Guiding Principles: Part Two

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Blair and Jim left the morgue. The IP captain gave Sandburg a written report that Blair looked over, then sent to the Empress in the captain's ofice.

Blair looked at his wrist chronometer, "Its lunch time. How about we eat at a restaurant here in the city." He smiled, humor filling his bright blue eyes, "My treat."

Jim laughed, "Well I guess if its your treat...sounds good, Chief."

Blair laughed with Jim, "There's a good Italian place. Reyna was telling me about it."

"Italian sounds good. I would kill for a decent lasagna."

"Italian it is!"

The two of them walked over to Antonio's Vintage Earth Italian Restaurant. The maitre'de welcomed them, or at least Blair, and showed them to a table in a special dining hall for Pairs. They weren't the only Pair, four other pairs sat at the tables eating their meals. Blair sat first, locking the leash to the arm of his chair. Jim sat beside him. The maitr'de placed one menu in front of Blair.

"Your waiter wil be T'Nar and our special is a chicken fettuccini. Have a pleasant meal."

Blair studied the menu as an Angosian male clopped over. The centaur-like Angosian with his cloven hooves, the ivory spiraled horn jutting from the top of his long head, reminded humans of unicorn legends. The Angosian smiled, revealing small sharp teeth, as he set down on the table two glasses of water.

"Are you ready to order, sir." The Angosian asked in Standard.

Yes, I would like an order of the lasagna and an order of the chicken fettucini. Red wine for myself, and a side order of garlic bread."

Of course, sir." The Angosian wrote down the order, and then trotted toward the kitchen.

"So how was your date last night?" Jim asked.

"It was fun. We're going out again day after tomorrow."

Jim nodded and drained his glass of water. The Angosian came back and placed a basket of breadsticks on the table and refilled Jim's water. Jim reached over and plucked a warm breadstick from the basket. Tearing it in half, he dipped one end in the spaghetti sauce, then took a bite. The combination of spices transformed into a sensory party on Jim's tongue and the sentinel reveled in the sensations.

Blair took one of the breadsticks and layed it on a plate the Angosian had set before them. Taking the cup of sauce, he used a spoon to pour some over the breadstick, then replaced the cup back near the basket. Using a fork he cut a bite of the sauce covered breadstick and stuck it in his mouth. Jim just dipped his halved breadstick into the sauce again and finished it off.

A few minutes later the Angosian brought their plates. He placed the chicken fetuccini in front of Blair and at Blair's direction placed the lasagna in front of Jim. The Angosian then poured red wine from a bottle into Blair's wine glass then placed the bottle on the table.

Jim ate the lasagna, using a halved breadstick to help scoop it onto his fork. Blair ate his food. Neither spoke for awhile.

When dinner was done, the Angosian came over and asked Blair if they would like dessert. Blair declined, and the Angosian handed the guide a datapad. The price of the meal including the 10% tip was on the pad's screen. Blair checked the price, then placed his thumb on the screen. The screen scanned his thumb, then transferred the amount from his account to the resturaunts'. The Angosian thanked them and began to clear the table while Blair unhooked the leash from his chair and rehooked it to his guide band.

Checking the chronometer, Blair nodded, noting he had plenty of time before the class started. They rode the tubecar back to the University. At Blair's quarters, the guide took off Jim's leash and the sentinel took off his boots, then layed on the bed. Blair got his books together and the door chimed. Blair answered it to find Reyna on the other side with Talia.

"Hey, Blair. Would it be alright if I left Talia here and walk with you to class?" Reyna asked.

"Sounds fine to me." Blair answered as he placed his backpack over his shoulder. The IP guard was there now,s standing just beside the door. "Come on in."

Reyna and Talia came inside. Reyna was in uniform now, with her own backpack over her shoulder, and her hair done in a french braid.

"Alright, I'm ready." Blair said as he pulled his long curly hair back into a pony tail.

The two guides left, shutting the door behind them.

Talia smiled a secretive smile and Jim looked at her suspiciously. Suddenly Talia pounced, grabbing Jim's leg trying to pull him off the bed, laughing.

"What the..." Jim suddenly broke into laughter as Talia began to tickle his sides. "Crazy sentinel" he said between bouts of laughter.

Then Jim turned the tables, grabbing Talia and flipping her onto her back. He began to tickle her sides and she laughed trying to push him off. They continued to wrestle, both trying to get the upper hand. They weren't paying attention, though, to the location of the bed's edge, and the next rolling sent them over the side onto the floor.

"Ooooh....that hurt." Jim said to Talia who was sprawled on top of him.

"Hey! I don't weigh that much!" She said indignatley with a touch of humor.

"Maybe for an elephant..."

"Why you!" She began to tickle him again, and Jim struggled to get away, laughing.

Eventually the tickling and wrestling winded down and the two of them ended up back on the bed. Talia ran her hand underneath the pillow and pulled out the book Jim had hidden under there.

"why is this under the pillow?" Talia asked.

"Its Blair's, I've been reading it." "Of course, I forgot you can read." She flipped through the book. "Must be fun to read. I remember that the Observors used to read stories to us when we were kids."

Jim nodded. Talia turned to him handing over the book, "Read to me, please?" she asked. Jim could see the excitement in her eyes. "I promise I won't tell anyone that you did. Please?"

"Alright." Jim opened the book to the first page and began to read, "'Dark spruce forests frowned on either side of the frozen waterway...'"

Talia listened enraptured as Jim read Jack London's "White Fang". She never interrupted, nor did her attention waver.

About halfway through the book, Jim stopped suddenly lifting his head.

"They're coming." He said quickly hiding the book beneath the pillow. He looked around and saw that the bed covers were still on the floor from their tickling match.

"Shit!" he hissed. Together they tried to remake the bed, but the door opened to reveal Blair and Reyna.

The two guides looked at the two sentinels that were in the middle of making the bed. Blair raised an eyebrow in inquiry, and Reyna crossed her arms beneath her breasts.

"I hope your not in trouble." Jim whispered in sentinel speak.

"No. I don't think so. I think they think we had sex." Talia answered just as quietly.

Reyna turned to Blair as the sentinels finished making the bed. "I had fun, Blair. I'll see you later. We still on day after tomorrow?"

"Of course." Blair answered, and they kissed. Reyna then motioned to Talia.

"Thanks Jim." Talia said softly gripping Jim's forearm and squeezing it gently.

"Your welcome, Talia."

She released his arm and followed Reyna out of the door. Jim fluffed the pillows under Blair's watchful eye.

"We didn't, Chief.' Jim said.

"I didn't think you did, but why was the bed messed up?"

We werewrestling." Jim mumbled.

Excuse me?"

"We were wrestling." he repeated.

"Wrestling?" Blair wasn't sure he heard correctly.

"Horseplaying. Ooooookay." Blair had a strange look on his face, but said nothing more. Instead he went into the bathroom to take a shower. Jim sat down at the table and waited. A few minutes later Blair came out of the shower wrapping his white robe around him. He walked over to the food dispenser and programmed their dinner. The dispenser materialised two plates of baked catfish, hush puppies, tartar sauce and corn on the cob. He took their plates over to the table and set them down. Sentinel and Guide ate in silence.

Afterwards, Jim took another shower and got ready for bed. Blair was already beneathe the covers, eyes closed when Jim layed down on his side, however, sleep was a long time coming.

The next morning, Blair was up before Jim. Blair's movements woke the sentinel, however. They both took their showers and ate breakfast.

"Last day, Jim." Blair said as he attached Jim's leash.

"Good." Was all Jim said, though he was glad as hell that the leash punishment was nearly over.

They walked over to the Compound. They were met there by Corrins who handed Blair a datapad.

"Here's the file on the first female." Corrins said. "She's already had two children, both healthy with no complications during birth. She did, however, scratch up the last male she was with, so you might want to be on guard for that." Corrins explained as they walked through the halls of the Breeding Center.

"It says here she belongs to Lord K' neough. Doesn't he trains sentinels for hunting?"

"Corrins nodded, "He's heavy into big game hunting. Its legal. Hell, the Consort does some hunting as well. I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't take you and Jim next time he goes."

"I don't like hunting." Blair said. "I hope he doesn't expect me to kill anything"

"I doubt it. All you'll be required to do is take care of Jim."

That he CAN do." Jim said.

Blair laughed.

They walked into the waiting room where two Observors were waiting for them.

Are we ready?" Corrins asked the other two Observors.

"Yes, the female is in the other room. Her guide is in the Observation room. "One of the Observors, a dark haired man said. "Guide Blair if you would hand the leash to Corrins, I will show you to the Observation Room."

Blair nodded and handed Jim's leash to Corrins, then followed the Observor out of the waiting room.

The other Observor, a female whose red hair was streaked with grey looked at Jim. "Alright, Jimmy. You need to strip down." She had a stethescope around her neck.

Jim hated the name, "Jimmy" but he ignored it and did as he was told trying not to show his embarrasment. Once he was completely nude, the woman came forward placing the earpieces in her ears. She listened to Jim's heart and lungs, then nodded.

"We're good to go." She said. Corrins handed the leash to the woman Observor, who took it then turned to Jim. "Alright Jimmy, since this is your first time here, and unlike other sentinels you haven't been taught about this I'm going to explain."

Jim nodded.

"We are going to put you in a short hallway. When the other door opens you need to go through into the room immediatly. If you hesitate and she doesn't she may become territorial. If that happens she'll probably hurt you. Don't hesitate. The longer you hesitate, the more territorial she'll get."

Jim nodded in understanding.

"Good, Jimmy." she said patting his arm. Jim tried not to growl. "Let's go."

Jim followed her through a door into the small hallway. At the other end some three feet was another door. The Observor removed the leash and left. A few minutes later the door opened adn Jim stepped through into the padded breeding room. On the other side a dark haired female growled at him and he growled back.

Blair watched from his seat in the Observation room. The other guide, Meiria, watched as well.

Blair tried not to watch any of it. From a scientific perspective it was interesting. The female was younger than Jim, but because she was female, and had had children already, she was dominant over Jim, and JIm locked in sentinel sexual instincts was submitting to her dominance.

As of yet no one knew why male sentinels were submissive to female sentinels especially during mating. In fact some nursing female sentinels have been known to attack a male sentinel that comes near them. Because of that, nursing females were kept together and isolated from males.

During one of his classes, Blair had watched a video of a mating in whch the male had hesitated in coming into the room, and the female had claimed the room as her territory. When the male had finally come in, the female had nearly torn the male to pieces while mating. The male had been injured so bad before the guides could get in and seperate them, that he had lost both testicles. Ever since that incident, guides were required to monitor the matings.

So Blair watched, trying not to watch, while fighting embarrasment. The other guide watched intently, seemingly unembarrassed.

Blair winced when the female scratched Jim's chest leaving four bleeding parallel marks across his right nipple. So far though, there didn't seem to be any danger to either sentinel. Jim, laying on his back, had yet to mark the female with any scratches. A few bruises and bites on her neck were the only marks the female bore. Jim had scratches on his chest, neck and thighs, as well as bites and bruises on his neck and groin.

During the session Jim came to orgasm three times, and the female about five times. Why am I counting? Blair thought. After two hours, the sentinels, exhausted, fell into a deep sleep. Jim lay on his back covered in a sheen of sweat, the female draped over him, her head tucked beneathe his chin.

Blair and Meiria stood up and walked into the room. Several Observors came in as well with stretchers. The sentinels were placed on the stretchers and carried to seperate padded rooms.

Once Jim was settle down on the padded floor, Blair kneeled down beside him. Corrins handed Blair a basin of warm water, a washclothe, and a first aid kit. Blair washed his sentinel using the washclothe, healed the scratches and bites with the first aid kit. Jim didn't even move. When Blair was finished, he covered Jim with a light blanket. Then, after he petted Jim's head, moving a stray strand of hair from his forehead, he stood up taking the basin and first aid kit with him and left the room locking the door and turning down the lights.

Corrins met him outside the door. "Come on Blair. I'll take you to lunch."

Blair nodded. Corrins took Blair to a small cafeteria at the Compound. They sat and ate in silence.

After lunch, Blair checked on Jim, who was still asleep. The sentinel had, however, moved onto his left side in his sleep.

Blair had to go to class, and since Jim was alright, he left the sentinel in the "grey" cell. The Observors would take care of him when he woke up and make sure he ate. Jim was going to be very hungry when he wakes up.

After class, Blair went back to the Breeding Center. In the "grey" cell, Jim was awake, fully dressed, and pacing. He stopped when Blair came into the room.

"Ready to go?" Blair asked with a smile. p>"Hell yes." Jim growled, "I hate these damn cells. Too fucking boring."

"I can tell by the ditch you dug in the floor." Blair laughed and took out the leash. Jim lifted his chin, and Blair snapped it on the collar.

They made their way back to their quarters. Once inside, Blair released Jim, who immediatly layed down on the bed. Digging underneath the pillows, he came out with "White Fang". Opening it to the bookmarked page he had been on, Jim leaned back into the pillows and read. Blair looked at him for a second, then pulled out his book for the class, and began to study for the test that was scheduled for the next day.

Blair was startled out of his thoughts by Jim suddenly sitting up and shoving the book beneath the pillow. Blair knew that that meant someone was coming to the door.

"Who is it?" Blair asked his sentinel.

"Corrins." Jim answered as he lay back down, and curled up pretending to sleep.

The chime rang, and Blair told the door to open. It did admitting Corrins.

"The sentinel's body showed up." Corrins said without preamble.

"Michael, did, I mean had the sentinel been..." Blair couldn't finish his question.

Michael Corrins nodded sadly.

"I wasn't expecting that." Jim said sitting up. He was confused by the report.

Michael gave him a withering look, Jim ignored it.

"What do you mean?" Blair asked.

Jim hadn't meant to speak out loud. Damn, he thought.

"The ME's sentinel told me that Derry's guide was forcing him to have sex." JIm said and waited for the outbursts.

"What!" Corrins roared, "Damn sentinel gossip! We should have nipped that in the bud years ago. Julian would never do that!"

"Oh right. Like all guides are fucking saints or something! Well fuck you, Corrins. Its the fucking truth. I can tell when someone's lying to me, and so can any other sentinel."

Corrins turned white with shock. Jim had stood up and yelled in his face.

Blair lost his temper, "Jim, sit down!" He yelled pointing toward the bed.

Jim obeyed, his arms crossed in anger at Corrins.

"H-how dare he..." Corrins was so angry he couldn't speak. "Michael, calm down. We need to think about this rationally." Blair said placing a hand on Michael's shoulder.

Corrins took several deep breathes in an attempt to do as Blair asked.

"If its true, and we both know it happens, then maybe that's why the killer raped the sentinels." Blair sumised.

"Problem with that theory, Chief, is that Peter's guide wasn't like Julian." Jim put in.

"Are you sure?" Blair asked.

"Mostly sure, Chief. All the sentinels I've talked to say that Aaron never raped Peter."

Blair nodded, taking a seat at the table. Michael took a seat as well across from Blair.

"That does destroy that theory." Blair said.

"Maybe, Chief, whoever the killer is thinks that all Guides have sex with their sentinels. Maybe whoever it is wants to be a guide, but for some reason can't. An Observor, maybe, who used to rape his sentinel." Jim suggested looking at Corrins covertly.

Corrins on his part turned red with anger, but before he could blow up at the sentinel, Blair rested an hand on Michael's arm, and gave Jim a look that said, 'Stop it'. "Possibly, " Blair continued, "Or maybe a washed out guide trainee. Or someone who couldn't pass the entry exam. There are alot of possibilities."

"I'll tell the IP captain what we suspect, and let their detectives work out the angles. Perhaps with the information, they will be able to stop this killer. Blair, be careful. All bonded guides are in danger from this madman. We have no idea how he chooses his next victims." The last was said with Corrins hand on his shoulder.

Blair nodded, and Corrins stood up. "I'll see you tomorrow, Blair." With that Corrins left the room. Once the door shut, Blair turned his gaze to his sentinel. Jim looked back with a level gaze.

"And what the hell was that all about. Jeez, you jumped into his face. I think he thought you were going to hit him." Blair said in an exasperated tone.

"As if I could. He just pissed me off, Chief. Blatantly dismissing what I said. Why is that so hard to believe. Regular Citizens believed it happens all the time. Hell, my brother sure thinks its happening to me."

"How do you know."

"He has always believed thats what happens in a Pairing. Don't ask me why he does, because I haven't a clue."

"Your parents?" Blair asked.

"They know better. Hell, my father's worked around sentinels/guides most of his life. My mother's sister was a guide, as was my grandmother on my mother's side. Their both dead, though. My aunt died a few years ago, and my grandmother when I was ten."

Blair nodded thoughtfully, relieved to know that Jim's parents didn't think that Blair was...raping their son. God, its impossible to even contemplate it. He couldn't understand why any guide would hurt his sentinel like that. It was the ultimate betrayal, at least in Blair's mind.

But why was the killer doing it?Blair considered the question for the rest of the night.

The next day after breakfast, Blair told Jim he was going to the library with Reyna and the Heir to study for his test. Jim was off leash punishment which meant that barring any appointments or commitments that his guide or owner needed him to attend, Jim was free to do what he wished until lunch time.

Some places on both the ships and on the planets had restricted access for sentinels. There were two kinds, one restriction put the place as completely off limits to sentinels. Usually because the area was toxic, or some part of the enviroment was harmful to sentinels, but didn't affect regular humans. Other restricted places such as resturants were leash restricted. They required that the guide at least be present, and the sentinel did not have to be leashed, but could not roam around in the place on their own. On the restricted places the automatic doors would identify a sentinel by their collar, and refuse entrance. If the sentinel persisted, then a call was quickly sent to the sentinel's guide or owner. If it is only leash restricted, the doors would only open if they detected the guide band.

After lunch, Jim would be free as well until curfew, which was usually thirty minutes before dusk. Sentinels were not allowed out by themselves at night.

The computer in the room would register wether or not Jim returned at noon, even if Blair didn't show. And if he returned late, once inside the computer would have instructions to lock him inside the room. Jim knew those weren't instructions left by Blair. It was standard for all guide rooms.

After breakfast was consumed, the door chime rang, and Blair told the door to open. The Heir stepped into the room, his backpack over his shoulder.

"Are you ready to go, Blair?" The Heir asked.

"Yep." Blair said enthusiastically hefting his own backpack to his shoulder. The Heir smiled and much to Jim's annoyment reached out to the sentinel who was seated at the table, and ruffled his head ending with a petting stroke down Jim's neck, and a light pat on his back between his shoulder blades.

Blair placed a hand on Jim's shoulder and whispered sentinel soft, "Be careful." in a decidedly worried tone. Jim nodded slightly in acknowledgement. The guide and the Heir left the room. They were going to meet Reyna at the Library.

Ten minutes after Blair left, Jim walked out of their room. Waiting for him was Talia. The guard at the door had been canceled. Now that Jim was off leash punishment, he could avoid any attempted kidnappings himself. Besides, if the rumors Jim had heard were true, which he believed they were, then Kit Dahlai wasn't around to regret trying to have Jim kidnapped.

"Come on, " Talia said grabbing his hand excitingly and pulling him down the paved sidewalk.

"Where are we going?" He asked giving her one of his rare smiles.

"The sentinel park." She answered releasing his hand after she felt he would follow her.

"I've heard of it. What are we going to do there?"

"Usually, we tell stories, play games, relax a bit. Some OTHER stuff usually goes on, but fortunatly in secluded areas. The cool thing is that guides rarely come into the park, and Observors even less."

They walked over to the Compound and Talia led the way to the sentinel park.

The park was huge, and surrounded by a high fence. Parts of the park were shaded by trees, while others were open. There was a waterfall and a small lagoon where some sentinels swam naked unabashed.

Talai led Jim over to a large tree where at the base sat some twelve sentinels of different ages, and sex.

Talia introduced him to the group, and Jim tried to learn their names. Sitting down among them, Jim and Talia got comfortable. One of the setninels continued with the story he had been telling. The man, Damion, was a Bounty Hunter's sentinel, and was regaling them of a hunt for an escaped Thonian. Jim listened as did the others, and laughed when the sentinel told them the ending where the Thonian had been found in a bog, stuck but still alive, and screaming for all he was worth because a eighty foot snake like creature called a nipian was headed for him. Nipians of course were completely harmless, but obviously the Thonian hadn't known that.

Jacob, a young sentinel about twenty, asked Jim for some Ranger stories. Jim complied and told them of the time he and Rafe had gone undercover as strippers to stop a minor roguelord. He had the other sentinels listening to him in rapt fascination. He omitted the information that was still considered secret, like the name of the roguelord, or the planet they had been on. If they noticed the ommision, they did not voice it.

Sometime later, Eileen, an older female, suggested a game of tag, and several of the younger ones agreed. Jim watched them chase each other around, playing like children. Talia tried to talk him into playing, but Jim just shook his head saying he was to old for a game of tag. Even if they were all playing blindfolded. Jim had no doubt that that particular game of tag was taught to them as children as a 'fun' way of teaching them to use their gifts. He wondered idly how many more games the Observors had invented for just that purpose. However, the next part of their little tag game probably wasn't invented by the Observors. The sentinels quickly stripped out of their clothes, and raced around naked, completely oblivious to the fact. Talia tried to entice him some more, but Jim merely shook his head. He wasn't THAT comfortable with his body. The game of tag eventually moved to the lagoon, where no doubt they were headed for in the first place. The heat and combined activity made a bit of water sport inevitable.

"Come on, Jim. It will be fun." Talia said. She pulled him by his arm to the lagoon, then began to strip herself.

The sentinel were like young otters, and the lagoon had been built for such fun. There was five different water slides tht looked completely natural, but were manmade. A rope tied to a tree limb allowed them to swing out into the water, and there were two smaller pools with bubbling hot water. The sentinels were sliding, splashing, laughing and basically having a good time.

Jim sighed, and stripped off his own uniform. From a flt rock, he dived into the pool. Swimming like a dophin beneath the water he come up underneath the waterfall right beside Talia. Hidden behind the curtain from any but sentinel eyes, Jim's body brushed up against Talia's. She smiled and wrapped her arms around his shoulders taking his mouth with hers in a deep kiss. Jim deepened the kiss, exploring her mouth with his tongue.

After what seemed an eternity, they pulled back and looked into each other's eyes.

"Mmmm...that was nice." Talia said.

"Yeah, you taste good."

"Is this the first time you've kissed anyone since your senses came online?" She asked stroking the back of his head sensously.

"Yes. At least, that I can remember."

Talia nodded in understanding.

"I'm sorry, Jim. But we can't...my guide said your not being given the injections, and without both of getting them..." She trailed off.

"She doesn't want you getting pregnant. I understand. But kissing, despite what my grandmother said, does not make a woman pregnant."

She laughed at the remark, then kissed him again. Pulling back, she smiled then dove beneathe the water and swam toward the shore. After a moment's hesitation, he followed.

When they reached the shore, they layed down in the soft grass and sun bathed. Other sentinels joined them on the grass, allowing the sun to dry their nude bodies.

Jim was awakened by a bell tolling. He sat up quickly to find Talia waking up as well. They weren't the only ones who had fallen asleep. The tolling bell announced that it was twenty minutes till lunch time.

"Time to get home, " Jim said bitterly. For a few moments in time he had forgotten what he was, even with the weight of the collar around his neck. He had been enjoying the moment too much, and reality crashed in on him.

Talia rubbed his back soothingly, hearing the bitterness in his voice. Jim sighed, and began to put on his clothes. Talia did the same, and together they left the sentinel park.

Jim made it back to the room with minutes to spare to find Blair was not there. A voice message on the computer had been left to say Blair was eating lunch with Reyna and the Heir. Jim's own lunch, a ham and cheese sandwich and a bowl of vegetable soup materialised on the food dispenser. Jim took the tray and sat down at the table to eat.

When he was done eating, and the computer registered that he had eaten everything, the door unlocked to allow him to leave. Jim however remained inside the room, and some minutes later Talia came over. They layed down on the bed, and Jim pulled out the book from beneath the pillow and continued to read to Talia, who listened in apt fasciantion.

Jim closed the book a few minutes before Blair, Reyna and the Heir showed up at the room. The book was back in its hiding place, and the two of them were lying on the bed talking when the three entered.

Talia immediatly stood up, and Reyna gave Blair a goodbye kiss, a verbal farewell to the Heir and left with Talia.

The Heir seated himself on the edge of the bed, and reached out with a hand placing it on the top of Jim's head. The sentinel had moved to lay with his head next to the Heir, lying on his stomach, head resting in the crook of his crossed arms. The Heir then began to pet Jim's head, neck and back as he watched Blair.

"You going to stick around here for supper?" Blair asked.

"Sounds good. The servant is bringing my sister over. They took her over to the Compound to take a look at all the sentinels. She was looking forward to today." the Heir said not ceasing his petting of the sentinel.

A few minutes later, the door chimed, and opened to reveal the Heir's sister, who immediatly went in and plopped down on the other side of Jim and patted his back, then petted his back, while the Heir petted his head and neck. Blair kept an eye on Jim hoping that the setninel wouldn't zone on the touch of their hands. He knew that despite Jim's animosity toward being petted that for a sentinel, petting was very pleasurable, not sexually so, but it helped a sentinel relax and calmed them especially if they were agitated. Which Blair knew Jim probably was.

Blair, himself, didn't pet Jim. He used touch to help the sentinel focus when using his senses, and massages to help relax him after a workout, but idle petting made him feel as if he were treating Jim like a real pet, which he was trying hard not to do. Occasionally he slipped, and would have to call himself on it.

Blair went to the dispenser and ordered dinner. Pot roast, potatoes, steamed brocilli, and corn appeared on four seperate plates. Two glasses of a deep red chardonnay, a glass of milk and a glass of water shimmered into existence as well.

With on elast pat on Jim's back between the sentinel's shoulder blades, the Heir stood up and helped Blair place the plates on the table. Once the table was set, all four of them sat down to eat.

L'dnin and Blair spoke about their class, the test they had taken while they ate. Jim ignored the conversation. He didn't want to know anything about that class. L'dnin then asked Taleen about her day at the Compound. She happily talked about the sentinel children she ahd seen at the Compound's nursery, the sentinel newborns, and the adult sentinels as yet unbonded. To Jim's shock, she spoke of actually watching a sentinel mating. He nearly choked on his water.

When dinner was done, Blair and L'dnin took out their books and began to study. Taleen went to the computer ans surfed the net. Jim layed down ont he bed and took a nap.

Sometime later L'dnin and his sister left, and Blair woke Jim so the sentinel could take his shower. When Jim was done, he crawled back into bed and pulled out the hidden book and continued to read while Blair took his shower.

When Blair crawled into bed, he turned off the lights, and tried to sleep. Jim, however, used the low light filtering in through the windows to continue reading.

An hour later, Blair sat up and plucked the book of Jim's hands and placed it on the nightstand.

"Go to sleep." Blair ordered , then layed back down.

Jim frowned at being ordred to sleep like a child, but he had no choice but to comply. Laying his head back down on his pillow, Jim allowed the sound of his guide's heartbeat and the falling rain outside to lull him to sleep.

Blair opened his eyes clowly coming to full awakefullness feeling very warm. Morning found Blair lying on his back with 200+ pounds of sentinel sprawled over him. Jim lay with his head on Blair's chest, right ear pressed above the place were his heart beat steadily, left arm over Blair's stomach, and left leg over Blair's legs.

Corrins had told him that the idea of a killer who was murdering guides would have Jim's protective instincts coming to the surface, thereofre it would be a nightly occurence for Jim's subconscious to search for that familiar heartbeat that meant the guide was safe.

A few minutes later Jim woke up. Finding himself sprawled voer his guide, the setninel just rolled off of Blair onto his back. Blair climbed out of bed with a yawn and went into the bathroom.

When Blair finished his morning ritual and came out of the bathroom, Jim went inside.

Breakfast consisted of three stacked buttermilk pancakes, a tall glass of milk, sausage, and maple syrup.

In the middle of breakfast, Jim tilted his head toward the door a few minutes before the door chimed.

the door opeend upon command to admit Corrins who looked decidingly pale.

"Blair, I'm sorry." Corrins began.

"Michael, what's wrong?" Blair asked becoming worried.

"Reyna, its Reyna."

"What's wrong with Reyna. Michael tell me." Blair was getting scared now.

"She's missing Blair. Her and her sentienl."

"Oh gods...the killer?" Blair whispered.

Suddenly JIm stood up and raced out the door.

"Jim!" Blair yelled. Together guide and Observor chased after the sentinel.

They found him sitting with his back against a tree trunk on the grounds of the University.

"Jim? Jim are you okay?" Blair asked as they came upon the setninel.

I was tracking her." Jim said, "But its too old, too washed out by the rain last night."

"Tracking who?"

"Talia."

"Reyna's sentinel?" Corrins seemed confused.

"They were her last night. We came in from study group and Talia and Jim were lying on the bed, talking I guess." Blair explained. "They've become really good friends."

"She's dead, Chief. That bastard will murder Reyna, and Talia will kill herself. I tried, I tried to track her, to find that damn scent, but its useless. These damn senses are fucking useless."

Blair knelt down beside his sentinel placing a hand on Jim's shoulder.

"Its not your fault, Jim." Blair said, "The rain washed away the scent. No sentinel could follow what not there. Its no one's fault but the killers. They'll figure out who it is."

"Not in time. Oh gods, Chief, I think I was falling love with her."

Blair pulled Jim to his chest and stroked his head as the sentinel sobbed into Blair's shirt.

Wisely, Michael Corrins walked back from the scene, allowing the guide and sentinel privacy. Finally the sentinel was releasing all the pent up emotions that had threatened to tear him apart. Sadly it had taken the sure knowledge of another sentinel's death to collapse the dam that had held back those emotions.

Blair held Jim for several minutes, then Jim pulled back.

"Shit." Jim whispered embarrassed and angry at his outburst.

"Its alright. You needed to" Blair said. "You've been holding it in far to long. You needed to release it."

"I haven't cried since I was five."

Then you're definitly overdue."

Jim just shook his head.

"I guess we need to get back. I have another...session today." He said.

Blair nodded and the two of them stood.

Michael was waiting for them back at Blair's quarters.

Blair contacted the Empress while Jim layed down on the bed. Telling the Empress everything, Blair waited for her response.

In a gesture of compassion, the Empress told Blair that she would postpone the session for that day. She suggested that Blair also skip class and stay with Jim. Blair nodded. He had planned to do just that. She also said that she would be sending the IP's some more staff and equipmetn to try and help them solve the case and stop the murderer. Blair hoped that it would work, but he knew that they would not get there in time.

After Blair finished his talk with the Empress, Michael left after giving Blair a conforting squeeze of his shoulder.

When Michael was gone, Blair walked over to the bed. Jim wasn't asleep, but his eyes were closed and his breathing even. Blair sat down on the edge of the bed, and placed a hand gently on the sentinel's back.

Sometime later, Blair and Jim ended up fast asleep in the bed, with Jim curled up next to Blair, head resting on his guide's chest, tear tracks marring both of their faces.

They spent most of the day sleeping, talking, and crying, with time out for food. Blair felt closer to Jim than at any other time in their relationship. The bond was strong and secure.

The next evening, Reyna's body appeared. Like the others she had been drowned, her body showing signs of having been tied up. No sign of sexual assault.

Blair did not go and see the body. He did not want his last memory of Reyna to be of a cold lifeless body.

The morning after Reyna's body was found, Talia's body turned up. Like the others, she had been chained by her collar, sexually assaulted, and had died choking herself to death by the very chain meant to imprison her.

The IP's were still basically clueless. The only thing they had to go on was the scent that was being picked up by the sentinels. They had narrowed the places were the bodies were being drowned to five different locations, yet they could not be specific because the chlorine content changed from .05 % to .08 % depending upon the amount of rain.

Reyna and Talia were buried together in the Guide/Sentinel Cemetery.

Jim stood beside and a little behind Blair watching as the double sized casket was lowered into the single large grave. If a sentinel and guide died together, then they were buried together in a single casket, lain side by side. If one died beofre the other, they were buried in two graves dug side by side.

Using his enhanced vision, Jim traced the carved foxes and owls that covered the wooden casket.

When the last words were said, Blair stepped forward with the others to toss in a handful of earth. Jim, because of the leash that connected him to his guide(part of ceremonial dress)stepped foward as well. If he could have, Jim would have tossed in a handful of dirt as well, or thrown in a flower of some sort. Instead, he looked at the casket, and in a sentinel soft voice whispered his goodbyes. They walked out of the cemetery without a word.

Later that day, Jim came back to find the grave covered with fresh dirt, and covered in a bouquet of roses. Reaching into his uniform, Jim pulled out the book he had been reading to Talia against every rule that had been set down for sentinels for two hundred years. Opening the book to the bookmarked page, Jim recalled what Talia had told him before Blair, Reyna and the Heir had walked in.

"You know that story reminds me of you." Talia said.

"Oh, how so."

"Well, White Fang was a wolf born in the wild, but forced by circumstance to become domesticated. He finally accepted his lot in life though when he found a loving master, but even domesticated, he's still wild inside. Just like you." She had said smiling.

Jim remembered smiling back, then they had been interrupted.

Using his senses, he determined that he was alone in the cemetery. He knew that if he was caught, Blair would have no choice but to punish him. But he thought it was worth any punishment.

Finding were he left off, Jim began to read to whatever ghosts or spirits might be listening.

"'White Fang allowed all the members of the family to pet him and make much of him;but he never gave to them what he gave to the master. No caress of theirs could put the love-croon into his throat, and, try as they would, they could never persuade him into snuggling against them. This expression of abandon and surrender, of absolute trust, he reserved for the master alone...'" And Jim continued to read. He read to the end where White Fang after having suffered to protect his master and all his master loved, was able to make that slow journey to see the pups he had sired. "'The other puppies came sprawling toward him, to Collie's great disgust;and he gravely permitted them to clamber and tumble over him. At first, amid the applause of the gods, he betrayed a trifle of his old self-consciousness and awkwardness. This passed away as the puppies' antics and mauling continued, and he lay with half-shut, patient eyes, drowsing in the sun.'"

As the last words were read, Jim closed the book, and tucked it away inside his uniform. Laying a hand on the fresh earth, he whispered a goodbye, and said, "I hope you like the story. And you were right. You were definitly right." and with that Jim stood and left the cemetery.

Jim was several feet from the high brick wall that he had climbed to get inside the cemetery when an authorative voice halted him.

"Stop, sentinel!" The voice said. Jim turned to see an Observor guard running over to his location. He considered running, but dismissed the idea. It would just make everything worse.

The Observor Guard stopped in front of Jim.

"What are doing in here. Where's your guide?" The man asked.

Jim said nothing. The guard shook his head at Jim's stubborness, and reached into his pocket to pull out a leash. Observor Guards, identified by the black armband they wore on their upper left arm, where like old fashioned dog catchers. At least in Jim's opinion. A sentinel out by himself in a restricted area was fair game. There were always Observor Guards in sentinel restricted areas for just such purposes.

The man snapped the leash onto Jim's collar, and Jim had no choice but to follow the Observor through the gates. Blair is definitly going to be mad. Jim thought.

The Observor took Jim to a building at the Compound that Jim had yet to see. The other sentinels called it the Pound, and Jim agreed with their opinion.

Inside Jim was handed over to another Observor, who took him into the back room. Inside the room was apparently a medical examination room. Much to his disgust, Jim was stripped of his clothes, while a Observor Doctor came into the room. The book was found and confiscated. Jim was forced to lay on a table. A scanner over his collar revealed his name, and guide's name, even though the Observors had recognized the Imperial tag on his collar. The other Observor went to contact Blair, while the doctor gave him a full medical exam including bloodwork.

Since Jim was healthy, he was taken, still nude, to a grey cell, and placed inside to await his guide's arrival. Jim sat in a corner and waited.

Blair was in class when he recieved a summons. The Observor Proffessor let him go, and Blair was met outside the classroom by Corrins.

"What's going on?" Blair asked apprehension beggining to set in.

"Jim was found wondering around the grounds of the cemetery. He was taken by an Observor Guard." Michael answered.

"Oh shit." Blair hissed.

Michael nodded in agreement.

They made it to the pound where Blair had to talk to a judge via the intercomn. The judge set a fine for Blair to pay. However, before he could get Jim, Blair had to contact the owner, which in this case was the Empress.

"I understand his reasons for going there. However, his method leaves much to be desired. He could have easily waited for you to take him." the Empress sighed, then seemingly off topic asked, "Blair how is the class?"

Confused, Blair answered, "Fine, Your Highness."

"Is it helping you to understand?"

You mean about the difference between discipline and cruelty?"

"That, and why it is necessary. Do you understand why it is?"

Blair nodded, "Yeah, I think so. If a sentinel can't obey simple commands, then when it is important or life threatening then he could hesitate." Blair said repeating something his instructors had once said. He didn't really understand it. When it came to important stuff, Jim knew when to do what Blair said.

"Mmmhm. I remember that phrase. Blair I know that Jimmy is different from other sentinels in that he has vast more experience to be able to make informed decisions, but that's the problem. He should not be making any decisions about what orders he should obey, and the ones he shouldn't. I can only allow him so much leeway, before he gets away from us completely. You don't want that. Believe me. You are the guide, you lead, he follows. You order, he obeys. It is necessary. And I KNOW that you know why that is."

Blair looked at her in shock. Did she mean what I think she means?Blair wondered.

"Now is a good time as any for you and him to learn. This is what I want done." And with that the Empress gave her orders.

When she was finished, Blair swallowed around a suddenly tight throat, and agreed to her orders. He then paid the fine, and went to pick up Jim.

Blair walked into the grey cell, and tossed down Jim's clothes. "Get dressed." He ordered curtly, and Jim knew that the guide was pissed.

Jim dressed quickly, while Blair stood there arms crossed over his chest. When he was finished, Blair came forward and attached a leash to Jim's collar, then attached the other end to his guide band. The sentinel followed his guide out of the grey cell.

During the walk back to the room, Blair's thoughts raced. I can't do it, I just can't do it...oh gods. Walking beside him, Corrins would glance every so often at the guide knowing that the young man was simmering.

Back at Blair's quarters, the guide removed the leash from his guide band, then reattached it to a hook in the wall. Jim just leaned back agains the wall and waited. He knew Blair had no doubt contacted the Empress, and he knew the woman had set a punishment. Jim wondered what it was.

He didn't have to wait long however, because Blair came out of the bathroom carrying a wooden paddle that was two feet long, with a half a foot long handle. The guide layed it on the bed, then walked over and removed the leash from the wall. Jim noticed that Blair's hands were trembling, and the sentinel knew that his guide did not want to punish Jim, but like Jim, Blair had no choice.

As part of the punishment, Blair unzipped Jim's uniform and removed the black jumpsuit after removing the sentinel's boots. Using the leash he guided the sentinel over toward the bed where Blair sat down at the edge. Blair used the leash to pull Jim who was only in his black boxers over the guide's lap. From his seated place at the table, Michael Corrins watched per the Empress' instructions. When Jim's groin was firmly in Blair's lap, the guide took a deep breath and picked up the paddle. His hands were shaking, and Jim could hear Blair's heartrate skyrocketing.

When he had the paddle firmyl gripped in his shaking left hand, Blair used his right hand to pull Jim's boxers down exposing the sentinel's firm buttocks to the room. He then switched the paddle to his right hand. Laying his left hand on Jim's back between the sentinel's shoulder blades, Blair raised his right hand high, then brought the large paddle across Jim's butt with a loud SMACK! The sentinel jumped, but did not try to escape from his guide. Blair counted off "One." Then brought his arm back and forward. Jim managed not to jump, but he hissed in pain. The paddle had already left his butt cheeks red. "Two." Then he did it again. And again. When Blair finally reached twenty, the sentinel was sobbing from the pain on his butt and the pain inside. There was no feeling of betrayal, no feeling of pity, instead Jim felt the wrong he had done his guide. He had broken a rule, and therefore broken the trust between sentinel and guide. He had forced his guide to punish him.

Blair also wept unabashed. His tears fell down his face in streaks as he cried for the pain he felt inside. He had failed his sentinel and had been forced to punish him.

When it was done, Blair eased the sentinel onto the bed. Once Jim was settled on his stomach on the bed, Blair went into the bathroom and came out with a bottle of lotion. He gently rubbed the lotion onto Jim's bruised and reddened ass cheeks, then sat down beside Jim, and while rubbing his hand on Jim's head, neck and arm, he murmured soothing words in his best guide tone. Eventually the sentinel fell asleep, and Blair layed down beside Jim, and joined the sentinel in sleep. Michael Corrins left the room.

Morning came, and Blair woke up first. He yawned, rubbing his eyes as he sat up in bed. He looked over at Jim, who was still fast asleep. Gently pushing back the covers, Blair checked Jim. There were some bruises, and Jim was going to find it very hard to sit comfortably for awhile, but there was no breakage of the skin. Recovering his sentinel, Blair crawled out of bed and headed for the bathroom.

While Blair was showering, Jim slowly came awake. Unforgetting at first, Jim rolled over on his back. Or at least he attempted to do so. When his bruised buttocks came in contact with the bed, he winced, and rolled back onto his stomach. That definitly wasn't a good idea, Jim thought to himself. Instead he layed on his stomach and listened to Blair in the shower.

Blair walked out of the bathroom wearing his grey robe, and looked over at Jim. Jim took one look and knew that Blair, though upset over having to punish Jim, was still a bit mad about the reason for doing so. Okay,Jim thought, This is my fault. Blair was mourning Reyna, and didn't need me to cause any trouble. He swore to himself that he would try and remember to think about his actions and how they would also affect Blair. He knew that Blair had not wanted to punish Jim, but had been forced to do so, just as Jim had been forced to accept it. Guides who broke the law, and disobeying orders from the Empress was against the law, were imprisoned, or executed depending upon the crime. However, the first thing that happened was the guide was forced to inject his sentinel with a combination of Docile, and a quick acting poison. It was considered cruelty to keep a sentinel alive while his guide was in prison, or was executed. Instead the sentinel was 'put to sleep' by his guide.

Disobeying an Imperial order could be considered treason. The penalty for treason was spacing. A horrible painful death. It was also the penalty for murder, and some other higher crimes. The prisoner was placed, nude, in a escape hatch without a pod, and the hatch door was blown. The prisoner would be sucked out into space to die from either his lungs imploding, or his body freezing to death in the space of a few seconds, depending wether or not the prisoner tried to take a breath.

Jim definitly didn't want that to happen to Blair while he himself would die peacefully. Going to sleep and never waking up. That was the reason he had not fought Blair the night before, and why he would obey from now on. Jim knew that it hurt Blair to much to have to punish his sentinel.

Jim started to crawl out of bed, when Blair suddenly put a hand on his back, and said, "No."

Jim looked at Blair in confusion.

"Sorry, Jim, but the Empress also said that you are on bed restriction for the next five days." Blair said removing his hand from Jim's back.

Jim looked at him in confusion.

Blair slapped his own forehead with his hand, "Oh, sorry. Duh, I keep forgetting you don't know what other sentinels are taught from practically birth. Bed restriction menas you can't leave your bed except on a leash. That means for everything."

Jim groaned at the implication. Before this year was done he would have no modesty left. He just knew.

"Yeah, like this is going to be a picnic for me. Oh, and why I am at class, Corrins will be here. Don't give him any trouble."

Jim groaned again at that. Blair just shook his head, and retrieved the leash from the table.

When Jim was done with his shower, Blair led him back to the bed. Once Jim was once again laying on his stomach on the bed, he removed the leash, and went back over to the table. Using the computer, he uploaded the reports sent to him by Captain Shadowhawk about the murders. He didn't want to read the reports about Reyna and Talia, didn't want to know how they died, but he did anyway, hoping against hope he could find something to tell him that they hadn't suffered, that their deaths had been quick. He knew he was reaching.

"toxicology reports came back." Blair said absently. Finally, he thought, took them long enough.. "Trichloral ethynol? What the hell is that?"

"What did you say, Chief?" Jim mumbled.

"The killer used trichloral ethynol to subdue his victims. That's how he was able to drown the guides."

"And then the sentinels killed themselves using their own collars and the chain or whatever the killer used to hold them. Where the guides killed before or after the sentinels were raped?" Jim asked. "After. The killers raped the sentinel while their guides were still alive, at least according to the times frames that forensics set up." "My guess is that the killer wants to be a guide. For some reason or other he can't be one. Either he's already been a guide, or couldn't pass the tests to become one."

"That's what you said before. I told Captain Shadowhawk your theory. I had to tell him it was mine or he wouldn't listen. He said they would look into the possibility."

"What reasons would someone not be able to graduate. Besides flunking classes."

Blair shrugged trying to think, "Psych exam, maybe. Every year we take a psych exam until we graduate. If we don't pass, then we're booted out. Uuummm, disciplinarys. If we have to many marks on our record we could also be dismissed."

"That's an idea. Have Shadowhawk take a look at the University's records. Check for any guides that have been dismissed in the past year for disciplinary reasons." Jim said.

"Alright. I have a meeting with him after class."

"Chief, if it at all possible..." He trailed off. Dammit, I have to ask to go anywhere. He thought angrily at himself.

"Yeah, I'll come by and pick you up." Blair said knowing what Jim was trying and failing to ask.

Jim nodded.

Breakfast was served on the bed, for Jim at least. Blair ate while studying his reports. Instead of waiting, however, for the meeting. Blair called Shadowhawk, and told him about Jim's idea to look into the records while making it seem like his idea. Jim may have been a Ranger, and may have more experience that Shadowhawk, but to the IP captain Jim was nothing more than another sentinel. Imperial propery to be protected, and guarded from all danger including this crazed serial killer, but not to be listened to for theories on said serial killer.

The Captain had nodded and said he would do just that, then thanked Blair for his help.

An hour after breakfast, Blair pulled out his books for his class and began to work on his term paper. Jim was watching the IPN news. Apparently the relief project on Euphredies was well underway, and the Imperial Jewel was enroute to Earth.

About lunch time, Corrins made an appearence. The Observor ate lunch with them, and when they were through, Blair left for class with L'dnin.

Corrins used the computer to work on reports, and grade papers on some classes he was helping out with. Jim just ignored the Observor, answering with a curt, "No." to the question of wether or not he needed to go to the bathroom. Corrins would just shake his head slightly, then return to his reports, and papers.

Blair came a few hours later. Corrins went with them as they rode the tube car to Cascade. Jim, of course, was on his leash.

Captain Shadowhawk had taken Blair's or really Jim's idea to heart. They had gotten permission from a judge to look into the University's records. The detectives on the case were in the process of questioning some of the students, as well as the ex-students who were still on Orion 4.

When the meeting was done, Corrins left them to go proctor a class. Blair decided to eat in Cascade and he and Jim went to a Chinese restaurant.

They walked out of the restaurant, and headed for the tubes. Night was falling, and Blair was ready to get home for a long shower. At the tube car entrance, they waited for the doors to open. When they did they stepped onto the car. Before the door could shut, however, another human stepped into the near empty car. A strange sickening smell wafted to Jim, and the sentinel looked at the man he stood before them with a blaster pointed right at them.

Jim moaned as pain radiated across his body. The blaster had been set to stun, but to a sentinel it was pretty painful. He lifted his head, and heard a chain scraping across concrete, and felt the constant weight around his neck had increased. Sentinel eyes searched through the dim light and found Blair not far from him. The guide was laying out of arm's reach, hands secured behind his back, ankles bound. At first he feared his guide was already dead, but then he heard the distinctive heartbeat of his guide. The stun gun's effects were shaken off easily by a sentinel, but Blair was just a normal human. He would be out a bit longer. Footsteps made Jim turn his head, and saw the killer walking across the concrete floor over to Blair. The man had long dirty blonde hair, which he allowed to fall over his face. He ws wearing a grey uniform of a guide, but Jim could not see a band around his wrist. Not an Observor then. The sickening smell he had scented on the bodies was coming from the killer. When the man bent down to touch Blair, Jim growled deep in his throat and charged the man only to be brought up short by the chain attached to his collar, and an iron ring embedded in the floor. His throat hurt, but Jim shook it off, and stared angrily at the killer. He raped and killed Talia Was Jim's first thought. He has my guide. Was his second as the instintual sentinel came to the fore. And Jim lunged again, brought up short by the chain. The killer turned to look at him, and the face tickled at his memory. Suddenly it came to him.

"David." the sentinel growled. The student who had touched his back at the cafeteria. He knew that smell had been familiar. Why hadn't he remembered! Jim cursed himself inside for not recognizing the scent.

David stood up and walked over to the sentinel. "Be quiet. I have not given you permission to talk, Jimmy." David said. He was smart enough to stay out of Jim's reach.

"You shut up, you worthless piece of shit! You pathetic looser!" Blair cried from behind the killer.

Jim rolled his eyes. Good one, Chief. Make him angry enough to hit you.

David turned to the guide, who was desperatly trying to sit up.

"SHUT UP SHUT UP!" David cried holding his hands to his ears.

"Your pathetic. Your no guide. Your nothing but a wanna be loser." Blair shouted at the man who was gradually losing what sanity he had left.

David stalked over and slapped Blair across the face. "I am too. I am his guide!" David shouted. "And I'll prove it!"

Oh gods, what I have I done. Blair thought. I wanted him to focus on me, not Jim. Oh gods! Blair struggled usessly to free his wrists. He felt blood dripping down his hands, and incredible pain, but he continued to struggle. All the while he watched helplessly as David filled a syringe with Docile. He only put in a few cc's, but it would be enough to keep Jim compliant and under control.

David then walked carefully over to Jim, who looked ready to snap the man's neck if the killer got any closer. Instead, David took from his pocket a whistle, and placed it between his lips and blew. Blair heard nothing, but Jim clapped his hands over his ears in pain, and David took the opportunity to inject the sentinel with the Docile. David stepped back quickly as Jim recovered from the blast to his ears, and tried to grab at David.

"Fight it Jim." Blair said in his guide tone as he saw Jim begin to feel the effects of the Docile. "You need to fight it."

Jim bit down on the inside of his lips, and tasted blood. He tried to feel the pain of it, but the Docile was seeping in. He felt David's hands on his body, and wanted to strike out at the killer. His muscles were ignoring the orders from his brain, and his brain was wanting to shut down. The Docile lived up to its name, and Jim suddenly slumped to the ground, not unconscious. He was aware of his body, aware of what was happening as David removed the black uniform Jim wore as the killer sucked and licked at Jim's neck. He tried to shake the killer of him, but it wasn't working. He heard Blair telling him to fight, and he tried to obey. His body didn't cooperate. He shuddered in his mind as he felt David's hands all over him, and Jim knew deep in his mind that he was about to be raped. He heard Blair sobbing, and looked at his guide. He saw the tears in Blair's eyes, and the struggles of his guide to free himself. He tasted the blood in his mouth, and bit down harder on his lip. He tried to concentrate on the pain, tried to ignore the mouth on his neck, and back, the feel of a hard cock against his buttocks, the smell of arousal. He ignored all of it to concentrate on the pain, to move past the affects of the Docile. Protect the Guide went over and over in his mind. He didn't feel the hard cock that was trying to push its way inside him, he no longer smelled the arousal and the sickening smell of the killer, nor could hear the grunts and groans of pleasure. He saw only his guide, smelled only his guide's sweet scent, heard only the gentle voice that urged him to fight, and could only feel the pain from his mouth, and the taste of his own blood. With a roar like a jungle cat, the primitve sentinel slammed to the surface. Blair watched as Jim suddenly roared, and surged upwards dislodging his rapist and knocking the man to the ground. With quick speed and animal like growls, Jim reached over to the killer sprawled on the ground, who whimpered in terror. A quick movement of the wrists, and the killer's neck snapped like a twig. The sentinel dropped the body, breathing heavily, growling deep in throat.

"Jim." the voice was soft, tender, and familiar. It drilled through the instinct fog and reached the man inside. Jim Ellison turned to see his guide, still trussed like a lamb to the slaughter, and saw the tears glinting in the bright blue eyes. He tried to go to his guide, but was brought up short by the chain. Kneeling down, Jim went through the dead man's pockets and found the keys to the padlock.

The nurses and patients in the ER of the Cascade Hospital gasped in shock when they saw the man walking through the doors.

Jim held his guide tightly in his arms. The stun gun had left his guide weak, and his muscles refused to do anything but convulse. It was a side effect of a blaster shot on full stun. It usually required treatment of a anti-convulsant, except in cases of sentinels. Their body produced the correct chemicals to keep away the convulsions, and to fight the effects of a stun.

Jim limped into the ER of the hospital, holding his guide. He watched the nurses and other patients stare at him in shock sumise. One of the nurses quickly recovered, and immediatly called for a Doctor Loyd. The name seemed vaguely familiar to Jim, and when the Observor Doctor came into the room, he recognized the man from his physical. The Observor Doctor walked carefully up to Jim in an attempt not to alarm the sentinel.

"Please, " Jim said. "Help him."

"Don't worry. We will. Bring him into the back. Its alright, we'll take care of him." Dr. Loyd said. He knew that the sentinel was injured also from the blood at the corner of his mouth, but the sentinel would not let anyone care for him until his guide was seen to.

Dr. Loyd called for a regular doctor as he led Jim to the back and into an exam room. Dr. Loyd patted the exam table telling Jim to lay his guide there. Jim put his convulsing guide on the table.

"What happened to him?" Dr. Loyd asked. It wasn't procedure to ask questions of a sentinel, but Dr. Loyd knew this was an extreme case.

"Blaster on full stun. I don't know how long ago." Jim answered.

Dr. Loyd nodded. He quickly had the nurse retrieve an anti-convulsant, and injected it into the guide. A few minutes later the convulsing stopped, and Blair fell into a deep slumber.

"He's going to be alright." Dr. Loyd said. He tried to pat Jim's shoulder, but the sentinel flinched from the touch. Dr. Loyd frowned, but not in anger. He looked at the sentinel, and noticed the pale skin, and glazed over eyes.

"What happened?" Dr. Loyd asked in his guide voice.

"The killer." Jim said.

"The one that has been killing the guides?" Dr. Loyd asked.

Jim nodded.

Dr. Loyd paled. Now he knew what was wrong with the sentinel.

"Jim, " Dr. Loyd remmebered the sentinel's name, "Have you been injected with something?"

"Jim nodded, "Docile." Was all he got out before his eyes rolled into the back of his head, and he fell over like a felled tree. Dr. Loyd was able to catch the unconscious sentinel and lower him to the ground gently.

Blair opened his eyes slowly. He felt groggy, and tired. His looked over toward his left, and saw Michael Corrins standing over him.

"Michael?" Blair was confused, then memory hit him like a ton of bricks, "Jim!" He tried to sit up.

Corrins placed a hand on Blair's shoulder, "Easy, Blair. Jim's alright, he's right there beside you."

Blair looked over to his right. The hospital bed he was in was designed specifically with Pairs in mind. Jim lay on a bed that was connected to Blair's bed. It could be maneuvered to be beside the guide's bed like it was now, or underneath the guide's bed. Since Jim was also injured, it was beside him. If Blair had been the only one injured, then the sentinel's bed would be beneath his where the doctors and nurses could get to the guide without having a sentinel in the way, and the sentinel could stay with his guide.

Blair reached down and layed a hand on Jim's back. The sentinel was asleep on his stomach, a sheet covering his naked body up to the middle of his back. His face was turned away from Blair toward the door.

"Physically, he'll be fine, Blair. A few bruises, cuts. His throat beneathe the collar is bruised colorfully, but he didn't do any damage to his larynx. The penetration was only minimal. I don't think the killer got in very far before Jim killed him." Corrins said.

Tears fell down Blair's face as he idly petted his sentinel's head, running his fingers through the short brown hair.

"Its my fault. I shouldn't have taunted the killer. I was trying to buy some time, hoping Jim could find away to get us free. It only made him want to prove to me he was a guide."

"Easy Blair." Michael said as he held the guide's shoulders in a hug. "The killer would have done it anyway. You saw the autopsy reports. Its not your fault. Its no one's fault but the killer's. And he's dead."

"Who was he?" Blair asked.

"An ex-student named David Lash. How he passed the first psych exam is beyond me. We had a sentinel follow Jim's scent back to the hideout. It was an old building on the outskirts of Cascade. We found his body."

"He looked familair, but I can't place him."

"Do you remmeber the student that startled Jim that day in the cafeteria?"

"Oh gods, that was him!" Blair said in surpise, "Oh gods!"

"Easy Blair. You need to keep your heartrate down. Jim won't rest easy if your heartrate starts skyrocketing."

"Has the Empress been contacted?" Blair asked.

"Yes. She's on her way right now." Corrins said.

"What?" Blair thought he had heard that wrong.

"She's coming here. The Imperial Jewel is making its way to Orion 4 as we speak. She'll be here in two days."

"She told me that she canceled all of Jim's sessions, and returned the fees to the owners."

Blair just nodded. It shouldn't have surprised him that the Empress was coming to Orion 4, or that she had canceled the sessions. She may just see Jim as a sentinel, but she cared for him. She cared for them both. Blair knew that. It wasn't just because Jim was her sentinel. She may not recognize Jim as anything but a sentinel, but she cared about Jim as Jim. Blair knew it confused Jim. Hell, it confused Blair too. He was a pet, but he was Jim, the pet. Not the pet, or the sentinel, but Jim, or Jimmy as she called him. Sometime later, Corrins left.

Under his hand, Jim began to stir. Instead of jerking away, however, the sentinel was enjoying the caress from Blair's hand. His body, even after such a violation, recognized Blair's touch. Blair used his voice to guide Jim into awakening. When the sentinel opened his eyes, he looked at Blair with relief.

"How are you doing, Chief?" Jim asked Blair who was leaned over Jim.

"I'm fine. Are you alright?" Blair asked with concern.

"I'm fine, chief. Throat hurts a bit, but otherwise..." He shrugged.

"Jim, " Blair said, "Don't withhold anything. How are you, and not just physically?"

"I know it happened, Chief, but I really don't remember it. Between the Docile, and I don't know what to call it. Some kind of primitive mind or beast was in control of me. I'm grateful, though, it helped me fight the Docile and save you."

"Just don't draw away from me, okay, Jim. If you need to talk or cry or anything, just some to me. Okay."

"Okay, Chief." Jim said.

"Alright, now for the good news. The Empress is coming here. She'll be here in two days."

"Oh, yeah, terrific news." Jim said heavy on the sarcasm.

"You knew you would have to face her sooner or later." lair said.

"Yeah, I was just hoping for later. Much later."

"She canceled the sessions, and gave back the fees."

"She did what...man, and here I thought she would have us stay here longer and finish the sessions."

"You don't give her any credit for compassion, do you?"

"Kinda hard to think she has compassion when your a sentinel, Chief."

"Jim, man, they, the Emperors and Empress I mean, had no choice. You know the reason. Circumstance forced their hands. I'm not justifying their actions, I am just saying that..."

"Yeah, Chief. You are. To save billions, they sacrificed the freedom of hundreds. Its the kind of life and death choices that all rulers and leaders must make eventually. They made the choice, and they stuck with it. The consequences otherwise were to horrible to contemplate."

"You can say that. You, a sentinel, whose had to live with those choices."

"Yes, I can. I was a Captain. I know the responsibiltiy of command. I don't have to like. No one said I had to like it, but I have to live with it. No choice, not for me."

"She's knows." Blair whispered.

"Knows what?" Jim asked.

"That we know the reason. I don't know how she knows, but she does."

"How do you...never mind I believe you. Does it change anything?"

"No. I thinks she's known for awhile now. She knows we are not going to tell anyone, she trusts us not to."

Jim nodded. Telling people wouldn't change anything, except maybe to cause some panic. Panic which might induce some to kill sentinels to protect themselves.

The next day, Jim and Blair were released from the hospital. They returned to Blair's dorm room, where Blair immediatly began to pack their stuff. The Empress would be coming the next day, and no doubt, he and Jim would be leaving with her. Jim lay on the bed, watching Blair as the guide packed. He would have helped, but he wasn't allowed off the bed. The doctors had healed the bruises and scrapes on Jim's body. Only a soreness in the muscles indicated that Jim had been injured at all.

When Blair was done packing, he ordered two trays from the food dispenser, and handed one of the trays to Jim. Jim sat on the bed, ignoring the small pain from the only bruises they hadn't healed, the ones he had recieved for his punishment, and placed the tray in his lap.

Blair managed to take one bite before the door chimed.

"Come, " BLair said, and the door opened to admit L'dnin and his sister Taleen.

"Blair, how are you doing." L' dnin asked. He had visited Blair in the hospital the day before.

"Better, L'dnin. Much better." Blair answered. L'dnin moved to sit at the table, but moved to scoop up Taleen who looked as if she had planned to crawl onto the bed. Taleen pouted a bit at that, but L'dnin ignored it as he sat on a chair at the table settling his sister in his lap. Taleen squirmed a bit, but settled down quickly with a stern gaze from her brother.

"Mother says that we will be coming back next year to finish the class."

Blair nodded through a mouthful of salad.

"Mother also wanted me to inform you that she will have it announced through the household that petting Jimmy is off limits for awhile, including us."

Blair's mouth gaped in shock, "She's really going to do that. I thought it was one of the household's privileges."

"It is, but though she's made it clear its not a punishment to the household, she has ordered it by penalty of death."

"Damn." Blair breathed.

"Only you and Mother are allowed to touch him. Except of course for any doctor's in cases of emergencey, or medical reasons."

"I think that it will be really helpfull in letting him heal." Blair said numbly. He was still surprised by the order.

On the bed, Jim just continued eating, only half listening to the conversation that was going on above his head. Having everyone talk about him over his head was another thing he hated on his ever growing list of things he hated about being a sentinel. Though, he was a bit glad about not having to put up with everyone petting him when he got back to the ship, he also hated the thought that everyone just assumed that what happened was going to affect him so badly. I don't remember what happened. why can't they believe that. Its the truth for the gods' sakes.Jim thought. And it was the truth. The only thing Jim remembered was the scent of fear flowing from his guide, the white hot rage that engulfed him at that scent, and the feel of the man's neck between his hands as the delicated bones broke beneath his sensitive fingers. The instinctive drive that had come to the fore at the scent of his guide's fear had overwhelmed him, taken control of his mind and body, and had allowed him to save his guide from the madman. Later, he remembered gathering his guide into his arms, the body trembling from the effects of the stun blaster, the heart beating erratically at the tremors, and the scent of his enemy's death filling his nostrils. He had then walked from the warehouse, ignoring his own hurts, to the city of Cascade, inside the hospital. Once inside the hospital, he had followed the instructions of the Observor Doctor. His last image had been of Blair on the exam table before everything had gone black. No matter how hard he tried to break through that thick barrier that seperated him from his memories, he could not tear down the wall. The pure instinct driven sentinel had erected that wall, seperating the two beings, and the memories associated with it. And Jim ellison was grateful for that. He didn't want those memories.

The shuttle that held the Empress landed lightly on the platform. The Honor Guard that had arrived before the Empress' shuttle arranged themselves on either side of the dark blood red carpet that led from the shuttle's exit to the waiting crowd.

Blair along with L'dnin, Taleen and Jim waited at the end of the red carpet. Blair held the end of Jim's leash tightly, without even realising it. Jim could hear his guide's heartbeat pumping quickly in Blair's chest. Beside Blair L'dnin wore his best clothes, purple trousers, puffy sleeved shirt, knee high boots, black and shiny in the Orion sun. Taleen was dressd in a lavender colored dress, her hair done in a long braid down her back.

The shuttle door hissed open, and the Empress stepped out onto the top of the stairs. She was also dressed in her finest gown, the Imperial Star Crown on her head, hair also in a braid. Beside her, the Consort was equally donned up in his dark purple trousers, and light lavender shirt. Horns trumpeted, and the Empress and the Consort began their walk down the stairs and to the end of the carpet.

When the Empress stood before Blair and his small contingent, the young guide, with only a slightly trembling hand, handed over his sentinel's leash to the Empress, who took it with a solemn face. Immediatly Jim moved to his hands and knees beside the Empress, while Blair, L'dnin, bowed, and Taleen curtseyed. The Empress made the motion for them to arrise, which they did. Only Jim did not move, staying on his hands and knees, shoulder brushing the Empress' long billowing dress. The Empress placed a hand on the sentinel's head. Jim flinched only a bit. His mind might not remember what happened, but his body apparently wasn't likely to forget. The Empress was not angered by the flinch, but instead of removing her hand, she moved her hand in a petting motion down the sentinel's head. Jim endured it stoically.

As she petted the sentinel, the Empress looked over the guide, her son and daughter. She seemed satisfied by what she saw, because she nodded her head and turned back to the shuttle. The guide, Heir and Empress' daughter followed the Empress and Consort back to the shuttle. The sentinel had moved swiftly at the Empress' frist step he had gone from his hands and knees to his feet in one motion, and now followed behind her. All together they moved back up the stairs and into the shuttle. The shuttle then powered up its engines and lifted off. Everyone watched until it dissapeared from sight.

The people gathered there had seen a glimpse of their ruler, and they disperesed to their homes with that sight of her still fresh in their minds. Though all races there had been conquored by the Elium's, they knew in their hearts that they were being ruled by perhaps not the compassion that thier own race knew and understood, but a compassion of a different sort, tempered by wisdom, and honor. And they left the platform to return to their daily lives with the sure knowledge that they were being guided toward thier future by an Empress they could love and trust.

The End

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