Chapter 3
The Butterfly or the Moth?
Two days later
Katze was starting to get frustrated. He had checked every common mongrel hangout in Midas and Ceres and he still had not seen a glimpse of Vincent. He started to wonder if Vincent was even still alive considering how frail he looked. Though very good-looking, he was definitely not tough like other mongrels. Katze wondered what Omaki saw in him. He was the polar opposite of Riki, at least personality-wise.
For all his assurance that Vincent was simply picky about his sexual partners, Katze had the feeling that Vincent was every bit as frigid as his attitude suggested. But then again, Omaki would likely take delight in a challenge.
Katze sighed and leaned against the side of a building on the outskirts of Midas, just before the Midas/Ceres boundary line. He started to pull out a cigarette when the vague sound of footsteps running distracted him. The footsteps came closer, followed by several more and what seemed to be shouting in the alley between the two buildings. All at once, a young mongrel came skidding out of the alley, a gang of tough mongrels in hot pursuit.
"Come back here, you little shit!" One of the Toughs called out.
"Yeah, you think you can trespass in our territory without paying the proper tax?" laughed another thug.
Katze's eyes widened in excitement, recognizing Vincent immediately. Apparently he had been in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Katze calmly stood up straight, watching as Vincent ran in his direction, three mongrels on his tail. As Vincent passed him, Katze reached out quickly and grabbed his upper arm, causing Vincent to skid to a stop.
"Let go, they're after me!" Vincent yelled, panicking, trying to pull his arm away.
"Calm down, I have this." Katze said placidly, turning to face the thugs.
"Hey, get your own fucktoy, he's ours!" the leader shouted at Katze, coming to a stop.
Katze just smiled and in an instant, plowed his fist into the mongrels stomach. The leader collapsed on the ground, clutching his stomach and coughing. As his minions stood flabbergasted, Katze delivered a round-house punch to one of them, causing him to fly backwards.
"Hey, you can't fucking do that to the Jeeks!" the last punk screamed, trying to aim a punch at Katze's face. Katze gracefully dodged and mercilessly kicked the tough between his legs with all his might. The mongrel gave an agonized scream and collapsed on the ground.
Vincent stared in awe as his tormentors lay writhing in agony on the ground.
"Hey thanks for the help Katze". Vincent offered rather weakly.
Katze shrugged. "No problem. I'm actually glad I ran into you, I have something to talk to you about. Let's go to my place. My car is parked over there".
Twenty minutes later
Vincent was sitting on Katze's couch in his Midas apartment, waiting rather impatiently for Katze to explain what he wanted to talk about. Daryl, Katze's lover and another of Iason Mink's former attendents, was out visiting some friends.
Katze sat down opposite him. He offered him a cigarette. Vincent shook his head. "I don't smoke, thanks".
Katze laughed. "Yes, they do call you Saint Vincent for a reason, don't they?"
Vincent bristled at this but said nothing. "You said you had something to talk to me about?"
Katze lit his cigarette and inhaled and exhaled a cloud of smoke before answering.
"Actually yes. I have a proposition that could change your entire life. I have a "friend" who would like to meet with you. He's is willing to offer you a chance to decide your destiny, if you are willing to trust him."
Vincent's eyes narrowed a bit, but also felt a flicker of interest. "So what is this "friend" expecting me to do? Work in the Black Market with you? And I'm quite sure he's not making this offer for free. So what's the catch?"
Katze chuckled. "A healthy dose of skeptism. A very good trait to have in the slums. But I think you need to speak to him yourself. I can guarantee that he won't harm you though, if that's what you are thinking."
Vincent was silent for a minute, thinking this over. "So when can I meet this friend that you claim can change my life?"
"I can arrange for a meeting tonight if you like."
"Then I agree to meet with this guy" Vincent answered with a sigh. "It's not like I have much to lose".
Katze was pleased Vincent had agreed so quickly and got out his phone and dialed Omaki.
"Omaki here".
"I found him. He's agreed to meet you tonight." Katze answered.
"Ah! Good, good. Have him meet me here tonight at 8 at Depravities". Omaki exclaimed, pleased.
"Will do. I'll bring him myself".
"Excellent, thank you Katze". With that, Omaki cut the transmission.
"Okay, you can stay here until tonight and I'll drive you to Depravities at a bit before 8. Until then, just make yourself comfortable. Care for a drink? I have a bottle of White Moon if you prefer wine over the cat piss they call stout".
Vincent grinned. "Ooh, look who has gotten himself all fanci-fied!".
"Indeed. And you could have a better life than you ever dreamed of if you are willing to agree to my friend's terms".
The grin faded from Vincent's face and he frowned. "I hope he's not planning on having me do anything immoral. If it has to do with trafficking pets, forget it."
"No, it's nothing like that. He'll explain when you meet him" Katze replied, though he was worried that Vincent would not be too thrilled at the prospect of becoming a pet. But then, it would only be for one year and citizenship would be guaranteed. Maybe it would be good for him, get him to break out of his shell.
And there is no doubt that Omaki was very handsome, one of the most beautiful Blondies that Jupiter had ever created. If there was anyone who could transform the drab caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly, it would be Omaki.
But then again, the drab caterpillar could also metamorph into an equally drab moth.
Which one was Vincent?
