Grit.

It summed up the atmosphere of the lower classes. Work, sweat, blood, and dirt. Like oil clinging to water, the people desperately clung to each other. It was so utterly different from the world above, where the Blondies lived, that it was as if they were on two different planets.

Isason looked at the person in the bed next to him. This person was not like himself. Riki had darker skin, black hair, somewhat more open features. All of him was oddly beautiful. A large exotic cat, he thought, and just as difficult to please. He had heard once, that his pet was a 'disloyal dog'. A snide comment. A loathsome insult! It made his pure blood boil, just thinking of how humiliating it was to hear someone insult him.

There was nothing more worthy of punishment than disrespect!

He had to chuckle, though. At himself, because even now, he was putting on airs. And at them, too. Did they, who were actually beneath himself, not aware of the truth? They knew it. They were only 'made' beings, and thereby, just as disposable. Anything that could be made, could be made over and over again. In perfect replication. That was not 'free will', nor could they claim any 'pure blood' status. Because, there was no descent, just the cold scientific 'beginning' or all 'made' beings.

What did the other think, now, when he had just vanished? He did not know if his 'fate' was widely known to the others. He had never been all that close to anyone. And he did think it was interesting, almost suspicious, that Jupiter had never found him a bride.

Why had he been allowed so many liberties?

Jupiter was nothing but a lump of intelligent light particles floating around in a data-sphere. Yet, he was called God, and worshiped in a way that was bordering on madness. Was that really 'logical'? If that was 'logic', then what was man? Were humans, like Riki, somehow less important or valuable, just because they were not made by that 'God'. And if that 'God' was technically artificial, then, who had made that 'God'?

Thoughts like that should not have occurred in the mind of a Blondie. To him, this spoke of how he was different from the others, who had never questioned, even in thought, their maker's will. Iason knew, though; Jupiter had consciousness, and as such, understood loneliness. If no other human emotion, God felt his own isolation.

Indeed, Iason had felt that Jupiter had constantly been modulating the Blondies, rather than indulging them. Being vastly superior physically, they were more dangerous than the weak Mongrels and Mutts. The Midas, too. Even the Onyx Elites that they pretended were 'better', were not genetically engineered to be at the Top. If even one Blondie went mad, it would be a disaster. Thus, most of the 'rules' or 'laws' seemed to be aimed at keeping them too drugged up to notice their physical abilities.

He, himself, had been able to lifted Riki off his feet in one hand! At that time, not long after their first meeting, he had been surprised at how weak the other kind were! Blondies were considered superior because of their ability for computation, but, after having met Riki, Iason thought the true inequality was altogether different. Riki was not educated, but his mind was capable of most mathematics, sciences, and so on; thus, with training, he could technically reach the level of an Oynx Elite, even though he was a Mongrel. However, he would never catch up to them physically.

Sighing, putting an arm over his forehead, Iason studied the ceiling. They had just moved to this building. A nicer building, cleaner. Ground level for his convenience. It still let in the reek of oil from the street, though. This building did not have an air purification system in it, obviously. They had to manually open and close the doors. Divided into the entrance room, the kitchen, a bathroom, an office and bedroom, it was a maisonette. To these people, this was 'making it' and 'doing good'. They sought nothing more. A comfortable nest in which to 'live'...

This 'living' thing was what Iason still felt alienated to. They 'made a living'. The concept was so bizarre. In Tanagura, breathing equaled 'being alive'. Eating, sleeping, bathing...those made up the 'living' part of 'being alive'. Riki and the other kind out there, did not see it that way, though.

Iason struggled to grasp at the reality he was seeing.

Riki took a deep breath, rolling over onto his side. He could sleep in any position now, without the burns hurting him. His whole length was revealed, as he hugged the covers. Nothing appeared marred in the half light. His golden skin shown in an eerie half light, that seemed to constantly pour in from somewhere!

The bed was not cuvered; they had to adjust their position with pillows. Nor did they have the luxury of silk sheets. It was some not quite soft, and not quite scratchy, this cloth. He had no idea, really, what it was woven from. He did not want to know. Just like, he had not really cared about having silk sheets before; it all became dirty, had to be washed, and changed out at some point.

Wincing as his legs began paining him sharply; little stabbing pains, following the pinched nerves. Looking at his hands, Iason thought back on that time. He had thought he would die. He had not minded. He had just accepted that, as something that was 'going to happen'. Because, for more than half his life, he had been bored with 'being alive'.

From when had he stopped caring about his own existence? He thought, that it had been around the time he realized he did not need to use nervegear to do computation. He thougth that Jupiter had taken an interest in him, especially, because of that too. And other, more personal reasons; in his case, he was not satisfied with voyerism. Keeping furniture and pets was fine. He supposed there was nothing really 'right' or 'wrong' about that. It just was. And, in his own way, he was no different from them. Just a Blondie, after all, living in his preordained position.

In the hollowness of his existence, he had given up at some point. Nothing was exciting. Nothing was new or impressive. Because, everything was given to him, he had only had the inevitable disgrace of growing old to think about.

Were Blondies ever really alive?

He had not been able to ask Jupiter that question. Not through lack of courage, but due to the fact that he did not know Jupiter would understand it. It was not logical, after all. Boredom was an incurable, fatal condition. Once it set in, it could drive people to extremes no other emotion would ever drive them to. He had not felt hate. He had not felt love. Nor devotion. Certainly not betrayal. Like lining up toys on a shelf, it was all he had to think about, and slowly fall into depravity.

Then, Riki had barged into that exsitence which was neither hot nor cold, and set everything on fire; he had been startled, shocked, by this gorgeous creature and stopped to pay attention to it. And, the sound of that voice, the hostile look in his almost black eyes, had been exciting. He had, in fact, never spoken to a Mongrel before then! Midas citizens were one thing, and he'd dealt with the Onyx Elites numerous times...but not a feral cat in the guise of a man.

Hotly, brashly, reeking of sweat and oil, Riki had grabbed Iason by the hand. For the first time, he had been the one getting dragged off. And Riki's burning eyes, utterly determined, had not flickered when he pulled off his upper clothing. Back then, that defiant child, challenging him in such a sensual and vulgar way!

To him, it was exactly what he needed to cure his boredom. His own life hanging in the balance, aware that he might loose his position as the 'Most Beloved', had decided to take that challenge.

That was why, when he had been about to die, he had been pleased to have Riki's company. He had played his hand too heavily, because he had not been able to admit he had human feelings. Nor did he think Riki knew how to admit to that. However, Riki was a Mongrel, not very educated, and also very young. And, when it came down to it, Iason understood that it was through his actions that Riki had been hurt.

The pet ring that he and manipulated him into wearing, had been forcibly removed. That had hurt him, and he had gotten infections as such. That was his fault. Iason had understood it the moment he had seen the pet ring, offered to him by some miscreant. It did not even need to be said how much rage he had felt at that time; with that whelp, with Riki, and with himself, too.

Sitting up somewhat, letting Riki sleep, Iason shut his eyes. He had lost both legs. He would never walk again. Just like, he would never return to Tanagura. The Thirteen were down to Twelve. The Elite of the Elites had fallen. Loosing his legs alone would never have forfeit his position, but going off to rescue and avenge his lover had.

Because he was not sterile.

Looking at his hands, Iason thought it was odd. Why had he ended up this way? He had no interest in procreation, and Jupiter had never bothered to take advantage of his 'flaw'. He had a male lover, like ninety percent of the population. There were few women on Amoi, even in Tanagura. Thinking about it logically, he should have immeidately been found a woman...but for whatever reason Jupiter had not done so.

There was also the mystery of why Jupiter had, through the datasphere, contacted Katze. Former furniture had never been contacted by Jupiter! No, Iason had not even known that Jupitercould contact anyone else. When Katze had arrived in their tiny room, he had looked like he had seen a demon. The end of the story was that the miscreant who had caused them so much grief, was missing, possible dead. Katze himself had been there, and taken Guy away, but then lost him in the days following. While still trying to find him, Katze had been working on his terminal, when the entire thing had been taken over, emitting a bright light. The metal of the table had been particlized into a very tiny replication of Jupiter, who had communicate through text that he was to go to 'That Child'.

Iason was not sure how he felt about being referred to as a child, but he had understood that if Jupiter was not going to send anyone to do away with them, then he could not wallow in self pity. God was still keeping an eye on everything; his wayward child, living in exile as Riki put it, but who was still doing data-construction and other works directly for Jupiter.

Tipping his head back, Iason shivered a little. He really did not understand, after all, what that thing wanted.

However, he did know that he did not feel bored anymore.

Everyday, while he was working, while he ate, even while he slept, he was curious about what would happen next. His life, from this point forward, was an utter unknown. Unstable. Precarious. Painful. Pain was wonderful! He had realized, while struggling with depression, that he was free! Emotions he had never felt before, were all there, proving that Blondies were not just 'made' things!

Riki's eyes opened, and he slowly sat up. "You could've woken me up." He said, in a groggy tone. "You okay?"

Turning just his eyes, Iason nodded once. "Yes. I do believe..." He said, drawing Riki's more focused attention. "...that I will be fine, Riki."