Date: Sun, 10 Feb 2008 08:04:00 -0800 (PST)
From: JMH <trandar2002@yahoo.com>
Subject: The Guild/The Son/ Chapter17

Hello again folks.  So far it seems you all are loving the story so far so
here's another chapter.  In other news The Centurion, another one of my
sci-fi stories that used to be posted on Nifty has gotten published the
first two books of the Centurion Cycle for now is now up for sale on
Amazon.  You'll find the link down below for those who are interested in
seeing my best work in print.  Take care and have a great week.


                                                  JMH

trandar2002@yahoo.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/adultwritingworkshop/
http://www.amazon.com/Academy-James-Higuchi/dp/1934625515/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1202659250&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.com/Centurion-James-Higuchi/dp/1934625507/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1202659250&sr=8-2


*******************************************************

Joshua watched as Austin's body was removed from the cross and placed on
the ground.  He then lay next to the dead man, running his finger through
Austin's black hair.  "What am I going to tell Vard?  He will never forgive
me... he won't."

"Vard loves you Joshua... he will understand," a familiar voice spoke from
behind.

Joshua looked up and saw a mop of red hair, a pair of shinny green eyes,
and a sympathetic smile.  After all the shocks of the past few days, seeing
Clive alive was almost too much for Joshua to handle... leaving him stunned
and speechless.

"Hello Joshua.  It is good to finally meet you."  Clive said as he joined
Joshua on the ground.

"Clive?"  Joshua stammered, becoming dizzy.

"Yes and no," Clive replied.

"I don't understand."

"I am Clive, and I am not.  I am a clone... a copy of the man you knew."

"How long?"

"How long have I been around... four years?  My body was matured the same
way Drake's was."

"Can they clone Austin?"

"You can ask Falcon but I would not try if I were you.  I am Clive, Joshua,
but I am not.  You will find me a fairly disappointing replacement for the
real Clive, I am afraid.  I do not have your friend's memories."

"But you look and talk like Clive."

"I know... and I have worked hard to create that illusion, but I am not the
man you knew."

"Why did Falcon create you then?"

"As a gift to you.  I am yours to do with as you see fit."

Joshua understood what the clone had told him but he didn't care.  His mind
said that the clone was not the Clive he knew, but Joshua's heart was too
filled with joy on seeing Clive's face again for that to matter.  "I want
you to become my friend.  I want to make love to you like we used to... I
mean like I did with the real Clive."

Clive reached over and kissed Joshua pale skin cheek.  "I would like the
same."

"But, why?"

"Because I know you are a good man.  You have to be to let yourself be
captured by a man like the Prelate in order to be with your son.  I also
believe you must have really loved the original Clive... why else would
Falcon create me?

"What do you feel?"  Joshua asked, as he nuzzled his face against Clive's
check, noticing that the clone even smelled like Clive.

"I know why I was created.  If it were not for you I would have never been
born.  I owe you everything."

"That does not tell me how you feel about me."

Clive let out a sigh and showed Joshua his hand.  "You see this
ring... your father gave it to me... I am married to him."

"Did you want to marry him?"

"Wanting had nothing to do with it.  He made me, so he has every right to
do with me as he sees fit."

"You are a human being Clive."

"Thank you Joshua, but I know what I am... a clone, a copy.  I was made to
make you want to stay, to trick you into giving Gerick your love."

"Gerick will never have my love."

Clive nodded.  "We both know that."

"We?"

"Sometimes Falcon is able to break free of Gerick's control.  He is left
weak and powerless but his thoughts are his own.  During those time he and
I talk... mostly about you, of course.  Joshua... your father is very sorry
for the things he has done.  He never wanted to hurt you.  You are, and
always have been, the only redeeming thing in his life."

"You love my father?"

"I love the man he could have been if Gerick had not taken him, but..."

"Yes Clive?"

Clive moved in closer, pressing his forehead against Joshua's so the tips
of their noses touched.  "But let's see what happens between us."

Joshua nodded his head as he brushed his lips against Clive's cheek.  "Help
me Clive...  make me believe I never lost you."

Clive's mouth formed a small smile.  "That was why I was created."

Clive helped Joshua back on his feet before leading him into the palace.
They maintained constant physical contact with each other, letting their
lips touch with every third step.  Clive led Joshua to the closest bedroom,
pulling him down on top of him on the bed.  Clive chewed the buttons off
Joshua's shirt while running his hands down the muscular sides of the other
man's body.  Joshua wrapped his arms around the back of Clive's neck while
their lips met in a long passionate kiss.  With groping hands they slowly
removed their remaining clothing, their hard sex wet with the essence of
their maleness.  Joshua made love to Clive with the passion of a man
several years separated from a lost lover.  He took Clive's sex into his
mouth, burying his face in the other man's pubes while his tongue swirled
around the root.  Clive ran his fingers through Joshua's brown hair,
letting out a constant stream of moans as he spread his legs wide apart to
let Joshua push two long digits inside his body.  Once he felt Clive was
ready, Joshua pulled his fingers out only to replace them with the thick
muscle of his sex.

Out of both pain and pleasure Clive sat up, hugging Joshua tightly as he
sucked on Joshua's left nipple.  He thrust his body back and forward to
impale himself more deeply on Joshua's sex.  As he felt his insides being
stretched, Clive bit the side of Joshua's neck, leaving small bite marks in
the pale flesh.  Near the moment of climax, Clive felt Joshua's strong
hands take hold of his manhood, gripping it tightly as his fingers rolled
the engorged flesh, triggering the release of Clive's seed over both their
bodies.

With a final thrust, Joshua planted his own seed deep inside Clive before
collapsing on top of the other man, kissing Clive for several minutes.

"Was it what you expected?" Clive said, his face wearing a wide grin.

Joshua let out a deep chuckle between kisses.  "You were wonderful."

"Was I?"  I was about to say the same thing about you."

Joshua tickled the sides of Clive's body.  "I understand you are a clone
and not the Clive I knew, but can I pretend for this one night that you are
my oath brother... and Drake's other papa?"

Clive ran his fingers though Joshua's hair.  "Why just for one night?"

"Clive?"

"Joshua, I was created to serve only one purpose... to be whatever you want
me to be."

"But you must have your own wishes and desires."

"That was not how I was designed.  I was not given ambitions or secret
desires.  I am loyal to you Joshua, in all the ways that matter."

"My son's dog has more freedom than you."

"Yes... even Puppy has more free will than I.  I can understand if you see
me as nothing more than a human pet.  I can accept that role."

"I told you already... you are a human being."

"And I thank you for that Joshua, but I know what I am... a biological
machine meant to trigger an emotional response."

"No Clive... you are not a machine.  You helped take care of Drake when he
was brought here to Earth, and you have given my father your company when
most people are terrified of him.  You have shown a level of kindness and
love that no machine, no matter how complex, could ever mimic."

"I wish I could believe you Joshua... I really do."

Joshua wrapped his arms around Clive and held him tight.  "One day you
will.  I promise."

Joshua then rolled both of them onto their side so that he was spooning
against Clive's backside, his arms around the other man's bare waist before
closing his eyes.  When Clive was sure Joshua was asleep, he slipped out of
the bed and made his way naked through the palace toward the Prelate's
throne room.

Sitting on the black granite throne was Falcon, his black mask resting on
an arm rest, next to an empty syringe.  "Thank you for coming quickly
Clive.  The injections do not work like they used to.
 I don't know how much time I have before Gerick awakes."

"Can you not increase the dose?"

"Not without risk of killing myself.  Even though I yearn to end this
cursed shared existence, there is only one sane way for my life to end."

"I wish there was another way my lord."

"So do I Clive," Falcon said before changing the subject.  "How is my
son... was he everything you hoped for?"

"He is more... more than I deserve."

"I hope he brings you the happiness for which you have been searching."

"He already has."

"Good..."  Falcon nodded before moving on to the hard part.  "Will you be
able to convince him to do what must be done?"

"It will not be easy... Losing my predecessor was hard enough on him, I see
that now.  To ask him to do what you want might destroy him."

"If there was any other way Clive, I would take it but I am running out of
time.  Gerick is beginning to become immune to the drugs.  These brief
precious moments where I am free of him will soon be gone."

"Hang in there Falcon.  All I need is a few weeks.  I am sure I can
convince Joshua to..."

"I do not have a few weeks Clive, I have days at most.  That is why I must
give you the object now."  Falcon said as he pointed to an ornamental case
sitting on the throne room floor.

"But won't Gerick notice it missing."

"He most certainly will.  That is why you must hide it till Joshua is
ready."

"And yourself?"

"I can still hide things from Gerick... for the moment at least."

Clive went and picked up the box from the floor, carrying it under his arm.
"Whatever happens, Falcon, good or bad, Joshua will be the loser."

"I know... but, when all is said and done, I hope you will still be around
to help him through it."

"I will try Falcon."

Falcon let out a deep breath as his entire body shuddered.  "You better be
going now... the drugs are starting to wear off."

After Clive had bowed and left the throne room, Falcon slumped in his chair
trying to enjoy his remaining moments as a free man.  Then, with a sudden
jerk Falcon straightened back up, a twisted smile growing on his face.

"Enjoy yourself?"  Gerick's voice laughed in Falcon's head.

"I was, until you came back."

"You will never get rid of me Falcon... I am too much a part of you."

"So you say..."

"Good...  you are in a mood to listen to reason.  It is time we talked
about the future."

"What future... humanity doesn't have one with you on the throne."

"Tell me what do you think of Clive?"  Gerick changed the subject.

"Clive is a good man... he's loyal."

"Very loyal, just like every man and woman in the Guild should be."

"What are you suggesting?"

"I never suggest... I only act."  Gerick said menacingly.

"What are you going to do Gerick?"

"What `we' are going to do, Falcon, is change the course of mankind.  Would
it not be better if the troublesome trait of free will was bred out of man,
ending rebellion, war, and crime?  Every person would be loyal and happy,
knowing they have a purpose in life."

"You want to replace mankind with engineered clones... biological
machines," Falcon suddenly realized.

"I have already given the orders... beneath your very feet are over ten
thousand cloning tanks... the first of a new generation of mankind.  In
three days they will reach maturity... then and only then will you be free
of me."

"Free?"  Falcon thought in disbelief.

"Yes Falcon... once the clones are ready I will have no need for you... can
you guess why?"

Falcon looked deep into Gerick's soul...  searching for whatever twisted
plan the man was following.  He finally saw it.  "You have cloned yourself
and when they are ready you will send your soul into each and every one of
them."

"Yes...  making me immortal."

"And what of Joshua?  Will ten thousand copies of yourself be willing to
share one man."

Gerick only chuckled in response.

"You are going to clone Joshua as well, aren't you?"  Falcon realized.

"Yes...  with a few extra alterations.  Nothing major mind you."

"You will only make sure he has no choice but to love you."  Falcon
accused.

"Did you not do that to Clive... made sure he would love your son."

"That was different.  The original Clive loved Joshua."

"No Falcon... it is not different.  If people like you had not poisoned
Joshua's mind against me..."

"You mean you are not really the monster we have all come to know?"

"If I am a monster, then it was your Guild that made me one.  It was they
who tortured and killed my counterpart and slaughtered my birth kin."

"So you get your revenge on the Guild by doing the same to Joshua and
Vard?"

"Vard does not deserve Joshua."

"Neither do you."

"The new Joshuas won't think so..."

"But they will not be real."

"I'm no fool Falcon... the present Joshua will never love me no matter what
skin I wear, even if I took Drake.  The clone will not be the Joshua I
truly want... but as you have seen for yourself, Joshua has accepted your
clone of Clive.  I am sure my clones will come to love the new Joshua's
just as much as the original."

"What will happen to Joshua and me when all is done?"

"I will give Joshua the Dagger of Change and give him a choice... kill Vard
or watch me torture and kill Drake and Clive.  I think we both know what
decision Joshua will make."

"But Vard is Joshua's Prelate.  If he were to kill him with the Dagger of
Change..."

"He would die at the same moment Vard does... Since Joshua loves Vard so
much, is that not a merciful death?"

"I won't let you.  I will warn Joshua."

"No you won't... you are no match for me.  Even your sneaking around has
all been according to my plan."

"I don't believe you."

"Did you not just hand Clive the Dagger of Change to give to Joshua?  Can
you even remember whose idea it was to clone Clive in the first place?"

"But the drugs... they kept you out of my mind."

"That is what I wanted you to think.  You have always been under my
control... letting you think you were free of me only so you would not
fight my suggestions.  I will take pleasure in knowing that when I do leave
your body you will be nothing more than a broken drug addict.

"Damn you Gerick."

"There, there, now Falcon... you won't have me to torment you for much
longer."