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Possessing both the courage to master themselves and the ability to suppress their own egos, Chimeras of the servant caste are the ones who hold our society together. They are our teachers, our dreamers, our artists, and our friends. Filling any role that is needed of them, they commit themselves to the essential tasks that make life possible. Though there may be times when we take them for granted, or fail to appreciate the work that they do, it is essential to remind ourselves, that without them, we would be as nothing.

Shadows of the self:

A chimera's reflections on the caste system.

Chapter Two : Even the paranoid have enemies.

Standing alone in the center of a membership only room, Johnathan flipped through a vast selection of various holographic backgrounds. With each one being more impressive and expensive than the last, he wandered through each of the differently themed worlds, before eventually settling on the sky garden; a collection of castles and creatures that had been cast adrift amongst an almost endless sky.

It was an unbelievable display of holographic artistry. Teaming with life, such was the reality of the illusion that surrounded him, that should he have wanted to he could have reached out and touched the gryphon that had dared to alight upon a nearby rose covered column, before casting itself once more into the boundless ethers. Given to indulging in amusements far greater then this, He could feel himself growing tired of it already.

Made up of individual suites that could be customized to an occupants liking, the World Tree Cafe was an exclusive club that catered to those more, adventurous members of the wealthy elite. And having built its reputation on providing the ultimate fantasy experience through the use of interactive virtual technologies, it was more often than not employed as a hollow bastion where those who had been born to a life of wealth and privilege wishing to escape from the pressures of their daily lives could come and enjoy their dreams in the privacy of their own shared reality.

Johnathan King on the other hand, had come to be taught, to be lectured in all manner of things that he found to be equally worthless, and in his own eyes, to be further burdened with a duty that he neither wanted nor asked for. The fact that he had been born simply to carry on the family name was no great secret to him. That it had not been an act of love, but one of politics that had seen him brought into the world mattered little. No, what truly bothered Johnathan, was the fact that simply because he had been fortunate enough to be born into a life of wealth and privilege, everyone expected him to do something great with it. Which was a shame of course, because all he really wanted from his life was to live free from the consequences and repercussions that only those with access to limitless money could enjoy. A desire he felt was further vindicated, each and every time he found new and interesting ways to circumvent his father's wishes.

He would play along of course. He would go to his lessons and learn what his instructors had to teach. And all the while he would be patiently biding his time, waiting for the day when his father finally decided to retire.

And who knows? He thought to himself as he started to toy with the idea of just what he would do with his family's fortune. Maybe that day will come sooner then later. After all, it isn't like the old man can live forever.

Letting a plan begin to take shape in the back of his mind, Johnathan turned his attention to the man in the middle of the room, His instructor for this particular lesson was nothing more than a simple hologram, an interactive teaching program which had been gifted with just enough artificial intelligence to do its job and not much else.

Having been designed to self-activate upon his entering the room, Johnathan had already taken the liberty of disabling its speech protocols. Unaware that any physical change had actually taken place, it continued to lecture mindlessly to an almost nonexistent audience.

“Sorry we're late.” Said an all too familiar voice behind him. “You know how it is with chimeras. They never seem to move quite as fast as you want them to.” Passing through a door that disappeared behind them as it was once more integrated into the illusion, Peirce and his companion stopped for a moment in order to admire the work that Johnathan had done on their holographic instructor. Peirce had already begun to enjoy the finer elements of electronic sabotage, while his bodyguard, a fox chimera who had served his family for over twenty years merely shook her head in disgust.

“Too true.” Said Johnathan, letting his gaze linger on some of the vixen's better features. In a way, he was glad that he had inherited his mother's taste for chimeras, rather then his father's outright hatred of them. After all, they could be used for any number of purposes, not the least of which was sexual, and even when his orders conflicted with their personal desires, the fact that he could then watch as they struggled to discover a way to resist him simply made it all the more, fun. “But then again, at least yours has the decency to make herself look respectable. Sometimes, I wonder if mine even knows how to dress himself.”

Wearing a form fitting three-piece business that had been tailor made to accentuate the contours of her body, rather then conceal them, the fox with the fiery red hair felt the fine hairs on the back of her neck begin to stand on end, as Johnathan's gaze started to linger a little longer than she would have liked.

Suppressing the urge to slap him with a sexual harassment lawsuit, Mina simply pushed past him and set to work scanning every inch of the circular terrace for hidden electronics. It was standard procedure for chimeras who had undergone training as bodyguards to look for any potential dangers upon entering a room. Because if there was one thing that could be said for certain about the wealthy who lived in SynCity, they were willing to pay good money to keep their secrets a secret, any way that they could.

“You know,” Johnathan said to her as she worked, “You really should consider joining us some time. I'm sure that a mature woman like you could, find over a dozen different ways to make our lessons more, entertaining.”

Watching as Mina stoically went about her work while ignoring Johnathan's unwanted advances Peirce couldn't help but laugh. “You can dream about that one all you like.” He said. “But I think you're going to find that her services aren't for sale. At any price.”

Tired of dealing with Johnathan's idea of idle conversation, Mina had retired to the main reception area of the World Tree Cafe in order to await her partner's arrival. Comprised of a central hub that split off into the differently themed worlds, the main area also contained a help desk manned by an androgynous hologram, an open bar, and a dressing room where costumes could be rented for a minor fee. And she had made a thorough search of that one several times over.

Checking her watch as her ears began to twitch, Mina sighed, and while her attention was drawn to the front door, what she saw there left her feeling less then impressed.

As a representative of the King family it was important that Kato be able to present to the world an image that spoke of solemn dignity and quiet power, instead, with his crooked tie and strange silver hair, he looked less like the bodyguard he was supposed to be, and more like a tiger that someone had tried to stuff into an overly expensive and poorly made suit.

And yet, she was forced to admit that there were even times when he moved, when all the awkwardness of his youth fell away, and a truly feral grace took its place.

“Its about time you decided to show up.” Pushing herself off the wall she'd been leaning against, Mina said. “I've been putting up with your owner's antics for almost an hour now, and you know how he gets when he's bored.”

Ducking his head by way of an apology, Kato said. “Sorry, sorry, I know that I'm late.”

Accepting her reprimand with good natured humor, Kato smiled as he saw her. Mina had a no nonsense approach to her job that he just couldn't help but admire. “If you want, you can blame it on the monkey suit.” Hoping that it would make him look at least somewhat presentable, he shifted his arms and said. “It took me forever and a day just to get into the damned thing. And why they can't simply make clothes just for chimeras I'll never know.”

Though he lacked a formal uniform, the clothes that Kato was often forced to wear when he performed his duties as a bodyguard were the ones that Johnathan had grown tired of. And being several sizes larger then him in more areas then one meant he was often forced to make alterations of his own devising. “And another thing, pants, do you think it would kill them to cut a hole in the back for our tails?”

“Well if wearing clothes originally meant for a bunch of hairless freaks really bothers you so much,” Said Mina as she helped him fix the front of his suit. “Why don't you go and do something about it.”

“Maybe I will.” Holding still as Mina patted him down, He thought he'd done fairly well for having had to figure out how to put it on all by himself. “Maybe someday, I'll open an entire chain of stores that sells customized clothing to chimeras. We'll be able to wear what we want, whenever we want, wherever we want. Just you watch. I'll make a mint.”

Acting as if the thought of wearing comfortable clothes had never once crossed her mind Mina said. “Right, and when you're out there trying to sell that wonderful idea of yours to the people who say we're still a work in progress, just remember, the truth is no one wants to waste money investing in a line of clothing for chimeras because our body types haven't even been standardized yet.”

“I know that.” Kato sighed as, once again he was reminded that despite the fact that his outward appearance was almost entirely feline, beneath his fur, his body type was more human looking then most. “Though I'll bet you're just saying it because your owner keeps a tailor on retainer. You get all of your suits for free.”

“Listen you,” Said Mina as she cinched his tie a little tighter then it needed to be. “I've been in this business for a long time, and if there's one thing I've learned, its that a good suit is worth paying for.”

Nodding in complete agreement, Kato knew that as the junior bodyguard on shift, he was expected to listen to everything she had to say and learn what she had to teach accordingly. “Yeah, yeah, I know that but—” Noting that the man behind the bar mixing the drinks was someone that he'd never seen before, Kato said. “What happened to Mike?”

“Mike's on vacation.” Wiping out the glasses with a damp cloth before adding ice and a vivid blue concoction that was busy changing hue the man behind the bar said. “The temp agency sent me, name's Sam.”

A quick look to Mina for confirmation told him that she knew as much about the man as he did. Absolutely nothing. Which only meant they needed to keep that much closer an eye on him.

Keeping watch from out of the corner of his eye, Kato was about to order a drink himself, when a mouse wearing a french maid outfit stepped out of one of the changing rooms and walked behind the bar.

“Lily,” Hoping to somehow redeem himself, Kato said. “I didn't know you were working today. I see that most of your fur has already grown back.” Blushing through his fur as his attempt at striking up conversation failed miserably, Kato slinked away with his tail tucked between his legs.

Covering her mouth with her hand just to keep from laughing Mina leaned over and said. “Looks like Lily still hasn't forgiven you for the last time you and Johnathan were here.”

“I was only trying to do my job.” Said Kato. Feeling a bit defensive he added. “Besides, how was I supposed to know that stuff she used to make her fur glossy was flammable.” Renewing his efforts to apologize, Kato said. “Lily, please, let me do something to make it up to you. I—”

Acting as if Kato were of no more importance to her then the ground that she walked on Lily placed the newly mixed drinks onto a serving tray, and began to head straight for the room that Johnathan and his friends were in.

Seeing where she was headed, Kato stepped in front of the door, effectively barring her path. “Hold it.”

Finally forced to acknowledge his existence, Lily simply pushed her glasses closer to her face and said. “What's wrong now?”

His eyes narrowing in suspicion, Kato looked her up and down and said. “You wouldn't happen to be carrying any concealed weaponry inside that outfit, now would you?”

Rolling her eyes at the thought, Lily let out an indignant huff and tried to push past him, only to have Kato rebuff her at every turn.

“He's not going to move until you answer his question.” Said Mina in a no-nonsense tone of voice. “Or is he going to have to ask it again?”

“No!” She said, stamping her foot. “Now let me through, I've got a job to do!”

“Trust me when I say this,” Said Mina. “But an attractive young woman like you really shouldn't be in such a hurry to go in there.”

Lily looked at each of them in turn. The serious expression on each of their faces telling her no more then she needed to know. “You aren't going to let me in there, are you?”

Kato just shook his head as he took hold of the tray. “If you want, then I can take this in for you, but your not getting past us without submitting yourself to a search first.”

“But if you do that,” Said Lily. “Then I won't make any tips!”

“Not my problem,” Curling his lips, Kato's smile showed off a mouth filled with dozens of razor sharp teeth. “Now is it?”

Faced with a potential predator on one side, and the possibility of earning some extra money on the other, Lily seemed to seriously be considering her options. “Alright, fine!” Loathe to let go of the tray, she placed it on a nearby table and surrendered herself to a full body search. Glaring malevolently at Kato she said. “But you can keep your filthy hands to yourself. Jerk.”

“Why would I . . . what did I . . . you know what, forget I even tried.” Stepping out of the way, Kato simply said. “Mina, if you would.”

“With pleasure.” Said Mina. The look of anticipation on her face and the eagerness in her voice indicating that she would enjoy frisking the mouse girl far more then he ever would, she added. “I do so enjoy frisking women more then men.”

“W-Wait . . . I, I think I just changed my mind.”

“Too late now.” Said Kato as any further attempts to protest were effectively silenced by Mina's hands moving across her body with a professional and practiced ease. Professional and practiced for Mina anyway.

Watching out of the corner of his eye, Kato had to remind himself not to stare every time that Lily let out a soft squeak as some of the more sensitive areas of her body were patted down just a tad too thoroughly.

“Alright, she's clean.” Waving Lily into the room, Mina closed Kato's open mouth with a single finger and said. “Well, aren't you going to at least pat me down?”

“That was an abuse of power, and besides, I thought you said you were a lesbian.”

“I am, but that doesn't mean I'm not willing to,” Pressing her body against his, Mina just ran her fingers along the sensitive area at the base of his tail and said. “Make an exception every now and again.” Slapping the front of his chest she added. “Relax Kato, it was just a joke. You know, we really need to do something about that sense of humor of yours.”

“Maybe later.” Pacing the room as if in a daze, Kato said. “There's just something about this that still feels wrong. But I can't quite put my finger on what it is.”

Hoping that she hadn't given him the wrong idea, Mina said. “Kato, you didn't think that I was being serious just now, did you?”

“Of course I didn't. I mean . . . you're a mature, career oriented woman, and I'm . . . well, not.” Realizing exactly what it was that he had just said, Kato made a concerted effort to study the floor as he began to blush beneath his fur.

Slipping arm around his shoulders, Mina said. “Well, put it this way. Just because you're a man doesn't mean you don't have some redeeming features.” Now whether he knew it or not, Kato had a lot to offer a woman. All he lacked was confidence. “Its just a shame that I didn't meet you ten or even twenty years ago. If I had, then I would have been happy to be your mate.” Running her hand across the bulge in his pants, Mina nipped his ear and said. “Besides, Lily has no idea what she's missing.”

If anything, simply hearing it caused Kato to turn an even brighter shade of red.

“I hope you never forget how to make the expression you have on your face right now. It really makes a woman feel special.” Giving Kato a quick kiss on the cheek, Mina was all business once more. “Now sit your butt down and relax.” Smiling at him as she went and retrieved her own chair, Mina sat down and stretched out her legs. “I've already been in to scan that room twice. And if anything managed to get inside that I don't know about, then it would have had to walk right past us.”

“That's it.” Kato swore under his breath. “The drinks.”