Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2004 15:23:13 -0700 (PDT)
From: JMH <trandar2002@yahoo.com>
Subject: The Mark/The Others chapter 3

Here is the next chapter... I hope you enjoy it.

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

It was three weeks after the convoy attack and when the
Wilders were approaching the mountain that they were ambushed
themselves.  Andrew had been edgy several days before.  He
would tell Ed that he felt eyes on him but when they went on
patrol they would find nothing.  It was the night before the
ambush that Andrew had one last long talk with his lover.
They had stopped in their patrol of the jungle to have a
private moment together.

            "I still think we're being watched."  Andrew
said for the hundredth time over the past three days.

            "Andy.. there's no one out there.  We've
searched all over the place and have not be able to find a
soul."

            "Still, I think something bad is going to
happen."

            "You're always worrying." Ed complained...
which was true.  Andrew being a Wilder telepath, lived in
fear of being found out.  He was also afraid that his
relationship with Ed would be found out.  In both cases he
ran the risk of being kicked out of the group or worse.  It
was his fear of being alone again that held him back from
being openly affectionate to Ed when others were present.
Now that they were alone though, Andrew kept an arm around
Ed's waist, possessively.

            "Hey... I just don't want to lose what I
have."  Andrew grinned as he gave Ed a peck on the cheek.

            "Trust me Andrew... you won't lose me."

            "But if we are found out..."

            "So what?  They'll just kick us out.  Then we
wouldn't have to worry about hiding."

            "Wouldn't you get lonely?"  Andrew said
knowing that he would.  Living on his own for so long had
given him an appreciation for belonging to a group."

            "Not really, we grunts are never going to be
important people and I never plan to marry.  I just planned
to be around you for the rest of my life."  Ed said.

            "I would love that too."  Andrew agreed but
then he remembered why the tribe was on the move in the first
place.  "But what if we are captured by the T's."

            "You really are a worry wart."  Ed laughed.  So
what if they capture us.  We probably fit in better there
then here.  There are a lot more gay men in the cities."

            "But we would be sold off as slaves.  We might
be separated."

"Then I'll lead a slave revolt and rescue you."  Ed
laughed to help get them both off the subject.

"Thanks love."  Andrew said, rewarding his lover with a
kiss.

It was right at the end of the kiss that they saw a bright
flash come from the camp.  Several explosions and gunfire
followed it.  Both boys looked at each other with fear
showing on their faces.  For a brief moment Ed was hoping
that Andrew would run away from the camp but instead Andrew
began a mad dash toward the apparent fighting.  Going against
better judgment due to his love of his friend, Ed ran after
him through the thick jungles.

They had been a good two miles away from the camp and by the
time they reached the first mile all sound of fighting had
ended.  Andrew stopped for a second when he noticed the
silence, long enough for Ed to catch up with him but too soon
he was running again, escaping Ed's arms as he tried to stop
him.

It was only when they were nearly at the camp that Ed saw
Andrew stop.  It was as if he hit a wall.  He then grabbed
both sides of his head and fell to the floor.  Ed ran to him
and was shocked by what he saw.  Andrew was having
convulsions, his eyes wide open and glowing dark gray.  Ed
knew what the eyes had to mean but he didn't know why Andrew
had fallen or why his eyes were now glowing.  He almost
jumped away when he heard the snapping of twigs and the
sounds of men approaching.  He knew it had to be the men who
attacked the camp but Ed could not leave Andrew.  So instead
he hugged his friend in an attempt to calm him as Andrew
shook in his arms.  It was only a matter of seconds before Ed
found the two of them surrounded with guns pointed at them.

"Move away from your friend, get on your stomach and put
your hands on the back of your head."  One of the Hunters
ordered.

Ed refused to obey.  Deep down he feared that when he finally
let go of Andrew, it would be the last time he would see
him.  The Hunter, no mad (?), made to hit Ed on the head with
the butt of his gun but was stopped mid motion, frozen into
place.  The rest of the guards, seeing what happened to their
comrade turned to face an area secluded by the tress and
saluted.

            "Leave the boy alone."  A voice commanded with
a tone of authority.

            Ed surprised, look to where the voice came from
and saw a man step out from the trees wearing a green pendent
and a strange wire crown on his head.  Ed then felt a sharp
pain in his head and his arms releasing Andrew.  The man with
the crown looked first at Ed, gave him a dismissive look
before turning his full attention to Andrew.  He made a
motion toward Andrew's head causing Ed to try to stop him
but Ed found that he could not move.  He had to watch as the
man put a similar crown on Andrew's head.  After which he
stepped back and waited.

            Andrew's convulsions began to die down until his
body lay still.  His eyes remained wide open and glowing, a
look of fear on his face.  The man then put an optical
instrument over one of Andrew's eyes, read the instrument
reading, and smiled broadly.  He then looked at Ed with
greater interest.  He then used the instrument on Ed but he
must have gotten a negative reading because his face took on
one of disappointment.

            "Well I guess since you're his lover, I'll be
able to get more cooperation out of him if I take you
along."  The man grumbled to Ed before turning his attention
to one of the Hunters.  "Go tell the captain that we found
what he came for so they can turn off the psi field."

            "Psi field?" Ed thought. "That must be what
caused Andrew to go into spasms.  It must disable any
telepath and the crowns must be how they prevent it from
affecting their own men."  Ed stored this bit of information
in his head for later use.  Any possible weapons that could
be used against the telepaths would be needed if he was going
to help them escape.



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

Randal was so disappointed.  His 21st birthday had past six
weeks ago and still the master had not slept with him let
alone made him a vampire.  Not that the master didn't call
on him often he would but always with his father, Neil,
present.  The master would smile at Randal, take his blood
before giving him the blood kiss and then dismiss his so that
he and Randal's father could spend some time alone together.

Randal would beg his father to make the master turn him into
a vampire but all his father would do is laugh telling him
not to worry as he will be taken cared of.  This made Randal
angry as he didn't understand why the master would not turn
him.  He suspected that his father was not trying hard enough
to pressure the master into doing it; either that or telling
him not to.

It was that suspicion that led Randal to climb up to the roof
and spy on his father and the master when they would walk the
gardens together.  Randal had to sneak past the blind
animorph servants, who were the only ones who lived within
the master's private home, in order to get to the roof to
wait.

It was just after sunset that Randal saw a door open and the
master and his father walk into the courtyard.  They sat
together on a bench, Neil in the master's arms as he fed.
Once that was done, the master moved as to kiss Randal's
father but Neil stopped him.  The master then stood up
suddenly, his eyes glowing red with anger.

"I'm tired of hiding!"  The master bellowed.  "Why do we
need to wait before I can marry you?"

 `You know why Sid.  James has to find a way of informing
the council that another family of brides as been found."

Randal was startled into surprise.  No one called the master
by his name.  Until now he had thought that no one had known
it but for some reason his father did.

"Then why does he delay?"  Sid demanded.

"You know why."  Neil repeated calmly.  "If the council
finds out there is another bride blood line that runs true
there will be fighting over it.  The other vampire clans
accept the fact that the Morgan family will only marry into
the Worth and the Vox clans.  There is no understanding with
mine.  They can't use the old rules; you're not a member of
either clan."

"The clans don't have to know."  Sid insisted.  "We can
go through the ceremony and no one has to be the wiser."

"But what about my son?  He can't live here forever.  You
can't hide him from the rest of the world like you did me."

That statement hurt Sid and it showed.  "Have you hated me
keeping you hidden?"

"It would have been nice if I could leave here every now and
then but I'm happy.  It's my son I worry about.  When you
found me during the war, I was already an adult with all the
experiences that come with that.  All my son knows is within
the walls of this compound."

"There is nowhere I can send your son where he would not be
noticed for what he is."  Sid said sadly.

"That is what James is working on.  There has to be an
understanding before he can leave here.  We need to..."

"Wait..."  Sid said to silence his lover.  Randal crouched
down; afraid he had been noticed.  "I think there's a chill
in the air.  We'd better go in."  Sid finally said after a
moment of silence.

Neil looked at Sid with confusion but did not resist when Sid
offered him a hand a lifted him up.  Soon they were back
inside and Randal was breathing easier.  He was just about to
return the way he came when the door leading to the roof
popped open and one of the blind servants came out.

"What do you think you're doing, spying on the master!"
The servant whose name was Jack demanded.

Randal jumped with a start.  He knew that all the blind
servants had been military animorphs who had been rescued
from being turned into drones at the start of the war.  The
vampires had been able to rescue them but at the cost of
their eyesight.  Jack, while blind, had the whole blueprint
of the house in his head and could beat any one in hand to
hand combat.

Randal had only one hope and that was to get Jack to lose
track of where he was.  Then it would became a game of blind
man's bluff as Randal would have to sneak off with out
making a sound to give away his location.

So it was only by luck that when Jack dived for Randal that
the shirt he was wearing torn off.  Randal then pushed him
away... pushed him too hard and off the side of the building
Jack went, head first, hitting the ground with a loud thud.

Soon the courtyard was filled with other servants and the
doorway that Randal had tired to escape though blocked by two
others.  Then a loud moaning began, which quickly spread to
the others, a moan of mourning for their dead pack mate.

Randal slumped to the ground in defeat and despair.  He
hadn't wanted to kill Jack, only get away.  What made it
worse was the fact that to kill one of the blind animorphs
was viewed as a heinous crime on the level of child killing.
Whatever life Randal had planned for himself ended in that
moment of recklessness.

It was his father who finally came for him.  Neil looked
ragged, his eyes swollen from crying.  "Son, I'm sorry,
there is nothing I can do."

"What's going to happen to me?" Randal said in a begging
tone.

"You are going away son... They're sending you to Exile."

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



            It was one of the largest armadas ever assembled
that escorted James and Jason to Antarctica for while they
had negotiated with GenCorp for a cease fire so that could
make the trip, no one wanted to take any chances.  Jason and
James stood out on the cold deck dressed as if they were
going to the Caribbean while James's children were wrapped
up in furs to protect them.  As the weather had gotten colder
James had gotten stronger and more awake proving to Jason
that they had made the right decision in making the trip.

"Feeling better hon?"  Jason asked as he wrapped his arms
around James.

"Yes much better, thanks for talking me into this.  I don't
know what it is I'm feeling, but it is keeping me awake."

"I think I know what it is. It's the feeling one gets when
one finally returns home after a long absence."  Jason
replied.

"I think your right... Funny I'm supposed to be the empath
but you were the one to figures it out."

"Well that's because I have more experience recently with
this feeling."  Jason explained.  "Each time you woke up it
was like a home coming to me."

"Sorry for not being available."  James apologized.

"Hey it's not your fault.  Something is wrong and we just
have to get to the bottom of it."

James sighed and rested his head on Jason's shoulder while
Jason kissed the top of his head.  Watching and listening to
all this was Scott and Carl.  Because they too were becoming
"Other's" the family felt they should come as well.

"Do you think we'll ever be like Grandpa James and
Jason?"  Scott asked.

"Well I don't know if we will be JUST like them but I hope
to be pretty close.  James and Jason only have each other.
You have Chuck in your life also."

"It was nice of Chuck to gives us this honeymoon."

"Yes but I also think Chuck really wanted to go back to the
city for a bit with my dad."  Carl laughed.  "They too are
on a honeymoon of sorts even thought they will also have to
spend time running the company while I'm away."

"I'm sure they won't destroy the company."  Scott replied
seeing the worried smile on Carl's face.

"It's not that, it's just that when we get back, you'll
go back to the cabin and I to the city."

"I've been thinking about that."  Scott admitted.
"Nearly all the kids are grown up now.  Will is moving into
the city so it might be time for me to move on."

"Really?"  Carl said in disbelief.

"Yes, I think Chuck has gotten a little bored with playing
pioneer.  He misses the city with all its excitement.  He has
put up living in my world for over 20 years I think I should
do him the same favor."

"Oh gosh... you don't know how happy that makes me.  I...
I've got to plan.  I need to find us a home to live in.  I
need to find a decorator.  I need..."  Carl rambled as he was
taken in by the excitement.

"Hey there is no hurry.  We're still on our honeymoon."

"So when do you plan to tell Chuck the good news?"

"Not till we get back, I want to surprise him."

"Ok... but do you mind if I make a few calls back to the
city.  I want everything to be ready when we get back."

"Go ahead hon." Scott said as he gave Carl a kiss before
Carl began skipping toward the communication room.

"Finally told him you're going to move in with him?"
Jason voice whispered in Scott's mind, causing him to jump.

"You were listening in?"  Scott sent back.

"Of course we were. You are our kids after all."  James's
thoughts entered.

Scott blushed in embarrassment afraid of what else they had
seen in his mind.

"Oh don't worry, we don't peep in when you and Chuck are
having fun," Jason replied knowing the direction Scott mind
was going.

"But Jason did give you a push every now and then when Carl
came to visit you."  James laughed.

"Hey, Carl's my boy.  I have to make sure he's taken cared
of."  Jason defended.

"Well from what Carl has told me you did a good job."
James continued to chuckle.

"What do you mean by push?"  Scott said defensively.

"I didn't play with your emotions."  Jason explained
quickly.  "I just would help you get a hard on when ever
Carl was near you, sort of like viagra back when I met
James."

"Gosh I always wondered why Carl did that to me.  Not that
it didn't happen with Chuck, it was just more spontaneous."

"Well that was Jason's fault.  He was afraid that you would
hold back on Carl because you were married to Chuck."  James
explained.

"Are you still doing it?"  Scott asked concerned.

"No, once Jason saw your skin was now gray he knew he
didn't need to."

"Good."  Scott said relieved.

It was just at that moment that Carl returned with a wide
grin on his face.  "I talked to my people back home and they
will have everything ready for us when we get there."

"That's good." Scott smiled.  For some reason Scott felt
suddenly aroused by Carl coming to him like a lost puppy,
right at that moment he wanted to take Carl and fuck him
silly.  Scott then glared at Jason with suspicion but Jason
shrugged his shoulders. Still not trusting Jason, Scott
whispered something into Carl's ear which caused Carl's
eyebrows to shoot up.

"Can we really?"  Carl asked like an excited child.

"Yes hon." Scott replied paternally as he wrapped his arm
around Carl's and led him to the living quarters but not
before giving Jason another warning glare.

"You're still playing with him."  James accused once Scott
was out of view.

"Hey I want my baby to be happy."  Jason defended himself.
He had really taken to Carl over the years, his `mini-me'
so to speak.

"Well by the expression on Carl's face, Scott is about to
make him real happy."

"So..."  Jason asked after a moment of silence, his eyebrows
raised.

"So what?"  James asked.

"Are you going to make me happy?"  Jason asked coyly.

"Is this an invitation to bed?

"Yep."  Jason said as he began necking James.

"So how do you want me?"  James sighed as Jason slipped a
hand under his shirt.

"On top of me of course."  Jason purred.

"So when are you going to let me tell the family that you
are really the bottom."  James laughed.  "They have always
been curious about what we do in bed."

Jason stopped his kissing to look James in the eye.  "Don't
you dare tell them. How can I inspire fear if everyone knows
I'm your bitch?"

"You're not my bitch you're my lover."  James said, not
liking the term.

"Well yeah."  Jason replied.  "But what would people think
if they knew I got off by you telling me what to do."

"You only pretend to do what I tell you."  James said
knowingly.

"Yeah but I still like it.  It gets tiring to always having
to tell others what to do."

"But you're good at it."

"That's only because they are afraid of me.  I wish you
could be the scary boss every now and then and me the
innocent husband that everyone trusts."

"But that's not in your nature Jason.  We each have a role
to play and yours is to be the boogie monster.  All that
should matter to you is that you can't scare me anymore."

"I can't?"  Jason pouted a little disappointed.

"No, you can't.  Now let's get inside so I can take care
of my husband."  James said as he began to drag Jason to the
cabins.

"Will you feed off me again?"  Jason said hopefully.  Ever
since James had become "Other", Jason had been able to live
out his fantasy of James playing the role of the seducing
vampire.

"Sure hon." James smiled as he gave Jason a kiss on the
nose.

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

Ulrich was worried.  At first Derrick had seemed to become
stronger in his telepathic ability when he joined with the LF
(living factory) but slowly Derrick had been losing control
and the automated systems of the LF had taken on more of the
tasks.  At times not even Ulrich was able to get a response
from the doors as he walked the many levels of the LF.  The
only person who seemed to be able to walk freely was John, or
more exactly John Charles Keller, the son of Scott Keller.
When Ulrich's father and the others had escaped GenCorp,
Ulrich had used the confusion to kidnap Charles.  He then
used his father's cloning technology to change Charles
neural pathways to match that of John Keller, the most
perfect empath ever born and father of Scott.  Ulrich had
wanted a perfect companion and while their relationship was
non-sexual, John Charles had provided it.

It was Ulrich's private research into what was going wrong
with the LF that was his present worry.  He had discovered
that while Derrick was indeed strong as a telepath his mind
just couldn't take the growing pressure of the
ever-increasing complex machine that was the LF.  Something
was needed to help relieve the pressure and the only thing
his research was showing that would do the trick was an
empath.  So obliviously Ulrich was now afraid for his one
companion for Derrick never let the two of them leave the LF
compound and very few entered it.

Ulrich continued to worry until he came into the room where
John was reading, when the young man's warm smile lifted his
spirit.

"Hi Ulrich."  John waved to his one and only friend.

"How's it going kiddo?"  Ulrich returned before giving
John a hug.

"I had the nightmare again."  John said sadly.

"Want to tell me about it?

"Ok... I dreamed that I was two different people again but
this time another person came into the dream.  I did not know
him but he seemed familiar to me and I wanted to hug him but
the harder I tried to get to him the further he seemed to
get.  It made me sad and I woke up with tears in my eyes."

Ulrich fearing he knew who the man had to be, touched John on
the forehead and looked at John's memory of the dream and
there he saw an image of John Charles father, Scott.

Ulrich took a deep breath and prepared himself to tell John a
lie.  "John, you must never run to that man.  He is
dangerous.  If you touch him in the dream he will know where
you are and come after you so you must stay away from him."

"All right."  John agreed but not for the first time he
noticed a bitter taste in his mouth and had a sense that
Ulrich was not telling him the truth.  "Can we have some ice
cream?"

"Sure hon." Ulrich agreed.  It seemed that whenever he had
to lie to John, John would ask for ice cream and he always
agreed just to relieve his own guilt.


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

     Will hopefully have a new family tree up soon.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/adultwritingworkshop/

Trandar2002@yahoo.com

This is the link to my first e-published gay fantasy
story... The first chp is free so if you like it you might
want to subscribe.   If you would like to ask me some
questions on what the story will be about feel free to email
me.    http://www.keepitcoming.net/centurion.html

Thanks

                                                      JMH