Heroes & Ghosts

by SA Payne

  kept laughing and moving, suggesting more and more horrible things and as he watched one of

  them crushed out a lit cigarette onto Rye's arm. He watched as the pain mixed with the forced

  pleasure made him come and the group laughed and shouted out a number.

  He felt along his arm and found the fresh burn that he was too numb to feel. It was real, even if

  he couldn't remember it, it was real. Rye turned and his knees gave out. His stomach turned

  inside out he vomited across the thick, expensive carpet. When his ears stopped ringing he

  heard his owner laughing.

  "Puked huh? Never thought I'd see the day you'd get a weak stomach. Clean it up later, boy,

  right now, you've work still to do."

  Rye glanced over and saw the man opening his pants. He lost it and vomited again to more

  harsh laughter, his hair, the hated long hair, dragged in the vomit as a thick hand pulled him

  closer, dragged already torn up knees across the carpet. The hand tangled into that hair and held

  his head in place and Rye froze for a moment before doing what was required of him.

  "That's it, good whore. I made you, I own you. For as long as it pleases me. Nothing's changed, you'll do whatever I tell you to, for as long as I tell you." His owner growled out but all Rye really could hear was his own recorded moaning, sobbing and the drunken encouragements of the men

  at the party he'd so obviously been the entertainment for.

  "Rye!" A worried voice broke the memories. "Oh, God, Rye?"

  Hands petted his face and supported his body. His mouth tasted like vomit again but this time it

  was just vomit. The voice calling to him wasn't his last owner's, but his current, not just his

  owner, his lover, his love, his life.

  He forced eyes open. "Ichi?"

  "Yes, I'm here."

  Rye didn't cry, there was no tears, no emotion that could express what had been done to him. He

  clung to Ichi, trembling in memory and hate, knowing that it was truly what he'd been remade to

  do and it wouldn't have mattered if they'd taken his mind as well. "He knew me, he knew me. Oh, god, Ichi, he made me, he was my father."

  Chapter Twenty:

  The room stood silent in shock and it was Amanda that recovered first. "Mark, go to the med lab, quickly, and grab my kit." Will had crumbled with Rye and while he hadn't vomited as well, it was pretty clear that the strength of the red head's flashback was hitting him hard too.

  "Will do." He nodded and headed out of the room at a dead run.

  "You okay?" Amanda asked carefully when she knelt beside Will.

  "Peachy." He forced out between clenched teeth, shivering. "Sedate me, please, Mandi, sedate me."

  She brushed hair from his forehead. "Soon, love, soon, hang in there." He nodded so she took that as a chance to move and kneel beside where Rye had fallen, where he still clung to Ichi like

  a broken doll.

  "He's shivering so hard." Ichi questioned of her before she could settle in.

  "Shock, it looks like." She reached out to try to see into Rye's eyes but he jerked away from her touch. "Mark will be back soon with medicine. Rye?" She bent, trying to see into his face. "Rye?"

  "Yeah?" He forced out.

  "You're having flashbacks, it's normal. Okay?"

  "Okay." But he buried his face tighter against Ichi.

  "And you're most likely having a panic attack too, just hang in there."

  Mark made it back in record time, winded but he passed the case off to Amanda and sat down.

  She popped it open and dug out the dissolve films she'd been looking for.

  "Here." She handed one to Will and knew he was smart enough to take it without protest. "And here Rye, put this on your tongue and let it melt."

  He didn't question, he took the offer and popped it into his mouth. There was a hint of mint but

  the thing dissolved almost before he could taste it but almost right away he felt the tight fear that had him twisted up easing down. Ichi sensed it too, he stopped holding onto Rye so tightly and

  slowly started petting across the sweat dampened hair.

  "Is everyone okay?" The male elder asked. They'd turned the sound off on the screen and had been talking privately until the scene of the small drama appeared under control.

  Amanda stood. Rye was still ashen looking but visibly easing and Will didn't look ready to pull his own hair out. "Yes, sir, we're okay."

  "Good, please, when you're ready, allow the others back in. We're ready to offer our advice."

  "So soon?" She was surprised, normally the elders took some time to discuss things.

  "When you're ready." He smiled gently.

  Amanda nodded but she gave both men a chance to get a little bit more pulled together. Mark

  helped her clean up the spot where Rye had gotten sick and they made tea to settle rattled

  nerves. When she was sure they'd stalled as long as they needed to, Will sat with the bridge of

  his nose pinched between one thumb and a finger, obviously trying to settle down and Ichi had

  gotten Rye off the floor to sit, perched uneasily on the very edge of his seat, at the table. He was staring off at nothing, hands loosely cupped around his tea and not moving.

  "I think we're as ready as we're likely to get." She announced and with Mark's help got the room opened back up. The rest of the station slid in, all whispering which was about as sedate and

  quiet as any gathering from Avalon got. It was a good thing because she wasn't sure either

  man's frayed nerves could handle a loud crowd of people.

  "Thank you for honoring us in allowing our input into your community." The male elder said and the words felt like ritual.

  "We're blessed to have your input." Amanda answered.

  "First, all property and possessions of Avalon should be fully restored, replaced or reimbursed.

  We could find no fault in your communities response to this threat and to the contrary, your

  systems have now been tested and proven successful. We agree, all efforts to identify the dead

  should be made but if family is unable to be located, there is no dishonor is offering them a

  proper burial, if that is the wish of the community. Harvick will be replaced. A ship will meet with your station in two weeks and it will contain a small crew. They will assume command of

  Harvick's vessel and his flight run. It was foolish to allow him to make such a dangerous run

  alone, but it was kind to allow it given his grief over the loss of his wife and child. A small crew will make if far more difficult to smuggle aboard anything and offer more safety while running

  supplies." He paused and drew a breath, glancing to the female elder before continuing.

  "Kenichi Vitorui, it is our thoughts and our advice that you do not belong to the Concord. From what we have seen and heard, you have become as much a part of Avalon's community around

  you as any true children of the green hills. We see no harm in extending the invitation to stay to

  you as you rebuild your lost collection, for one does not need to offer an invitation to family. It is our recommendation that you be formally adopted as a citizen of Avalon. However, we're not so

  blind to see that it would make regaining your collection more difficult because as a Concord

  citizen you retain access to so much more. Our hope is that some of your neighbors will

  remember that not all Avalon souls were born in the right place and perhaps one of them will

  adopt you, off the record, into their family line. Such an adoption would be recognized by Avalon folks but not the formal government.

  "Now, Rye." The man sighed and glanced to the woman beside him, she nodded gently. "What was done to you is unforgivable. We can't express our sympathy for what you've endured in

  words that would carry enough meanin
g, nor can we express how it comforts our souls to know

  you've found a way here and we hope that with Kenichi and your Avalon neighbors you might

  find healing. However, we would be blind fools not to notice or see that before you were so

  altered into being a pet, you were something more. Even how you spoke to us carried the feel of

  a solider offering a report, we've seen the videos of your fighting abilities. There is no room for doubt, you are a very dangerous man. We can not see what you were before but both of us see

  a great deal of death and blood on your hands." The man paused and drew a breath while the

  men and women standing around the silent Rye held their own. "Time and circumstances have

  made a lot of Avalon's people into dangerous men and women. A great deal of death and blood

  is staining Avalon hands, we are no longer so innocent as we once were. It will have to be up to

  your community whether or not they wish to embrace someone so dangerous among them, we

  speak for Avalon as a whole. It is our recommendation that the pet be killed and be reborn as

  citizen of Avalon. Perhaps we will be able to find one of our people willing to claim you as a

  cousin and offer you a name."

  "I will." Will spoke up instantly, interrupting the elder in an unheard of fashion.

  The elder only smiled softly. "It is our hope that among Avalon you find solace, Rye, and maybe some measure of peace, perhaps even lay your past to rest." He paused again and glanced

  around the silent room. "Was there anything more we may be of service to?"

  Amanda stood. "No, thank you for your time, elder."

  He bowed softly. "So may it be." The screen clicked off.

  "Well," she turned to the group. "I doubt there is any objections to one of us adopting Ichi into our family line or about his staying on here but for formalities sake, any protest needs to be spoken

  now."

  The room was silent.

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  "Very well. You all heard what the elders had to say about Rye, any thoughts?"

  The room shifted feet and glanced around. It was Mary that stepped forward. "What's to be said?

  He killed them as easily as I sneeze but he's one of us."

  Rye collapsed forward and almost had his head resting on the table in front of him. Ichi ran a

  hand across his back very lightly.

  "He's family." Another added and there were noises of agreement.

  Mark waved his hand for silence. "This shouldn't be brushed aside lightly. Rye is a killer,

  everything we've been learning of his past shows he was some highly trained killer. Everything is

  pointing to the fact that the people that once had him kill made him into a pet which means they

  know where he is. This is a risk we'd be taking, a large one."

  Rosie shrugged into the silence. "Life is a risk, we all know that."

  "Also," Mark went on before the group could fully land on a decision. "If we fully take Rye in as one of us, there's no going back. No matter what he did before or does again, he stays one of

  us."

  "None of us can claim innocence." Will whispered.

  "One more thing, we'd be committing ourselves to actively helping Rye however we can. The

  same as we would any Avalon that has lost their past. This isn't to be accepted lightly."

  "Are you done yet, you old windbag?" Annie teased.

  Mark shook his head. "Yeah, I think I am."

  "Are you actually protesting or just being a cynic?" She grinned.

  "Just being a cynic, of course."

  "Then there's nothing left to be said, except who will take him in?"

  "I will." Again Will added. "I'll formally take them both. I'm the last of my line, there's no one to protest the additions or contradict it."

  Rye sat up and his eyes were cold and empty. "I can't accept."

  "Don't be stupid of course you can." Will answered.

  He just shook his head. "The pet can't be killed, they'd known I was still alive and what new

  name I was using. It would change nothing. Besides, as a pet I'll retain access to the Concord

  and my answers may be there."

  "A pet doesn't travel alone." Amanda reminded them.

  "He's right though, it might be foolish to kill off the pet." Mark spoke softly. "But, why not set up an Avalon name and citizenship in the meanwhile and what's stopping us from getting him a new

  Concord citizenship under another name? That`ll give him three identities to move between."

  Ichi frowned. "Can you do that?"

  "This is Avalon, we can do anything." Mark grinned.

  Will stood up. "Knife?"

  A sharp blade was quickly fetched from the kitchen and handed to Will. The group gathered

  around, silent.

  Will took the blade. "Tell me right now if you don't wish this Ichi."

  "What would I be refusing?" He glanced around as the others of the station gathered nearer to him.

  There was no joking, no light hearted teasing to Will now. "You'd be refusing to be my brother and that's okay."

  Ichi ran his hand over Rye's back once more, the red head hadn't lifted his head from the table

  once yet, before he stood up. "What do I have to do?"

  Will nodded and turned his left hand up, the point of the knife cut deeply into the fleshy part

  under his thumb. One line, two parallel to each other and then a third diagonally cutting joining

  them. He didn't even flinch as blood welled up and began to drip from his palm. When all three

  lines were cut he turned the blade around, hilt first and offered it to Ichi.

  Ichi took the blade but stared at it blindly. "I don't know how..." He glanced down and Rye was at least looking up now.

  It was Amanda stepped forward. She nodded a little and took the knife from Ichi. He offered his

  own hand, the left as well, and she cradled it in her own. The cuts were quick and deep, the knife

  sharp. Ichi hissed a little in startled pain and watched in fascination as his own blood welled up to slid in small rivers across his skin.

  Will reached across the table, blood dropping in startled specks to the clean surface below.

  Amanda guided Ichi's own bleeding hand out and he understood and extended it. Left hand met

  left at an angle, Ichi's bottom line met and mingled with Will's top line and vice versa. Blood from both hands mixed and joined, combined as one and flowed across both wounds.

  "All things are born in blood." Will said softly. He glanced up to meet Ichi's startled hazel eyes.

  "My brother."

  The solemn seriousness of the small ritual made Ichi shiver. Will held their hands tightly together for a moment more as blood combined and dripped down arms and to the table. A heat spread

  from the contact that went beyond the physical and Ichi couldn't explain logically. Will released

  the contact slowly, smearing mingled and blood made one across palms.

  "As it was witnessed so let it be recorded." Amanda announced to the group before she moved to bandage both wounds. "So it is that Kenichi Vitorui Sullivan is born."

  Chapter Twenty One:

  "As it was witnessed so let it be recorded." Amanda announced to the group before she moved to bandage both wounds. "So it is that Kenichi Vitorui Sullivan is born." Normally such an adoption would set off a celebration but the past day didn't warrant much joy. "I'm taking Will home, Ichi I suggest you do the same for Rye, they're both shaken up."

  He nodded, shaken up himself but before he could help get Rye to his feet and moving, Amanda

  touched his arm and stopped him. "Bring to me everything that came with Rye, everything."

  "Why?"

  "I'm going to test it all for DNA. Maybe I can get a hit on his last
owner, if they simply passed any of his equipment along, traces might remain."

  Ichi nodded now. "If you can figure that out, we might be able to figure out who Rye was."

  "It's a step."

  "I'll have it to you right away." He slid a hand across Rye's shoulder and at the gentle touch the taller man stood up. "Come on, Rye, let's go home."

  But Rye didn't answer, he didn't even look up, he just wanted to be invisible.

  Rye followed as silent and submissively as a good pet should all the way back to the apartment.

  It was something Ichi was unwilling to address, if Rye needed to retreat into his own thoughts,

  who was he to prod him back out? It was a mannerism Rye might never fully lose, when upset or

  frightened, he might always fall back on the training of being a pet.

  As soon as the doors shut behind them, Ichi locked them and moved to the kitchen. "Are you

  hungry? I haven't eaten, thought I'd throw something together?"

  There was no answer and when he turned around Rye wasn't in the living room. Ichi put his plans

  for food on hold and instead set tea to brewing, the rich black version Rye liked better. He

  moved to the bedroom looking for the other man and heard the shower running. He stood, torn

  between checking on Rye and giving him his space and in the end he landed on retreating to the

  kitchen to wait for the tea.

  The tea finished and he fixed one with a touch of honey and the other with sugar and soy milk

  the way Rye liked it and waited. The tea cooled and still no Rye appeared, finally, nervous now,

  Ichi picked up the lukewarm mugs, reheated them and carried both to the bathroom.

  The shower was still running. This time he pushed the bathroom door open and was met by a

  billowing wall of steam. The water must be running very hot to fog up the bathroom so and the

  damp humid air carried the scent of soap with it. Ichi pulled the door shut and set the mugs on

  the counter.

  "Rye?"

  There was no answer.

  Ichi popped the door open a little and peered into the stall. Rye sat on the floor, knees pulled up under his chin in a painful display of flexibility. His head was bowed and the water, nearly

  scalding, beat down across him. A washcloth lay forgotten on the floor near by and either from