Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2003 11:22:13 -0800 (PST)
From: JMH <trandar2002@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: The Mark/The Tor 3
Well here is chp 3. I hope the family tree was helpfu to all of you.
I too have problems keeping all the characters and their relationships
straight. I have to warn you that not much happens in this chapter but
then this is the end of the so called introduction for the second book. I
needed to write so less exciting chps so the stage could be set for what is
going to happen in later chps so bare with me. Enjoy!
Again, this is a story about gay relationships with a SF twist so
1. if you are breaking the law, underage, or just hate gay stuff don't read
any further. The world wide web is a big place so you can find something
else. 2. As this is a SF story everything is a big lie. The story is not
based on any real person place thing, or another person's idea. So any
similarities are pure chance. 3. Since this story is of my own creation,
i have the copyright to it. No other postings, except at nifty, are
allowed. Nor is the selling of the story to others permitted.
JMH
trandar2002@yahoo.com
*****************************************************************************
Scott was a great hit for the investment firm Dillon, Courts, and
company. Like all investment companies, while they had their own names,
they all work for Steward Finance. Within the first two months of Scott
being on the team, their returns on investment had moved them from the top
50 to the top 10 small local firms. Fredrick Dillon and Lance Courts
became very protective of their innocent Scott and even terminated
relationships with a few clients who offered to buy Scott's virginity.
Scott lived with Fred and Lance for the first two years working for
them where his presence added to a sense of stability to the quirky couple.
The two of them began to love Scott earnest personality. He was like an
open book to them. He had never learned how to hide his emotions since he
never had a need to around Jacob. In a world of deception and false
sincerity they could not help but love him. It also led them to be very
protective of him. They made sure that when clients met Scott, that Scott
hugging them or giving them a kiss on the cheek was not an invitation to
meet later in bed. Fred and Lance also agree that they themselves would
not pursue a sexual relationship with Scott. So it was with great surprise
that Lance woke up one day finding himself in a monogamous relationship
with his longtime partner Fred. That did not mean Scott remained
completely ignorant of what sex was. Having slept with Jacob for so many
years Scott had no problem sleeping in the same bed with Fred and Lance and
it was during those times that Lance took it upon himself to teach Scott
the pleasure of group masturbation.
Scott also felt a great deal of affection for the two and it was with
some sorrow that after four years of working for them he was given a
promotion by Steward Finance that would take him away from them. Scott's
easy personality, charm, and good financial skills did not go unnoticed by
higher ups in Steward. When he received an offer to be an intern to the
chief officers, both Fred and Lance encouraged Scott to accept. It could
mean Scott becoming a senior manager himself one day and having a friend in
such a position could only benefit Lance and Fred's own future. So it was
with many tears that Scott left for Steward City.
***********************************************************************
Scott arrived in Steward City with great trepidation. He had been
having a nagging feeling for sometime that there was something missing in
his life. He was needed somewhere and when he arrived in Steward City, the
feeling became only stronger. Scott arrived to Steward's global
headquarters and was amazed by the massive size of the complex. Entire
downtown Chicago could not match the mass of building. It was made up of
three rings of buildings, each one higher then the other with the center
dominated by a diamond shaped tower. It was there that Scott was to work
for the next five years. This selection process was much different then
the last one he underwent four years ago. This time he was dressed in a
sharp business suit and the only person involved with the selection was an
elderly Hispanic woman who introduced herself as Maria Sanchez, the
personal secretary for the CEO.
She had a motherly personality about her, pinching the cheeks of the
young men before her. She carried personnel files on each of us and not
one of us escaped a scolding for either dating too much or not enough.
When she reached me her face pick up a huge smile and with both hands
pinched both my cheeks. "He was right, you do look like such a nice boy I
only hope he does not break your heart."
After being told that he was to be one of the ten interns to serve
the CEO, Scott was also told that Hal Steward would be gone for the first
year and that until he returned, there wouldn't be too much for him to do.
Scott offered to do any deskwork while waiting and she just smiled and told
be to be careful what he asked for. After being instructed to come by next
week after he had a chance to settle in, Scott headed out for the apartment
that would be his home.
The apartment was large with three bedrooms. One of them was locked
and Scott was told that it was for the CEO's use only. Scott did not
understand why the CEO would need a bedroom in each of his interns
apartments but Scott took it in stride. Soon, his next-door neighbor, Ian
Goodman, knock on his door asking if he would like to go out to dinner with
him that night. Scott accepted and they headed out.
Upper management lived in a miniature city within the inner circle.
Scott an Ian ate at a small Chinese café before Ian asked if he wanted
to go to a local bar. This was the first time for Scott to go to a sex
bar. The only ones he had gone out to were more business meeting oriented.
Scott began to become nervous as he noticed that most of the people were
engaged in fairly aggressive sexual behavior. He had returned several of
Ian's kisses but pushed away when he tried to unbuckle his belt. Ian
seemed unfazed by this mainly was because another guy chose that moment to
go down on him. Several other men tried to involve Scott in the now heated
orgy but he made his way out, leave the building only losing a jacket.
As he walked quickly back to his apartment Scott had to catch his
breath. He did not realize until he was halfway back home how aroused he
had become during the short time Scott was at the bar. He was leaning
against the window of a store when he felt a sudden rush of joy and the
foreign feeling of lust. It was like he was experiencing a delayed
reaction to the stimuli he had experienced minutes before. Scott became
lost in feelings of wanting to belong, to be a part of the other men's
desires. To want his flesh pressed against that of another. Scptt wanted
to feel more of the primal passions that had filled the room. He wanted to
be part of the group mindset.
Scott was so lost in the hunger that he did not notice a man
approaching me. Scott was leaning against a windowpane and stared at his
now glowing blue eyes. He was so taken by it that he did not notice the
cloths slipping off his body or the warm mouth on his flesh. He did not
notice the tears on both their faces and the love in the man's glowing gray
eyes. All he noticed was an increase sense of love and pleasure that
blinded him to the world around him. It was only when he felt himself
falling asleep that he recognized that he had just ejaculated.
Scott woke up in the arms of another. The body against his was so
warm, so comforting that he pressed himself harder against it. The soft
hairs on his chest tickled Scott's smooth skin. When he finally looked
into the face of the man, it was one that he did not expect.
Looking at Scott with a warm but nervous smile was Dr. Ryan Vassar.
Scott had believed he died in the bombing of the hospital four years
ago. They did not say a word to each other but Scott snuggled up closer to
him, resting his head on Ryan's chest before falling asleep again.
When Scott awoke again it was to something different and even more
wonderful. Ryan was gone but at the foot of the bed stood three little
heads. Two were blond and the third a dark brown. Scott had never seen
them before but he knew the moment he saw them that they were his own.
Scott waved them closer to him and the first to move was the one with the
brown mop.
"Your name is Charlie isn't it?" Scott asked.
The boy nodded his head.
"You're my son aren't you?"
"The boy smiled and gave Scott a hug. As soon as he did so the two
blonds jumped on the bed and ran to me.
"You're Niles and you're Aaron." Scott named the identical twins.
The two twins laughed and joined into the hug.
Scott felt a sense of calm overtake him while his mind filled with
the life histories of his three sons. They were all four years old and
were the children of Lisa and himself. They loved Ryan as their uncle but
had felt that something had been missing for sometime especially with
Charlie. It was these three children that Scott had been sensing. It was
they that he had been missing even though he had never known until now that
they lived.
Charlie, Scott could tell, had an immense power within him and he did
not know how to handle it. His power had been slowly escaping his control
until this very moment. Some how his being in my arms calmed the storm in
his mind and removed the burden that had been growing on his much too young
soul. He wanted his daddy to make everything all right.
The twins were a bundle of joy. Scott could tell that they took
after their uncle in that all they wanted was for everyone to like them.
They did not have the burden of responsibility that their brother had on
their souls. They were just glad that there was another person around for
them to charm with their winning personalities.
Scott gained the sense that they had all been hiding, that their
mother and uncle were scared of something and that the children had felt
the fear. Scott needed to find out what was happening, how did this come
to be, and how could he help.
While the twins jumped up and down on the bed asking Scott a million
questions, Charlie had fallen asleep in his arms. He was in Scott's mind
now, hiding there, too afraid to be in his own due to the power that was
there. Scott sent him comforting thoughts that Charlie's soul clung to
like a stuff animal as he carried him out of the bed and into the room
beyond.
Ryan was there in the living room drinking coffee. He got up and
apologized for the children waking him but Scott knew that Ryan knew that
he didn't need to. It was just an attempt to delay for a moment the
questions Scott was sure to ask.
"How did this happen?" Scott asked him straightforwardly
"My sister took a sample of your sperm when you were in recovery and
fertilized herself with them."
"Why?" Scott asked, still confused
"She wanted to have children."
"Why and why me?"
"She loved you. By now you know about our family, the Vassar family.
My brother does horrible things because he's unhappy. If he knew that my
sister was in love with you he would of gone after you seeking that same
love. By faking our own deaths my sister hoped to have one chance to have
a happy family without fear of her brother. She picked you not only
because she liked you but also because your genes insured that she would
not give birth to another Gordon. What we did not know at the time was
that the mixing of our genes would produce something else in Charlie.
Charlie is a special child but just like Gordon a very lonely one. His
mind is so different from that of a normal person's that the emotional
connection that occurs between all people is near impossible for him. Only
the twins have been able to reach him in any way. He would tell me that
there was someone he was looking for but that he was far away. When you
returned here, he became excited and wanting to go looking for you. At
first I did not know that it was you he was looking for but when he told me
where you were and I found you there... I knew that you finally had to meet
you children."
"Why did you not tell me sooner."
"I had no way of telling you. My biometrics and voice are all
recorded on the global computer. If I show my face anywhere outside
Steward headquarters the computers and therefore my brother would know that
I still live. He would come for me again and the children. I could not
risk it."
"Where's Lisa?"
"She died two years ago. The drugs that prevented her power from
driving her mad finally killed her."
"What do we do now?"
"It does not matter if you hate me for what happened but the children
need you. Charlie's life will be terribly hard and without you it will be
impossible. These children are the future. You're the only bridge that
can link them with the present world. If you ask me to leave I will but
please don't leave these children alone." Ryan cried
"I won't leave either of you." Scott smiled.
Ryan smiled back and started searching his pockets until he pulled
out a ring. It was made up of two rings, one on top of the other. The
bottom one was made of gold while the top was of silver. Scott saw that an
identical ring was also on Ryan's finger. "My sister and I always wore
these rings as a symbol of the link between us. When she... when she died
she took her ring off and told me that if I ever saw you again to give you
her's."
Scott accepted the ring from Ryan's hand and slipped it on to his right
while kissing Ryan on the forehead. It was then that he noticed the tribal
ban on his arm.
"You're my Tor now of me and our family. Please lead, love and
protect us."
Scott looked at his left arm and saw the mark of a Tor now there. "I
surrender myself to my family's love. I will give my life to protect the
pack," His eyes glowing blue.
*************************************************
Using his pass, Scott snuck everyone into the inner circle and into
my apartment. The children Scott placed in the extra bedroom while Ryan
and he slept in his. They never had sex again for a long time after that
one time in the street. Ryan explained that Scott was going through the
awakening of his talents and that they appeared to be very strong in
empathy. When Scott had gone to the bar that night, the emotions of the
surrounding people overcame him in the streets causing him to become
sexually aroused. In the short run this would happen more frequently but
that Scott would eventually learn how to prevent it from happening. During
that first week they seemed to automatically fall into parenting roles.
Ryan would be the one to wake them up in the morning, cook them breakfast
and take part in their games. He was the nurturing one. Scott was the one
to teach them in the afternoons, cook them dinner, read them their bedtime
story and put them to sleep. Scott was the comforting one.
While the twins were a pair of chatterboxes Scott never heard Charlie
say a word. Everything he said was by thought. He seemed to think Scott
was some sort of superhero like the ones he saw on television. He would
spend most of the day glued to his father's side, taking extreme interest
in everything he did. Scott was the first empath that could reach him.
He had the joys of teaching the boys how to shave, how to take a
shower, and how tell when a steak is medium rare. The twins seemed to give
him a lot of respect in seeing the effect Scott was having on their
brother. Scott learned that many kids and some adults would pick on
Charlie for not talking. A few times this had led to accidents that
Charlie blamed himself for. As a result, the twins had taken it upon
themselves to be their brother's defenders.
During the weekend before Scott went back to work, Ryan and he began to
express their fears that Charlie would not handle his absence well. Sunday
night Scott told Charlie that he would be gone during the day but that he
would be back for dinner and bedtime story. Charlie sent out that he
understood but Scott saw a worried expression on his face.
Monday morning Scott took the executive elevator to the CEO floor and
reported for duty to Maria. She had a near disbelieving expression on her
face that seemed to say she was surprised to see him.
"Now when I told you to show up this morning I told you to be careful
what you ask for. Most men take that as a clue NOT to show up... Well I
did say you LOOKED like a nice boy. I guess I'll see how nice you are when
I'm done with ya." She snickered with a wicked laugh.
She was not joking with that, she seemed to have a talent in finding
tedious tasks. She gave Scott a file of accounts that the computer had
corrupted but were now only available in printout. Scott had to first
determine by looking through the thousands of sheets of paper of corrupted
data what was wrong and then hand type the corrected data back into the
computer. Scott was about to give up when he looked up from him desk to
see Charlie in the doorway trying as hard as possible not to be noticed.
Not even feeling an ounce of anger at him Scott beckoned him over and he
ran over and hopped onto his lap. After giving his hair a good tussle Scott
turned his attention back to the impossible files. Except now, they did
not seem so impossible anymore. While the data was just as corrupted as
before, it all seemed to make sense. Scott could now see where the data
had jumped from one file to another and he could now fill in the missing
data that seemed to have been deleted. In two hours Scott was able to
enter all the corrected data and return the file to Maria.
She gave Scott a dubious expression when he handed her the disk but
when she saw the data on it her face took on a befuddled look. "All right
smart ass, would you like to tell me how you fixed the data, the same data
I've been giving you younglings to fix for the past six years just to see
y'all fluster about."
"I had a little help from my son." Scott said honestly.
"Your son? Yea right, I bet that's what y'all call some of those
twinks y'all date."
"No, I mean my son. He seemed to have gone looking for me at work
and found me here."
Maria gave Scott another of her "yea right" looks until she noticed
the little boy standing next to him. She then grabbed Scott by my arm and
dragged him to an empty office. "Would you mind telling me how an intern
has a son in this day and age? The last I checked, you had never served in
the military and I know we don't pay you anywhere close the amount of money
it takes these days to purchase a breeding license."
"It's a long story and I don't know if you would believe me." Scott
said worriedly.
"I'm sure it is but try me."
And so Scott did. He explained everything except the identity of the
mother; a fact she noticed was missing.
"You don't have to tell me who the mother is." She said after I had
finished. "Your file leaves only one person who could be the mother.
You're lucky that you're working for us instead of one of the other big
five. All the others would sell you all off to Jason Vassar in a
heartbeat. Either that or kill you all in order to weaken Gen-Corp. Do
you know why we are the second most powerful company in the Group of Five."
"Because you control the price of everything."
"Yes, but the reason we are able to do that is because all the other
corporations do not trust the others to give them a fair price. It is
their mistrust of each other that gives Steward Finance its power. We are
the only trusted middlemen. We are also the only company that can keep the
balance of power between the five. If Industry becomes too strong we
increase the price of the resources they need. If technology becomes weak,
we give them huge loans. The other companies do not complain about our
interference since all of them will need our help one day. As long as they
remain on top, they see no reason to get rid of us. This gives us our
power. By keeping you and your own safe, we are helping to maintain the
statue quo. That is why you are so lucky you are working for us because
all the others would use you for their own advantages." She concluded as
she straightened out Charlie's hair. "Such a cute boy. It is such a shame
that his uncle is such a bastard."
******************************************************************
Gordon watched as the child was delivered. He would be his fifth son
from his union with Lisa's old boyfriend Brandon. Jason wasted no time in
trying to build a new family after he believed his old one had died in the
bombing. Since Brandon had been his sister's boyfriend Jason reasoned that
Lisa might have had children with Brandon if they had married. Therefore,
Brandon was the best choice to be the other sperm donor for Gordon's sons.
As soon as the child was born, Jason had the infant moved into a growth
acceleration tank. It was the same type of tank he had used so many years
ago except this time it also fed in Jason's own memories. While two of the
children had died in the process, Gordon had already two sons to whom he
would leave his legacy with.
"My children, my dear children, we will change this world."
******************************************************************************
When Ryan answered the door he was surprised to see that Scott was
not alone. He was relieved to see Charlie with him but was surprised at
seeing a elderly woman also at his door.
"What?" was Ryan's only response.
"Don't worry Ryan she will help us."
"Why did you go around telling her about us?" Ryan said angry.
"Ryan, its ok. When she saw Charlie she pretty much guessed who we
were."
"It's still very dangerous." Ryan getting madder
"Now stop it!" Maria admonished the two. "Lets get the child inside
so we don't bring the rest of the floor over here. You two can argue and
make up behind closed doors."
Maria shooed them all in and planted herself in the kitchen while she
made everyone sit in the living room. Ryan continued to give Scott an "I'm
pissed at you" look while Charlie took on a worried expression on his face
that spoke volumes to his not liking of the adults arguing. Scott's face
on his part gave the impression of trying to think his way out of the
problem. The twins had come running into the room but one look on Ryan's
face quickly put them into a death march pace back to their room. Things
remained in that awkward silence for a long time until Maria came out of
the kitchen carrying a bowl of chips and a strange dip. By this time
Charlie had begun to sniffle and was starting to begin what looked like
what was going to be a major tantrum.
Scott, seeing what was about to happen, scooped up Charlie and put
him in his lap while telling him that everything was going to be ok.
Charlie on the other hand was now balling and getting Scott's shirt wet.
Maria sat herself next to the pouting Ryan. She then picked up a chip and
scooped up what looked like salsa with diced avocado and put it up to
Ryan's lip. When Ryan refused to open his mouth, Maria's face went dark
and she forced Ryan's face open with one hand as she shoved the chip with
another. Ryan, who was too shocked to resist was forced to start eating it
in order to clear his throat. It was then that he realized that the salsa
was filled with pepper seeds and not ordinary pepper seeds. Maria had
loaded the dip with habanera seeds.
Once his mouth was cleared, Ryan gave out a giant gasp and began
running into the kitchen. The twins, who must have been listening by their
door came running out to see what had happened. Scott, while carrying
Charlie also started running into the kitchen to see what had happened.
There, by the kitchen sink, Ryan was lapping up water and spitting it
out, trying to get rid of what ever was burning his mouth but it seemed to
do no good. The heat of the dip was so bad that tears were running down
his eyes. Scott quickly put Charlie down and ran to the cabinet to fetch a
large glass that he then handed to Ryan. Ryan nodded his thanks and began
using the cup. Still though, no matter how many times he washed his mouth
out, Ryan's eyes continued to water up from the spice.
While everyone else's eyes were focused on Ryan, Maria went to the
frig and took out a carton of yogurt. She then took a spoonful of it and
approached Ryan. Ryan, seeing that Maria was about to shove something else
down his throat, began to scurry away but Maria was not going to put up
with that.
"Now stop that you little baby, if you want it to go away you'll have
to trust me.
Ryan, who was still untrusting but now thinking he had nothing else
to loose walked back to her. When the cool yogurt hit his tongue, Charlie
gave out a sigh of relief as the burning left his tongue. Maria then
handed him the carton and let him feed himself.
"What did you do?" Scott asked.
Maria went to her pursue and took out a small jar that was filled
with tiny seeds.
"I soak these seeds in chili oil before letting them dry. The only
way to get this stuff off your tongue is to use something with fat in it
hence the yogurt."
"Do you do this to all the people you meet?" Ryan asked when he had
recovered.
"Well. Whenever Mr. Steward gets a little too big for his britches I
put a few teaspoons of these seeds into his coffee grinder. I find that
after I do that his listening skills improve vastly. I just felt that your
ears needed a good cleaning before I started."
"Start what?"
"Telling you what an idiot you are."
"Yeah I learned that lesson all right." Ryan said before turning his
attention to the boys. "Never accept food from strangers kids. You never
know what you're going to get."
"Well yes, that is an important lesson to teach young children but it
was not what I had in mind.
"What then?"
"This whole plan to keep your children safe by keeping them locked up
all the time."
"Oh that."
"Do you actually think that doing this will keep them safe?"
"It has worked alright so far."
"Yes, while they were babies you could keep them in a crib but they
are growing up and sooner then you would think they'll be adults, adults
with no understanding of how the outside world works."
"It's better this way." Ryan defended himself.
"Yes its better this way, that's why four year old Charlie was able
to walk out of here under your nose. Do you know how rare children his age
are? Do you think a four year old child can safely walk alone by himself?"
Ryan, now seeing the error in his thinking began to cry and verbally
bash himself. Scott walked over to Ryan and held him. The three boys
later joined them.
"I'm not trying to be cruel Ryan but open your eyes. Your children
will never be safe no matter how deep a hole you dig for them to hide in.
You have to allow for them to know how the outside world works and allow
for them to experience it for themselves. That's the only way they'll
learn how to protect themselves". She finished as she watch the happy and
too rare scene.
The near death of the family unit had been the greatest tragedy of
the illness. With nearly all children born and raised by the military,
mother and father had been replaced by commanding officers. Those few
children who were born outside the military either belonged to high-ranking
suits or were own by the corporations themselves. No, these people needed
looking after, no mistake.
********************************************************************
After Scott had cooked dinner and was away reading the children their
bedtime story, Maria took Ryan aside to tell him what she had in mind.
"Ryan what I'm going to tell you might be hard for you to hear but I
think you need to know."
"What?" Ryan whispered nervously.
"I want to bring y'all home with me, to Mr. Steward's home."
"Why?"
"Because your family will be safe there. Only people totally loyal
to Mr. Steward are allowed to live there. Your children would be able to
play outside and meet new people without the fear of someone turning them
in to your brother." Maria said as if it made perfect logic.
"I guess that makes sense." Ryan agreed
"The hard part is... Well the hard part for you will be the possibility
that Mr. Steward or another executive might court Scott."
"What!" he said in a loud undertone.
"Mr. Steward chose Scott personally to work for him in the hope that
they could get to know each other and hopefully like each other A LOT."
"Was this both of yours plan from the beginning." Ryan accused.
"NO! Neither of us knew about you and the children before today. I
would've found some reason to keep Scott away from Mr. Steward if I had
known. But now..."
"But what!"
"I think you realize what you have here in having a family is very
rare. I think you also know that a person like Scott is even more rare.
Everyone, myself included, who works for Mr. Steward love him. We have
been torn by his unhappiness. By giving him a family, by giving him Scott
we all hope to break that unhappiness."
"You don't know what you are asking." Ryan said sternly.
"I think I do. You feel a special connection to Scott and your
afraid of loosing it."
Ryan started laughing uncontrollably. "You couldn't be so right
while being so wrong at the same time."
"Explain."
"Before his gift was strong enough, I was able to look into his mind.
His name is not Scott Gannon but Scott Keller. Does that name ring a
bell?"
"You mean he is related to the rumored John Keller." Maria said
seriously.
"Yes, he is the son of John Keller, the man that my brother was
tricked into killing. He has never forgiven himself for it. It is what
drove him mad." Ryan confessed.
"Oh my god." Maria said, her face now ashen.
"Scott does not know that it was Gordon who killed his father and I'm
never going to tell him. Do you know what John's last words were?"
"No."
"He said, "I'm sorry." The same phrase everyone hears my brother
repeat over and over again. John knew what his death would do to Jason.
He felt sorry that he couldn't stop it. Jason doesn't understand that yet.
If I were to tell Scott the truth and Jason were to ever meet Scott, Scott
hating Jason would destroy whatever humanity my brother has left. It would
result in the death of our world." Ryan said.
"Then to rumor is true that he has a dooms day weapon." Maria asked
concerned
"Yes." Ryan replied
"Here I was going to tell you what we should do, now it looks like
you should tell me."
"We will go with you. Your right, the children need to live in a
world larger then this apartment and if what I hear is true, Mr. Steward is
the only person who can protect Scott." Ryan agreed.