Chapter 15
by Dan Kirk
Garret stood at his desk, waiting for Tremere to enter. When the door to his office slid open, it was not the elderly Davlan Tremere that stepped through. Rather, it was a younger man, with short black hair, and the last person that Garret was expecting to see.
“Garret!” Deci exclaimed with what sounded like pure happiness as he raced into the office. Garret moved from behind his desk and was treated to a warm hug by his friend. Deci’s hug was strong, and his slender body felt healthy from what he could tell as they hugged. When they broke the hug, Garret held Deci at arms length and looked deep into his purple eyes, searching for any hint of mistreatment.
“It’s good to see you.” Garret said after finding no hint of anything wrong in Deci’s eyes, or his face. Deci was grinning broadly.
“It’s good to see you, too.” Deci said in a voice bubbling with happiness. “I told you your family hadn’t abandoned you, didn’t I?”
“Yes, you did.” Garret said as a familiar voice joined in their little reunion.
“Thank you for seeing me, Gospedene Atrix.” Davlan Tremere said from the doorway. Garret looked up from his friend to stare at the older Speaker.
“How could I refuse to see a Speaker, even one such as you?” Garret retorted with a slight edge to his voice.
“Garret!” Deci chided. “Be nice, he’s a good man.”
“How can you say that after the way he…” Garret started to ask, but the look of innocence that still hung around Deci made him stop.
“I never mistreated him at all.” Davlan said as he stepped fully into Garret’s office and the door shut behind him. “Yes, I did try to use the threat of mistreating him to subvert you. I fear though, that if I had followed through, my daughter-in-law would have castrated me on the spot.”
“You should meet her some time.” Deci said in bubbly exuberance. “Hanna is a wonderful woman and a perfect mistress! She had me taking care of her little ones, and while it’s not like working at the pleasure house, it was quite a bit of fun. Those kids could get into more trouble than you could imagine!”
“I see.” Garret said with a frown for Tremere. “What do you want?”
“Quite blunt, aren’t you?” Tremere said with a fake smile. “If I’d known your full story before all this happened, I’d have never done the things I did. I already have enough enemies in the Deliberatorium, I do not need more.”
“I’m not a Speaker yet.” Garret said with another frown. His stomach was doing slow turns now.
“No, but I’m quite sure you will have the votes needed when the time comes.” Davlan retorted with that sickening-sweet smile of his. “I wish there to be no grievances between Atrix and Tremere.”
“What about your grudge with House Lars?” Garret asked with a raised eyebrow.
“You are no longer part of House Lars.” Tremere said with a shrug. “Besides, it might be time to end that grudge after all these years, or at least to put it aside until other threats are taken care of now.”
“What other threats?” Garret asked.
“These democracy people, for instance.” Tremere said with a lift of his eyebrow and cocking his head to one side. “It is not a time for the Great Houses to be at each others throats when our very existence is being challenged in a way we have not experienced since the early days of the Great War. I remember those days, I was alive then, and I do not wish to see the inheritance of my grandchildren squandered needlessly.”
“What makes you believe I would consider working with you for even a moment?” Garret said with derision and contempt in his voice. Trust Tremere to only be worried about himself or his family!
“I wish to offer you the sale of this clone’s contract.” Tremere said softly, lifting a hand towards Deci who stared at him.
“But sir, what about the children?” Deci nearly whined.
“We’ll find them another caregiver, one almost as good as you.” Tremere said with more kindness than Garret could believe. Deci looked crestfallen.
“How much?” Garret asked Tremere shrewdly.
“His current valuation is forty-six thousand credits.” Tremere stated. “That much, no more, no less.”
“Done.” Garret agreed and Deci had a slight frown on his face. “What’s the matter Deci?”
“I liked it there!” Deci said with a wail. “I liked the kids, I liked doing different things than what I did at the pleasure house!”
“Don’t worry, in about a year I will have children of my own that will need a caregiver.” Garret assured him and Deci’s face brightened.
“You’re kidding!” Deci said after a moment of thought. “Clones can’t have kids.”
“I can.” Garret countered. “Welcome to House Atrix, my friend.”
“You’re sure about this?” Deci asked.
“Yes.” Garret assured him. “Now, why don’t you head outside and ask for Marjaan? She’ll make sure your contract price is paid to House Tremere and make arrangements for you. Tell her I want you housed in my apartment for now.”
“Okay.” Deci said before hurrying outside. He passed Tremere without even a glance.
“I never could understand what you or my daughter-in-law see in that boy.” Tremere said with a resigned sigh.
“It’s his innocence.” Garret answered, surprised by his own honesty. “He’s a natural innocent, and that innocence is something… well it’s something that I find attractive.”
“Innocence is bliss and all that, I suppose.” Tremere snorted as Garret moved back behind his desk. As he sat he motioned towards one of the chairs on the other side of the desk. He was not about to cede anything more than his time and attention to Tremere at this point.
“What is really going on here, Speaker Tremere?” Garret asked and the older man shook his head with a rueful smile.
“I am doing what I always do: protect the interests of my House.” Tremere answered. “My House has not always been filled with the sickening subservience to Duty and Honor the way you were raised. We are concerned more for ourselves than anything else, you know that as well as I do.”
“That is part of why the Republic finds itself in the situation it is now facing.” Garret retorted. “If all the Houses had their priorities right, we would not face these problems.”
“I know that, now.” Tremere said with a rueful shake of his head. “During the war, we gave just like every Great House to keep the war effort going, but the length of the war nearly destroyed us economically. Tremere once had twice its current holdings, but we had to sell them off to meet our war commitments. Now, we mostly hold pleasure houses, entertainment venues, theme parks, and the like. With the current civil unrest, even those businesses are struggling. We lack the diverse economic assets of Houses like Lars. Nor are we popular with these new democratic idealists. Most of them are moralists of one sort or another and view most of our industries as ‘indecent’. They pose a significant risk to me and mine.”
“What do you want from me?” Garret asked with a little confusion. He couldn’t see how all this had any connection to him.
“I want peace between House Tremere and House Atrix.” Tremere said with a slim smile that gave away almost nothing. “If it becomes possible, I would end the feud with House Lars as well.”
“That is why you sold Deci’s contract to me, as a bribe.” Garret snorted.
“No, as a peace offering.” Tremere said with a shake of his head. “I should have known you’d never let yourself be blackmailed or bribed that way. You’re just like all the Lars’s in that regard.”
“Thank you.” Garret said with an insolent grin.
“Bah!” He growled out. “I swear if for nothing else, it would have been nice to pop the egos of the House you were raised in!”
“Our egos should be the least of your worries.” Garret countered and the older man snorted again.
“In the past few months since you wiggled your way out of my pleasure house, you’ve done quite well for yourself.” Tremere said as if he was changing the subject of the conversation. As he continued to speak, Garret realized he probably was doing just that, and doing it quite well. “You managed to turn an old friend, Marko Blashame, against me, build up what is shaping up to be a very successful business with only half a billion credits, and doing that despite ill wishes from our dear General Leonev and his cronies. Now you’re moving to take control of one of the richest Houses in the Republic, in fact a house richer in cash reserves than any other House. Unless I’m overestimating you, and I doubt that seriously, you will have all your ducks in a row when the time comes, and no sane person will vote against your ascension to a Speakership.”
“That’s my hope.” Garret admitted, throwing in a casual shrug to make it seem like he wasn’t sitting on pins and needles just now.
“You probably know that I’ve kept my House together mostly by the trading of information.” Tremere continued, giving Garret a shrewd glance. “Now, normally I don’t share information freely, without knowing what I’m going to get in return, but I think I understand you well enough now to know that you’ll do what is right once you’ve heard some of what I’m about to say.”
“Your trust is touching.” Garret couldn’t help the hint of distaste that crept into his voice, and Tremere gave him a flat look before shaking his head.
“It’s accurate as well, I presume?” He pushed and Garret sighed.
“If the information is accurate, you are correct in assuming I’ll deal honestly with you on the price.” Garret answered.
“You know, I might eventually come to like this.” Tremere snorted with a very strong hint of sarcasm. “Now, on to business. O’Leary, all of the family, are ready to bow down and kiss your feet for the order you’re placing with them. Obduros is cursing that they can’t offer you any of their services, and the various interests that own shares of Calosian Shipbuilding are about to pass out from the endless prayers of thanks they’re sending your way. That last part is the important one, I’ll wager, from who I saw leaving here as I was entering.”
“I’ve yet to hear something I don’t already know.” Garret countered.
“I doubt you really understand the situation on Calos.” Tremere stated flatly. “If you did, you wouldn’t be so blithely considering moving your House there.”
“Who says that’s what I’m doing” Garret challenged and got a very level stare in response.
“Please, do not insult my intelligence.” Tremere growled. “I tried to encourage support for moving my House there several months ago and was flatly shut out.”
“House Atrix and House Tremere are very different creatures.” Garret pointed out nonchalantly.
“Why am I so foolish to try to work with you?” Tremere sighed.
“It’s because of the money.” Garret said, throwing that out to see the reception it would get.
“Yes, there is that.” Tremere said with a sly smile. “Your money will open many doors, and if I can jump on your coattails, I’ll put up with your little witticisms.”
“I haven’t heard anything yet that would make me allow you to ride on my coattails.” Garret snorted and Tremere frowned.
“Then I’ll cut right to the point, or points.” Tremere snarled. “One, most of the Calosian business and social interests are closet Jordanites who converted during the occupation and never gave up those beliefs after liberation. They are actively sabotaging Calosian businesses, environmental cleanups, and so on and so forth. These people dream of one day making the Republic so unpopular that the people will vote to join the Empire. Kyle Morevan believes in the Republic still, but he does not know how to counter these folks, and he worries that if he tries, he’ll be swept out of the way and replaced by one of their stooges.”
“Then why doesn’t he ask for help from one of the Houses?” Garret asked with a deep frown. If Tremere was being honest, Garret might very well be stepping into a hornet’s nest. Every new wrinkle looked to be conspiring to keep him off his ship’s bridge, where he really belonged.
“He asked me, and we failed.” Tremere shrugged. “Fortunately, our failure did not result in his being removed.”
“What do you propose to do if they move to block me moving my House there?” Garret asked and Tremere actually chuckled.
“As you said yourself, House Atrix is quite different than House Tremere.” Tremere said around his chuckling. “They cannot object to your moving there, not when you bring billions and billions in Economic Development money, millions for environmental cleanup, and hundreds of millions in contracts with their shipbuilders. If they tried, their own people would castrate them.”
“Probably.” Garret admitted with a shrug.
“That means they will publicly welcome you with open arms, and then seek to do everything they can to stall your projects, divert your funds, and so on and so forth.” Tremere continued. “I can help you with that, if you’ll support my moving my House to Calos as well. Of course, I’ll concede the rights of seniority to your House.”
“Only because those rights carry more obligations, especially financial.” Garret said shrewdly as his brain kicked into gear. “You’ll need to be involved in all the aspects of economics and environmental recovery as well, giving you plenty of opportunities to line your own pockets as well as keeping an eye on others trying to do the same.”
“I’ll only line my pockets legitimately, by getting key contracts at key times and I’ll make sure the work performed exceeds expectations.” Tremere countered with a gleam in his eyes and Garret sighed.
“You’re going from being a dishonest crook to an honest crook?” Garret stated and Tremere actually laughed.
“Yes, that’ll fit.” He said after laughing. “I’ll be an honest crook, at least honest with you. Your back’ll be about the only one safe from one of my knives.”
“You expect me to believe that?” Garret asked and Tremere looked surprised for a moment.
“Surprisingly enough, I believe it myself.” He answered and Garret knew at that moment that the man was telling him the truth. “I have grandchildren that I want to have a chance at a good future. They can’t do it the way things are now, so I have to help change them. That doesn’t mean I’m going to become a goodie-two-shoes like you and the damned Lars family, but I’ll go partway.”
“Just so long as you remember that, Tremere.” Garret said dangerously and the man nodded.
“Now, back to business.” Tremere continued. “I bet you’ve been wondering what General Leonev’s motives are…”
“I suppose you know them intimately?” Garret asked and Tremere smiled.
“Would you believe he likes to fuck female clones and beat them seriously enough to leave scars?” Tremere said with a sigh and a shake of his head. We don’t dare charge him extra for the damage, and he orders the clone to never share anything she heard during their ‘sessions’, but he never expected a sub-dermal recorder attached to their implants.”
“That’s illegal.” Garret snorted, quite aware of the laws on such uses, having been a pleasure clone in one of Tremere’s own houses.
“Why, yes it is, which is why I cannot bring the recordings before the Deliberatorium.” Tremere said with a casual flick of his hand. “Nor do I dare share that information with people I cannot trust. My pleasure houses are already barely producing profits as it is, if that were common knowledge, I’d be in bankruptcy before the year was out.”
“What have you learned?” Garret asked with a sigh. He would share the information with Marja, Masako, and Toshiro, but beyond them, it would not be discussed. Garret did wonder what the man might have done as far as recordings while Garret was in that pleasure house.
“General Leonev hates the democracy movement as much as we do.” Tremere answered and Garret frowned. “Still, he recognizes an opportunity when he sees it and he is using Military Intelligence to assist them in their efforts, in furtherance of his personal goals.”
“Which are?” Garret asked.
“Military dictatorship, to begin with.” Tremere stated with a hint of displeasure in his tone. “He intends to discredit the Great Houses as much as possible, seize direct control of as many military assets as possible, and to eventually replace them. He hates the Great Houses almost as much as he hates that Academy you attended.”
“Why does he hate us?” Garret asked, meaning both Great Houses and the Academy.
“Both of his sons were killed in the war.” Tremere answered. “Both were under the command of Academy graduates who were also children of the Great Houses. It is his belief that his children died needlessly, that they wouldn’t have died under the command of ‘normal’ officers. To add insult to injury, his oldest nephew was also killed in combat, under the command of an Academy-trained officer, who incidentally enough was adopted into a Great House, and a clone.”
“Arthur Lewis.” Garret said breathlessly as the face of the lean, somewhat clumsy young officer appeared in his mind’s eye. The kid had been just out of his War College, and was borderline incompetent and far too clumsy to have ever been given command of an infantry unit. Technically Garret had been under his command on Braxix. Lewis had died during a chemical attack by the Empire, mostly because in his clumsy haste to don his chemical protection gear, he’d dropped his helmet and had been too slow picking it up before the gas hit him. He’d died vomiting his guts out in bloody gray chunks.
“Yes.” Tremere nodded. “His only other living nephew is just now eighteen and graduated from the Peron Culinary Academy. Leonev is quite displeased he chose not to join the military. Leonev’s sister though has infiltrated the Democracy Movement at quite a high level and the boy has become involved in their activities.”
“How does Leonev think he can achieve his goals when he can’t even secure his own appointment as Supreme Commander?” Garret asked.
“He’s got blackmail on enough Houses that when it comes up to a full vote, those Houses will vote for him.” Tremere said flatly. “That includes me, by the way.”
“What blackmail?” Garret asked with a frown.
“I don’t know details for most of the Houses, but for me it’s some side-deals I made on certain military contracts, including yours.” Tremere said. “Individually, they’re mostly embarrassing to one House or another, but collectively, they’re enough to destroy any public trust in the Great Houses.”
“So he tells them that he’s doing it to more than one House, and convinces them it is not worth the risk to oppose him, yet he plans to use all that information anyway at a later date when it will do the most good.” Garret hypothesized, earning an approving nod from Tremere.
“So you’re not as innocent as you pretend.” Tremere stated.
“Knowing how to do something and actually doing it are two totally different things.” Garret pointed out and Tremere nodded in understanding.
“My congratulations on your sense of ethics.” Tremere said with what sounded like relative honesty. “He’s found a bunch of officers who were denied choice commands, or who were not promoted in favor of promoting Academy graduates, or who lost loved ones under Academy graduates, and he’s formed them into a core of senior offices. Over the last few years, since the death of his oldest nephew, he’s been using his seniority to move them into key positions, and he’s almost done now, purging the officer corps of Academy Graduates. Once he’s confirmed, he’ll announce the de-certification of the Academy for commissioning of new officers. He’ll also purge as many senior clones, clones who’ve learned to think on their own instead of just possessing blind loyalty to their superiors, from the ranks. Then he’ll replace them with True Borns, and he’ll try to get as many from the Democracy Movement as he possibly can.”
“You’ve learned all this from his sessions with pleasure clones?” Garret could not help the hint of disbelief in his voice.
“His surviving nephew has a strong attraction to 10 Model clones.” Tremere said with a sharp smile. “The boy, Aaron, doesn’t have his Uncle’s need for violence, rather I think he has a fantasy where a 10 Model falls in love with him and the two live happily ever after.”
“I smell a set-up here.” Garret snorted and Tremere laughed.
“Well, he sure is a talkative lad once he’s had his orgasm and is cuddling with his ‘lover’.” Tremere laughed, more like cackled, and Garret shuddered. He’d seen the type before while in one of Tremere’s pleasure houses. He knew most people found the Garret Atrix-based 10 Models very appealing physically. That was one of the reasons they’d been chosen for cloning in the first place, along with the nearly perfect gene pattern that would degrade only slightly with cloning and manipulation.
“How convenient that it’s also such an easy method for me to verify your information.” Garret said sarcastically, and was surprised at the look of surprise on Tremere’s face.
“I hadn’t thought of that.” Tremere said. “I just presumed you’d trust me.”
“Trust is nice, verification is better.” Garret quoted.
“Yes, I’m sure we can arrange verification in the way you’re thinking.” Tremere agreed with a wolfish smile. “He likes this one 10 Model, Jatrix, in the Los Feliz section of New Prejat.”
“They live here in the city?” Garret asked with some surprise.
“The sister and nephew do.” Tremere agreed. “The father use to work for O’Leary and spent much of his time up in orbit building ships. He’s been in Newhaven helping lead the protest there. With any luck, he’ll soon be back in orbit building those new ships of yours.”
“Maybe I should make sure O’Leary watches their people very closely.” Garret said with a worried frown.
“I’d recommend including Calos Shipbuilding in that too.” Tremere advised, and then he sat back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest and giving Garret a level stare that lasted for a long moment of silence. “Tell me, young Atrix, can we work together?”
“I don’t like you.” Garret said firmly and saw the smile forming on Tremere’s face. The man already knew Garret’s answer. “Don’t expect Lars or Shinawa or any of the others to welcome you with open arms.”
“You’re hardly welcoming me with open arms.” Tremere snorted. “As it is, I imagine you’re remembering the old adage about the Devil You Know.”
“Yes, that is what I was thinking.” Garret admitted with a shrug. “And yes, I can work with you. Just remember one thing: I’ll trust you until you plant a knife in my back. If you do that, you sure as hell better make sure that I’ll never be able to get revenge, because if I can, I’ll destroy you and all of your House.”
“Just remember I might do the same.” Tremere said vehemently, and both men nodded their heads slightly.
“Now, tell me about this Aaron Lewis, and whether this Jatrix clone can handle him the way we might want.” Garret said as he leaned forward. Part of him noticed the absence of his ship’s AI in the back of his mind, and wished she were there to pull up information for him on silent commands. Unfortunately she was too far away for that, and would be away for several more months.
“The 10 Model clones are always intelligent, but this one isn’t trained for anything more than subtly pushing the client for more information…” Davlan Tremere also leaned forward, and spoke in a conspiratorial tone, a half-smile on his face.
Garret was ashamed that he had a similar smile on his own face…
*~*~*~*
The purple eyes staring back at him from the mirror seemed like they were mocking him, and Garret closed his eyes to remind himself that he was here by choice, not because off the webs spun by Davlan Tremere. No, that was a lie, he told himself. He was here because of the webs spun by Tremere but this time he helped Tremere spin those webs, and it was another fly that was about to be caught.
He’d spent many hours talking with Tremere the night before, and now, on the eve of making his grand appearance in the Deliberatorium, he found himself in the gaudy rooms of one of Tremere’s pleasure houses. He’d spent the morning filling Masako in on his alliance with his one-time enemy, and she’d reluctantly agreed he was doing the right thing. She had no more love for House Tremere than he did.
Then Tremere had called to tell him that Aaron Lewis had made an appointment with the clone Jatrix for that evening. That news had set in motion Garret taking the place of Jatrix, donning purple contacts and cutting his hair short, nearly buzzed on the sides and with short, spiky tips on top. Garret had also spent a half-hour discussing the sexual desires of Aaron Lewis, his pleasure points, and his likes and dislikes. Now he was prepared, and just waiting for the ‘subject’ to show up.
“Jatrix?” A soft voice calling from the doorway dragged Garret’s attention to that side of the room. Aaron Lewis was short, barely an inch taller than Garret, and he was as skinny as his brother had been. He also had acne, something easily cured by modern medicine, and Garret knew his family could afford the treatments, but somehow Aaron didn’t bother.
“Aaron!” Garret said in a slightly higher voice than he’d normally use, and plastered a wide smile on his face. He opened his arms and crossed the room to give Aaron Lewis a kiss on the lips. His hands ruffled Aaron’s short, spiked brown hair, and the younger man let out a low moan of pleasure at the kiss. Garret was careful to let the man win the battle of tongues, and moaned himself when Aaron’s hands found his butt and pulled him in tight.
“I’m so glad you could see me tonight.” Aaron sighed as he broke the kiss and put his head on Garret’s right shoulder.
“I’ll always make room for you in my schedule, you know that.” Garret said as he closed the door with a foot and led Aaron further into the room. “So what’s your pleasure tonight? You want a massage?”
“No, actually, um, if you don’t, um, mind, can we talk?” Aaron asked in a weak voice and Garret resisted the urge to raise an eyebrow.
“Love, you know I’m here for you, whatever you need.” He said instead, keeping in character with the pleasure clone Jatrix’s identity. “Why don’t we sit down and I’ll make us some tea.”
“That’ll be nice.” Aaron let out a sigh as he separated from Garret and took a seat while Garret got out Jatrix’s tea service and busied himself making tea the way the boy liked.
“You look worn out.” Garret said as the water heated.
“I am.” Aaron said as he slouched in the seat. Garret remembered how his brother had similar bad posture.
“You work yourself too hard.” Garret said after a momentary pause. He wanted to lead the conversation more, but it was better to let Aaron take the lead. Besides, Aaron wanted to talk right now.
“Mom doesn’t think so.” He said bitterly. “She keeps on talking about my brother and how he’d do so much better if he were still alive.”
“If he’d really do so much better, maybe he’d still be alive today.” Garret said before he could stop himself, and winced mentally at the shocked looked on Aaron’s face. “I uh, I mean…”
“Don’t.” Aaron said with a shake of his head and Garret remembered to promptly close his mouth at the order from a True Born. “You’re probably right though, it’s what I’ve been thinking every time she says that or Uncle says it.”
“Here, drink some of this.” Garret said as he crossed the room and sat in the boy’s lap. He was eighteen, a man legally, but the look in his eyes told Garret that Aaron was little more than a young boy when it came to real maturity.
“It’s good as always, Jatrix.” Aaron said softly, wrapping an arm around Garret’s waist and idly running his fingertips over Garret’s lomex-covered thigh. “You know, that’s always something I like about you, how you’re more concerned for me than anything else.”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” Garret asked, trying to stay in character.
“I know you have other clients besides me, and must tell them the same things you tell me.” Aaron said with bitterness. “Everyone always has other concerns than me and they’re just interested in what I can do for them than actually in me for myself.”
“You are special.” Garret said, not to stay in character, but because he was starting to feel sorry for the boy. No wonder he was so immature if all people saw in him was a tool.
“You know I graduated top in my class at the Culinary Institute?” Aaron asked, largely rhetorically because he didn’t wait for an answer. “Does Mom care about that? Only because it gives her something to brag about, but she somehow always manages to find a way to bring my brother up, and how he graduated from the Anders O’Neill fucking War College. Fat lot of good that did him when he puked his guts out on that stupid fucking planet! Do I get to use the skills I learned in actually cooking? No! She has me fucking involved in her little plotting, fucking transporting people to this protest or that protest, getting fire-bombs to the fucking people that are going to blow up a warehouse or a government building, or like tonight, taking a gods-be-damned sniper rifle to some idiot who thinks he’s going to kill that new House Atrix guy.”
“I’m so sorry, love.” Garret said as the boy paused in his ranting, breathing heavily from the exertion of spitting out those words. Aaron grasped Garret tighter into him and let out a half-sob.
“You know what’s even worse?” Aaron asked, again rhetorically. “He looks just like you, well except he has green eyes, and long hair. It fucking hurts to think they’re going to kill someone almost as beautiful as you are.”
“Thank you.” Garret said with a rueful smile, deciding the act was over. Sure, he couldn’t have the boy arrested, and in truth he didn’t want to do that. Having him arrested would hurt Tremere’s pleasure house business, but he already knew enough about this boy that he was sure he could handle him in ways the real Jatrix would never be able to perform.
“For what?” Aaron asked in a confused tone. Garret looked deep into Aaron’s green eyes, a deeper, darker green than Garret’s real eye color, and he smiled as he reached up to his face. “What are you doing?”
“Taking out my contacts.” Garret said as he removed first one and then the other purple contact. He looked at the boy with his natural green eyes, smiled and kissed him gently on the lips, taking a little pity as realization dawned in Aaron’s eyes.
“You… you’re…” Aaron stammered before drifting off into silence.
“I’m Garret Atrix, yes, and it really is nice to meet you.” Garret said with a smile as the boy began breathing like he’d just run twenty kilometers. “Calm down, you’re going to be okay.”
“No, I’m not.” Aaron stammered with a look of fear in his eyes.
“I’m not going to kill you.” Garret said. “In fact, you’ve got a nice lap I’m sitting in right now.”
“I…uh…” Aaron stammered as he tried to stand up, but Garret’s hands on his shoulders kept him in his seat.
“Your brother was a spoiled, clumsy, idiot brat.” Garret said in a stern voice, and Aaron went totally still as his eyes widened. “Yes, if you didn’t know, I was there when he died.”
“I… I almost forgot about that.” Aaron whispered.
“I was there as he puked his guts out because he was a clumsy ass fool who dropped his gas mask and couldn’t get it on in time.” Garret answered. “I talked with him a few times before that happened. He didn’t want to be in the military, I’m sure you know that.”
“Yes.” Aaron breathed huskily, his eyes going distant. “He told me that one time, but he told me he was doing it because it was his duty to the family, to our Uncle.”
“Just like it was your duty to deliver fire-bombs, and a sniper rifle?” Garret asked him and Aaron flinched. That was good; he still had a conscience.
“Yes.” Aaron breathed after a long moment of silence.
“It was awful, watching him die.” Garret said in a far-too casual tone. “The gas they used, it gets in your body and it liquefies the lungs, the stomach, and the intestines. It was like he was vomiting, but he was vomiting blood and guts, all dark red and gray stuff streaming out of his mouth. It took me hours afterwards to clean some of that dried gunk off of my boots.”
“Stop.” Aaron’s face was pasty white now, and it looked like he was about to vomit himself. Garret lifted a hand, running a single finger down the pimply jaw line, until he reached Aaron’s chin, and then he lifted it until Aaron was meeting his gaze.
“Is that what you want for your own future?” Garret asked him and met his gaze steadily in the silence that followed. After several minutes, Aaron broke the gaze and looked off to the side.
“No.” His voice was miserable, and Garret had seen the tears forming in his eyes. Aaron’s voice was filled with sobs as he spoke, but there was also anger there. “What fucking choice do I have though? You’re going to have me arrested, or try to talk me into turning on my family, or some shit. Then you’ll fucking use me the way they do.”
“Well, some would say being able to choose between going to jail for your family, or betraying them so you stay out of jail would be two clear choices.” Garret said and was pleased at the way Aaron’s head whipped around and he gave Garret a look of abject horror at the bald statement. “Fortunately for you, I’m a lot nicer than people give me credit.”
“Huh?” The boy asked and Garret smiled at him gently. With a thumb and forefinger on the boy’s chin he leaned in and kissed him gently on the lips.
“You really are cute, you know that?” Garret asked rhetorically. “No, don’t answer. I am sorry that I fooled you tonight. You don’t deserve that, but given that I now know someone will try to kill me tomorrow, I believe that you might understand why I did this. I’m not going to ask anything more of you, nor am I going to put you in jail. What happened tonight is just between you and me, no one else will ever know.”
“What?” Aaron asked in a confused voice.
“Thank you, Aaron.” Garret said, this time leaning in and kissing his cheek. “Thank you for warning me about the possible attempt on my life. I know you didn’t mean to do that, but you did and I appreciate it a lot. It’s too bad your family is on the other side of these issues. I’d have liked to get to know you better. Oh well. You take care of yourself, you hear me? I’d hate to imagine you getting caught doing one of those dangerous errands and ending up in jail.”
“What?” Aaron asked with pure confusion in his eyes and voice as Garret stood up. Before turning to leave, he planted a kiss on the young man’s forehead and then sauntered out of the room. His change of clothes, as well as his bodyguards were downstairs waiting for him, although once in the hall he paused for a moment to let his erection go down. It was mostly his naivety, but Aaron was cute in his own way.
What had really excited Garret though was setting the hook in the boy’s mouth, and playing with the line, reeling him in and then letting him run with the line for a bit before reeling him back towards the boat. Timat had taken Garret fishing a few times, along with Billy, and he’d taught him how to bring in a stubborn fish. Aaron wasn’t quite as stubborn as the korp they’d fished those times, but right now Garret was giving him plenty of line before reeling him in to flop on the deck of Garret’s boat.
