To Forgive and Forget

by lozzypoo

In the ruins of Dana Burn, a mongrel is pulled from the wreckage by an unknown blondie and whisked off to the safety of the stars. He returns two years later with no memory of Iason or his previous life. Full summary inside. please Review.

4. Chapter 3

Hey they're all. Well here we are again and I can say from here on out, it's just going to get better. Now that Riki and Iason have been reunited, what will happen? And how will Iason react with he discovers Riki has amnesia and is blind? Find out in Chapter 3

Just thought I would give you a little bit information on Ion's crew:

Name: Ion Cassis.

Race: Blondie

Age: 29

Height: 6'7

Hair: Pale blonde

Eyes: Blue

Description: Eccentric and down to earth, Ion his often shunned by other Blondies because of his odd behaviour. He left Amoi five years ago to pursue his future studies in gene development and Bio-genetics. He's currently the commander of the ship 'Cronos' and has a number of different races in his crew who love and respect him. Also, he's the guardian of Riki who he had found two years prior.

Name: Riki

Race: Mongrel

Age: 24

Height: 5'6

Hair: Black

Eyes: Black

Description: Found by Ion two years ago, near dead, after being caught in a massive explosion in the ruins of Dana Burn, an ancient fortress on the outskirts of Midas. He now suffers sever amnesia and is blind. He currently resides on Ion's ship with no memory of his previous life on Amoi or being Iason's pet. His black hair and eyes make him a rarity on Amoi.

Name: Heath

Race: Mongrel

Age: 27

Height: 5'9

Hair: Black

Eyes: Chestnut brown

Description: The very skilled navigator on Cronos. He has been with Ion since the beginning. Mature but often rebellious, very much due to his mongrel heritage, Heath is very passionate about flying and dreams to own his own ship. He is often referred to as the 'hummingbird.' as he can never stay in one place for to long. The reasons for joining Ion are unknown but his respect and loyalty to Ion is unquestionable.

Name: Luca

Race: Mongrel

Age: 28

Height: 5'6

Hair: Dark brown

Eyes: Green

Description: An intelligent female mongrel and medical engineer, She has also been with Ion since the beginning and is the oldest on board the ship; except for Ion. Ion found Luca working in a whorehouse in Midas, hungry and left for dead. He offered her a choice of coming with him, or staying on Amoi. She had learned her medical skills from Ion and on the streets, administrating to the helpless. Just like everyone else, her trust in Ion is unwavering and sees it as her duty to protect everyone.

Name: Maddy

Race: Mongrel

Age: 12

Height: 4'4

Hair: Black

Eyes: Dark brown

Description: Although she is the youngest aboard Cronos, Maddy can be a little spitfire when the need arises. Rescued from the cruel, gilded cage of Guardian at a very tender age, Ion took pity on the small, skinny child and brought her aboard his ship to take care of her. She's extremely attached to Ion and sees Riki as a brotherly figure

Name: Seiren Megeal

Race: Amorian

Age: 24

Height: 5'7

Hair: Sage Green

Eyes: Chocolate brown

Description: A native to the planet of Amorian, a world under the Amoian commonwealth regime. He is the ship's engineer. He was recruited by Ion when the Blondie found Seiren working in a shipping repair yard when his own ship needed repairs on his engine. His excessive knowledge makes Seiren a formidable opponent on the interior workings and parts that make up a ship's 'heart'.

Name: Aya Matsuri

Race: Faeier

Age: 22

Height: 5'6

Hair: Red with coloured beads

Eyes: Dove Grey

Description: The newest member of Cronos, Aya is the resident cook and housekeeper. She's native to the distant planet of Faeier. Her fiancé was killed in a savage robbery, leaving her and her unborn child alone before Ion offered her a place on his ship in exchange for his protection. Some say that Faeier is known as a mystical and mysterious planet and that the coloured beads worn in the hair act as emotion senses.

So there you have it. All the info on Ion's crew. I hope this will be helpful for the upcoming chapters.

Anyway enjoy.

Chapter 3

'Riki'

Iason all but cried out as he stared up at the landing ramp leading up to the ship. His eyes travelled over the handsome tanned-skinned man who continued to stand with his arms crossed confidently over his chest. His long black hair gleaming in the sunlight. There was no denying it. That stance. That hair. It was Riki, his Riki; standing in front of him, safe and very much alive. How could this be possible? He looked older, more defined. His unblemished skin held more of a tan, indicating many days out in the sun. Black hair fell like a long silky curtain behind his back. Then blue eyes travelled down the familiar muscled chest before landing on the exotic tattoo that adorned Riki's left arm, moving down his smooth bicep, down his arm before curling around his wrist. Iason suddenly felt sick as vertigo hit him; nauseated as if someone had relentlessly punched him in the gut. It grew worse as those dull, onyx eyes moved among them but never landing on anyone in particular. They landed to Iason before just as quickly moved on, as if he hadn't even seen him standing there. Iason's eyebrows drew in confusion and his hands clenched into fists.

Something was different.

Something was off

And it took all of his strength and will power not to walk forward, grab Riki and demand he tell him what the hell was going on before Ion's soft voice stopped him in his tracks.

'I must advise against whatever it is you plan to do, your Excellency.' Ion's voice dropped an octave lower. 'I'm currently aware that he used to be your pet, but under the current circumstances, if you approach him now, in your current state, it will only confuse him. If it is your plan to upset him, I just might have to step in.'

Iason's eyes narrowed and glowed like sapphires. 'Are you threatening me, Lord Cassis?'

Ion's equally blue eyes remained fixed on him, completely unruffled by Iason's chilling tone. If anything, the Blondie's eyes burned with deep fire. Profound protectiveness shone back at him and it raised his anger a notch higher. What would warrant such fierce emotions to come forth? What was Riki doing with Ion Cassis to begin with?

'I'm merely stating that while I remain his guardian; Riki is under my protection.'

Protection? Guardian?

'He belongs to me, Sir Cassis. He is mine. I demand to know why you have something of mine in your possession.'

Ion squared his massive shoulders and his eyes turned to a shade of dark cobalt. He stood eye to eye with Iason and something flashed through those glowing orbs something that even the syndicate leader could not pin down.

'Used to be yours Iason Mink. Not anymore.' Ion's defiance rose. Iason's eye's narrowed until they were nothing but slits and continued to stare down at the other Blondie, hoping to at least have the other back down but he stood fast and unmoving.

'Ion?'

Iason's blonde head snapped up.

He stared just beyond Ion's shoulder where Riki stood behind his companions. He noticed that the mongrel had taken a step forward and but continued to stare ahead. Waiting. Waiting for something.

'It's alright Riki,' Ion said gently causing Iason to tear his gaze away and stare at the Blonde man as he watched, with unmasked surprise, as Ion turned around slightly and held out his hand. 'Come.'

The human wall behind Ion parted and Riki descended the ramp. Iason's confusion and shock only grew more when he noticed Riki hold out a hand, as if he was searching for something. TThe tall, handsome long haired mongrel with chestnut eyes benevolently took Riki's hand in his and guided him forward. Iason's eyes widened a notch. A touch of restlessness and realization fluttered against his stomach and threatened to creep onto his face. He stamped down quickly on the emotion and replaced it with a look of cool nonchalance but it would seem he was not quick enough for Ion saw right through it, which surprised even him.

As if reading his mind, Ion said quietly. 'To answer your question; Yes, he is blind, Lord Mink. He can't see a thing.' He paused for a moment. 'Nor does he remember anything.'

Azure eyes flew to Riki then to Ion, whose face was slightly turned from his view, but Iason could still see the tension and strain that seized the other Blondie's strong body. 'What are you saying? That Riki has no memory.' But before he could get an answer, the two mongrels approached him and the tall dark-haired one guided Riki's hand to slip into Ion's, whose fingers closed gently over Riki's smaller ones before sliding it up his arm to grasp his elbow. Iason's nails dug deeper into his palms, threatening to draw blood.

'Riki, I would like you to meet someone.' Ion murmured down to his left. 'This is his Excellency Iason Mink, Leader of the Tanagura syndicate and a fellow Blondie like me.'

'Iason Mink. I've heard a lot about you.' Riki's mouth turned down in a thoughtful frown before dropping his hand from Ion's arm and stepped forward towards Iason. Riki's supple, familiar scent drifted to his nose and it was all he could do not to groan. Iason's body sang with the familiar rush of uncontrollable lust. But, no matter how desperately he wanting to reach out and crush the mongrel to his chest just to see if the dark-haired creature in front of him was in fact Riki or just an illusion of his mind, his arms however remained like steel rods at his side. Riki stopped in front of Iason just enough for him to look down and stare at the top of that dark head, whose eyes stared dully at his white-clothed chest. Iason's heartbeat quickened slightly.

'Is something wrong, Lord Mink?' Riki asked without looking up.

Iason cringed inwardly at the honorific, which sounded weird and somehow…wrong coming from Riki's lips but he kept his face devoid of all emotion. 'What do you mean?'

'Your heartbeat; I can hear it. It was beating quite erratically a moment ago but started to quicken more as I approached you. I assumed something was wrong. It is a very strong, distinctive beat.'

'I wouldn't think a mongrel would know of such things.' Iason said coolly, but inside he was burning hotter and hotter by every passing second Riki stood there just within his reach. Accurately aware of everyone in the vicinity had their eyes on them; Iason raised his blue eyes and caught the equal ones of Ion who stood there with his hands behind his back, patiently waiting. His face was devoid of all emotion that the man looked like he was made out of stone. Iason couldn't help but be impressed.

Iason's eyes were drawn once more to Riki when he heard the mongrel's soft reply. 'I apologise for my curiosity.' He almost stepped back and blatantly ignored Raoul's shocked gasp behind him. Riki never, if ever, apologised for anything. It was always that stubborn streak that caused Riki to never concede, harbouring him to never back down or submit to Iason's will.

'I merely meant that you have a solid heartbeat is all. I thought for a minute that maybe I have heard it somewhere before.' Riki closed his eyes and smiled. 'Maybe I was mistaken. My eyes might be out of service. But my other senses make up for that.'

Iason's breath stilled in his throat as he watched the smile spread across Riki's beautiful face like a beacon of light. Something he had never seen before. His smile was true and genuine. Gone was any trace of pain or sadness but replaced with contentment and peace. Tiny dimples he didn't even know existed creased the mongrels tanned face. It was like he was seeing Riki in a new light.

And he had never looked more beautiful.

A meter away, Ion watched the almost tender scene play out between Iason and Riki with a mixture of sadness and apprehension. He had not been bluffing when he had told the syndicate leader he would step in if Iason planned to hurt Riki and that the black-haired man was under his protection. He may not be in a high position of authority like Iason Mink but Ion was still a Blondie. The highest form of being on Amoi. It was programmed into him to conquer and dominate lower beings then himself but somewhere, somehow, something had gone wrong in his programming that made him want to nurture and care for the weak. To help ease their suffering, no matter how small, and bring them some relief. And if he chose to protect what was closest to him, no one, not even his own creator would stand in his way.

He was in no way a martyr or a saint. Far from it. He may not have kept a pet in his home, as was as natural as breathing for every Elite but in his early days he did acquire a furniture. Merely for show of course, for he found it oddly sickening to order someone to clean his home and attend to him like a slave. No, he treated his furniture more like a roommate then a servant. Going so far as to happily do his own dishes or make his own bed. It was no skin of his nose. It was why other upstanding Elites, who looked down at his beliefs and mannerisms as being eccentric or unnatural for someone of his station, often ridiculed him.

It didn't bother him then and it certainly didn't bother him now, but he still carried the destructive cruelty of the Elite on his back and it was a heavy burden to carry.

'Riki!'

Ion snapped out of his thoughts when he heard Iason's unceremonious, frantic tone call out. He looked up just in time as Riki clutched his head with both hands and almost fall to his knees. He didn't need to know if Riki was in pain, he could practically feel it. Riki's usual toned complexion turned pale and his body visibly shook with tremors.

'Shit.' Ion cursed and rushed forward.

Riki squeezed his eyes shut and tried to ride out the pain, but it seemed to be getting worse with every passing second. Beads of sweat had gathered on his forehead and he started to pant heavily from the strain of trying to keep his head from exploding. He shakily dropped his knees to the ground with his shivering hands still clutching his black head.

'Riki.' Iason eyes widened in shock and began to bend down to ask what was wrong when Ion stopped him.

'Don't touch him. His in extreme pain.' A blur of pale blonde moved in front of him so fast, almost pushing him out of the way in the process, that Iason had to take a step back. Ion bent down to one knee and placed a palm on Riki's sweating forehead. He was met with hot skin and that seemed to be rising in temperature. Shaking his head, Ion moved his hands so they rested on Riki's trembling hands.

'Riki. Riki can you hear me. I told you. I told you not to overdo it.'

'I know. I know so can you shut up already.' Riki was panting more heavily now.

'What have you done to him?' Iason exploded. His control had snapped. He was about to step forward when the pregnant Faeier was suddenly in front of him, her hands spread wide and her eyes a stormy grey.

'We didn't do anything to him, you sick son-of-a-bitch. We weren't the ones who locked him in a cage and used him like some toy.' The female Faeier red hair stared to sway around her like a cloud and the coloured beads in her red locks started to turn black. 'How dare you ask us what we have done, when all we have done is given him the life he deserves. A life where he can be free and live without thinking about that cage anymore. If you want to accuse someone, maybe you should look at yourself. Your kind makes we sick.'

'How dare you talk to him like that.' Raoul spat out.

'Aya, stop it.' The curly haired female mongrel put an arm around her shoulders and tried to pull her back. She whispered in her ear 'Think about your condition. Think about your child.'

'Everyone shut the fuck up!' Ion bellowed. Everyone stopped and stared at the enraged Blondie who still had his hands over Riki's and was now glaring daggers at each of them. 'Luca get Aya back. Iason and Raoul, I need to shut the fuck up for five seconds.'

'It hurts, Ion. Make it stop.'

Ion frowned at Riki's weakened almost pleading tone. 'Yes I know it hurts but you just have to hold on a little longer. Heath!' Ion called out in urgency and the tall mongrel in question, stepped up. 'I need you to go and get my medical bag in my cabin and bring a syringe. Make sure it's a U-100.'

'Right away.' Heath nodded and rushed back into the ship.

'What's happening to him?' Raoul asked, to curious to ignoring Ion's warning. Iason had forgotten the he was there but paid him no mind at that moment. His eyes were transfixed on Riki, who continued to clutch his head in a vice grip. Ion leaned forward and gently stroked slick, black hair.

It made Iason feel sick.

'I will explain later but right now he is in extreme pain. I have to relieve it or he will only get worse.'

'Lord Ion. What. Is. Happening. To. Him.' Iason growled with impatience. Ion ignored it completely. His entire focus was zoomed in on Riki.

Heath ran down the ramp carrying a small black bag in one hand and a syringe in the other. 'Here Ion. I wasn't able to find a U-100 syringe but I got a U-40 instead.'

The blonde nodded. 'That will have to do. No point wasting time on trivialities.'

'Ion. Will he be alright?' Maddy's small voice asked from over his shoulder.

'I'm hoping this will help.'

Ion placed the bag on the ground and unzipped it. After searching around, he pulled out a small vile of clear liquid and an antiseptic swap. With a sure hand, he ripped open the packaging around the syringe and pulled off the cap. 'Luca, race back and get me a cooling pack.'

'What are you planning to do?'

'His temperature is too high. I need to bring it down.'

The female mongrel with long curly brown hair nodded in understand and did what she was instructed. Ion held the bottle up and stabbed the syringe through the bottom of the vile. He pulled the plunger down and the clear liquid began to fill the barrel of the needle. 'Seiren, hold him down.'

There was a string of low mummers projecting from the crowd that had been drawn. Some whispered behind hands while others stood idle and watched.

With sure, strong arms, the Amorian took hold of whimpering Riki and held him tightly against him, pinning his head and arms in place to stop him from moving around. 'Shh, Riki. It will be over soon.' Ion released the needle from the vile and tapped the barrel to disperse any bubbles within the liquid solution. He wiped the antiseptic cloth over the inside of Riki's elbow and gentle inserted the needle. Riki whined in pain and tried to move away from the sting of the needle. But Seiren held him down fast.

'Yes it hurts, I know but this will make you feel better.'

'Better my ass. It feels like someone has taken a sledgehammer to my head.' Riki tried to joke but it came out as a breathless moan.

The blonde-haired man clicked his tongue and laughed softly. He withdrew the needle and recapped the used syringe before sat back on his hunches. 'You must be feeling better if you're complaining this much.' It was then Luca returned and held a blue cooling pack. She handed to Seiren, who placed it over Riki's hot forehead. The mongrel shuddered before sighing in relief at the sudden coolness on his skin. The medication ran quickly through his veins, spreading across his body and slowly smoothing out the pain lines that covered his face.

Ion sighed and ran a hand through his hair. 'I don't know how many times I have to say this before it penetrates that thick skull of yours but you shouldn't overdo it. Your mind is still fragile and needs time to heal.' Ion chided the young mongrel.

'Yeah, yeah. You sound like an old man when you nag like that.' Riki closed his tied eyes and waved his hand.

Ion scoffed. 'I'm not the much older than you. But I am serious, Riki,' Ion stood up and looked down into dull black eyes. 'One more attack like that and the consequences could be irreversible.'

He was about to turn around when he felt something tugging on his wrist. He looked down at the bronzed hand tightly wrapped around his wrist then to Riki, who had a small smile on face.

'Thank you.'

Ion's eyes soften and returned Riki's smile with his own. All it took was those two little words and Ion's heart started to flutter. 'You're welcome.' With one lasting look, Ion grazed his forefinger across Riki's knuckle as the hand loosened and returned to the mongrel's side. With another sigh he turned around and found, with adding amusement, Iason, Raoul and the entire Aerospace workforce looking at him as if his hair had magically turned black.

'Well this is a little awkward.' Ion scratched his blonde head. 'I guess an explanation is in order?'

'Indeed.' Was all Iason's reply. His mind was still in turmoil at witnessing Riki's breakdown. In fact, he was so livid with anger and confusion that if he said another word he would, inevitably, undoubtedly snap. And be damned if anyone stood in his way.

Ion seemed not to notice Iason's icy tone. 'And all will be revealed in good time. But I'm sure you are aware that Jupiter is awaiting our arrival? Best not to keep our mother waiting.'

'Indeed.' Iason said again but this time Ion took notice.

With a frown he turned behind him. 'Heath, make sure to deactivate the navigation system on the Cronos. I have wired the coordinates to Eos tower in the hover car and I have sent word ahead that you would be arriving so you should have no problems with security. Have Riki put to bed. The medicine I injected him with has a mild sleeping sedative infused in it.' Ion took a glance down and sure enough, Riki was just about to drift off. 'So he should be out like a light by time you get there.'

Heath nodded.

'The rest of you will wait for me there also. Luca you will come with me.'

When all agreed, Ion stepped forward and was almost shoulder-to-shoulder with Iason when a hand on his chest forcibly stopped him.

'I can't allow you to bring a mongrel along. A female at that. It is disrespectful to our mother and to the Elites of Tanagura.' Iason whispered to him, his voice dropping dangerously low.

'If it's your wish to know what happened to Riki, you will not fight me.' Ion looked Iason in the eye. 'You my own the Tanagura syndicate, Iason Mink, but you don't own me.'

….

The ride to Jupiter tower was long and tensely quite. Iason glanced over to the other seat across from him and Raoul, who had been strangely quiet, where Ion and his female mongrel, Luca was her name, sat. Ion had his hands folded in his lap. A thoughtful expression adorned his beautiful face. And Ion was beautiful. Not just the Elite definition of beauty, but beauty that rivalled even Iason's. Golden hair, piercing blue eyes and being almost seven feet tall, he could almost be Iason. But that's where the similarity ended. They were as different as chalk and cheese. And the difference had just got a mile wider. The magnificently populated and busy scenery of Midas was lost upon him as he continued to stare at the opposite Blondie with rising hostility.

'What happened to him?'

Iason watched as Ion sighed but didn't look at him. 'I found him two years ago in the ruins of Dana Burn. My ship was drifting freely just outside of Amoi's orbit and I managed to hijack one of the planet's satellites. I upload it's video recording system to sync with my ship's channelling system. I watched as Riki walked back into the burning inferno as Dana burn burnt to the ground.'

Iason closed his eyes as the pain swept through him.

'I flew my ship down just as Raoul left with your unconscious body. I scoured the ruins and found him under a small cave of concrete, a few meters from where you where you were found. Bloody and damaged beyond repair, I had to work fast otherwise I would have lost him. I took him onto my ship and put him in a healing incubation chamber and from there; I monitored his slow, agonising regenerative process. He needed intense physical bodily reconstruction and immediate around the clock care just to stay alive. His heart gave out three times. The third time I almost lost him.'

Ion's voice turned flat and emotionless, his knuckles turning white as his hands clenched at his knees.'Have you ever studied the human brain, Lord Mink? It has separate parts for operating different functions in the body. It's almost like a complex, complete jigsaw puzzle. If you have even one missing piece, it's not complete, is it? Riki was in the incubation pod for six months. At that time I was unsure just what kind of mental damage he would have sustained. When he finally woke up it was a grim reality to see had he would never see again and that his memories were gone.'

'Gone?'

'More like suppressed.' Luca spoke up for the first time. 'When his temporal lobe was damaged in the explosion, his mind did the only thing it could do to protect itself; it shut down and rebooted. But instead of deleting his memories, he stored them away for safe keeping. Who knows when he might remember anything. Could be weeks, months…Years.'

'You make him sound like a computer.' Raoul said, trying not to show his surprise at the intelligence of this female mongrel.

'In a way, he is. We collect information and then store it away for further use. I hate to say this but you Elites are not much different. Your brains are slightly more… tangled then a human's but when it comes down to it, your general makeup is similar to ours,' Luca touched her head and tapped it. 'Except slightly more advanced.'

Iason stayed strangely silent until a thought crossed his mind. 'What I don't understand, Sir Cassis is how you came to inquire mongrels in your care? Not just one but three? Two of them females?' Iason's eyes fell on the beautifully, exotic female who seemed to be at total ease, sitting with three Blondies. Her buxom figure was defiently well-endowed and her black skin-tight outfit did nothing but outline her many dips and curves. 'How did you free them from Guardian?'

'That is my secret to bear. How these mongrels` came into my care is something they will share on their own terms. I simply gave them the tools to build their own lives.'

'Jupiter will not be happy with this term of events.'

'I will deal with our creator in my own way.'

Eyes widened at the defiance of the other man towards their mother but chose to ignore it for now. Although he did the same thing all those years ago to keep Riki as his pet. 'And what of Riki?'

'As I said at the spaceport; Riki is my charge and I have a responsibility to protect him. As I have with all under my care.'

Iason stared at Ion straight in the eye. 'I could take him from you. He still does belong to me.'

'That may be a possibility, but know this,' Ion leaned forward. 'If you try to take him by force, you will be met with severe disappointment.'

'What did you inject him with?' Iason ignored the open threat. Knowing the truth seemed more important.

'It was an Og-6. A slightly more potent pain stabilizer then the regular Og-5 which is more common to relieve headaches or muscle spasms. But since Riki's condition is more advanced I had to use something that could counteract the painful side effects of his amnesia.'

'Side effects.'

'His mind is still in a fragile stage. Any ample amount of information can overload his sense and cause powerful headaches. Even trying to remember a face could cause him pain. Hell, when he came out of the healing tank he didn't even know his own name.'

'But you did.' The two Blondies continued to stare at each other, blue against blue, neither one willing to break contact.

'I might not have stepped foot on Amoi in five years but that doesn't mean I don't know what goes on even in my own home.' Ion said levelly. 'I knew who Riki was even before I laid eyes on him. The legendary black-haired mongrel that up spurred the dull life of Tanagura and made it a little more bearable.'

Iason narrowed his eyes. 'Do you love him?'

Whatever Ion thought Iason was going to ask, that certainly wasn't it. His surprised expression said as much. 'What?'

'Do you love him?

It was at that moment the Ruby in the drivers` seat decided to turn around. 'Were here, my Lords,' His pale eyes landed to Luca and bowed his head, unwilling to make eye contact. 'Ma'am.'

'Ma'am.' Luca laughed under her breath.

'Take it as a compliment. We don't get many 'Ma'am's` around here.' Ion whispered back

The Ruby climbed gracefully out of the car and opened the door. Ion climbed out and his eyes instinctively followed, with reluctance, the painfully familiar, steal structure of Jupiter Tower. He had not stepped inside its walls for the past five years and even though he had steeled himself in preparation for this day, apprehension still managed to sneak through and settle in his gut. It was a feeling he didn't enjoy.

…..

They walked silently through the dimly lit white hallways of Jupiter's tower. The walls and archways seemed to pulse with life, indicating that Jupiter, the creator of this world, lived and breathed throughout this tall structure of metal and glass. Iason lead the group, followed by a stoic Ion and Luca and Raoul took the rear. The workers and assistants stopped whatever task they were doing to gawk at the beauty train that puffed by them. Their eyes found Ion. He tried for the most part to ignore their curious, awe filled stares but he couldn't help but feel like a pet at a viewing show. Most of these employees wouldn't know who he was since he had been gone a few years but one couldn't help but stare when a Blondie walked past. They view them as regal, beautiful creatures, but in reality, we are anything but.

Ion heard more gaspes and the mummers got louder. He almost smirked. They had notice Luca as well. He heard her low snort of amusement.

'What is so funny, Mongrel.' Raoul said lowly.

Luca remained undaunted. 'My name, Blondie, is Luca. You should remember it. And what I find amusing is all these people are looking at me as if I was some strange animal.' Her green eyes sparkled with mischief.

'You should learn your place.'

'And you should not talk to my second like that, Sir Am.' Ion spoke out.

Raoul's mouth fell open in shock but decided to close it.

'Quite. We're here.' They had stopped in front of a large set of crystal doors, which held ancient Amoi scripture around the edge and seemed to pulse with an unending supply on energy. Ion looked at the double doors and could feel the vibes of power doing the rumba across his skin. The power was beckoning. His mother was practically calling to him. 'Your Mongrel will have to stay here. I am surprised Jupiter has let her go this far.' Iason said. His expression cold and emotionless.

'There are a lot of things you don't know, Your Excellency.' Ion said before stepping forward. Gesturing to the double doors. 'Shall we.'

…

The inner sanctum, which housed the core of Jupiter, seemed to hum and throb more potently with each step the two Blondies took inside the residential structure. It was like stepping into a vacuum. Ion glanced up at the familiar high ceiling and already he could feel the pull of Jupiter tug at his mind. Its entire foundation had been made out of clear white and blue Amoian crystal. Streams of bright green fluid flowed through the crystal that ran to the centre of the room where there stood a large computer. Except this wasn't just a normal computer. This was the heart of their mother.

'Ion, my son. You have returned.' A deep, monotone like voice said out of nowhere. Ion didn't bother looking at the where the voice was coming from. She was everywhere. In the walls. The floor. In his mind. He closed his eyes as she touched his mind and take root. The touch was like a mother giving her son a gentle stroke on the head. He loved it and hated it at the same time.

The streams of green fluid glowed brightly with life and came together to form the floating holographic body of Jupiter. Both Ion and Iason touched their left knee to the floor and bowed their heads in respect.

'It's good to be home, Jupiter.'

'I trust your expedition was a fruitful and rewarding one?' The AI asked.

'It was very rewarding. I am proud to say I have made very large steps in my study of gene development and genetic coding. The planets I managed to visit have supplied me with ample knowledge and valuable resources that will be able to push my research further.'

'And the question of your companions?' Ion steeled himself. This was it. The moment of truth. He felt Iason shift ever slightly beside him but remained silent, like a marble statue. Ion felt Jupiter draw near but was determined not to show weakness.

'Yes.'

'I see that you have enquired four mongrels in your service. As well as a Faeierian, who is carrying developing offspring within her body?'

'All of them were brought under my protection by unforeseen circumstances, Jupiter. They have been nothing but loyal and trusting under my care. They are quite skilled in their chosen fields. As for the Farierian, she showed me great kindness on her planet and I found it only reasonable that I should return her hospitality.'

'And what of the dark one.' Ion felt tense Iason up beside him. He didn't need to know whom Jupiter was referring to.

'What of him?'

'I am conscious of the unforeseen circumstances that brought him to you. You are aware that the mongrel used to be a pet of Iason Mink.'

'I am currently aware of that. But if I am correct in assuming this,' Ion paused. He knew he was treading in dangerous waters for what he was going to say, but he could not turn back now. 'Pet laws state that a pet is no longer the propriety of its master once its heart has been stopped, even for a second. The pet's registration is invalid and thus wiped off the list.'

Ion had never felt tension waves quite like the ones Iason was currently admitting. Well maybe not tension. Possiblyhatred. They were sharp enough to cut paper or anything close enough. Jupiter remained silent for a moment before speaking. 'You are correct in your assumption. Pet laws do state that once a pet's life force has been removed, all registration becomes deleted. Thus the ownership of the pet becomes invalid as well.'

'Then I am asking that you allow me to take Riki into my services, since he is without a home or a master.'

'Are you contemplating taking Riki as a pet?'

'No, as my charge.'

Jupiter floated freely in front of them and seemed to be contemplating something. If she had a real body she would probably be tapping her chin, contemplating her decision. They waited in silence for what seem like hours but a moment later her soulless eyes landed on Iason. 'Leave us.'

'Jupiter?'

'Leave us.'

To be continued.

I think that's the longest chapter I have ever done in any of my stories. Yes I know that Ion sounds like a bit of an oddball but I find it a refreshing twist that there is a Blondie out there like Ion. He is just so loveable. Anyway I just hope it lives up to your standards cause I know many of you have been waiting patiently for this chapter so I hope you enjoy and remember to review.