Heroes & Ghosts

by SA Payne

"Ah, Ju-Ju here, I've had here for almost six. Thinking about having her upgraded a bit while

  we're here. Darken the skin maybe, getting tired of a blonde."

  The man spoke so casually and it made Ichi ill. Until he really looked at her and saw that no one

  was there, there wasn't even a glimmer of intelligence. From day one, Ichi had seen life in Rye

  and just assumed it was normal for a Pet. The difference between how Rye was when he arrived

  and the blonde woman was as dramatic as the difference between night and day.

  "Well, now would be the time to do it." He heard himself agreeing absently.

  "Ju-Ju started out as a red head, like my first wife but well, red head isn't much fun without the personality to match."

  Ichi was saved from answering by the gold lights blinking and a lift door opening. The older man

  and the blonde moved right away but Ichi held back.

  "Coming on the tour? They say it has all the newest modifications for spring."

  "Bit crowded with four, I'll catch the next one."

  The man shrugged. "Suit yourself."

  The doors shut and on the glossy black surface the recorded woman appeared. "Another lift will be along momentarily, Mr. Vitorui."

  The wait was only a few moments but Ichi had to bite the inside of his lip to keep from bouncing

  his weight from foot to foot. They hadn't planned on running into anyone else taking the tour and

  he hadn't really been prepared to deal with having to share a lift with anyone. It would look odd to refuse to share a second time. When he thought he might scream, the lift doors opened and he

  lead them inside but he held his breath until the doors slid gently shut.

  Just as Rye had said, the third panel from the door popped open to revel a keypad and the six

  digit number Ichi quickly typed in shut the lift down. The instant the lift stopped moving Rye was

  pulling the collar off.

  "How much time do we have?"

  "Two minutes before the override clicks off and the sensors come back on." Rye pulled open the satchel and pulled out the clothing. The kilt stripped off quickly and he was pulling on the

  smuggled clothing.

  Black, which hadn't surprised Ichi but made of a light weight synthetic fabric stronger than leather and more supple. Rye pulled the pants on and they clung to his body in all the right ways and

  made Ichi forget the danger they were about to be in. All that pale skin framed around the black

  pants just made him want to do inappropriate things. Fortunately, Rye pulled on the long sleeved

  shirt of the same material and that helped him look more dangerous and remind him of where

  they were.

  "Shoes?"

  Ichi already had them out of the satchel. Again, made of the same material but with a

  detachable, reinforced sole. The pair sealed tightly and reached nearly to the knee, they offered

  the same flexibility and protection as the rest of the outfit with the added strength of the sole but with the sole removed, the pair folded flat and was easy to smuggle in.

  As Rye got his feet secured, Ichi gathered up the collar, leash and kilt and in less than two

  minutes Rye went from pet to person. "Ready?"

  He didn't trust his voice, Ichi just nodded.

  "If we're lucky, Vince hasn't been killed since Jake stole those files." Rye warned again, typing in a string of numbers. Just how Rye had the other children's access numbers Ichi hadn't asked, but

  it made sense to use one of them.

  Rye keyed in the last number and they waited. Seconds crawled by with nothing changing and

  Ichi was starting to think this was a very bad idea. The lifts were small little prisons, they were basically cornered here.

  The panel flicked to blue and the lift moved again. Rye let out the breath he hadn't known he was

  holding and nodded to Ichi. "This will let out inside of Lerman."

  "This seems too easy."

  That made Rye grin a little bitterly. "We're the only ones other than Conti to have full access.

  Trust me, for anyone else, this wouldn't be easy. If we come across anyone on the way to the

  internal lift, act like you belong. Dressed like that, with me, you'll look like a high paying client and no one will risk asking. One weakness of a secure system, once inside, everyone assumes if

  you're there, you should be there."

  Ichi had to admit, in his elegant, expensive suit looking cold and aloof and Rye all in a black

  outfit that literally moved as he breathed they did look like they belonged. A high price client and a high cost killer. No one would be foolish enough to question them, Rye looked like death on

  two legs, even unarmed.

  The lift doors opened and Ichi shouldered the satchel again. They moved and he tried to remind

  himself to look confident and important. Rye hovered near by, scanning hallways as they went

  and sure enough within moments they passed a few people. They glanced their way but their

  eyes quickly darted away at the hard look Rye gave them. None seemed surprised to see him, or

  showed any signs of knowing him, they just knew his type and knew he was higher on the food

  chain than they were.

  It took all of five minutes to cross the hallways and corridors to reach the internal lift. This one

  wouldn't even let the doors open without the proper ident code, which Rye quickly entered. The doors slid open instantly, no delays or processing this time, just as they'd always done. From

  here, he could reach the private dorms he'd been raised in or the back entrance to Conti's

  private office.

  "Remember what I said, if anything happens, you get out."

  "Rye..."

  That drew stubborn, cold grey eyes to Ichi. For a heartbeat more they stayed cold and then with

  a sighed breath they melted. "Love you."

  "Rye..." but before he could say anything more, the lift doors opened and Rye strode out into the plain, elegantly and simply decorated, waiting room. A few chairs lined the warm wood paneled

  walls, soft carpet lined the floors. A door stood at the far end, sealed with a keypad waiting next to it.

  Only, the room wasn't empty. Standing between them and the door was a slender blonde man.

  His hair was cut short, not quite military short but too short to get a grip on. He had the general generic ordinary look of someone used to blending in and being over looked. There was nothing

  menacing about him, or overly worrisome. Ichi saw it, how the man stood, how his eyes watched

  them, the overly steady way he waited. The blonde reminded Ichi very much of Rye.

  "Vince." Rye said carefully as he stepped closer to the blonde and motioned for Ichi to move off to the side.

  "Should have known it was you, Jude. None of the other's would have the balls to use my code."

  Rye just shrugged. "Was sort of hoping you weren't home."

  "Papa said you'd been killed."

  Chapter Thirty Six:

  "Papa says a lot of things."

  Vince sniffed a little. "You look like a whore but then that was always your specialty."

  "Jealous?" Rye grinned and it was dark. "How long have you been Papa's favorite?"

  "Long enough and coming back from the dead isn't going to change that."

  "Do you like it? Being bent over his desk, him grunting like an animal?"

  There was just the slightest of narrowing to Vince's blue eyes. "It's his right."

  "Bullshit. He's an animal."

  "You owe him better than that." Vince spat back but there was just a touch of doubt to the voice.

  "No, I don't. He made me into a Pet, Vince, instead of killing me, where's the honor in that? And when he cast me aside he took you in my place. I don't want to kill you Vince, just step aside."

 
Rye shifted his balance just a little but Vince saw it.

  "You know I can't do that."

  "You could, you're human you know. He doesn't own us, we aren't property."

  "He's our father! Have you forgotten that?"

  "A father that fucks his own children and throws them away to be killed is no father! Haven't you ever wanted more?" Rye asked but it was Mica's voice, begging and distant that he heard

  pleading with him as he was pleading with Vince.

  "Since when does it matter what we want? Our place is to obey, not question." But there was longing there, under the proper, programmed answer.

  "Last chance, Vince, step down."

  "Can't."

  Rye nodded and made sure Ichi was off to the side. "One favor?"

  "If I can."

  "If you take me down, walk him out. He's innocent here, I've blackmailed him into helping me."

  "You're a horrible liar." Vince grinned but he shrugged. "So long as he goes quietly, he's no threat."

  "Thank you."

  "Welcome." The kindness in Vince's tone was betrayed by him pulling a knife from a sheath that was attached to his waistband.

  "I'm unarmed." Rye tried to guilt the man into evening the odds.

  "Mores the pity for you."

  Vince scuttled forward, his feet shuffling along the soft flooring without lifting and his eyes never left Rye. Vince was good, they all were good. Training and the years had weeded out all but the

  best. This would be no simple fight between barely trained pirates, this would be a real fight. One that Rye hadn't had to face in over a year, not since before his latest modifications and while

  double terminated nerve endings made Ichi's touch extraordinary, they made pain horrible.

  The knife slashed out in a tight controlled arch, one Rye easily avoided. "Please, don't insult me."

  That made Vince smile broadly. "Just thought you might have gone soft."

  "You wish."

  There was no need for further bantering. The two men were confident to the point of arrogance

  for good reason. When Vince attacked again, the blade slashed with blinding speed and it was

  followed with fluid, quick movements. Rye dodge but it wasn't with the same ease as the first

  attack. He ducked one slash and the blade came close enough that a few strands of dark red hair

  fluttered to the floor.

  Rye kicked out and Vince blocked and brought the blade around faster than Rye remembered

  him being able to move. The edge drew sharply toward Rye and he was able to brush it aside

  with his arm. Only that cut his arm open and he hissed at pain that he never would have even

  felt before. Vince was careful and gave Rye virtually no mistakes to exploit. The blonde's

  reaction time was as good as Rye remembered and the pair moved around the room like a pair

  of dancers.

  With a quick grab, Rye caught Vince's wrist and spun them so the man's back was to his chest.

  He held the arm and blade out aware from them both, struggling to overpower the other man.

  Vince's free hand lashed back and Rye managed to catch it in time, locking the elbow into a joint

  lock that would have had another person begging for mercy. Rye knew better, he knew Vince

  wouldn't even flinch until the joint was broken.

  Blood slid down to Rye's arm to the hand that was holding the blade away. As they struggled,

  locked together by will and temper, Rye felt his grip slipping. Vince groaned and yanked, nearly

  breaking his elbow but the hand holding the blade popped free from Rye's grip. Without pause,

  he brought his freed arm back, smashing an elbow into Rye's face.

  The pain was blinding, it was just a black eye, at most, but Rye saw stars. He was going to have

  to adjust to the new sensations and adjust quickly or he knew he stood no chance at all. With a

  startled cry Rye let go of Vince and stumbled backwards, shaking his head to clear his head.

  A heartbeat was all he had, Vince pressed his advantage. The blade drew blood again and a

  third time, slashing along Rye's back and across a leg. Each line Rye offered to the knife earned

  him a blow to Vince and he was pleased to see that the blonde wasn't unaffected. One quick

  punch had bloodied and most likely broken the other's nose and if the last kick Rye managed to

  land hadn't broken a couple of ribs, he was in trouble.

  At least Ichi had the sense to be elsewhere. Whenever Rye glanced for the man out of the

  corner of his eye Ichi was safely out of reach. He'd made the man promise to not do anything

  stupid and since Ichi didn't even know how to throw a punch let alone fight or keep himself alive,

  that meant avoidance. Which was good because Vince was taking all his concentration and at

  least it was Vince, the man wasn't likely to attack Ichi so long as Ichi stayed out of his way.

  A kick lashed out and Rye missed seeing the warning because half his attention was on Ichi.

  Vince's boot caught Rye's knee and the joint lit up in pain. Rye dropped like a rock, falling hard

  onto the carpet. He rolled as he hit and it carried him away, staining the carpet in smears of

  blood. Only now when he came back up his knee hurt too much to hold his weight.

  Vince smiled a little as Rye tried to balance his weight on his good leg. The man he'd known and

  grown up around wouldn't have flinched at such a minor blow. That was one of the reasons Rye

  had always been in the top, even half dead he'd been too stubborn to give in. To see him limping

  was encouraging and made Vince double his attack.

  The damaged leg slowed Rye down, making him almost clumsy. Vince landed another kick but

  Rye managed to deflect the follow up punch tossed his way. To dodge it, Rye twisted his knee

  and something popped. He felt it, heard it and the pain blinded his vision and turned his

  stomach. All Rye wanted to do was fall down and not get back up but Vince was still advancing

  and the knife thrust out sharp and deadly toward Rye.

  The knife was going to gut him. Rye saw the angle, knew he didn't have the focus or strength to

  get away before that sharp point ended up in his stomach. He did the only thing he could do, he tossed up his arm and let the blade find a home there. It took a second but it felt like forever for the blade to slid between the bones of his arms. Rye screamed and had enough presence of

  mind to hit Vince's wrist with his free hand. The blonde's grip spasmed and he released his hold

  on the hilt of the knife.

  Rye let his body fall. His knee refused to work, his body glowing in pain. He cradled his impaled

  arm close to his chest but still could feel when the impact of his body hitting the carpet made the blade vibrate. The pain stole his breath and there wasn't anyway Rye could get back up and

  keep fighting. He was down and was going to stay down and as he lay where he'd fallen, trying to

  catch his breath and clear his vision. Rye had barely enough thought left to hope that Vince

  would be honorable and not harm Ichi.

  "You have gotten soft." Vince said as he came closer. With one booted foot he kicked the arm with the knife in it away from Rye's body, nearly making the man black out. "Time I remember,

  this would be barely a scratch for you."

  Vince brought his booted foot down on Rye's wrist, pinning it in place as he leaned down. One

  hand wrapped around the hilt of the blade and tugged the blade from Rye's arm. Rye gritted his

  teeth but still he screamed, vision fading this time but not going black. Every fraction of metal

  that left his flesh he could feel and there seemed no way to adjust to the higher sensitivity Conti had forced on him.

  The
blade finally slid free and Vince frowned. "I'll make it quick, you deserve that much."

  Rye wasn't sure that was something he could thank the other man for. Before, before Ichi, he

  would have, a quick clean death was all any of them had wanted but now he had something

  worth holding on for. All he wanted was just another moment, another breath, to love Ichi but he

  knew emotion and sentiment would mean little to Vince. Emotion wouldn't have moved Rye

  before and it wouldn't move Vince now.

  Movement behind Vince caught Rye's eye but it was too sudden for him to register. Which was

  good because it meant it was too sudden for Vince to register, the blonde had a half second to

  notice Rye glance behind him but that was all the warning he got. One of the heavy wood chairs

  that lined the wall came crashing down, splintering over Vince's neck and back. It knocked the

  blonde down, the blade falling from startled fingers as he tried to brace himself on his hands and

  not fall flat on his face on top of Rye.

  "What the hell?" Vince swore as he pushed himself up, more startled than hurt.

  Rye shivered. "Ichi!"

  Vince was moving as soon as he was on his feet, angry that the bookish looking man he'd

  pegged as no threat at all had managed to land any blows on him. Worse, he'd be picking

  splinters out of his neck and head for the rest of the day and all because he'd assumed the man

  was merely an ally and nothing more to Rye.

  Ichi scurried backwards, hands clutching the satchel and trying to look helpless. Rye had spent

  days telling them that only a handful of the people he'd worked with at Lerman actually killed for

  pleasure, it was just a job to the rest, and if they thought Ichi wasn't a threat they'd leave him

  alone. He'd schooled Ichi to look as non-threatening as possible, to stay out of the way but Rye

  had screamed. Killer or not, Vince had made Rye scream and Ichi simply couldn't stand by and

  watch his love be murdered without doing something. Even if all it accomplished was his own

  death, he had to try to do something.

  Vince caught Ichi easily, one hand going around the slender neck. He pushed, hard and

  slammed the slender man back into the wall. The impact made Ichi's head crack loudly against

  the wood paneling.