SYNOPSIS: As the Pythian Games descend upon New Argent City, Aristotle juggles his duties as the host of the games with welcoming one of his pets home after a mysterious medical stay. Meanwhile, Jasper’s friends use the chaos to enact the next step of their plan to free him. With everyone making their plays, things have to come to a head somehow. 

 

 

The clear glass composite between Aristotle and the pet sitting in Project Mnemosyne's articulated scorpion-tail chair hid nothing. Mouse's delicate body was spread open to Aristotle's eye, naked and slender. The pet's left hand trembling ever so slightly on the armrest, the bandage over his left eye peeking out from under the carefully-positioned VR headset. Aristotle felt a sense of pride at how well Mouse had performed yet again.

 

The hum of Mnemosyne's interface slowly faded as Mouse began to stir. Mouse stretched slowly and carefully as the VR headset detached and was lifted away. Reality felt so strange after so much time in Mnemosyne's VR programs. And, since he couldn't remember much about the VR, his whole life had started to seem so surreal lately. But, that didn't matter as long as the research went well. As long as he kept being useful for the project, everything would be fine. 

 

A hazy silhouette approached. Mouse struggled to make his eyes focus. "Doctor? How did it go?"

 

Aristotle cupped Mouse's face gently with a white glove. "Mouse, my sweet Mouse. You did so well. As usual. I'm going to bring you home today."

 

"Kyrios?" Mouse started to sit up, instantly excited. "Really? It went that well?" It had been so long since he'd seen the other pets. He missed them. "I can't wait to get back." The exertion made Mouse a bit dizzy, so he leaned back again.

 

"Something feels off," the pet said curiously. "Wait, why is there a bandage on my face?"

 

Aristotle traced around the bandage over Mouse's eye. "The hole is all healed and ready for the replacement, but it's going to be a little while before it's ready. Daedalus is working on a new eye for you. The experiments revealed a degenerative disease. Shhh, it's okay. You know it's only the best for my Mouse, right?"

With that, Aristotle scooped Mouse up in his arms before he could really react. "All will be well, sweet Mouse." 

 

Blushing at being swept up by his owner, Mouse leaned against Aristotle's chest and touched the edge of the bandage. "If you say so, Kyrios." He had missed Aristotle's scent. It was subtle until Mouse got close, but, once detected, it was intoxicating. "Hmmm... Are we going home right away, or do they have any other tests to run? I miss the others."

 

"We're all set for now. I just need you to change into some clothes for me, sweeting," said Aristotle with a benevolent smile, running a hand through Mouse's grey-white hair. He set Mouse down beside a set of comfortable clothes, folded neatly with a small piece of chocolate, cleverly wrapped in a twist of gold paper, sitting atop the pile. "I brought you a little treat, too."

 

Looking down at the treat beside him, Mouse squeaked quietly. "Thank you, Kyrios!" His hand shot out to grab the chocolate but missed. He paused in confusion for a moment, before sliding his hand over to finally get the treat. Mouse carefully unwrapped the chocolate and popped it into his mouth, savouring the taste of salty caramel inside. "My favourite!" 

 

Placing the wrapper aside, he started to dress himself while Aristotle waited. Mouse was glad for the light simple clothes he was given. They didn't make him feel weighed down after another round in the Mnemosyne. By the time he had gotten down to his shoes, he had regained enough coordination to tie them himself. Mouse was glad to notice his dexterity and physical control returning more quickly than usual. The Mnemosyne must be getting even better with all the experiments.

 

Mouse picked up the wrapper again and smoothed it out carefully, saving it in his pocket as though it were something precious. "I'm ready, Kyrios."

 

"Wonderful," Aristotle purred as he offered his arm to his Mouse. "Time to head home." 

 

Mouse hooked his arm around his owner's with a wide smile.

 

---

 

As soon as they lifted off, Mouse pulled out the thin sheet of gold from his pocket. His dexterous fingers carefully manipulated the soft metal with practiced movements. 

 

Aristotle leaned back in the seat, watching Mouse indulgently. His Mouse was a clever little pet, which had proven useful in gauging the long-term effects of Mnemosyne usage. "Your friends are going to be so delighted to see you home. What's that you're making, dear one?"

 

"Something for someone special," Mouse answered coyly. "Almost done." Mouse ignored his owner's chuckle and kept focusing on his work. "Done!"

 

With his energy returning, Mouse sprang up in his seat and turned to Aristotle. "For you," Mouse said as he tucked something into the buttonhole of his owner's lapel. "A golden tulip. They mean 'thank you'."

 

"How do you stay so sweet?" Aristotle's hand stroked Mouse's grey-white hair again. The Coin was impressed that the aftereffects from the latest Mnemosyne updates faded so quickly. He made a note to discuss the improvements with the research team. "Is there anything I can do for you right now, Mouse? Anything you've missed from your Kyrios?"

 

Mouse leaned into his owner's hand, grinning contentedly. "I just need more of your touch, your voice," he said. "I must be so out of the loop. How long was I there? What's been happening?"

 

"A month, this time. I'm sure your fellow pets wouldn't want me to spoil all of the gossip. But we did go to a lovely Golden Lattice Ceremony for Rhys and his new pet," said Aristotle, stroking Mouse's hair. "Actually, my research with you has enabled me to help the two of them a lot, little Mouse. See how you're already doing good in the world?" 

 

Blushing, Mouse shyly lifted his shoulders to his ears. It felt so good to know that the experiments were already helping people that his Kyrios cared about. "I'm glad," Mouse said. "I hope I get to meet Rhys soon. He deserves to be happy."

 

"At some point, dear one. Rhys is very busy with his new pet for the moment," said Aristotle. He had no intention of introducing Mouse to anyone outside of his household and his researchers. It was an unnecessary risk. 

 

Mouse's shoulders sagged in disappointment. "Well, I hope to get to meet them soon." Looking up again into his Owner's face, Mouse pleaded with his eyes. "In that case, can I just cuddle up against you for the trip home?"

 

Aristotle opened his arms and nodded. "Come here, Mouse."

 

---

 

Staring out into the middle distance, Jasper ran his fingers thoughtfully, habitually over his lips, his expression clouded, his brow partially furrowed. The questions that Seth had asked were still bothering him, even though he had answered them. He was with Rhys because he wanted to be. He loved Rhys. Wanted to make Rhys happy. But...Seth was right. From the outside, it would look like a big change in his attitude towards Coins, wouldn't it? Jasper told himself that it only made sense. When you didn't know the Coins as individuals, it was easy to paint them all with the same brush. Still, something nibbled at the edge of his thoughts. A disquieting, uncertain feeling. 

 

"Jasper, are you listening?" Philemon stood beside Jasper, basket for vegetable collection in hand. The pet had seemed so distracted ever since returning from meeting Anthix and Marin. Even now he stood staring out past the garden and off toward the horizon. 

 

It was as if anytime Thamyris wasn't around, Jasper's shoulders slumped and his mind wandered. Philemon had immediately recognized these as signs of needing to process something, and he gave Jasper space to do just that. However, Jasper still needed to interact with people politely. If this didn't clear up in short order, Philemon would need to address it directly with Jasper, or failing that, bring it to Thamyris's attention.

 

His eyes refocusing, Jasper's lips parted. "Yes, sorry, Lemon. Vegetables for dinner. The tomatoes are ready. Zucchini, too." The pet walked over to a nearby planter and pulled a few zucchini from the vine. Then, he deftly plucked some ripe purple cherry tomatoes. "Here you go. Was that everything we needed to talk about?"

 

Jasper's mind had already wandered back to Anthix's rooftop garden, and to Marin finding him sitting there, dazed, his friends having just accused him of being a mindfucked Coin toy. How Marin had seemed to understand his sadness without words, how they had not asked him a thing, just enveloping him in a tender embrace. But he kept his gaze firmly on Philemon.

 

Philemon considered Jasper's state. Being this distracted could be a sign of another underlying issue. It was Philemon's duty to ensure the well-being of all the inhabitants of this home, and so he felt he must gently prod Jasper to open up. "You know, I'd forgotten to ask. How was your meeting with Anthix and Marin?"

 

Jasper's eyebrow twitched at Lemon's question. The head servant had rarely taken any interest in him beyond the utilitarian. So why the personal interest now? 

 

Thinking back to Anthix's house, to Marin, Jasper summoned a smile. He did his best to put Seth, Nova and Julian out of his mind. What did it matter how he got here, so long as he was happy now? Rhys would never do anything to harm him, Jasper knew that for certain. "Marin was especially lovely. They're a great pet and I can see why Rhys would miss them. It was a great day."

 

"Yes, Marin is a delight. They're very thoughtful and conscientious," Philemon added. That seemed to have been an honest enough answer. "Knowing Marin, they must have shown you their garden. I'm curious to know what you thought. You aren't from a place that...has many well-maintained gardens. Was there anything you've never seen before? Any surprises?"

 

The first question could just have been out of politeness or Lemon taking a genuine interest in him. These next questions seemed extremely loaded from where Jasper was standing. He swallowed hard. Did Philemon know about what happened on the roof somehow? Jasper could see the scene in his mind's eye. How much had Marin seen? How much did Anthix know? 

 

"Oh, I've never seen a garden like that. It was full of surprises. Not that I lingered looking at every little thing. Say, were you working for Rhys when Marin lived with him? I don't recall."

 

Jasper hoped to turn the attention away from himself and onto Lemon. Maybe he could figure out what the manservant knew. Had Jasper been brainwashed? Was Lemon involved somehow? He tried not to let himself get too paranoid too quickly. These could still be innocent questions, he supposed. Something just felt off. It was knowledge that came from deep inside, and Jasper was used to trusting his instincts.

 

Philemon thought back to those early days and smiled. "Yes, I was already working here at that time. They made each other very happy until... Well, your Owner doesn't like us to talk about that." He waved the thought away. "Back to your visit with Anthix and Marin. When you were at the Sweetmeadow garden, did you get any ideas for your next move?" He looked around them, gesturing to Jasper's garden.

 

Jasper had to stop his head from whipping up to look at Lemon then. His next move...what kinds of moves did the head servant think that he was making? Once again, he was left feeling like this was a test. Had Rhys sent Lemon to question him? But then he saw Lemon's hand, still poised toward the garden. "Oh! Well...I'm not ready for anything fancy. Whatever we bring in, I want to be able to care for it myself."

 

"I think you may be underestimating your abilities. You’re quite good at this. Perhaps you'd like a small challenge?" Philemon paused for a moment, his expression clearly worried. "I don't mean to push you, but I do have a concern that has been growing in my mind. This new living situation came on suddenly, and it is vastly different from the life you led before. You must have had so much excitement, and achieved hard-won success." 

 

For the first time that Jasper could remember, Lemon seemed genuinely uncomfortable and unsure. Jasper didn't know what to make of it. Lemon continued. "I worry that this lifestyle and environment might not be stimulating enough. In the way that you are used to, that is. I must ask, do you have any plans or ideas on how to keep yourself challenged and interested?"

 

If he had not had such careful control, Jasper's jaw would have dropped. Philemon was worried that he wasn't stimulated enough. Did he think that Jasper was just going to run off on Rhys or something? 

 

"No," Jasper admitted. "I've still been trying to get used to everything. I know that Rhys has been encouraging me to pick up hobbies, but my main concern has been pleasing him. Won't that keep me challenged and interested? There are still so many pet trainings to do."

Philemon nodded. "You're right, of course," he answered readily. "There is still much to learn, but you didn't answer my question. Are you feeling stimulated enough without having your previous work in your life anymore?"

 

Avoiding Lemon's gaze, Jasper folded his hands together and thought. "I don't think I can meaningfully compare the two experiences. I tried to work smart, but as you can imagine, my previous existence involved plenty of adrenaline and a lot of mental challenges. There isn't a lot to compare that to in a pet's life."

 

"I see," Philemon nodded, contemplating Jasper's response. He could see the pet's uncertainty, but that wasn't all. The longer their conversation had gone on, the more Jasper seemed nervous and agitated. The last thing Philemon wanted to do was antagonize anyone. For a person suddenly thrust into being a pet, almost entirely uninitiated, it must be a confusing experience. He felt a pang of sympathy for Jasper. 

 

Philemon decided it was time to step back, and they could revisit this after Jasper had time to process his thoughts. "As it is my goal to ensure your comfort and happiness, I hope you'll take some time to think on this. Perhaps we can check in with each other another time?"

 

Squeezing the gardening gloves in his hand, Jasper nodded slowly. "Yes, I'll think about it. Thank you for your concern."

 

---

 

When they arrived at Aristotle's estate, Mouse was dozing bonelessly in Aristotle's arms. It was a precious sight. He gently shook the pet awake. "Mouse, time to wake up."

 

Mouse yawned and stretched out before extricating himself from the confines of his Owner's warm embrace. He sat up straight and moved his hands up to his face to rub the sleep from his...eye. 'Oh, that's right,' the pet thought. 'This is definitely going to take some getting used to.'

 

Looking out the window, Mouse was just in time to see the beautiful archway marking the entrance to his Owner's estate. The drowsiness quickly left Mouse as he put his hands on the window pane and leaned in close. He felt a great sense of relief and excitement welling up inside him. He was really home.

 

Aristotle walked him inside to the entrance to the suite where a dozen or so different rooms and courtyards were shared by his pets. He didn't enter but instead held open the door for Mouse, smiling. This was their shared space. When Aristotle wanted one of them elsewhere on the estate, he would send for them. 

 

A warm, eager voice rang out from inside. "Mouse! You're home!"

 

At the sight of Chalcedony's lavender hair, Mouse's breath caught in his throat. He looked up to his Owner for permission, and Aristotle nodded his assent. Before Mouse could do more than turn back, Chal had already reached them.

 

Chalcedony's embrace was as warm as a fond memory. Even Chal's scent made Mouse feel at home, just as Aristotle's did. "I'm sorry I was away for so long, Chal."

 

Stroking Mouse's hair as he held the delicate pet, Chalcedony took his hand. "Forget about all that. You're home now, Mouse, and that's what matters. I'm sure I'm not the only one eager to welcome you back."

Then, giving a nod to Aristotle to confirm that he had things handled, Chalcedony turned away from the door and walked Mouse further into the sanctum. "Are you feeling all right? Your eye is bandaged." 

 

"Wha—" Mouse started to speak before suddenly remembering. "Oh, right. They had to take it out... They're going to give me a new one..." Mouse touched the edge of the bandage with his fingertips, still uncomfortable with the change. 

 

"Poor little Mouse. Your health is so important to our Kyrios. I'm glad he takes such good care of you and that you'll have a new one soon," Chalcedony gave Mouse's shoulder a squeeze as they entered a quiet room with a nest of pillows atop a round mattress. "Do you want to talk more about it? Or do you want to go see some of the friends you've been missing right away?"   

 

'What is there to say?' thought Mouse. He noticed a heavy sensation in the pit of his stomach and wondered how long it had been there.

 

There was no reason for Mouse to be unhappy. He had an attentive Owner, plenty of friends, and was going to get an expensive and useful gift. Maybe these feelings were just the sedatives still wearing off.

 

"Let's go see the others. I want to see their faces again," Mouse said with a smile that he had to force just a little.

 

---

 

Saying hello to the other pets in the household again, Mouse realized that he had been missed more than he had expected. When Chalcedony ushered him in, all of the pets that were available came to say hello. Eventually, Chalcedony had to step in and bring a little bit of order to the situation. He suggested that they show Mouse how much they missed him with more than just words.

 

So, here they all were. Mouse was laying back in a pile of soft cushions. Lux, a tall pale pet who was all angles, was working on his right leg and foot while Peridot, a green-eyed pet with warm brown skin and curly black hair, massaged his left. Eager little Honeysuckle, with his back covered in tattoos of his namesake flowers and his thick lips and generous cheeks working overtime, was taking Mouse's cock to the root. Chalcedony had Mouse's head in his lap and was carefully scratching his scalp with his fingernails, making shivers run down Mouse's spine. Bergamot, usually so distant and proud, was working his left pec, shoulder and arm, while Swan, graceful and lithe from his dancing, mirrored Motty's technique on the other side. If there had been more of him to touch in this position, Mouse had no doubt that Chal would have found someone else to take part.

As it stood, Mouse writhed between the many hands, overwhelmed by the tender sensations. 

 

"Gods, this is so..." Mouse breathed, "So much!" He felt another shiver run down his spine, making him accidentally thrust a bit deeper into Honeysuckle's mouth.

 

Unthinkingly, Mouse moved his left hand onto Bergamot's bare chest, sliding it down his torso. "Please, I want more!" 

 

Beneath him, Chalcedony chuckled indulgently. "More, Mouse? What else do you want? It's your first day home, so I won't deny you anything if I can help it."

"Maybe he needs something in his holes, Chal," offered Lux. 

 

"I think you might be right, Lux," said Bergamot with a self-assured smirk. He pinched Mouse's nipple and moved around toward his head without releasing it. "Turn his head for me."

 

Mouse's eyes were trained on Bergamot's crotch as the proud pet pushed down the front of his pants, letting his hard-on spring out. Swan bit his lip as Bergamot dropped his cock across Mouse's cheek. With Mouse's cock still in his mouth, Honeysuckle moaned needily when he saw the thick shaft.

 

"So soft..." Mouse groaned as the soft skin of Bergamot's shaft caressed his cheek. The thin line of pre on Mouse's cheekbone made him writhe harder than before.

 

"Fuck my mouth, Bergamot," he said breathlessly, "Please, I nee—" Bergamot's thick cock stopped him short.

 

Chalcedony's eyes glittered with mirth as Mouse's lips stretched around that cock and Bergamot began fucking with a gentle but insistent rhythm. Walking around Mouse, Chal pulled Peridot away from Mouse's legs and turned Peridot's head back towards him to capture his lips in a kiss, pressing his pillowy pecs into Peridot's back as his hand stroked through those thick black curls. 

 

Lux took the hint that they were moving on from massaging Mouse and buried his face in the cleft of Honeysuckle's ass, reaching around to stroke the eager cocksucker's little dick. Meanwhile, Swan had lifted Mouse's lower body, with Honeysuckle still attached, enough to get under his ass and play with Mouse's hole. 

 

Mouse felt so grateful to be filled. He shifted his head forward with each thrust and slid his tongue around the rim of Bergamot's cockhead. With his hyper-flexible spine, Mouse let Swan's powerful arms manipulate his lower body. After getting so little proper affection in the university clinic, Mouse's body was overwhelmed, and he loved it. He felt himself moaning from Swan's fingers, as he absently reached back to grope Bergamot's ass, and guide him forward a little deeper. 'Gods,' he thought, 'I hope this never ends.' 

 

Unprepared for the sudden change, Lux stumbled forward in surprise as Honeysuckle's ass was pulled up and away from him. For a brief moment, Lux looked around indignantly, then eagerly scrambled to get into position behind Honeysuckle again, plunging his tongue into his ass.

 

All the eager pets began to turn toward each other, still keeping Mouse central but picking up and evolving their own dynamics as the orgy continued. As Chal began to fuck Peridot, he hoped that Mouse felt properly welcomed home.

 

---

 

"And all I'm saying is, you should be the one to poke around inside and I should keep watch. If you're taking Autolycus's place, that's his job, not being the fucking lookout," said Julian, standing to get another drink. 

 

Iskios was starting to get a bit red in the face. He'd tried to stay civil and clear-headed the whole "conversation" but Julian was finally managing to get under his skin. 'Hera's tits, it's like Julian is just looking for any chance to shoot me down.'

 

Looking across the small table to Nova and Kaze for help, Iskios had to consciously stop himself from sounding like he was pleading. "Back me up, guys. A few Coins might actually recognize Julian's face and get tipped off. There's no reason to take that extra risk." 

 

Of course, Iskios left out the part that this was a very delicate operation and Julian had a temper that could rival Poseidon.

 

"My dude, it's called a disguise. If they've put in any extra security measures since 'Lycus broke in, Nova is going to need you in there," said Julian, punctuated by the glass of water that he put down on the table. "Plus, Nova can trust me to have his back."

 

Nova kept fiddling with the gyroscope puzzle that he held in one hand, switching the rings around with uncanny speed. "You're both competent and capable. I don't care who comes in so long as we plan for what we might find inside."

 

Shrugging noncommittally, Seth added, "You can both do either role. I do see what Iskios means. A disguise is just another failure point. Better to avoid that, no?"

 

Trying to capitalize on any support he could get, Iskios followed with, "Thank you, Kaze." He then turned to face Julian again. "This is all an extended job interview for me, remember? I'm trying to stay on your good side. If you couldn't trust me, I'd have sold you out already."

 

Julian huffed but relented. "All right. Whatever's best for the mission. Gives me an excuse to spend more time with my best buddy Nova anyway."

"Right. Best friends. Bosom companions," drawled Nova. Though it felt awkward to think about it, Julian was one of the people he cared for the most. "On that note, shall we review the plan now that the players have their parts?" 

 

Having waited patiently for the bickering to end, Seth brought up the floor plan of their target on his wall-mounted screen with a few clicks. The place hadn't changed much, except for an increase in security. 'Guess they didn't see our last job as much of a threat. Hopefully, they didn't heighten their cybersecurity either.'

 

"Here's the layout. It's not exactly a labyrinth," Kaze began, "Anyone can just walk into the main areas, and if you look like you know where you're going no one will look at you twice. Especially next week."

 

Iskios smiled. He had completely forgotten that next week was the start of the Pythian Games. Universities always have something going on, whether or not they were actually hosting some of the events, and Aristotle Brandywine always hosted as many high-profile events as he could. When he was much younger, Iskios used to follow some of the local orators and musicians closely. He had wanted to be one until it became clear that slum boys weren't really welcome. "What does the university have going for Apollo's Games this year?"

 

"Brandywine University is hosting the Reenactment of Apollo's Victory over Python and the Opening Ceremony. The physical competitions are being held at the Amphitheatre as per Argent City tradition. Every stage in the city, in the clouds and below, is going to host something. So, there'll be plenty of bodies to cover us," said Seth, pointing out different locations on the map. "We're going to use the Reenactment as cover."

 

"Won't there be increased security, too?" asked Julian, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall. 

 

"Yes, but they should be on crowd control, mainly," answered Seth. "And I'll be checking the guard rotations and security plans once they're finalized, which should be soon."

 

Leaning forward, Iskios carefully checked over the map. He pointed to an area towards the back of the building. "Let me guess, the labs must be back here, right? Is there anything happening that will make it necessary for Pythian staff to get close to there?"

 

The screen flashed as Kaze brought up a list of different teams being coordinated in this building throughout the games. "It looks like some actors might come close when moving to different stage entrances, and the catering staff might need to use this hallway here."

 

Iskios laughed. "So what'll it be? Teamsters or waitstaff?" He looked to Nova and Julian with a playful pleading. "Please tell me you go the catering route. I'd love some Delphi Sweet Lyre cakes."

 

 "Do we want to split up the teams so that we don't put all our eggs in one basket in case we get stopped?" Nova examined the map. "Lost actor is maybe easier for blending in later. Masks and all. Caterers tend to have more stuff with them." He turned to Iskios. "And don’t worry. I'll buy you a Sweet Lyre cake."

 

"A Delphi-style Sweet Lyre cake," Iskios corrected, "and I'll hold you to that."

 

Julian's eyes narrowed briefly at that. Nova was awfully chummy with Iskios. But his partner was right. "It does make sense for us to have more than one way of getting in. Lycus did this alone with just Kaze in his ear. If one of us doesn't get in, we should still be okay."

 

Live surveillance camera footage popped up over different areas of the floorplan, and Kaze expanded one to fill the screen. "Sure, you can do both if you want, but either way I'm going to need you to swipe at least two of those bio-ID tags they use for the Pythian Games staff." The footage froze and the hacker pointed out some choreographer's thumb glowing as it pushed a small, round piece of metal into a security reader. "I need to crack them and make some fakes for you all." 

 

Kaze hopped off the couch and went to stand over his computer for a moment. He needed to get blank tags and a reader for that model rush-delivered.

 

Iskios blinked in surprise. "Wait, that's actual live security feed, and you can make fake bio-IDs with full profiles in a couple of days?"

 

"I'm very good," Kaze said as if he was talking about the weather.

 

The calm confidence that the young hacker quietly exuded was entirely unexpected to Iskios. The newcomer glanced over to Nova, who gave a soft smile and a shrug. Iskios suddenly felt like he needed to pull his weight a little more. "I can go lift the tags. I'll head over there in the morning."

 

Julian mumbled something about that being Iskios's job, but a look from Nova quieted him. 

 

"Okay, so, once we get to the lab, what do we need to worry about? Are you able to access any footage from inside?" Nova poured over the blank spot on the map.

 

Kaze shrugged. "They changed things up. I can still get into the open areas and the main halls, but I can't see the halls around the computer labs anymore. It's probably its own old-school closed-circuit system now." He pointed to the blank area on the map, "I haven’t been able to access it yet. I’ve got a bit of info about that area in terms of wiring and plumbing, but that's it."

 

Iskios didn't like the idea of his new partners walking into the unknown. Who knows what security improvements they might have made? "And we're sure Lycus didn't say anything else beyond that they could make fake memories?"

 

"Did you not listen to the recording?" Julian said. He wanted to sound impatient but instead came across as almost petulant. "He wouldn't make extra noise by talking while he was infiltrating the place."

 

"We are not starting this bull again," said Nova with quiet forcefulness. "Let's continue the briefing."

 

"Right," agreed Seth. "So like I said, what we're after is evidence that something happened to Autolycus in that lab or somewhere nearby. He was talking about some video of someone getting their head fucked with..."

 

---

 

With the daring discretion that only a long-time factotum could exhibit, Philemon approached Rhys's desk with a large carafe of water and a simple glass. "I noticed that you have been in here for over two hours without anything to drink, Rhys. Please have some water. We wouldn't want you becoming dehydrated."

 

"Oh, Lemon, hello." Philemon's words had pulled Rhys from his thoughts unexpectedly. "Has it been that long already?" He took the water and drank from it without hesitation.

 

It was funny to think how things had changed. Ten years ago this kind of assertiveness would have felt belittling and unacceptable, but now he knew better. He hired Lemon to take care of him and he performed his duties admirably, even if Rhys didn't always appreciate it as much as he should.

 

The Coin had hardly put the glass down before Philemon was topping him off. "I'm sorry if I worried you. Somehow I've been feeling somewhat distracted of late." He tried to put his concerns about Jasper's loyalties aside. No doubt Lemon hadn't only come in to keep him hydrated.

 

"I was speaking with Jasper out in the garden earlier. For some odd, unfathomable reason, he's completely devoted to you," Philemon said with a smile to show that he was teasing. He put down the carafe. "But...I'm afraid that I have some other concerns related to his well-being."

 

At first, Rhys found himself smiling, but then Lemon mentioned that he had concerns, and the Coin's brow knitted itself. "For a moment, you sounded like you had good news to share. Go on then," Rhys said, gesturing with his hand for Lemon to continue.

 

"Well, to be frank, Jasper is accustomed to more stimulation. Prior to being chosen as your pet, he had the opportunity to apply his problem-solving skills to real-world situations with exciting stakes, a chance to test his body and his mind," Philemon began, speaking with the unvarnished honesty that he had earned a right to. He idly paced over to the shelving on the wall, checking for dust with a fingertip. "Here, even though he could be doing anything, there is nothing for him to do that meaningfully needs doing. And then there's the matter of this fiercely independent young man who instead now consults with you for every decision as though he can't make one for himself. These are situations that need remedying, Rhys."

 

"I see..." 

 

Philemon waited patiently while Rhys sat and considered this news. 

 

This was deeply troubling for the Coin. He felt like he was on the edge of disaster. Marin's terrified eyes flashed into Rhys's thoughts, the pet's face frozen but fearful, his body unresponsive in the grips of a malfunctioning hypnotic trigger. Taking a long, deep breath, he considered all he'd learned from his experience with Marin's... break.

 

Rhys considered where Jasper's interests seemed to lie and how he could incorporate them. He had already been planning some activities for them, but he couldn't rely on that alone. He needed to find out exactly what his pet needed from the pet's own mouth. He needed to avoid making too many presumptions.

 

"Although it isn't a common need in most pets, I am certain we can adjust to this. It is not just stimulation that he needs, is it? You make it sound like he needs agency and responsibility. Well, what do you think of this? I've been putting together a list of things that need to be done." 

 

Rhys sent a flurry of information on the River Restoration Project through his ocular implant to Lemon's. Renovations, contacting stakeholder organizations, hirings, consultations with the local slum dwellers, and media interviews. All were upcoming tasks that needed to be handled, all had associated stakes, and all seemed mostly within Jasper's experience and ability. Hiding a hopeful grin, Rhys waited impatiently for his friend's answer. "We could give him the opportunity to volunteer. We should most definitely ask him what he would like to do directly, but this seems like a start, don't you think?"

 

"I am astounded that you had the opportunity to prepare all this, Rhys. It looks like meaningful work and it will show that you trust him and value his skills," offered Philemon. "And you're certain that you can keep him...physically active as well?"

 

"You mean outside of his standard pet training?" Rhys gave a knowing grin and reached for the water glass again. "I was going to try to introduce him to rock climbing, for one. So, don't worry, I can help him get all of his energy out."

 

"Ah, naturally. Ropes, harnesses, large jutting obstacles to scale and conquer." Philemon's smile rode the line between professional and playfully lewd. "Excellent. Well, since there is nothing to fear, I'll check in on dinner and refill that carafe of water for you, Mr. Fairmount." 

 

---

 

"Swan's big fight scene is next!" Merit said to Jasper. He was practically bouncing in his seat. "He's been practicing so hard that he barely had time to play with me. I can't wait for you to see how good an Apollo he makes!"

 

Jasper had been silently awed through most of the first half of the show. It was as if the reenactment had been staged specifically for them. It made sense — they were seated in the God Box, the best seats in the house. Merit's excited words were just background noise to him as he peered around the amphitheatre. 

 

Rhys lifted a hand to his mouth to cover his laugh. The Coin leaned over to peer at the audience below their private box. The heavy red curtain dominated the room, and people were steadily returning from the atrium to their seats. "He's right, Aris, intermission is just about finished." 

 

As though on cue, both Coins received a message in their ocular implants letting them know that the show would resume momentarily and to please find their seats. Glancing down, Rhys noticed the bright glow of holopads and cellphones no doubt carrying the same message. They dimmed one by one as the excited murmuring died down and the last of the audience took their seats again.

 

Thamyris leaned a little closer to Aristotle. "Merit is a delight, but how do you manage to get him to sit still when you bring him out to shows like this?"

 

Aristotle placed a hand on Rhys's shoulder and rubbed it warmly. "My dear Rhys, he knows to behave once the show actually starts. Besides, it's in his nature to become totally spellbound by the spectacle. Watch."

As the lights dimmed, a transformation came over Merit. He leaned forward slightly, his lips parted, his expression a mixture of excitement and wonder, his eyes round and observant. As the curtain rose, his eyes drank in every detail of the scene before them.

 

The marble pillars and walls of the Oracle at Delphi towered over the audience, bright torches illuminating the fabled "centre of the world". A flute's airy sound rose from seemingly nowhere, and a masked figure stepped out from around every corner and every pillar. They gathered near the edge of the stage, and when the flute stopped on a sharp note, they began to speak in perfect unison. 

 

 

A warm yellow glow was approaching from off-stage, and the Chorus all shaded their eyes. They made way for Apollo, dancing to the side of the stage with slow, careful movements, all in near-perfect synchronization.

 

Rhys had only met Aristotle's pet dancer, Swan, once or twice. Swan, his whitish-blond hair in elaborate curls, his lithe muscles gleaming with oil, rolled across the stage naked and found his feet. He raised one arm, fingers spread wide to the heavens, and a fine, ornate bow with a quiver of arrows descended from on high.

 

 

It was obvious even to Rhys that the dancer was practiced at his craft. All through the play, his movements were graceful and deliberate. Having seen many iterations of this legend, Rhys appreciated that whenever "Apollo" was on stage, the lighting and characters always found him and turned their attention to him. The Chorus swayed in response to him whenever he moved about.

 

It made Rhys feel elated and relieved to see Jasper enjoying himself. He seemed enraptured by the performance and Swan in particular. Rhys made a mental note to ask Jasper if he'd like to meet Swan after the show. If there was an afterparty, Rhys would enjoin the organizers to send him his invite.

 

With a subtle shift, Rhys slipped his arm over to Jasper's armrest. He gently slid his white-gloved hand overtop of his pet's, and curled his long fingers with Jasper's.

 

'It wouldn't take much to turn this playfighting into something more effective,' Jasper thought to himself. Swan was strong and fast...Jasper forced himself not to jump when he felt Rhys's hand on his. He tilted his head up at the tall Coin and gave him a warm smile before returning his eyes to the action. He had never felt so close to the action of this boring old play. Apollo's arrows streamed across the stage, trailing brightly coloured ribbons as they moved in lazy parabolas, slowed by the fabric so that they could be seen. 

 

Just as it looked like Apollo would slay the mighty Python, Aristotle rose abruptly. He half-smiled, half-scowled and leaned over to whisper in Rhys’s ear. 

 

"Friend, Eurylochus has just alerted me to a matter that I must handle personally. I am so sorry to cut our time together short. Can you see Merit and Swan safely home for me?"

 

Rhys's back straightened and he looked at Aristotle curiously. "Oh?" he whispered back. "Is there something wrong?"

 

Aristotle paused visibly as he considered how much to say. "It's, ah, a familiar problem. But I am needed all the same."

 

"If you must, then. But contact me tonight? I would like to catch up soon."

 

"Neither Python nor Apollo himself could stop me," said Aristotle with a wink. Then, he turned away from Rhys and his expression went politely blank as he disappeared through the door of the private box.

 

Neither pet seemed to react to Aristotle's abrupt departure. With his best friend gone, Rhys decided to console himself by slipping an arm around Jasper's shoulders and pulling him a bit closer. Jasper reacted by leaning into Rhys, but his eyes never left Apollo on the stage. Merit was much the same. 

 

---

 

The cool tile floor pressing against Nova's cheek was the perfect complement to the knee in his back. For all his experience, Nova had never been caught. He had been spotted before, but he never really thought he would feel the cuffs on his wrists. He lay still, trying to evaluate his options. How could he best protect himself? Were the others coming to find them?

 

"Hey, I usually charge people if they want to put me in bondage, asshole. Get off my fuckin' spine," griped Julian with just a little more virulence than usual. He twisted himself around with surprising athleticism so that he could give his guard major side-eye. The guard pushed the spicy blond's head down so hard against the tile that his teeth clicked. "Fuck you!" 

 

A fucking blackout because of some shitty holo-display in the amphitheatre had led to them eating shit. They weren't fucking incompetent. The thing that had fucked them wasn't even a gods-damned security feature. The power draw from the stage had overloaded the system just as they had Kaze disengage the last security checkpoint on their way out of that nightmare lab. First, it had locked them in when physical locks kicked in to replace the electronic ones. Then, when the power came back on, it caused a total system reboot, locking Kaze out and reinitializing the security features that they had already disabled. Julian had time to hear all about it as Kaze panicked his way through their fight with these lotus-eating guards. Fuck! 

 

---

 

Julian remembered every detail. By the time Kaze got back in, the guards were already on their way. Julian could see those off-brand Hectors and they had a hard-on for Nova for some reason. 

 

One of the guards snagged Nova by the back of the shirt and Julian saw Nova disappear from his side with a loud ripping sound. Jerking his head back to look, Julian watched as Nova rolled on the ground with the lead guard in a headlock. 

 

"Keep going!" he roared to Julian as the second guard tried to wrench Nova's arms apart.

 

And Julian trusted his partner, so for a few seconds, he did. Then he stopped dead in his tracks as he stopped moving on autopilot. This was fucking Nova, by Tykhe's horn — the only man Julian had ever found that was worth keeping around. His partner. He couldn't leave his partner behind like that. Fuck that. So he turned back.

 

Julian put his fists together and coldcocked the second guard that was practically climbing on Nova's back. "Fuckin' tool!"

 

His arm almost came loose, but Nova felt the second guard's grip disappear as his partner knocked the man away. Nova felt a surge of frustration. He could see Julian winding up to strike that guard again, but even if Julian knocked the guard out, this had all cost Julian too much time. When he heard the familiar crackle of a stun baton from behind him, Nova sighed in resignation. Reinforcements.

 

---

 

Julian made an exaggerated groan that could have been pain or pleasure as the guard gave in to his baser instincts and backhanded him, splitting his lip. 

 

"Remember that it was that mouth that gave you that busted lip, thief," growled the guard. 

 

Julian lay on his side, coughing and laughing madly. A shadow passed over the floor through the glass door. It opened with barely a whisper, and steady, even footsteps marked the entrance of a platinum-haired Coin. The man placed his hands on his hips, making a soft tutting noise.

 

"Judging from the data we confiscated off of you, I have a feeling that I know exactly who you boys are and what you were trying to do," said the pompous creature smugly. "I'm Aristotle Brandywine, though, frankly, I can't say that it's a pleasure and I’d really rather we hadn't met."