(Six)

Kristalay lay on his bunk in cell, chuckling softly. He had stripped off his braces and was comfortable. Check that, he was very comfortable. His head was blessedly clear of violent thoughts and he was drifting away happily. He was sporting a nice happy boner and one hand stroked it gently, not really playing with it, at least not yet. No, he was just enjoying the soft and easy touch of his hand on it. It reminded him of Kimble and the way that magical pilot used to make him feel.

He missed Kimble, that was no lie. That boy had made him feel loved and valued, something sorely lacking in his life. He hadn't known such things existed until Kimble had breezed into his life and stayed for a few months. When Kimble was gone, those walls of spikes and death came closing in and he feared he would degenerate back into the monster he had been before. Funny thing was, he had never cared before about who or what he was until Kimble came. He had been given a taste of what his life could be and what he could have in it. He wanted that bliss again and in the worst way.

He'd had a feeble hope that Kimble would come back to him once he was well, but Aiden's presence had put an abrupt stop to that. Kimble had fallen hard, the rumor mill whispered. Oh, well. Poor Victor loses again. What a surprise. On the other hand, that quick, unplanned, and happily enjoyed tryst with Aiden had sent him reeling and made him re-evaluate his situation. Maybe things weren't so hopeless as he had thought.

He stroked himself again and shivered from the sheer pleasure of it. He was tingling all over. He could feel it in his fingers and in those places inside where he had been broken. He wasn't sure what it was, but damn if he couldn't smell Max sitting at the desk so far away and hear Logan giving somebody hell on the phone. These things he had missed. So many years lost, taking his powers for granted. When they had been stripped away, he was ready to die. He had made his peace with it and accepted it when Kimble had touched him again and whispered his new name in his ear... Kristalay. That was his name now. Nothing else would ever do again.

He closed his eyes and breathed in deeply, feeling the tightness of his abdominal muscles. All injuries aside, he was still in top physical shape. He tried to work out as best he could in spite of his limitations. He had always been an active creature. Being holed up like this was a torment...except when Aiden had fucked him. Oh, lord, that had been so sweet. Kristalay shivered again.

If he could come back to what he was...the supreme hunter...maybe it would be time to finally choose a side. He wanted Jael's ass in the worst way. Jael would pay for doing this - thing— to him. For stripping him down to nothing. Yes...If he came back he would fight, but he would do it here. It had to be possible. Xavier had taken him in once before, perhaps he would be willing to do it again. Certainly, obeisance would have to be given. Kristalay was proud, but not as proud as he used to be. He had learned humility, it had been forced on him and he had swallowed it, every fuckin' inch. Yeah, he would try, really try to make something of himself here. If he could get back to what he once was...he would do anything. Anything.

Kristalay's breathing changed as he slowly drifted off to sleep, his arousal forgotten. He slipped away and dreamed of great bloody battles and the roaring of lions.

(break)

The Professor sat in his chair, steepling his hands under his chin in a familiar pensive posture. He had gone over all the information they had on Aiden in an attempt to try and understand why the Siskan kept getting into trouble. He had read the translation of Aiden's journal as well. He had been surprised at the intimacy there with Remy, another secret kept from him. Before reading the diary, he had been unaware of their relationship and of Gambit's experience with the Kundatesh. He hadn't been fully cognizant of just how powerful this empathy was or on what level Gambit possessed the ability. He supposed he should have guessed it when Remy had bonded so completely with Kimble. He had an understanding of Siskans no one else did. He looked up when there was a soft knock on his door.

Aiden walked into the Professor's office. His head was down, but his eyes defiant. He was making it clear he was done with the political system here and the humans could just go stuff their stupid rules. It was the look of a man sorely mistreated without knowing the cause. "You wish to szee me?"

"Yes, please sit."

A chair had been placed in front of the large desk and Aiden folded himself into it, rudely bringing his feet up into the seat and marring the upholstery with his boots. He sat and said nothing, waiting for the Professor to begin.

"Good afternoon," Charles greeted.

Aiden didn't return it.

"I am Professor Xavier, head of this facility. I try to meet all the new arrivals, but I've been quite busy. I'm sorry it's taken me this long to finally meet you."

Aiden blinked at him through the long shag of his bangs and didn't respond.

"I've read Seth's translation of your journal."

Aiden shifted slightly in surprise, he hadn't expected the reading of it to be so widespread.

"It's quite fascinating," Charles continued. "It makes clear some of your more...erratic...behavior. It also tells us a lot about Kimble. There is much about him we don't know. It's my understanding that the two of you have struck up a close friendship."

Aiden snorted derisively and turned away. As if this man or any Chuckfet could understand the bond between them. What they had went well beyond a "close friendship". It was a mating on levels they had no concept of.

Charles was baffled by Aiden's hostile response. He cocked his head and said, "Tell me, are you happy here?"

Aiden looked back at him, narrowing his eyes and said with an angry sneer, "Oh, yesz, Maszter. Aiden jusz' szo luv ze 'olding cellsz, me. What fine taszte you 'ave in decor. Makesz a man drool wit pleaszure, wit rapture. Zere ain't no finer plaze, yesz. Aiden szo 'appy to 'ave szpent more time dere zan in 'isz apartment, yesz. It szo fine. Can't wait to go back. It gonna be szoon, yesz. Ze shine from ze Wolv'rine tellsz Aiden it will be szo."

The Professor gave him a pained, irritated smile. He had been here before, of course, with Kimble. All these Siskans were like teenagers going through an endless puberty. They were hostile, they cried at a drop of hat, they were unbelievably sensitive, yet were baffled when the humans around them couldn't fathom what they were about. He sighed impatiently and said, "Most of your trouble, dear boy, you've brought on yourself. I can see that you are a civilized creature. You are familiar with the concept of rules. Therefore it should come as no surprise to you that any violent acting out on your part would not be tolerated."

Aiden held up his damaged arm. It was splotchy red and mostly healed from a day's worth of sun, but it still looked painful. "What Aiden do for disz, eh? 'E do not'ing 'cept break up a fight. Ze pilot not care what she do, her. What of 'er anger? What of 'er violencze? She make Keemble break."

"Besides the fact that you broke her wrist? She was upset by Kimble's actions. It seems he received some advice that wasn't the best."

Aiden snorted derisively and turned away again, not even dignifying that with a verbal response.

Charles steepled his hands and leaned a bit forward. "Look, I understand that your former Master used you to entertain his guests. That you were his sexual servant. Well, that part of your life is over, it is no longer required of you. You and Kimble have pair bonded, something that is a step in the right direction. It's time you recognize the fact that what you did in the past does not have to continue into the future. Just because someone asks you for sexual favors does not require that you to have to give them. You should not have been with Mr. Creed and Kimble should not have been with Seth. You need to think before you present your old ways to Kimble when his are the new. You must be more careful about the advice you give. Kimble listens to you and you must be more responsible about what you say to him."

Aiden looked back at the Professor and blinked with surprise. Could the man really be that naive? It seemed it was so. He could clearly see that Charles had no idea of the real truth. Aiden hadn't done those things because he was told to, Aiden had served because he had wanted to, a concept this man could not or would not understand. He had no idea what Siskan life was and how a Siskan was meant to live. Aiden hadn't been steering Kimble wrong, he been correcting Kimble and doing a rather fine job of it before Seth's stupid Chuckfet Mistress had gotten it all wrong. These pathetic Chuckfet and their stupid rules about sex and love, it was they who knew nothing.

Aiden chuckled bitterly and shook his head. "Oh, yesz. Aiden, 'e know not'ing, me. 'E jusz live for trouble. 'E wind 'em up an' szit back to watch ze show. Oh, yesz. What great fun, disz. Better zan bein' whip by a belt any day. Fuck you!"

Charles blinked, a little surprised. "Look, it's obvious there has been a serious breach in our ability to communicate. You possess a different value system and code of ethics. But the fact is you live here now -"

"Not for long," Aiden promised, glaring at him. While he hadn't articulated it, the fact was thoughts of flight had been foremost on his mind this day. It would be more difficult with Kimble in the sphere, but nothing sounded better to him right now than grabbing Kimble and Angel and simply running away. It couldn't be any worse out there than things were in here.

The Professor was instantly shocked at the thought of what Aiden's last words might mean. "Excuse me?"

He was met by angry silence.

"Jael is out there. He is hunting you, destroying your kind. What possible chance do you think you have out there on your own?"

"Aiden isz big fighter, powerful. 'E kick Jael'sz assz. Kick yoursz, too, you don' leave 'im alone!" Aiden snarled, the gladiator in him done with being hindered and pushed around. He didn't know how much more he could take in this home called prison.

"Aiden -"

The Siskan got up. "We all done now, usz. You szay what you 'ave to, give Aiden de rulesz. Try to make Aiden szubmit, try an szcare 'im with Jael. You done your job, now we done. Zere ain't not'ing lef' to szay." He turned and started to walk out.

"Aiden, please! There is no reason for you to act like this. No one here means you any harm. The trouble is out there. You have no chance."

"More chance out dere zan 'ere. Me an' Keemble, toge'der zere ain't no one who can take usz," Aiden taunted, doing delightful turnabout with a threat of his own. He might not be able to back it up, but it was worth it to see the look of outrage on the crippled man's face.

"You are not taking Kimble from this facility, I forbid it!" Charles said, alarmed at the idea.

Aiden just smiled at him. "Keemble die if he sztay, look what you people 'ave done to 'im already. He better off wit me. Me an' Anjel."

"Do you love him?"

Aiden paused, surprised by the question.

"Of coursze."

The Professor had decided perhaps a different tack might be more productive here than an all out argument. "If you love him, don't take him away from his family. He didn't do well the last time that was done."

"Aiden will take care of 'im."

"It won't be enough. You've visited with him already today. Did your visit cure him of his current mental breakdown?"

Aiden had no answer to that. He wouldn't admit to this man that he might be right.

"Kimble is very fragile," the Professor continued, seeing that he had made at least some small amount of headway. "He requires a support group around him. In this way, I suspect the two of you are very much alike."

"Aiden don't need anybody!" the Siskan hissed defiantly, but couldn't hide the lie.

"You need Angel and she needs you. She would be better served if you two remained together. She needs her family as Kimble does, she needs to stay here. That means you need to stay here, too. All three of you together," Charles said with emphasis, waiting to see what Aiden would do with that. Remy had made good on his promise to visit his mentor and fill him in on how well Angel and Aiden had gotten along. Charles was much too wise to think Remy was lying. Right now all Charles wanted was some peace and quiet so he could deal with the real problems out in the world and he was ready to grant whatever Gambit requested to get it. "You have long proven yourself to be quite adaptable. A survivor. Use those skills to adapt again. Adapt to us. Here with Kimble and his daughter."

Aiden blinked, not believing what he had just heard. Was this capitulation? Was someone finally acknowledging what he needed?

The Professor saw the bewilderment on Aiden's face and used it. "All I'm asking is for some patience from you. Some patience and some wisdom. Stay here and take care of Kimble and Angel both. Try and operate within our rules. You do these things and maybe we won't do Jael's job for him and lose this war."

Aiden put his head down, frowning. He felt a tug on his arm and looked down into Talalanay's soft pleading eyes. Please, we should stay. Don't be so angry, Dreamer.

The kid's right and you know it, Father said, his tense body begging for the Dreamer to see reason. This has gone on long enough. Let it go.

Keemble will die 'ere.

Only if you don't find control.

Aiden glanced at the man in the chair. He gave a resigned sigh and said, "Aiden will look after 'isz Keemble, me. 'Eere, in disz plaze. 'E will look after Keemble and Anjel bot'. You juszt tell Wolv'rine to sztay out of my way. Sztay de fuck outta Aiden'sz facze."

"You'll have your space."

Aiden nodded and walked out, shutting the door softly behind him.

(break)

Kristalay was still dreaming...or surely it must be so. He was on his bunk, warm and comfortable. His half open eyes barely registered the cloaked figure that came to the bars of his cell. There was a glow about this person, such a lovely light. A slender white hand wrapped itself around a bar of his cage. "Yer so beautiful, m' Lion Man." '

"Kimble?" Kristalay mumbled, no longer certain he was dreaming. This seemed so vivid and real. His body began to ache with desire. He could almost smell the Kundatesh, it was calling to him.

His visitor pulled back the hood about its face and an unfamiliar man stood before him. "Sorry, darlin', but I ain't yer Kimble. Not even close."

Kristalay squinted, unhappy. The man before him was a complete stranger. He was tall and slender, dressed only in a pair of black spandex pants under the heavy dark cloak he had draped himself in. Shining auburn hair fell about his shoulders in long lovely locks, green eyes gleamed at him with unveiled sexual interest. More odd than all that was Kimble's voice coming from this one's mouth. Kristalay wasn't too crazy about the way this guy was looking at him either. It was like he was something to eat.

"Who the fuck 're you?" Kristalay snapped in irritation. What? Had some kind of rumor gone around that he was some kind of faggot?

The man just laughed. "I'm gonna be yer Master, pretty."

Kristalay grunted. "Right. That'll happen."

"You wants only one thing - Jael's throat. I kin gives it to ya. Yer Master I will be."

Kristalay eased himself up off of his bunk, wincing a little at the pain. He would never be used to this, the aches of an old and battered man. He approached his visitor and sniffed. This one carried no scent, perplexing. But of course, his senses had been stripped away, hadn't they?

The man watched him approach with no fear and made no move to back away in spite of this killer coming so close. "Yer so damn beautiful...so vera fine..." he breathed softly. His pants were skin tight, hiding nothing. He was aroused just watching Kristalay move.

"Take your faggot shit and get out of here!" Kristalay snarled, showing his teeth in an automatic but sadly ineffective movement. His fangs were gone and the man didn't even flinch.

"I'm yer Master now. I'm gonna gives ya Jael ta do with whatever ya likes."

"He ain't yers ta give last I checked. I ain't no sucker. You best be movin' along or I'll - "

The man had reached out and touched Kristalay's face, silencing him with such a large pulse of Kundatesh, the prisoner was struck numb with pleasure. His large frame quivered with delight and now his own fierce arousal. His body had overridden his brain and locked him in place. The Siskan now in charge simply laughed, pleased with the result. "Or what will ya dos ta me, eh? Tell me, beautiful? What're you gonna do ta Skye? Shiver me, yeah. That's what yer gonna do all right. Gonna makes me shake like nuthin' else."

"Sh–shiver?" Kristalay was the one shaking now, trembling as his brain was flooded with powerful and intoxicating endorphins. All of his pain was gone, evaporating under this man's touch.

"Shiver Skye, yes. Shiver me and I'll gives ya Jael's throat. I promise."

Kristalay wanted this power to wash him away, he wanted to drown in it. The only thing more powerful than that desire, was the thought of Jael's blood sluicing down his throat, so coppery and salty. He could almost taste it. "What do ya want from me?"

"Submission."

"Never. How 'bout a partnership?" Kristalay, being a loner, was making what he thought was a monumental offer. Surely he would not be refused.

Skye laughed and Kristalay gasped again when the man before him melted away and now all he saw was the skin of a woman, her hair as lovely and red as the man's had been. "Yer Mistress I will be."

"Rose?" Kristalay gasped in surprise, breathless. He had spoken the name of his first real love, the first woman he had ever tried to love. She had been a shining red headed beauty and the one thing he had refused to share. He had killed her himself, before Logan could have her, the ultimate case of sibling rivalry. Of course that was close to a century ago, but who was counting? Kristalay's love fascination with her had never dimmed and no amount of brainwashing had ever killed that love. Something Skye could see and use for himself.

"I'll be yer Rose, if that's what ya wants."

Kristalay sobbed once and went to his knees, his mind blasted away. "Rose...!"

"Submits ta Rose, that's right. Give Rose alla yer love an' desire. Makes her shiver."

Kristalay looked up into her emerald green eyes, seeing the fiery red of her hair. Drunk on Kundatesh, his body was screaming for him to obey. "What... what do ya want...?"

She chuckled softly and handed him a collar.

Kristalay took it in a fog. It was familiar, too familiar. It was thick black leather with sheepskin lining the inside, large metal studs protruded on the outside and a metal tag dangled from a clip on the front - My Toy. It was eerily similar to one he had forced Kimble to wear when the Lover had been his servant. It was a mark of possession. "I can't wear this. I ain't nobody's bitch."

Skye laughed softly and withdrew. As she retreated, she took her power with her. The separation was abrupt and painful to the large man kneeling on the floor. He gasped and fell forward, catching himself on the metal bars of his cage as his pain crashed down on him again. "N-no! Wait!"

The woman paused and looked back at him, the tiniest of smiles on her lips. "Yeah?"

Kristalay gasped and grunted, in real pain now. He looked up into her eyes again and silently pleaded for mercy. She did nothing more to ease the horrible ache in his bones, she merely waited. Kristalay put his head down and slowly put the leather collar to his neck. He was unused to the workings backwards like this and struggled to get it fastened. Skye approached him and he felt her cool white fingers touch his skin. "Yer gonna submits ta me now?"

He trembled now, torn between desire and rage. He could do this, yes. Her power could heal him, his body knew it. Just that quick blast he got from Aiden had revived him more than any of McCoy's drugs. He could get this one to restore him and then he when he was better, he would rip her throat out for making him do this. After Jael. After he was whole again.

"Yeah," Kristalay grumbled.

"You knows how this game is played, I kin see it. Yes, what?"

He shivered and the words came from his mouth like acid. "Yes, Mistress."

She just laughed again and let him feel her power once more. He gasped with relief, shivering and shaking now as his pain evaporated into nothing but bliss. The collar came tight around his throat as she cinched it closed. Her fingers traced his jawline as her hand withdrew, her thumb brushing his lips. "Yer so fuckin' beautiful. Wild. Mine."

There was a clink and the door to his cell opened. Kristalay looked at it in drunken amazement, he hadn't seen her use a key. He was dreaming, yes, it had to be. What a shame. He really would have liked to rip Jael a new one. That sick fuck deserved it for taking his powers away.

"No, this ain't no dream," his Mistress whispered gently. "Yer mines now, m' beautiful. M' lion... m' Golden Hair. Kristalay."

"Wait —! "

He was cut off when her hand covered his mouth without fear. She leaned in close and spoke to him. "You'll be quiet till I tells ya you kin speak."

Kristalay growled in anger but was silenced by a sharp slap to his face. Before he could retaliate, his brain was once more drenched in a warm fuzzy glow. She would have his complete obedience and he now gave it, stoned beyond his ability to resist. He was compliant as she next buckled a strange bracelet to his large wrist. "This is gonna cloak us. We're gonna walks right outta here, right past them guards."

He had nothing to offer, no sound was going to leave him. He stood awkwardly, numb and docile as she came close. He made no complaint as she clipped a leash to his collar and lead him away.

To be continued in Serenity