Spliced: Part 3 - Chapter 12B
TITLE: Spliced - Part 3, Chapter 12B
AUTHOR: flighty_dreams
WARNINGS: NC-17. slavefic. scifi setting.
WORD COUNT: 5,290
SUMMARY: Part 3, Chapter 12 - Discussions and transitions.
NOTES: The index to this story available here. Thanks to tuawahine for beta reading. And I don't know why, but I'm having major formatting issues. Sorry if anything comes out weird... >.> More coming soon, maybe. I know I said I would post more at once, but I'm also behind on my NaNo story... sigh. So this is it for now.
FEEDBACK: Always welcome, it makes me update faster. ;-)
“The One Planet is atrocious. They took several different historical periods of Earth and threw them together. It's so inaccurate it's ridiculous,” Hollis objected, dismissing the vid show they were watching in Matt's den that evening.
Eager to defend his new favorite show from his friend's snickering remarks, Matt retorted, “That’s not the point, Hollis-”
A window popped up on the vid screen to inform him of an incoming call, interrupting the argument he'd been poised to make. Satisfaction filled him as he read the “unknown” flashing on the screen.
He glanced over at Hollis, who said, “Showtime eh? Go ahead, I'm just grabbing some more popcorn.” The Kartan glared at his friend as Hollis headed over to the corner bar to grab the half-filled bowl, then Matt turned back to the screen and pushed the 'Accept' button.
There was the clone, looking quite comfortable on a couch in yet another hotel room. Did the man not have a permanent home, or was he just that paranoid? Matt wondered for the tenth time. A table with a bottle of water and a half-filled glass on top of it was positioned in front of the sofa. Matt took the clone in at a glance, noting the denim pants and shirt, which fitted him well, and the booted feet lounging carelessly on the table. Desire stirred, and he realized how hungry he'd been for another look at him. Even dressed as this other person, this stranger, Min aroused him. Because I know it's still him. His eyes were helplessly drawn to the long, lean body that he knew lay beneath those clothes.
“My face is up here,” the clone told him impudently, and Matt looked back up to see the bastard gesturing towards his features and grinning.
Meeting that insolent gaze, Matt frowned, refusing to be embarrassed at blatantly showing his desire. So what if he'd been staring? Whatever else Min fancied himself, the clone still belonged to him. Therefore Matt could look all he liked.
The Kartan opened his mouth to respond angrily, but a longer look at the Andorian's face induced him to say, “You look like shit.”
The clone was startled for a second, but then he laughed harshly. “Thanks. That's the polite, caring Matt Muldane I know.”
Matt bristled but didn't immediately reply. He was too busy noting the shadows under Min's eyes and his haggard look. He'd come to expect a certain liveliness in this version of Min, but that spirit was diminished today. Its lack made him curious, as did the observation that Min was wearing brown contact lenses today, concealing his blue eyes.
Bowl in hand, Hollis walked back over to the sofa. Studying Min as he moved closer, the Monlean said with a frown, “He's right. You look terrible.”
“Hollis,” Min said smoothly, taking Hollis' appearance in stride, “been a long time. How've you been?”
Glancing at his friend, he saw Hollis send Min a crooked smile. “Good. Better than you apparently.”
At this third reference to his appearance, Min rolled his strangely brown eyes. “I'm just tired.”
“And the Matrons of Talisar are atheists,” Matt countered sardonically.
“I. Am. Just. Tired.” The glare Min sent him made Matt smirk back at him, happy he was annoying the clone.
“I'm sure you are, but there's more to it,” Matt observed. “And you're going to tell me what it is.”
Scowling, Min growled, “Stop trying to be a therapist, Muldane. Your bedside manner is terrible, among other things.”
About to snap back at him, Matt was interrupted by Hollis clearing his throat loudly. “Children, let's be civil.”
Hollis seated himself on the couch next to Matt again. “To answer your question, Min, I've been busy.” Speaking more slowly he added, “I have a client undermining my work at the moment, which is frustrating.”
Matt gave Hollis a puzzled look. That seemed like more detail than necessary for answering a simple 'how are you?' question. But maybe Hollis was attempting to distract them both, which had succeeded on Matt's end at least. He looked carefully at Min, whose eyes narrowed for a moment before relaxing again.
“What have you been up to? Besides pissing off Muldane?” Hollis asked the clone, a teasing tinge to his voice that annoyed Matt further.
Min's eyes twinkled, removing some of that tiredness from his face. “I seem to be good at that. Can't help it when he makes it so easy though.”
“He does,” Hollis said, letting out a quick chuckle, and Matt found himself glaring at both of the bastards-who were exchanging amused looks.
That didn't take long, he noted. Five minutes and Hollis is already teaming up with the ashen bloody clone. But he was more annoyed than surprised. Mocking him was one of Hollis' favorite habits.
“Are you two done?” Matt snarled, aggravated.
Min stroked his chin thoughtfully, treating his words as if they were some deep philosophical question. “I suppose, for the moment,” he finally said slowly, glancing at Hollis one last time.
Not wanting to be subjected to their mockery anymore, Matt turned the focus back on the clone. “So why do you look like shit?”
The Andorian’s mercurial nature showed itself, his mood flashing quickly from amused to annoyed. Min looked ready to reach through the screen and strangle him for asking again. Good, let him share some of my frustration, Matt thought smugly.
When Matt and Hollis just stared back at him, waiting for an answer, Min finally gritted his teeth and said, “I didn't sleep well.”
“Why not?”
This time Min crossed his arms and stared back at him defiantly, refusing to elaborate further.
“So what else is wrong?” Matt asked, switching tactics.
“Nothing I will ever tell you,” the clone said harshly, his eyes as hard as marble.
Angered by the harsh refusal, Matt returned Min's glare with one of his own.
“Stop pushing him, it's not going to work,” Hollis interjected, putting a hand on his shoulder.
Still looking at the clone, Matt acknowledged that his friend was right. If he'd learned anything about Min in the past month, it was that the clone was incredibly obstinate. Then again, considering what they'd done to him in that lab, Min wouldn't have survived without being so stubborn. Not unbroken, at least.
Lately, looking back on his interactions with this other version of Min, it was hard to believe the clone even had any Andorian genes. Like this moment for example, as they scowled at each other; Min couldn't look any less like an Andorian than he did right now.
The observation reminded him of other questions to ask. “How many others like you are there?”
Min blinked, startled out of his scowl by the inquiry. Instead his expression turned heavy, and there was a long pause before he finally said slowly, “Not as many as there once were.”
“What happened?”
The clone looked down, his hands reaching out to fidget with the water bottle on the table in front of him. “Some died early on from brain disease, from being incompatible with the nano-teaching tech.”
The tech Min was referring to involved plugging the student into the machine and administering lessons directly into their brain. It worked similar to a computer downloading information, except the human brain was the CPU. It was useful for teaching clones massive amounts of information in short periods of time.
Matt frowned. “I thought they used that on all clones.” Those teaching tools weren't used on naturals because 20% of people had adverse reactions to it, like the neural breakdowns Min was referring to. But he'd never heard of clones having problems with it.
“Muldane,” Min said patiently, resignation in his voice, “clones have the same failure rate as naturals. The labs just never release that information.”
“Oh.” Matt's eyes widened at the revelation, but he immediately felt stupid. That made perfect sense. Clones’ brains weren’t any more durable than naturals’, and of course those companies wouldn't want that to be public knowledge.
“I had wondered about that,” Hollis muttered beside him. “That's sick.” His friend met Min's eyes angrily. “Let me guess, they take that into account in their calculations when deciding how many clones to create.”
The disgust on Min's face was evident. “Yes, they do. Only about half the clones created make it to market.”
“Half?” Matt asked, surprised by that percentage.
“Between the nano-tech, accidents, defects, behavioral problems... anyone affected by those doesn't make it.”
“Is that what happened in your group?” Going by Min as an example, Matt imagined behavioral problems would've been a big issue there.
“One of my brothers died in a training accident. I'm surprised he was the only one that died that way, honestly. My sister Fera got maimed, and she was killed for being 'imperfect'.” Min's eyes flared, fury blazing out of them.
Matt knew it happened all the time; clones being put down for being damaged beyond repair. It was a shame but until now it hadn't really bothered him personally, since he'd never owned a slave that ended up like that. He was always careful not to damage his own slaves though, not wanting to be the one responsible for their deactivation. But for Min to lose someone he considered family like that-Matt knew he couldn't have stood by while someone killed his sister. And if someone tried to kill Min like that, he'd tear them apart.
The horror went on though. “A few others were killed because of behavioral problems,” Min told them, his face blank but his eyes haunted.
That jarred Matt out of his thoughts. “You weren't considered a problem?” he asked suspiciously.
Mouth twitching upwards briefly, the clone said, “Not back then. I knew I had to conceal any objections I had - my life literally depended on it.”
Min lowered his head, staring blankly at the floor. “I was closest with one of my sisters. She was the one that convinced me to escape.” Min's voice thickened. “She wanted so badly to be free. Free of the lab, free of the things they made us do, free to live her own life.”
“What happened?” Matt asked quietly, realizing her story didn't end well.
“She's dead. Long dead,” Min told them in a bleak tone he'd never heard before, and Matt felt Hollis stiffen beside him.
He glanced at his friend, who was staring at Min. “They killed her, didn't they?” Hollis asked, eyes wide.
“Yes,” Min hissed furiously. “Behavioral problems, according to them.”
Well, if the clone was desperate to escape, he understood why they'd decided she had behavioral issues. The company obviously didn't want the clones they'd spent a fortune creating and training running away. But killing them seemed extreme. Unless the point was to make an example of them to the others, Matt realized.
“So she never made it out,” Hollis said, sadness evident in his tone.
“No, and she wanted freedom even more than the rest of us.” The clone sighed, running a hand over his face. “She never learned how to hide herself completely, not like most of us, and it got her killed. But I'd promised her I'd get out, so soon after that I did, bringing everyone I could with me.”
Using her as an example definitely didn't work, Matt noted. Min had gotten most of his 'family' out, though not all. He wondered what had happened to the others, and asked as much.
“I never found them again, so I have no idea,” Min told him, shaking his head sadly.
How did he feel about the whole thing? Matt was glad Min had gotten away before something irrevocable happened to him. But to the Kartan side of him, it still felt wrong to advocate such rebellion in slaves. Min hadn't just escaped; he'd also deliberately destroyed the lab in the process. That showed how ruthless the slave could be when he wanted to.
Despite all this information Min was giving them, it didn't persuade Matt to trust him any further. The clone was unpredictable at best, treacherous at worst. Strangely though, in spite of the inherent danger and mystery Min brought with him-or perhaps because of them-it only increased Matt’s desire to claim him.
The clone looked away then, gazing blankly at something off to his right, his expression sobering. Wondering what was going through the Andorian's head now, Matt watched him come to a silent decision.
Turning back to face them he said, “I probably won't be able to call next week.”
“Why?” Matt asked suspiciously.
“It’s my work. I need to get a lot of things done before I leave, so I don’t know how much I’ll be available. But I’ll contact you at some point to let you know when to expect me. Beware though, it’s not an exact science.”
“What do you mean?”
“The transition. It’s not like I can mark a date down months in advance. It just kinda happens,” Min told them, smiling wryly.
“I see,” Matt said tightly. He wondered if the concern was legitimate, or if the clone was trying to prolong his return without violating the contract.
Min rolled his eyes. Matt would’ve found the motion disturbing if those eyes had still been arctic blue, as it was, the dark eyes rolling still made him bristle with irritation at the insolence. “Just watch out for an email from Minimum Realty. It’ll provide the information you need.”
“Minimum Realty?” Hollis asked, confused.
Matt answered for him, already understanding. “Min, Ril. Or a close approximation of it.” He was learning more about this version of the Andorian, but he didn’t like him trying to squirm out of another call. “Hollis and I are busy men, and yet I think we could spare ten minutes out of a week to make a call.”
Min chuckled. “You think that caller ID flashes ‘unknown’ all on its own? There’s setup involved. That’s what takes time. It wouldn’t be just ten minutes.”
Curious despite himself, Matt asked, “How long does it take then?”
The annoying Andorian smiled, and Matt knew before he opened his mouth that he’d get no real answer. “Sorry, that’s proprietary info. Techs keep their secrets.”
“You a tech then?” Hollis asked.
“Nope, but I know some people.” Min shrugged casually and took a long drink from the bottle of water in front of him.
“I see,” Hollis replied. Matt wasn’t sure he ‘saw’ anything.
“You still have Nuit?”
Matt noted that the abrupt question startled Hollis, but his friend answered quickly enough. “Yes, I do.”
“Good, don’t sell him. He cares about you,” Min told the attorney seriously.
The affection in the Andorian’s voice surprised Matt. He didn’t think Min and Nuit had formed any sort of connection. All four of them had spent a good deal of time together, but the clones had only been left alone that one day. They’d acted inappropriately and he’d forbidden Min from speaking with other slaves after that. Matt hadn’t wanted the Andorian to negatively influence Hollis’ well behaved slave, and he’d liked making Min focus on him. But now he realized how much Min must’ve hated that restriction. If he wasn’t still so angry with Min for leaving him-and for what he’d done on Festun-he might have felt bad about it.
Glancing at his friend, he noticed that Hollis wasn’t surprised by the statement so much as pleased. Frowning, the attorney asked, “He told you that?”
The clone smiled gently and nodded, which seemed to delight his friend. Matt wondered about the inner workings of Hollis’ relationship with Nuit, but it wasn’t his business. Apparently Min thought it was his though, which irritated Matt. “Why do you feel the need to interfere?”
The Andorian’s face hardened. On the Min he once knew, it would’ve looked odd, but on this stranger it somehow fit. “Because,” he drawled, “sometimes you give someone a little push to help a friend out, especially if they won’t help themselves.”
“The friend in question being Nuit?”
“Yes, why not?” Min challenged.
“Stop it, both of you,” Hollis interrupted them. He turned to Matt. “I’m not upset with him for mentioning it. It’s fine.”
“But it’s not his place to comment on your life. He’s a clone. He has an unusual background, yes, but he’s still Andorian,” Matt said adamantly. He glanced at Min as he finished, but the Andorian had a carefully bored expression on his face, as if he’d heard it all before. Matt half-suspected it was a pretense made just to piss him off. Then again, Matt had literally told him all of it before.
“He’s Andorian, but he’s also smart. And he was in a good position to get to know Nuit in a different way than we ever would. So I’ll take his comment seriously,” Hollis replied dryly.
A long, drawn-out sigh emanating from the speakers drew them both back towards the screen. “I just love it when people discuss me as if I’m not even there,” Min told them sarcastically, his expression hostile.
“With such a lovely personality like yours? I wonder why no one wants to talk to you,” Matt said with false sweetness.
“You don’t know me. Plenty of people enjoy talking to me, you’re just not one of them. And if you got some things through your thick skull, this would be a lot easier,” Min stated with exasperation before taking another drink of water.
“What things?”
Min sighed again, and then took a deep breath. “Being a clone doesn’t make me that different from you. I am human, Muldane. Having Andorian genes doesn’t automatically make me inferior to you. Stop letting society decide for you and make up your own mind.”
Hollis frowned at Matt, and then turned back to the screen. “That’s what I’ve been telling him.”
A choked laugh from Min. “Thanks for trying, Hollis.”
“We’ll see,” Matt told them noncommittally. The Andorian stigma was hard to overcome, especially when it conveniently allowed him to claim Min as his. He paused and then inquired, “How will you behave when you get back?”
The clone gave him a strange look. “You mean what is Min going to be like?”
Making an impatient gesture, Matt said, “Yes.”
“Well, I’d assume you don’t want him to pretend to be stupid again,” Min replied, his dark eyes hard.
Laughing harshly, Matt simply stated, “No.” Pretending the past six months hadn’t happened would be ridiculous. “I’m tired of lies and pretenses.”
The Andorian looked relieved. “So am I.” He fidgeted and then said uneasily, “But the truth isn’t always something you’d like.”
Matt raked his gaze over the clone in front of him. “That’s obvious.” He wished that the original Min he’d met had been the real thing, for there to be nothing more to the Andorian. It would be so much easier.
This Min smiled at his response. “So you accept this is reality then? I do exist this way.”
“That proof is staring me in the face. But the real question is, how much are you fooling yourself? You’re still Andorian by nature,” Matt replied cynically.
The Andorian rolled his eyes and reached for his water bottle again. His expression soured when he realized it was empty, and his scowl deepened when he reached for the glass on the table next to the bottle. He took a sniff of the alcohol inside and grimaced, putting it back on the table. “I need another drink. You’re making me tired,” he informed Matt, before getting up and walking across the room. As he moved, his clothes clung alluringly to his lean frame.
Watching the Andorian browse through the hotel’s selection distracted Matt from speaking further. That short tail of hair swung as he turned his head, and Matt mused whether it was really still as soft as Min’s blue-black hair. It looked so different in brown.
Staring at the clone, he pondered what made this Min look more imposing. After further inspection, he decided it was the combination of the different style of clothes, the stubble dotting his jaw and the different way he moved, like a graceful, predatory cat that made this Min seem intimidating. The combination made him seem dangerous, which Matt knew from personal experience wasn’t an illusion. This Min was fully capable of violence. If this version were the one returning, and not the Min he’d known before, Matt might’ve been nervous. But if you looked beyond his harder expression, the same angelic face was still there. He was still Andorian, no matter how he tried to hide or deny it, and the Andorian instincts would be taking over soon enough.
Matt glanced at Hollis and caught him watching Min too. Reading his expression, Matt realized his friend was admiring the sleek grace of the clone too. When he felt Matt’s eyes upon him, Hollis turned away from the screen to look at him. Edging closer to Matt, Hollis whispered in his ear, “He really is something, even like this. Attractive in a totally different way.”
Catching the rustle of Hollis’ movement, but hopefully not his words, Min shifted around to look at them. He glowered, considering them, but then went back to rummaging through the fridge.
Meanwhile, Matt frowned at his friend, giving him a warning look.
Hollis laughed, and didn’t bother to whisper anymore. “Don’t worry, I know he’s yours. Can’t blame me for looking though, can you?”
Min’s response was immediate. The clone straightened and turned around to stare at them with his arms crossed in front of him. Grimly he told them, “I don’t belong to anyone right now, and not for another two weeks. Then Min returns.” His drawn brows loosened as he added more lightly, “So that means you have two weeks, Hollis. We could get together sometime if you want to see what all the fuss is about.” He leaned against the counter behind him and spread his legs suggestively. He crooked one eyebrow up and grinned, his eyes alight with pure mischief.
Matt’s fury rose white-hot and he got up, stepping toward the screen. “You little slut,” Matt rasped, ready to launch into a tirade. “Don’t you dare-”
Hollis stepped in front of him and grabbed him by the shoulders, blocking his view and interrupting him. “Matt, Matt,” his friend said urgently. “He’s just teasing, he’s not serious.”
Peering around the attorney’s shoulders he saw the clone looked startled by his vehemence. And was that annoyance on his face as well?
The clone rolled his eyes. “Matt, that was a test, and you failed miserably. I just told you earlier that I won’t have enough time to make a call next week, and yet you seriously believed I’d have the time for some casual fuck with Hollis? And that I would even sleep with your friend? Or that he’d have sex with me? Use your common sense, instead of letting jealousy overtake you.” He shook his head disbelievingly. “You take possessiveness to all new levels.”
Yeah, Min was definitely annoyed. Good, because Matt was still pissed, even though as much as he hated to admit it, the Andorian actually had a point. He knew Hollis wouldn’t betray him like that; they’d been friends for years, and Hollis had Nuit. Too bad he had no such trust in the clone. He started to wonder how many people Min had been with these past months, but he cut off that train of thought before it railroaded him. Either way, he just couldn’t think rationally regarding Min. His lust for the slave was so great, he couldn’t imagine anyone else seeing him and not finding him attractive. How could they not desire him for themselves?
Muldane looked back at his friend, who was watching him worriedly. “Sorry, of course I know you wouldn’t. Him though, he just-” he faltered, not knowing what to say.
But his friend just nodded and released him. “Don’t worry about it. He baits you deliberately.” Turning to Min, Hollis looked at him with disapproval. “Stop it. It’s not cute. And you’re not doing yourself any favors.”
Of course the defective clone just shrugged at the order before turning back to look for a drink again. He’d already emptied half the fridge, but he kept searching, obviously unsatisfied with the selection. Matt didn’t mind; at least then the disobedient mongrel wasn’t talking.
“What’s wrong with the drink on the table?” Hollis asked curiously as they both sat back down on the sofa.
Min shifted his head towards the screen to be heard more clearly while he answered the question. “That drink is Monlean brandy, and it’s disgusting. I don’t remember it being so bad, but this one is.”
“Monlean brandy? Which brand? It makes a big difference,” Hollis told him.
The Andorian grabbed a mostly full bottle from the counter and read the label. “Mako? I’ve had Monlean brandy before, and it tasted totally different from this Mako crap.”
Amusement flowed through Matt for the first time during this entire conversation. His gaze met Hollis’ twinkling eyes. “Mako is the really low quality, economy version. It’s like what you’d find in a rundown bar on the wrong side of Alister.”
Min swore under his breath, a new sight for Matt. “So it’s like the mine-tar of brandies?” Mine-tar was a popular drink on mining colonies, made from the cheapest of ingredients. It was infamously bad, and only people that could get nothing else drank mine-tar.
“You’ve had mine-tar?” Hollis asked with surprise.
The Andorian shuddered. “Not by choice. Hearing about it was poison enough, much less drinking it.”
“Why did you ever have it?” Matt couldn’t help asking curiously. Even the smallest of details about the clone seemed to fascinate him.
The clone’s eyes flashed, his thoughts on some faraway memory. “Someone once gave it to me as a practical joke. Believe me, I got my revenge.” His grin was wicked.
The attorney laughed. “That’s a mean trick to play on someone.” Then Hollis winced and asked, “What hotel would serve Mako brandy? It can’t be on Monlea.”
The clone ignored Hollis’ attempt to fish for a location. “Obviously a bad one. I’m never coming back here again.”
The words came out easily, as if the Andorian wasn’t about to return to Matt in two weeks. Well, Matt supposed, he didn’t realize that it would be a permanent stay. He hadn’t changed his mind; he didn’t care if it would be breaking their agreement. Min was his, and Matt was keeping him.
He knew that after the six months, whenever this personality manifested, he’d have a fight on his hands. But he’d maneuver through that maze once he got to it.
Finally the clone settled on a Pyrunian orange soda. “Seems like the safest choice,” Min told them humorously as he showed them the bottle.
“Can’t believe you didn’t know about Mako. What other Monlean brandy have you tried?” Hollis inquired.
The Andorian’s mouth quirked up for a second, before answering, “Hamlin.” Then he turned back to clean up the mess of scattered bottles on the counter.
Matt’s head jerked up at the response, and his eyes narrowed thoughtfully as he stared at the slave. Min wasn’t looking at him, seemingly preoccupied with organizing the fridge back into order.
“Hamlin?” Hollis spared Matt a glance before turning back to Min with widened, amused eyes.
“Minril,” Matt drawled out, elongating each syllable, “did you drink my brandy?” He was pleased his voice stayed calm, not betraying his anger.
The Andorian didn’t answer right away. He finished cleaning up before finally turning to look at them. He met their gaze with twinkling eyes and a smirk twitching at his lips. “What do you think?” He didn’t bother denying it.
“How much did you have?” Matt demanded angrily.
The clone shrugged elegantly. “Don’t remember,” he told them uncaringly.
Hollis choked out a laugh, as if trying to hold it back but failing. “Do you know how much that stuff costs?”
“Nope,” Min replied without remorse, his grin expanding as he realized the full extent of what he’d done.
“It has to be specially ordered. The distribution’s really limited; only so much is made each year. You have to be given special permission to buy it,” Matt explained, teeth gritted.
The Andorian’s grin widened even further. “You’re serious? Doesn’t sound like a great way to do business. I was never a fan of those really snotty, exclusive products. How much does a single bottle cost?”
“Over 1k credits,” Hollis replied.
One brow rose in surprise, and he continued to smile. “That much? I wonder how many credits Min drank away.” He seemed even prouder of that other Min, which set Matt’s blood boiling.
Matt growled, “You’re going to pay for that.”
Min laughed. “Oh, come on, you never even noticed any of it missing. Do you honestly think I had that much? Just a sip or two.”
“Even that was more than you were supposed to have.”
“I know, I wasn’t supposed to have any at all,” Min responded knowingly, waving his hand in an impatient gesture. The eye roll that followed underlined his opinion of Matt’s protest, and the Kartan bristled again.
There was a long, awkward pause before Min asked, “This conversation has been long enough to satisfy you, right?” Min regarded them steadily, clearly thinking the answer obvious. Matt couldn’t deny that they’d been talking for a while.
“Wait,” Hollis spoke up. “If you aren’t calling next week, the next time we see you will be when you return?”
The Andorian pursed his lips thoughtfully, and the memory of that mouth all over his body overwhelmed Matt for a second. He almost missed the clone’s response.
“That’s right. Next time will be Min. You won’t be seeing me again for months.” His gaze alighted on Matt. “I’m sure you’re real upset to hear that, Muldane.”
“My heart is shattering,” the Kartan drawled sarcastically. Good riddance, he thought, preferring a more docile Min.
The Andorian’s grin was mischievous. “I’m sure it is.”
Pensively, Matt asked, “What is the ‘real’ Min like anyway?” According to the clone, this obstinate version wasn’t the Andorian he’d be seeing in a couple weeks. Matt was grateful for that at least, but still confused.
Min stared off to the side, his eyes far away. “I honestly don’t know anymore. We’ll find out together, I suppose.”
Stirring restlessly, Min continued, “Take care, both of you. We’ll see each other in some form soon.” Impish, he sent them one last amused look and then signed off.
Matt shut off the vid screen as soon as the call ended. “I’m exhausted,” he told Hollis.
“So am I,” his friend replied. “That man has way too much energy.”
Turning to look at the attorney, Matt asked, “What do you mean?”
“Didn’t you notice? He looked drained at first, but then he seemed to get over it. He never stops moving. If he’s sitting he fidgets or drinks, if he’s up he’s pacing or tossing bottles around. He always has to be doing something.”
Matt frowned, thinking back on the call as well as when he’d seen him on Festun. “You’re absolutely right. I noticed that before too.”
They were both quiet for a minute, before Hollis asked, “I need a drink, how about you?”
“Ashes, yes. What would you like?” Matt offered amiably as he rose from the couch.
“Hamlin,” Hollis answered, eyes twinkling.
Scowling Matt twisted around, punching his friend’s shoulder, which elicited a grunt and a chuckle from the Monlean.
Matt glowered down at him, but Hollis just laughed harder. “Smart ass.”
“Always,” Hollis agreed, his grin widening.
Chapter 13A
AUTHOR: flighty_dreams
WARNINGS: NC-17. slavefic. scifi setting.
WORD COUNT: 5,290
SUMMARY: Part 3, Chapter 12 - Discussions and transitions.
NOTES: The index to this story available here. Thanks to tuawahine for beta reading. And I don't know why, but I'm having major formatting issues. Sorry if anything comes out weird... >.> More coming soon, maybe. I know I said I would post more at once, but I'm also behind on my NaNo story... sigh. So this is it for now.
FEEDBACK: Always welcome, it makes me update faster. ;-)
“The One Planet is atrocious. They took several different historical periods of Earth and threw them together. It's so inaccurate it's ridiculous,” Hollis objected, dismissing the vid show they were watching in Matt's den that evening.
Eager to defend his new favorite show from his friend's snickering remarks, Matt retorted, “That’s not the point, Hollis-”
A window popped up on the vid screen to inform him of an incoming call, interrupting the argument he'd been poised to make. Satisfaction filled him as he read the “unknown” flashing on the screen.
He glanced over at Hollis, who said, “Showtime eh? Go ahead, I'm just grabbing some more popcorn.” The Kartan glared at his friend as Hollis headed over to the corner bar to grab the half-filled bowl, then Matt turned back to the screen and pushed the 'Accept' button.
There was the clone, looking quite comfortable on a couch in yet another hotel room. Did the man not have a permanent home, or was he just that paranoid? Matt wondered for the tenth time. A table with a bottle of water and a half-filled glass on top of it was positioned in front of the sofa. Matt took the clone in at a glance, noting the denim pants and shirt, which fitted him well, and the booted feet lounging carelessly on the table. Desire stirred, and he realized how hungry he'd been for another look at him. Even dressed as this other person, this stranger, Min aroused him. Because I know it's still him. His eyes were helplessly drawn to the long, lean body that he knew lay beneath those clothes.
“My face is up here,” the clone told him impudently, and Matt looked back up to see the bastard gesturing towards his features and grinning.
Meeting that insolent gaze, Matt frowned, refusing to be embarrassed at blatantly showing his desire. So what if he'd been staring? Whatever else Min fancied himself, the clone still belonged to him. Therefore Matt could look all he liked.
The Kartan opened his mouth to respond angrily, but a longer look at the Andorian's face induced him to say, “You look like shit.”
The clone was startled for a second, but then he laughed harshly. “Thanks. That's the polite, caring Matt Muldane I know.”
Matt bristled but didn't immediately reply. He was too busy noting the shadows under Min's eyes and his haggard look. He'd come to expect a certain liveliness in this version of Min, but that spirit was diminished today. Its lack made him curious, as did the observation that Min was wearing brown contact lenses today, concealing his blue eyes.
Bowl in hand, Hollis walked back over to the sofa. Studying Min as he moved closer, the Monlean said with a frown, “He's right. You look terrible.”
“Hollis,” Min said smoothly, taking Hollis' appearance in stride, “been a long time. How've you been?”
Glancing at his friend, he saw Hollis send Min a crooked smile. “Good. Better than you apparently.”
At this third reference to his appearance, Min rolled his strangely brown eyes. “I'm just tired.”
“And the Matrons of Talisar are atheists,” Matt countered sardonically.
“I. Am. Just. Tired.” The glare Min sent him made Matt smirk back at him, happy he was annoying the clone.
“I'm sure you are, but there's more to it,” Matt observed. “And you're going to tell me what it is.”
Scowling, Min growled, “Stop trying to be a therapist, Muldane. Your bedside manner is terrible, among other things.”
About to snap back at him, Matt was interrupted by Hollis clearing his throat loudly. “Children, let's be civil.”
Hollis seated himself on the couch next to Matt again. “To answer your question, Min, I've been busy.” Speaking more slowly he added, “I have a client undermining my work at the moment, which is frustrating.”
Matt gave Hollis a puzzled look. That seemed like more detail than necessary for answering a simple 'how are you?' question. But maybe Hollis was attempting to distract them both, which had succeeded on Matt's end at least. He looked carefully at Min, whose eyes narrowed for a moment before relaxing again.
“What have you been up to? Besides pissing off Muldane?” Hollis asked the clone, a teasing tinge to his voice that annoyed Matt further.
Min's eyes twinkled, removing some of that tiredness from his face. “I seem to be good at that. Can't help it when he makes it so easy though.”
“He does,” Hollis said, letting out a quick chuckle, and Matt found himself glaring at both of the bastards-who were exchanging amused looks.
That didn't take long, he noted. Five minutes and Hollis is already teaming up with the ashen bloody clone. But he was more annoyed than surprised. Mocking him was one of Hollis' favorite habits.
“Are you two done?” Matt snarled, aggravated.
Min stroked his chin thoughtfully, treating his words as if they were some deep philosophical question. “I suppose, for the moment,” he finally said slowly, glancing at Hollis one last time.
Not wanting to be subjected to their mockery anymore, Matt turned the focus back on the clone. “So why do you look like shit?”
The Andorian’s mercurial nature showed itself, his mood flashing quickly from amused to annoyed. Min looked ready to reach through the screen and strangle him for asking again. Good, let him share some of my frustration, Matt thought smugly.
When Matt and Hollis just stared back at him, waiting for an answer, Min finally gritted his teeth and said, “I didn't sleep well.”
“Why not?”
This time Min crossed his arms and stared back at him defiantly, refusing to elaborate further.
“So what else is wrong?” Matt asked, switching tactics.
“Nothing I will ever tell you,” the clone said harshly, his eyes as hard as marble.
Angered by the harsh refusal, Matt returned Min's glare with one of his own.
“Stop pushing him, it's not going to work,” Hollis interjected, putting a hand on his shoulder.
Still looking at the clone, Matt acknowledged that his friend was right. If he'd learned anything about Min in the past month, it was that the clone was incredibly obstinate. Then again, considering what they'd done to him in that lab, Min wouldn't have survived without being so stubborn. Not unbroken, at least.
Lately, looking back on his interactions with this other version of Min, it was hard to believe the clone even had any Andorian genes. Like this moment for example, as they scowled at each other; Min couldn't look any less like an Andorian than he did right now.
The observation reminded him of other questions to ask. “How many others like you are there?”
Min blinked, startled out of his scowl by the inquiry. Instead his expression turned heavy, and there was a long pause before he finally said slowly, “Not as many as there once were.”
“What happened?”
The clone looked down, his hands reaching out to fidget with the water bottle on the table in front of him. “Some died early on from brain disease, from being incompatible with the nano-teaching tech.”
The tech Min was referring to involved plugging the student into the machine and administering lessons directly into their brain. It worked similar to a computer downloading information, except the human brain was the CPU. It was useful for teaching clones massive amounts of information in short periods of time.
Matt frowned. “I thought they used that on all clones.” Those teaching tools weren't used on naturals because 20% of people had adverse reactions to it, like the neural breakdowns Min was referring to. But he'd never heard of clones having problems with it.
“Muldane,” Min said patiently, resignation in his voice, “clones have the same failure rate as naturals. The labs just never release that information.”
“Oh.” Matt's eyes widened at the revelation, but he immediately felt stupid. That made perfect sense. Clones’ brains weren’t any more durable than naturals’, and of course those companies wouldn't want that to be public knowledge.
“I had wondered about that,” Hollis muttered beside him. “That's sick.” His friend met Min's eyes angrily. “Let me guess, they take that into account in their calculations when deciding how many clones to create.”
The disgust on Min's face was evident. “Yes, they do. Only about half the clones created make it to market.”
“Half?” Matt asked, surprised by that percentage.
“Between the nano-tech, accidents, defects, behavioral problems... anyone affected by those doesn't make it.”
“Is that what happened in your group?” Going by Min as an example, Matt imagined behavioral problems would've been a big issue there.
“One of my brothers died in a training accident. I'm surprised he was the only one that died that way, honestly. My sister Fera got maimed, and she was killed for being 'imperfect'.” Min's eyes flared, fury blazing out of them.
Matt knew it happened all the time; clones being put down for being damaged beyond repair. It was a shame but until now it hadn't really bothered him personally, since he'd never owned a slave that ended up like that. He was always careful not to damage his own slaves though, not wanting to be the one responsible for their deactivation. But for Min to lose someone he considered family like that-Matt knew he couldn't have stood by while someone killed his sister. And if someone tried to kill Min like that, he'd tear them apart.
The horror went on though. “A few others were killed because of behavioral problems,” Min told them, his face blank but his eyes haunted.
That jarred Matt out of his thoughts. “You weren't considered a problem?” he asked suspiciously.
Mouth twitching upwards briefly, the clone said, “Not back then. I knew I had to conceal any objections I had - my life literally depended on it.”
Min lowered his head, staring blankly at the floor. “I was closest with one of my sisters. She was the one that convinced me to escape.” Min's voice thickened. “She wanted so badly to be free. Free of the lab, free of the things they made us do, free to live her own life.”
“What happened?” Matt asked quietly, realizing her story didn't end well.
“She's dead. Long dead,” Min told them in a bleak tone he'd never heard before, and Matt felt Hollis stiffen beside him.
He glanced at his friend, who was staring at Min. “They killed her, didn't they?” Hollis asked, eyes wide.
“Yes,” Min hissed furiously. “Behavioral problems, according to them.”
Well, if the clone was desperate to escape, he understood why they'd decided she had behavioral issues. The company obviously didn't want the clones they'd spent a fortune creating and training running away. But killing them seemed extreme. Unless the point was to make an example of them to the others, Matt realized.
“So she never made it out,” Hollis said, sadness evident in his tone.
“No, and she wanted freedom even more than the rest of us.” The clone sighed, running a hand over his face. “She never learned how to hide herself completely, not like most of us, and it got her killed. But I'd promised her I'd get out, so soon after that I did, bringing everyone I could with me.”
Using her as an example definitely didn't work, Matt noted. Min had gotten most of his 'family' out, though not all. He wondered what had happened to the others, and asked as much.
“I never found them again, so I have no idea,” Min told him, shaking his head sadly.
How did he feel about the whole thing? Matt was glad Min had gotten away before something irrevocable happened to him. But to the Kartan side of him, it still felt wrong to advocate such rebellion in slaves. Min hadn't just escaped; he'd also deliberately destroyed the lab in the process. That showed how ruthless the slave could be when he wanted to.
Despite all this information Min was giving them, it didn't persuade Matt to trust him any further. The clone was unpredictable at best, treacherous at worst. Strangely though, in spite of the inherent danger and mystery Min brought with him-or perhaps because of them-it only increased Matt’s desire to claim him.
The clone looked away then, gazing blankly at something off to his right, his expression sobering. Wondering what was going through the Andorian's head now, Matt watched him come to a silent decision.
Turning back to face them he said, “I probably won't be able to call next week.”
“Why?” Matt asked suspiciously.
“It’s my work. I need to get a lot of things done before I leave, so I don’t know how much I’ll be available. But I’ll contact you at some point to let you know when to expect me. Beware though, it’s not an exact science.”
“What do you mean?”
“The transition. It’s not like I can mark a date down months in advance. It just kinda happens,” Min told them, smiling wryly.
“I see,” Matt said tightly. He wondered if the concern was legitimate, or if the clone was trying to prolong his return without violating the contract.
Min rolled his eyes. Matt would’ve found the motion disturbing if those eyes had still been arctic blue, as it was, the dark eyes rolling still made him bristle with irritation at the insolence. “Just watch out for an email from Minimum Realty. It’ll provide the information you need.”
“Minimum Realty?” Hollis asked, confused.
Matt answered for him, already understanding. “Min, Ril. Or a close approximation of it.” He was learning more about this version of the Andorian, but he didn’t like him trying to squirm out of another call. “Hollis and I are busy men, and yet I think we could spare ten minutes out of a week to make a call.”
Min chuckled. “You think that caller ID flashes ‘unknown’ all on its own? There’s setup involved. That’s what takes time. It wouldn’t be just ten minutes.”
Curious despite himself, Matt asked, “How long does it take then?”
The annoying Andorian smiled, and Matt knew before he opened his mouth that he’d get no real answer. “Sorry, that’s proprietary info. Techs keep their secrets.”
“You a tech then?” Hollis asked.
“Nope, but I know some people.” Min shrugged casually and took a long drink from the bottle of water in front of him.
“I see,” Hollis replied. Matt wasn’t sure he ‘saw’ anything.
“You still have Nuit?”
Matt noted that the abrupt question startled Hollis, but his friend answered quickly enough. “Yes, I do.”
“Good, don’t sell him. He cares about you,” Min told the attorney seriously.
The affection in the Andorian’s voice surprised Matt. He didn’t think Min and Nuit had formed any sort of connection. All four of them had spent a good deal of time together, but the clones had only been left alone that one day. They’d acted inappropriately and he’d forbidden Min from speaking with other slaves after that. Matt hadn’t wanted the Andorian to negatively influence Hollis’ well behaved slave, and he’d liked making Min focus on him. But now he realized how much Min must’ve hated that restriction. If he wasn’t still so angry with Min for leaving him-and for what he’d done on Festun-he might have felt bad about it.
Glancing at his friend, he noticed that Hollis wasn’t surprised by the statement so much as pleased. Frowning, the attorney asked, “He told you that?”
The clone smiled gently and nodded, which seemed to delight his friend. Matt wondered about the inner workings of Hollis’ relationship with Nuit, but it wasn’t his business. Apparently Min thought it was his though, which irritated Matt. “Why do you feel the need to interfere?”
The Andorian’s face hardened. On the Min he once knew, it would’ve looked odd, but on this stranger it somehow fit. “Because,” he drawled, “sometimes you give someone a little push to help a friend out, especially if they won’t help themselves.”
“The friend in question being Nuit?”
“Yes, why not?” Min challenged.
“Stop it, both of you,” Hollis interrupted them. He turned to Matt. “I’m not upset with him for mentioning it. It’s fine.”
“But it’s not his place to comment on your life. He’s a clone. He has an unusual background, yes, but he’s still Andorian,” Matt said adamantly. He glanced at Min as he finished, but the Andorian had a carefully bored expression on his face, as if he’d heard it all before. Matt half-suspected it was a pretense made just to piss him off. Then again, Matt had literally told him all of it before.
“He’s Andorian, but he’s also smart. And he was in a good position to get to know Nuit in a different way than we ever would. So I’ll take his comment seriously,” Hollis replied dryly.
A long, drawn-out sigh emanating from the speakers drew them both back towards the screen. “I just love it when people discuss me as if I’m not even there,” Min told them sarcastically, his expression hostile.
“With such a lovely personality like yours? I wonder why no one wants to talk to you,” Matt said with false sweetness.
“You don’t know me. Plenty of people enjoy talking to me, you’re just not one of them. And if you got some things through your thick skull, this would be a lot easier,” Min stated with exasperation before taking another drink of water.
“What things?”
Min sighed again, and then took a deep breath. “Being a clone doesn’t make me that different from you. I am human, Muldane. Having Andorian genes doesn’t automatically make me inferior to you. Stop letting society decide for you and make up your own mind.”
Hollis frowned at Matt, and then turned back to the screen. “That’s what I’ve been telling him.”
A choked laugh from Min. “Thanks for trying, Hollis.”
“We’ll see,” Matt told them noncommittally. The Andorian stigma was hard to overcome, especially when it conveniently allowed him to claim Min as his. He paused and then inquired, “How will you behave when you get back?”
The clone gave him a strange look. “You mean what is Min going to be like?”
Making an impatient gesture, Matt said, “Yes.”
“Well, I’d assume you don’t want him to pretend to be stupid again,” Min replied, his dark eyes hard.
Laughing harshly, Matt simply stated, “No.” Pretending the past six months hadn’t happened would be ridiculous. “I’m tired of lies and pretenses.”
The Andorian looked relieved. “So am I.” He fidgeted and then said uneasily, “But the truth isn’t always something you’d like.”
Matt raked his gaze over the clone in front of him. “That’s obvious.” He wished that the original Min he’d met had been the real thing, for there to be nothing more to the Andorian. It would be so much easier.
This Min smiled at his response. “So you accept this is reality then? I do exist this way.”
“That proof is staring me in the face. But the real question is, how much are you fooling yourself? You’re still Andorian by nature,” Matt replied cynically.
The Andorian rolled his eyes and reached for his water bottle again. His expression soured when he realized it was empty, and his scowl deepened when he reached for the glass on the table next to the bottle. He took a sniff of the alcohol inside and grimaced, putting it back on the table. “I need another drink. You’re making me tired,” he informed Matt, before getting up and walking across the room. As he moved, his clothes clung alluringly to his lean frame.
Watching the Andorian browse through the hotel’s selection distracted Matt from speaking further. That short tail of hair swung as he turned his head, and Matt mused whether it was really still as soft as Min’s blue-black hair. It looked so different in brown.
Staring at the clone, he pondered what made this Min look more imposing. After further inspection, he decided it was the combination of the different style of clothes, the stubble dotting his jaw and the different way he moved, like a graceful, predatory cat that made this Min seem intimidating. The combination made him seem dangerous, which Matt knew from personal experience wasn’t an illusion. This Min was fully capable of violence. If this version were the one returning, and not the Min he’d known before, Matt might’ve been nervous. But if you looked beyond his harder expression, the same angelic face was still there. He was still Andorian, no matter how he tried to hide or deny it, and the Andorian instincts would be taking over soon enough.
Matt glanced at Hollis and caught him watching Min too. Reading his expression, Matt realized his friend was admiring the sleek grace of the clone too. When he felt Matt’s eyes upon him, Hollis turned away from the screen to look at him. Edging closer to Matt, Hollis whispered in his ear, “He really is something, even like this. Attractive in a totally different way.”
Catching the rustle of Hollis’ movement, but hopefully not his words, Min shifted around to look at them. He glowered, considering them, but then went back to rummaging through the fridge.
Meanwhile, Matt frowned at his friend, giving him a warning look.
Hollis laughed, and didn’t bother to whisper anymore. “Don’t worry, I know he’s yours. Can’t blame me for looking though, can you?”
Min’s response was immediate. The clone straightened and turned around to stare at them with his arms crossed in front of him. Grimly he told them, “I don’t belong to anyone right now, and not for another two weeks. Then Min returns.” His drawn brows loosened as he added more lightly, “So that means you have two weeks, Hollis. We could get together sometime if you want to see what all the fuss is about.” He leaned against the counter behind him and spread his legs suggestively. He crooked one eyebrow up and grinned, his eyes alight with pure mischief.
Matt’s fury rose white-hot and he got up, stepping toward the screen. “You little slut,” Matt rasped, ready to launch into a tirade. “Don’t you dare-”
Hollis stepped in front of him and grabbed him by the shoulders, blocking his view and interrupting him. “Matt, Matt,” his friend said urgently. “He’s just teasing, he’s not serious.”
Peering around the attorney’s shoulders he saw the clone looked startled by his vehemence. And was that annoyance on his face as well?
The clone rolled his eyes. “Matt, that was a test, and you failed miserably. I just told you earlier that I won’t have enough time to make a call next week, and yet you seriously believed I’d have the time for some casual fuck with Hollis? And that I would even sleep with your friend? Or that he’d have sex with me? Use your common sense, instead of letting jealousy overtake you.” He shook his head disbelievingly. “You take possessiveness to all new levels.”
Yeah, Min was definitely annoyed. Good, because Matt was still pissed, even though as much as he hated to admit it, the Andorian actually had a point. He knew Hollis wouldn’t betray him like that; they’d been friends for years, and Hollis had Nuit. Too bad he had no such trust in the clone. He started to wonder how many people Min had been with these past months, but he cut off that train of thought before it railroaded him. Either way, he just couldn’t think rationally regarding Min. His lust for the slave was so great, he couldn’t imagine anyone else seeing him and not finding him attractive. How could they not desire him for themselves?
Muldane looked back at his friend, who was watching him worriedly. “Sorry, of course I know you wouldn’t. Him though, he just-” he faltered, not knowing what to say.
But his friend just nodded and released him. “Don’t worry about it. He baits you deliberately.” Turning to Min, Hollis looked at him with disapproval. “Stop it. It’s not cute. And you’re not doing yourself any favors.”
Of course the defective clone just shrugged at the order before turning back to look for a drink again. He’d already emptied half the fridge, but he kept searching, obviously unsatisfied with the selection. Matt didn’t mind; at least then the disobedient mongrel wasn’t talking.
“What’s wrong with the drink on the table?” Hollis asked curiously as they both sat back down on the sofa.
Min shifted his head towards the screen to be heard more clearly while he answered the question. “That drink is Monlean brandy, and it’s disgusting. I don’t remember it being so bad, but this one is.”
“Monlean brandy? Which brand? It makes a big difference,” Hollis told him.
The Andorian grabbed a mostly full bottle from the counter and read the label. “Mako? I’ve had Monlean brandy before, and it tasted totally different from this Mako crap.”
Amusement flowed through Matt for the first time during this entire conversation. His gaze met Hollis’ twinkling eyes. “Mako is the really low quality, economy version. It’s like what you’d find in a rundown bar on the wrong side of Alister.”
Min swore under his breath, a new sight for Matt. “So it’s like the mine-tar of brandies?” Mine-tar was a popular drink on mining colonies, made from the cheapest of ingredients. It was infamously bad, and only people that could get nothing else drank mine-tar.
“You’ve had mine-tar?” Hollis asked with surprise.
The Andorian shuddered. “Not by choice. Hearing about it was poison enough, much less drinking it.”
“Why did you ever have it?” Matt couldn’t help asking curiously. Even the smallest of details about the clone seemed to fascinate him.
The clone’s eyes flashed, his thoughts on some faraway memory. “Someone once gave it to me as a practical joke. Believe me, I got my revenge.” His grin was wicked.
The attorney laughed. “That’s a mean trick to play on someone.” Then Hollis winced and asked, “What hotel would serve Mako brandy? It can’t be on Monlea.”
The clone ignored Hollis’ attempt to fish for a location. “Obviously a bad one. I’m never coming back here again.”
The words came out easily, as if the Andorian wasn’t about to return to Matt in two weeks. Well, Matt supposed, he didn’t realize that it would be a permanent stay. He hadn’t changed his mind; he didn’t care if it would be breaking their agreement. Min was his, and Matt was keeping him.
He knew that after the six months, whenever this personality manifested, he’d have a fight on his hands. But he’d maneuver through that maze once he got to it.
Finally the clone settled on a Pyrunian orange soda. “Seems like the safest choice,” Min told them humorously as he showed them the bottle.
“Can’t believe you didn’t know about Mako. What other Monlean brandy have you tried?” Hollis inquired.
The Andorian’s mouth quirked up for a second, before answering, “Hamlin.” Then he turned back to clean up the mess of scattered bottles on the counter.
Matt’s head jerked up at the response, and his eyes narrowed thoughtfully as he stared at the slave. Min wasn’t looking at him, seemingly preoccupied with organizing the fridge back into order.
“Hamlin?” Hollis spared Matt a glance before turning back to Min with widened, amused eyes.
“Minril,” Matt drawled out, elongating each syllable, “did you drink my brandy?” He was pleased his voice stayed calm, not betraying his anger.
The Andorian didn’t answer right away. He finished cleaning up before finally turning to look at them. He met their gaze with twinkling eyes and a smirk twitching at his lips. “What do you think?” He didn’t bother denying it.
“How much did you have?” Matt demanded angrily.
The clone shrugged elegantly. “Don’t remember,” he told them uncaringly.
Hollis choked out a laugh, as if trying to hold it back but failing. “Do you know how much that stuff costs?”
“Nope,” Min replied without remorse, his grin expanding as he realized the full extent of what he’d done.
“It has to be specially ordered. The distribution’s really limited; only so much is made each year. You have to be given special permission to buy it,” Matt explained, teeth gritted.
The Andorian’s grin widened even further. “You’re serious? Doesn’t sound like a great way to do business. I was never a fan of those really snotty, exclusive products. How much does a single bottle cost?”
“Over 1k credits,” Hollis replied.
One brow rose in surprise, and he continued to smile. “That much? I wonder how many credits Min drank away.” He seemed even prouder of that other Min, which set Matt’s blood boiling.
Matt growled, “You’re going to pay for that.”
Min laughed. “Oh, come on, you never even noticed any of it missing. Do you honestly think I had that much? Just a sip or two.”
“Even that was more than you were supposed to have.”
“I know, I wasn’t supposed to have any at all,” Min responded knowingly, waving his hand in an impatient gesture. The eye roll that followed underlined his opinion of Matt’s protest, and the Kartan bristled again.
There was a long, awkward pause before Min asked, “This conversation has been long enough to satisfy you, right?” Min regarded them steadily, clearly thinking the answer obvious. Matt couldn’t deny that they’d been talking for a while.
“Wait,” Hollis spoke up. “If you aren’t calling next week, the next time we see you will be when you return?”
The Andorian pursed his lips thoughtfully, and the memory of that mouth all over his body overwhelmed Matt for a second. He almost missed the clone’s response.
“That’s right. Next time will be Min. You won’t be seeing me again for months.” His gaze alighted on Matt. “I’m sure you’re real upset to hear that, Muldane.”
“My heart is shattering,” the Kartan drawled sarcastically. Good riddance, he thought, preferring a more docile Min.
The Andorian’s grin was mischievous. “I’m sure it is.”
Pensively, Matt asked, “What is the ‘real’ Min like anyway?” According to the clone, this obstinate version wasn’t the Andorian he’d be seeing in a couple weeks. Matt was grateful for that at least, but still confused.
Min stared off to the side, his eyes far away. “I honestly don’t know anymore. We’ll find out together, I suppose.”
Stirring restlessly, Min continued, “Take care, both of you. We’ll see each other in some form soon.” Impish, he sent them one last amused look and then signed off.
Matt shut off the vid screen as soon as the call ended. “I’m exhausted,” he told Hollis.
“So am I,” his friend replied. “That man has way too much energy.”
Turning to look at the attorney, Matt asked, “What do you mean?”
“Didn’t you notice? He looked drained at first, but then he seemed to get over it. He never stops moving. If he’s sitting he fidgets or drinks, if he’s up he’s pacing or tossing bottles around. He always has to be doing something.”
Matt frowned, thinking back on the call as well as when he’d seen him on Festun. “You’re absolutely right. I noticed that before too.”
They were both quiet for a minute, before Hollis asked, “I need a drink, how about you?”
“Ashes, yes. What would you like?” Matt offered amiably as he rose from the couch.
“Hamlin,” Hollis answered, eyes twinkling.
Scowling Matt twisted around, punching his friend’s shoulder, which elicited a grunt and a chuckle from the Monlean.
Matt glowered down at him, but Hollis just laughed harder. “Smart ass.”
“Always,” Hollis agreed, his grin widening.
Chapter 13A