Forever Caged

Disclaimer: I don't own Ai No Kusabi nor do I make any money from this fanfic. But I do own all the original peeps that I've chosen to invade the AnK world.
Rating: NC-17
Pairings: Iason/Riki, Raoul/Katze, original characters and novel character pairings.
Parts: 37 of ?

Edited by Scarlettigress

Author's note: Sorry that it took me this long to post : I have decided to enter Nanowiro's contest of writing an original story of 50k words in one month. Started Nov 1st and ends Nov 30th. Because of this FC, as well as anyone that reads Bound, is on hold until i am done. I think i can get another chapter of FC out this month but i'm not sure when that will be. Thank you everyone and i hope you enjoy this chapter. I have also put a treat at the end for you all that i hope you'll like.

Thanks everyone. I hope you enjoy these 43-45 pages of chapter 37.

Sabs,Shishi Angel,Villaluna,Sheleeta, alexxgalaxy, Yaoifangirl - Thank you so much for your reviews!

~~**Forever Caged**~~

Glaring at Sky, Riki waited impatiently while Jade brushed his long hair and plaited the thick tresses. The boy styled his long hair so that it hung down either side of his face in glistening braids, leaving the rest to hang freely down his back. He and Sky still had to 'make up' since the whole using the taser on his ass until Riki fell unconscious business on the planet he now knew to be called Gilesse….Although, truth be told, Riki would have preferred the taser gun over the electro shock apparatus Sky delightfully hooked him up to when he had regained consciousness. He had awoken to find himself on their ship, already wired, and strapped down on a med bed set up in the rec-room.

Riki had been baffled as to how he managed to survive the amount of electricity that he had suffered through. The pain of his muscles locking in constant, instantaneous contractions over and over again with each shock and every shock lasting longer then the first… Riki had only been able to rest the length of time it took for Sky to take some of his blood, look at it under a microscope and see if any of the nanites were still kicking. If any looked even marginally less than dead, on came another fifty rounds of shock treatments. Riki secretly believed that Sky prolonged the process out of sheer sadism, punishing him because Riki had interrupted of the mongrel's fun with Lilly. Thankfully, he'd passed out after the last round. When he had awoken Riki had already been hooked up with lines and other medical crap to filter out his nanite polluted blood. The ordeal took a few hours and with the shocks, Riki had spent almost twenty-four hours from start to finish to clear his blood. Until he was slapped with a body scan and fresh blood results showing that he had a clean bill of health, Sky was unwilling to let him go.

Of course, it would have only taken half that time if he hadn't constantly ripped the IV tubes out to go pound on Fidget and V for their constant nerve racking taunts. The two mongrels had his temper boiling over to the point that Riki even risked Sky's wrath to take off after them and beat the shit out of the duo…which earned him another taser on the ass. Sky had then, less than cheerfully, a dragged an agonized Riki back to his bed where he had been tied down so he couldn't take off again.

"Ok all done." Jade pronounced quietly.

Riki pulled at his braided hair and fingered the interlaced threads. The added weight from his new hair was still hard to get used to, but Riki was reluctant to cut it…for now. V had made a good point when he commented about him cutting his hair off.

"We got fuckers looking for some mother fucker with short black hair around twenty-one ta' twenty-two years old. Not only do you look like about your son's age now, but that long weave of yours gives you another added throw off. You wanna cut it? Fine. Just wait until the hounds are off our asses first."

Rio had even thrown in his vote. The little merc had said, that while his hair was a weakness if someone were to grab it, keeping it was the best bet for making anyone hunting him hesitate. Those precious seconds could be used to escape, or turn the tables and make the hunter the prey instead. Riki had been reluctant to listen to the blonde, since trying to focus on his words instead of his freaky eyes that changed color every other minute was a losing battle. From what Riki could tell, the guy's natural eye-color was pale honeydew …maybe. No one color seemed to take much preference over the others.

"Is it ok? I could redo it if you want?" Jade asked, timidly.

Letting go of his hair, Riki patted Jade on the head gently, carefully. Riki's strength had waned from the monstrous power he had felt when he first snapped back to reality, but he didn't want to take any chances in hurting the kid. "Its fine Jade, I like it just fine."

"I thought this style would look best for your costume…" Sky grinned, almost cruelly.

Frowning at Sky, who strode up to him, dressed freakily all in black leather, Riki caught the clothes the mongrel threw at him. He sneered at the glittering black and red beads on the shirt. "This?" Riki was already shaking his head in refusal. "I'm not wearing this."

"Sorry Riki…but the club we are going to has this masquerade theme go'n on…If you're not dressed up then you can't get in," Sky said, his smirk still in place.

"All of us will be wearing costumes." Jade said softly, reassuringly.

"Yeah Riki, don't be such a kill joy!" Fidget laughed.

Riki turned and glared at Fidget who came bouncing into the rec-room. "What the hell are you supposed to be?" Riki said, raising an eyebrow. Looking at Fidget in his get-up was going to give him a migraine.

"Sweet looking, isn't it? It's a white leather mini straight jacket that I've personally spiced up." Fidget grinned, twirling around. "Added some sparkles, found some matching white leather pants, and it was good to go."

Riki didn't comment because, strangely enough, it was a little 'sweet' looking. Besides, the committed psycho look fit the blue haired mongrel to a T. "The escaped mental patent look really becomes you," Riki said dryly.

"It's escaped demonic mental patent." Fidget corrected. "I'm your partner tonight and your demon sidekick."

Riki raised a brow at that. "My demon sidekick?"

"Yup, didn't you look at your outfit? You're going as the devil dude, horns and all." Fidget grinned and it was pure evil.

Intrigued, Riki held up his costume. Flashy beads aside, the threads Sky gave him weren't as bad as he thought. "I'm not wearing a fucking mask." Riki warned.

"Why?...You know, from the way you're carrying on it's like you want to be caught," Sky commented as he walked up to Fidget, fixing an errant lock and tucking it behind his twin's ear. "Do you Riki?"

The large room was silent. Riki could feel the eyes of the twins, and Jade's eyes as well, weighing on him as they waited for his answer. Riki pulled his shirt over his head and drew on the flashy, black, long sleeved top. He then repeated his actions with his pants, using the time he took to dress to think about Sky's words.

"No…" Riki finally, quietly, answered. "In truth, in the beginning I did want to go back…I was forced to leave Eos and Iason…and when we went back to that cold ass planet I saw the Blondie that is hunting us now. I had to control the impulse to step out into the open and let him take me back to Amoi." Riki stared each one of his boys in the eyes to let them see for themselves, the truth shining in his expression. The truth that he hoped was conveyed to each of them, "I don't know if it's 'cause of me getting sick or whatever it was, that fucked me up, but it made me change my mind. Here and now, I can tell you straight out that I don't want to go back to Amoi. Jupiter tagging me like an animal has fucked up a lot of lives, and no matter what anyone thinks it is my fault. I don't care if I was unaware or not that she was listening. I'm going to fix it as best as I can." I'm sorry Iason, Riki whispered to himself.

Riki had always believed that he would always see Iason again. Perhaps he might be able to after a few years, but Riki had hoped to see his lover soon. He had dreamed of being reunited with the Blonde after maybe a couple months, but not anymore. The chains that Iason had so carefully locked onto him had fallen free. The true freedom he had tasted running wild on the mercenary training planet they had just left only had him thirsting for more. Riki knew he'd never be like he was before he met the powerful Blondie, and he didn't want to be. Still, the spontaneity to do what he wanted, whenever he wanted, was back. After so long, so many years of silence, that carefree voice within his soul was back and he could not deny it. Rising up from the Slums of Ceres had been his dream, a dream Riki had never thought of leaving Amoi to seek. To obtain a new, fresh life was not something any Mongrel really considered a true possibility. Yet now Riki finally saw that he could do just that. He could leave the pain of his past behind him, and start fresh…even if it killed him to think that he'd never see Iason again.

"I-its okay if you want to go back to Amoi, Riki." Jade whispered.

Shaking his head sadly, Riki gently clasped Jade on the shoulder. "Nah, kid…Going back means leaving you alone with this crew of misfits. You going back is out of the question. It's out of the question." Riki said again, more firmly when the smaller boy open his mouth as if to argue with him. Riki suddenly pushed Jade away as the wilder, more savage part of him began to rage within the cage of his mind that he had imprisoned it in. When he remembered what had happened to Jade at the hands of his ex-Onyx master, the very thought set his blood boiling.

Panting in exertion, unknowing growls tore themselves from Riki's throat. The image of Jade's frightened eyes and the bruised state he had been in as fresh in Riki's mind as if it happened yesterday. No… going back to Amoi wasn't an option any longer, not for him and not for Jade. No matter what happened, he wouldn't part from the kid.

"Holy crap wild man! You still pissed at Sky for the taser action he rained down on ya?" V asked cheerfully.

Still struggling with his inner war Riki glanced up, his vision blurred at the edges with a red haze. Through the ruddy mist of primal anger, he saw V, with brown hair, walk in accompanied by Lilly, Luke, Aoi and Rio. Riki growled in warning when everyone, minus Jade and Aoi, cautiously made a semi circle around him. "Fuck off." Riki rasped. The strength that he had thought disappeared, filled him as the untamed part of himself gained ground in trying to break free.

"You sure wild man? 'Cause from where I'm standing you look like you're about to snap and go loony on us." V said with a wink and a charming grin. "You're setting a bad example to your kid, you know. I mean, what will he tell his friends at school when they ask to come over? "Sorry but my pops is a lunatic so you can't come over to play". Think about the trauma you'd do to him." V said, shaking his head dramatically.

"I don't know about that. As sexy as Jade is wouldn't that be a good thing?" The blond mercenary beside V piped up.

Riki curled his lip at Rio, whose eyes were a frightening bright red color that smoothly changed to a startling light shade of pink in seconds. How Riki could have missed Rio's little trick the first time he met the guy was beyond him. Chalk it up to the fact that Riki had had other shit on his mind other than checking out the boy's face when he first met him.

"Think about it. You got a sexy teenager like Jade running around, so wouldn't you want all the shit-heads in the neighborhood thinking you're some fucked up nut case that'll nail their sorry asses to the wall if they so much as touched your kid?" Rio asked everyone in the room.

"That's i-if said son is the one that needs protecting, and not the father." Jade joked, pushing V out of his way to stand next to Riki.

"True. Riki's got some serious 'Fuck me now' pheromones." Luke whistled appreciatively as he raked his eyes down Riki's form. Riki clenched his jaw to keep from snapping his teeth.

"Riki's always had those 'you know you want me' vibes," Fidget chided.

"…Mmm…but they're stronger now, don't you think?" asked Sky, tilting his head to the side.

"So much that I wanna throw him down and make him cry," Luke said, a bit too seriously.

"As if you could throw him down, Luke," V laughed, "You know that shit is the reason why Riki always targeted your punk ass to kick when he went all crazy."

"Wait, only Luke feels that way about Riki? Why don't the rest of you wanna tag his ass too?" Rio wondered out loud.

The silence that filled the room was broken by Riki's sigh of irritation. Their banter was definitely annoying him, but surprisingly it helped confuse the beast within. The alpha status Riki held over his darker side was only challenged, Riki noticed, was when he thought of Jade being harmed or in danger. It was a good thing to know to help control the demon within him.

"Gee, I never thought about it actually." Fidget scratched his head and looked to his twin.

"…Riki's not my type." Sky shrugged in answer to his twin's questioning glance.

"You mean you can't dom him into the floor like you do your other victims." V gagged. "Oh god, I just remembered something foul."

"Get over it already V before you really piss me off," Sky hissed.

Riki heard everything that was said around him, and even watched as Lilly comforted V, but it all seemed to come to him from a distance. As he strained to rein in the snarling creature bent on blood, the rest of his own reality seemed to fade away.

"Calm Riki…Just breath…" Jade murmured soothingly.

Riki concentrated on listening to Jade's voice, blocking out everyone else. Thankfully, little by little, the animal side of him eased back into its den. The more Jade spoke, the more the savage retreated, and took with it the murderous rage the beast had been spewing out.

Exhausted Riki slid into a nearby chair. "Shut up all of you…" Riki whispered wearily. "None of you are my type."

"What is your type?" Rio grinned.

"Big." Fidget grinned.

"Blonde." Sky added.

"Powerful." V finished.

Riki glared at them and tried not to sigh.

"I may not be considered very big, but I'm blonde and powerful." Rio wiggled his eyebrows suggestively at Riki.

"Not powerful enough," Luke mumbled.

"I wouldn't touch you, if you were the last man on the planet – any planet." Riki glared at Rio.

"Ouch. Cut a guy where it hurts." Rio gave Riki a wounded look.

"Like I care…" Riki cracked his neck. "Why are you on our ship anyway? I never did ask you that, did I?"

Wounded look disappearing in a flash, Rio rubbed his hands together. "I'm not staying. I just wanted to get to know you all a little better…that and I'm kind of a hostage…"

"Hostage?" Riki looked to Sky and V. "I thought you said you all have a deal with him?"

"We do, and it's not like he can't leave whenever he wants. He's got a one man racing pod that he can hop into and jet should he feel like it." Sky explained.

"Ok, ok so maybe hostage wasn't the word to use." Rio said, thoughtfully.

"How about 'sponge'?" Fidget said.

"Nah dude, sponges can at least be used to clean up messes. Rio is more like a…roach. He's hard to kill, eats all your food and runs when the light turns on," V grinned.

"Hey now, I worked while I was here… That's just mean."

Riki massaged the bridge of his nose, as he listened to Fidget and Rio snip at one another. "Shut up! Shit! Rio, you freaky eyed bastard, just tell me why you're on the ship."

"I may have had some problems with some of my men…Word has it that you got some powerful fucker with long hair after you. So, some of my crew were getting a little antsy when they heard of the fire power backing this dude up…sooo to convince them to go along with the plan, I had to play the willing hostage so they would follow us to where the girl is." Rio shrugged. "Newbies, nuf said right?"

Riki stared at Rio, whose damn eyes were now an unbelievable bright green color and wondered who this kid really was if cut throat, all for yourself, mercenaries would follow him where ever he went.

"This damn plan of all of yours better be good." Riki let the matter of really knowing who Rio was go, just wanting to get their main concern taken care of first…but later…later he would find out.

"I'm telling you sexy, this plan is a good one and if it doesn't work then there's always the back up plans." V said, his grin growing almost feral.

oOoOoOo

Stepping down onto the sidewalk from his vehicle, Gideon sneered at the overpoweringly pungent stench of cheap perfume in the air. The pressing crowd of cheering, drunken humans milled about the streets making driving impossible. The crowd had forced Gideon, and his security detail, to walk the remaining distance to the club where the targeted female worked.

The teams that Gideon had sent down earlier had reported in detail, forewarning him of the world's extreme crowds. Their information was the reason Gideon had thought ahead by sending an aero car to their destination for later. An Amoian Elite was never unprepared.

Still…the amount of debauchery being done all around Gideon was scandalous. While accustomed to the lewd, sexual behavior of pets fornicating in public, Gideon had never been one to indulge in pet shows. The military leader had only made his appearance at pet soirées, because as a Blondie it was required of him to be present at certain events. Seeing such acts being done right before Gideon was not particularly shocking, but decidedly distasteful. At least the performances he viewed were done with a certain amount of class. Class of any kind was totally absent in the shameless celebrators, though they wisely kept their distance from him. Even as disguised as he was in a simple, yet decorative, mask, brown wig and plain elegant garments, Gideon's commanding aura screamed power. His very presence made even the drunkest amongst the crowd push to get away from him.

"We are in position sir."

Nodding his head slightly in acknowledgment to the snipers hidden from sight, Gideon made his way to the backdoor of the nightclub. Once there a guard, of sorts, expectedly held the door open for him to enter. Gideon walked into the club without a single pause in his long stride.

The stale smell of ale and vomit lingering in the air made Gideon curling his lip in disgust, as he made his way up the stained carpeted steps to the observation room. While just as dingy as the rest of the place, the room overlooked the crowded nightclub. Just as on the outside, the guard opened the door once he appeared and bowed low at the waist in a pathetic groveling kind of way. It was painful to watch and Gideon fully expected the dirty human to grasp his hand and kiss it. The last guard had foolishly tried to do just that the first time he had visited the club, a mistake Gideon was happy to see that they had corrected. Although the change of behavior also could have been a reflection of the fact that he had crushed every bone in the last human's hands for daring to touch him. Which ever method was more effective, he supposed.

Walking into the darken room filled with monitors, Gideon studied each and every one of them. He carefully tried to find some kind familiarity in the vast amount of guests that danced and drank on the lower floors, but just like him everyone was similarly disguised. Gideon was sure the mongrels he hunted would not be easily identified. Riki was much too clever for that.

"Sir Gideon Lagat, it's an honor to have you here, sir, and a privilege to know that I can help you-"

"Why was she been moved?" Gideon asked, cutting the owner of the club off from his simpering. Gideon's question was mainly to shut the man up, rather than to locate the female. Gideon had already spotted her in the middle of the dance floor, caged in a large golden cage.

"She's right in the middle b-because I thought it was better then upstairs… It's a better position, in plain view just as you wanted a-and we drugged her up so she can't run away."

Gideon flashed cold pale turquoise at the disgusting little man. "And pray tell how will she be able to identify those that I seek if she is drugged? I said to leave her alone. Did you hear me tell you to give her anything?"

"N-no but I thought-"

"You are to do as you're told, not to think." In short order Gideon calculated the damage the human did with his uneducated belief that he was 'helping', in fact his very presence was a hindrance. The owner's corrections were no less than an obstacle in the greater plan. Gideon now understood what Sir Iason meant when he said that the owner of the club was to have only enough duties to keep him out their way. As it was, Gideon had to contact his teams surrounding the area to change and tighten their current positions due to the little man's 'assistance'. Gideon wasn't about to discard Sir Iason's information about the intelligent workings of his pet's mind. As astonishing as it was to think that a mere mongrel could possibly be as clever as Iason described his Riki to be, Gideon was not taking any chances.

Still more then slightly annoyed, Gideon pointed to the owner. "Unless you have done anything else on your own that you need to tell me, I suggest you refrain from speaking again. If you find that you cannot keep your mouth shut, then I will be forced to shut it for you. This action would result in you needing prompt medical care. Do you understand me?" Gideon removed the irritating mask and wig, as he pinned the human with a piercing glare. He watched as the little man visibly began to tremble.

"Ah…Y-yes Sir. Oh, t-that is I just have o-one question…I would h-have been more than capable to have met with the c-criminals to strike a deal with them to sell the girl…"

"No you are not. All these men would need to do is look at you and know they were walking into a trap. This is the last time I want to hear your voice, the next time you will be eating from a tube for the rest of your life." Gideon said, almost casually.

With his point hopefully made Gideon, turned his attention to the monitors again. His eyes swiftly and carefully scanned each individual in every screen before pausing on a familiar, lovely face. With a cruel smile Gideon ordered the workers to expand the cameras around the cream colored, costumed cat dancing on the pole next to the cage where the bait lay drugged. Even with the paint and ornaments that decorated his face, Gideon would have recognized that sleek body anywhere.

"Hello Jade." He whispered.

oOoOoOo

Seated on a cushioned wrap-around sofa, with the center being a poled stage, Riki tried to look relaxed. He looked up and held up a single paper credit, laughing when the seductive dancer wrapped his white leather clad legs around the pole and leaned all the way backwards to grab the credit with his teeth.

"One credit? You're such a fucking cheap ass Riki." Fidget whispered as he made a big show of slipping the credit down the front of his tight pants.

"Not all of that is yours. I want change for that one credit." Riki whispered when Fidget swung down from the pole. With a smirk, Fidget crawled on all fours, bringing his face close to Riki's, a picture perfect pose of seduction. While the crowd cheered, Riki glanced to his left were Jade was dancing with Sky as his partner. Riki tensed when a drunken clubber jumped on the small stage, but relaxed when Sky's short whip snapped out. With expert ease, Sky wrapped the lash around the guy's neck and with a hard tug had the tomcat flying off the stage, making the crowd even more boisterous.

"Awe, what's the matter papa? Don't like seeing how big your baby boy's grown and working that stripper pole?" Fidget grinned at Riki.

"Stuff it and stick another credit down your pants." Riki scowled at Fidget, holding up another credit.

"Stingy bastard. I'm worth more then one credit," Fidget mumbled, but snatched the bill out of Riki's hand anyway. "And if you think you're getting this back, you're sadly mistaken."

Riki grunted in answer. "How are Luke and Aoi doing?" asked Riki as he held up yet another credit for Fidget to grab.

"Well Aoi is dance'n her pole like a pro and hasn't puked on Luke yet, so they're doing well."

"V and Lilly?"

"They got more of an audience than everyone else. V's such a fucking whore and with Lilly as his partner, making him smell all pretty, his crowd is only going to get bigger. I tell ya, after tonight his head is going to swell up so badly that everyone will have to take turns beating it back to its normal size," Fidget said, rolling his eyes.

Riki chuckled. "V could charm and seduce even the most frigid of virgins. He always could, even when we were snot nosed brats in Guardian. Fuck, I bet you he even charmed the pants off Orphe when he was in Eos," Riki muttered as a few of Fidget's admirers came a little too close to him.

Even while Riki talked he could feel eyes burning into him, and not just from the curious onlookers that milled around them watching Jade, Lilly, Fidget and Aoi dance. His instincts were screaming at him to run, but his mind also whispered for him to wait. He knew that if they didn't act now, they'd never get another chance to get the girl. Looking across from him, Riki caught Sky's eye, who in turn gave him a grim look in return. Sky feels it too, Riki thought and looked up to see Fidget struggling to keep a fun, easy-going expression on his face as well.

"You feel that boys?" Riki quietly asked, turning on the microphone in the jewel chained lip clip.

"Bad vides dude." V hissed.

"We're being watched. I can feel it." Sky whispered.

"What are we going to do?" Jade asked.

Riki kept up his act, feeding Fidget one credit at a time while he discreetly scanned the crowd. As nonchalantly as possible, Riki slowly looked up to the dark tinted windows above their heads.

"If we run we'll never get another chance again. Whoever it is will take her." Sky said, his voice chilly.

"My thoughts exactly," said Riki, agreeing with Sky. "Keep to the plan. V and Sky you'll stay here. Fidget and Lilly the both of you will check out the believed owner of the club and negotiate the deal of selling the girl in the cage to us. Jade how's your voice doing?"

"It hurts a little, but nothing that will impair me from using that voice."

Riki scanned the crowds again picking out the most possible threats. The solitaries drew his eye. The ones that, while dancing with the crowd, distinctly stood out or the painfully obvious ones like the club bouncers that stared only at them even while clubbers fought behind them. Even the waiter Riki had noticed from the get go that had been busy wiping the same glass for the past ten minutes, also watching them. "Luke, Sky: time to start spicing it up by giving our curious onlookers a little fist action."

"Ready whenever you are."

"…Same."

"What about me Riki?" Aoi asked eagerly.

"Aoi, I'm sorry, but if you could tempt one of your admirers it would help Luke start some shit…Can you do that? Or do you need to rest?" Riki hadn't wanted the pregnant female to come with them at all, but he had learned very quickly that there was no reasoning with a breeding, over-emotional female. It was especially difficult with a female who was bound and determined to repay them for taking her away from her hellish life as a club whore.

"I'm fine."

"Thank you Aoi. Once you've gotten a few people riled up, I want you to run towards the exit and out of the way so that you don't get hurt, understand?"

"I understand."

"Good girl. Luke, Sky, cause as much mayhem as you can. V, in the commotion, check out the locks on the cage just in case Fidget and Lilly give us the signal that we are being set up. If they confirm that what all of us are feeling isn't just paranoia, then we'll have minutes if not seconds to act. Jade I need you to start whispering sweet nothings in everyone's ears to help stir the pot. We clear on what we all need to do? If not, then speak up now." Riki grunted in satisfaction when everyone was silent. Nodding to Fidget, he watched as the mongrel jumped down from the stage and wandered off with Lilly in tow to the VIP section. "Luke?"

"What up?"

"If shit goes sour…I want you to take Aoi and beat it. I don't know if it's Kirin or the Blondie that's after us, but if-"

"Fuck that shit! I'm not bailing!" Luke whined.

"Shut the hell up and listen!" Riki hissed, trying to keep up the character of a carefree partier, "If it is the Tanagura Blondie, then you're the only one that will have a really good chance of getting free. The main reason I've never let you come with the rest of the gang when we've stepped off the ship, is because they have never seen you. They only know about V, Sky and Fidget and we're the ones that they'll be gunning for. So if shit goes down, and I know for a fucking fact that there is no fucking way we'll be getting free, then you will fucking listen when I order your ass to bail. I'm turning the responsibility of protecting Aoi over to you, so at the first fucking sign of trouble you take her and run, got it?" Riki hissed.

"Yeah I fucking got it…" Luke grumbled.

"That goes for all of you. We got lucky on Amoi because Jupiter was backing us up. She was the only reason why we were able to escape Eos and Amoi altogether. Don't underestimate a Blondie." Especially when said Blondie was not only trained up the ass to catch and annihilate fuckers like them but, was also communicating with Iason. Gideon was bad enough alone, but he was taking orders directly from the fucking king of cat and mouse games. The simple snatch and grab was starting to look not so simple any longer, and from the grim faces of his boys Riki knew he was not the only one worried. As he turned to signal a waiter for a drink, he could see that everyone else knew that whatever shit was going to happen tonight, it was going to be bad and maybe even bloody.

"You make it sound like we are going to lose." Luke said softly.

"Riki's just prepping us, Luke. I don't know Blondies like Riki does, but I've worked side by side with one long enough so know how fucking smart they are." V added.

"Was it really side by side, V? Or was it underneath?"

Riki could hear everyone laughing at Fidget's comment and gave a little chuckle himself.

"Oh yeah, laugh it up assholes! Like you and Sky didn't have a little fun with the Blondies you targeted," V snarled.

"Umm…a little fun, yes…but from what Keita has told me you had more then just a little fun with your Blondie than we did… Something about licking and syrup was mentioned." Sky said thoughtfully.

"Fidget, you little bastard!" V spat.

"Shut up all of you." Riki didn't like the way the crowd moved after Fidget and Lilly walked away from the group. "Fidget, Lilly stop."

"What is it Riki?"

Riki hissed for everyone to shut up and just watched the crowd. "Everyone get out of here."

"What? Why? We haven't even tried-"

"The whole place is a trap." Riki hissed. He had only seen it for a moment, but Riki had definitely noticed the flash of an Amoi weapon under the spiffy coat of one of the partiers. One of the partiers that danced closer to Lilly and Fidget.

"Then what do you want to do?" Jade asked.

"We can't leave her here Riki." Sky said seriously.

Riki cursed, he didn't want to leave the girl in the cage either, but his warning bells were screaming for him to get everyone out now.

"…We knew there would be a possibility that coming here would be a trap Riki…This girl might even have the answers as to why you got sick. Amelia kept calling you an ancient one…don't you want to know why? I think the risk we are taking out weights the chances of us getting caught." Sky said, his voice firm and a bit grim.

"Maybe, maybe not Sky. Anyway, Rio is off as we speak to go after the others that were sold. The ones he rescues could have the answers too." Riki hated to leave the girl, but his earlier concerns about a Blondie being here had begun to echo back at him. He couldn't let his boys get captured and sent back to Amoi where they could be executed…if not worse.

"…And if he doesn't get them? He is already having problems with his crew because a Blondie is involved. This could be our only shot, as you already know." Sky urged.

"I vote for doing it. As Keito said this could be our only shot." Fidget backed up his twin, as always.

"I want to do it was well. The old woman made a comment about me and my scent thing. I was told that I was created with this ability to become a new type of superior pet, but from what she said it sounds like I'm something else."

"She also said something about me too Riki…remember? She said that I have a female talent. I-I really would like to know what she meant by that." Jade said timidly.

"We try once Riki. If we can't get her in the first go then we run." V said.

Riki cursed. "One try and that's it V. Luke get Aoi out of here, now. Fidget, Lilly get back over here. The two of you will be starting a fight with Sky and me with the crowd. Jade, you're to help V by keeping everyone away from him so he can get the girl out."

"Fuck ya!" V hooted.

"Let's do this shit."

Riki felt the crowd behind him pushing closer, touching his hair, his back. Riki allowed it as he tried to calm his racing heart. The thrill of pitting himself up against an Elite bothered him, but not as much the total lack of fear he felt in going up against the Blondie. The only distress experienced at all was for his gang, and what would happen to the boys if they should fail. Standing up, Riki dropped his happy-go-lucky act and looked straight up at the tinted windows high above him. "Let's party kids."

oOoOoOo

Gideon narrowed his eyes at the four screens of men that fit Riki's description, but it was the horned youth with the painted face that Gideon's eyes kept falling back to. Rationally, Gideon should have dismissed the boy and concentrated on the other three. The boy was too young, even with the paint obstructing a clear view of his face, Gideon could see the youth in the slight roundness of the boy's cheeks. Still, something about the long haired juvenile kept him from tearing his eyes away.

The other three 'could be' Riki's all sat at the tables at or near the pole dancers, all of whom Gideon had identified as members of Riki's crew of mongrels and escaped pets. All three had short black hair and dark skin…but which one was the real black haired mongrel?

Gideon watched as two of the costumed dancers jumped down from their stages. The duo walked in the same direction, directly towards the VIP section where Gideon's men were waiting in the owner's private dance room. The 'Riki's' also stood and walked into the crowd in different directions after a few minutes. Gideon looked at the other screens and saw his cream cat step down from his stage, the black leather suited whip carrier tucking the boy under his arm. They too turned and walked into the crowd.

Gideon stepped over to the operator and curtly ordered him to the side, taking control of the camera. The Elite carefully zoomed in on the dark mongrel with the long black braids. Gideon zoomed in even closer when he saw the boy's lips moving.

"Let's party kids."

Frowning at the silent words he read from the boy's lips, Gideon zoomed the camera out and saw the black haired boy staring back at him with a challenging, cocky grin on his face.

"Sir something is happening." One of the operators said.

All the monitors showed that the small stages were now empty of dancers. His cream cat, as Gideon watched, was circling the room. In the boy's wake, fights began breaking out and his partner aggravated the situation with his whip and well placed jabs. The two that Gideon had been expecting to strike a deal to sell the girl, were backing away from the VIP section and circling the room counter clock wise from Jade. Just as mayhem seemed to explode with Jade's passing, crowd began to erupt into groups of fights. Within a minute the entire floor was in chaos.

"Clever, clever little mongrel." Gideon whispered. He had been expecting something to happen, but what Gideon hadn't been expecting was for the mongrel to sniff out the trap so quickly. With the riot Riki and his band had caused, his teams indoors were going to have an almost impossible time getting through to detain them. Still, it only meant that Gideon's plan would move forward faster then it would have if all had gone smoothly.

Taking out his cell, Gideon dialed and it didn't take long before cool tones answered him. "It's time." Saying only those two words, Gideon hang up and contacted his teams on the floor. He told them to quietly get into position.

oOoOoOo

Fists raw and bleeding, Riki laughed in sheer joy pulsing through his vein as the rampant carnage spewed around him.

"Riki I got the girl!" Luke shouted over the intercom.

His head snapping to the side from a lucky hit, Riki spat a mouth full of blood out on the floor. "What the fuck are you still doing here Luke?" Riki growled as he kicked a crazed fool that punched him out of his way. "I told you to run with Aoi."

"She's safe. I couldn't just leave you all so I came back after taking her to one of our check points. Before you start shitting bricks, I'm already out the doors and heading out of town with the chick over my shoulder. Mission has been accomplished so get the fuck out of there. Something weird is fucking going on and-"

"Luke? You cut off. Repeat the last part of what you said. I- Oompfh!." Tackled to the ground, it took Riki scarcely a second to get out from under the heavy body… but a full minute to make his attacker wish he had never faced him. "You heard him boys. Let's get the fuck out of here." The rapture Riki was feeling while fighting, making his beast purr, began to wane as he noticed that the large number of those who weren't fighting. Some of the non-combatants were even orchestrating those who were, pushing them farther away from the exits. Not only that, but they were also slowly, yet successfully, separating all of the mongrels from each other. Riki gritted his teeth. The men not fighting were also egging what was now an all out brawl into more of a pitched battle soaked in bloodlust.

When he heard no reply to his order to retreat, Riki panicked realizing their coms were down. The reason why Luke never finished what he had tried to say became clear all too easily. Jumping deeper into the fray, Riki made his way to Sky who was the closest to him. All the while he shouted Jade's name, spinning in a circle, searching for the smaller boy amongst the brawling bodies.

The groups herding them back were outfitted as any other partier, with the exception of one thing that had Riki's eyes widening. They were wearing a strange type of nasal clips. Riki was willing to bet money that it wasn't to open up their nasal passages and allow them to breathe easier. Shouting out Jade's name again, Riki tripped into Sky as an overly confident buffoon grabbed onto him. Twisting his flexible body, Riki wiggled his way out of the guy's attempt to lock onto him and kicked him away.

"Sky! Where's Jade?"

"Keita has him!" Sky shouted as he ducked a fist coming towards his face.

"Where the fuck is Fidget!"

"There!"

Riki could barely make out Fidget's blue hair from the waves of bodies writhing in the direction Sky pointed out to…if that was Fidget he was looking at. "Sky, watch my back for a sec!"

"You're shitting me, right? I'm up to my ass with aggros here!" Sky yelled as he cracked his small whip out. "Just hurry up!"

Nodding, Riki took a deep breath and closed his eyes. His body tensed and fought him, his instincts screaming against the ludicrous action of shutting his eyelids when there was danger. Nevertheless, Riki's sight couldn't find who he needed and so he had to try and rely on his other newly super-powered senses.

Wincing in disgust at the smells that assaulted him Riki let out a sigh of relief when he located Lilly by his sweet intoxicating scent. Not too far away from him was V and a jump away from him was Jade's hypnotizing voice, if not a bit worn. Sure enough, from the sound of it, Fidget was right next to him, close enough that he could be carrying the kid. Riki was amazed he hadn't heard Fidget's delighted war cries from where he and Sky stood.

Opening his eyes Riki grabbed the guy that jumped on Sky's back and threw him into the crowd. "Found them. We need to get the fucks name out of here! The crowd is being riled up by those pricks by the doors!"

"This plan is turning out to be a major clusterfuck!" Sky spat.

"Well, you can thank your good friend Rio and yourselves for this fucking plan!" Riki laughed, playing it as carefree as he could. Still, Riki began to worry as those strange men with those nose clips began to spread out.

"I can't get a hold of Keita!" Sky hissed, sounding panicked.

"Coms- Shit!" Riki grit his teeth in pain as he was hit in the ribs as a snarling, tumbling pair bent on ripping each other's throats out surged forward. Grabbing the costumed men by the scuff of their necks, Riki slammed both of their heads together and tossed their unconscious bodies back to the floor. "Son of a bitch that hurt," Riki gasped, "coms are down Sky. We need to just shove our way to them as fast as we can and get to Lilly to get the second part of the plan going."

"Then let's get to it."

It was easier said than done, Riki discovered. Even with his new strength it took him and Sky far too long to move even just a few feet. By the time they had both reached Jade and Fidget they were in time to watch the crazy mongrel taunting the biggest, burliest, mother fucker Riki ever saw, more precious moments had passed. It took the twins, him and Jade to take the bastard down. Blood flowing from a cut above his brow, ribs and fists throbbing, Riki shouted at Fidget to grab Jade as he cut a bloody path ahead while Sky kept their backs protected.

"Riki! They're shooting them with something!" Fidget shouted.

"What?" Nearly tripping over a groaning body laying on the polished floor, Riki turned to look back at Fidget.

"Those fuckers! Look!"

Riki forced himself to watch the guys he had already marked as the aggressors. The men were still escalating the fight into a terrifying fever pitch. With Jade close, Riki's panic had lessened, slightly, but the strong feeling of foreboding made just standing there almost tortuous. Just when Riki was about to dismiss Fidget's shout he saw it. One of the guys Riki had tagged raised a weapon and shot out into the crowd, hitting someone near V and Lilly. Before his eyes, Riki watched as the man went ballistic. "We need to fucking get out of here now," Riki whispered as he eyed the bright red quill sticking out of the man's shoulder.

Doubling his efforts, Riki stopped caring if he seriously injured anyone that got in his way. All he cared about was the oppressing feel of walls closing around them. Blood and sweat stinging his eyes, Riki's fists lost all feeling of pain as they repeatedly slammed into the flesh of those that came to greet them. It was as if all these strangers were being programmed to slow him down.

"Riki look out!"

Spinning around to Jade's shout, Riki tensed as someone rushed him, holding up a broken wine bottle. Before the man got within a few feet of him a dart, different then the one he had seen just a minute ago, gruesomely appeared embedded in the side of the man's neck. The man crashed to the floor inches away from Riki's feet. Quickly ripping free the small, blue, spine-like projectile from the man's neck Riki looked at it. "Shit…its Amoian…This shit you can only get at the Black Market…Gideon is here…" Throwing the barb to the ground, Riki threw a look over at Sky, Fidget and Jade. "We need to get out fucking now!"

"Sir G-Gideon is here?" Jade whispered in fear.

As closely as he had the kid pressed up against his back, Riki could help but hear Jade's terrified words. Grimly Riki nodded to Jade. "Yeah kid."

"Just keep going Riki!" Fidget gritted through his teeth as he fought off the crowd that pressed into them. "They're protecting our asses from the really dangerous fuckers, but we can't keep fighting. If we do then we won't have any energy left to fucking run!"

"I'm think'n that, that's their plan Keita…" Sky panted in exhaustion.

Deciding they were close enough, Riki shouted at the top of his lungs for V and Lilly to come to them. It wasn't just that they were close enough to call to the others. The space all around them had simply vanished. From what Riki could see, the crowd was being pushed inward and it was effectively impairing their movements. They were stuck.

V and Lilly were on the outskirts of the crowd and thus able to get to them faster then they were able to maneuver. Riki wanted to tell them to just get out, but he couldn't, not if they wanted to get out with out killing anyone. They couldn't afford to have another world sending goons after them.

"Is it just me wild man, or has the party turned for the worst?"

Riki barely had the time to wipe the blood and sweat from his eyes to answer V, who crashed to the floor nearly taking Jade down with him, before he was attacked again. Thankfully and surprisingly, it was Lilly who took care of the lunatic. "Holy crap Lilly. Where'd a pet like you learn how to fight?"

"I had an over protective father and I'm pretty. It was only natural that my father took me out and taught me how to defend myself." The ex-pet said.

"Good to know, now put them all to sleep," Riki commanded as he turned, bent down to pull V's laughing ass off the floor, then helped Jade take care of another assailant…the sheer numbers were overpowering. The increasing number of red darts Riki saw in people began to concern him.

"I need to concentrate. I need time. Not too much, just a few breaths or-"

"We don't have time Lilly baby!" V shouted.

"I'm still new at using my gift for anything other then sexing someone up! If I don't concentrate then this brawl could end up turning into an orgy!" Lilly shouted back.

"You heard him! Let's make some room so the boy can breathe!" V laughed.

Riki shook his head at V when the violet eyed mongrel stuck his tongue out at him, the jeweled stud piercing glittering in the lights from his wet appendage. Riki had to wonder how V had been able to fight without worrying about whether all his piercings, from his ears to his nipples, would be ripped out. Through the tight black and white prisoner shirt V was wearing, Riki could distinctly make out the small loops. He rolled his eyes.

"Ok…I'm ready to-what…the…"

Everywhere around them people started dropping one by one. People collapsed, over and over, until it was only them, and the ones that Riki had pegged as the true instigators of this dogfight, left standing. But it was the men with those nasal plugs that Riki was still concerned about. Quickly all of them formed into a small circle so that the mongrels had an eye on every corner of the room.

"Lilly," Riki whispered, leaning his head closer to the ex-pet, "Keep going Lilly." Even though all the people that had been fighting were unconscious, lying still with vicious red darts sticking out from all parts of their bodies, the numbers were still far from even. With his sharp eyes Riki saw that only a handful of the goons had those plugs on. If they took them down, his group would have a better chance of fleeing.

All of them tensed when groups of men stepped forward and began dragging people away, making a path of sorts to the large front doors they had been pushing towards the whole time.

"Lilly?" Riki whispered again, harshly, when the pet just stood there.

"Why…"

With all of them now pressed back to back Riki couldn't see Lilly's face, but the boys was almost molded to his side and Riki could feel Lilly trembling.

"Why is he here…"

Confused, Riki twisted his head to try and find what was scaring Lilly so badly, "What are you look-" Right before them, seated with a glass of wine in one hand and a delicately decorated, glittery, mask in the other, was Sir Mikhale Tain.

"…As I said…major clusterfuck…" Sky muttered.

Riki couldn't agree more, as he stared at the almost bored looking Blondie. Their plan of having Lilly put everyone to sleep was out. The ex-pet had always emitted a certain amount of fragrance, but Riki couldn't smell anything coming off the boy now. The lack of scent in its self was amazing considering how sweaty Lilly was.

"He froze," V whispered.

"Who is that guy?" asked Fidget, elbowing Riki.

"That's Sir Mikhale Tain…A Tanagura Blondie and Lilly's master," Riki answered, and with his words he heard Lilly whimper.

"Is this the Elite that's been chasing after us?" V whispered.

"No, V…that's the Blondie that's been chasing after us," Riki said tonelessly, motioning with his head to the towering figure walking towards Mikhale. Sir Gideon seemed to appear from almost out of no where. His expression set Riki's teeth on edge. Going up against one Blondie they had a chance…but two Blondies.

"I'm assuming, Riki, that you understand how hopeless your position is now, correct?"

Riki and the boys said nothing to Gideon as he approached them.

"As you can clearly see, we have you completely surrounded. Although most of our men here are not suitably armored to withstand the talents of Sir Mikhale's pet, which might I say are extraordinary, those that are still out number you and your friends twenty to one. You agree with me do you not?"

Riki sized up the people still standing. The façade long ago ripped away from the faces around him, showing nothing but cold unquestionable obedience. There was no charming, buying or threatening their way out of this one with the crew the Blondies had around them.

Fucking trained dogs, Riki thought with a sneer. Amoian soldiers consisted of the best Midasians born from the best genes found in every Midas birthing center. To tangle with one was the same as writing your own suicide no, but the others Gideon mentioned…. now that's were Gideon made his mistake, although the arrogant Elite wouldn't think of it as such.

Riki grinned.

"So all these guys, without the added armor, are they guys that you've deemed expendable? They don't look like they're from back home Giddy, baby," Riki snickered when the Blondie narrowed his pale eyes at him, "Did you, pray chance, fail to tell them the reason why they weren't given life saving gear like your lap dogs?"

Perfect, Riki purred to himself, as a large number began to whisper and shift nervously around. "You did tell them that my boy Lilly here is a genetically engineered weapon that escaped from Amoi didn't you? After all why else would two Tanagura Blondies be here?"

Riki heard V and the twins start to laugh quietly as they caught on to what he was trying to do.

"Or me? Did you tell them about me? About my voracious appetite for human flesh? Did you mention what happens if one comes in contact with me for too long? Did you tell them about how everyone around me becomes infected with a sickness that liquefies their internal organs?" Riki gave his audience a wicked little laugh, playing off all the stupid rumors he'd hear about himself and using it to his advantage.

"Do I need to continue? Or should I go on about why my friend, here, needs to be pierced or how my two boys here are-"

"That is more then enough Riki." Gideon calmly said.

Too late, Riki smiled. By allowing him to say as much as he did, Riki had already gained the upper hand. He didn't need Lilly to snap out of his terrified stupor to take out everyone, because he just got Gideon's hired hands to do it for him.

The spooked hum of voices circulated around them. From his own experience, Riki knew it wouldn't take very much to set the naive thugs off.

"His horns are real… monster…demon …devourer of souls…save yourselves…run."

Riki bared his teeth in a feral smile as Jade's whispers seemed to soak through the very air. His savage grin added the spice that the mongrels needed to tip the scales in their favor. His kid's voice wasn't a hundred percent, but what he had been able to dish out was more than enough to increase the fear in the untrained fools. Riki could see the terror building in their eyes and rising in their voices.

oOoOoOo

His Excellency's pet is truly an exceptional creature, Gideon thought as he took in the ferociousness of the beast in front of him. The picture the mongrel made was the very essence of primal, savage beauty. The bleeding gash over his brow, the long midnight hair tangled in wild braids around his shoulders, the painted black mask all enhanced the blazing fury of his jet-black eyes.

Gazing at the panicked faces of the lesser, undisciplined, beings Gideon had been forced to use, the Elite had to silently congratulate the mongrel. Riki had effectively found the only flaw in this little round up of his and worked it to his advantage. The world they were on was a territory quite familiar with the Elites of Amoi, the Blondies. Whether Riki realized it or not, mentioning how Mikhale and he had personally come to retrieve mongrels resonated with the hired thugs. Why would a few petty criminals warrant the need for, not one, but two, Tanagura Blondies. Why would the princes of Amoi need to come personally to get them?

Riki was decidedly clever and it was no wonder why Iason wanted him, but Gideon's attention was not on the black eyed savage. To him, the most enchanting creature of the wild group was the glittering cream cat whose voice, although a little ragged, sent a shiver of pleasure down his spine. Gideon had watched, enthralled, as the little pet fought. The boy was able to hold his own amongst the more experienced fighters, even without the white leathered, blue haired mongrel helping him.

"Sir?"

Holding his hand up to silence his solider, Gideon turned his head to look over to his Blondie brother. Mikhale still sat on the cheaply upholstered, red velvet loveseat, sipping inexpensive Champaign. "Mikhale? Would you care to join me?"

Looking up from the rim of his glass, Mikhale flicked a glance to Gideon, taking his time placing his half drunk glass on the arm of the sofa. Mikhale had yet to acknowledge Lilly, needing time to calm his anger after watching his pet dance seductively for the crowd of leering strangers. The pet's intoxicating scent reached him even through the offensive stench of the retched humans around him, and even now he could smell it lingering in the air. Mikhale could practically taste his pet's need for physical intimacy, the damnable, fevered, all consuming, longing to mate. A need his pet had taken upon himself to ease with others….

Mikhale crushed the delicate mask that he still held in his hand.

The night he had finally obtained the power to protect Lilly from Jupiter, the night he had put a stop to all the torturous pet performances where he had been forced to watch Lilly touch, and be touched by others. The night Mikhale had planned to once and for all take him to his bed and the boy had run from him, nearly killing himself in his dangerous stunt, sliding under the shield that could have taken off his head.

Steeling himself, Mikhale stood and walked close to where Gideon waited. He still needed more time to trample the rage, but time was a luxury neither he nor Gideon had. His presence was needed to calm the anxiety of the foreign hired hands. "A problem seems to be accumulating amongst the lower ranks, Gideon," Mikhale said in greeting, "Such an annoyance does not bode well considering the allowed schedule."

"I am aware of that Mikhale."

"Are you?" Mikhale's eyes couldn't help but wander, seeking the tilted, pale eyes of his pet. "Hello Lilly."

"…."

"After such a long time apart, have you forgotten how to welcome me?" Mikhale asked in an almost indifferent tone.

"Good e-evening Master Tain…"

Mikhale smiled unkindly. "I would say that your excursion has reached its end, don't you think? Come here Lilly. It's time to go home."

"And which home is that Mik? The one you stole him from or the gilded ice palace you've imprisoned him in?"

Mikhale narrowed his eyes at Iason's pet. The mention of Lilly's past, of where he used to dwell, effectively broke through the misty veil of fear that he had wrapped around his pet. Mikhale knew Lilly wanted to see his former owners, the people who referred themselves as his 'parents'. The Elite knew that Lilly wanted to see them desperately enough to risk his wrath. "I'd think very carefully of your situation as well as that of these mongrels you are with. You can end this now, while everyone is still alive."

The straightening back of his broad shoulders and the determined look that flashed on Lilly's face made Mikhale sigh. "It looks like it will be as you said it would Gideon."

oOoOoOo

Lilly couldn't stop the trembles that vibrated throughout his limbs. Seeing his Elite master in such a place had never occurred to him, even though he knew a Blondie was on their trail. Summoning up all the courage he had, Lilly defiantly lifted his chin to Mikhale. He was scared beyond belief, but the one thing he'd learned while being with Riki and the others and becoming friends with them, was that 'giving up' was not in their vocabulary.

"You can do this, baby. Stand up to the fucker and show his ass what you got," V gave Lilly a charming grin and a much practiced, cocky wink. The mongrel interlaced his fingers with the sexy Pet's clammy digits, holding the cold hand in his to let Lilly know that he wasn't alone. V wanted to let the pet know that all of them were with him.

Lilly blinked back tears at Violet's whisper, and squeezed the mongrel's hand pressed to his own. Encouraging hushed tones from the others filled him with strength enough to smile and face the wary eyes that watched them. "Jade? I know your throat must be hurting you…but can you help me?"

Lilly swallowed audibly. "Whisper the same sweet nothings you did not a few moments ago Jade, and everyone hold your breath for as long as you can," Lilly murmured as he took a deep breath. Lilly concentrated hard, thinking of the response he wanted from the already antsy chumps. The surface of his skin, all over his body, tingled pleasurably as he formulated redolence from within him. Lilly filled every corner of his body with the perfume, until he felt as if he would burst. "Now, Jade."

As easy as flicking on a switch, while exhaling the breath he had inhaled, Lilly sighed in ecstasy as he released all the pressure out into the air. He could hear Jade's strange hypnotizing voice going on about monsters and devils and added his voice with his, helping by being his echo to cement the words into the minds of the terror-stricken crowd.

Then his fragrance hit them.

"Holy….shit…" V whispered, shaken at the sudden viciousness of the men attacking each other. He was suddenly very glad for the slight immunity he had against Lilly's smell thing. He could see faintly what those poor saps were seeing…

V shut his eyes and shook his head, as if hoping by doing so he could wipe the images from his head.

"It's only a hallucination V. None of it is real," Lilly quickly and loudly whispered, so everyone in their small group could hear. Lilly knew the others were frightened when the mongrel's hand clutched his, painfully. He realized how badly what he had emitted must have affected them, immunity or not. Taking another deep breath Lilly quickly created a different scent, one that would block the other that drove their crazed opponents to attack the unaffected Amoian soldiers.

"Fuck. I had hoped that they would take out more than that."

Shaken, V opened his eyes when he heard Riki speak, looking around him and behind him to see what Riki saw. True enough, the amount of mo fos on the ground dead, dying or just writhing in pain wouldn't help them get out of the shit pool they were currently drowning in.

"Looks like we'll have to fall back onto plan B, wild man," V forced himself to sound as carefree as possible, praying none of them would notice, and if they did, say nothing about his reaction to Lilly's gift.

"Looks like we do."

"Blondies are just standing there doing nothing." Fidget wondered aloud.

"That's because Elites don't dirty their own hands Fidget. They fucking have peons do it for them." Riki explained.

"Yeah, well, I don't think they are looking too pleased at the moment…so if we could blow this joint already, before they make us the sole exception to that unsaid rule of theirs?" V could feel Lilly's towering, frighteningly beautiful, Blondie master burning holes into his skull. Probably pissed because I called him baby, V thought, wiggling his brows at the irritated Blondie.

"V, from the direction of Mikhale's stare, please don't tell me you're egging him on?" Riki sighed.

"Maybe, maybe not…but it's another good reason, besides the five hundred other ones we have already, to get the hells name out of here. You know, before he fucking rips my head off. I'm already holding my buddy's hand and I suggest you all do the same so we can get gone."

oOoOoOo

Nibbling on his lower lip, Fidget met identical stormy grey eyes and smiled, trying to hide how uneasy he was. "Keito…"

"I'll be right behind you Keita. You don't have to worry about anything, alright?"

Nodding, Fidget let his brother's hand go and reached for Jade's cold one. He understood the reason why he had been paired up with the pretty boy. Without saying it, Fidget knew how worried Riki was about his kid and wanted him with Jade so that his son would have the best possible chance of getting out. Maybe the only chance if the rest of them were caught. If anything, finding an exit, no matter how impossible it was, was Fidget's specialty.

But…

Of all the crappy situations Fidget and his twin had been in, this one felt different to him. Fidget couldn't help but feeling like he wouldn't be seeing Keito again. Letting go of his hand brought back bad memories of the times when they were forced apart in Guardian, and Fidget couldn't stop the tremble from entering his voice when he told Keito that he would see him soon.

With his other hand, Jade rubbed the saddened blue haired boy that held him, as he glanced up at his father for reassurance. The strength in that board straight back comforted him to a degree, as did seeing the confidence shining so brightly from the obsidian orbs looking down at him.

"Do you remember what to do?"

Run, run fast and say close to Fidget and whatever I do don't stop, Jade thought. Remembering how Riki had sat him down, pacing in front of him, and drilling the message repeatedly into his head. Riki had not let upuntil he was completely satisfied Jade would remember the words for the rest of his life.

When Jade found out his sire was really Riki, he had been 'scared shitless', as the others would say. As Violet had said it had been because he feared to be rejected. Riki's reputation and widely known contempt for pets in Eos made him truly believe that he would be sneered upon by the dark beauty. Even when he was accepted, Jade still believed that someday Riki would cast him aside. He was a faulty science experiment from Riki's stolen seed, that much Jade knew from the white lab coats that talked all around him in the past. There was still the part that Jade had not told Riki about yet…he had thought they would have more time.

"You better not be thinking that our time is up Jade. If anything we will be together, I'll make damn sure of it. Now straighten up boy, and wipe that 'we're screwed' look from your face."

Fidget grinned when he saw Jade wince as Riki's strong hand rubbed his boy's head a little too hard. "Careful or you'll pop his head right off his neck."

oOoOoOo

"It looks like Sir Iason's pet has formed a tender bond with Sir Jerico Ervic's pet," Mikhale commented to his silent Elite brother. Mikhale didn't really care if Riki had fornicated with every man and/or woman he had come across in his travels since escaping Amoi. The only thing Mikhale was interested in was the dreadfully familiar way the brown haired mongrel was holding Lilly's hand. In fact, it was the only thing he was concerned about.

"He is no longer Jerico's pet, he is mine," Gideon replied coldly, also noticing the emotion between the boy and Riki. The gesture did not sit well with him. He had firmly believed that Riki's affection for his powerful leader had been true, that while physical needs did need to be met, his over all loyalty would not move to another.

"Whether he is the Onyx's pet or yours matters not to me Gideon. What does matter is that this game of charades is proving to be tiresome. Make your move, or I will," It was an empty threat, but Mikhale could feel his cool, calm Elite mask cracking. His need to just march over and retrieve Lilly himself was becoming unbearable. The only reason why he hadn't done so was because of the image of ice blue eyes in his mind and the knowledge of what could happen if he acted before it was time to do so. "Begin already, Gideon."

oOoOoOo

Growling Riki tensed when the Blondie, Gideon, raised his hand up to all the Amoian soldiers still standing, motioning them forward to them.

"Sky," Riki hissed.

"Just a little closer…" Sky waited until the Elite's men were just a few arm lengths away before holding up the small whip he had fought, and fought damn hard, to make sure he never lost during the scrimmage.

"You don't really believe that will do anything to us do you, little mongrel?"

Riki laughed darkly when he heard the solider.

"…Looks can be deceiving," said Sky smiling, as he twisted at the bottom of the whip's handle. "It's always what's on the inside that matters, never the outside." Lifting up the thick black coil for all to see, Sky showed, with a bit of flare, the red button that had been hidden in the whip's handle.

Riki grinned at the solider and the Blondies, giving them all a salute. "Boom."

Smiling, Sky pressed the button.

The building shook down to its foundation. Glass exploded inward, flying shards cutting into everyone standing close to the windows. In the confusion, Riki and his boys took off fast, moving in opposite directions. Riki and Sky set off together, both of them looking back to watch, to make sure that Jade, Fidget, V and Lilly made it out. They watched as the pairs jumped safely out of the busted windows on either side of the club, unharmed from the fire and wreckage. The bombs they had strategically placed, just in case plan A got shot to hell, had detonated well away from the mongrels who were now B lining it straight ahead.

Riki had stopped holding back his strength when fighting, but this time he un-caged, or more accurately, merged with the snarling beast that had been violently slamming against the steel bars imprisoning it within his mind. The fear of his family being harmed, of his son, the precious blood bond that he hadn't realized he cherished until it was gifted to him, made Riki's control slip. The fear he felt for Jade, and the others, gave the beast the foot hold it needed to surge forward. In its gain, Riki lost himself, falling down into a dark abyss.

Sky pumped his legs trying to keep up with Riki as the black haired mongrel suddenly picked up speed and took out the soldiers barring their way at the front door. Sky shouted out to Riki not to stop, even as he snapped out his whip to catch a staggering, uniformed, Amoian guard viciously around the neck. Sky paused only to yank the coil back, pulling the guard with all his strength into the pillar that stood just a few away from their exit.

"Riki!" Let's go!" Sky knew that both Riki and he understood their side of the plan. They had privately discussed the choice to linger: that if worse came to worse, the both of them would take the hardest path, making themselves the main focus to allow the others the best chance of escape. Not just for love, but because it was the smartest and most logical decision. V could bust them out, his Keita could find a safe path so that they could escape, and Lilly and Jade were their magical crowd control. In the grand scheme of things, Riki and Sky weren't the most important. The greatest contribution they could be to the others was to act as bait and from the heads that turned in their direction, the two mongrels had been a little too successful. However, what scared Sky was that there were no signs of the Elite Blondies anywhere.

Sky shouted for Riki again.

Snapping his head back to the familiar voice calling out to him, the creature snarled. Enraged at the interruption, but holding back for a reason unknown, it halted. The animal did not attack the man who screamed at him, beckoning him franticly with his hands to follow.

Intending to ignore the blue haired prey, that nonetheless smelled like it was his littermate, the creature turned back to the bleeding game under his pathetically dulled claws. The beast closed its eyes in sheer pleasure as the lesser, weaker, animal screamed in pain as he began to crush it's skull with the hand covering its face. Purring at the feeble attempts his quarry made to escape from his clutches, the creature ignored the blue haired man.

"Riki! Damn it! What the fuck are you doing! We got to go!" Pissed, Sky ran to where Riki was taking his sweet time straddling a uniform 'dick'. "Leave him! We got to go I said!" Sky reached out, only to snatch his hand back when Riki whipped his head around and snapped his teeth at him, growling.

"You must be shitting me," Sky cursed. "Of all the fucking times for you to flip the fuck out." Backing up, Sky put some distance between them while trying to also keep an eye on the troops cautiously making their way closer. Drawing his hand back Sky snapped his wrist out, his whip catching Riki sharply across his back.

"You are fucking going to owe me big time for this," Sky hissed when Riki leapt to his feet and rushed him. Throwing down his leather switch, Sky caught Riki head on as they collided, grabbing fist full of silky black hair to control the crazed mongrel's movements. He controlled Riki's thrashing so he could slam his own mouth down onto him, plunging his tongue between Riki's lips in a brutal kiss.

The beast froze. Attacking the one who harmed him had been instinctive, but even as the creature had charged a voice had kept him from ripping into the littermate-smelling foe's soft belly. And now this…Disgusted by the sensation, and confused by the sense of wrongness he felt from the wet appendage licking at his fangs, the creature retreated back to the safety of its den.

Blinking his eyes, Riki gasped as command of his body was suddenly given back to him. Baffled as to why the beast relinquished control, it took Riki a second to realize Sky's tongue was stroking his. Gagging Riki shoved Sky away from him. "What the hell!"

Both Riki and Sky stumbled away from one another, spitting on the ground, and rubbed their mouths with the back of their hands.

"It seemed like a good plan at the time or did you want me to wait until after you started eating the fucker whimpering on the ground? Cuz, from the looks of it, that's were you where fucking headed." Sky spat on the ground again. "Now let's fucking go. Your little psycho slip has made us fall behind."

Riki didn't want to know what happened, he was too scared to know. "Yeah, let's go." Without a backward glance Riki and Sky fled.

oOoOoOo

"We're almost at the check point Jade, just a little more to go and you can rest," Fidget panted as they both ran down a dark alley at full speed.

Fidget didn't want to frighten the boy, who was already freaked out, but from the very beginning he felt that they were being followed. Every corner they took, every short cut designed to baffle pursuers should have thrown almost anyone off their trail. Still, Fidget couldn't shake the feeling that they were being hunted, even though he couldn't see or hear anyone in pursuit.

The little sprint down candy lane was quiet…too quiet. Fidget had been 'iffy' about taking this path since the area contained some of the worst cut throats he had ever seen…well, that wasn't true, it looked like a normal street in Ceres. Still, the place was a bit too dangerous for a cute kid like Jade to be running down. The only reason Fidget had taken the long way, down this particular street, was because he had seen a law enforcement agent get gutted out in the road. The man had been murdered just for being on the road, right before his eyes, while Fidget had been scouting for routes to take in case they had to jet. So, in retrospect, the safest place they could be from those who were currently chasing after them, was where they were now. But the feeling of the place was very strange. There was no one hiding in the shadows, there were no drunken brawls on the sidewalks or any prostitutes arguing with their johns and pimps on the street corners.

Not a good sign at all…

"Fidget!"

"Almost there, sweets! Just need to get around the corner!" As used to running as he was, Fidget could handle, even loved the burn in his legs. Running at break-neck speed was normal for someone like him, but, because of the fighting, Fidget was already feeling fatigued. He knew his own exhaustion meant that the kid was already at zero. Even though the poor kid was falling behind, he never once stopped. "Hold on for me Jade!"

Using the street-light to take the corner, Fidget didn't have time to stop before crashing into the man hidden around the side of the building. A powerful blow to his face seemed to come from nowhere and Fidget was seeing stars. The blow also left him open for the stranger to lock his arms around him from behind, squeezing him painfully around his already sore ribs. Fidget cried out, his voice both surprised and pained. Out of the corner of his eye, Fidget saw more figures emerging from the shadows.

Screaming out, Fidget slammed his head back and heard a loud crack followed by cursing. With his arms in front of him, Fidget could still reach the little gifts this beloved twin had made from him. Since they had to go into the club weaponless, due to the tight security, his Keito had made him blades out of zofsxt crystals. Slamming his head back again, Fidget caught the stubborn bastard again in the face so that the grip around him would loosen just enough to slip his hands up his sleeves to reach the hilts of both knives. Freeing one of the dangerously sharp crystal daggers, an eerie glow seemed to come from the light of street lamp above them. Fidget cried out in pain again as those arms began to crush him. With a firm grip on the knife, Fidget slashed at the arms holding him.

More cursing filled the air as Fidget was thrown away from the man, his fall cushioned by the brick wall of the building. As the shadows rushed at him, Fidget freed his other blade and ran straight into the group, planning on taking down as many as he could before they killed him. Stumbling from a kick to his back, the blue haired boy gasped when the butt of a rifle was slammed into his thigh. The attacker hit him with the gun again, and then again, striking him every time he tried to rise. Fuckers have only been aiming for my legs, Fidget thought as he was attacked from all sides. A thick arm snaked around his neck while others grabbed his legs and arms.

"Jade! Run!" Fidget rasped as he saw the boy skidding to a stop, having finally caught up. In his faltering vision, as gasping as he felt the air leaving his lungs, Fidget tried again tell the boy to run. He was not sure he could manage to push out the words before he passed out.

"Stop! Let go of him now! Don't move any of you!" The voice was smooth and sonorous and filled with power.

Suddenly released, Fidget dropped to the ground. He lay, barely conscious, sucking in deep breaths with his arms wrapped around his bruised and battered ribs.

Fidget lifted his head when he heard Jade coughing. Shit, he used the full strength of this voice, he thought. His voice hasn't healed fully yet.

"Interesting. How is it that a powerful gift, such as yours, was never made known to us Jade?"

The fire in his throat forgotten, Jade stiffened. It wasn't just the voice that spoke from behind him, but the hot breath he felt on the back of his neck. Terrified of who he knew was behind him, Jade could only look fearfully down at the battered mongrel staring at him with wide eyes.

"Your voice…it has a curious effect on my body. Thankfully, it has not had the same effect on my soldiers. I have lost many strong hands tonight, and it would be a disappointment if I lost more…by my own hand." Gideon whispered calmly.

Jade shivered as silky blonde hair fell across his shoulder and a powerful arm slipped around his waist. Jade couldn't say a word, not from the lack of want, but because he was broken. Using his voice to help give him the advantage he needed while fighting, helping Lilly to turn the Blondies men against their allies, using his gift to its absolute max to save Fidget…using it so much before it was fully healed… had broken him. Jade had forced everything he had into those words and had broken his voice, even his normal one. He couldn't talk. He could not even whimper. He had lost it.

"Now young mongrel if you would be so kind as to stand for me. I have a very important part for you to play." Gideon said, his arm still clasped around Jade's quivering body.

oOoOoOo

"Fucking shit!" Stumbling to a stop, V stared in open astonishment at the wall in front of him, the wall that had absolutely no business being there. Panting in exhaustion and scrambling to think of what to do next, V barely managed to catch his breath. From the very beginning, V had realized that they had escaped a little too easily. The explosives Sky had detonated had done nothing to the Blondies. The Elites hadn't been surprised in the least. In fact, the Blondes had even turned their faces in the other direction…before Sky pressed the button.

"Another barricade?" Lilly wheezed, leaning against the side building.

"The third fucking one." V studied the wall this time instead of moving on. There may have been a weakness that he had over looked in the others. Plus, there was the fact that if he didn't give Lilly a break, the punk could end up passing out on him. "Fuck!" He hissed, finding no flaw in the wall.

"Climb over it?" Lilly panted.

"Nah. If you look, you can see that the top sparkles just a little when I shine the flashlight up there. Jerk-offs fucking glassed the whole thing so if we try and jump up and grab the edge, our hands will get fucking cut to hell. We would have to help each other get over, you know, with you on my shoulders and crap," V motioned for Lilly to look for himself, handing him the light.

"The bad part in trying to climb that fucking thing is that we take the chance of getting nailed. Let's say I get you up there, and you get shot for being such an open target. Or maybe that is what they have been waiting for all along, so they can tag us separately," V whispered, peeking around the side to look down the suspiciously empty street.

Where the fuck is Fidget when you need the little shit, thought V, cursing silently. Give him locked doors and getting free would be a synch. Unknown to anyone except the twins, all his piercings were his hidden burglary tools. Yet, nothing he had on him would get them out of this predicament. They were in shitsville. Fidget had found three escape routes for them and with this wall blocking the alley, that marked their third failure. They were trapped, with no other way to get free.

"If that's the bad news, then what's the good news?" Lilly hated to pile the entire load of decision making on V, but with his sense of direction was horrible. Give him a street map and it would take him an hour, minimum, to find out where the hell he was. Even if there was a big red dot showing his current location, the ex-pet would have no trouble getting lost.

"The good news is that you don't have to run anymore…but for you I guess that would be more bad news than good." V said, dryly.

"Shit!" V jumped back when three, armor suited men stepped forward, pointing their weapons at them.

Gulping, Lilly backed up with V, jumping when their backs hitting the barricade behind them, halting their retreat. The closer the soldiers the came, more scared Lilly felt. He practically panicked when he saw that each of the men had on the nose clips that would render his gift useless.

"Hey now, we got no problem with you. We're just takin' a midnight stroll," V grinned charmingly. "I'm not into the whole "let's kick each other's asses" bit. So how about I just put my hands up, and that way we can all have a sweet and easy time." V raised his hands and turned to give Lilly a meaningful wink as he slowly walked towards the men.

"Don't just stand there Lilly, come with me. You're like my shining light, and besides it's not like we're going to fight these stubs." V said cheerfully.

Startled, Lilly nearly dropped the heavy flashlight in his hand. The time he had spent on Gilesse, fighting along side with the handsome amethyst eyed mongrel, had given Lilly the opportunity to learn the deceptive code V used when in a jam. The ex-pet knew instantly that V was setting up an attack, using his exceptionally good looks and charm to get as close to his targets as possible. It was clever, and as his back-up, Lilly knew V was waiting for him to play his part.

"Wait! How do you know they won't attack you once you go with them? They might harm you, and say it was because you had a concealed weapon!" Lilly was happy for his nervousness; it gave the added tremble to his voice to make his lie believable.

"Well, we can't have that," V agreed and slowly, very slowly, grabbed the hem of his shirt. The mongrel pulled the black and white striped T up and over his head, smiling seductively when he heard surprised shuddering breaths. When the soldiers saw the glittering rings in his nipples and belly button, V could practically feel the heat of their eyes. Flexing, V turned around mouthing a few words to Lilly before facing the men again.

"As you can see…I got nothing to hide." For the first time, V wished he hadn't put that brown goop in his hair. The whole 'weak prey' crap he played worked faster when his hair was its natural color. It irked V how it didn't seem to matter to fuckers how tall he was, or how his body was that of a seasoned fighter, scars and all. They only saw the prettiness of his fucking face! Story of his life, but their fuck up in down playing him as a threat always ended up giving him the victory.

"We need you to remove everything…so that we can be sure you're not concealing any smaller weapons in those tight black pants. And you in the back! I want you to start removing your clothing so that we can…check you as well."

"…Sir….we have direct orders that we are not-"

"Who the hell would believe them? A mongrel and a pet are nothing but trash." The soldier snarled. V struggled to keep the sneer off his face.

Narrowing his eyes, Lilly walked over to stand side by side with V, looking up at the mongrel. V smiled at him. Lilly gave the cocky soldier a quick side glance to let V know that he wanted him, before stepping forward to the voice of the group.

"I'm sure you can keep a secret can't you sweetheart?"

Lilly barely succeeded in holding back his gag when the man yanked him into his arms and began kissing his neck. "Sure…"

"We'll be having a great ol' time, the five of us. I know for a fact that if you live, you'll all be keeping this a secret from the rest of your buddies." V laughed.

"If we live?" A soldier toward the back asked.

"Yup, 'cause what we have planned for you… I know at least one of you won't survive to see the coming day," V wiggled his brows at his two targets, making them laugh nervously. "So Lilly, you wanna get started?"

"After you."

Licking his lips V stepped closer, his smile growing when the fools lowered their weapons. Before they could blink, V wrapped his shirt around the head of the guard closest to him. He snapped his leg out, kicking the other man in the head. Grunting in pain, as the soldier he had blinded punched him straight in the gut, V gave the man back the hit…with interest.

Once Lilly heard the first shout, he immediately brought his knee up between the disgusting soldier's legs. Once the goon toppled, he brought the heavy flashlight down onto the man's head, hard. With a grunt, Lilly raised the light and hit the soldier again and again. The hardened helmet the man wore absorbed most of the impact and Lilly could only hope to stun the bastard long enough so that he and V could escape. Wiping his neck clean of the man's saliva, Lilly turned hearing V's yelp. The mongrel was held from behind, being strangled by one of the soldier's rifles. Lilly rushed over to help, certain V was in dire trouble. A moment later, Lilly was almost brained as V reached far back, over his shoulders, to grab the soldier's weapons harness and heave the man up and over. The throw slammed the goon into the ground, the impact resounding through Lilly's boots. V staggered before falling to the ground himself, coughing violently.

"Amazing…" Lilly breathed. The ex-pet had been just one amongst many that could not take their eyes away from V while he fought. The grace, and sheer strength, the mongrel possessed were astonishing! Even though Lilly knew that part of his awe stemmed from the fact that V was simply stunning to look upon in the first place, he could not deny how well V fought. V was so beautiful, it made it hard to believe the mongrel was more than just a pretty face, but the amethyst eyed boy was a better player that even Lilly himself.

"Amazing my ass…I was two steps away from pushing up daisies!" V scrambled to his feet with a wince as the soldiers groaned. "Fucking shit, we need to go now. All that padding they're wearing protected them from the worst of our blows."

Lilly nodded as he eyed his own soldier. "Good idea…After my guy pukes up his nuts, I don't think he'll want to 'play' with me like he had before."

"Then let's go, flower boy," V teased, running backwards.

"Hey I don't call you 'pretty boy' so knock off the flower crap," Lilly called out, chasing after the crazy, laughing mongrel.

oOoOoOo

Just as planned, Mikhale watched from the window as Lilly and the brown haired mongrel ran down the road towards where he waited. In the rat maze he and Gideon had mapped out for when the mongrels "escape" from them in the club, there was no where they could go.

"No matter how fast you run, you can't get away," Mikhale whispered. "The masters are tired of their pet's games." Seeing that Lilly was almost upon him, Mikhale walked out of the building he had been waiting in. He moved towards his pet to greet him.

His attention snapped away for a moment as he heard shots echoing through the alley and shouts of pain. Mikhale looked down the darkened street to see the mongrel, the purple-eyed boy Sir Orphe was so interested in, gasping in pain on the trash filled road. There were darts in his legs and back. Narrowing his eyes, Mikhale quickly looked up just in time to see his pet's fear filled eyes meet his before blood sprayed out from his pet's shoulder. Lilly dropped to the ground with a scream.

"You fool! We were told to tranquilize them! No live rounds!" Someone shouted into the darkness

His heart thundering, Mikhale growled, turning his blazing aqua glare onto the one who had dared to harm what was his. The insignificant insect that had damaged his Lilly was unaware of the vengeful god that had set its bloodthirsty sights upon him.

"Please, they're just pets! Escaped pets at that. Who cares if they're a little damaged, they'll just be sold to a whore house in Midas when we return to Amoi anyway. Besides, that fucker deserved it for kicking me in the-." The soldier's words were cut off as his head was grabbed in a punishing hold.

"Holy shit….S-sir Tain, sir!"

"On the contrary, I do care if he his harmed." Mikhale hissed in anger to the foolish soldier, before snapping his neck. Tossing the lifeless body to the side, Mikhale swiftly made his way to Lilly and pulled his light form into his own arms. Ripping Lilly's beaded shirt from his bleeding shoulder, Mikhale inspected the wound. Foul words erupted from Mikhale's lips when he saw the damage done to the smooth skin of his pet. He wished suddenly that he had held back his rage in doing away with the careless soldier, just so he could take pleasure in killing him slowly. The buffoon deserved no less for what he had done.

The idiot had used the primitive force of a metal bullet, instead of a laser round, to harm his pet. Not that the soldier would have kept his life in the other case, but at least then the entry and exit sites would have cauterized the wound. With a laser, there wouldn't have been any blood lose, just pain.

"M-Mikhale…"

"Quiet, Lilly." Mikhale whispered, as he removed his thin coat and tore it in two, pressing the destroyed garment to the injury.

He held it firm when Lilly screamed in pain, never stopping the pressure he used to try and halt the flow of blood. The hot, red liquid still seemed to pour from Lilly's body, setting Mikhale's nerves on edge. Mikhale knew his pet's body, with its extreme enhanced regenerative abilities, would close the wound and there was no real danger of Lilly bleeding to death. The wound was not fatal, not where he had been shot, but it didn't stop the panic. The fear of seeing the blood pouring out of him or watching him fall to the ground was still gnawing at Mikhale's belly.

Removing his belt, Mikhale secured the make-shift bandage and gently stood with Lilly in his arms. The guards carefully moved around him to lift the unconscious mongrel onto a gurney. No one asked Mikhale if he needed assistance, or attempted to take the pet from him. They knew that the blonde had reclaimed what was his and their interference was not welcome.

Taking his cell out from his front pocket, Mikhale dialed quickly, sneering at the blood on his hand.

"Where are you? Good. I have what is mine, and the other mongrel is being transported to the ship. Time is almost up Gideon, I would make this fast if I were you. One minute over the allowed time and he will not be pleased."

oOoOoOo

"Shit!" Riki backed away, hiding himself deeper into the shadows. They hid inside of a seemingly abandoned building, panting from exertion. The only success Riki and Sky had had through the whole night had been getting Luke and Aoi enough cover to escape, along with the other girl they had come for. That small success was mainly due to the fact that Gideon didn't know what Luke looked like, and so did not try to stop him from running.

Riki had known going up against a Blondie was going to be hard, but he was still reeling from getting slammed with the surprise that Mikhale was here as well. Two Elite Blondies working to capture them…Fuck they might as well have just walked out with their hands up.

Gideon and Mikhale had effectively seen through their plan, and were now hunting them down with such ease that it was almost sickening. Scratch that, it WAS sickening. Riki and his boys…with Rio's punk ass…had spent two days on the planet planning everything out. They had never once seen anyone from Amoi. Still, the way they had been herded towards a particular direction suggested that they had been here a lot longer then the mongrels had. Roads blocked, alleys walled up, buildings secured with armed forces…every route they had needed to escape had been shut down in one way or another. They had fucking played right into Gideon's hands.

Riki could see Sky hiding not far away from him and motioned for him to stay where he was. Riki and Sky had been able to get past all the fuckers that had tried to stop them so far, but that did not mean that they had escaped…no. There was nowhere they could run now. Gideon and Mikhale had effectively cornered them. When they were in the club, Riki had been sure that Gideon had hired those dicks out of need for more manpower. He should have known better than that from dealing with Iason for nearly five years. Blondies were never ill prepared for anything. The word 'disadvantage' was not in their vocabulary, especially when it pertained to strategy.

The Blondies had only used the extra forces to weaken them, use up their reserves. That was probably the only reason Gideon had them on his payroll.

"Riki…"

"Shh," Riki hissed.

Unlike Sky, Riki could hear the near silent foot steps of the Blondies' men sneaking around the same floor where the two mongrels were hiding. Not that it mattered how quiet they were. It was just a matter of time before he and Sky were discovered. Taking them out wouldn't be a problem. What would be a problem was when they did their five minute radio reports to the Blondies. Taking down the hired goons would be a huge red flag to them and then…and then it would be over.

Hell I might as well wave my fucking hand out the god damned window and shout out "I'm right here!" Riki thought. The amount of people on their floor, on the stairs and on the floor beneath them…there was no way both he and Sky could get all of them at once without one of them shouting for help.

"It looks to be all clear in here." A deep voice reported.

Riki flattened himself against the wall and saw Sky's slender shadow do the same. Three beams of light flashed into the darkened room along with three distinctive foot steps.

"Search every corner."

"Seriously?"

"Do you want to be the one to explain to Sir Gideon that we did not check this room? If the mongrels escaped from him because we failed to secure an area properly?"

"They're fucking mongrels! Who cares if we find them or not? I say good riddance and leave them here."

"Well, it's not up to you. Just shut up and do your job. Make fucking sure that you only have tranks in your gun, or you'll end up like Jeijo and get your neck snapped like a match stick." The more dominant voice snapped.

"Yea, yea, I'm not stupid enough to shoot live rounds at the mongrels. Harming them like he did was just crazy."

"Then stop bitching, the rest of the teams have already cleared their floors and are leaving. Sir Gideon has arrived."

Riki shook his head at Sky, hoping that the mongrel could see him in the dark. The moment the soldiers had mentioned harming a mongrel, Sky had stood from his crouch. Don't do it, Riki thought, trying to project his mental words to Sky.

Damn it! Riki pushed himself from the wall when the damn fool-headed mongrel charged the three guards. Riki efficiently took out two of them before they even realized what had happened, while Sky grappled with the last man.

"Who? Who was shot! Tell me!" Sky shouted once he got the upper hand, holding the man's arms behind his back.

Riki winced at the panic in Sky's voice.

"Fuck you!"

Walking up, Riki took the man's wrists and shoved Sky away. "Talk and I won't break your arms." Riki said calmly. He quickly took control before Sky did something stupid and ended up dead.

"As I said, Fuc- AHHHH!"

"Woops," Riki grinned. "Sorry about that. I've just gotten so damn strong that I haven't fully learned to control my strength. Looks like I broke your wrist." Riki 'tsked'. "How horrible of me, especially when I really meant to do this!" Riki yanked the man's arm up and grunted in satisfaction as he heard the telling 'pop' of the guy's shoulder dislocating.

"If you want me to make him stop, then tell me what you know!" Sky shouted.

"Shit, shit, shit! Fuck you!"

Riki began to slowly pull the guards other wrist higher up behind his back. He could practically smell the fear on the soldier's skin.

"Okay!...fuck…a newbie fucking shot Sir Mikhale's pet and got his head nearly twisted off! That's all I know I swear!"

"That good for you Sky?" Riki mumbled.

"Thank god…yeah, that's good for me…"

Releasing the soldier, Riki slapped him hard on the back. "Thanks man, now sweet dreams," Riki said before he stepped back to let Sky slam the guy in the back of the head with the man's own rifle.

"Sorry Riki….couldn't help myself," Sky mumbled, pulling a lollipop from somewhere in his black leather jacket. The mongrel popped it into his mouth almost urgently, as if trying to take comfort from it.

"I hope you haven't killed my men, Riki."

Riki and Sky froze at the voice that suddenly came from a radio still hooked to one of the downed soldier's belts. The voice sounded cold and confident and very pleased.

"As all of my men have already returned, when those three did not it was obvious you were in there. You must have rendered them unconscious or killed them. Either way, it's time for us to go home. As you have already, no doubt, guessed: all of your friends have been captured. If you don't believe me, then please come to the window and look down for your selves."

Cautiously, Riki and Sky made their way to the broken windows and peeped out. Riki swallowed hard, hoping that there might still be some way out, but Sky looked very grim.

"Now as you know, Sir Iason Mink has no use for this pet or the mongrels that helped you escape. Quiet frankly, from the damage they have done to Eos, having me kill them here would be merciful compared to the punishment that awaits them on Amoi."

"Fuck." Sure enough, the Blondie stood below them with V lying pale on the ground, unmoving. Next to him was Fidget and Jade, both bound and gagged.

"If you come out now I'll let them live, but if you don't I'll start killing them off one by one and come in there and get you myself." Gideon's voice carried through the radio as clearly as if the Elite were standing beside them.

"He won't really do it, will he?" Sky whispered, pulling Riki back.

"He's fucking serious," Riki replied. Blondies never fucking bluff, they didn't need to, but the whole thing didn't smell right…

"We have three rifles. We could-"

"How about a demonstration if you doubt my sincerity?"

Startled by the crackling voice on the radio, they rushed back to the window to see Fidget being roughly hauled to his feet. Gideon stood behind the quivering mongrel, his face unreadable, but totally serious. Both gripped the windowsill in terror when Fidget's head was roughly yanked back.

"How about this one? If I kill this one, will that help you understand? You mongrels are very loyal to one another, in your own way, are you not?"

A loud crack echoed as the Blondie revealed a gun from his coat, aimed and fired.

Both Riki and Sky watched in shock as Fidget fell forward, the crimson color of blood pooling and spreading in the middle of his back.

"No…no…wait. WAIT!" Dashing off, Sky ran as fast as he could to the entrance.

"Damn it! Sky!" Riki ran after him, hoping to god that what they had just witnessed was wrong. Riki found himself frantically praying that Fidget hadn't just been executed before their eyes. Missing Sky by a hair, Riki watched as the mongrel ran out into the open. Sky dashed out of the building, heedless of gunfire, to fall to his knees next to his twin's body. Fidget lay face down, silent and unmoving, before Sky gathered him into his arms. Holding his brother tightly, Sky rocked to himself, seemingly unaware of the others around him.

"Now tell me Riki, what will it take for you to give up? Will killing this one asleep on the ground do it? Or how about this one?" Gideon asked, glancing toward Jade.

Riki snarled as the Blondie yanked Jade up into his arms, holding the boy close to his body.

"How about I snap this little ones neck while you watch? Is his life important to you or can you live with his death?" Gideon asked calmly, hold Jade tight against him.

Stepping out into the open, Riki hissed at the Blondie to let the boy go. Gideon only smiled faintly as Riki reeled back, gasping in surprise at the darts sticking out from his shoulder and abdomen.

"Interesting…both of those quills should have had more than enough drugs in them to render you unconscious." The Blonde pondered.

"Maybe…my immunity to that kind of shit…has upped…" Riki rasped. With as much adrenalin as he had coursing through his body, he was not surprised that it would take more than two measly little darts to take him down. Apparently the Blondie realized that as well, as he lifted the gun he had used to kill Fidget, at him.

Riki's body jerked when the Blondie fired and he looked down groggily at his stomach to see, not a gapping wound, but another dart. Confused, Riki looked at the gun in the Blondie's hand, then at Fidget's still form being rocked in the arms of his twin.

"Three? Your resistance is fascinating. One would be lead to believe that all mongrels were just as resilient, but with only one shot, the blue haired boy fell instantly." Gideon mused, aiming another dart.

"Not…dead…" Riki stumbled, falling, feeling the cold hard ground on his back.

"Of course not, my orders were to bring all of you back alive."

"Orders…" Riki slurred. Unable to hold his eyelids up, Riki closed them thinking to rest them for just a bit.

Gideon looked down at Riki's sleeping face and smiled. "I must thank you Riki, though it goes against my nature to do so, for the exhilarating chase. If not for your master, I would have enjoyed catching you on my own, without Sir Iason or Mikhale's assistance. Every action and reaction you have demonstrated tonight was exactly as Sir Iason said it would be. Iason even surmised that threatening this boy here would make you surrender. "

"Mmpf." Jade huffed against his gag.

Looking down at the boy in his arms, Gideon had to hold back a sigh of territorial pleasure. The boy was finally his. He turned Jade around and forced the delicate chin up so he could look into those lovely, fear filled, eyes. "If you are worried, you need not be. All I have said to Riki was the truth. You, as well as the rest of the mongrels, will be taken back to Amoi. Nothing will be done to them."

"Sir? What do we do with them?"

Picking up the quivering boy, Gideon draped him over his shoulder before turning to his lieutenant. The man motioned to the blue haired mongrel and his death grip on his carbon copy. "Give me a dart," Gideon demanded, holding out his hand.

Receiving what he asked for, Gideon looked down at the blue haired boy in pity and removed the strange white stick from the mongrel's mouth. Sky's eyes were glazed and distant as he held his twin. Gideon looked at the glistening, sweet smelling, red ball attached at the end. Tossing the sweet to the side, Gideon injected the drug from the dart into the unresponsive mongrel's neck. Sky fell with a soft thud across his twin's body.

"Put them all on the ship, as they are, there is no need to separate them," Gideon said softly when his men made to pull the sleeping pair apart. "They are to be put into stasis for the whole trip back to Amoi. Besides dressing any wounds they may have, it is not my place to cleanse their bodies, but that of their owners." With his arm around his new pet's trembling legs, Gideon made his way to his waiting vehicle.

oOoOoOo

For the first time in a long stressful month, Iason's smile that graced those meeting with him was genuine.

The obvious amusement of watching Marcus and Aisha snap at one another's throats was just as entertaining as Iason had thought. Their squabbling was almost as engrossing as Orphe's perfect, scowling face as the Blondie turned through page after page of information. The report he had received from his team earlier in the day was apparently not to his liking. Reports on the several discoveries about the mongrel with the alias of 'Lawrence' had been given over from the security company in Midas. The same company Jupiter had suggested they use, oddly enough.

But aside from the comical emotional responses of his peers, the spectacle of which Iason took delight in witnessing, there another thing filling Iason with joy. All the amusements in the world were nothing compared to the news Iason had received from Gideon. In less then an hour, if even that, Riki would be home. The thought filled Iason with relief and for the first time in many weeks, he found that he could relax. Upon hearing those most welcome words from Gideon, Iason had taken the first deep, calming, breath since the whole fiasco started. The aching, heavy weight on his chest began lightening a little with the knowledge that with every minute, Riki would be that much closer to him.

Riki's flight and absence had shed new light on Iason's feelings for the mongrel. The year he had set his mongrel free and the two months they had been separated from one another, healing due to the incident at Dana Bahn, had been nothing compared to these three weeks. With both occurrences, Riki had always been within his reach. Riki had never been so far away that with a snap of his fingers Iason could not have had Riki brought to him. Even the time Jupiter kept his mongrel hidden from him… Iason was not yet sure what to think, but it did not stop his anger. If Iason had had any reason to believe that Jupiter would keep Riki from him, other than healing him, Iason would have fetched him straight away. In doing so, he would have exposed how powerful he had become in comparison to Jupiter.

At that time, Iason would have been hated for going against Jupiter's order…then… but now was a different story. Even while enjoying a good mood, on the inside Iason was filled with rage. No one would ever again take what was his, not even the AI. The rage that he had buried deep inside of himself, rage that continued to grow with every new piece of information Katze uncovered, still seethed hot and horrible within him. Every new fact was like another blow, especially the newest little find…Jade.

The whole thing had enraged Iason at first, but he had managed to regain some control. Once he had calmed down after the miscalculation, which allowed the workers in the laboratories of the subbasements of Jupiter tower to escape his grasp, Iason had tried to look at the situation differently. He had closed himself in his office and sat there, gathering all his chaotic thoughts and shifting through them one at a time. He gave each one his full attention, no matter how useless, until finally a measure of peace had come over him.

The anger that Riki knew about his so-called son was dismissed. As clever as his mongrel was, Riki couldn't have known the boy was his. The information had been difficult to obtain and Iason very much doubted the product of his seed knew anything about who his sire was. The boy would almost certainly have been unable to say anything to Riki. Their meeting, and friendship, was a mere coincidence.

As for the popularity Riki seemed to be building off world. Iason also found that he could not really blame Riki for that. It had been his mongrel's uniqueness and fire that had drawn him to the dark boy in the first place, just as others seemed to have been pulled in. Riki's charisma was magnetic.

"Shall we get started?" Marcus huffed, "The hour is quite late and although tomorrow and the next are rest days, I do not want to begin my relaxation time here. Will all due respect, Sir Iason, I'm finding the atmosphere to be a bit tiresome." Marcus glared pointedly at Aisha.

"Tiresome? I'm hoping it's not me to which you are referring, Marcus, "Aisha replied, with a slight narrowing of his corn flower blue eyes.

"Why? Do you normally think of yourself as tiresome, Aisha? Has your own insecurity allowed you to become offended by my casual use of the word?"

"Casual? You can take your casual and shove-"

"Alright Aisha, Marcus," Iason interrupted smoothly, "As Marcus has already mentioned, it is late. So Orphe, if you could begin?"

"First, I would like to make it clear, once again, that when Lawrence, or I should say V is captured, I want him to be given to me." Orphe stated. Aisha ignored him in favor of glaring at Marcus, who rolled his eyes.

Iason raised a regal brow, "Have we not already gone through this Orphe? I have long since agreed that the mongrels that assisted in Riki's escape would be turned over to the three of you."

"Total, and complete control over him," Orphe firmly said.

Iason smiled when both Marcus and Aisha nodded, backing Orphe's demands and making it their own as well. "Once Riki and his mongrel friends have returned, all of you will have total and complete control over them with the barest of interference from me." Iason could not help, but feel pleased at how the Blondies had turned to him for approval when once, only just three weeks ago, they would have sought out Jupiter.

"With that done may we continue?" Aisha said dryly.

Orphe shifted a few papers around on the table in front of him. "It seems that the owner of the Midas security company, the one that sent the violet-eyed mongrel to us, while he did not know he was from Ceres, did, however, know that V did-"

"V? What a ridiculous name. Has Guardian been reduced to giving their mongrel children letters for names or are they just lazy?" Marcus spat.

"As I was saying, Marcus, before you rudely interrupted me: Mr. Balisa knew, from working with the mongrel off world, that Lawrence was a thief. With little to no persuasion I discovered that the man was promised seventy-five percent of the 'loot'. He had been told that the mongrel would be 'raiding the golden Elite tower' and, as an added bonus, promised Mr. Balias sexual favors to keep silent if "the shit hits the fan"," Orphe ended darkly.

"That's a pretty disgusting saying, but verbal gutter aside, the foolish man actually believed that creature?" asked Marcus.

"Yes, he did. It seems that the mongrel has a reputation for succeeding at the most impossible tasks and the Midasian had every faith that Lawrence could do as promised." Orphe said.

"Well, I'm sure the man has since regretted his decision when the mongrels left Amoi and he did not get his promised money," Aisha commented.

"No, Mr. Balisa received his money," Orphe looked back at Iason. "From the reports I received from the Midas Police Department, the theft rate had raised exponentially a month before Riki's escape from Eos, and with Lawrence's and the other mongrels departure from Amoi the amount of complaints the MPD has received, from tourists, has gone back to normal. Calculating the amount of currency from when it went up until they left, it comes close to the amount Mr. Balisa was paid," Orphe curled his lip in disgust, "The buffoon actually had the audacity to try and file a complaint to me for how he was cheated, how Lawrence had failed to 'service' him when his cut was delivered to him the day before they descended upon Eos."

Iason smile grew a tad wider, while Marcus and Aisha gave amused chuckles.

"This mongrel must be very talented if this Midasian felt the need to voice such grievance with a Blondie," Aisha grinned.

Orphe narrowed his eyes at Aisha, "I did not find it to be a laughing matter, nor did he when my judgment was passed down upon his head." Orphe ignored the snickering Blondies and continued speaking to Iason. "I have taken control over Mr. Balisa's company and placed one of my Platinas in charge of running it. For the crimes made against us, I have taken all of his properties and funds, which have been transferred into the Syndicates account. Mr. Balisa's mind will be cleansed and, after a time, he will be allowed to work in his company again…as the janitor."

Iason nodded in agreement to all that Orphe had done. Non-Elites would think that Orphe's way of punishing the man was quite extreme, but it was not. The fool had dared to go up against the Elites of Tanagura, and that in itself was a death sentence. Orphe, while it was obvious he was more then just a little angered by the information he had uncovered about his mongrel, had been merciful by allowing the man to live.

Mr. Balias is fortunate that Orphe was the Blondie that had dealt with him, and not me, Iason thought. "What of planet Sinrev's involvement, of their referral of the mongrel technician?"

"The jewel company that added their lies, enabling Lawrence to enter Eos, were promised something. However, it was not monetary gain like Mr. Balias. Their CEO, Mr. Espi, was promised a private, intimate, audience with a young man named Sky." Orphe continued.

Iason noted that this time, when the Blondie security chief turned his silver-gray eyes towards Marcus and Aisha, his expression was smug.

"Sky?" Marcus asked suspiciously, also noticing the pleased look Orphe wore.

Orphe grinned, "The description given of this boy was that he has light blue hair and dark grey eyes. It is the same description as that of the boy who worked in the café, the one you know as Joshua, and also the boy that was with Lawrence helping Riki escape."

"Gossip amongst the employees is that their boss and the young man have a rather…passionate and interesting relationship that has been gone on for a couple of years. To quote one of the workers who spoke with one of my men, "Mr. Sky has a very dominate personality and his skills are masterful when we contact him for a job, as is the way he handles Mr. Espi"."

Iason laughed softly as Orphe's pleased smile grew while Marcus and Aisha's expressions turned darker as the implications of what he had said hit them.

"Preposterous! Joshua is not that type of person!" Aisha hissed.

"'Hmmpf', then you obviously do not know him very well." Marcus said, looking pleased with himself.

"Oh? And you do?" Aisha snapped.

"Yes I do. Clearly you don't if you think that wild and wanton boy isn't capable of having such a relationship or is it that Joshua has been hiding his true self. Perhaps pretending to be someone else while forced to be in your annoying presence?"

Or it was a different person altogether that each of you encountered, Iason thought with amusement, as he checked the time from the clock on the wall.

"Mr. Espi has extended his apology and has offered us a sizable amount to express his sincerity. The offer was made in what he hopes will also be a payment to whatever 'prank', as he puts it, his lover has played. He further hopes that his involvement, which was only to please "His Sky", will not reflect on any future business dealings we have with him and his company."

"His lover?" Marcus and Aisha hissed in union.

Iason wondered when thinking of mongrels as anything, but trash, had changed for the three Blondies in front of him. Iason didn't bother to point out the fact to the three; their interest only furthered the shift in power from Jupiter to him.

Their creator's power was based upon them, the Blondies, the enforcers of her laws. As he stood today, Iason had the support of all six of the most powerful Blondies on his side, plus that of the Blondie Sir Gabriel Lazen, whether he knew it or not.

The eight of them together had more than enough power to control the remaining five top Blondies, as well as the other Elites. When Iason made his move to remove Jupiter from her throne, he would do so with the support of the rest of the planetary government.

"That's enough already, from the both of you! I'm tired of listening to your petty squabbling," Orphe shouted at Marcus and Aisha before turning to Iason. "Sir Iason, I have been wondering since you summoned me to your apartment, why you felt the need to do so. The information could have easily been sent to you electronically to review."

"Yes…I also wondered this," Marcus said, "Mikhale and Gideon are off world, and Raoul is not here with us. Why only us?"

"What is the real reason you have brought us here tonight?" asked Aisha.

As if on an unseen queue, Iason's Furniture, Cal, waked in, phone in hand.

"Master Iason, the call you have been waiting for." Cal said softly.

Taking the telephone from his Furniture, Iason inquired to the person on the other line, "Is all well?" as his greeting. Barely a minute passed before Iason hung up, placing the phone on the table next to him, before looking at the curious faces gazing back at him. "Come with me, if you would, gentlemen, there are four vehicles waiting for us." Iason said as he stood, making his way to the front door.

"Where are we going?"

Iason paused only to accept his Syndicate emblem coat from his waiting Furniture, before answering Marcus and the other Blondies that followed him. "To pick up what is ours," Iason smiled.

oOoOoOo

Waiting in the blowing wind for Iason and the others to arrive, Gideon held the slumbering pet tighter, as four dark limousines pulled up to where he stood. Inclining his head in greeting, to Iason and the other Blondies as they strode up to him, Gideon gently pulled the cover a bit tighter over Jade. The roar of the engines from the three small transport ships was deafening and Gideon had to wait until the captains powered down before speaking.

"Where is Mikhale?" Iason asked.

"Sir Mikhale is returning at a more leisurely speed, with his pet. He should be back on Amoi in a week or so. Riki is in ship number two," Gideon motioned to his left, "in the holding cell, locked down due to his aggravated state. "

Gideon tensed when those glacier cold blue eyes lowered to the boy he held, covered with a blanket.

"What's this?"

Firmly Gideon held his leaders eyes. "My reward for the capture of your pet, and that of the other three mongrels."

"I see…" Iason mused.

Watching the Syndicate leader pull the blanket off of Jade's face, Gideon wondered what Iason was thinking behind his chilly mask. Gideon willed himself to stillness as Iason's chilling blue eyes studied the perfect, pale features of the pet. "There are also a few things you should be made aware of concerning Riki, Sir Iason," Gideon whispered.

"And that would be?" His leader raised his eyes away from Jade.

Gideon drew the covering back over Jade's head. "Riki's appearance has changed. Not only does he look different, but I personally had to handle your pet. He could not be put into stasis like the others. After I successfully got all the mongrels onto the ship, Riki awoke and fought my crew when we attempted to put him in a sleeping chamber. Riki's strength is not that of a normal human, and on more than one occasion, the way he acted…he literally became more similar to a lower mammal than a homosapien." Gideon shook his head in wonder.

"Then, if you would excuse me, I will see for myself these changes you speak of."

Gideon inclined his head again, when Iason took a last look at the sleeping form of Jade in his arms before turning away to fetch his pet.

"Where is Lawrence?" Orphe asked, almost frantically.

Tired, Gideon greeted Orphe, who spoke, and the other two other irate Blondies that descended upon him. "They," Gideon sighed, "are being brought out."

"Joshua was not overly harmed in his capture, I hope, Sir Gideon? I would hate to have my new pet held in the hospital to recover from any sort of injures." Marcus asked, stiffly.

Gideon narrowed his eyes at Marcus and the almost threatening way he asked his question. "There are three mongrels, Marcus, to which one are you referring?"

"Joshua, my pet, is the mongrel with pale blue hair," Aisha answered, ignoring Marcus's irritated huff.

"Which one? There are two." Turning, Gideon motioned to the crew. The men were just coming down the ramp of the ship, moving forward with the gurneys carrying the mongrels.

Orphe, Gideon noted, wasted no time and swiftly ordered his brown haired mongrel to be carted to his waiting car. Without a backward glance, Gideon watched as the Blondie's driver sped off in the direction of Eos. Exhausted himself, Gideon also wanted to excuse himself from Aisha and Marcus so he could take his prize home.

"Amazing…there are two of them," Aisha whispered as he and Marcus gazed down at the slumbering mongrels intertwined on the small gurney. "All this time we were at odds with one another, and there were two of them…"

"Is that blood?" Marcus demanded, shooting an accusing glare at Gideon as he spotted the ghastly blood stain on the back of one of the mongrels.

"Artificial blood. It was necessary for the other to believe had I killed his sibling. It was merely a maneuver to flush him out into the open. A bag was placed against his back and exploded when I shot him in the back with a tranquilizer. Although there might be some slight bruising due to the small charge that was also on the bag to create the sound of a shoot being fired, he is unharmed."

"…How do we tell them apart," Aisha wondered out load.

"That is a problem for the both of you," Gideon said turning away. "I have been away from the comforts of my own home for far too long, so if you would excuse me." Gideon walked to the vehicle Marcus had arrived in and curtly ordered the Blondie's driver to take him to Eos.

Marcus said nothing as he watched Gideon steal his car, more interested in the sleeping bodies before him. Dismissing the attendees that still stood on the side of the gurney, Marcus answered Aisha's question. "Joshua has a blemish on the right corner of his eye, so the one in white has to be mine."

"As did my Joshua, which would also mean that the on in white is also mine. Still, the one in black has an identical mark, but under his left eye. From the encounter we've both had, we know now that we have been dealing with two mongrels. Would you dare take the chance of taking the wrong one home, Marcus?" Aisha asked. Marcus shook his head.

"And knowing that that little black dot would individualize them, they would have made sure to disguise it. These mongrels are clever and for all we know the one with the freckle could have very well been the one in black and not white," Marcus said in frustration.

Pulling the mongrels apart, Aisha and Marcus looked down in wonder. The two boys were identical in every way, from their faces down to the length and muscular designs of their bodies. If the boy's had been awake, Marcus and Aisha were sure they could identify who was who…but the percentage of being accurate while the two were asleep, they realized, were not in their favor.

"Wait…" Aisha tilted one of the mongrel's heads up. "Tell me Marcus, have you ever seen your mongrel suckling on one of those sweet red balls on a stick, the kind I showed you before?"

Marcus looked blandly at his Blondie friend. "If you remember correctly, Aisha, the first, and last, time I saw one of those things was when you put it on my desk." Marcus watched as Aisha caressed the lips of one of the "Joshua's".

"Then I believe I've found my Joshua." Aisha smiled. "Every day I visited him, he would have one of those 'lollipops'. A kind of candy turning his lips a succulent red color and the sugar also had a distinctive sweet smell when he spoke." Aisha picked his mongrel up.

Marcus could do nothing, but trust Aisha. Unlike his Blondie friend, talking had not been the main focus of the encounters he had had with his mongrel. But Marcus would have noticed if his Joshua had tasted like one of those nauseating, sweet smelling sugar orbs. Another clue, one he did not fully understand, was that seeing the mongrel in black in Aisha's arms did not arouse the annoying possessive emotions that had been raging within him ever since laying his eyes on the boy.

"I wonder what his real name is." Aisha mused, gently stroking the boy's hair.

Eyeing the way Aisha's unconscious new pet still held on tightly, with one hand, to his mongrel, Marcus gently pried the boy's fingers apart from his Joshua's sleeve before answering Aisha. "From what you have said about him, of his gentle nature, I can only assume that I have the one named Sky. My mongrel has proven to have a possess a very assertive personality, so to think your sweet and soft spoken boy could be the dominating one is doubtful. You'll just have to wait until he wakes up to ask him what his real name is."

Picking up his mongrel in white, Marcus followed Aisha to his vehicle. The two Blondies walked laughing together, their anger with one another disappearing as they held the objects of their fascination tight in their arms.

oOoOoOo

Stepping into Riki's holding cell, Iason took in the welcoming sight of his mongrel. He instantly understood Gideon's comments about the change in Riki's appearance, and also had to wonder how much stronger Riki had become if he needed to be restrained with Titanium chains.

From Riki's wrists all the way down to his ankles, the light metal spiraled around the muscular bronze body as the boy lay uncomfortably on the narrow cot. "Hello Riki," Iason's smile dimmed when he saw just how much Riki had changed. The hair, so much longer, and how young Riki looked! Still, those starless eyes were the same and what Iason took comfort in the truth that they still had the ability to sear a path of fire straight to his core. As always, Riki's gaze was fierce, broadcasting such defiance from those midnight orbs that Iason all but purred in pleasure.

"Iason…please, Iason…let them go….please." Riki whispered.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Iason ran his gloved hand down Riki's chest. "How that word must have killed you to say it." He mused.

"Iaso-"

"I do not have them. They have been released and are not under my control any longer," said Iason as he slowly unlocked the chains, making sure to stroke and fondle every inch of skin he revealed.

"…..are…they alright?"

"They are fine." Removing the last of the chains, Iason pulled Riki into his arms.

"…Wait….If they aren't under your control, then whose control are they under?" Riki asked, pushing away from Iason's grasp.

"I think that you should be more concerned for yourself than for your friends, don't you think?" Iason threaded his fingers through the long, silky, onyx locks…wrapping thick tresses around his wrist and yanking Riki's head back. "Did you really think they would be pardoned and set free?" Iason whispered, giving Riki's chin a little nip. "Quiet frankly, I was a little surprised that Gideon was able to capture you so easily, but then again you did have something holding you down. Traveling with your mongrel friends and of course your son, made you vulnerable. From what I heard, it is because of Gideon's threat to the little pet that I have you in my arms right now."

Iason's grip tightened in Riki's hair when the reaction he wanted didn't appear. Instead of surprise, all Iason could see was fear shining up at him in those black eyes. "So you already know…." Lowering his head Iason kissed Riki gently on the lips. "So much you have to answer for Riki….so very much."

TBC…

"Do you like that?"

"Again with the talking. Why do you insist on speaking so much?" Niko panted as the Blondie continued to torment him, penetrating him deeper, caressing his insides with that lone digit until Niko cried out his demands for more.

"How much more do you want it?" Gabriel whispered huskily, taking wicked delight in the meowing sounds that keened from Niko's smooth pale throat.

"I don't care! Just-just give it to me!"

"Tell me that you want me and I will," Gabriel wanted to hear it from the young Furniture's mouth that he desired him, so that if he tried to deny the chemistry between them again he would have this moment to lay out in front of the boy as evidence. Undeniable proof that he wanted him and that it wasn't some drug that caused the need he was currently bringing out in him.

"…."

"Ahh, than maybe you don't want what I can give you," Hitting the nub one last time making Niko cry out, Gabriel removed his finger and hid his smile of victory when his smart mouthed little troublemaker shouted out in anger than grunted in pain Niko's small hands tangled in his hair tightened. "If you want me to make it better then I want you to say it."

"I did! I told you!" Niko hooked his legs behind the Blondie's back. His sex was painfully hard and even the cloth of his pants hurt as it rubbed against his pulsating length. "Sir Gabriel!"

Lifting Niko higher up Gabriel latched onto a perfectly pink nipple, twirling his tongue around the harden tit, "I want you to say clearly to me. I want you to say "I want you Master Gabriel," Gabriel huskily whispered.

"You know I do so why do I have to say the words?" Even in the condition Niko was in he knew what the Blondie was trying to do, and even if he felt like dying from the overwhelming need to copulate Niko wasn't stupid enough or so far gone that he would repeat those five words back to Sir Gabriel. The shiver Niko felt when he thought to say them back gave him the image of him signing his soul to the devil.

"If you want what I can give you then you will say them Niko. All you need to do is say them once and I'll give you the release that you so desperately need. The consuming fire that burns deep with in you here," Gabriel slipped his hand back down Niko's pants and in between his cheeks, caressing his puckered flesh, "and here," Moving his hand from the back to the front of Niko's pants Gabriel fondled the boy's hard length. "Why deny yourself? Why not take what I am offering? All you need to say is "I want you" and this," Gabriel slowly zipped Niko's zipper down and grasped the boy's swollen length, flicking the pearl of precum that beaded at the tip of the boy's erection with his thumb, "will be all taken care of."

Niko squeezed his eyes tightly closed, and pressed his back against the cold metal wall of the elevator to try and put some distance between him and Sir Gabriel, whimpering when the Blondie followed him, continuing to seductively whisper in his ear. "Can't you just give it to me without me having to say the words?" Niko panted, his voice breaking a little as the Blondie worked his heated flesh in slow agonizing pumps of his enclosed fist.

"I can also stop and leave you in this condition," Gabriel threatened.

"Let's say I did say it. What makes you think I'm not lying to you just to get what I want? And even if you did leave me like this what would stop me from taking care of my n-needs myself or seeking out someone else to take care of this for me?" Like that would ever happen, Niko thought. One whisper of him, a Furniture, being able to gain an erection or for that matter having the 'tools' to obtain a hard on was a sure path to an executioners block, but at this point Niko didn't care. The damn Blondie wouldn't shut his mouth and give him what he wanted so Niko could only try and provoke the Elite into taking him….a plan that appeared to have backfired when Sir Gabriel stopped at mid stroke, removing his hand from him all together as well as setting him back on his own two feet.

"You have no sense of self-preservation, do you?"

Niko gulped.

"If it was anyone else I would have snapped their neck by now, you do realize that do you not? "

Niko nodded. He knew almost everything there was to know about this particular Blondie…right down to the fact that unlike other Elites whom stayed in the shadows when they 'got rid' of their adversaries, Sir Gabriel liked to get up close and personal with those he has deemed as a threat to him. Liking to see the fear in his foes eyes when they realized their time was up and the punishment would be administered by him.

"Good. Now remove your pants and get on your hands and knees."

Of course knowing how dangerous the Blondie didn't stop Niko from wanting to refuse now, nor had it ever stopped him from playing all those pranks on the Blondie in the past. Exposed as he was, chest bared, his shirt ripped down the middle and his harden member jutting straight up, weeping to be touched again, Niko raised his chin.

"Why does it not surprise me that you would refuse to obey me even in this?" Even angered by the Furniture's obviously careless words, Gabriel couldn't also help be feel pleased. The boy's 'spunk' had always been an attraction to him. "Or is it that you want me to force you? So that you can sleep well at night knowing that what we will be doing right here, right now, was out of your hands?"

Niko sighed. "Well I was trying but you just won't shut up and get on with it, and I can't hold on any longer," Grabbing a hand full of the Blondie's shirt Niko pulled the Blondie down and slammed his mouth on his, darting his tongue between the Blondie's lips timidly until the Elite took the hint and took over the pace of the kiss.

"Do you really want me on my knees or do you want me sitting in your lap?" Niko said pulling away, and shimming out of his pants at the same time. "Or do you want to talk some more?"

Chuckling Gabriel unbuckled his belt. "Well, well…and I thought this side of you would never reappear."

"For crying out loud," Niko mumbled as he pulled the talkative Blondie down on the carpeted floor. Spying the plump red berries that had tumbled out of the cloth grocery bag, Niko snagged one and forced the Blondie to open his mouth to bite into it. That should keep his mouth occupied, Niko thought watching the juice of the fruit dripping down the Blondie's strong chin.

Leaning forward Niko licked the sweet droplet before it could fall and stain the Elite's shirt, thinking more of the hassle of getting the stain the juice would cause on such and expensive blouse then it being in anyway sexual. And that was also the excuse Niko used when he began to unbutton the Elite's shirt, completely ignoring the fact that it was already soaked from the milk that had explored on the Blondie, and inhaling sharply when he revealed the fine contours of Gabriel's muscular chest.

"Do you like what you see? You never did get to look your full that night, did you?" Gabriel chuckled at the boy's dazzled expression.

Grunting in answer, Niko picked up another piece of fruit and shoved it in the Blondie mouth, but Niko had to admit that his really did like-no, love what he saw….right down until he got to the harden length of the Blondie's manhood….and began to rethink his hast in pulling the Elite down to have his way with him.

"It's too late to turn back now Niko," Gabriel smirked, pulling the stunned boy into his lap.

"How in Jupiter's name were you able to stick that thing in me in the first place!" Niko complained. "I changed my mind. I don't want to do this anymore. Let go." Panic taking control of him, Niko tried to get off the Blondie's lap. "I said I don't-" Niko glared at Sir Gabriel when the Elite stuffed a plump, juicy, berry into his mouth, efficiently silencing him and his rant.

"There is no letting go of you Niko. You've made your bed. Now you have to lie in it," Gabriel whispered as he drew the ripped shirt off the Furniture's shoulders.

"Technically I make everyone's bed. That doesn't mean I have the right to sleep in those," Niko mumbled after swallowing the fruit.

Gabriel was too busy searching the abandoned bag of food to reply to the smart mouthed comment of the boy's. Finally finding what he needed, Gabriel unscrewed the top and, with one hand, greased two of his fingers with cooking oil. He may have prepared Niko to accept his girth, but he didn't want to harm the boy. Niko was considerably smaller then his, even that of a normal Furniture due to the introduction of the drugs he had been forced to take since becoming a servant in Eos. Gabriel didn't want to take the chance of seriously harming the boy.

Smearing the oil thoroughly over his pulsating length, Gabriel also used the oil on Niko's twitching hole before holding himself into position. With a hand on the young Furniture's shoulder, Gabriel forced the boy down on his straining member.

"It hurts," Niko grasped, squeezing his eyes tightly closed.

"In a moment all you will feel is pleasure." Closing his eyes Gabriel continued to press upward as he pushed Niko down until he could go no farther. Panting Gabriel licked his lips and when he was able opened his eyes back up.

Picking up another discarded berry off the carpeted floor of the elevator, Gabriel bite into the fruit and rubbed the un-eaten half in the middle of Niko's rapidly heaving chest and nipples, then proceeded to like the sweetness off slowly.

Gabriel continued to do this until the young Furniture muscles squeezed almost painfully around him and he began to move, just slightly, above him. Taking the last berry, Gabriel bit off the stem, spitting it crudely to the side, before placing it back in his mouth and forcing Niko's head down to take a bite.

Finishing off the small juice fruit, Gabriel took Niko's mouth and began to move, holding the boy's hips steady as he surged upward slowly at first then with more speed and power.

"Arrgh!"

"That's it. I can feel that your almost there," Gabriel grunted as he pulled Niko to his chest almost releasing himself within the boy when he felt the boy's bare skin against his own.

"Harder!"

With a growl Gabriel, in one smooth motion, had Niko on his back with his legs over his shoulders and gave the boy what he desired until the both of them were shouting out their relief, and shuddered in one another's arms.

Collapsing onto the small body under him, Gabriel willed his racing heart to slow down as he tried to catch his breath.

"Get off me. Your bloody heavy, you know that?" Niko whined, gasping for air. "I also need to get going."

Flipping his hair back, Gabriel looked down at Niko's irritated lovely flushed face. "Once is not enough." Leaning down, grinding his hips, making the boy gasp for another reason, Gabriel kissed Niko gently. "There's still a bag full of food, and I mean to dine on you."

Arching his back, Niko turned his head to the side, baring his long neck so the Blondie could kiss him there, just as he liked him to do. "One more time…but don't touch the melons. I can still use that for my master's desert for tonight's dinner."

"Maybe. That's all I'll give you. I might want to eat it." Gabriel smiled against the boy's neck. "If you're good that is.