Thank you all so much for your patience. I pray you find it worth the wait. Hoping you had a fantastic Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Shiao studied the machinery that appeared to keep the castle and its defenses going. There were no guards here, which surprised him, but this was a bit of a backwater planet so perhaps they assumed only high ranking officials would have the capacity to understand or sabotage the computer's components.

The machinery looked complex, but the system itself was antiquated and could easily be reprogrammed. In order to discretely cause chaos and delay his presence there, he decided to set the machine to rolling black outs in certain areas, which would then cause minor inconveniences. As he removed an access panel, he hesitated over one portion of the programming. He did not wish anyone to be injured, but at least one major catastrophe would be required to keep the guards and everyone else occupied, while he searched for Iason. He smirked as he skinned a couple of wires and then intertwined them.

"That should do it," he decided as he replaced the panel so that no one would even know he was there.

Moving back through the access hatch he had crawled through earlier, he scaled the ladder and carefully lifted the tiled section of the floor above him. No one was about, so he hefted himself up, set the hatch back in place and covered it with the throw rug that had hidden it from view.

He moved to the doorway and waited for the first distraction to begin, but a sound outside quickly caused him to dart towards the heavy drapes at the window. He slid between them, and due to his exceptional vision was still able to see as the door opened and two guards shoved a naked figure inside.

"Stay there, and put these on."

Guy smirked as he caught his clothes, which the guards had found by the bushes where he had dropped them. "Is this any way to treat a guest?" he called back as the door closed and locked.

"You are nothing but trouble."

Guy spun around, preparing to fight, even though he only had one leg in his jeans then grinned at the Onyx who stepped out from his hiding place. He shoved his jeans all the way on. "Fancy meeting you here."

Shiao stepped up and caught Guy's head between his hands, turning it sideways twice as he studied the cut on Guy's lip and the bruise forming over his right eye. "They hurt you."

"Not near as much as I hurt them," he assured, but his smile faded when Shiao continued to scowl, and he placed his hand over the one cupping his cheek. "I'm okay. Really."

"That was a foolish and dangerous thing you did, Guy."

"Yeah, but it worked. Have you found Riki?"

Shiao continued to stare at him and wondered what this strange feeling was rising in his chest. He had been worried for Guy, but had not allowed his concern to interfere with his mission. However, seeing the young man before him now, injured and near naked brought back his worry tenfold. Why had he allowed Guy to do such a foolish thing? What if the guards had shot him? What if Guy had died? He was Human and Human's had fragile bodies.

The idea of Guy no longer sharing his meals or helping him bathe, or exploring his talent in the cycle shop... Could he go back to the life he'd lived before he had spotted that beautiful mongrel in the bath house that had had found so intriguing? A life of endless work with no relief or feeling of achievement and a life so dreary and mundane that there was never anything to look forward to.

"Shiao?" Guy asked, when the Onyx continued to stare at him.

"Don't..." Shiao began, and then wondered exactly what he was about to ask? Don't be so reckless? Don't fight? Guy was a mongrel, it was in his blood to do both. Don't leave him alone? Don't die? Don't... "Don't be so cocky," he managed finally, ruffling Guy's hair and stepping back, struggling to push back the overwhelming surge of emotions that was rising within him.

Guy watched Shiao move back towards the window.

"We should get out of here."

"Wait!" Guy shrugged into his T-shirt and jacket. "If I stay here maybe they will let me see Riki. I can tell them I'm looking for him."

"I highly doubt they will do that, Guy. More than likely they will shove you in a pit somewhere or schedule you for execution."

"But maybe not! I'll tell them I know Riki and have valuable information for them. At least I might be able to find out where he is?"

Shiao considered it. He could remain invisible if he choose to, but having to hide Guy, who the locals were already aware of would be more difficult. He pushed open the window and glanced down at the ten-foot drop. "Be careful then. There will be some commotions starting, try to stay out of the way and if they do bring you to Iason..."

"Iason's here?" Guy demanded, his earlier humor gone. "Is that why Jupiter sent us here, to get her fucking Blondie back?"

Shiao stalked over and gripped Guy by the shoulders. "They have Iason and Riki; we are here to save them both." His hands became gentle again. "This is not the time for animosity, Guy. I am counting on you to do your part to free them."

"That's not fair! You can't ask me to save him. I fucking hate him!"

"I know, and it is a difficult choice, but I am asking you, as my friend, please do this for me."

"Motherfucker." Guy lowered his eyes, knowing he was going to give in because Shiao so rarely asked for his help in anything. He owed the Onyx, he owed him big and had never had the chance to pay him back. "He'll try to kill me, you know that, right?"

"Listen to me, Guy. Iason will probably not be in any shape to attack."

Guy's gaze shot upwards again. "What do you mean?"

"He is nearing the Great Sleep, the time of joining. Jupiter will be unable to reach him out here, so I am depending on you to keep him grounded."

"I don't understand. Grounded? What do you mean?"

"When we go into the Deep Sleep it wipes all sights, sounds and memory from our minds, to make room only for Jupiter. If Jupiter is not there, the darkness, the isolation and emptiness can drive an android mad."

"Mad? You mean he'll go crazy?"

"In his mind, he will, because he will be desperate for stimulation and if none can be found his organic brains will seek distraction. This can lead to a type of madness that will end up with him never waking again."

Shiao watched Guy's expression change from one of confusion to one of in interest and then finally triumph. "This cannot happen, Guy. You must promise me that you will do whatever you can to make sure that Iason does wake up."

Guy shrugged, as he thought gleefully of a world without Iason Mink. Riki would be free again, free of the invisible chains that bound him, free of the monster that changed him. They could take Riki back with them, far away from Amoï and Iason Mink. He and Riki could make their dream of owning and working in a cycle shop a reality. They could...

"Guy."

Guy lifted his excited gaze to Shiao.

"I need to trust you. Please do not allow Iason to die."

Another shrug. "What can I do? I'm just a worthless mongrel, remember?"

"All you need to do is talk to him, or make sure that someone continues to talk to him for the twenty four hours he will be under. He will need something to focus on, something to hang on to. Do you understand?"

Guy chewed on his lower lip. There was no guarantee that he would even get to see Riki or Iason, like Shiao said, so even if he agreed he might never have to follow through with it. "You know what you're asking me right? You know how fucked up it is to ask this of me, right?"

"I do know, but I also know that I helped you get in contact with your friend once before, and I have supported your obsession with him in whatever way I could..."

"Obsession!"

"I took you out of the bath house, away from the slums and the whoring and gave you a new life, Guy. I have given you a fresh start away from Riki and Iason, but I have never demanded you forget them. I have never belittled your love for your friend or scolded you for your hatred of Iason. I understand your feelings are strong, I accept it, but you must accept that I cannot allow Iason to die any more than you could allow Riki to die."

"Why? You love him?"

"No. Not in that manner." Shiao watched the lights around them flicker. "We haven't much time, will you do this for me or not?"

"If you had to choose between Iason and me, who would you pick?" Guy demanded, without having any idea where the question came from or what kind of answer he was expecting.

"Could you so easily choose between me and your friend, Guy?"

"Sure. I'd choose Riki," Guy stated thoughtlessly, and almost immediately wanted to take the words back when Shiao's expression flickered in shadow. He hadn't meant to say that. He wouldn't want to choose between either of them. He loved Riki, but Shiao had done a lot for him too, meant a lot. "I...I mean..."

"I understand." Shiao moved to the window. "Do what you must then. I will find a way to save Iason myself."

"No, wait!" Guy rushed towards the window as he watched the Onyx jump out, but the room was suddenly plunged into darkness and he stumbled over a chair. He finally found his way to the window and stared down. "I didn't mean it!" he cried, but there was no one there to hear him; Shiao had already disappeared.

The door behind him was thrown open as two guards with glowing sticks entered and immediately grabbed Guy back from the window.

"There will be no escape for you," one of them said. "We are taking you to see the King."

Carrie leapt from one tree to another, and then balanced on a branch outside of a wide balcony as the balcony doors opened and two dark skinned men stepped out. One wore a gray robe with a hood, and had a dark beard covering most of his face. The other man sported much grander robes, a crown and jewels on his hands.

"Shall we cancel the celebration, Sarrum?"

The man with the crown shook his head. "No. We have been preparing for weeks for it, and all of the visitors are already here. It would be bad form to cancel it at the last minute."

"Will the Prince be attending?"

The King gripped the railing until his dark knuckles were almost white, and then his shoulders slumped. "I would wish him there. It would be the perfect time to introduce him to his people, but..."

The man beside him waited patiently.

"He is being difficult."

"It must be quite a change for him. From what I have seen of Amoï, such a change in...status must be overwhelming."

"I know that!" The King snapped, then sighed and rested his arms on the railing. In a softer voice he continued. "I know that and I am trying to be patient. I appreciate your bringing him home, Gryffin."

"It was on your order, Sire and we live to serve you." Gryffin stroked his jaw. "He was stronger than we had anticipated. You would have been proud of how bravely he fought."

"From what you tell me he was fighting to save that damn machine. What is the hold that Android has over my son? How can we break it?"

"Their society is very different from ours. We cannot hope to understand what magic may have been used to bind the young Prince."

"If it were only magic that has created the bond, it could easily be broken." The King shook his head. "No, there is more here at work. Physiological damage perhaps?"

"It is too soon to tell."

"Yes." The King straightened. "He seems...uncomfortable around women. Why do you think this is?"

"During my time there I too noticed that there are few females in their society, perhaps he was not around them often enough."

The King suddenly smiled. "Then that is the answer. Perhaps his relationship with this thing was out of necessity, as there were so little options. We need to find more women to subject him to."

"He has shown only suspicion and annoyance for his Serago."

"Exactly, how is that possible? The maidens selected to serve the Royal family are among the most beautiful in the Kingdom. How can any man not wish to be tended to by them?"

"It is an intriguing riddle, Sarrum. Perhaps it is because of their positions that he shows such distain?"

"You think another type of women would interest him?"

"There will be several ladies at the celebration."

"No, no...I mean yes those are fine, but his savage up bringing would not recognize the charms of that kind of woman, when he so easily can dismiss a handmaiden." The King turned back towards the impressive view of floral gardens. "Perhaps only a base creature would spark his lust. We must find such a creature to break the bonds this machine has over Ciel."

"Shall I request some of the local women?"

"Dancing girls!" The King spun around suddenly and clapped his hands together.

"Dancing girls, Sarrum?"

"Yes! What man can resist an exotic dancing girl from a faraway land? Have any been scheduled for the feast?"

"We have a few performers, but I am unaware if there are any dancing girls." Gryffin paused. "I do not think the Queen would approve…"

The King waved his hand in dismissal. "Ordinarily I would agree, it is a crude form of entertainment that frequently demeans a woman, however she will understand when I explain it is for our son."

"Where shall I start looking, Sire?"

"With the off-worlders visiting, there must be some pretty girls that dance. Perhaps one with pale skin, his android has very light skin, so perhaps that is his preference."

Gryffin bowed lightly. "I will endeavor to find a match, Sarrum."

"Good. Good."

Both men turned as a guard appeared.

"Forgive the intrusion, Sire. They have brought the man from the garden."

The King nodded. "Ah, yes. The naked runner." He chuckled. "This is a story I look forward to hearing. Gryffin, you have my leave to go and do as we discussed."

The hooded man nodded and turned away to disappear inside.

Carrie licked her palm and flattened the mane on her head. Exotic dancing girls huh? She just found an in to the castle.

"Are you almost there?" Cal asked over the view screen of Katze's ship, SkreeFlyer

"I'm about three hours out. Have you heard from Raoul?"

"He contacted us about twenty minutes ago to say that they were headed into seclusion."

"Damn, that means Iason will be entering the Deep Sleep soon." And he was still over three hours away.

"Yes."

"I have a message for you from him."

"I bet you do." Katze smirked and adjusted the controls on the panel in front of him, he'd cruise on autopilot for the next two hours and take a nap once he was done talking to Cal. "Alright, let me have it."

"He said to bring Master Iason home at any costs, or don't bother coming back." Cal lowered his eyes for a moment, in a brief sign of discomfort, then lifted them again. "I am almost sure he did not mean it really."

"Oh, he meant it, and that's fine, because if I can't get Iason and Riki out of there, I'd have nothing to go back for anyway."

Cal looked like he wanted to say something, but his lips pressed firmly together to keep it to himself.

"What?" Katze demanded. "Say what you're thinking."

"It's nothing really."

"Cal."

"I only, well, I would miss you if you were not here. I am sure that despite Master Raoul's order, he would also be upset if you did not return."

Katze smiled, touched by the boy's confession. "Well, I don't give a rat's ass what Raoul feels or wants." His expression softened. "But if you want me to come back I will."

"Why?"

"Because we're friends, and I don't have many."

"Nor do I." Cal's lips turned upwards in a shy smile before he caught himself and returned to a more neutral expression. "I apologize that I do not have any better news for you in regards to possible bargaining material. Avalon is very independent and seems to export more than import. Much of their economy is self-supporting and almost all of their material needs are handled by locals."

"What about atmospheric or planet degradation? Any global warming or planet shifting that we might be able to ease or assist with? Are they low on any resources or require additional power, of the kind that we could offer them?"

"No, nothing like that," Cal returned. "It's actually quite a remarkable planet and culture. They use wind and solar power for their energy resource, and their atmosphere is in exceptional shape. While they have achieved space travel and the like, much of their culture appears to be centered towards the naturalistic ambition. What resources they use, they quickly replenish and while there are signs of affluence among the population, their society does not appear based on wealth, but a more ingrown respect for each other and their roles in the community."

"Hmmm…so you're saying we have nothing we can offer?"

"There does not seem to be anything they desperately require."

"A sign of a good ruler, I suppose."

Cal paused again before speaking. "Do you think Riki would chose to stay in such a place? It would be better than his life here, would it not?"

"Screw Riki, if it's as great as you say I'm moving there!"

Cal did smile then. "You will not."

"No." Katze also smiled. "It depends on if this Avalon is really like what you're telling me. Corruption is everywhere, as is a division of the masses, it's just more subtle in some places than what you see on Amoï."

"Do you think they will try to use Riki, or hurt him?"

"I don't know. I can't say what Riki will do, he's always been unpredictable, but I don't think leaving Iason is an option for him anymore, even if he does have to stay as a pet."

"Master Iason will not let him go. That is what you are saying."

"That is what I'm saying."

"Then, Riki's choice makes no difference."

"None."

Cal sighed heavily and then caught himself. "I cannot deny that I would wish Riki to be back here with us."

"Yeah, well, I'll see what I can do. I'm shutting down the coms for a while to try and get some sleep, but call me on the emergency line of something important comes up."

"Yes, I will. And I will keep reading and trying to find something we can use."

"You do that. SkreeFlyer out."

Riki entered his room and found his regular clothes folded and placed on his bed with Yilea and two other women waiting beside it. What happened to no one else being allowed in his room?

"Get out," he said, trying to shrug off the uncomfortable feeling of seeing so many women, they were so scarce in Ceres. Sure a few female pets in Tanagura, but they were just children and not fully developed like the females before him.

"We shall help you bathe and dress, Maku…" Yilea began kindly, and actually flinched at the look that Riki shot her.

"I said, get out. I don't want your help." He shoved past them and grabbed his clothes. "Where can I change?" When a girl stepped forward, Riki stepped back. "Alone. I want to change in private."

It surprised him how quickly his request was granted as one of the girls pointed to an alcove that was hidden by a partial wall. In Tanagura it never mattered what he wanted, he was dressed and undressed at whim by either a Furniture or Iason. It felt…odd to have someone actually listen to him.

Riki moved towards the alcove an d stepped behind the separating wall, where He a large rounded basin, with strange fixtures coming out of it awaited him. Was that supposed to be a bath, he wondered and peered under the strange thing to find odd clawed feet holding it up. All of the baths in Eos were built into the floor and hardwired into the main house system. In Ceres he only had a small shower, but there was still nothing sticking out like this one had.

He searched the wall but there was no panel to operate the water.

"May I assist you, Maku?"

"I don't need…" He began and Yilea smiled at him.

"It would be my pleasure to do so. Please, allow me to help you."

Riki hugged his clothes to him, feeling uncomfortable and defensive. "Fine. How…do I put the water in?"

She continued to smile as she gracefully knelt by the tub and turned the golden fixtures. A thick stream flowed from the longer fixture and she slid her hand under the flow. "Do you like it hot or warm, Maku?"

"Stop calling me that. My name is Riki."

"Hot or warm?"

He shrugged. Cal usually prepared the bath in Eos and he only ever had cold showers in Ceres.

"He prefers it to be one hundred and five degrees."

Both turned to see Iason standing at the entrance of the doorway and Yilea almost frowned.

"So…hot?" she asked but her question was directed at Riki.

"Yes, quite hot." Iason walked to the tub and the woman scrambled quickly back and rose to her feet. "Give me your hand, Riki."

Yilea was obviously shocked when Riki immediately stepped forward and handed his hand to the android.

Iason placed their joined hands under the water flow. "Warmer or colder?"

Riki stared into Iason's eyes, the urge to just crumple into Iason's arms and cry or scream was strong now that he had the Blondie back at his side, and yet some of the old resentments were also starting to build, because of what Iason had turned him into. "Warmer," he whispered and watched as Iason adjusted the temperature. "Okay."

Iason nodded and turned an icy glaze towards Yilea. "Leave us."

"I…" she began, but even she was not a match for the Android's direct animosity. She stepped out, but almost immediately, a guard moved into view.

"Oh for fuck sake!" Riki growled, frustrated. He just wanted to be alone with Iason. "Get out!"

The guard continued to stand just inside the entrance of the alcove, remaining behind a faceless mask. When Iason started forward to physically remove the guard, Riki caught his arm. He didn't them to use those weapons on Iason, or give them a reason to bring Iason back to whatever prison he had been in.

"It's fine. I don't care." But he did care. He wanted to be alone with Iason. "Let's just take a bath."

Iason stared coldly at the guard then turned back as Riki started to undress. He did not want anyone else to see his lover naked, but he noticed that when he also started to disrobe there was an almost imperceptible flinch from the guard once his organs were exposed.

"Yeah, he's fully functional," Riki sneered as he stepped into the bath, hissed at the temperature and then slowly lowered himself. "Hot."

Iason stepped in behind him, there was barely enough room for them both and some of the water sloshed onto the floor. "You chose the temperature," he reminded gently as he picked up what he assumed was a washcloth and a strange looking square bar. He sniffed it, then pushed it over the cloth and watched as a thin film of foam appeared. "Ahh…interesting."

"What is?" Riki dipped his head back as Iason showed him the soap.

"A wash-bar." Iason dropped the cloth and applied the soap directly to Riki's back, watching it foam again. "Fascinating."

"I'm thrilled you're entertained."

Iason gently pulled Riki's hair so his head dipped back again and went to kiss him, only to find the cold end of a disruptor pushing at his temple. Both glared up at the guard.

"The King orders there to be no fornication with the android."

"Fuck you!" Riki hissed, splashing more water on the floor as he went to grab the rifle, but Iason caught his hand.

"Ssssh, pet," he said and pulled Riki into his arms. "We will have time for that later when we are home."

"This sucks," Riki mumbled against Iason's chest, even as the guard slowly retreated. "This is so fucked up."

"Completely fucked up, yes."

Riki gasped and his head shot up, because Iason never swore. Seeing the gleam of mischief in those blue eyes pulled a weak chuckle from him and he settled back against Iason. "Smartass."

"Do you remember anything else?"

Riki took a deep breath, released it slowly. "Yeah."

"Tell me."

"That guy, the King, I kinda recognize him. I mean, his face, sort of, but it's his voice that's really familiar."

"So you believe he is your father?"

The idea frightened and confounded Riki. "I don't know. He's definitely the man from my memories, from the flash backs, but…"

"But?"

"It doesn't feel right. He doesn't feel right." Riki leaned his head back against Iason's chest and closed his eyes. Riki didn't know if this feeling he had towards the King was because of his general mistrust of people or if there was really something off. He also had no idea how he should feel about the man that was supposed to be his father. How did someone feel about that? What did it mean to be someone's son and child? Was it the same as what he and Iason were to each other? It didn't seem like it would be similar, but he had no other reference.

"Does the scenery seem familiar to you?" Iason asked as he wrapped his arms around Riki and slowly ran the soap bar over the mongrel's chest. "This place, do you remember it?"

Riki shook his head and turned in Iason's arms. "No. Nothing else. I don't remember anything else." And that concerned him. If this was supposed to be his home, his real home, why didn't anything else seem familiar to him?

Iason held Riki and smoothed his hair. His lover trembled in his arms, and he had no doubt that the young man was close to his emotional breaking point. He was unsure what to make of all of this either. This place quite possibly could be Riki's home planet, and the mongrel certainly recognized the King as his father, whether he admitted it or not, which meant that Riki truly was a Prince.

Such titles meant little on Amoï, be he Prince or mongrel, Riki was his and his alone. He would not allow anyone to take Riki from him. He had truly wanted to help Riki learn where he had come from, but he would never have allowed it if he'd known this would occur. He had never envisioned that he could lose Riki because of this new information.

He could see how this place would appeal to Riki, and cause his lover to turn from him and the life they had. In Tanagura, Riki felt shame for what he was, and while he was very important to Iason, he felt unaccepted and alienated by everyone else. Riki craved freedom, but he would not find such freedom in being a Prince, any more that he did as a pet.

On this world, he was obviously very important, but Humans were fickle things, and material goods and power often corrupted them. While he did not believe Riki had this flaw, preferring to be a pet to a Prince was certainly not something one could easily decide, regardless of the circumstances.

"I love you," he whispered in Riki's ear.

"I know," Riki murmured but did not meet Iason's gaze.

"We cannot stay here, Riki." Iason needed reassurance. He needed to know that Riki would return with him to Amoï. Any other conclusion was unfathomable. "Shall I tell you what your gift is for Junpin?"

Riki shook his head, took a deep breath then pushed back and picked up the bar of soap. "I'll see it later."

Did that mean that Riki did not intend to remain here? "Riki..." he began and a wave of drowsiness suddenly overcame him. What in the name of Jupiter...Another wave, and this time he could feel his limbs growing heavy. Jupiter! Junpin. The time of joining was almost upon him! He had no idea how far they were from Amoï, but would Jupiter be able to reach him here? What if she couldn't?

"Iason?"

Iason focused his eyes on Riki, willed them clear. "I am fine."

"You sure?"

"Yes." He stood suddenly. "Come, before we are withered."

Riki rose and accepted the towel that Iason handed him. They dried off, dressed and returned to the bedroom area.

"I think it would be best if I were to return to my cell, Riki." He did not want to leave Riki alone, but nor did he wish to be left vulnerable in the state that was about to occur. If he were back in his cell, perhaps Carrie will have found a way for them to escape and she could get him somewhere secluded where they could not use him against Riki, or disassemble him as he slept!

"What are you saying?" Riki began, just as the door to his chamber opened and an exquisitely beautiful woman stepped inside, followed by two guards.

She had hair the color of midnight, so blue it was almost black, which was styled in a dizzying display of intricate braids around the crown of her head, rising up several centimeters in the air. Soft looking curls dipped caressed high structured cheeks that appeared brushed in rich mahogany, while her remaining hair was worn in an intricate weave down her back that fell well past her hips.

Her eyes were the color pale moonlight, as it would be seen across a still lake late in the evening, with thick, dark lashes that curled exotically from their shimmering depths. A long, angular nose and full lips that were deeper than the sweetest red rose that begged to be kissed

A swirling, sleeveless green and gold sheathe covered a long, lithe body, with laced sandals upon her feet and coiling metal bracelets on her lower bare arms. Around her head, just above her eyebrows and seemingly woven into the braids of her hair was a band of gold with a simple green teardrop jewel that hung from the middle and kissed the center of her forehead.

"Hello, Ceil."

Riki recognized the lilting voice instantly and an unfamiliar emotion clutched at his chest. He knew her. He knew this woman. When she took a step forward, he took a step back.

"Are you afraid?" she asked, perplexed. "Of me?"

'Where could my little boy be? He must be here somewhere.'

He slid down further behind the chest and stifled a giggle with his mouth.

'Oh dear, oh dear! Have the faeries captured him? He is so very pretty, it would be no wonder.'

He peeked over the chest to watch his mother look behind the draperies and then get down on her knees and check under the bed.

'His papa will be so cross if I've lost him again. Whatever shall I do?'

He stifled another giggle.

"Well, there is nought for it. I shall have to eat this brownie all by myself.'

Brownie! Cake! Chocolate! He jumped up from his hiding spot, expecting her to still be across the room, but her arms wrapped around him so quickly that he squealed in delight.

'Now I have you and instead of the brownie I shall eat you!'

He laughed and squealed, and reveled as his mother tickled and kissed and hugged him.

'You are mine, you little imp, and I'll never let you go! Nom Nom!'

Riki stared at the woman in horror as the memory played out in his mind, the sound of her laughter as she tickled him and the soothing melody as she sung him to sleep. The smell of cinnamon spice and chocolate. His mother. This woman…this woman was his mother!

He had been robbed of her love, her purity, her essence for so many years and while he could not recall all his memories of her, the way she made him feel, the emotions she stirred from him so easily at that moment were undeniable.

He wanted to crawl into her lap and weep. He wanted to feel her arms around him. He wanted…No. No he couldn't want that. He couldn't want any of that. It didn't matter what she was, who she was, he was no longer that little boy. No longer a child, but a man, a man who was a mongrel, and a pet for a Blondie. Too much had happened, he had gone too far to ever go back. He had done shameful things, horrible things. He could no longer be the child of this woman, the son of this Queen.

She took another step towards him, her arms outstretched and watched him stumble backwards into Iason, who quickly steadied him.

"Don't," he croaked, startled at the sound of his own voice. He didn't even know what he was saying! Don't touch him? Don't look at him? Don't be a Queen? Don't be his mother? Don't be real? Don't make this nightmare he was having even more horrible.

"Don't?" she repeated kindly.

"You…shouldn't." Riki felt ashamed because of who and what he was, and how he had lived his life until this moment.

"I must. I thought you dead. I thought you lost to me forever and I too wished for death. Now here you stand before me and you would deny me the chance to touch my own son?"

"I…I'm not that boy. I'm not your son." Oh God! Oh God, this couldn't be real. This beautiful, smiling and regal woman could not be the mother of a mongrel, of a pet. It wasn't right! It wasn't fair! Oh fuck no!

"You are not that boy, you are a man, but you are my son."

She stepped forward again Riki looked up, panicked, into piercing blue eyes. He did not protest when Iason stepped in front of him and for the first time in his life, Riki willingly hid behind someone. Her presence had turned him into a coward, as he gripped the Blondie's shirt and pressed his face against it. He could not let her touch him, he would absolutely lose it if she touched him.

"Leave us," Iason demanded.

Instead of the disgust and outrage the King had shown towards Iason, the Queen's lips twitched in the smallest smile. "Do you truly think you can keep a mother from her son? You have much to learn about Humans, Blue Eyes."

Both Riki and Iason blinked in surprise.

"Riki does not wish me to hurt anyone, but I will do what I must."

She stared at him for a full minute before nodding. "As will I, as his mother. I wanted to give you more time to adjust to being home, Ceil…."

"R...Riki. My name is…Riki." Shame engulfed him and he couldn't even understand why. Riki the Dark. Riki the Mongrel. Pet to a Blondie, that was who he was, not her son. Not her son.

She paused, and once again her reaction was unlike that of her husband. "Riki," she said softly. "That is a handsome name and befits you. I will call you Riki, if that is your preference, then what will you call me?"

Riki stepped behind Iason again and remained silent.

"I see. Disappointing." She turned towards the door and exchanged a look with the guards. "It appears your Queen must wait." She took a step towards the door and instantly collapsed.

"Mama!" The unfamiliar word tore past Riki's lips and his body was already moving before his brain could comprehend why. He darted past Iason and caught her in his arms, but her dead weight also pulled him to the floor with her.

"Now I have you!" Her arms were around Riki in an instant, and the mongrel was too shocked to respond. "My sweet boy."

"P…Please let go." The scent of her, the feel of her arms…Oh God. It was all so familiar, so good that tears stung his eyes.

"No. I shall never let you go again, my dear boy." Her soft lips brushed his cheek, even as she cheekily glanced up at Iason. "Blue Eyes may rip me limb from limb, but my arms will remain around you, though my head and body be detached." She shuddered mockingly. "Perhaps not my most glamorous appearance."

Riki stared at her appalled. "He…he wouldn't do that!" Even before the words were out of his mouth, Iason had stepped towards them and the guards instantly raised their weapons at him.

The Queen spoke a word that Riki did not understand, but the command in her voice was unmistakeable. The guards immediately lowered their weapons and stepped back.

The Queen gave Riki one final squeeze, then released him and extended a regal jewelled hand to Iason. "Help an old woman up, Blue Eyes."

Iason caught her hand and did as he was asked. "I see no old woman here."

"Flattery will get you everywhere."

"My name is Iason. May we have yours?"

"You will not take liberties with the Queen!" One of the guards insisted and again raised his weapon, only to have the woman he was protecting flick her hand at him and his weapon was suddenly across the room.

"I apologize for my guards, they can be uncivilized at times," the Queen announced, as if she had not just singlehandedly disarmed a man twice her size. "You may call me Celestia." She smiled at Riki who had crossed his arms in front of his chest defensively. "And you already know what to call me."

Iason was both alarmed and amused when a dark pink tinged Riki's cheeks, but he was far more interested in how the Queen had managed to throw the guard's weapon when they had not been near enough for her to touch it.

"Whatever," he retorted, seeing her be nice to Iason had relieved some of the stress of his situation, and made room for his usual stubbornness to return. "I don't appreciate being kidnapped…"

"Kidnapped?" Celestia said as the guard discretely moved to retrieve the weapon he lost. "We did not kidnap you; we merely brought you back where you belong."

"I don't belong here!"

"Oh but you do."

"No, I fucking don't!"

"I don't know what fucking means, but I have an idea it isn't very polite."

"No, it isn't," Iason agreed. This woman seemed reasonable. Perhaps they could use her to get back to Amoï. He could use her love for Riki to manipulate her into…

"No, you can't."

Iason glanced down at her. "Pardon me?"

"You hope that I'll help you get back to your own planet, but I won't do that." She reached up and tapped Iason's cheek. "I have no desire to lose my son a second time, but I understand your need to try."

"Are you telepathic?" Iason inquired, curious and Celestia smiled.

"I have no need of such things, your intent is written across your face."

"That is a falsehood. I showed you no such indication."

"I am a Queen, my very tall friend, I deal with all manner of politicians, swindlers, peddlers and courtiers. I do not need to read minds to read people."

Riki stepped forward. "But you could help us escape, if you wanted to, right?"

"Escape?" A flicker of hurt entered the Queen's eyes, but was gone a moment later. "This is your home, Riki. We are your family."

"That's not possible!" he cried, turned away and stalked to the window. "It can't be possible."

The Queen slowly moved to the window beside him, but did not attempt to touch him. "I understand you are confused and upset…" she began.

"You don't understand! You don't understand anything!" He turned on her then, enraged that this was happening and that she was forcing him to hurt her. "I don't know you! I don't want to know you. I belong on Amoï, that is my home, that is where I'm from. I'm just a mongrel from Ceres, so you don't get it! I can't be a Prince. I can't be your son. You're wrong!"

Celestia regarded him for a long moment, focusing on the way his hands twitched and his body trembled. Moisture clung to his long lashes, even as he tried to hide it from her. She took a deep breath, released it.

"Leave us," she told the guards.

"Sarnee, the King has ordered…"

"Leave us." Her tone was deeper, darker than before and the guards quickly bowed and obeyed. When she turned to Iason, her voice had turned soft again. "They are just outside the door, you will be unable to leave."

Iason simply nodded.

"You are a mongrel from Ceres," she said to Riki. "But you are also a Prince."

"No…" Riki began but she continued, cutting him off.

"You are a Prince, who was taken from his home and forced to grow up as a mongrel," she insisted. "I was a mage from Turna who had been sold into the games, forced to fight and kill just to get enough food to survive another day." She stared down at her hands. "There is blood on my hands that will never be erased and shame on my soul that shall never be forgiven."

Riki's gaze also moved to her hands, of their own will.

"I was no better than a beast, and then one day a stranger came to the games. He watched as I defeated my opponent and requested a meeting. I walked to him, covered in another's blood and he asked me one question."

"What question?"

"Do you wish to be forgiven?"

Riki stared at her, confused.

"He was the only one out of the thousands that had watched the games who understood the depth of my sin, the darkness of a life I could not escape from. I did not wish to kill, but I had been trained to do so. Only he had sensed my despair, my sorrow for the act I had no control over."

"So…he forgave you?"

"No." The Queen smiled wistfully. "He offered me a chance to forgive myself and to atone for my sins. He purchased me from my owner and brought me here to Avalon."

"And he took you as his Queen," Riki sneered, unwilling to show how much her story had touched him. "Sounds like you just traded owners."

"Perhaps it does, but I did not immediately become a Queen, Riki. Daniel freed me the moment we landed here and initially helped me find work cleaning up after the animals and preparing meals for the poor. After a while, it became known I could fight, so I was recruited by the Knights. I was an excellent fighter, but I no longer had to kill to survive. I found honor in being a warrior I instead of shame, and soon I became the Captain of the King's guard. It wasn't until many cycles had passed that Daniel and I became lovers."

"So a rich, powerful King gave you fairy tale ending, big deal. I live in the real world, not…"

"Daniel was not a King when I met him, he was a merchant."

Riki blinked in surprise. "Then…then how?"

"The old King died and had no heirs. His death was sudden and so he had not the time to proclaim a successor."

"So…Did he kill someone to be King, or something?"

She smiled and shook her head. "No. There is an ancient rite that is passed down through the centuries that can give the power of the King. Daniel passed the rite and has been ruling ever since."

"It doesn't matter." Riki shook his head and moved away from the window. "You have your…your world and your fairy tale so you don't need me. I don't belong here. I can't be King."

"You will be King, Riki, but that is not why we brought you home. We brought you home because we love you."

"You don't even know me!" Riki snapped. "You know nothing about me!"

"Then tell me. Speak of your time away, of your life on this planet of Amoï. I am eager to hear of it."

"You…no. You don't want to hear it, trust me."

"You've had a difficult time?"

Riki snorted in derision. She had no fucking idea.

"Is there nothing good you can tell me? Is there no joy in your life at all?"

"No, there fucking isn't! I hate my life! I hate what it's made me. You abandoned me, you left me all alone and nothing you do or say will ever change that! I fucking hate you all!"

"Riki."

Riki glanced at Iason, saw the hurt in his pale blue eyes and immediately wished he could take back his harsh words. "Iason, I…"

"I…I am sorry, Riki," Iason said as his eyes closed and he felt his body falling. He could no longer fight the sleep. "I'm sorry."

"Iason!" Riki tried to catch the Blondie but he was far too heavy, and Iason landed hard on the floor with a thud.

"What is it?" the Queen demanded as she also crouched beside the unconscious android. "What is wrong with him?"

"Iason?" Riki shook Iason. "Iason!"

"Guards!" The Queen rose as they entered the room. "Bring him to the bed."

The men set down their weapons and, with some difficulty, moved Iason onto the platform bed.

"Is it dead?" one of them asked as he stepped back and retrieved his rifle.

"Shut up!" Riki climbed onto the bed and continued to shake Iason. "Wake up. I didn't fucking mean it! You know I didn't mean it. Wake up! Please!" He leapt towards one of the guards and despite the man being larger than him, had him pinned against the wall in seconds. "What did you do to him? What did you fucking do?"

Celestia put a firm hand on Riki's shoulder. "They did nothing, they were outside the room."

He turned on her. "Then you did it! What did you do to him? Wake him up. Wake him up right…" He paused as a thought occurred to him. Was Iason unconscious or was he asleep? Asleep. Shit! Junpin, the time of joining. "Oh no." He returned to the bed and peered down at the still android. "You can't do this now. You can't!"

"What is it?" The Queen asked. "What can we do to help?"

"I…I don't know." He didn't know enough about it to know what to do. Would Iason just sleep for the next twenty-four hours? No, there had to be more to it than that or they wouldn't require Jupiter. Why didn't Iason remind him? Why didn't he tell him what to do?

"Is he ill?"

"No. I mean…I don't know." What did Jupiter do to the elites when they were in seclusion? Was it maintenance, or something that was absolutely required to sustain them? Would Iason die if he didn't join with Jupiter during this time? What the hell was he supposed to do about this?

"Riki?" Celestia again touched his arm. "I will have our physicians look at him."

"No!" He didn't think a Human doctor could do anything for Iason, but nor did he want anyone poking and prodding Iason. What if they decided to experiment on him during this time. "Just go away. Please just go away."

The Queen dropped her hand and sighed. "Very well. I will return later with some food."

"Don't bother," Riki snarled, and then realized that he was literally biting the hand that fed him. With Iason down he had only himself to depend on. He spun around and caught her hand as she turned away. "Help me."

"Yes, of course."

"I need to get him home. He needs to be back on Amoi. He can't stay here."

The Queen's gaze softened. "Riki, you know I cannot…"

"Please! I'll stay here with you, but he has to go back!"

"You will stay and stop fighting your father?"

"I…" Did that mean she wanted him to completely give up on his old life? To accept becoming a Prince. "I….I'll seriously consider it. I'll listen to what you have to tell me, I'll try and…and deal with it, but you have to promise that you'll return him to Amoï unharmed."

"Are you willing to trust us to do this?"

"No," he admitted honestly. "There was another person with us when we came here. I trust her, so find her and bring her here then they can both leave."

Celestia reached a hand forward and caressed Riki's cheek, watched him flinch from her, then force himself to accept it. "You care for him so much?" she asked, surprised.

"He can't die. Please."

She nodded. "I will speak to the King and see what can be done? What does this woman look like?"

Riki gave her a description of Carrie, then remembered the transformation he had witnessed. She wouldn't still be like that would she? No, probably not and he didn't want to reveal all Carrie's secrets to these people.

"I will return," The Queen said as she turned in a swirl of fabric and strode towards the chamber door. A guard held it open for her, then closed it again and resumed his position in front of it.

Riki climbed up on the bed again and continued to try and awaken Iason.

"So," The King said as he stared at the tall, lanky Human before him. "I will hear your reason for trespassing in the Royal gardens in such a lewd state, and then decide your punishment."

"Bite me," Guy retorted.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Bite. Me."

One of the guards hit Guy in the back and the blow knocked him to his knees, especially as his hands were tied behind his back.

He sneered up at the guard. "You hit like a girl." He didn't even flinch when the guard raised his hand again, but a word from the King had the guard stepping back.

"We are not ruffians," The King reminded. "Get him up, for Mighty's sake."

The guards hefted Guy back onto his feet.

"What is your planet of origin?"

"I move around a lot," Guy retorted.

Daniel rose. "Do not test my patience, foreigner. I will do no harm to those who are undeserving, but I can throw you into a pit so dark that you will never again remember the feel of sunlight on your face."

"Is that a threat?"

"What is your business on Avalon?"

"I came to find a friend."

"Who is this friend?"

"Riki the Dark."

There was a flicker of surprise in the King's eyes but then it was gone again. "Is this someone attending the festival?"

"I don't know anything about a festival; I'm just here to get my friend back."

"And you believed that running naked through my gardens would get this person's attention?"

"No, but it got your attention, and since you're the one holding Riki, I figure you're the man to talk to."

"There is no one here by that name. Now, I shall forgive your transgression, as it was your first offence, and I will have my people escort you back to your ship where you will be…"

Guy chuckled. "That will be fun, since I came here on one of your ships."

"What do you mean?"

"I saw you taking my friend and I hitched a ride. Now give me back Riki and we'll both be happy to get off your precious planet."

"You are from Amoï."

"Got it in one."

"You have wasted a trip, regardless of which ship you travelled upon." He waived a hand at the guards. "See him to a transport and make sure it is one that is leaving within the hour."

The guards reached for Guy and he easily broke his bonds with the strength of his mechanical hand, elbowed one of the guards where their face would be, then swiftly crouched and swept the legs out from the second one.

"Seize him!"

Four more guards were suddenly upon him, just as an alarm claxon sounded from somewhere in the castle

"What now?" The King demanded, they were already experiencing multiple black outs through the castle, had experience two fires in the kitchens and now another issue?

A page ran in, breathlessly. "Sarrum, all the doors on the stables have been unlocked. The animals are running wild!"

"How could they all be unlocked at once?" The stables were vast and the doors were coded to open individually at the request of a rider or attendant.

"A…a mechanical g...glitch perhaps?" The young boy offered.

"Find Jethro and have him gather as many people as he can to corral them." Daniel rose and stepped down to walk to where Guy was being firmly held by three guards, two on either side of him and one behind. "Is this your doing?"

Guy just smiled. "If you don't want to see this place in ruins, I'd suggest you take me to Riki."

"No, I think not." The King nodded to one of the other guards, standing apart. "Throw him in the dungeon and…"

"My love!"

Everyone turned to watch the majestic woman entering the hall. She walked to the King and he took her hand, kissed it.

"I am pleased to see you, but now is not the time..."

"Does this man know our son?"

"He says he does."

"Then bring him to Ciel, you and I have something to discuss."

"My dear, let us not make rash decisions…"

"This is the time to decide our son's future. Would you deny me an audience on such an important matter?"

"Of course not, however this man has been sabotaging…."

"I haven't done a thing!" Guy protested, turning on his full charm. "I'm just an innocent bystander, worried for my friend."

The Queen shot him a look that would freeze meet and Guy actually withered a little bit. "Do not try to play me, child. I will have you flayed over an open spit if you cause any further trouble." To the King, she said. "Let him go to Ciel, it will make the boy more agreeable and the guards can keep an eye on them both if they are in the same room. I have an offer from our son and you must hear it if this is ever to be resolved."

The King nodded, trusting that if his wife deemed this so important he would listen. "Do it," he said to the guards then, tucked her hand into the crook of his arm and started towards his private rooms. "We shall discuss the offer, my Queen."

"Thank you, My King."