JE NE SAIS QUOI

Riki opened the armoire. His hands were trembling and his heart was racing. The shackles and sexual toys of pleasure and pain were hanging there within reach and inviting his dwelling fantasies to emerge from the shadows and take over his brain. He closed his eyes shut and after a while of anguish that rushed across his being, he opened them. He had been dying a little each time he thought of the times with Iason from a past that existed before the Fire. The fire at Dana Burn existed like a curtain to the past, through which it was almost impossible to see. Only his body remembered the burning sensations of the ropes, the shackles rubbing against his wrists and ankles, the toys penetrating his inviting body, the whips stinging his skin and the harsh commands that determined the boundaries within which he existed as a person – as Riki the Pet. He was afraid to start it up again, but he missed it. He missed it so badly he could hardly breathe. He wanted Iason's firm commands raining over him, the intriguing games the Master could come up with, the slaps from his firm palms and to use Riki's body over and over – throwing him into pleasure and discipline. He had been a dark leader of a street gang, lead by the light of Tanagura and it frightened him. He wanted to break free from those obsessive thoughts of harsh bliss that existed in his pain, yet each time Iason gingerly kissed him, he dreamt of a forceful lover who pressed him against the wall – demanding Riki to give him release.

Riki reached for the whip and remembered the time of taming; the lashes burning until he yielded and then the disgrace of spending before Iason as Daryl stimulated him beyond the pain that immobilized Riki. He remembered Iason's vicious smile.

"Why can't we go back to this", Riki muttered as he let go of the plaited whip and closed the armoire. He backed away until he stumbled over the bed and fell on his back. How crazy this love! A long dissipated storm whirled up – the indecisiveness that had caused devastation. He wanted something but couldn't bring himself to yield to the desire. Oh, by the Gods, how well he recognized those confusing moments. He had brought both Iason and Guy to their knees – two men ready to die for him and obsessed with loving him. Two men he ended up almost killing. Riki sighed and leaned back in the bed. He hadn't thought of Guy in a long time. What was he up to and where was he now? Would he be happy to see Riki again? Would he be angry and turn his back on his former pairing partner?

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. He jumped up and rushed to open it.

"Katze", Riki asked with an air of surprise. "Iason is not here if…"

"I'm not looking for Iason", Katze cut in. "I am actually wondering if you know where that Matilda girl is."

Riki tilted his head and after a moment's respite he nodded.

"Yeah, I know she stays in room six hundred seventy two, with Mediçi. I escorted her there just before I came down. Had a nice talk with her."

Katze threw a smile against the juvenile face of Riki, asking him to tag along as he lit a cigarette.

"Aren't you going to stop with that", Riki asked and closed the door behind himself.

They stepped inside the elevator and Riki cast a swift look at the time on his wrist. He sighed and rested his head against he wall glancing towards the ceiling.

"You seem very distant", Katze set forth. "Who are you thinking of?"

Riki released another sigh and blamed his thoughts on Iason and his long meetings, but the redhead was far more observant then what Riki had counted on, hence Katze corrected him harshly.

"Liar. You weren't even thinking of Iason at all."

"How", Riki began, but Katze shook his head as he blew a grey mist out of his mouth.

"Don't even think it. You left him in my arms and returned to Iason. You clearly made you choice back then and Guy had since then built up a new life."

The young mongrel released Katze from his gaze and remained standing speechless before him. Katze continued.

"Guy has built up a new life without you, now let him be at peace. I know you are curious and I was actually expecting you pestering me about him much sooner. Leave it Riki."

"Alright, alright", Riki barked a little annoyed but with a touch of sadness.

"Don't make things difficult for Iason now", Katze warned. "He is very busy and he has to keep his focus. Don't cause a scene…"

"A scene", Riki questioned with anger, and thus Katze apologized for his blunt approach.

"I'm sorry. I know it hurts, but please don't say anything just for these few days. I'll help you later if it is still what you want."

"I don't know what I want, Katze", Riki emphasized. "I don't know what I want."

"Well, you'll have to set your priorities straight, for Iason has moved on believing you are his true love. If you turn your back on him now…it will kill him."

"I don't think so...", Riki began arrogantly, but Katze cut in with emphasis.

"No, Riki, you don't think a lot do you?"

"What do you mean", Riki narrowed his gaze, but Katze stared back with stiff resolution.

"Why would you want to back to Guy, Riki?"

"I just want to see him again and..."

"And then what", Katze growled. "You have had the chance to go with him when you pulled him out of the fire at Dana Burn."

"Don't remind me of that", Riki sighed.

"Why not", Katze spat back at him. "Did you make a mistake back then...should you have chosen Guy? You can't let go of the past, and this indecisiveness of yours is causing trouble again."

When no reaction came in response to his provocative approach, Katze went on in a softer tone.

"C'mon, Riki. When you slept with Iason, did you ever think of Guy?"

Riki said nothing because nothing had to be said. The question was purely rhetorical.

"No", Katze answered instead. "Not if you love him the way I see. And he adores you...so damn much that it consumes him like a disease. There is only one cure for what Iason has and it's...you. There are plenty of people who would change places with you, kid."

Riki lifted his gaze and planted it straight in the eyes of Katze – and then he was caught. He noticed something he hadn't seen before. He had heard something warm and sad in his voice - a longing hidden in the expressed words. Compassion, perhaps – no, passion! The young mongrel pressed his body against the wall watching the redhead as the muscles in his throat tensed when he sucked the last breath out of the cigarette. The redhead removed the cigarette from soft lips and held it between his fingers in a well-practiced gesture as if had been rehearsed form a glamorous advertisement for those sticks of poison. Riki felt cornered for he sensed the emotions reaching out from Katze like invisible tentacles – threatening and luring him closer.

"Guy has already built up a new life. He has gotten over you and he has nothing more to offer. Either from fear of getting hurt again or because of respect for Iason...I don't know. Don't forget that even Guy has Iason to thank for his life. You wouldn't have had time to carry him out past the last gate if it hadn't have been for Iason."

Riki listened in silence. Katze was right. Then suddenly the redhead touched upon the subject in a way that it made Riki numb. He was speaking of love towards Iason, masking it in the shape of Riki but it was really a reflection if his inner feelings.

"Your love for him can never cease...no matter what you do or say. This love is strange...obsessive and...possessive."

The former Furniture to Iason was still caught in a whirl of emotions towards the Master. Katze was just as unable to let go as Riki was. The difference was that Iason had disowned his Furniture, whereas Riki remained close to his heart. It must be torture to his soul, Riki thought but didn't dare to bring up the subject. Instead he switched his attention to the electronic voice that announced their arrival to the desired floor and hurried to get out of that confined space. He felt as if the walls were closing in on him, forcing him closer to Katze. The redhead made him feel a dangerous itch and though Riki wanted to resist, he welcomed it.

"Oh, Riki", he thought to himself. "You are getting into more then you can handle…again."

Matilda opened her door, and judging by her daring outfit she had clearly anticipated her beloved Master. Katze and Riki remained staring at her fine features, but she snapped with her fingers to bring them out of trance and invited them in.

"What is it that you boys want", she asked provocatively and walked up to the bed where she stretched out like a bored cat. She possessed something beyond the tease observed in other female Pets. She was sophisticated and captivating in the way she moved and behaved.

"You are perfect for the task", Katze burst out with enthusiasm and pulled her up form the bed. Matilda was surprised by his sudden physical approach and distanced herself with a slap on his face.

"What in the world do you think you are doing?"

Katze laughed in response. Matilda was a real lady, playing her part perfectly and accentuating the delicate subtleness of a woman in a lovely way.

"I need your help to kit out another girl. A woman actually, who has to be a real eye-catcher. I want her to take the breath out of the Elite class."

Matilda raised her eyebrows questioning the sanity of Katze and at that point so was Riki. Those who preferred males hugely outnumbered Elites that were interested in females; what was Katze thinking? Not even Matilda's beloved Master was a true deviant in that aspect; he was simply an omnivore. He penetrated whoever fitted his taste at a particular mood. Indeed, Matilda was sharing her exquisite palace with half a dozen harem-boys who took turns in satisfying the Master's grand appetite. "Why would I want to do that", she asked and turned away from the redhead in protest.

"I need your help, Matilda please", Katze begged. "You are the only one I know who really enjoys being a Pet to a Blondie and you can captivate them with your charisma. I have sold and traded Pets for so many years and I have yet to come across one who can be as perfect as you are. You know how to handle them and this girl needs your help."

Matilda smiled with her back still facing Katze and Riki. She loved to hear the men beg, just like her Master did when she rejected his advances and seduction. She loved to see Master Mediçi stick out his lips pretending to be hurt by her rejection and then observing her face with mischievous eyes waiting for her to invite him in. He always succeeded in subduing her determination no matter how hard she was fighting not to give in. His fingers tickling her side and his pearly teeth nibbling at that delicate spot on her neck until he made her scream for mercy.

"Hold on", she hollered from the bathroom. "I'll just change. But I'll have to be back before the Master comes. He gave me specific orders about that."

The Elite had left the assembly room rather exhausted and several of them went to their rooms without that last cup of refreshing tea. They all had a banquet to look forward to later on. A banquet with music and entertainment, and a grand surprise served with the desert, which would be dished up in the marvelous Sky-Gallery on the top floor.

Raoul was in a hurry to get hold of Katze in order to be updated on his success to retrieve the Chiyo.

"Yes", Katze nodded and told him about the ordeal they had suffered and added. "I don't know how long before Jupiter notices anything."

"We just have to trust that the Queen can keep her from knowing."

"What Queen? You've said something about it before..."

"Don't bother", Raoul interrupted him. "Where is the girl now?"

"Matilda is upstairs preparing her for the banquette, but I can tell you Master, that she will cause a commotion."

"Do you realize that you just called me Master", Raoul cut in with a faint smile.

Katze remained motionless before him, then made it clear that the past weeks a lot of things had changed. He defended himself by accusing himself of sudden confusion - but it was a lie. It was a secret wish that had slipped off the lips of the redhead.

"I have always considered Iason to be the most prominent of all the people I knew", he explained and then halted as he cast his look aside, avoiding Raoul. "But since I started working for you and after all you've done for him and Riki...and all of the people here...I think you definitively match him as a person."

Raoul placed a hand on the shoulder of the redhead as a gesture of appreciation. It was giving him strength to know that at least one person was surely on his side.

"So you don't think I am crazy for what I've done with the images and letting that Valkyria into this playground?"

"That Valkyria is here for an important cause and when it comes to the images...I think it's the most admirable thing an Elite has ever done to his people. You just need to convince Master Iason about that."

Raoul smiled at Katze and the young man returned the gesture. At that point, the Lord realized the beauty of the boy. Why hadn't he seen it before? As he removed his hands from Katze's shoulder he gently brushed his fingers against the young man's throat. It was so delicious, but so out of space and time. Perhaps if they had another chance to talk…later…maybe...it would be nice.

Iason was busy conversing with several Elites regarding future investments in Ceres and Ceres. Some of them, especially the erratic Dytee, were getting a bit ahead of themselves concerning the fate of Pets in general, but Iason was preparing the small crowd around him in a subtle way. He was bringing up subject regarding mongrels – bright and gifted ones – and the desperate need of investors to build up Dana Burn and the slums. No one dared to ask any questions, only listened to grasp the faint message in the shrewd suggestions presented by Iason. Though several of them were rather astute, they were not entirely blinded by personal gain, especially if they knew that change could lead to something greater then an increase in numbers on a bank account. After a short while Mediçi as well as Siin joined in on the discussions, and Iason showed no intentions of stopping even when the words crept into the ears of impropriate bystanders. They all agreed upon further bringing up the subject after dinner and promised to scan their own peers to see whom to trust and where to look for allies.

They had made it through the sewer system and hid in a desolate alley, near the conference centre. It wasn't time to attack yet. They would have to wait for the last group to position itself near Jupiter's hive. Sean locked the rifle onto a target, an innocent and unknowing passerby, to adjust the sight. He didn't fire, but now he knew the distance. He had only a handful of people around him, wearing thermoptic-camouflage to remain invisible to the thorough eyes of droids and reconnaissance troops patrolling the streets. The outfits bent light and cooled the skin so as to mask the heat of the body that could be spotted through infrared imaging. The rest of his group had positioned themselves around the conference centre where planned. Sean knew he had about thirty snipers around the area, scanning the ground for rebels such as himself; all of them would be well camouflaged just like him. He put on a pair of eyewear that revealed traces of pheromones from the body. It looked like mist in the shape of a humanoid figure and told of the position of the snipers. Sean knew that advanced technology such as the eyewear he had, was not used on a regular basis among the officers. They usually preferred infrared goggles that revealed body heat instead. It gave a sharper and better image of the victims.