(Six)

Aiden moved to a nearby counter and hopped up to sit, getting comfortable. "You been around, but we didn't 'ave much time to talk, usz."

"You been a bit preoccupied," Remy replied, smiling.

Aiden couldn't help but smile in return. "Yesz, disz isz szo. Szo easzy for me, neh?" A pregnant pause, then, " 'Ow long ago you 'ave 'im repaired?"

"Kimble? Coupla months after I seen you. Why?"

Aiden shuddered and closed his eyes.

Remy reached out with Shi'ow-ri, saw Aiden's shine in full. Saw what? A fierce arousal being held in check by a very strong will. Remy could see that for Aiden, the chase was just as important as the final conclusion. He had held himself back today, all the more to savor what was to come later. Aiden had no plans to string Kimble along, he was just picking his moment. That was all right, the Lab certainly wasn't the best place for a proper tryst and to a point it made Remy glad to sense that Aiden's intentions went beyond simple debauchery.

But that was not quite what Remy was seeking from his Siskan friend. No, he wanted to know why Aiden had shivered like that. What else was Aiden feeling? There was more going on here in Aiden's heart — disappointment, sadness, pity, and a great amount of love there for Kimble, far more than Gambit had expected since the pair had only just met. Remy wasn't satisfied with his mental probe and asked, "What's on yo' mind, buddy?"

"Ze repair, it wasz not complete."

"Non. Fallen share Kimble's codes wit Set'. 'E was too broken to fully integrate."

"Set', dat wasz Keemble's bro'der, 'im?"

"Oui. What's goin' on?" Remy repeated, nervous now.

Aiden nodded, considering. "When ze pilot, she find Keemble, was 'e sztill a 'ologram or wasz 'e szleeping?"

"Sleeping?" Remy questioned, trying to get where Aiden was coming from.

"Wasz 'e in hyperszleep, in a traszportation cube or out?"

Remy stepped back. "What you talkin' about? What's hypersleep?"

Aiden's brow crinkled a bit in frustration. Long explanations were never his forte and he could see that Remy knew nothing of hypersleep, something a little complicated. He took a breath and did his best to explain. "When ze Masztersz move usz from plaze to plaze, from one world to ano'der... szometimesz dere isz no szun to charge usz wit, eh? Zey reduce usz to a cube wit a battery. One to keep usz alive. A Sziszkan can be kept disz way a long time."

Ah, Remy nodded here, finally understanding. Hypersleep was some kind of suspended animation. Aiden's previous question about whether or not Kimble was in this state or one like it when Fallen had found him was a question he was never sure of himself. When he had shared Kimble's files, Gambit learned that there was a sixty year gap from when Kimble left Siska to when the Clan had awakened him. That time had never been recovered or explained. Later, Fallen said that when she found Kimble, he was already broken, having been purposely damaged by the Clan after Zander had gone on a murderous rampage. It was unclear what Kimble's exact condition was when Fallen found him, but in a conversation between Remy and Aiden's former Master, Trishnar had surmised that Kimble was found as a gel block cube with an attached battery for his drives, that he was in hypersleep.

"Don't really know if Kimble was dat way or not," Remy answered. "Does it matter?"

Aiden shrugged. "Mebbe. Zey szay a long hyperszleep can make usz crazy becausze we losze too many memory. Keemble szay 'e losze mebbe sixty year or szo in ze black. Dat'sz a long time. Real long."

Remy shifted his feet. "Why you even askin', cher?"

Aiden was soft as he replied, "Ze repair ze Gamesz Maszter make, if it'sz not too good, zen Keemble break again, mebbe."

"Mebbe — but not definitely," Remy offered, wanting to stay optimistic.

Aiden looked up at him, frowning a little as he tried to put these pieces together. "You szay Keeble juszt kilt szomebody. Tell me 'bout it."

Remy told him, explaining briefly about Kimble's four selves and how it was Zander the Punisher who had actually done the deed. Done the deed and then did a fade. So far Kimble had shown no signs of Zander's return or that of any of the others.

"But 'e 'ear ze voiczes?"

"Oui, so 'e say."

Aiden nodded, then asked thoughtfully, "You ever 'ear anyt'ing from Trishnar? After 'e wasz kilt?"

"Non, why would I?"

Aiden thought a moment again before answering with surprising candor, "Aiden wasz broke, too, neh? Ze Gamesz Maszter fix 'im, but it wasz szomeone elsze who finish ze job."

"Really? Do tell," Remy asked with his interest certainly peaked. He had spent a week at Trishnar's years ago, trying to learn all he could in just that short time. He had been told there that Aiden had been broken severely, perhaps the worst of any Siskan ever made. Babette had suggested he'd had as many as ten fractures, far more than Kimble's four. This knowledge had been tempered by the news that Aiden had been repaired by the father of the Games Master Remy had used with Kimble. Gambit couldn't help but wonder just where this new conversation was going to lead.

Aiden shifted, clearly not comfortable about talking about himself like this. "Aiden wasz broke down 'ard, me - ain't gonna go into ze 'ow of it - juszt dat zere wasz of a lot of usz in 'ere, more dan ze Gamesz Maszter could fix on 'isz own."

"How many you 'ave?"

Aiden wouldn't look at him. "Twelve, I t'ink. It wasz a long time ago. My point isz dat blendin' ze codesz iszn't good enough, eh? Not when szome of dosze voiczesz won't lay quiet."

Remy shifted nervously, wanting to know more yet dreading the thought of hearing more bad news. "Who wouldn't keep quiet for you, fils?"

"Don' wanna go into dat, it ain't a concern no more," Aiden replied dismissively, but his uneasy stance betrayed a lie in there somewhere. "What mattersz isz dat ze Gamesz Maszter couldn't finish it, szo m' Maszter got 'elp."

"What kind of help?"

"Trishnar, 'e 'ave more Sziszkansz dan juszt usz at ze 'ousze."

Gambit gave an impatient shake of his head. Well, that certainly made sense. When the Games Master had repaired Kimble, he had given Remy a quick tally of who had what. Even then Remy had thought the numbers didn't add up. Perhaps now he was just given an explanation for that.

"I don' know where 'e isz, or what Trishnar do wit 'im, but dere wasz disz one Sziszkan, ano'der Rogue like Keemble. 'E wasz a Grey."

"Grey?"

Aiden glanced up at him and smiled again. "Yesz. Don' know 'isz Title, me. Ashair, 'e szay dosze Titles never mean not'ing to 'im."

"Ashair?"

"Ashair. Ash-Ash- Ash-er," Aiden struggled to say, his damaged Kintay du Lushna-esk mouth not quite cooperating.

"Asher?"

"Yesz. Dat'sz it." A wry smile. "Ashair, 'e wasz szumptin' szpecial. Trishnar call 'im Ze Great Szerenity."

"Why's dat?"

A laugh. " 'E wasz ze only Sziszkan wit a 'old on 'isz temper. Alwaysz 'appy, alwaysz calm. 'Isz Kundatesh very sztrong. Sztrong enough to 'eal ze o'der Sziszkansz if zey broke."

Gambit stood up straight at that. "What did you just say?"

Aiden's eyes took on a certain pleased gleam, he was happy now that he had Remy's full attention. "Ashair can't 'eal ze flesh, but 'e can 'eal ze Sziszkansz. 'E touch usz, usze 'isz power to find all ze broken pieczesz and put zem back toge'der again."

Gambit wanted so much to believe, but it sounded much too good to be true. "Trishnar didn't tell me anyt'ing about dis guy. Why you speakin' of 'im now?"

Aiden shrugged casually but was betrayed by a flash of pain, sympathy for Kimble's plight. "Keemble... you fix 'im szeven, eight year ago? Dat'sz a long time to be 'urtin' ze way we do. Aiden can szee ze break sztill dere. Zat 'e sztruggle wit 'isz pain. Aiden szuffer, too, after ze Gamesz Maszter leave, only not szo long. Trishnar 'ave Ashair zere for Aiden and 'e finish what ze Gamesz Master did not."

"If Trishnar 'ave a Siskan somewhere else, and Jael won dis round of de Game, den wouldn't Asher 'ave to go to 'im?"

Aiden just snorted. "Aiden and Babette did not."

"Oui, you chose to run."

"Dat'sz right, but t'ink on disz. If Aiden choosze, why not Ashair?"

Remy shook his head and brushed a hand through his hair in perplexed frustration. "If Asher ain't 'ere, where would 'e be and how would 'e find us? If 'e even ran."

Aiden scowled. "You do not believe me?"

Remy sighed. He wanted to, but was leery of another false promise. Sure the Games Master had helped Kimble, but it hadn't stuck. It seemed to him that Kimble was doomed to be a perpetual basket case, breaking down and falling apart at the least opportune times. "I really want to, but 'less you got some way of reachin' dis guy, what good does it do to tell me?"

Aiden's shine swirled with a mixture of anger and frustration. "Don' want to szee Keemble szuffer no more, me. Makesz me szick, szeein' what o'der people do to usz!"

Remy sent out a vibration of his sympathy and desire for all the Siskans to be well. "Me too, buddy. Just dere isn't a whole heck of a lot Gambit can do about it 'cept love you all as much as 'e can."

Aiden's shine calmed a bit at that, appreciating Remy's gesture of affection, but he didn't move any closer. "Ashair very wisze. Mebbe 'e find 'isz way to usz."

"P'etetre. Just we gotta 'ave a plan 'til den, neh?" Remy offered, trying to be indulgent. The more he thought of it, the more it sounded like Asher was just some kind of dream. Trishnar would have mentioned him if he were real, Remy was certain of it.

Aiden nodded. "Aiden will take care of Keemble."

Remy arched an eyebrow at that, feeling a kind of possessive anger. Sure he was happy that Kimble and Aiden were feeling each other out, but Aiden had just spoken as if he had something more permanent in mind. Remy doubted Kimble was up to any such thing and the Dreamer for that matter? The boy didn't have a clue about what being Kimble's keeper entailed. "Really? You t'ink it so easy, neh? You been 'ere, what? T'ree whole days? One quick grope an' you t'ink you got Kimble all figured out. Dat's some trick, mebbe you outta let ol' Gambit in on dat one."

Aiden grumbled, his lips pulled back in a contemptuous snarl at Remy's tone. " 'E a Sziszkan, Aiden a Sziszkan. What elsze isz dere to figure out, preciousz?"

Remy took a step forward, placing himself directly in front of Aiden, boxing him in against the counter top and forcing him to pay attention. He had hoped to use this opportunity to get around to discussing the Dreamer's nightmares as Logan had requested, but all of those intentions had vanished at Aiden's bold words. This had to be taken care of first. "You listen up, fils. You listen real good. Nobody love Kimble more dan me — nobody! I live wit 'im fo' eight years now and let me tell ya, it ain't been no picnic. Sure, de boy show me some of yo' tricks, take me to a place I ain't never been before, but all dat come with a real big price. Now you ain't no sweetheart y'self. You a stubborn fuck, got a lot more baggage dan dat little ol' backpack you brung up wit you. You sure you can take what Kimble dish out, eh? You real sure, cher?"

Aiden's pale green eyes were as hard as emeralds, glittering back at him in answer to the challenge. "Abszolutely."

Remy just snorted at him. "You ain't got one clue. Kimble, 'e got a real nice laugh, eh? It de best t'ing, like medicine fo' a dyin' man. You been 'earin' a lot of it since you come. Well, you ain't never 'eard nuthin' 'till you 'ear 'im cry. Dere ain't no worse sound."

" 'E cry when 'e t'ink 'isz Anjel wasz in danjer," Aiden replied defensively, thinking of when he had seen Kimble break down after he had been told of David's death. It hadn't been pretty, watching that, but it wasn't more than he thought he could handle.

Remy gave him a pained smile. "Quoi? Dat little spat? Dat wasn't nuthin', cher. Just a little taste, eh? Non, dat wasn't no full fledged cryin' jag, no sir. It didn't come wit de accusations of neglect, of 'im bein' left behind, passed over. Non, dat wasn't nuthin' at all. You ain't felt nuthin' 'til 'e look right at you and it's someone else gleamin' in 'is eyes, tellin' you to go take a flyin' leap. 'E can rip you up as fast as as 'e can make your whole body shake like de whole 'ouse comin' down, comprenez?"

Aiden made an arrogant noise. "Zen ze two of usz in good comp'ny, 'im an' me. All you szee isz 'causze of what you Chuckfet do to usz."

Remy took another step, invading even more of Aiden's personal space, his red on black eyes burning now. "Chuckfet? What's dat!" he demanded although he had a pretty good idea already. He had heard Aiden use this word before, outside with Kimble when he was talking about the guards. He hadn't understood the word then, but he thought he might now. Shi'ow-ri was whispering rapidly in his head now, speaking of how a Siskan might hate those who had dared to hurt him, those whose bodies were real and so unlike his own.

"Fleshlingsz. You know, ze onez dat are alive," Aiden stammered in response, squirming in his seat now. "Like you."

"Gambit may be alive, but 'e ain't never done nuthin' bad to Kimble! Nuthin'!"

Aiden backed down, shifting his eyes away submissively. He feared Remy's wrath, but it wasn't enough to change his opinion. "You 'ave ze Kundatesh, undersztand more dan moszt, but -"

"But what exactly, cher? Spit it out of dat big mout' of yours. Go on!" Gambit interrupted, his body vibrating some serious outrage.

"You are Chuckfet. Not'ing ever gonna chanje zat."

Remy bristled there, reading Aiden's shine and not liking it. In the short time the new Siskans had been here, Remy had come to realize that Aiden was prejudiced against the organic, apparently even had his own ugly word for it - Chuckfet. Fleshlings, what a stupid term, if not accurate. Chuckfet - might as well say nigger or faggot or mutie, it was only one of a series of ugly words that might come from your average bigot. Bigotry begets bigotry, it was a never ending cycle and here it was in his face again. Still, Gambit couldn't help but be insulted at the thought that he had been lumped in with a group, any group. From the moment he had been bonded with Kimble, he had fought long and hard for Siskan equality and done his best to see that their voice was heard. So much of his time and emotions had been given to that cause, more than he thought most folks would give of themselves. He had always felt a certain amount of pride about his efforts, that he had earned Kimble's love instead of simply demanded it. To have all that tossed back in face like it meant nothing was more than he could stand.

"You t'ink you so great, eh?" Remy said, letting a vibration of his own contempt drift freely out. "T'ink you can do better dan me? You want a crack at Kimble, fine. You'll 'ave yo' shot — only 'cause I know Kimble's taken wit you. 'E been needin' sumptin' good fo' a while now, mebbe you can do fo' 'im, mebbe not. But I'll tell you dis. You fuck wit 'im, you gotta answer to Gambit, an' believe me, buddy, you ain't got a prayer 'gainst de likes of 'im, cher. Dat's a promise. Still up for it, eh?"

"No problem," Aiden replied, but Remy saw with some satisfaction a swirl of fear and unease there in his shine. This arrogant Siskan was thinking he might have bitten off more than he could chew.

"Well, all right den," Remy replied, leaning in to give Aiden a quick kiss, one that was nothing more than another challenge to seal the deal. This conversation was now over, for better or for worse. The discussion about Aiden's nightmares would have to wait another day. Gambit laughed once and walked out, leaving Aiden to ponder the wisdom of the choice he had just made.

(break)

Fallen lay stretched out on the blanket, Seth right up close to her with his face resting gently against her breasts. They lay tangled comfortably, their legs entwined and arms around each other. They had come up for their picnic and the warm air and good food had been Seth's undoing. He lay against her, out cold asleep. They were in the secluded shelter of the Lucky Dragon, someplace they wouldn't be disturbed, but it was still warm here, even out of the sun. She petted her Siskan gently, her mind full of thoughts she would rather do without.

Seth was changing. He wasn't the fragile young child that had been ripped from the sheltered womb of the Lucky Dragon computer system eight years ago. He was maturing and becoming less timid. His appetite for information was voracious and he would spend hours at a time simply reading. Most of what he was researching was impossible for her to understand. He was a technology junkie and well out of her league. He had designed a new Lucky Dragon style shuttle craft and had just received the okay and the funding from the Professor to build it. She had looked over the plans, marveling at his ingenuity and insight. This new Dragon could be flown by the weakest of pilots, perhaps even by a bio-producer as weak as Remy.

It wasn't all good news. She had also noticed that Seth was not as clingy and loving as he had been before that last ugly argument they'd had, the one on the day Kimble had killed Mary. Seth had come to her and offered his submission as he had always had, but there was a difference now. He was aloof and guarded, something that frightened her. He had Kimble's eyes at times when he looked at her, eyes filled with some kind of trapped emotion she couldn't identify. It was like a mix of hatred and total addictive dependence. He loved her dearly, but seemed to resent it now somehow. She had seen this same look in Kimble's eyes long ago, before he had gone mad.

Fallen knew she was partly to blame for this, she had handled that last argument badly. Her own fears were killing her, breaking down their love. It was just that watching Kimble's erratic behavior was so horrifying for her.

Kimble frightened her now in ways she wasn't sure she even understood herself. She had seen the change in him when he had first been returned to the Institute after he had been stolen by Sabretooth. Kimble had been living with that evil man and inherited a warped sense of love. He wanted to be beaten, struck until he was bruised, all the while demanding to be raped. His fascination for abuse was disturbing to her, probably because she had lived that life herself for a while with Valentin, an abusive man who would later become her husband. The best thing Valentin had ever done for her was die. Kimble had often cared for her after some of Valentin's savage beatings and now the roles had been reversed - she was watching Kimble come home from the occasional male lover battered and bruised, a strange contented smile on his face.

Gambit had done his best to get Kimble back on track but nothing ever seemed to stick. Kimble would be good for a while and then Fallen would see him go by, a mess of fresh bruises on his face. He was sullen, angry, sad and withdrawn, then the next day deliriously happy and dancing about. Sometimes he even looked like he was high on something. He would wander about aimlessly as if looking for something he couldn't quite find. That was the Kimble she didn't like, the one she couldn't quite trust. Why couldn't Kimble stabilize? This was the question that forever haunted her. If Kimble couldn't be fully repaired, what fate was in store for her with Seth if he fell apart as Kimble did?

Her only defense was to keep Seth as far away from all of that as possible. She knew Remy did not approve, but what the hell, the Cajun could go fuck himself for all she cared. What she did with Seth was her own business. Her intentions were honorable, she had to protect Seth from the evil outside world. Seth made it easy for her, his academic interests naturally kept him isolated in either the Lab or on the Dragon with his Mistress.

Fallen's ploys had so far worked. Seth labored very hard at his technical games and whims, seeing little of Kimble's antics in madness, although when they did get together, Fallen would catch Seth staring at Kimble with an odd look on his face. Seth would come a little closer to him and Kimble would close his eyes and smile, sensing Seth's desire for him to be well and be his playful old self again. No words would pass, it would just happen. It was like some kind of twin thing, as if a secret existed between them, one she was excluded from. It was creepy and made her nervous with a tension she couldn't quite unload.

Fallen hadn't seen the slaughter of Mary, but had heard about it. It was impossible, she had protested, as mad as he was, her Kimble could never do such a thing. But well over a dozen people had witnessed it, including Remy whom she trusted completely. There was even a recording of it from one of Logan's security cameras. She didn't want to see it played back. When Kimble had been locked up afterwards she hadn't had the courage to go see him. The final straw had been broken and it was like he was stranger now, impossible to understand. Was he still broken? He didn't speak in voices anymore, but was he really only one person? The fear nagged at her. Now he was romping around the lab with his new friend as if hadn't just slaughtered that poor woman only a few days ago.

Aiden worried her as well. He was new to the Complex, but acted as though he was supposed to be here like this. From the very first day he had arrived, he was all over Kimble and the pilot did nothing to stop it. In fact Kimble was on a high now, the happiest she had seen him in a while. It was like Aiden was manipulating him somehow, changing him even more. She had seen Kimble flirt and play before. It used to be amusing, but not so any more. He was just too spooky now, unpredictable. She didn't know when he was going to freak out next.

Aiden was creepy quiet, a trait that made Fallen all the more aloof. He had this annoying habit of speaking little while watching everything and everyone with an intense kind of scrutiny. He didn't ask many questions, but his eyes were everywhere in an almost predatory fashion, taking in everyone's face. The same spooky wariness that Kimble had at times was constantly there with this one. He seemed to be taking everyone's measure as if he was planning to take them all on someday. Probing them all for weaknesses, yet doing his best to disarm them all with his obnoxious flirtations that drove her up a wall. She had done her best to keep Seth away from him and had succeeded until today. She wasn't happy about the way Aiden had been looking at Seth before and the fact that Seth seemed so curious about him in return.

She knew Seth had explored very little of the world, it had happened deliberately by her own hand. Just the same, she knew it was normal for him to be curious, especially about his own kind. Kimble was safe in that she believed he would never take advantage of Seth. Aiden was altogether different. Siskans were curious, randy, and not known for good impulse control. Gender was meaningless for a true Siskan and Fallen had a feeling that if Seth could be lured into crossing the line, Aiden would sweep him up and blow him away. It would be a game, a thing to pass the time. He would use Seth for his own gratification and then leave him standing there alone, bewildered.

Admit it, girl, she thought to herself, you can't compete with Aiden on a good day. He could show Seth a thing or two you couldn't even dream of. What if Seth wanted this? She was so afraid he would leave her. He's Siskan, he won't - or would he?

Seth stirred restlessly as if sensing her troubled thoughts and squeezed her tightly. He laughed softly, not really awake, and nuzzled at her playfully. Scratch that, he was awake, or at least part of him was. She could feel the hardness of him pushing against her now and she let him play, let him have his way with her. It had been a while since they had a quiet moment like this to play. Seth had been working so hard ( has he been avoiding me? ) and they just didn't get together like they used to. They had fallen into a routine of comfortability, the passion of new lovers fading into a love that could never be broken. She missed this, she missed him.

In the years since his liberation from the Lucky Dragon's computer system, Seth had grown into a careful and considerate lover. He had found some grace in this area, being properly motivated to practice often. He was very clumsy, crashing into things and being awkward when he moved about in the world, but here, well...he had found a niche. He was so very good, he had gotten that from Kimble at least. Here he could dance and play and not have to worry about getting it wrong. It was always a pleasure to be served by him, he was so very patient and thoughtful. He was never rough or hurtful as Valentin had been. He loved her, she knew it with every careful stroke of his fingers and the gentleness of his kiss.

"I love you so much, Fallen," he whispered and slid her bikini top aside to find a nipple and take it into his mouth.

She shivered, aroused by these simple things he did, but still couldn't get Aiden off of her mind. She had not been as oblivious to the exchange between him and Seth as she had appeared. That parting look he had given Seth before chasing after more available prey made her more than aloof. No one else had ever looked at her Seth that way, like her precious lover was treat to be devoured whole and savored. Would he go after Seth when he was done with Kimble? Would she be able to stop it?

Seth looked up into her face. "You okay?"

She smiled back at him. "Yeah. I've just got a lot on my mind."

"Want to talk about it?"

"No," she replied and gently pressed his head back to her breasts. He went back to what he was doing, forgetting everything else. He wasn't thinking about Aiden, or Kimble, or anyone else, at least not at the moment. The only thing he was concentrating on was her. In spite of the growing tension between them, she was his Mistress and he lived for her. She had been his guiding light from the moment of his retrieval from the Lucky Dragon computer system and he would be lost without her.

Still, he wouldn't deny that he was changing, either. On top of the constant sexual burn glowing deep inside of him, his moods were constantly changing, swaying from hot to cold. He was much more easily frustrated and he found himself having small temper tantrums, choking back the desire to just break and smash things around him. His love for his Mistress and how she used it to keep him in line was a growing ache in his side, yet Seth needed that love to heal the hurts of this new changing. As much as she had upset him, it was her arms he wanted, her kisses. Sometimes his desire for her was so powerful he would just stop in his tracks and shiver, tears coming to his eyes. He would be lost without her, no matter how much his discontent with their relationship was growing. He knew she loved him, that she still wanted him, but her drive to protect him was choking him. He didn't know what to do.

His Mistress wasn't the only one to affect Seth this way. He and Kimble had always been close, always strong in their bond, but there had always been an attractive, seductive air about Kimble, something Seth in his limited knowledge couldn't clearly define. Kimble was fun to be around, a pleasurable presence, and someone Seth couldn't do without. Seth had thought at first it was just part of them being twins, but it was more than that because Remy had it, too. Something that made their hugs more special, their kisses more sweet. It had always been there, but it had become painfully more obvious after he had played with his codes. Now it was stronger, more alluring. He was being drawn to them somehow, like he just wanted to be with them all day. What he didn't know of course was that his newly awakened empathy was making him that much more aware of the Kundatesh that both Kimble and Remy shared. He was drawn to it and wanted more. Before Kimble had been incarcerated for this latest transgression, Seth made excuses to bump into either of them. If he couldn't manage direct contact, would find himself daydreaming about them, about falling into their arms and just being held and comforted, that it would soothe that ache that was growing inside of him, the one that simply would not go away. That erotic brush with Remy this morning was a prime example of that. Sometimes when Remy would smile at him just so or even the gentle rumble of Kimble's laugh would make Seth shiver with a desire he couldn't understand.

He hated himself for it. He was still uncomfortable about desiring anyone other than Fallen to touch him but it was happening more and more. The sexual thoughts were growing larger and larger in his mind, blocking out other, more constructive things. He figured it was a stress reaction to all of the negative vibrations Fallen was throwing off about Kimble, something he hoped would pass in time. In the meantime, he resented her for those hateful thoughts and so thought of loving another, someone who's vibrations weren't so painful. He never dreamed his desires would go beyond these strange thoughts, it was just a phase, he tried to tell himself. Today's events told him otherwise — as much as the brush with Remy had unnerved him, that near miss with Aiden had been worse. He had been badly frightened by it, by how easily he had almost given in.

Fallen seemed to know something was up with him these past few days and she was fighting it, keeping him separated and increasing his discomfort. The more alone he was, the worse this ache seemed to grow. Something was calling him, waking up inside, and he no clue what it was or what to do about it. It frightened him so he said nothing, hoping it would pass.

Out here having their picnic, his world had shrunk down to the just the two of them and he was calmer now, relaxed. Fallen gave him comfort, she was his security blanket and for now, he clung to her like life buoy out in the middle of a vast ocean. Making love now, it was an uneasy truce they had made. Seth swallowed his raging emotions and confusion as best he could. He prayed that her love would be enough to calm the rising tempest inside of him. If it didn't, he had no idea what he was going to do.

(break)

Many levels below from where Fallen and Seth were enjoying their late afternoon lunch and cuddle, the Professor sat at his desk, a perplexed frown on his face. He was at his desk and on the blotter in front of him sat Jael's letter. It had come today with a packet of mail that Fallen had brought from Westchester along with her supplies. It had come in disguise, looking like nothing out of the ordinary when he had first opened it. It now lay open, a threat too real to be ignored.

Greetings Charles, from a dear friend. I see that you did not take my earlier ultimatum too seriously, so here is another – turn over all the Siskans you have or you will pay for them in blood. Each day you delay will cost you more in lives. It's up to you decide just how high a cost you are willing to pay to keep them.

Jael

Charles closed his eyes and sighed. There was of course, no way he was going to give in to the man's demands. He hadn't changed from the view that anything Jael was willing to kill so viciously for was something that he shouldn't be allowed to get his hands on. That and Xavier wasn't in the habit of giving into the threats of madmen. It was just that the destruction of Trishnar's palace was giving him pause. He had doubts that they could withstand such an onslaught here, assuming Jael even knew for sure where they were. Who knew just how bad this was going to get? They would have to be careful and build their defenses as quickly as possible. He only hoped Jael would allow them the opportunity.

To be continued in Decisions.