroclus that this planet lacked drinkable water due to most of it being either in ice or mixed with marine salt- as what his father mentioned to him offhandedly before he had sent him off world and halfway across the galaxy.
A few servants that bore the royal crest of this oceanic planet approached young Patroclus from across the landing platform- they had been seemingly waiting for him.
“You must be the young prince that we've been waiting for.” one of them said.
He wasn't a prince anymore.
Exiled. Disgraced .
Unworthy .
The two servants escorted him to a royal crested speeder bike. They had him sit between rather than having him ride in the back where he risked falling off. As they rode through the town, Patroclus took in his surroundings. The buildings around them were mostly made from stone most likely made from what they find on the sea shore. The streets were dirt and sand, but packed down from use. The people out on the streets wore mainly tunics or trailing cloaks. It wasn't anything like his home planet Opus- a planet that was mostly forest and grasslands.
He was snapped from his thoughts when they passed through the palace gates of Phthia. The servants told him that they were escorting him to their gracious king. The king that was so generous to take in a disgrace such as himself. They brought Patroclus to what he can only assume is the throne room. The seating place of Phthia`s royalty was gilded with gold and mother of pearl which did well to reflect the warm glow of this planet`s twin suns through the tall open windows.
The servants only brought him as far as the entrance, the rest he had to walk on his own. The exiled prince made his own way down the hall of the throne room keeping his glance trailed down. From his peripheral vision he made out that there was someone that occupied the smaller of the two thrones. Another young boy who was probably the same age as Patroclus had himself sitting carelessly horizontal in the gilded throne with his feet up on the arm of the seat.
Patroclus stood a good distance away from who he could only gather to be the non-exiled prince of this planet. The first thing he noticed about the prince`s features was his wavy golden hair that reflected his planet`s morning glow. His fair skin contrasted the rest of his people`s as the intensity of having two suns made the majority of his people have darker skin. If anything Patroclus looked more like a resident here with his own darker skin matched with his mess of curly hair.
The prince didn't as much as cast a glance in Patroclus`s direction. He was far more distracted by bouncing a small rubber ball at the nearest wall and catching it. Despite finding his own source of entertainment he harbored a bored expression.
“Your name?” the prince finally said after what seemed to be long dragged out minutes that had passed.
“Patroclus.”
The prince paused his game of 'one man catch' and turned his attention to the boy before him. Patroclus felt his emerald eyes sizing him up- analyzing him with their analytical gaze.
“Patroclus.” he said with the name rolling off his tongue effortlessly.
Most people butcher his name the first several times they say it since it was such a mouthful.
Pa-tro-clus .
“Yes.”
The prince`s lips upturned slightly with a tilt of his head. “Is that all you introduce yourself with? Your name?”
“Y-yes.” he said lamely.
“Most would announce where they come from, their surname, you know.”
Patroclus was almost too stunned to speak. He hadn't even been in the palace for an hour and he already made a fool of himself.
“Achilles.” the prince finally said. “I'm Achilles.”
Achilles .
“The servants will escort you to where the others stay. Welcome to Phthia.”
Patroclus may no longer be a prince himself, but he could still very well recognize a dismissal when he heard one. He bowed his head and turned to leave the throne room. As he made his way to the exit, he could feel those emerald eyes staring down at him the whole time.
Patroclus shared a room with many other children- the orphaned or disgraced children that King Peleus took in to educate and hopefully become future soldiers or servants to his son Achilles. They wasted no time in starting Patroclus`s training. They taught him how to use flight with weapons of all sorts. Weapons with technology his own father would never admit to never being able to afford such things. Patroclus had gotten handy with a hand held blaster, but when it came to a test of strength he wasn't much of a match since he was one of the smaller children. Achilles would sometimes observe the training of his future army. Patroclus could feel the prince watching him whenever he would train and it was very distracting. It almost seemed like he was just doomed to make a sour impression with Achilles no matter how hard he tried.
Achilles would always eat meals with the children in training, but Patroclus would never try to sit with him like the rest of them. Why would he? He had no right to sit with him or even try to interact with him. Even so, Patroclus would feel the prince`s emerald gaze each time. One day Patroclus began taking his meals elsewhere.
Anywhere as long as he was out of the prince`s sight.
He usually hid in some storage closet. During training he overheard a few of the children mention that Achilles hadn't been showing up for meals either.
One day he found out why when the prince stumbled upon Patroclus sitting alone in one of his hiding places during lunch. Patroclus expected harsh judgment from him, and was left confused when Achilles actually sat and ate with him in the dusty old closet. Achilles would always lead the conversations- if you want to call them that. Patroclus would mostly respond with nods and shrugs as Achilles went on about this and this.
It became a game.
Every day during lunch Patroclus would hide in a different closet and Achilles would have to find him and eat his meal before it was time for both of them to go back to their duties. Achilles would always find him though. Patroclus had no idea how he did it, but he would always find him in less than ten minutes from the start of lunch. Patroclus then started hiding in places that weren't closets, but Achilles would find him with the same ease. One day Patroclus decided to just ask him what his method of finding him was.
“I can sense you. Your presence stands out from the rest so it's easy to find you.”
Patroclus would have written it off as a joke if Achilles hadn't already proven it time and time again.
“You can sense others too?”
“Sometimes. It depends. I don't know. I never thought of it as abnormal until I realized that it's not something anyone can just do.”
Patroclus would sometimes eavesdrop on Achilles`s training sessions and see the way he moves- as if he can predict his opponent's movements with the blink of an eye. Patroclus wondered if it had to do with his ‘sense’ that would find him everyday during lunch.
“Want to do something reckless tonight?” the prince said to him with a mischievous glint in his eye.
“Of course.” Patroclus would say to him in a tone that was not befitting for a prince but for a dear best friend.
“Meet me at hiding spot number three after sunset.”
Patroclus knew that it was probably a disastrous idea.
“Sure.”
But everything with Achilles was always so. He reveled in the excitement it gave him whenever they would sneak off together. Patroclus trusted in Achilles`s sixth sense to make it so they never get caught.
They met up as they said and Achilles led him outside the palace and past the courtyards. They walked for over an hour before they made it to a hillside that overlooked the ocean and had the best view of the stars above that surrounded Phthia`s triplet moons.
They laid side by side on the sand filled grassland facing the stars.
“What was it like getting here?” Achilles asked.
“What do you mean?”
“Traveling through space. What was it like?”
Patroclus brushed the curls off his face in contemplation as he kept his gaze glowered to the endless night sky. “It was nothing like this,” he finally said. “There are some things that are to be expected. Asteroids, space junk, other ships. The most exhilarating thing that I didn't expect is seeing your own planet from space. Like of course, you expect to see it form your ship as you go off world, but it makes you realize just how small it is compared to the rest of the universe. Just how small we all are compared to… everything.”
When he finished his explanation, he realized that Achilles wasn't looking at the sky, but at him with eyes filled with wonderment.
“I hear about all the different planets the other children come from. The different climates, environments, and the routes they took to get here though the cosmos.” he began with a frown. “When I was younger I would sneak up on the trade pilots that came for our pearl and demand they tell me of all their adventures traveling through space. I myself have never left Phthia. You say that venturing through space makes you realize how small you are in the universe. I say I already know how small my world is. It's like a cage to me, barring me off from the rest of everything out there. I need to see it for myself.”
“You shall.”
Achilles responded with a snicker. “How am I supposed to be when I'm the crown prince of this planet? My job is to stay here and look over my global kingdom. Only planets that are a part of the Republic with ambassadors get to intermingle with other worlds. We are a neutral planet.”
“Why doesn't Phthia join the Republic?”
“I`ve asked my father that before. It would help with our supply issues. But he's too stubborn and fears that if the Republic ever starts a war or something that we would get wrapped up into it. That's why he builds a military like he has. I tell him that he's paranoid. We've been at a time of peace for so long!”
Patroclus and Achilles may be the same age, but they both definitely have their own sets of wisdom. “A time of peace can turn to chaos at the drop of a hat, no matter how long it's been going on. Everything you ever knew to be your normal can shift with just a single action.” he's speaking from experience. It was one moment in his life that completely changed his life. One moment that gave his cruel father the perfect liable reason to finally disown the son that he never wanted. It's true that his life has improved since he arrived at Phthia, but it wears on him everyday knowing that he will probably never see his mother again. "I certainly see were your father is coming from. However, I also think that he is considering the kingdom`s current situation. It may get to the point where we have little choice if things on Phthia keep going for the downturn."
Achilles seemed to take that into consideration. “Look at you.” he eventually snickered. “You could be a Jedi.”
“What's a Jedi?”
“I've heard about them from my father`s off-world allies that come and visit sometimes. They're said to be warriors that keep the peace in the galaxy. They're all apparently very wise. And I suppose that if they see as much of the galaxy as they do, then they would be.”
Patroclus gave Achilles an amused glance. “Yeah that's definitely not like me at all. I'm flattered though.”
The night crept on was filled with laughter and the sharing of secrets and stories that would only be spoken between them.
Achilles made Patroclus his personal therapon- or personal attendant, but really it was a fancy title so they could spend more time together. The other children often sent Patroclus envious eyes, but none of them dared to speak ill of the crown prince`s hand picked therapon. Achilles had Patroclus`s bed moved to his room. Their beds were pressed against opposite walls, but they both had a good view of the window that gave them a grand view of Phthia. Patroclus didn't have to go train with the others anymore. Him and Achilles would train together with the royal guard`s captain. Achilles would always best him no matter what with a grace and skill that Patroclus somehow knew that he would never possess.
Achilles was always sure to include Patroclus in all of his activities. Even when Achilles would have to sit in on political meetings at his father's side, he insisted that Patroclus should always have a seat beside himself. Patroclus always felt a little out of place as he knew he truly had no right to be there, but as the meetings became more and more frequent he began having a deeper understanding in politics and admittedly became quite invested in them.
As Patroclus got more and more invested in politics, he started to notice more about the kingdom's economy. He noticed that drinkable water is becoming more short in supply- since they have to get that mainly off world due to how their planet`s water is too salty to drink. He noticed that it was a bad fishing year which slowed down the trade to getting more water in the first place. The only thing that they had plentiful in supply was pearl- their planet`s most valuable resource. The pearl trade to other planets was the only thing preventing the people from starving in this economic downturn.
The months passed by, and the supply issues only worsened as it was becoming increasingly difficult to get planets to trade with them when all you have to offer is one type of precious stone that is for decorational purposes.
Patroclus was present at Achilles`s side as they sat in on a meeting to discuss this amongst the planet`s leaders. Some of them were holograms, and some of them were physically present.
“The Trade Federation has been having disputes with neighboring systems.” King Peleus informed everyone at the meeting. “There is a blockade in the way of our trade routes. If this doesn't get resolved quickly, there will be an oncoming recession in our economy. We must resolve this quickly to prevent this.”
There were some suggestions and some arguing that which most went over Achilles and Patroclus`s heads.
“What if we went to the Republic about this? The Trade Federation operates with them so they might be able to do something about it.” Patroclus said louder than he realized.
Heads turned to the boy.
Crap . He had crossed a line.
Patroclus tensed his shoulders in an attempt to make himself look smaller. Achilles placed a gentle hand on his shoulder which made him relax slightly.
“I agree with Patroclus.” Achilles declared. “We`ve wanted to remain a neutral planet, but not being a part of the Republic has been a strain on our economy as our resources are depleting.”
Patroclus sent Achilles a grateful smile. Achilles gave him an encouraging pat on the shoulder to continue.
“Our economy has only been able to sustain itself through our pearl trade. Getting supplies has become more and more difficult as most other systems don't wish to trade with unaffiliated planets such as Phthia. As of right now, we have no idea what the Trade Federation`s intentions are. We could simply be the planet that happens to be in range of their blockade, or they could be instigating a feud.” Patroclus declared with more confidence. “I fear that Phthia may not be able to remain neutral for much longer. We already embody the protections of freedom in our justice system the Republic swears to uphold, and this way we will be protected from situations such as this going forth.”
A few of the men began discussing the idea amongst themselves.
“As I understand that being in a time of peace would not last forever. If there was indeed a galactic level war then there would be nothing we could do to avoid it.” Patroclus continued. "At least with being on the side of the Republic we would be granted assistance. Our world wouldn't go hungry.”
Any talk of this twelve year old boy not being old enough to know what he was talking about completely faded out. With how he held himself and how he brought a solution to the table that nobody else dared to bring up, he earned the respect of the King.
“Patroclus.” Peleus spoke as if he were talking to another wise man at the table. “Your intentions behind what you speak of are clearly out of the interests of our people, and I deeply respect you for that. My decision to remain neutral however is also out of the interests of our people. You say that a galactic war would be unavoidable to which I agree with you for that. And I have no doubt that the Republic would grant us aid. This is the factor that nobody considers though. If there were a war to break out, we would have no choice but to side with the Republic whether we agreed with their cause or not.”
That was something that Patroclus didn't think of. Peleus was a very prideful and honorable King with decades of experience to back up his knowledge and everyone in the room respects this. Patroclus kept his head down. The seconds ticking by leaves him more and more self cautious- as the confidence and resolve he learned over the years of watching Achilles began to crumble.
“The Republic preaches of sustaining peace and freedom, but aren't above paying off the Trade Federation to purposefully create a blockade so we'd have no choice but to join them. They have been insisting for years that Phthia be annexed into their government. This could be how they plan to do it.”
Patroclus knew the King spoke to him respectfully, but he couldn't help but feel outwitted.
Stupid stupid Patroclus.
“Father, we don't have much choice. The war you fear may have already found us. What is to stop the Trade Federation from attacking us and stripping us of the little resources we have right now!” Achilles began. “Our planet has self sustained a civilization far longer than most planets due on their own. For years we have started to see that change. It is the natural cycle of any world or solar system. For Phthia to continue to support the lives of our people we will need to extend a hand to other worlds. Not just with personal allies, but with most of the galaxy. There won't be anything we can't get to Phthia by opening our trade to the systems associated with the Republic. As you see keeping our people out of only the small possibility of a war, I see keeping our people from starving to be a far more imperative matter, especially since war could be imminent now.”
The men at the round table muttered amongst each other once more. Achilles moves his hand on his therapon`s shoulder to join hands under the table. Patroclus accepted his hand with a squeeze. Patroclus knew this is what Achilles desperately wanted. To be connected with the rest of the galaxy. To see it all for himself.
After several moments pass, the King finally puts his hand up demanding silence. “I`ve reached a decision.” Patroclus held his breath. “I will indeed contact the Republic and talk to them about resolving this issue, but I think that joining them will be up for further discussion in the future.”
After the meeting was over, Achilles tackled Patroclus with a hug once they got to their room.
“You were amazing in there! You actually got Father to contact the Republic!”
Patroclus felt his face flush red. “I-It wasn`t me. You were the one who convinced your father in the end.”
Achilles pulled away, but kept his hands firm on Patroclus`s shoulders. “You know what this means right?! I'm a step closer to seeing space!”
Patroclus beamed at how happy his friend was, but little did either of them know just how much things were going to change after that day.