Coincidence

“It’s well and good, Katze. Don’t rely on me. I haven't forgotten.”

The dealer flicked the wheel of his lighter and brought the flame to the tip of his cigarette. For once Raven enjoyed the faint bitterness as it filled his lungs. It masked the bad smell when Katze answered,

“I'm glad.”

It wasn't as if Raven hadn't been aware of Katze's harshness and yet his stomach churned. Kyle drew nearer, his lips curved upward in a cruel smile,

“I just want things to become like they were...” He grabbed Raven’s chin and pulled his face up towards him, unsuspecting of the words the mongrel gave him, “Don't worry, he is safe. He'll always be safe.”

~~~

The electronic chime of the com shattered the silence in the room.

“What is it all of a sudden?”

Dorian ignored both the Feron and his inquiry. The young Blondie stopped beneath the frame, an indecisive look plastered to his face.

“Spit it out, Blondie!”

Though have been put thoroughly into place, noticing the ex-pet still disdained Dorian. Unfortunately noticing him disdained Raoul and he made no pretence of it. Kris zipped up his overall and placed a call to Nyet. Whatever the technician told him, made all colour drain out of his face.

“Raoul, sanctuary. Now!” Bypassing Dorian he muttered, “When your done standing around like an oaf, you can join us.”

Moments later they reached the sanctuary. Fear had not ceased to reach for the Feron's heart when Nyet told him “They woke.” but now astonishment warred with bewilderment in the face of the two blonds so very alike. The air surrounding them was markedly severe when Liam announced,

“According to schedule the carrier has delivered.”

Kris' ears rang. According to schedule! With a will of its own, his body crumbled right into Raoul, who forcibly held him up.

“The carrier,” Raoul's words got through to him, squashing that tiny bit of hope, he so desperately clung to, “being Raven.” An inexplicable feeling of loss plucked the breath from his lungs. His ears rang with the pounding of his heart and slowly his feet set themselves into motion - out of Raoul's reach, out of the room and out of his helpless misery.

Suddenly he found himself in front of a bunch of cables, Raven used to work on. Venting his frustration, he flailed it. Still pummeling away, he was folded into strong arms “Okay, already?” The Feron yielded with a sigh, and Nyet's eyes narrowed at the damage, the fiery red head had inflicted on the system.

“Forget it, Nyet.” Kris shifted to extricate himself from the unwanted embrace, “Please, I’m tired.” “At least let me take you back to your room.” He spoke quietly, expecting protest, but instead Kris took his offered arm, replying lamely, “I'm calm now, but thanks anyhow.” He wondered at the unusual reaction as they exited the room. Did something happen? Something aside … Raven?

“Look at them, Nyet.”

There they stood, one being the spit 'n' image of the other.

“Listen to them.”

Chris heart pound away in a furious pattern. For the first time the technician felt as if he understood the awkward predicament of the ménage à trois both ex-pets shared with the Blondie in front of him. Well, he had know the trick, Ajax played on them. He frankly refused to see them as human beings at that time … but now. Nothing to be done about it. That’s the way it is.

~~~

The contrast of Katze's paleness beside Raven's darker tone gave Kyle a thrill. Somewere in the corner of his mind, he felt satisfaction at forcing Katze to tear the veil from the young man's concealed secrets.

Katze did not like what he was seeing. The port suffered severe damage and thus the dealer not only received the data streams, he was able to hande but also an unsettling mixture of memories. Past, presence, tomorrow if one could call it that - it was all in the mix. Unless before Raven's ability to encrypt and herd now outweighed his by light years. The He might be able to isolate some streams but he simple couldn't sort them out. Hell, the dealer was not even sure about their nature.

He disconnected the VR, shrugging his shoulders after pinching the bridge of his nose. Kyle of course wasn't amused but he anyhow lay a hand on Katze's shoulder.

“You know, what that means.”

“I'd rather wait for Raoul. He...”

Kyle cut him short, “No further discussions. Do it, now.”

“Well.”

At least the procedure would enable the medics to remove the port although Katze wasn't entirely sure if that was for the better. He downed another cup of coffee and stood up to connect the VR to the lab's system. Amazed he stared at the monitor as did Kyle. Raven's port had immediately started to transfer, but what?