Shattered Dreams

Jaak was not sure of what was happening. One moment, he was sitting at his desk and reading over the night's paperwork. In the next moment, he heard Lance paging him, requesting his assistance. The other man's voice sounded terse, restrained even, and Jaak found it hard to not obey the blond.

When he got to the floor where the newer prostitutes worked, the first thing Jaak noticed were the amount of bodyguards in the hall. Several of the prostitutes were peering from out from behind their doors, curious and a little more than fearful, and Jaak felt he understood why. At the end of the hall stood Byerrol and his guard, shielding Fen. Jaak saw a bruise forming on the left side of the boy's face, and he wondered who had done the damage. He also noticed that Lance held one of the female prostitutes in a vice grip, and she looked infuriated. She struggled against the guard, her angry gaze on Fen the entire time. The girl's guard lay on the floor, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

"What is going on here?" he demanded. The moment he spoke, the girl stopped struggling against Lance, her eyes widening. Lance met Jaak's gaze for a moment then glanced down at the girl in his grip. The younger blond shot her a look of disgust.

"It would be best if we went to your office," Lance replied, his tone stiff. Jaak raised an eyebrow at this, and he folded his arms. He had asked a question. He expected a better answer than what he had received, but Lance never lost the hardened, icy gleam in his eyes. The golden-haired man was determined to speak on his terms and no other's, a frustrating quality. Reluctantly, Jaak nodded his consent. He figured he would understand the reasons soon enough.

"Fine. We'll do this in my office then," Jaak growled. "But once we're there, I expect a full explanation, Lance."

"Of course, Master Jaak."

Jaak noticed that Lance had eased his grip on the female prostitute, but he had not relinquished her from his hold. He then started to drag the girl in Jaak's direction, and the platinum blond glanced at everyone gathered.

"Fen, Burns, I want you there as well. The rest of you, return to your rooms and to your wards. I'll speak with you later."

Before he had finished speaking, the group in the hallway disappeared behind doors except for Byerrol and his guard. The long-time prostitute turned towards Fen, inspected the bruise forming on his left cheek, and let out a sad sigh. He then nodded and stroked the younger man's cheek once before he and his guard left. At the same time, Jaak noticed Burns shooting Fen a dirty glare as he scrambled to his feet and followed Lance.

Fen saw the look as well, and a soft sigh escaped the boy. He shook his head, an expression of sadness on his face. Jaak wondered about this but not for long. An idea started to form in his mind about what could have possibly happened. He knew who Fen's last customer happened to be, and, because Lance wanted to speak in his office, Jaak believed it had something to do with that particular customer. However, he was not about jump to any kind of conclusion until he heard what his employees had to say. If he did, he could create more trouble and misunderstandings between he and his staff, and Jaak disliked misunderstandings.

Within the moments, the small group stood in his office, the girl now sitting in a chair. Lance remained behind her, and her guard – a man by the name of Burns – placed himself by her side. Only Fen stood away, and Jaak noticed the bruise on his cheek turning a little darker.

"Fen, when we're done here, have the doctor examine your cheek," he said, taking his seat behind the desk. "That bruise is starting to look bad."

"Yes, Master Jaak," the teen murmured.

"Now, will someone tell me what's going on?" Jaak inquired. He folded his hands and rested his chin upon his interlaced fingers. "Or are you going to make me guess?"

The girl – a pretty, young thing with a slender build and sea-green hair – seemed to shrink in upon herself. Her guard reached over and clasped her hand as if to reassure her. It was Lance, however, who broke the silence. His voice barely contained his disgust and anger.

"Carina found out who Fen's last customer was," he said. "She did not obey the order to remain in her room until said customer was gone. When Fen reached his room after escorting his client out, she attacked him."

"That is not true, Master Jaak," Burns interjected. "Fen must have provoked her. Carina would not have attacked him otherwise! I know she wouldn't!"

"I beg to differ," Lance growled out, casting a scathing glance at the other guard. "Unlike you, Burns, I was standing there when she slapped him and accused him of 'hogging' all of the attention."

"Hogging all of the attention?" Jaak echoed. To this, Lance nodded. His scowl deepened.

"Yes. Hogging all of the attention is what she said," Lance continued. "Carina seems to think herself a star. She's pretty enough, she knows it, yet she never has more than five clients a night."

"That is her choice," Jaak murmured. "Just as it is Fen's choice to service more, if he so desires."

"I am not saying I do not understand that, Master Jaak," Lance replied. "I also do not disrespect their decisions, either. However, it is not fair for her to accuse Fen of doing something he clearly has not done when she herself is not exactly a model employee. It is not his fault he has attracted his clients to him."

"I wouldn't be so sure of that," Burns said with some heat. "Fen knows precisely what he's doing when it comes to garnering clients. I've watched him, Lance. A slight smile, and he has them clamouring for his attention!"

"Of course Fen knows what he's doing," Jaak said. "It is what I've trained him to do, and I would not expect him to do otherwise."

"I would not say he is hogging attention because of that," Lance said. The entire time the conversation took place Fen remained quiet. In fact, to Jaak's trained eye, he looked ill at ease, as if he wanted to vanish.

"Nor would I," Jaak commented. He tilted his head a little as he regarded the female in question. "Fen, please go see the doctor now. Lance, I would like for you to escort him there. I have heard from you what I've needed. This is now between Burns, Carina, and myself. I will call for you should I need to speak with you again."

"Yes, Master Jaak," the two men murmured. They both bowed and left the room. Jaak's eyes never left the two in question.

"So you saw who Fen's last customer happened to be, Carina? Please do not forget there are security cameras in the hallway when you answer me," he murmured.

"Y-yes," she squeaked out. "I saw him."

"Then you know who he is."

"Of course. He is one of the most handsome men in the universe! He is what every woman dreams about!"

"You realize you have disobeyed an order from me, yes?" he continued, keeping his tone low yet hinting at his anger. "Not only did you disobey an order from me, but you have assaulted one of your fellow co-workers. That is inexcusable and unprofessional, young lady."

"I-I'm sorry, Master Jaak, but I . . ."

"There are no excuses, Carina," Jaak interjected. "None. By disobeying me, you have put this particular's client trust and possible return in jeopardy. You have put his career in jeopardy. He asked for discretion from me. He did not want anyone else other than me, and his hired prostitute, to know he was here and why. If he discovers you saw him as he was leaving, it will be over. He will never return, and he could very well ruin this establishment's, and my, reputation. You will be out of a job."

To this, Carina paled considerably, and her entire body started to shake. Next to her, Burns appeared as if he would be ill but no less angry. With whom, Jaak was not sure, but he guessed his guard's anger had more to do with Lance and Fen than Carina's own stupidity.

"What do you think I should do with you?" Jaak said. "I cannot allow your actions to go unpunished. If I did, your fellow co-workers will think they can get away with disobeying me as well, and I will not allow it."

"I . . . I don't know," she confessed, her tone a meek whimper. He knew she needed the money until she could realize her dreams. Otherwise, she would not be here, like many of the others he had hired. "Dock my pay?"

"There is that," Jaak answered. "I could also make it impossible for your dreams to come true. I know what it is you want more than anything. It's why you've come here. It's why everyone comes here."

"You wouldn't!" she gasped out. She looked horrified he would even suggest such a thing.

"I could, and I will, if you ever do anything like this ever again," Jaak growled. "I will dock your pay, as you suggested. You are also suspended for the next three days. Breathe a word of who was here tonight, and you will find yourself not only out of your job but out of your dreams. Do I make myself clear, Carina?"

"Yes, Master Jaak. Very clear."

"Very good," he said. "When you see Fen again, you will apologize for your behaviour, and you will pay the doctor for his injury. Now get out of here. I do not wish to see your face for the next hour or so. Burns, a word with you."

* * *

The first floor hall had all but emptied out by the time Luther walked Fen back to their shared room. A few of the bodyguards stood outside the doors, but otherwise the lights over the doors were black. The night, it seemed, was finally winding down. For that, Luther was feeling more than a little grateful. His ward needed some rest, and he found himself hoping the seventeen-year-old would take the next day off. Fen could not keep up the insane pace he had set for himself. Luther cast a quick glance at the teen as they walked.

Fen, for the most part, appeared to be tired. His eyelids drooped, and what Luther believed to be sadness started to show around his pretty green eyes. It was as if the teen were holding back from crying. The left side of his face was now an angry shade of purple, and Luther felt compelled to attempt some form of comfort for his ward. He reached over and grasped Fen's shoulder. Curious, the teen looked at him.

"It is not your fault some people are sick," Luther murmured. "It is also not your fault that some people simply do not understand such things. She had no right to attack you as she did."

"I know," the teen replied, his tone matching Luther's. "Believe me, I know. It just . . . doesn't make things any easier, I guess."

They reached their room and quietly entered. There were still more things Luther wanted to tell the teen, but he could not decide if his arguments would land on deaf ears or if Fen would actually heed him. Fen listened to him but only to an extent, and it depended on whether or not Luther was trying to hinder or help him accomplish his goals. The door slid shut with a silent whoosh.

"You should not be here, Fen."

His eyes blinked in rapid succession the moment the words left Luther's lips, and Fen turned to face him, his surprise evident. He knew he should not have said them, but they were out regardless. He could not take them back nor did he want to do so. Luther continued before the teen could respond.

"You are too good for this. You should be in school, playing sports or some other inane activity," Luther said. "You should be thinking of hanging out with friends and what kind of toppings to put on your pizza, not selling yourself to sick souls to the likes of Admiral Caine. You are far too intelligent for this kind of work. You have proven as much to me and repeatedly. This is no place for you."

"There are worse places to be," Fen murmured. He offered Luther a faint yet sad smile. "I came here for a reason. I'll admit, I wasn't expecting Master Jaak to want me as a prostitute, but I think . . . it would have happened eventually anyway. Aquariana isn't exactly the cheapest place to live in the universe. I'm better off staying here."

"And how do you figure that?" Luther fought to keep the incredulity out of his voice. "You should not even be on this planet period."

"Maybe not," the teen slowly conceded, "but I'm here all the same. If I had not come to Master Jaak right away, I know I would eventually have become a prostitute just to make ends meet. Staying here . . ." he shrugged casually, "just makes it easier. Besides, I know you're going to be right outside the door the nights I work."

"And that makes it okay?"

"It makes me feel safe."

Luther wanted to rip his hair from his head at hearing these words come from Fen. The boy had no idea as to what he truly could accomplish in life, and it frustrated Luther to no end.

'Of course, I should probably heed my own words,' he thought ruefully. 'If he should not be here then neither should I. No one comes here to work in a place like this for four years.'

Luther felt himself deflate, and he let out a heavy sigh, closing his eyes. A feather-light touch to his shoulder told him Fen now stood before him.

"Lance?"

"I apologize for my outburst," he murmured. "I have no right to tell you what you should be doing with your life, Fen. There are reasons why you are here, I am sure, just as there are reasons for why I am here. It just angers me when I see ilk the likes of Admiral Caine coming here and using people like you. He is sick. He should not have even asked for someone your age. Carina is more suited for someone like him."

Luther exhaled yet again. At the same time, Fen rested his head on his shoulder, and he wrapped his arms around the teen. He knew it was his job to protect Fen from those who would physically harm him in his line of work. That was what bodyguards were paid to do. However, Luther had not counted on true feelings of protectiveness to develop for any given person. During his time with Master Jaak, he had always tried to ensure he never received a permanent ward. Permanent assignments were a pain, according to most who had one, and there was always the chance the designated prostitute would leave. In fact, it was a given, and Luther wanted nothing to do with sad goodbyes when such times came.

So why was Fen different? Why, in only a week's time, did he feel so protective over one person? When the teen first arrived, he knew right away there was something different about Fen. For the first time in four years, Luther wanted a permanent assignment. He wanted to be Fen's bodyguard, but why? Luther had no answers, and not having the answers he desired left him feeling all the more frustrated. He mentally shook his head and shoved the questions to the side. If he had no answers for them, they were not worth asking. As he held the teen, the scents of sex and Admiral Caine's cologne tickled at his nose.

"You should take a bath," Luther murmured. He finally opened his eyes to see pale blond hair resting next to his cheek. "I can smell him on you."

"A bath sounds nice," Fen agreed.

"And take tomorrow off," he continued. "After tonight, you need a break."

"That, I'll think about," the teen responded. He pulled away slowly, almost reluctantly, and he offered Luther a faint smile. "If only because it'll depend on how busy it gets."

This time, Luther refrained from sighing. It was not what he wanted to hear, but there was not much else he could do. He consoled himself with the fact Fen did not outright refuse to do as he asked. It was more than what he had actually expected from Fen. He nodded.

"Go and draw yourself a bath then," he said. "I'll have one of the cooks bring you something."

"A pizza maybe?" Fen grinned impishly. Luther raised an eyebrow at his young ward then shook his head. It seemed as if the teen was going to take some more of his words to heart.

"I'll see what I can do," he replied gruffly. "Now go."

Fen gave a short nod of his head before disappearing into the apartment. Luther rubbed at his eyes as the teen left the room and shook his head.

Since Admiral Caine's appearance, Luther felt ill at ease. He, too, knew of the man's exploits and adventures throughout the universe. For a brief moment, he thought the man would recognize him, thanks to the Leingods' test on him.

However, fortunately for him but unfortunate for his ward, the admiral's attention was more on Fen than on him, and he did not recognize him for who he was. Luther felt sick for the man's attentions towards Fen. Oh, he knew there would be individuals who would desire Fen for his youthful appearance. The teen was quite charismatic and possessed an easy-going nature. It would be natural for clients to clamour for his attention, but Luther had overheard Jaak's conversation with Fen. Caine wanted a seventeen-year-old male, trim and fit. Fen fit those particular criteria immediately.

'He should not be allowed to return here,' Luther thought darkly. 'He is a menace. It is a wonder his superiors have not found out his little secret yet. Perhaps I should speak with Jaak about this. Fen should not be exposed to ilk like him.'

He had just sent Fen's order for pizza to the cooks – he guessed as to what toppings the teen would like – when the room's intercom system beeped. With a flick of his wrist, a screen appeared before him as well as Jaak's visage.

"Hello, Lance."

"Master Jaak." He nodded once in acknowledgement.

"How is he doing?"

"As well as can be, given how long his night was," he replied evenly. "The bruise on his cheek looks nasty right now, but the doctor assured him it will be gone before noon tomorrow."

"That is good to hear," Jaak murmured thoughtfully. "I thought Fen looked a little ill at ease when he was last in my office. Did he say anything to you?"

"No."

It was the truth, too. Until they reached their room, Fen had barely spoken. He answered the doctor's questions, but nothing more beyond that.

"Hrmmm, I see . . . how soon can you come to my office?"

"I can be there in five minutes."

"Good. I'll send word to Byerrol and his guard, and they will replace you to watch over Fen while we talk. I will see you in five minutes then."

The screen flickered out at the same time Fen re-entered the room, clad in a simple pair of blue pajama pants and a blue tee shirt. His hair lay damply against his head, and he tilted his when the image of Jaak disappeared.

"Does he want to see me?" he inquired.

"No," Luther replied. "He wishes to see me. Your food will arrive within twenty minutes. You can enjoy it with Byerrol. I know he will keep you company until I return."

Fen nodded then tried to cover a yawn. At the same time, a chime activated, signaling the arrival of Byerrol and his bodyguard. Luther checked to be sure it was Byerrol then left without giving either man any instruction. They knew their business well enough. He would return to find Fen unharmed. Perhaps not unmolested, since Byerrol loved to fawn over the teen and tried to tease Fen into a frenzy, but Luther knew the long-time prostitute would never hurt the teen. Jaak probably knew this as well when he made the decision for a temporary replacement. It also helped to ease Luther's mind that Fen would not mind Byerrol's company.

With the activation sequence in place, Luther squared his shoulders and strode confidently to Jaak's office. They had much to discuss, he decided, and he hoped that, with a little luck, Admiral Jeffrey Caine of the Pangalactic Federation Army would never step foot into Jaak's establishment again.

* * *

Jeffrey entered his living quarters, feeling exhausted yet blissed out from his excursion to Aquariana. It would raise questions with the Pangalactic Federation's president, to be sure, but it was not truly illegal for the ship's crew to fraternize with prostitutes or to enjoy the other entertainments provided on Aquariana. As long as the crew members did not share classified information, they could enjoy as much sex as they wanted. Hell, most of the men and women under his command simply wanted to enjoy the discreetness of sex and nothing more when visiting establishments like Jaak's, and the prostitutes were more than understanding. They did not want to talk, either, and everyone generally got along. Jeffrey simply had not held out much hope for a seventeen-year-old male prostitute when he used his private communicator to send out his request.

He knew it was not illegal on Aquariana for him to seduce a seventeen-year-old. It was a quirk of the entertainment planet that prevented them from joining the Pangalactic Federation. The Federation wished for Aquariana to change their laws, but Aquariana did not desire the change. Then again, the officials of Aquariana did not want to join. They, like Klaus, declared the planet to be a neutral zone, one where the Pangalactic Federation and its allies as well as its enemies could come to for relaxation, gambling, or whatever pursuit pleased the individual. Jeffrey, to an extent, was glad for Aquariana's stance on remaining neutral with the Federation as it allowed him to find a way to indulge his desires. If it were not for Aquariana's neutrality, the admiral was not sure of what he would do.

Still, he remained cautious whenever the mood struck him and he ordered his EXO to orbit the planet. He normally did not allow the establishments he contacted to know of his preferences, usually choosing a prostitute who appeared young enough to please him. Jeffrey knew he would be ruined if word ever leaked to his superiors and his enemies; it was that carefully guarded, his secret.

This evening, however, had been the exception to his rule. The photo of Fayt Leingod had driven him insane with need, and a prostitute who simply appeared to be the age of seventeen would not do. He could not pretend for even a single moment such a thing would sate his lust. Fortunately for him, he received nearly everything he wanted in Fen.

Jeffrey hummed a little as he stripped out of his clothing and stepped into his shower. It was not the first shower he had taken, but it was better to err on the side of caution. The last thing he wanted was for anyone to discover any traces of Fen on him.

'Fen . . .'

He licked his lips as he thought of the young man chosen to serve him that evening. The teen had truly been delectable in nearly every sense. From the way his kisses tasted and the way he smiled so coquettishly to his fiery yet light touches, Jeffrey knew there was not a single thing he disliked about Fen. His only lament was he wanted to find Fayt Leingod and teach him the same things Fen knew. Jeffrey felt he could try to persuade Fen to leave his master so he could have the teen, but what kind of message would that send to Fayt once he was recovered? He desired Fen, he wanted to rescue the boy from a life of prostitution, but Jeffrey did not dare leave Fayt Leingod to a life of torture and abuse if he had truly been kidnapped. There was also the fact Fen had chosen to work for Jaak, and Jaak present himself as a no nonsense kind of man. Jeffrey had to assume the boy knew precisely what was expected of him when Jaak hired him.

'Besides, I cannot bring a seventeen-year-old prostitute onto the ship, no matter how honourable my intentions may come across,' he told himself. 'It would raise too many questions, and they are questions I do not wish to answer.'

Jeffrey let out a sigh as the heat of the water washed over him and rinsed away any remaining evidence of his indiscretion and his sin. He would have to find himself a woman or a man and soon. At his age, people would wonder about his lack of a significant other in his life, and perhaps they would start questioning how he managed to abstain from sexual activities. With any luck, he would find someone who would either ignore his true preferences or join in the fun.

'One can only hope.'

* * *

Within the dark recesses of space there was only the soft glow of blue and white light. To those in a spacecraft, the light itself was nothing unusual, perhaps a local star from some distant world, but there were a few who knew differently. They knew the glow belonged to the Solarisiana, one of the most powerful sources of energy in their known universe, if not the only most powerful source of energy.

For the most part, the energy of the Solarisiana remained contained, untapped but yet riddled with potential and possibilities. There were a few who believed the Solarisiana needed to be contained more than it was, but such a feat had been impossible to attain. They were the lucky few who were able to capture small snatches of energy and study those miniscule amounts. Their attempts to keep the Solarisiana contained were met with very little success. What the Solarisiana wanted, it received.

The Solarisiana, however, was not completely accessible to those who knew of its capabilities. The place of myth and legend required the right individuals to access its powers and to use those powers either for good or ill. Such individuals were sought since the Solarisiana's discovery, and the stories of its powers grew with the passing of time.

Then again, those who thought they knew everything possible about the Solarisiana were not aware of one thing. The Solarisiana pulsed with power and life, and it would not allow anyone to use it for ill gain. It knew the two who could tap into its powers were alive, and they were together. They had not yet bonded in the way it needed them to, but it was a patient entity. It could wait a little while longer.

In the meantime, it would continue to weave the patterns of the worlds meant for Creation and Destruction to oversee, creating the delicate balance only the two of them could maintain. It would also send out its love . . . if such an entity were capable of love.

A small tendril of power leaked out, unbeknownst to its watchers, and drifted towards Aquariana. While it could wait for Creation and Destruction to find it, the Solarisiana wanted to feel them, to touch their hearts, and to sample their power, if only for a small and fleeting moment.