Pedestal – An Ensnared Adventure
by DL Warner ©2019
“Do you really believe that Grandfather will destroy
those publishers? Andreas asked before sipping his cognac.
Darius kissed the frown between his Consort's brows. He
looked in those green-gold eyes levelly.
“Absolutely. Unless I can find an alternative that he is
willing to accept,” Darius replied. “Lord Maceo does not make idle threats.”
“I thought he said those books were funny.”
“The word he used was laughable,” Darius corrected.
“Oh, yeah. That's not the same thing.”
Andreas sipped his drink thoughtfully.
“Why is he upset over these books and not the first ones
about you and me?”
Darius laughed softly, confusing Andreas.
“Lord Maceo never read those books,” Darius explained.
“He was teasing you.”
“What?!”
Darius smiled devilishly.
“You are beyond adorable when exasperated...like now.”
Before Andreas could bristle, Darius leaned over to kiss
him soundly.
“Do you think a kiss will smooth everything over?”
Andreas demanded breathlessly.
A wicked glint appeared in those ice-blue eyes. And that
smile returned.
“No? Well, I'm just getting started,” Darius murmured.
In the next instant, Andreas found himself on his back
with his arms held over his head by one large, warm hand. Meanwhile, that hot,
diabolical Cosi mouth seemed to be everywhere he was the most sensitive. Of
course, the blasted man was tormenting Andreas by leisurely exploring instead
of moving things along. It was in his mind to yell at Darius, but all thoughts
scattered as that tongue went south of his belly button.
Andreas was lost in waves upon waves of pleasure
cresting through his trembling body when Darius took his erection deep inside
his mouth. Andreas tried to arch his body upward toward the source of the
intense pleasure, but the warm weight of his Cosi held him still. And then,
Andreas was crying out as a jolt of pleasure sizzled his nerves and robbed him
of breath. There was a little time for Andreas to recover. He felt Darius' gaze
upon him. His Cosi was waiting for a sign. After a deep breath or two, Andreas
nodded.
Andreas really wanted to help, but his limbs felt heavy and weak. That was no issue for Darius. He deftly maneuvered Andreas and began to
push inside him in what seemed like one move. Once again, the Young Lord was
breathless from the near painful pleasure of his Cosi moving in him. Though he
couldn't keep up with Darius, Andreas deeply enjoyed the intense intimacy
between them.
The details after Darius climaxed with a growl were fuzzy,
but Andreas remembered nuzzling his Cosi's chest before dropping into a deep sleep.
“What is going on, Brothers?” Mykos asked mildly over
his breakfast coffee.
“Hmm? Why?” Darius asked.
“You are extremely distracted, and Andreas seems vexed
at you,” Mykos replied. “But that isn't possible.”
“Says who?” Andreas retorted.
“Are you vexed with me, beautiful Consort?” Darius asked
in his sweetest tone.
“No, but I could be,” Andreas replied.
“I give up,” Mykos murmured, picking up his fork to eat
breakfast.
“We're pondering a way to keep Lord Maceo from
destroying the publishers of those tawdry books,” Darius said.
“Ah, yes,” Mykos said. “Though his ire is justified, we
cannot allow him to undo the goodwill we've earned with the public.”
They ate in thoughtful silence for a few moments.
“Pardon me, milords,” Lexo said. He was tidying the
buffet table during their discussion. “Might I make a suggestion?”
“Certainly,” Darius replied.
“From what I understand from the Staff Trainees foolish
enough to ask us,” Lexo began. “Fans of these tomes believe there is a lot of
truth within the stories. They've asked our core staff how much we told the
writers. I assume they wanted even more lurid details.”
“How did they react when they found out the actual
truth?” Andreas asked.
“When they finally believed us, they were quite put out
over being hoodwinked,” Lexo replied. “Perhaps, if you press upon the
publishers to print a detailed disclaimer on each cover going forward.”
“I see,” Darius said. “The disclaimer must make clear
that there is no basis for the depictions in the books beyond the author's
dubious imagination.”
“It should be very clear that no one from our household
answered questions, nor submitted information,” Mykos added.
“And if they try to be slick and imply that there is
truth to the story?” Andreas asked.
“They will face fraud charges,” Darius replied. “Or
worse.”
“Grandfather,” Andreas said with a wry smile.
“No, your sad eyes on everyone's entertainment screens
talking about betrayal of your family's privacy after all you've been through,”
Darius said before attacking his bacon.
“That's brutal,” Mykos chuckled. “Thank you, Lexo.”
“You are most welcome, milords,” he replied, then exited
to the kitchen.
Andreas wasn't certain that his Grandfather would go
along with the plan, but that worry did not prevent him from enjoying his
breakfast. This was the last bit of quiet they would enjoy until late in the
evening. Lunch and dinner were always working meals. Along with the department
heads that needed to give progress reports, Darius and Mykos were checking on
how the teams were using the Keepers' extraordinary gift.
Two weeks prior, an envoy from the Keepers arrived with
a report and some amazing new technology. Darius was surprised by the reverent
demeanor of the envoy and shocked by the tone in Lady Athena's message. She was
warm and excited about the data Doc Jergen was sending the Keepers a few times
a week. He, Andreas, and Mykos listened to Lady Athena praise the Doc's team and
how thorough their translations were.
Andreas remembered gaping at the view screen
incredulously. Darius called her attitude a seismic shift from the violent
encounter they'd had a few months before.
“The translations were so complete that I was able to
make a contribution to this effort far sooner than expected,” Athena said with
a brightness the trio hadn't thought possible from her. “The devices in the crate our Envoy
brought are for you and your staff to use. A score more awaits in the shuttle.”
Darius opened the cargo box with great curiosity while
Odigos appeared at their sides with one of his scanning devices. Once he gave
an affirmative nod, they each picked up a device.
“They are translators,” Darius murmured. “We used them
to read archaic tongues in our studies.”
“I know you recognize the insta-trans,” Athena said. “I
was able to create a database for the primary language found in Nikae. These
devices have the ability to scan and translate instantaneously, allowing you all
to read signage even at a distance.
“Please, distribute them to everyone working in Nikae. I
won't know how well they hold up until they are tested in the field,” Athena
said. “Thank you, Brothers, for this tremendous opportunity. I look forward to
visiting this fascinating site in the very near future.”
Darius and Mykos looked to Andreas to decide if her
unexpected words were sincere. Andreas shrugged.
“I can't read anyone from a
recording, but I can tell that her words weren't forced,” Andreas said. “Her
enthusiasm is real.”
“Athena is an Oracle – one
of the most powerful to become a Keeper,” Mykos said. “This is the best way to
aid in our research.”
“Let's test them. I have an
idea,” Andreas said.
He went to the nearest exit
to the main corridor. There was a sign in the old language above the one
Andreas had placed throughout the building indicating emergency exits. After
pressing the power button, he pointed the device toward the older sign.
“In the event of an
emergency, do not use the elevators,” the voice instructed. “Emergency lights
will guide the way to the nearest stairwell.”
“Excellent!” Darius grinned.
After a quick staff meeting
to distribute the insta-trans units, Darius contacted Doc Jergen to assemble
his team at the University Library Conference Room while Mykos called Alethia,
their Press liaison, to contact the Pool Reporters impromptu press conference.
And just that quickly, a
quiet day was turned into an hours-long media event. None of them minded. Doc
Jergen's reaction was worth any kind of inconvenience.
“That dear Lady!” he smiled
tearfully. “She didn't just send handheld devices. She also sent dozens of desk
units that can scan, translate and store whole books faster than we ever
could.”
“I had no idea that you were
speaking to her so often,” Darius said.
“Well, I knew her
cooperation was essential to our success,” Jergen explained. “I thought it best
to personally update her on our progress as often as possible. Once she
understood the ancient language, those meetings were often a delightful
exchange of ideas. Lady Athena has been a positive influence on our comprehension
of the data. This will catapult us ahead of schedule.”
“You won her over big time,
Doc,” Andreas said. “Great work.”
“As soon as these are
distributed, I will place a quick call to thank her,” Jergen said.
“Meanwhile, we'll meet with
the Pool Reporters and give them an overview of the devices,” Mykos said. “This
development will likely cause curiosity about the Keepers. It's best to refer
all inquiries about them to us.”
“I quite agree, milord,”
Jergen said. “They couldn't begin to understand what the Lady and I talk
about.”
“You can tell them that,”
Andreas chuckled. “Lady Athena said something about seeing us soon. Is she
coming here?”
“She's talked about it,”
Jergen replied. “I think she means to inquire with your Lordships about secure
accommodations for her, some of the Keepers and their staff. I've already
informed her that she can choose anywhere in the city to research and the Chief
will see to securing the area.”
“We've planned for the
Keepers to stay in the third tower to our base complex,” Mykos said.
“When you next speak to her,
tell her we need only a little notice to ready for their arrival,” Darius said.
“And Iskyros and I have a
plan to secure their work areas,” Odigos said.
“Lady Athena can have as
much interaction with the people here as she wants,” Andreas said.
“I plan on calling her in a
little while to personally thank her for these gifts,” Jergen said. “I'll pass
along the information.”
“Thanks, Doc,” Andreas said.
As the four made their way
back to the center tower to meet with Alethia and the reporters, Andreas had
Odigos summon a Page to take devices to Zed Club East, Chef Alara's Nikae
Grill, and some of the shops along the shopping arcade. The vendors had been at
the end of the queue for translations of books and manuals found in those
places, hampering the study of the culture and economy of Nikae. The House Band
was in town. The members were anxious about translating song lyrics. Mykos
hadn't thought that was as essential as other areas of study, but Darius had
sided with Andreas. He said that popular songs accurately measure the mood of a society. Andreas also felt that music was a great way to engage everyone on
the Homeworld as well as the colonies. None of them realized that it would be
music that caused the first big crisis for them in their new roles.
Alethia was as excited as
the half dozen reporters in the Briefing Room that was set up adjacent to the
Pool Reporters' Offices.
“Of course, the first thing
we did was read all the signs in the Shopping Arcade,” she chuckled as she led
them to the podium.
“We have more delightful
surprises to announce,” Darius smiled. “If I may have your attention.”
He spoke softly in that
melodious voice Andreas loved. The reporters were watching them, so it didn't
take much to begin the briefing. Darius explained who and what the Keepers were
to the Cosi in the simplest way possible. Next, there was a short history of
how the Insta-trans was used in Cosi studies. Finally, Darius detailed how Doc
Jergen and Lady Athena worked together on the database used in the devices.
“In addition to the
Insta-trans, desktop machines are being set up in the archives of News
Companies and cultural magazines,” Mykos said. “Feel free to schedule sessions
to explore the issues of the day in Nikae and how its people spent their money
and time.”
Andreas sensed the surprise
and excitement that nearly crackled through the room. But there was an
unexpected attitude as well. It was concern and distrust. Andreas reached out
with his mind to sync with Darius and Mykos so they would sense what he knew.
That was fortunate or the next question would have taken them by surprise.
“I beg your pardon,
milords,” Evan Odell from Dilogos Daily said. “Why is it that we've
never heard of these Keepers before now?”
“Until now, the Keepers
never interacted with anyone outside of the Cosi Compound,” Darius replied.
“They are the Keepers of Knowledge and Histories. Their primary role is to
gather and store information from throughout the Known Worlds.”
“They also give guidance to
Cosi teachers and scholars on interpretations of the Sacred Texts,” Mykos
added.
“Doctor Jergen's work is so
vital that the Keepers decided it would be faster to liaise directly with him,”
Darius explained. “Their work resulted in this breakthrough in just a couple
of months.”
Odell was not satisfied. He
seemed to think that he'd discovered the true power behind the Cosi.
“Will the Keepers ever come
to Nikae, milords?” He asked.
“That appears likely,” Mykos
replied.
“Will they be available for
interviews, milords?” He asked.
“That is unlikely,” Darius
replied levelly. “Any visit to Nikae would be for first-hand observation and
research. I doubt we will see much of them outside of the University.”
“Shouldn't they be available
for interviews as you are for the sake of transparency, milords?” Odell
demanded.
Mykos shot him a warning
glare and the man shrank back a little.
“In Cosi society, the Leader
is selected with the input of the Keepers to be their representative beyond The compound,” Darius explained placidly. “They rely on Me and my Second for tasks
such as this. Thank you for your time. Good day.”
His voice remained pleasant, but there was an edge to it. Mykos' gaze had turned ice cold. There were no
follow up questions. Alethia was mortified as they made their way to their
offices in the Middle Tower.
“There is no need for you to
apologize,” Darius assured her. “The curiosity about the Keepers is
understandable. But it has to be firmly managed.”
“I take it they would be
less than open to talking to reporters, milords,” she said with a nervous
chuckle.
“Anyone who isn't Cosi,”
Andreas quipped. “Lady Athena may have someone beaten for saying hello.”
Mykos laughed. Darius raised
a brow at both of them.
“Very cheeky but quite
true,” Darius admitted ruefully.
Alethia exhaled, closing her
eyes.
“Okay, this is a problem for
another day, milords,” Alethia said. “The editors are going to want those
reporters to do full stories on how the devices work and cover their potential.
We may need Doc Jergen at some point.”
“He's always down for that,”
Andreas smiled. “Just make sure that Odell guy doesn't try to grill him about
the Keepers.”
“I'll put a bug in the
editors' ears about how much there is in the Archive that would make amazing
news stories,” she said confidently. “That will keep them occupied for some
time.”
“Perfect,” Darius smiled.
Alethia grinned back.
Andreas was no longer amazed at how happy their staff was to make a Cosi smile.
His stomach still fluttered each time Darius smiled at him. That crisis was
averted. There was still his Grandfather to deal with. Fortunately, the book
publishing company issue could be put to rest that day. Lord Maceo accepted an
invitation to lunch.
Though he was
typically busy with his own research on the Cosi who ran Nikae, Lord Maceo was
always up for a visit. He especially enjoyed meeting in the restaurant on
the rooftop terrace where Darius held lunch and dinner briefings. Andreas
couldn't blame him. The Terrace Oasis as they called it, had a view of the
amazing structures clustered across Nikae all the way to the port and the sea
beyond. The dark wood and forest green accents along with the large windows
were pleasant and comfortable. That day, it was too cool to open the windows to
the terrace, but the blazing fire in the central hearth made the room warm and
cozy. It was the perfect setting for a family meal and a serious discussion.
Lord Maceo was smiling when
he swept into the room ahead of his security detail.
“Andreas,” he murmured while
hugging him close.
“Hey, Grandpa,” Andreas said
happily.
“Congratulations, Darius,”
he said as they seated themselves. “I never imagined Athena lifting a finger to
help this cause, let alone crafting a unique Insta-trans.”
“I'd love to take credit,
but it was Doctor Jergen who inspired her work,” Darius replied as he poured
wine for the table. “We were as surprised as you are.”
“That is stunning,” Maceo
murmured. “It makes the victory even sweeter.”
Andreas rolled his eyes at
the chuckling Cosi as Chiron rolled out the salad course.
The amazing food came from
central kitchens deep in the vast underground complex that supported the
Towers. A group of Amara and Kacia caterers made most of the meals for everyone
working in Nikae, but only their staff served them when sensitive matters were
discussed.
“To what do I owe the
singular pleasure of this invitation?” Maceo asked once they started to eat.
“We believe we have found a
solution to the problems of the so-called novelizations of our lives and
romances,” Darius said.
“If this works, the books
may go away completely,” Andreas added.
“Really? That would be quite
a feat,” Maceo said with interest. “What is your plan?”
“Apparently, the prospect of
the narratives being even the least bit true is what makes them such a hot
item,” Darius began. “I am going to decree that a disclaimer must appear on all
the covers of these books clearly stating that the depictions are in no way
based on facts.”
“The wording must be crystal
clear that no writer or editor ever spoke to any of us or any of our staff,”
Mykos added. “Failure to comply or attempting to subvert the disclaimer will
mean forfeiture of their companies. Or worse.”
Maceo chewed thoughtfully
before speaking. Andreas had yet to pick up his fork.
“I understand,” Maceo
murmured. “If readers know the books are made out of thin air, they will no
longer be appealing.”
“Exactly so,” Darius said.
“Milos actually said that he
could make up something far better on his own,” Maceo chuckled.
“That's probably what will
happen,” Andreas said. “They will spin their own tales among just themselves.”
“Very well,” Maceo said.
“When will you insist that they adopt this disclaimer?”
“The decree will go out
today,” Darius replied. “But the order takes effect for the next print runs
of the titles. Anything else would be unreasonable.”
“Quite true,” Maceo
admitted. “This seems to be a good solution. Thank you for indulging my
concerns.”
“Of course, milord,” Darius
said easily. “I value your perspective. We are striving to be more open and
approachable, but there must be boundaries.”
“I concur,” Maceo said. “You
three are on a pedestal and must stay there by the will of the Watchers. There must
be a high cost for trespass upon your privacy.”
Darius considered that as the main course was served. Andreas loved the Nikae version of fish stew. There
were new types of firm-fleshed fish and plenty of well-known and loved
shellfish. Roasted vegetables gave the broth a bit of sweetness and small potatoes
made it hearty. Crusty dark brown bread spread with sweet butter completed the
meal. The table was silent for a while as each of them enjoyed the soup. No
matter how serious the discussion, they always took the time to enjoy the food.
That stew was amazing. It was worthy of quiet focus on every nuanced flavor.
“Now that this specific
issue is settled,” Maceo said as the soup dishes were cleared away. “There is
a general issue of how open you should be to the public.”
“Yes, milord?” Darius asked.
“I admire your decision to
be more transparent, but you must take care,” Maceo continued. “If the average
man comes to believe that you are no different than he, then he will think your
opinions or rules are no more important than his own will.”
“Truly, milord?” Mykos asked
incredulously.
“I could see that
happening,” Andreas said. “I would hear all kinds of talk like that at Club Zero from
Calyx and Kacia residents when you were complete mystery.”
“What kind of talk?” Darius
asked. His tone was mild but intensely curious.
Andreas rolled his eyes.
“Drunk talk,” Andreas
replied ruefully. “Why was it that the Cosi still had such a hold on the
universe? Are they still that special? I think that came from booze and a lack
of belief in the Watchers.”
“I don't believe that is
still an issue,” Maceo chuckled. “But you were put on pedestals for a reason.
Be careful not to step down or allow yourself to be knocked off.”
Darius nodded. They were
thoughtful throughout the lovely dessert of warm, moist cake with a dollop of
whipped cream.
“Your advice is sound,
milord,” Darius said. “We will be as transparent as we can about our work, but
our personal lives will be private. When we have special occasions, the people
will see our 'official' selves.”
“Sounds good to me,” Andreas
admitted. “I need a place where I know that no one is staring at me.”
“I stare at you,” Darius
said affably while licking his spoon.
“As do I,” Mykos added
equally affably.
“I must confess to indulging
as well,” Maceo murmured with a hint of a smile.
“I meant strangers,
you...Cosi,” Andreas muttered.
Darius smiled his most
dazzling smile before reaching out to take Andreas' hand. He gently kissed the
back of that hand. Andreas glared back while the other Cosi chuckled. Despite
his annoyance, Andreas was relieved. Both parts of their discussion could have
ended badly. Neither Cosi was accustomed to being told what to do. Andreas was
convinced that Darius and his Grandfather trusted each other. That made him
feel lighthearted. They adjourned their meeting after a rich, aromatic cup
of coffee. Andreas went back to work feeling the publishing issue was settled.
Of course, Lord Maceo proved
to be a wily opponent. Rather than waiting for the print run to sell out, he
bought the print run for all the titles so that the publishers would be
obligated to put the decreed disclaimers on the covers much sooner than anyone
thought. The new disclaimers caused a brief media frenzy over whether the publishers were forced by the Cosi to cover up the salacious truth. However,
that died down after the authors and publishers admitted in interviews that the
facts were conjured in a conference room then handed out as assignments.
Interests in the books dropped off as predicted.
While Alethia fretted about
reporters pushing back over being thwarted in their efforts to peer inside the
private lives of the Cosi, Darius did not share her concern. However, he didn't
object when Odigos suggested random electronic sweeps for surveillance
equipment everywhere they frequented. Andreas along with the rest of his tight
circle went back to work and their insta-trans.
The work became all-encompassing
for a time in the days after Lady Athena's gift. Immediate comprehension set
off a reading frenzy for all personnel working in Nikae. While Doctor Jergen and
his colleagues read thick tomes on all manner of weighty topics, the service
staff read gossip magazines. Darius and Mykos were drawn to government documents and were often joined by Lord Maceo. Andreas seemed to be studying
all aspects of the Nikae at once. That did not surprise Darius. His beautiful
Consort took his role as a bridge between all casts very seriously. Still, it was
amusing to look over across the seriously shiny conference room table to find
Andreas reading about some strangely dressed yet somehow half-naked media
celebrities.
“Are you considering
that...style of dress, Brother?” Mykos asked. He was using his teasing tone.
Darius smiled as Andreas
peered over the top of the magazine. One fine brow was raised over those
amazing green-gold eyes.
“I can't manage the hair
standing on end like that since mine grew out,” Andreas replied ruefully. “But
the House Band is planning on giving it a go if you really want to see that.”
“I can't wait,” Mykos
quipped dryly.
Darius chuckled even as he
kept reading.
“I can,” he murmured. “And
you, cheeky one, are never to cut that glorious mane.”
“Yes, Darius,” The voice
behind the magazine said mirthfully.
Shortly after they'd
settled, Yannis rolled a cart of afternoon refreshments to tide them over until dinner as was their custom in Nikae.
“Milords, do you know if
Doctor Jergen will be joining you for dinner?” Yannis asked. “He hasn't
answered our inquiries.”
“Have you tried Erienne?”
Andreas asked.
“Not yet, milord,” Yannis
said. “I'll give that a try.”
“Wait a sec. Has Doc made it
to dinner at all lately?” Andreas asked, annoyed that he hadn't noticed.
“He has turned up in the
Dining Hall on two occasions, milord, last week,” Yannis replied. “Chiron is certain that
he has not been to his Suite in several days.”
Darius sat up straight with
a sigh.
“Yannis, please fetch my
stationary,” Darius murmured.
“Yes, milord.”
“What are you up to,
Brother?” Mykos asked as they helped themselves to the cart full of snacks.
“Aside from ordering Doc to
dinner tonight, I am declaring a seven-day hiatus on research in Nikae,” Darius
replied. “We have been pushing too hard in the wake of the insta-trans.”
“Yes, this is true,” Andreas
nodded. “Only a fraction of the personnel is hanging out in the common areas lately compared to before the insta-trans.”
“I think a limit on the
number of hours in a day and days in the week is in order,” Darius said.
“I concur,” Mykos said as
they ate. “We were given a long time for a reason.”
“I sensed that balance is
key for the Watchers,” Andreas mused. “Any pursuit can lead to obsession.”
“Exactly so,” Darius said.
“This will be the tact my edict will take.”
Andreas blushed when Darius
smiled proudly at him. That smile grew bigger as the Cosi realized that there
was an even more delectable reason to take some time off.
“I give you credit, Brother,
for thinking of Andreas after your edict,” Mykos smiled.
Andreas glared at Mykos then
raised a brow at Darius. He was exasperated again, though the blush that swept
his cheeks revealed that he shared the same thoughts. They each had to set
aside their designs for future pleasures and attend to the matter at hand.
Yannis returned shortly
after they finished eating. Darius quickly wrote an invitation to Doc Jergen
for dinner that evening. Next, he penned a three-paragraph edict that would be
disseminated to all department heads and to individuals like Lord Maceo and
Lady Erienne. All facilities beyond the complex used as Expedition Homebase
would be closed for seven days and seven nights beginning the next morning.
Darius further advised that all projects should be locked down by the time of the evening meal. He instructed Yannis to tell Doc Jergen that the advisory was an
order in his case.
“We may as well follow our
own advice and wrap up our current work before dinner,” Darius said.
“I'm going to let Magiras
and Thyno know about the busy shifts coming,” Andreas said.
“Would you let Chef Allaire
know as well?” Mykos asked.
“Of course. And I'll grab
some reservations,” Andreas said. “I know the House Band will be stoked. They
have dance music from Nikae to perform.”
“Really?” Darius asked with
a smile.
“They've been working with
the head of Contemporary Music from Amara University,” Andreas chuckled. “The
performances and recordings will be part of a scholarly presentation. It's
wild.”
“That is the kind of synergy
we were hoping for,” Darius said.
“I don't know about
Synergy,” Andreas quipped. “They're calling it Nikae Funk.”
“I can't wait,” Mykos said.
“And me without my dancing partner.”
Andreas was laughing as he
and Odigos left the Conference Room.
“I know that look, Brother,”
Mykos said, shaking his head. “You're ready to begin your break right now.”
“Not quite this instant,”
Darius said with a raise of his brow. “Let's check in with Amara first.”
Mykos rolled his eyes.
Andreas knew that his workday
was basically over. Darius would be home and in his lounging clothes before he
and Odigos reached the vast Atrium Arcade. Their home base was a gigantic
complex. It took nearly an hour to stroll around the perimeter of the rooftop
park. The ground floor arcade was so cavernous that the Cosi had dozens of the
chariot style vehicles brought in just to get around Homebase in a timely fashion.
Meanwhile, small troop transport vans took workers to and from the University.
As Odigos drove the chariot,
Andreas greeted the merchants who were leasing shops in the Arcade. None of
them were selling anything yet. They used the time to inventory and examine
each item of stock in their shops. A University Intern documented each piece
and collected representative samples for the Archive. The merchant would
deconstruct each piece to complete the details on the items and to later copy
them. In exchange for the work they did with the University staff, ZCI granted
licenses to sell copies. The fees were minimal compared to the vast sums the
vendors stood to make. Money from the fees went to a fund ZCI used for their
work in Eris. The small royalty they were to receive from the sales were for
their coffers.
“Hey, Mr. Pragg, We'll be
shutting down all work for a week starting tomorrow,” Andreas said. “Be sure to
enjoy yourself.”
“I will! Thank you, milord,”
he said with a smile and a wave.
All of the vendors looked
happy as well as surprised at the news. Andreas understood. As soon as Darius
mentioned the edict, he realized that they needed a real break. The Brothel
Owners were very pleased to hear about the expected spike in business. A couple
of the workers were lounging on benches that were placed in groups along the
length of the Arcade for tired shoppers. The quartet of attractive men and
women were seductively dressed. They eyed Chief with a great deal of interest.
“Why don't you and that
other hot soldier jog on in for a session,” One of the women said saucily as
she peered at them over her sunglasses.
Chief smirked as he shook
his head. He knew better than to answer. Telling the workers that he was
married prompted a pitch that involved numbers and combinations that had
Andreas blushing hours later. He remained ever so grateful that the Ladies
weren't present for the pitch. They would have stopped to find out how many
combinations were possible and how each of them worked to the last detail. The
young Lord shuddered at the thought.
Andreas chuckled. The
publishers of those awful books would be shocked to learn that such frank, open
talk about exotic sex acts embarrassed Andreas to no end. The Young Lord could
hardly blame them. Though he was Darius' spouse, he'd begun the relationship as
his sex slave. Andreas still considered his carnal obligations the best part of
his day. Darius could make him blush often, but he never talked about their
intimacies in such blunt terms. In fact, his Cosi never talked about what they
were going to do specifically. He preferred promises of complete and utter
exhaustion and warnings of stiff joints and sore spots the following morning.
Darius didn't need provocative language. A look from those vibrant, deep blue
eyes was enough to spark strong physical memories and intense need. Just
thinking about that look made Andreas' face hot and his trousers feel two sizes
too small.
“Bastard,” Andreas muttered
to himself as he forced his wayward mind to the matters at hand.
Club Zero East was one of
three restaurants with dance floors in the vast Home Base location. It was
twice as large as the original and reminded Andreas of a very fancy Public
House. Mykos quipped that it was Amara's idea of roughing it. Stu and Andreas liked that the space was configured in such a way that there were many corners
where groups could enjoy their company unbothered by the rest of the room. Or
there were plenty of tables for those who wanted to be seen. They could easily
see this as the spot where workers of all sorts could have fun even while
mixing with the Calix.
The renovations and
establishment of supply lines took very little time. Thus, Andreas was
surprised to find Stu along with Thyno behind the bar. The Club Manager had
worked his way up from Stu's bar back to this position. He'd been doing really
well on his own.
“Stu!” Andreas exclaimed,
moving quickly across the room to embrace his friend. “When did you get back?”
“An hour ago,” he replied as
they hugged. “I haven't even been to my Suite.”
Stu ordered drinks for both
of them and a mineral water for Odigos then they moved to a corner booth
claimed for Zed Crew, Inc. Odigos sat nearby. Andreas knew he would be
contacting Iskyros to coordinate security for the time off.
“Why didn't you call first?”
“I didn't know I was coming
until a few hours ago,” he chuckled. “The management team behind that big
Nightclub in Amara want to lease that gigantic club in the center tower, but
they wanted to see it asap. You know how the Calix are.”
“Yeah, I do,” Andreas said
with a wry chuckle. Most of the University Administrators were hard- pressed to
not treat him like a servant. “How did you manage transport out here on the fly
like that?”
“Luck,” Stu laughed as the
drinks were served. “Club Zero is seeing a lot of soldiers lately. The captains
always ask if I need a lift. I think Iskyros has Zed on a list.”
“Yes, you are,” Andreas
said. “Mykos knows we need that flexibility.”
“I think that helped with
this deal,” Stu chuckled. “I was able to get them here with prime
accommodations in a couple of hours when they've been trying for weeks.”
“Your timing is great,”
Andreas smiled. “Darius just declared seven days and nights away from work at
the University to rest and enjoy Nikae. I'm here to tell Magiras and Thryno to get
ready for a real rush.”
“That's great,” Stu said.
“I've been wanting to see this staff put through their paces, especially with
Tana still here.”
“Where is she?” Andreas
asked. “It's odd not seeing her setting up at this hour.”
“The band kept her up till
the wee hours recording their Nikae Funk tunes, Thyno said. “I told her to
sleep in.”
“That's fine,” Stu said. “We
do not need a cranky Tana during a rush.”
“Oh, no,” Andreas chuckled.
“Can I get a few copies of their recording? Erienne wants to hear it, and I
need to plan my moves.”
“I think they arranged for
copies to be sent to your suites, Boss,” Thyno smiled.
“Perfect,” Andreas grinned.
“I'm going to let Magiras know about the plan for the week. I also need to see
Chef Allaire. Then, I have to get back home.”
“Can I hitch a lift back
with you?” Stu asked. “I'm showing the Calix the space in an hour.”
“You should get them to stay
for a few days,” Andreas said. “I'm sure Darius and Mykos wouldn't mind a
working meal to get that space leased.”
“You read my mind,” he
laughed.
“And there is no need to
make an extra visit,” Stu said. “Chef Allaire is with Magiras right now.”
“Really? How long has this
been happening?” Andreas asked with a wry smile.
“Since the insta-trans
arrived,” Thyno replied. “The Mess Hall chef is here a lot as well.”
“Doc said we'd have
surprising combinations of people working together,” Andreas mused. “He'll be
jazzed.”
The kitchen was four times
the size of the one in Kacia, but the loud frenzy of dinner prep was exactly
the same. Andreas found the two men in a far corner working over a tall prep
table. They were pouring over pages from a set of huge binders with the
translating devices. They were an interesting pair. Each wore the kitchen
uniforms from the vast wardrobe of uniforms stored below the complex. Thus,
Magiras was much more formal than anyone had seen before while Allaire was far
more casual in the black, lightweight cotton tunics, slacks, and rubber soled
shoes.
“Hey, guys,” Andreas said.
“What do you have there?”
“Ah, greetings, milord,”
Allaire said.
“Hello, lad,” Magiras said.
“We're working on recipes from Nikae. We found some fancy stuff that seems to
be based on servants' food.”
“How do you know that?”
Andreas asked.
“There are handwritten notes
from the prep cooks on what the original dish was called as well as an
ingredient list for both versions, milord, Allaire replied.
“We're planning a menu of
specials that mirror each other,” Magiras said.
“Oh, man. I can't wait to
try that,” Andreas said. “Darius and Mykos will love the idea. When are you
going to make them?”
“We have a couple of dishes
down well, milord,” Allaire replied. “Our staffs enjoy both versions.”
“I was going to have Stu ask
if you and yours could visit our joints and try them out,” Magiras said.
“My timing is perfect,”
Andreas smiled. “Darius is having the Researchers take off for the next eight
days. His order is for all here to enjoy the city starting tonight.”
Both men smiled at him.
“That's my lad,” Magiras
said happily.
“We can't come tonight
because we're having guests,” Andreas said. “But we'll be here the rest of the
week.”
“May I press a bit further,
milord?” Allaire asked. “A bit of publicity for this effort would help when the
tour groups come.”
“That's easily done,”
Andreas assured them. “We'll make sure all the pool reporters come for the
specials.”
“Thank you, milord.”
“Hey, it's my job and my
pleasure,” Andreas grinned. “Catch you tomorrow.”
Odigos closed his tablet as
Andreas left the kitchen. Stu joined them as they left. He carried a small
satchel of tablets and plans as well as an overnight case. Stu kept a suite in
the Central Tower. All of Zed Crew did. The suites had a complete wardrobe of
clothes and accessories. The kitchen and bar were fully stocked. He also had access
to any type of staff he needed.
“Are you coming to dinner?”
Andreas asked.
“I hope so,” Stu replied.
“If this big fish wants to go out, I'll have to go with him.”
“We'll have a place,”
Andreas said as they parted.
“Thanks, man.”
“Hey Chief, would you like
to call your family over?” Andreas asked as they headed toward their home
suites.
“Thank you, milord, but no,”
Odigos replied ruefully. “I plan on having them come when Nikae is open for
visitors. They will be a lot to occupy their time then.”
“Okay,” Andreas smiled. “But
you know the rule for this. Make sure you and Iskyros take some time to relax.”
“I will, milord,” Chief
said.
“I'm in for the night, and
all of our guests are from this floor,” Andreas said.
“Very good, milord,” Chief
said. “I'll be with the staff until your guests return to their suites.”
Andreas nodded as he headed
inside.
“Milord, all is prepared for
your bath,” Lexo said.
“Thanks, Lexo,” Andreas
said. “Oh, we may have Stu joining us for dinner, so leave a place for him.”
“Of course, milord.”
Andreas quickly but
carefully removed his business attire. He was placing them in the dressing room
hamper when he heard soft splashing from the bathroom. The Young Lord frowned, but he moved toward the bathroom without fear or clothing. There, in the vast
sunken tub, Darius was up to his chest in fragrant suds.
“Are you part of my bath
being in readiness?” Andreas asked as he clipped his hair off his shoulders.
“I don't think the staff
knows that I'm in here,” Darius replied with a small smile.
“Milord,” Yannis called from
the intercom. “Might you know where Lord Galatea is?”
“I'm here, Yannis,” Darius
said. “I'll dress in my dressing room.”
“Very good, milord,” he
replied. Andreas could hear the amusement in the man's voice.
“You were gone longer than
expected,” Darius explained.
Andreas slid into the
wonderfully hot water next to him with a wry smile.
“I ran into some things that
I didn't expect,” Andreas countered.
Darius handed him a thick
sea sponge, then picked up one to use. This was no surprise to Andreas. They
were about to have guests. His Cosi was loathed to have anyone see his Consort
after a session of lovemaking. He meant for them to bathe together.
“Tell me what you found on
your journey to Zed Club West?” Darius asked.
“Stu, for one,” Andreas replied, then told him of the Big Fish in town to rent the giant nightclub.
“He's going to try to get the dude to stay for a few days.”
“Ah, that's a fine idea,”
Darius said. “We can host him at Chef Allaire's.”
“Especially since he and Magiras
are planning a menu with two versions of Nikae soul food,” Andreas smiled
before explaining the plan.
“What a delightful turn of
events,” Darius said with a sigh as Andreas soaped that beautifully broad back.
“You must tell us how this came about over dinner.”
“Yeah, Doc will be jazzed.”
The bath was relaxed, but
they didn't linger as they typically would at the end of their day. Darius did
steal a kiss that left Andreas cross-eyed before he strolled away to get
dressed. Somehow, Andreas managed to shake his head clear enough. The attire
was casual but not lounge clothes; though they would occasionally meet that way
late at night.
As Andreas expected, he
found Darius and Mykos standing at the floor to ceiling window in the
dining
room. They waited for the exhilarating dance of light and color that came each
day just after sundown. The park across from their base was populated with
exotic trees and fanciful structures. There were walkways around and between
them that wound to the tops. The walkways were level with the sixth floor of
the Center Tower. The colorful lights outlined the trees at first, but soon,
the colors began to shimmer, and the forms grew taller. They swayed and danced
in place as the lights grew to the height of the top floor. Each time they saw
the evening lights, a magical side of Nikae was revealed. It was in those
moments that everyone there was grateful to witness such an amazing part of
their past.
“I expect our guests will be
arriving shortly,” Mykos murmured as the show ended.
Yannis rolled out a drinks
cart while Lexo carried in a large tray of appetizers. Chiron was headed before
the door even before the bell rang. Andreas still marveled at their hearing.
Doc was the first through
the door. He was freshly showered and shaved. He was also a little sheepish
though still jovial. Stu strolled in after everyone else.
“You made it!” Andreas
smiled.
“Yeah, it was easy to get
our future tenant to stay for a few days after he saw his suite and met his
Cosi-trained staff,” Stu replied. “And then I mentioned Chef Allaire and the
new menu, and that was that.”
“I see. He'll have this new
menu before not just other Calix but the Cosi,” Andreas chuckled. “That's
serious bragging rights.”
“That's it.”
It was a perfect evening to
Andreas. The food was delicious, as always. There was a warm, relaxed feel
around the table.
The conversation was
pleasant. No one talked about the research, but everyone at the table had
discovered something about their immediate neighborhood or the university
campus that was surprising or fascinating. Before dessert was served, Andreas
had a full schedule of sights to see during their week off. Darius thought it
best to get the business dinner out of the way the next evening, so he and Stu
set up dinner at Club Zero West with the potential vendor. Before their guests
left for the evening, Darius accepted a suggestion by Yannis to have a
breakfast buffet set up for them in the Conference Room as was done during the
Winter Holidays. Thus, they could eat when they chose or linger as long as they
wanted or both.
The perfect evening ended
with a warm hug from Lord Maceo and Erienne, a wisecrack from Mykos and being
attacked by Darius as soon as their bedroom door was kicked shut.
Once he had dumped Andreas
on the bed and stripped his clothing off, Darius was interested in long kisses
and gentle lovemaking. Andreas adored seeing that side of his Cosi. It seemed
to be happening more and more often since they were married. He sighed happily
into the warm, firm chest relishing the warm, sleepiness overtaking him. Though
he knew that he shouldn't Andreas fuzzily wondered if things were going far too
smoothly.
A few weeks later, Darius,
Andreas, and Mykos were studying a sleek digital presentation crafted by
Alethia, Erienne, and Doc. Lord Maceo was also present to comment on the
package excursions the Cosi planned to offer curious and well-heeled Calix to
Nikae and the original Dig Site. After the nightclub was leased, the
applications for other venues spiked. In addition to the restaurants, night
clubs, and brothels, there were amazing places to tour in the base complex, at
the university and in the main government building. The images of the lush
gardens, waterfalls, and the nightly light show astonished Darius who saw those
wonders routinely.
“This will make even the
most jaded Calix clamor for a reservation,” Lord Maceo said confidently.
“I concur,” Darius said.
“When do we open for visitors?”
“Next month, milord,”
Alethia replied. “The week prior, we'll have a soft opening with the crew of
the Salamis.”
“Really?” Andreas smiled.
“It will be great to see them again. I'll have Zed here that week.”
“That's a fine plan,” Mykos
said. “I suggest having the Baltius brothers as well. We can get in some
business. And we cannot forget the Ladies.”
As expected, the list for
the soft opening grew in size and length of stay. Darius was openly amused even
as he made suggestions of his own. At some point during the boisterous planning
session, Alethia took a call. After a moment of listening pensively, the blood
seemed to drain from her face.
“What's wrong, Alethia?”
Andreas asked.
Concern changed to alarm as
Alethia gaped at them, unable to speak. Instead, she picked up a remote to the
Info screens, turned them on and selected Tau Mu News, one of the less savory
media outlets. Darius never watched it. Neither did anyone in their extended
household. Their programs tended to be thin on facts, but managed to stay just
on the right side of defaming anyone that could hit back.
“Oh, no,” Andreas murmured.
His Consort's understandable
distress was caused by the collage of images set to music in a promo of the
story. The images were clearly taken when Andreas and their inner circle were
unaware, and they were clearly taken in their Suites and private common areas
that should have been secure from surveillance. Andreas immediately reached out
to sync with all the Cosi present. He also signaled to Odigos to stand down for
the moment.
“There's something about the
angle and distance of the images,” Andreas said. “Let's look at the full report
so we can figure out how this was done.”
The room quieted as Mykos
dimmed the lights. Behind Ana Kyra, the Anchor, was a lurid title card that
read COSI LIVES UNFILTERED appeared over her right shoulder. Darius felt his eyebrow
go up, and Lord Maceo's ire rise.
Last night, this outlet
got the inside story to end all inside stories. While we can't reveal our
sources, you will see that this footage is not only authentic, it is far more
realistic than the highly choreographed, spoon-fed videos we've seen from the
Leadership thus far. All of the scenes were filmed during a week-long holiday
declared by Lord Galatea. The order was given ostensibly to prevent burnout of
the first wave of researchers. Whatever the reason, this time gave us the
opportunity to see how the Leadership socializes behind the scenes.
Darius remembered the first
scene fondly. Andreas and Erienne had been listening to the House Band's Nikae
Funk the prior evening. Erienne was excited because she'd seen footage of
dancing that matched the music. That afternoon, everyone in their inner circle
was enjoying the brilliant spring day on the secluded terrace connected to the
cafe on the rooftop of the center tower. The terrace seated up to 100 diners,
thus there was plenty of room for them to eat, lounge, and dance. Erienne
taught Andreas the moves as Darius and Mykos along with Doc and Lord Maceo
sipped iced fruit nectar.
“Andreas, are you certain
that you aren't working?” Lord Maceo asked mildly.
Andreas sent an exasperated
glare his way, prompting a chuckle from him. There was another, louder chuckle
at that moment. It seemed to be coming from close to the source of the
recording.
“That's Chiron,” Andreas
said over the sync.
That was confirmed by the
next thing said.
“Lord Maceo is so funny,”
Chiron said.
“He is?” the other voice
asked in a soft nervous voice.
“Oh, yes,” Chiron replied.
“Are you sure it's okay to
just stand in here?” The other voice asked.
“Of course,” Chiron replied
confidently. “We must be here to replenish drinks and take food requests.
Besides, they don't mind us hanging around.”
“Why?” The other voice asked
in surprise.
“They know we enjoy their
company,” Chiron replied simply and happily. “Let's listen to the music.”
By then, Erienne had played
the upbeat, catchy song one all the way through while Andreas listened. Darius
recalled being surprised that such fun and flirty music could come from an
underclass that was many times more oppressed than those in his society. This
song was about a known flirt who meets his match and the wild ride that
follows. It was amusing how much the song suited his beautiful Consort. Darius
had no doubt that the House Band chose it deliberately.
As the song began once
again, Andreas and Erienne mirrored each other's movements gracefully. The
image grew closer, but it wasn't a lens adjustment. The recording device moved
closer to the terrace. The faint sound of ice clinking against the glass and the wheels of a serving trolley was heard as the recorder moved closer.
“Um, I think I'll handle
this,” Chiron said. “Your hands are shaking.”
“I'm kind of nervous, I
guess.”
“That's okay. Just watch
what I do.”
Chiron passed on the outer
edge of the frame onto the terrace where he deftly refilled the glasses and
quietly took food requests. He never interrupted the performance. Andreas and
Erienne danced over in turn to put in their requests for lunch without missing
a beat. Chiron was smiling as he returned to the cafe interior.
“They should be fine for
now,” Chiron said. “I'll be right back.”
Darius strained to hear
where Chiron went to determine how long he was gone. Meanwhile, the images on screen brought back the sweet memory of that day. Andreas was beautiful
anywhere he happened to be, but against that stunning vista, he was extraordinary.
Fortunately for all concerned, that lens couldn't capture the nuances of his
Consort in motion. It couldn't capture the myriad highlights that danced in
those loose, lush waves or the sparkle glinting in his gold-green eyes as he
flirted with Darius.
Though he was angry over
this gross invasion of their privacy, Darius couldn't help smiling at the
antics of his Consort. There was a challenge in those green-gold eyes that
brought Darius to his feet and join the dancing. Maceo chuckled again at the
clear annoyance on his grandson's face at how well Darius could follow the
stops after only seeing them. Chiron laughed, then clapped softly.
The segment ended when Lexo
and Yannis rolled in the trolleys with lunch.
The next scenes were also innocuous
on the surface. They were endearing in many ways. One was of Andreas sparring
with Odigos. They were only going at half speed to keep from attracting
attention. Despite the Chief's stoic appearance, it was clear that both were
enjoying themselves. It was also clear that Andreas was a living work of art
even in his modest workout attire. Darius and Mykos were captured sparring with
staffs while Erienne playfully corrected their form. Each time, Chiron could be
heard reacting happily to every move from somewhere next to the camera. Darius
felt amusement from the Cosi connected to the sync.
The final scene began later
that same day. The Cosi households along with their staffs met up with Stu and
Mr. Xenodoch, the Nightclub Manager, in the lobby of the center Tower. A tram
was waiting with Iskyros in the driver's seat. Since there was nothing for the
camera to pick up other than the scenery, the ride to Club Zero East was filled
with Chiron's narration of the scenery along way. He knew a lot more about the
brothels than Darius thought was likely. Chiron later explained that they
purveyors kept giving him brochures which he was saving for the Ladies. Andreas
and Mykos were much amused by that notion.
The older staff like Milos, Yannis, and Lexo simply would not sit at the same table as the Cosi and their guests.
Thus, they were seated nearby at a table that was the same direction across in
the restaurant but staggered halfway up the length. Chiron and the cameraman
ended up facing the Cosi table at the Point where Darius, Andreas, and Mykos
were in the line of sight without having to turn.
“We want everyone to enjoy
the evening,” Yannis said quietly. “But pay close attention to the service.”
“We should all embrace
opportunities to learn,” Milos added.
There was enthusiastic
agreement at the staff's table as Chef Allaire and Magiras approached. They
stood at a place where both tables could easily hear them.
“Good evening, milords,
milady and honored guests,” Allaire began. “This bold experiment in dining is
one we hope will bring an understanding of Nikae society the way books alone
cannot. Magiras and our kitchens have crafted a food journey that is about
land, culture, and history.”
“There will be two versions
of each course,” Magiras said. “My kitchen will take the most inexpensive
ingredients and use time, heat and spices to make them tasty and satisfying.
Chef Allaire will use the best ingredients available to Nikae and make magical
plates that will delight your imagination.”
Andreas and Stu raised their
hands.
“Yes, lads?” Magiras asked.
“Who are you?” They asked.
“Quiet, lads,” he retorted, though he was amused.
“We will be serving small
plates for each version,” Allaire said. “That way, you can enjoy the entire
meal.”
Both versions of the dishes
were stellar. It was clear that Darius wasn't the only one who remembered it
fondly. Mykos made a note over the sync to go back for another meal sometime
soon. Meanwhile, Chiron, the rest of the staff, and the spy were heartily
enjoying the meal as well. They were making so much noise that it wasn't easy
to hear what was happening at the Cosi table. Maceo and Erienne laughed softly
at that.
There was nothing untoward
about the evening. Darius, Mykos, and Doc chatted with Mr. Xenodoch about how
the nightclub in the Center Tower wouldn't be merely another place for Calyx to
dance. It would be a chance for guests to live the entertainment of a
civilization that was once lost. Stu had Nikae Funk playing in the background
to show every aspect of the new venue would be from Nikae's past.
“Your club would be the only
one of its kind in the known universe,” Darius said.
“All others would be a
copy,” Mykos added.
During the course of the
meal, both Chef Allaire and Magiras agreed to help Mr. Xenodoch's head chef
develop small plates and table snacks from the recipes they'd translated. Doc
and Erienne agreed to help him find images of the uniforms the nightclub staff
wore. They struck a deal while enjoying the sublime dessert plates. There was
some shuffling about at the staff table after dessert. Yannis and Lexo went to
the kitchen to congratulate Magiras and Allaire while Kleptos went to talk to
Iskyros and Chief.
“You can stay if you want,”
Chiron said. “But we'll be heading back now. We like to put out the bedtime
drinks for our Cosi and the Doc. And I like to make cocoa for my bedtime.”
“I think I'll stay and
listen to the music,” the soft voice said. “See you in the morning.”
“Okay,” Chiron said
brightly.
The camera moved to the
nearby bar while the staff took their leave. Chief remained while the Cosi
table lingered over small glasses of dessert wine and chatted about plans for
the rest of the week. Darius reasoned that the spy had to have placed the
camera on the bar while he sat facing the bartender. No one remembered anyone
staring from that direction. Nor had anyone's behavior tripped Chief's
suspicions.
The segment ended as their
party swept from the restaurant after tipping the servers generously. The
Anchor returned with a dour look on her face.
“This is innocuous – even
charming,” she said. “And yet, Lord Galatea blocks all access to his inner
circle save for rare highly choreographed events. If he feels the need to hide
something as benign as these scenes, how many dire secrets are being kept from
the public? In this era of transparency, doesn't the public have the right to
know a great deal more about those who lead us?”
As the lights went up,
Andreas ended the sync. Chief was on his feet. Concern and anger were plain on
his face.
“Milords...”
“Chief,” Mykos said quietly.
“You and I vetted everyone who shadowed our staff in all ways possible. More so
than we vet soldiers. He was compromised after moving here.”
“Sadly, I believe Lord
Estevan is correct,” Alethia said quietly. “I've cautioned a number of the pool
reporters about chumming up to the staff.”
“The staff are not
prisoners,” Darius said. “Nor do we want them to be. This is not just a story
for the press. This is a test...”
“It is a test of my
patience,” Maceo snapped. “The servant and that outlet have committed
arrest-able offenses. Under some Leaders, executable offenses.”
“I know, milord. I'm sure
you all realize how angry I am at anyone watching Andreas in this way,” Darius
said calmly. “But we made an oath to the Watchers to turn in a different direction.
There will be consequences – costly ones – for that outlet and the journalist
who compromised Katask.”
“Journalist,” Maceo spat.
Andreas gave him a big-eyed
pleading look that quieted him.
“Chief,” do we have any
available rooms on this floor?” Darius asked.
“Yes, milord,” Chief
replied. “There are a dozen single rooms on the staff side of the floor.”
“Excellent. Tell Iskyros to
have Katask's room moved to this floor,” Darius said.
“If possible, put him next
to Chiron,” Andreas added.
“Yes, milord.”
“We should talk to the
staff,” Mykos said.
“They're heading down the
corridor now,” Andreas said.
“Milos as well?” Maceo
asked.
“Yes, and Pai Deuo,” Andreas
replied. “They're upset.”
Erienne opened the door and
ushered the pensive group inside. Chiron looked especially distraught.
“Guys,” Andreas said.
“Everything will be okay. Darius...”
“None of this was your fault
in any way whatsoever,” Darius said firmly in his most soothing and melodic
tone. “Your deportment was superb as always.”
“And we can find no fault in
Katask's training,” Mykos added.
“Though we knew the Press
was trying to get close to members of the expedition team, I could never
imagine any of them risking everything to compromise a member of our staff,”
Darius said. “Now, stop worrying. I'll need our seniors to work with you, Pai
Deuo, and Alethia to develop additional training to prevent any further
problems.”
“Yes, milord,” Pai Dueo
said.
Darius could see them
visibly relax.
“What will happen to
Katask?” Chiron asked, still worried.
“He's being moved to a room
closer to yours,” Andreas replied.
“We'll speak to him at some
point tomorrow,” Darius added. “Tell him that he isn't to worry. Our anger is
not at him.”
“Yes, milord,” Chiron said,
nodding.
Darius looked about the
room, noting the drawn faces.
“We should adjourn until the
morning,” Darius said. “I suggest we all wind down, then get a good night's
sleep. We'll meet tomorrow in the rooftop cafe for a working breakfast.”
“Is it wise to delay taking
action?” Lord Maceo asked in a strained voice.
“I believe Darius means to
have the perpetrators will worry all night about what is coming,” Mykos smiled.
“He knows me well, milord,”
Darius said.
“That is a wise move,” Maceo
conceded.
Darius keenly desired
solitude with his beautiful Consort, but he was as keenly aware that his
emotions were held in check by the thinnest thread. Though Andreas was
significantly stronger than their first night together, Darius knew he could
still harm him if he initiated sex in that state. He caught Lexo's eye before
he left the Conference Room and asked for a cold snack plate and strong red
wine. Andreas noticed, but was intent on bidding Maceo and Erienne Goodnight.
“We're going to have a snack
with wine,” Darius said to Mykos as they headed out the door. “Would you like
to join us?”
“Thanks, Brother, but no,”
Mykos replied tiredly. “I'm going to have a nice, hot soak with a large cognac, then head to bed.”
Mykos shared the Leaders
Suite in the Center Tower with Darius and Andreas. It had almost the same size
in square meters as two stories of the Penthouse at home. There were four large
bedrooms. Each had an en suite bathroom and huge walk-in closets. There were
two living rooms along with offices, a small gym, and a room dedicated to
electronic entertainment. It was large enough that they had plenty of space to
work or entertain and still have as much privacy as they desired.
“Goodnight, Mykos,” Andreas
murmured.
“Goodnight, Brothers,” Mykos
said. “Sleep well.”
“So, why aren't we having a
long soak or heading to bed?” Andreas asked softly. “It's been a long and
stressful day.”
“I find that I am
extremely...unsettled by these revelations,” Darius replied. “I believe it
would be best if I had time to relax until this...passes.”
Andreas considered that for
a moment before shaking his head.
“You're pissed off about all
those eyes watching me move,” Andreas countered in silken tone. “You have every
right to be. I belong to you. This...intrusion cannot be tolerated. And now,
you must take back what is yours, Cosi.”
Andreas waggled his eyebrows
and smiled his most sinful smile.
“Andreas...”
“Stop,” he said softly. “I
know how strong you are, and I can feel the fury tormenting your mind. I gave
myself to you for moments like this. My vows included care for you no matter
what. I am yours to use...to take...I am strong enough for you. Darius...please
– mmmph.”
Darius could bear no more.
He crushed Andreas against his body, then kissed him savagely.
A thrill ran down Darius'
spine as Andreas moaned into the kiss. His fury turned into something far more
pleasant and urgent. Andreas helped move things along when his knees buckled,
allowing Darius to lift him for the swift trip to their bedroom.
“Lexo. Leave the trolley at
our door,” Darius said, knowing that the intercom would activate.
“Very good, milord,” Lexo
said. “Goodnight.”
Andreas mumbled.
“Andreas says goodnight,
Lexo,” Darius chuckled. “As do I.”
With that, Darius kicked the
door shut. He placed Andreas on the opulent bed, then considered his Consort's
clothing. His Consort started to pull his top off.
“Be still, Andreas,” Darius
murmured.
Andreas obeyed immediately
though there was a clear challenge in his beautiful green-gold eyes. That was
enough for Darius to lose what little control he had left. He grasped Andreas'
top at the bottom of its deep vee and tore it to the hem. Andreas was
undoubtedly glaring at him, but Darius was paying that no mind. He was busy
ripping the matching, silk pants apart.
“Hey!” Andreas said with a
growl.
“Patience, sweet Consort,”
Darius murmured. “I won't keep you waiting long for my body.”
Andreas huffed at that while
Darius was fashioning quick restraints out of the ruined lounging clothes. The
loops for restraints remained on the headboard, but Darius had the shackles
removed. They were made of metal and had no linings. They were heavy and likely
to cause pain and injuries. Those would never do for the exquisite skin of his
beautiful Consort. Such manacles weren't fit for a prisoner let alone a life
partner like Andreas. And Darius felt that way, despite the names his beloved
was calling him at that moment.
Andreas' ceased as soon as
Darius tied his wrists together. The tether was pulled through the metal loop
on the headboard until Andreas' arms were stretched straight, but not to the
point where he was straining and tied firmly.
“This isn't fair, Cosi,”
Andreas pouted. “You know how much I enjoy touching you.”
“I love your hands on my
body,” Darius admitted softly. “But my patience has almost reached its limits.
Your touch would take me over the edge. I will not harm you.”
Darius ended the discussion
with the kind of kiss that made Andreas moan and arch his lithe body demanding
to be touched.
“Stay still,” Darius said
softly.
Andreas was dreamy-eyed when
Darius stood up to undress. In the interest of speed and fairness, Darius
ripped the clothes from his body while his Consort looked on with a mixture of
amusement and amazement in his expression.
“Spread your legs,” Darius
commanded. “Knees up. Feet flat on the mattress.”
“Y-yes, Darius,” Andreas
managed with a hard swallow.
Darius opened the lid to the
pot of Arnica infused gel and coated his fingers. He eased onto the mattress
alongside Andreas. While his fingers set about thoroughly stretching Andreas'
strengthened opening as quickly and gently as possible, his mouth set about
tormenting sensitive skin to everywhere save for here his Consort desperately wanted him to go.
“Patience, sweet Consort,”
Darius murmured against his skin. “We climax together.”
Darius kissed Andreas before
he could use his considerable skills of persuasion to get his way. Soon,
Andreas relaxed his body completely allowing Darius to push inside and begin to
stretch him. After several long moments, Andreas tore his mouth away from the
kiss.
“Now...please, Darius...”
He didn't hesitate. Darius
rose to his knees while turning Andreas on his stomach, then raising his hips
until he was on his knees. After quickly slicking himself with the gel, Darius
began an achingly slow push inside that nearly painfully snug opening. Once
their bodies touched, Darius went still to give Andreas a chance to get used to
being filled, but he wasn't having it. He pushed back against Darius causing
them both to moan. All control was gone at that point. Darius pounded into
Andreas' tight heat relentlessly. Andreas didn't try to keep up. Darius could
tell he was using all of his strength to keep upright on his knees.
During their time together,
Darius learned that Andreas no shrinking Dami. He was even bolder as a Consort.
Andreas was a giving lover, but he did not have endless patience. There would
come a point when he demanded that Darius finish him off. The language that
Andreas used was often quite colorful. That night, he seemed too tired to get
creative.
“Hey, Cosi!” He panted in
exasperation. “Finish me!”
Darius smiled as he obliged,
slicking his hand before grasping Andreas' straining erection. It was fortunate
that Darius was very close. Andreas came with a few firm strokes. The pleasure
drenched moan was too much. Darius came hard. He felt Andreas' knees buckle.
Darius wrapped an arm around his waist, and they collapsed on their side in
happy exhaustion.
Andreas wasn't at all lucid
as Darius gently wiped him down with the warm, damp towels, Lexo left by their
bedroom door. They were in a small towel warmer on the trolley with their mini
sandwiches, fruit, chilled water, and a small carafe of wine. His beautiful
Consort was almost alert by the time Darius dried him. He was able to hold his
own glass of water while Darius cleaned himself.
“How are you feeling?”
Darius asked as they devoured their sandwiches.
“I'm fine,” Andreas replied,
blushing deeply. “And I should be asking you that.”
Darius leaned close to kiss
Andreas briefly.
“I feel much better,” He
murmured before having another bite of his sandwich. “I appreciate your care of
me.”
“It is my pleasure,” Andreas
smiled with a blush. “As always. Do you want to talk about a plan?”
“No,” Darius replied. “We
need to sleep.”
Andreas yawned as he tried
to reply, then chuckled when Darius laughed softly. Somehow, they managed a last
gasp of energy to put the trays on the trolley and pull the blankets up. Darius
knew that Andreas was asleep as soon as he was positioned along his side.
Darius drifted asleep as he wrapped his arms snugly around his Consort.
Andreas long believed that
breakfast made everything better. Even the humblest meals they had while
squatting in his father's warehouse Always brightened his mood. The Staff went
all out that morning. There were sweet, sticky rolls that usually only appeared
during the Winter Holidays along with sausages, crispy bacon, and eggs to
order.
“Wow, guys,” Andreas said
with a whistle. “This looks amazing.”
“Thank you, milord,” Yannis
said. “We like to do our part.”
“You never fail,” Andreas
smiled, then ordered his eggs. “Hey, where's Chief. He loves a great breakfast.”
“He had his earlier,
milord,” Lexo said. “He's gone to check on Katask and some other things.”
“Chiron went along with a
trolley of breakfast and coffee,” Lexo added.
“Including sticky buns?”
Andreas smiled.
“He placed those on the
trolley first, milord,” Kleptos replied.
Andreas thanked them for the
tray of delicious looking food, then took his usual seat at one of the large,
round tables with a view of the bay. Lexo set up coffee and juice at intervals
around the table.
“Good morning, Grandfather,
Erienne,” Andreas smiled as they approached with their trays.
Their reply was warm and
bright. Neither was distressed or worried as they poured their cups of coffee.
Alethia was the last to arrive. She seemed well rested to Andreas though a
little harried around the edges. She chatted with Darius and Mykos while
waiting for her eggs. Moving Katask was a sound plan. Various outlets were
trying to find him to get comments moments after he'd changed rooms.
“The poor guard that was
placed in the room didn't get much sleep at all,” she said as they seated
themselves.
“I'll see that Iskyros sends
him relief as soon as we are finished here,” Mykos said.
With that, everyone at the
table fell silent in the enjoyment of the food. Andreas could feel the mood of the
room brighten as plates cleared. The meal and the view were soothing. As the
dishes were cleared away save for coffee cups, Andreas sensed that Darius had
come to a decision.
“How is the tone from the
media this morning, Alethia?” Darius asked.
“That depends on the outlet,
milord,” Alethia replied ruefully. “Eighty percent are terrified over not just
losing access, but also their freedom or worse.”
“The press thinks they'll be
imprisoned?” Andreas asked incredulously.
“Oh, that has happened,”
Erienne said.
“And worse,” Maceo added.
“Torture of all sorts to get the names of sources, then execution.”
“By the time your generation
was in school, the Cosi decided it was more profitable to appear less
bloodthirsty.”
“Whoa,” Andreas replied.
“What are the other twenty percent like?”
“Insane,” Alethia muttered.
“They seem to be trying to goad your Lordships into an extreme reaction for
reasons that escape me.”
“We are not predictable
right now,” Darius said. “The Calyx do not like their world upended as it has
been of late. There are powerful Calyx who own Media outlets. They'd prefer my
losing my temper and returning to past behaviors. I will not be goaded.”
“Only Andreas may do that,”
Mykos said mildly before finishing his coffee.
Andreas glowered at the Cosi
which had no impact.
“Quite right though
impertinent,” Darius said, though he did have a ghost of a smile.
“How will you address this?”
Maceo asked pointedly. He had not relaxed as much as the rest of the room.
“By treating it as your
Lordship described it,” Darius replied. “This is an affront on many levels and
unfair to everyone working here as well as to the rest of the media outlets. It
would not be unreasonable for us to cut off Press Access due to the security
breach alone.”
“That occurred to me as
well,” Mykos agreed.
“Think of how many factions
here would suffer from the loss of coverage,” Darius said. “The vendors would
lose out on invaluable advertising of their businesses. Though they will make
money from their licenses, they've earned that perk from work they do not have
to do.”
“Magiras was telling me that
the attention is bringing in extra money to take on more apprentices,” Andreas
said. “The other vendors have said the same thing.”
“I see,” Erienne said. “By
pointing out how this one silly story will take away opportunities at every
level, you turn that outlet into villains.”
“Exactly so,” Darius smiled.
“And it is true. Without trust, it would be natural for the Cosi to be far less
open to interacting with paying visitors to Nikae.”
“Not bloody likely at all
would be more exact,” Maceo quipped.
“That would make all
employees of that outlet pariahs among their peers,” Alethia said. “They
wouldn't be able to get sources for any kind of report for a long time if
ever.”
“A slow, inevitable
decline,” Maceo mused. “I like it.”
“While we are the injured
party,” Mykos chuckled. “You may be more open, Brother, but you are still
dangerous.”
“Indeed,” Maceo said with
admiration.
“The next step is to have a
talk with Katask and find out who contacted him and how this was set up,”
Darius continued. “We should have a report ready for the evening broadcasts and
a longer story for one of the magazines as soon as is possible.”
“Yes, milord,” Alethia said.
“This is the perfect response. What of the footage that was in last night's
report?”
“There is nothing
objectionable in the footage,” Darius said.
“It could be beneficial to
our efforts here,” Mykos added. “The objection is over how it was obtained.”
“How long would the outlet
profit from the story?” Darius asked.
“They've made their profit,”
Alethia said. “Seconds after the story ran, copies were made.”
“We will not try to shut
them down,” Darius said. “Let whomever is to interview us know that we are open
to answering questions about the segments featured in the report.”
“May I be interviewed?”
Maceo asked.
Andreas tried not to groan.
“You are most welcome, of
course, milord,” Darius replied easily. “An affronted Grandfather would be
perfect alongside Andreas.”
“A disappointed Andreas can
almost move me to repent,” Mykos chuckled.
“Really?” Andreas asked.
“Almost, Brother,” Mykos
quipped.
Andreas rolled his eyes. He
looked at Darius.
“We should interview Katask
in our Suite,” Andreas said. “And Chiron should be there.”
“I concur,” Darius said. “As
soon as Odigos returns, that will be arranged.”
“Who is the pool reporter
for today?” Mykos asked.
“The Financial Channel,”
Alethia replied with a frown.
“That will do,” Darius said.
“It can't be your former outlet or the one that ran the report. This one will
be viewed as neutral.”
“When will you pull TMN's
credentials?” Alethia asked.
“I'll have Iskyros issue the
order while we are being interviewed,” Darius replied. “The members of that
outlet may not contact anyone outside of Nikae until after the segment airs.
They will return to Amara tomorrow on the first transport.”
“Why can't we have them
walk?” Maceo asked.
“I'm tempted, milord,”
Darius replied with a smirk. “But we must return them as they came.”
“They'll be coming back to a
hornet's nest, milord,” Alethia smiled.
“I suppose that will have to
do,” Maceo muttered.
“Grandfather,” Andreas
sighed.
Maceo chuckled.
“I have a question before we
speak with Katask,” Andreas said. “What will we do with him afterwards? We
could assign him to the general pool, but he wouldn't be on a secure floor that
way.”
“I'll take him,” Erienne
said. “I haven't had a wayward lad in my care for quite some time. Besides, Pai
Deuo has been after me to take on a proper valet for some time now. He can have
the suite next to mine.”
“Are you sure about this?”
Maceo asked.
“Pending the interview, yes,
milord,” Erienne replied.
“Erienne is an excellent
guide,” Darius said fondly.
She smiled at Darius warmly.
“The plan is settled,” Mykos
said. “I say we have seconds and wait for Chief to get back.”
“Milord, I should call the
pool reporter to set up the interview,” Alethia said while eyeing the tray of
cinnamon buns.
“Indulge,” Darius said.
“Nothing can be done until we talk to Katask.”
Andreas wasn't as certain as
Darius or Mykos that he could shame the press, but he felt the plan was a sound
one. Between that and the food, the Young Lord felt a lot better that morning.
They met with Katask an hour
later in one of their living rooms. Lady Erienne and Lord Maceo waited in the
other living room where Andreas synced with them once more. Meanwhile, Chiron
was happy to sit with him. To Andreas, Katask seemed completely confused by his
situation at that moment.
“All we want to know is who
approached you about carrying a recorder and what was promised in exchange,”
Darius said in his most gentle tone.
“Y-yes, milord,” Katask
replied. “I'm not sure how they knew that I would be finishing my training in
your home. I told a friend in the commissary, but no one was around.”
Andreas was synced with
Darius and Mykos. They knew the young man was telling the truth.
“Don't worry about that,”
Mykos said. “It could be that your friends were overheard from around a corner.
Or someone may have paid for the information.”
He nodded at that.
“Anyway, I was sitting in
the roof garden watching the sky to wind down for the night when these two guys
came up to me,” Katask said. “One said to call him Theo and the other was
Phillip. They seemed to know all about me and my family back in Kacia. We've
been having lots of troubles since Mum hurt herself on her job. I took this
posting because I would have a good salary, but almost no expenses.”
Katask nervously sipped from
the glass of water in front on him before continuing.
“They offered five times my
training salary for that one week of recordings,” he said. He looked at them
sadly. “I was so excited about the job and didn't want anything to ruin this
chance. But that money would have made my family safe from worry for the first
time in years. It felt selfish to turn them down.”
“Why didn't you tell Pai
Deuo about this proposition?” Andreas asked gently.
“I wanted to do that,” he
replied. “I think that Phillip figured that out. He warned me that Pai Deuo
would consider me a risk because I was asked. I just couldn't lose this job.”
That didn't make much sense,
but Andreas could tell from the turmoil in Katask's mind that he was telling
the truth.
“I can find out if Mum still
has any of the money and give it back,” he offered.
“That won't be necessary,”
Darius said. “While I wish you felt more confident about coming to us, we don't
hold you as culpable as Theo and Phillip.”
“What happens next?” Katask
asked.
“You will be assigned to Lady
Erienne,” Mykos said. “Your permanent rooms will be next to her Suite. There
will be a few new rules to prevent this kind of contact from happening again.”
“Yes, milord, thank you,” he
said with a sigh.
“If anything like this comes
up again, we expect a different outcome,” Darius said pointedly.
“Yes, milord. I won't
disappoint you again,” Katask said. The young man's mind was filled with relief
and gratitude.
“Chiron will help you move
to your new rooms,” Andreas said. “Lady Erienne doesn't expect you until after
lunch.”
“Yes, milord. Thank you.”
“I believe him,” Erienne
said as she and Maceo entered that living room.
“He was telling the truth,”
Andreas said quietly. “I hate the way he was used.”
“That was shocking,” Erienne
muttered. “This can't be the way the Calyx behave.”
“Sadly, it is,” Darius said.
“I've seen stuff like this
and worse from them,” Andreas said ruefully.
“I'll tell Alethia to set up
the interview for after lunch,” Mykos said.
The rest of the morning flew
by. Stu leased the big night club then returned to the transport station in
Amara with Xenodoch. The video gave a lot positive publicity about the food and
music. Stu and he each awoke to a barrage of inquiries about how soon the club
and the restaurants would open. That attention closed the deal and sent both
men home to plan.
Within an hour of sorting
out Katask, the reporter from Financial News Daily and his film crew arrived to
set up in one of the living rooms. The staff looked after them while everyone
else was changing for the interview.
“I suppose the rest of
today's schedule is done for,” Andreas said as he pinned his hair up to show
his ear tag.
“Yes, I'm going to
reschedule the meetings for today,” Darius replied. “Did you have anything
pressing in those meetings?”
“No, I was just curious,”
Andreas said. “I think I'll read on our balcony.”
“I suddenly find that I have
some reading to do as well,” Darius said with a small smile.
“Of course, you do,” Andreas
chuckled.
“I'll be fine as long as you
control your lascivious urges,” Darius said mildly. His mesmerizing blue eyes
were full of mirth and mischief. “At least until after we see the news.”
“I'm sure I'll manage,”
Andreas said dryly. “Let's go, Cosi.”
Darius chuckled softly as
Andreas led the way back to the designated living room. Maceo was waiting.
Mykos arrived shortly after they did.
Alethia walked over from the
camera monitors as soon as she noticed that Mykos was present.
“Pearce Lander is ready when
you are, milords,” she said brightly.
Andreas was pleased to find
Alethia was not nervous about the interview. She was curious and a bit excited.
Lander was observing them closely while he pretended to consult his notes. As
Alethia arranged them on the sofa, Andreas synced with the Cosi in the room.
Mykos was not participating in the interview, though he was nearby enjoying a
glass of red wine.
Once everyone was settled,
Lander took a seat perpendicular to the sofa closest to Maceo. The makeup
technicians made quick work of lightly powdering the shine away.
“Are you ready, milords?”
Lander asked.
Andreas detected intense
curiosity, but no malice from the reporter.
“Yes, we are. You may
proceed,” Darius replied.
The cameraman counted down
from three and pointed at Lander when he reached one.
“Good evening Ladies and
Gentlemen of the known worlds,” he began. “I am here is the formerly forbidden
city of Nikae with Cosi Leader, Lord Galatea; former Cosi Leader, Lord Maceo as
well as Consort to the Cosi Leader, Lord Hephaestus, for a reaction to the
extraordinary video aired last night on TMN.
“Lord Galatea, what is your
reaction to news that the video caused a high degree of interest in the
attractions planned for visitors?”
“I'm not surprised,” Darius
replied easily. “Much of the coverage in the video would whet the appetite of a
visitor. We expect to see a surge in all manner of requests due to the content
of the video.”
“Do these results mitigate
your views on how the video was created, milord?” Lander asked.
“Not in the least,” Darius
replied. “For any number of serious reasons. I'll begin with the breach in
security.”
“Which might have ended the
entire Household Staff Training Program,” Andreas said pointedly. “A lot of
trainees would have missed out on tremendous opportunities for themselves and
their families for the sake of five minutes of entertainment. But what do they
matter?”
Lander cleared his throat
uncomfortably.
“Why would such a drastic
move be on the table, milords?
“How could we trust anyone from
the program after that?” Darius asked frankly.
“And that is not as drastic
as Cosi justice has been,” Maceo said darkly. “In days not too long past, such
treachery courted executions of the staff and the journalists.”
Lander looked like he'd
swallowed a toad.
“Grandfather is having you
on,” Andreas said. “Though I can't blame him. Mr. Lander, there was nothing in
that video that any of us are ashamed of. So, what's the big deal?”
“That is what some would
ask, milord.”
“I get that,” Andreas
shrugged. “But for me, it was something stolen from me. I've had enough of that
in my life. I missed knowing my Mum and Pops because of society's rules. I
missed my Grand Parents for the same reasons. Alright. What's past is past, and
I have a great family now.
“We all work very hard for
our downtime. Even when we're supposed to be relaxing, we're often working.”
“That was very clear in the
tape, milord,” Lander conceded.
“After all I've lost and all
I give, am I not entitled to some privacy with my spouse and our family?”
Andreas asked simply.
“That is not an unreasonable
request, milord,” Lander said. He was quite empathetic by that point.
“I'd fancy going to that
reporter's home to stare at him through supper and his nightly intimacies,”
Maceo muttered.
Lander coughed through a
chuckle as Andreas glared at his grandfather.
“I'm sure our audience would
enjoy that was well, milord,” Lander managed. “But there is the matter of the
Cosi Leadership being public figures.”
“Don't feed me that
twaddle,” Maceo countered. “Back when royalty meant anything, those who
attended audiences in Royal bedchambers were clearly invited. And every
president or prime minister always had family quarters to enjoy their loved
ones in private.”
“Point taken and well made,
milord,” Lander said with a smile. “What will happen to the servant involved?”
“We consider him to be
another victim in this sordid business,” Darius replied. “He will be assigned
to Lady Erienne henceforth. She is the finest educator the Cosi have produced.
He will finish his training with her. Meanwhile, Lord Estevan and our Chief of
Security will see that no one is allowed to pressure any more of our workers.”
“Pressure, milord?”
“Oh, yes. After money wasn't
enough to guarantee cooperation, he was threatened with exposure of the
arrangement,” Darius replied. “We were made out to be right monsters.”
“I'm sure it was all
hyperbole, milord,” Lander said.
“This man is from some tough
streets,” Andreas said. “Men like that aren't easily frightened. That reporter
had to believe some of what he was saying to sell it so well. That makes him
vile, in my opinion.”
“I don't follow, milord.”
“That journalist may not
have believed the poor man would be executed, but he thought something bad
would happen to the guy if he was exposed,” Andreas said. “And that was a
certainty as soon as any of us saw the video. He knew the man would be ruined
in some way. He just didn't care. The man was a disposable means to an end.”
“And that will have a cost
for that outlet,” Darius said. “TMN will be banned from Nikae immediately and
permanently. Further, they are banned from covering the Cosi henceforth.”
“And Zed Crew, Inc.,”
Andreas added.
“I hope we won't all lose
access to your Lordships and their work in Nikae,” Lander said. He was suddenly
and deeply concerned.
“No, we find this
relationship beneficial to our work,” Darius said. “And we hope this incident
will prompt some self-policing among your peers.”
“I'm certain that it will,
milord,” Lander said. “Finally, is there anything you can tell us about the
opening of Nikae and the Dig Site to the public?”
“Yes,” Darius smiled. “We
are only a few months away from accepting reservations. Previewing the venues
begins in mere weeks. You will all be thrilled and astounded.”
“I believe I can speak for all
of our viewers in saying we know we will and can't wait,” Lander said. “Thank
you very much for your time, your Lordships.”
All three men inclined their
heads regally.
“And....CUT,” the producer
said.
“We will have copies of the
raw footage sent to all the media outlets here in an hour or so, milords,”
Lander said as they all stood up. “Should we send one to Alethia?”
“Thank you, but there is no
need,” Darius replied. “We'll get recordings of the broadcasts.”
“Very good, milord,” he
said. “Thank you all for your candor.”
“Thank you for keeping an
open mind,” Darius said.
“Of course, milord,” he
said.
Darius was confident
afterward. That wasn't unusual to Andreas. He was pleased to not feel pessimism
from Mykos or his Grandfather. Still, they had to wait until the evening news
and likely the next morning's news to know for sure. With that in mind, Darius
decided that discussion of the coverage could wait until mid-afternoon the
following day. It was a sensible plan, though Andreas suspected the idea had more
to do with shenanigans on the balcony than anything sensible. Of course, the
Young Lord had no issue with those plans.
Unfortunately for both of
them, Mykos, Chief, and Iskyros had other ideas. The new security measures for
the Center Tower were ready to be put into effect. They needed to be briefed on
how it would work and roll out to the current residents of Nikae. The system
already existed throughout the complex. Home base was once an exclusive resort
and gambling Mecca for the upper class. There was a system of force field
barriers that separated the resort in areas where only certain people would be
allowed at certain times. The operation of the barriers became known once the
insta-trans arrived.
“It's simply a matter of
activating the barriers for the top three residence floors and all of the staff
floors. The rest of the complex will be open to the press, military and
visiting university personnel,” Mykos said.
“How will the barrier know
who is allowed and who isn't?” Andreas asked.
“A small disk that
deactivates the barrier when it is meter away, milord,” Iskyros replied.
“The barrier re-activates
once it has traveled one meter past the barrier, milord,” Chief added.
“What will keep the disks in
the right hands?” Darius asked.
“Each one is registered to
an individual,” Mykos replied. “Ours can be clipped to an earring. Staff and
Researchers can attach theirs to their ID lanyards.”
“Sounds great,” Andreas
said. “When do we roll it out?”
Iskyros handed each of them
a small envelope labeled with their names. The disk was a fraction of the size
of Andreas' ear tag. He could easily hide it behind the tag. Darius and Mykos hid
theirs behind ear cuff baubles.
“The rest of the roll out
begins with the midnight shift,” Chief said. “And around the clock until
everyone who needs one is covered.”
“That's perfect,” Darius
said.
“I have another suggestion,”
Andreas said. “Stu and I realized that Club Zero was always more of a nightspot
than a workers' pub. It's not a place to go in uniform for a post-shift drink.”
“Some of the soldiers have
mentioned that, milord,” Chief said.
“There are spaces for
restaurants on the top staff floor,” Mykos said.
“Stu's going to have Thyro
set up something until he can make arrangements with the owner of the Spotted
Toad Pub,” Andreas said. “We'll give him a free license and rent as long as he
keeps the prices the same as in Kacia.”
“Keep that deal a secret or
there will be no end of trouble from the other vendors,” Mykos quipped.
“No worries there,” Andreas
chuckled. “Moe Nico won't talk about his business with anyone – not even his
wife. His business is his business.”
“A wise choice,” Darius
smiled.
By the time everything was
settled, suppertime arrived. The meal was earlier than their norm. Once the
interview ran, Darius expected a flurry of reports from Amara, Kacia, Eris and
beyond. They preferred to have a quiet meal with Mykos discussing a return to
Amara in the next month. The work in Nikae was well in hand, and the soft open
wouldn't happen until after the beginning of the new year. There were more
pressing matters back home. New schools and a hospital were opening in Eris.
The council there wanted to celebrate their first year in power. Zed hadn't
been in the same place in months. Andreas was ready to go home. The question
that loomed over the room was what kind of reception they would get.
Darius was content with his after-dinner
cognac. Andreas was pressed along his right side. Mykos was relaxed in a
reclining chair. The entertainment screen played the Financial News Now Channel
waiting for Lander to start his report. He wasn't surprised that the Cosi
response topped the broadcast.
Good evening viewers of
the known worlds. Before we air the Cosi Leadership's response to TMN's
extraordinary report last night, I need to take a moment to speak on behalf of
our own network. Cosi Leader, Lord Galatea has remained true to his word about
transparency to the media. The Press Pool in Nikae enjoys unfathomable access
to him and Lords Estevan, Hephaestus, and even Lord Maceo. Asking any one of
them a question can be as simple as chatting in Canteen queue for food. We were
given translator devices as soon as they arrived from the Cosi Compound. There
is no restriction on what the Pool covers. Risking such a privilege is
unimaginable to our network. With that in mind, we give you the Cosi Leadership
interview response.
That preemptive statement
told Darius that the interview was powerful. The rebuke for the treatment of
Katask was profound. The anguish in Andreas' green-gold eyes made the motives
for the violation of their privacy look petty and mean. The report wasn't long,
but it was enough to discredit a Major Media Outlet.
“Brother, you are as
ruthless as ever,” Mykos quipped.
“We just told the truth,”
Andreas frowned.
“That's what makes it so
brutal,” Mykos countered with a smile.
“You are really twisted,
Mykos,” Andreas said, shaking his head.
“Thank you, Brother,” Mykos
said, raising his snifter.
The first call was from
Iskyros reporting the departure of the FMN reporters and staff from Nikae.
Their credentials were permanently revoked. Alethia checked in a half an hour
later. There were too many messages to sort through that late in the evening. A
cursory glance revealed a wildly favorable reaction from the public while the
news industry was rapidly distancing itself from FMN. Darius was content with
that for the night.
There was no hurry to part
for bed. Darius sensed a need in Mykos and Andreas that mirrored his own. They
needed to decompress. Despite the straightforward answers Darius knew they
gave, there were many ways to present an interview. Most of those would have a
negative result. And they had to be careful in the kind of pressure exerted on
the Media. Success was not an absolute certainty. They were collectively
relieved and still wound up after Alethia's call. They had another snifter of
cognac and discussed plans for their return to Amara. Less than an hour later,
Mykos yawned.
“That's it for me,” he
chuckled. “Goodnight, Brothers.”
“'night, Mykos,” Andreas
murmured sluggishly.
“Rest well, Mykos,” Darius
said.
Andreas stood before Darius,
extending his hand.
“Come, I ordered a bath
drawn when the second drinks arrived,” Andreas said.
“You did?” Darius asked as
he accepted the outstretched hand.
“I did,” Andreas replied,
tugging at his hand until he stood. “You're still wound up. A soothing bath
will help.”
Darius allowed himself to be
pulled to his feet. Of course, his Consort was correct. Though he was better
than he was an hour ago, Darius still found his mind racing. Perhaps intimate
care by that beautiful man was what he needed. He followed Andreas to the
Master Suite at the opposite end of the of their cavernous space. The scent of
flowers and herbs from the bath salts before they reached the bedroom door.
Darius inhaled, then sighed.
After encouraging Darius to
sit on the edge of the bed, Andreas undressed with graceful efficiency. He was
at ease kneeling to remove Darius' sandals. As his Consort bent his head to
complete the task, Darius plucked the ornate comb from Andreas' head, freeing
the waves of thick waves it was holding back.
“Now, I can't see,” Andreas
laughed softly.
“I'm sorry,” Darius offered.
“No, you aren't.”
“No, I'm not,” Darius agreed
affably as he pulled his top off.
He further assisted his
exasperated Consort by shimmying out of his pants enough that they dropped to
his ankles upon standing. Darius then stepped out of the pool of fabric.
“Thanks,” Andreas quipped as
he scooped up the clothes and sandals to take them to the hamper in the
wardrobe.
Meanwhile, Darius headed to
the bathroom and eased into the hot, fragrant water. Andreas entered the room a second later.
“I thought I'd save you the
trouble of carrying me,” Darius said with a wry smile.
“Thanks,” Andreas said
dryly.
Darius took his hand to
guide Andreas to sit next to him, then he grabbed the shower wand. Andreas
smiled, turning his head to one side. Darius carefully soaked the heavy waves
with warm water from roots to ends. Andreas does the same for Darius. It was a
new habit for them. Instead of Andreas bathing Darius, more often than not,
they bathe each other. Once Darius washed his Consort's hair, he understood why
Andreas enjoyed washing his so much. It was a sensual and soothing experience.
After soaking, shampooing, and massaging the scalp, attention turned to
scrubbing the back and shoulders. Darius usually included his Consort's amazing
ass. Of course, Andreas had to reciprocate even though it meant Darius had to
kneel for him to reach properly.
The stress of the day ebbed
away. As Andreas was working conditioner through his hair, Darius decided to
focus on the delightful puzzle of how to maneuver his slippery, bath oil and
hair conditioner covered Consort onto his rigid erection. Fortunately, Andreas
was helpful with counter- balance and grip problems. They kissed and laughed
their way to climax. The laughter through orgasms was something new between
them as well. It was a most welcome development.
Andreas was too tired to
enjoy the tiny cakes left beside their bed, but he was none too pleased that
facing the Keepers, but he knew as well as Darius that
there were many more fights to come. At that moment, he was happy to be held
firmly against that beloved body and drift to sleep.
Darius jammed both of them in his mouth to 'keep them from going to waste.' He
was also too tired to scold his Cosi about it either. They'd survived their
first big test since
End
