fixate on me, I could see some others taking advantage of these kids when they first went out into the population. Another problem I'd have to be sure to flag to corporate in my report or I'm sure there would be other unpleasant consequences. For now I'd just make sure there were a lot of people about after we left so he would be more socialized. I'd also make sure there were enough in his own 'age' group as well, to give him some peers to interact with.
"But that's not a topic for today; you should have time to figure out your own mind after you've met some more people." I rolled out of bed then and stood up stretching. "Plus it's almost eight and we have a great deal to do today. Especially if we want to get out of here by six."
"Get out of here?" he blinked.
"Yup, we’ve got places to go and things to do. I don't live here you know, and now you don't either."
"But, but... but where do I belong then..." His voice faded out and he sounded once again like the young, very young, man he still was.
I walked over to him, as he sat on the bed looking lost.
"You belong with me, you work for me now. You'll live at my place for the time being, and if you pass your courses, you'll go with me when I head back out."
"Back out?" his ears perked up.
"Yes, back out, to space. I captain a small exploration vessel for the company. You're going to be a member of my crew."
"Wow..." was all he could say.
"You like the idea?" I asked, bemused.
"Oh yes! In the books they used to give me, there were all sorts of space travel and aliens and all that!"
I thanked God for small miracles, but then I'd expect scientists and such to have lots of sci-fi around.
"I always wanted to be able to go to those places, so I could find a place where I would fit in..." his voice got small again.
"Well don't worry on that part. Do a good job, show the folks who are paying for all this that you were a good idea, and before you know it, you'll have a lot of brothers, sisters and cousins all around."
He nodded then, thinking for a moment, "I'd like that, I really would." He looked up at me and smiled, "I'll do my best, I promise!"
I smiled and gave him another hug, "I know you will."
Jeidyn purred so loud then that I felt like a kid again. I had no doubts now that he'd be a safe and loyal member of my crew. He wasn't really all that different under the skin then anyone else, except of course that he was company property and company built. I finally understood what George had been trying to say to me, only he couldn't find the words.
We were in the slavery business once again, like it or not. The human race had left slavery alone a long long time ago, but we needed these morphs now, we needed the help to expand or we'd die here. As one of the ones in the front of this juggernaut I realized I had better do everything I could to try and set this on the right path, or when the Day of Judgment came there would be one hell of a price tag to pay.
"What are you thinking about Bill?" Jeidyn asked, getting up and stretching again.
"Something my dad told me, back when I was thinking of learning the family business."
"Oh? What was that?"
"Treat your charges firmly, fairly, and with respect. Don't abuse them, and always set their needs before your own. Otherwise they'll lash out, and you'll probably die."
"Wow. what did your father do?" he asked blinking.
"Trained lions for the circus, still does. Maybe someday I'll introduce you."
He just stared at me.
New Beginnings
by John Van Stry
I slicked my fur down, stepping from the shower and heading over to the dryer. The hot air was soothing as it blew over me, my mind wandering to the tasks of the day ahead. I took a few more minutes taking care of the usual morning tasks, then grabbed my shorts and gear and headed off to the bar.
I nodded to the waitress as I came in the front and slipped behind the bar, then nodded to Sam.
“Afternoon Jack,” he said to me, “ready to take on the night
"But that's not a topic for today; you should have time to figure out your own mind after you've met some more people." I rolled out of bed then and stood up stretching. "Plus it's almost eight and we have a great deal to do today. Especially if we want to get out of here by six."
"Get out of here?" he blinked.
"Yup, we’ve got places to go and things to do. I don't live here you know, and now you don't either."
"But, but... but where do I belong then..." His voice faded out and he sounded once again like the young, very young, man he still was.
I walked over to him, as he sat on the bed looking lost.
"You belong with me, you work for me now. You'll live at my place for the time being, and if you pass your courses, you'll go with me when I head back out."
"Back out?" his ears perked up.
"Yes, back out, to space. I captain a small exploration vessel for the company. You're going to be a member of my crew."
"Wow..." was all he could say.
"You like the idea?" I asked, bemused.
"Oh yes! In the books they used to give me, there were all sorts of space travel and aliens and all that!"
I thanked God for small miracles, but then I'd expect scientists and such to have lots of sci-fi around.
"I always wanted to be able to go to those places, so I could find a place where I would fit in..." his voice got small again.
"Well don't worry on that part. Do a good job, show the folks who are paying for all this that you were a good idea, and before you know it, you'll have a lot of brothers, sisters and cousins all around."
He nodded then, thinking for a moment, "I'd like that, I really would." He looked up at me and smiled, "I'll do my best, I promise!"
I smiled and gave him another hug, "I know you will."
Jeidyn purred so loud then that I felt like a kid again. I had no doubts now that he'd be a safe and loyal member of my crew. He wasn't really all that different under the skin then anyone else, except of course that he was company property and company built. I finally understood what George had been trying to say to me, only he couldn't find the words.
We were in the slavery business once again, like it or not. The human race had left slavery alone a long long time ago, but we needed these morphs now, we needed the help to expand or we'd die here. As one of the ones in the front of this juggernaut I realized I had better do everything I could to try and set this on the right path, or when the Day of Judgment came there would be one hell of a price tag to pay.
"What are you thinking about Bill?" Jeidyn asked, getting up and stretching again.
"Something my dad told me, back when I was thinking of learning the family business."
"Oh? What was that?"
"Treat your charges firmly, fairly, and with respect. Don't abuse them, and always set their needs before your own. Otherwise they'll lash out, and you'll probably die."
"Wow. what did your father do?" he asked blinking.
"Trained lions for the circus, still does. Maybe someday I'll introduce you."
He just stared at me.
New Beginnings
by John Van Stry
I slicked my fur down, stepping from the shower and heading over to the dryer. The hot air was soothing as it blew over me, my mind wandering to the tasks of the day ahead. I took a few more minutes taking care of the usual morning tasks, then grabbed my shorts and gear and headed off to the bar.
I nodded to the waitress as I came in the front and slipped behind the bar, then nodded to Sam.
“Afternoon Jack,” he said to me, “ready to take on the night
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