Chapter 1: A Rare Commodity
by lightpathetic
DR. EDWARD KRANE looked up from his case file as the door burst open and his colleague – albeit in private practice for a huge Global company - Dr. Albert Rosenberg, barged in and closed the door, just before demanding he "blank" the windows on his glorified cubicle.
"What's this about?" Dr. Krane asked wearily, rocking back in his chair and rubbing his eyes tiredly.
His friend was way too excitable and passionate about his job. He sometimes came to consult with him over some "poor girl with lymphoma" or "senior engineer with metastasized prostate cancer", usually needing someone else to reassure him that he'd done everything he could. Dr. Krane prepared himself to view a scan of some poor unfortunate but terminal patient, hear the twenty minutes or so of case history and theory before giving the sad shake of his head and ordering some alcohol from the automatic wait service. His friend was still old enough to remember before the nuclear attacks, when cancer wasn't as commonplace as it was now. He still felt he needed to do something despite the hopelessness of it all, as if they didn't have bigger things to worry about...
Dr. Rosenberg opened his mouth to explain but closed it as if deciding against it. He raised his finger as if to say "wait" and removed a colourless data stick from pocket. He walked to where the other doctor sat and pushed it into the desk slot then stepped back to watch his colleague's face. Dr. Krane tried to look interested and stifled a yawn, all while going over his patient list in his head... but perked up about four seconds later.
"Is that... Is that what I think it is?"
"Yes! Yes! But that's not all! Look at the bio-report..."
"Fuck...!"
Well, it wasn't a medical term but it will do. Dr. Krane's mouth dropped open as he actually saw the readings of a perfectly healthy uterus, complete with unobstructed fallopian tubes. And not only that...
"It's just ovulated! Fuck, Al! Do you know what this means...?"
"It's not that simple. I just wanted to show it to you but you can't say anything..."
"What do you mean I can't...? This woman should... Hell! She has an obligation to start surrogacy right away! Shit...!
"Don't tell me she'd saving herself for the black market...!" A fertile woman could become very wealthy bearing some rich idiot's kid. A completely healthy woman like this could virtually name her price.
"I know the stakes as well as you do, Ed but it's a company employee. I want them to have a chance to decide. But there's more. Look down here, the darkened mass?"
Dr. Krane tried to concentrate on the screen again even as he was thinking of all the money he could be making from those said rich idiots. Sure the surrogacy program was to benefit humanity as a whole but he would have a say in which humanity. Those being the highest bidders. However, he did take a look...
"The vagina! There's no opening!" There would have to be a bloody catch. "But why?"
"Because, I found this particular specimen inside an individual whose phenotypical characteristics, in all respects, appeared to be male."
"What?!"
ZERO rolled over in "bed" and glared at the integrated control panel of his "Slumber Tube" hoping the retinal scan will immediately turn off the alarm before he took a hammer to it. Despite the expense of repairing or replacing it, Zero's temper always had other ideas, even without having been up until three in the morning trying to finish the report for his boss.
It's amazing, despite all the advances in technology, one still needed at least six hours sleep to stay on an even keel.
Blessedly, the alarm did turn off and Zero collapsed back into the blue thermo-gel, placing his head onto the white thermo-foam strip. He hoped to doze for another half an hour before his rude appliance realised he was ignoring the alarm – nothing he did could reprogram the damn thing as it was all part the World Governing Body's (WGB for short) edicts on efficient productivity or some crap like that...
Bleep, bleep. Bleep, bleep.
Zero rolled to his side, away from the incoming call, the thermo-gel sliding away to show one well-toned shoulder – the WGB mandated one hour of gym time each day for continuing health and made each employer oversee it as part of the work day. The tone got louder as he refused to acknowledge the call to consciousness. Instead, he tried desperately to resume his dream – one thing the WGB couldn't police - where he was succeeding in talking Bianca Jolie into removing her bikini top so he could apply the official, Board-recommended sunscreen without hindrance...
"Zero. Zero you have a call."
The warm feminine voice, which in the handbook was called "Mother" but still sounded like a porn star on the brink - which he liked, actually - waded into Zero's subconscious just as his palm approached a taut nipple. It dissolved resolutely and was replaced by the plastic chamber and Zero's eminent frustration.
"Who is it, Sue?"
"The CEO. Mr. Kuran."
Zero groaned, rolling his face into the strip.
"Tell him, or rather his secretary," Zero ordered, barely audible as he spoke into the malleable foam. Zero had never seen, spoken to or heard the company's Chief Executive Officer in the three years he'd worked at Global Engineering, so he was pretty sure it would be his damned secretary. "I'll call him back in twenty minutes."
"The call is labelled urgent, Zero."
"It always is..." Zero grumbled, wishing he could block out the world. He didn't even feel well. Maybe he should call in sick. That was only two months quarantined in a Global Health facility. He was sure it would be restful... Zero sighed, squashing the fantasy, hoping the doctor's blood test did indeed come back negative for any germs. His life was hard enough as it was.
All was blessedly quiet for another thirty seconds before the control panel began to sound again.
"Zero, I did say..."
"Okay, Sue. I do believe I am awake now. Put him through."
The gel darkened for modesty's sake even though Zero was half hoping to give Hanabusa Aidou an eye-full. It was six-fifteen for heaven's sake. The approved hours of work were seven-thirty to five-thirty inclusive of the approved lunch and gym sessions. It wasn't like he had to commute as the building was practically self-contained. Why on earth was he calling at this hour...?
"Mr. Aidou. What a nice..." He insisted they call him that, and Executive Assistant to the CEO, which they did... to his face.
"Spare me the sarcasm, Mr. Kiriyuu. Did you finish the report?"
"I mailed it to you at two-fifty-three this morning, Mr. Aidou. Do check your spam folder..."
"Very funny, Mr. Kiriyuu." There was some silence for a while as the email was checked and retrieved. Zero began to grind his teeth in fury. Didn't he give enough of his time to this company? Couldn't he read a report without his being there, essentially holding his hand?
"Well, if that's all..." Zero rolled over, fervently hoping the nipple was still there in his subconscious somewhere...
"Not so fast, Mr. Kiriyuu. I did call about another matter. It seems Mr. Kuran is holding interviews for a personal assistant to go with him to oversee a new project in the Amazon desert. I thought you may be interested."
"What? Is the company letting you go?"
"No. I will be staying behind to hold down the fort..."
"I see. You know, you are approaching what the WGB deems the 'Optimal Age for Retirement', Mr. Aidou."
"Nonsense. Mr. Kuran assures me this is the best way to handle this situation and I agree with him. I know almost as much about GE as he does."
"Still, did they have you picking out gold watches recently...?"
"Forget it. Maybe I shouldn't have called..."
"Suit yourself." Zero rolled over and made to go back to sleep again. He was getting tired of these intrusions into his life. Was it too much to ask that while he was off duty that he could actually be off duty? Really, The Man was getting him down...
"Mr. Kiriyuu!"
"You're still here..."
"Look, I went out on a limb recommending you to him. Maybe my instincts aren't what they used to be. But please, don't put me in the position of having to explain what a prick you are to the boss."
Zero tapped his forehead plaintively against the side of the chamber before turning back to the persistent employee.
"Fine! I'll go." If only to get some peace. "But, we'll just be wasting his time. Souen, Shiki and Kain are much better administrators than I am."
"But you have a certain talent and an eye for detail. It's why I wanted to throw your name into the hat. If you succeed, it would mean a higher pay grade, a chance to travel and work closely with Kaname Kuran himself. I thought you would appreciate how he thinks and designs, maybe learn or refine a thing or two..."
"Okay," Zero interrupted, knowing the secretary would go on and on if he didn't. Besides, he was trying to muster some hope for his success. Before he'd disappeared into operations lore, Kaname Kuran was fairly well known in design circles. Many of GE's factories and office buildings bore his stamp. It could be interesting. "Thank you. Mail me an application form, will you...?"
"Actually, your interview is at seven a.m. Today. I suggest you get up and get dressed."
ZERO was ushered into the vast room behind the faux, oak panelled sliding door. The small woman with bluish hair that did - rather discretely - frisk him, nodded toward the black Dorchester sofa near the windows before she walked back out the door and closed it behind her. Zero nervously straightened his tie and walked into the room towards the proffered chair, thinking to sit and wait as he was sure the office was empty...
"Mr. Kiriyuu..."
"Yes!"
Zero nearly swallowed his tongue he was so surprised. Apparently there was a partition in front of the desk that made it seem like the view through the windows was continuous from the door, hiding the elusive CEO. Zero was sure he'd had an "accident".
Kaname Kuran smiled tightly but seemed to appraise Zero from head to toe. Zero shifted uncomfortably, wondering if he should say he was flattered but "straight". Instead, he found himself running his eyes over the man in return.
He wasn't bad looking, was he? Glossy chocolate-brown hair that just touched his shoulders, a dark unfathomable gaze and flawless skin and lips that he thought he really shouldn't be appreciating this much. Save for a bit of a permanent frown line between his dark eyebrows he seemed quite young. Surprisingly so...
"Sit down. Please."
Zero got the distinct impression that the please was belatedly added.
"Thank you. Sir."
Zero moved to sit down on the proffered couch and waited as the CEO – his boss – finished inputting a series of instructions into the desk-sized "e-pad" then commanded it to stand by. The large screen immediately changed to the factory setting of an old fashioned array of books and paper strewn desk, complete with a push-button telephone in one corner.
Zero thought this was very telling as Kaname Kuran also oversaw software programming aspects of the engineering conglomerate and you would think he could manage to change the scene to interesting scenery or waves crashing or, as some people had, an invitingly naked woman or man...
"You don't have very much experience in management." So he immediately came to the point. Zero was taken just a bit aback.
"That may be true but I know how to get the job done and I am very interested in the particular project you are working on..."
"You are?" Zero was again put off, this time by the look of surprise, the dark arched eyebrows showing he was certainly amused by this admission. "What do you think it is?"
"Well... I was told you are doing a project in the Amazon Desert. The radiation levels have been diminished significantly by Global's cleanup operations and I am looking forward to helping to develop that area. It is time we moved on from having that act of terrorism hanging over our heads. It would be a great step forward."
"Indeed."
Zero swallowed nervously as Mr. Kuran leaned back in his chair and simply looked him over. It was an odd thing. Normally interviews had a larger "interview" portion to it, even though most of your information is on the international grid anyway.
He'd never simply been stared at before, even if his colouring was unique and he could be described as handsome. He was beginning to become uncomfortable and secretly thanked his lucky stars that he didn't have the experience his boss was looking for. Zero was never so relieved as when the CEO finally removed those dark penetrating eyes from his scrutiny of his person, seemingly coming to a decision.
"It will be a long assignment. I want to personally oversee the work in the Amazon and it could take many months. Maybe almost a year. Hence, I will be moving my base of operations out to the middle of nowhere. I want someone that will be able to do that and not be crying about a wife or husband or home sickness. He must be in reasonably good health as well. He... or she... will also be sharing quarters with me and will be on hand twenty-four/seven. Needless to say they must be able to work under a considerable amount of pressure: I expect results when I ask for them and I expect them yesterday. This project has to be done on time and under budget and I don't care who I'll have to step on to do it. Do you think you can handle that?"
Zero thought that being shacked up with this man was not on his list of desirable activities. Throw in the fact that he would have to look forward to it for 365 days in a row and the prospect became more and more unpalatable. There was something unnerving about him. He was too tightly wound. Zero may be fairly good at his job but he did procrastinate a little too much and didn't live for his job like some people. His boss in small doses was already annoying. Twenty-four/seven? He didn't see himself lasting a week. Hopefully he had interviewed other people.
But this was the CEO, dammit! He knew people that would sell their mothers to get a chance like this to make an impression on him. Like Luca Souen. Zero supposed that having Kaname Kuran's ear was an opportunity he shouldn't throw away. He certainly hoped the others felt that way because he was going to do so now.
"Look, I'm sure I'm just wasting your time. There are people much more suited to this job than I am. I think I should..."
"Why don't you take some to think it over before you make a decision?" the other man interrupted firmly, turning toward his desk and "waking" the screen. He didn't even seem ruffled by Zero's lack of enthusiasm, and Zero's eyes narrowed at this. So sure of himself. So confident. "I will be going in a month. I'm sending you my personal email address. Let me know by the end of next week what your decision is."
"I don't understand. It sounds like... Aren't you interviewing anyone else?" Now he was suspicious.
"Yes, I am. Just keeping my options open. Still, I would appreciate it if you kept this job opening to yourself. The position is still tentative. Understand?"
"Yes..." What?!
"That will be all. Thank you for coming. You can let yourself out."
Zero walked forward to offer his hand but the other man was already absorbed in whatever was on the screen to work on.
Zero retracted and turned to leave, the door sliding open as he approached it to reveal the small, blue-haired woman.
"This way, Mr. Kiriyuu."
"With pleasure," Zero muttered, fully intending to never use that email address under any circumstances.
"WHAT? I wasn't aware there was an opening!"
"What do you mean? The CEO interviewed me! I don't understand. You've been here longer than I..."
"Maybe it's because of my wife..."
"Ex-wife. She left you two years ago, Kain."
"It's still fresh to me, Kiriyuu," Akatsuki Kain grumbled, as he took another swig of his drink, the senior engineer taking exception to Zero's words despite the obvious truth.
"That's right! It really was only a couple months ago that she screwed you royally on the property settlement. It must still hurt to sit down..."
"Fuck you, Kiriyuu. You bastard..."
"But if he didn't ask you, then Souen...?"
"I doubt it. She would have let her entire department know by now if she had been interviewed by the CEO. You know she's had the hots for him since he smiled in her general direction at that Christmas party..."
"It's odd then. He can't be looking very hard for an assistant. He spoke to me days ago..."
"Maybe he changed his mind. Living with him for a year? The company's psychiatric department couldn't handle that stress."
"Probably... Do you want another drink?" Zero asked, while beckoning for service. He'll have one at any rate.
"Nah. I'll pass. My sister's got a round of chemo in the morning..."
"Ah. Alright. I'll see you on Monday. Take it easy, Kain."
"You too, Kiriyuu."
Zero saluted affectionately as Akatsuki Kain rose and teetered toward the elevator to head to his apartment. One good thing about getting drunk on the company's premises was the easy access to you quarters. It also meant that one couldn't really get roaring smashed in public on a regular basis. That had to be reserved for the confines of your apartment.
"Garcon! A pouch of Black Label to go!"
The android rolled over in silence and handed over a sealed plastic bag with amber liquid inside. Zero ran the chip in his hand over the sensor on the android's head in payment and stood, going to the elevator, looking forward to a quiet evening passed out on his sofa in front of the Visi-Screen. Alone.
Zero sighed as he waited for the elevator, tugging at the plug on the bag as the vision of her cute face swam into his memory. At least they hadn't gotten married. At least he got away with his balls still intact. He even wished her well. He didn't need her, he thought, as he stepped into the elevator. He didn't need anybody.
ZERO awoke with a headache, which was not unusual. What was unusual was where he was. The cold jagged surface of the stairwell cut into his face as he stirred, his eyes opening and lighting upon the empty pouch of liquor near his head. He didn't come here to drink, did he? Why would he when he could have gone home?
He sat up and immediately winced at the searing pain in his nether region then froze, confused then with dawning apprehension. He looked down between his legs, his eyes travelling slowly as if not able to face what he would find but having to look anyway. Eventually he reached the juncture of his thighs... and that's when he began to scream.
"YOU'LL have to report this, Kiriyuu."
"No. No. I couldn't..." He could already hear the comments, the laughter over the fucking water cooler...
"You have to. Someone assaulted you. Someone that most likely works here..."
"DON'T YOU THINK I KNOW THAT?!" Zero shouted, almost hysterically. "Don't you think I'm not painfully aware of this fact?!"
Akatsuki closed his mouth and dropped his eyes to his feet. This was the last thing he had expected to hear when he'd come to visit Zero. He hadn't turned up for work for three days and wasn't answering his calls. He was in danger of being quarantined or reprimanded. He'd just thought he was in a funk about Yuuki again, but this... Who could have done this?
"I'm sorry, Kain," Zero moaned, immediately contrite, leaning forward into his hands. He wasn't the enemy. He was only trying to help. "I'm so sorry. I'm just... I can't stand my own skin, you know?"
"You should at least get examined. Just in case..."
"I've been showering almost continuously for five days. I doubt there is... anything to find. I just want to forget it ever happened. Can you imagine what my life would be like if this got out?"
"It's nothing to be ashamed of! It wasn't your fault...!"
"Then why do I feel this way? I keep thinking if only I'd... if I hadn't gotten drunk..."
"You wouldn't have been raped? Perhaps. Perhaps it would have happened anyway. Being drunk doesn't mean other people have permission to do... things like this, Zero. You really shouldn't let them get away with this. It could happen to someone else..."
Not like this. Not like what happened to me...
"I've decided to leave the company, Kain."
"What?! Are you insane?!" Kain bellowed, getting to his feet and storming over to where Zero sat in a ball on his couch, bundled tightly in a bathrobe and pyjamas. He slowed down as Zero flinched away from him, thoroughly ashamed of himself. "Zero, I'm sorry… I'm just saying… this bastard hurt you and you're going to throw your life away?"
"I can't do it, Kain. I can't stay here."
"Wait a week or two, Zero. Please. Ask for some leave and take it. Then decide..."
"It's too late, Kain. I've already sent in my resignation."
BEEP, BEEP. BEEP, BEEP.
Zero thought of ignoring the door. There was no-one else he hadn't said his goodbyes to that he cared about. Besides, he was a little wary of letting people into his apartment. Whoever had done this to him was still at large and worse: unidentifiable. He remembered nothing of that night save having drinks with Kain and then leaving the bar to go into the elevator... The rest was a blank. He didn't even remember giving the command for his floor.
So Zero was very wary of visitors and still couldn't face going out by himself. When he was finished packing, Kain was going to help him move out and into the new apartment. Zero looked forward to it. It would be a relief. But even after he asked Sue to disable the call button, the knocks began on the door. Zero decided that maybe he should at least see who it is. So he could report his ass to the authorities…
"Present view of caller, Sue."
The Visi-Screen deviated from its programming schedule and produced a life-sized view of...
"But that's..."
"Kaname Kuran. CEO of Global Engineering," Sue interjected helpfully.
"What the fuck is he doing here?"
"He left a message at seven a.m. indicating he would be visiting at four p.m., Zero."
"Then why didn't I...?" Oh yes. He had asked Sue to hold all his calls.
Zero stood there for a while watching his former boss' exertions in some disbelief then decided - despite the fact that he should no longer care what Kaname Kuran wanted – that he would always wonder why he saw fit to pound on his door like a lunatic. No use losing mandatory sleep hours unnecessarily...
Zero walked over to the door and pressed his palm to the plain dark panel in the centre. He had reprogrammed it after the incident. Only his entire palm print will open it. He hated what he had become; a frightened shell of his former self. The worst wasn't even the pain or the violation. It was how he couldn't fathom how someone like him could have been rendered essentially powerless to prevent something like this happening to him. Kain had tried to assure him that he had probably been drugged. But shouldn't he have seen him coming? Shouldn't he have remembered something? Anything? It was no use. He wasn't sure of anything anymore - even of himself - and that was a large part of his fear. But he was sure all he needed was to leave. That was his one hope, what kept him going. He'll leave and then he would be able to put this behind him and move on.
Kaname Kuran, in the flesh, soon presented himself. Even to the point of marching into the apartment as soon as the door cracked open, pushing it and Zero aside and walking straight through to the living room. He settled into a chair, his interest going briefly to the boxes that were strewn around the room, before settling on the puzzled silver-haired man standing in the doorway.
"Close the door and come sit down. I would like to offer you a job."
to be continued
lightpathetic wrote this as DramaticPause on AO3 but these are not my original characters. They are based on a manga called Vampire Knight (I swear, lol).