FSE

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Chapter 7

---

Fresh Vintage

Four days since Kanoth went missing, Aileen Raskeil had gotten a private email.

AllAle's CFO wanted a personal meeting in the Realworld, in Emile's office. No one else was to be there. No Corpsmen. Just the chief officers involved in the Overworld. How could she refuse? Though her skin crawled and warned the pitbull that this could potentially be trap, she was both intrigued and compelled to attend the meeting. Naturally, she discussed it with Nero, Elijah and Emile and, together, all four of them decided to attend the meeting with their IPs present.

So, on a dreary Saturday morning, when no one else was in the office, Aileen stood beside Decanter and the rest of the officers of AllAle. They waited patiently, watching the broad wooden doors as the appointed hour came. When the elevator beyond the frosted glass windows let out a soft 'ding', she actually felt her heart leap a little.

This was very exciting.

There were questions that needed answering and as the Chief Operations Officer, she hated unanswered questions.

The doors slowly opened and Emile's tail began shaking, letting out that rattle to indicate his apprehension. When the wheelchair rolled in, even Aileen was surprised. She made it her business _not_to be surprised or at least appear not surprised. Cedar pushed Kanoth forward, the gopher's leg artfully hidden behind a folded pant leg. The company's CFO looked well otherwise.

"Kanoth!" Nero exclaimed, taking a step forward. "What happened to you?"

"Libertatis," replied the gopher in a flat, even tone. Cedar stopped about halfway to Emile's desk. "I'm sure you've already noticed that they've kicked me out of the Overworld. They made Cedar mortal."

"We have," Emile answered in an equally flat tone. "Your apparent disappearance and the commotion caused around your car has caused no end of speculation. Our stock prices have fallen. Rival companies have already started making their moves trying to poach our employees. Similarly, some of our Overworld-trained employees are making a few power plays to try and fill your position."

That was Emile. No pleasantries. No euphemisms. In their industry where they sold something to make people explicitly let go of their inhibitions, Emile wasted no time to get to the point.

"I assume you've already started looking for a successor?" Kanoth asked.

That was Aileen's cue to the step up. "Of course but since you're back-"

"I'm not coming back."

That was to be expected. A defeat was crushing and she had always known Kanoth to be a little... soft. Sure he had hardened up in the years since he had become CFO but he was always one crushing defeat away from reverting to that stammering wimp that barely got through his presentation all those years ago.

"I'm sure you're shaken up, Kanoth," Aileen said calmly, giving him a pleasant smile. "Given your injury as well, I'm sure you're feeling defeated, maybe even a little depressed. Perhaps a few weeks with our company psychologist will -"

"I am not going to be your status symbol for stability while you phase me out," snapped the gopher.

Aileen Raskeil was rarely ever surprised and hearing some bite from Kanoth would not have been the exception were it not for the fact that he pointed out exactly why they wanted to keep him on for a little longer.

"Kanoth -" Nero began.

"No," snapped the CFO harshly, "you all listen to me. I know exactly what you're doing. Running a company is as much about keeping up appearances as it is about getting good products out there. I know how harsh the media can be and how easily we can lose people to others in the Overworld. The sharks smell blood and now their circling AllAle. But you aren't going to use me with some flowery statement about how I survived the ordeal, lost my leg but went back to work. Then, months down the track, you'll force me to make a statement about me 're-evaluating my life' or 'focusing on my family' and playing that pity piece by making people think it's all related to my injury only to kick me out." He slammed his paw into the armrest of the wheelchair. "No. I'm leaving on my _own_terms. I'm resigning effectively immediately."

Elijah regarded Kanoth coldly, paws ever behind his back. "You realise that by resigning, you won't be entitled to a severance package."

"Pay out the rest of my annual leave. I don't care. I'm selling my stock in AllAle as well."

That caused Aileen alarm. "Kanoth, be reasonable. If you sell your stock, that would mean -"

"I'm the goddamn Chief Financial Officer of this company," interrupted Kanoth. "I know exactly what it means."

He was willing to sabotage them. If Kanoth abruptly resigned amongst all this turmoil, people could immediately construe that as him having lost faith in the company. With the loss of his leg as well, it could put ideas in people's mind; ideas like AllAle wasn't inclusive of the handicapped. There wouldn't be any actual truth to the matter. The company ran all sorts of inclusion programs and made itself as accessible as possible. That was all part of Kanoth's strategy when he became CFO. Regardless of gender, sexual orientation, religion or any other label, he would try to incorporate them into the company... by any means possible. But if he was the one leaving because of a handicap then the implications could be just as damaging than if they really were being bigoted.

"These past few days, I've had a lot of time to reflect on myself," Kanoth intoned gravely. His paw snaked up his shoulder, grabbing onto Cedar's. "In the end, I concluded that I didn't like the person I had become. There were some parts that I'm proud of. I don't stutter anymore. I can stand in front of people when making a decision without my legs giving out on me. I can manage more people than I ever have before. But there are other parts that, if I were to die right now, I wouldn't want marked on my gravestone."

Aileen let out a soft scoff. "Come now, dear. This is exactly the sort of existential crisis that a trained psychologist would help you through, not us. Definitely not some delinquents who preyed on your vulnerability and -"

"They saved me, Aileen," Kanoth snapped. His constant interruptions were starting to get on her nerves. "Yes, they're the ones that severed by leg but they _also_offered their own lives, their own energy to keep me from dying. Tell me honestly. If you had just given your greatest enemy a fatal wound, would you have tried to save them?"

"We aren't murderers, Kanoth," Elijah said, his tone flat and even as ever. His emotions were always a mystery, even to Aileen. "We would do what we can to at least make sure they were alive."

"Liar." The accusation stilled the room and filled them all with a sense of dread. Not because of Kanoth's tone but because they all knew it was true. "You say that now but I bet that were you put into that situation, you would've put a bullet through the bastard's head as an act of 'mercy'." Kanoth glared at them with contempt. "I would've done exactly the same thing. But these guys, they didn't. They did all they could to save me."

"And look what that got you," Aileen said. "If you just let us help, we could fit you with a prosthetic or given time, we could even repair your leg."

"And that's the price for me as a symbol, isn't it?"

Again, she was surprised by just how... clearly he was able to see through her.

"Give me my leg back in exchange for a few more months, maybe years of service to stabilise the company." Kanoth shook his head decisively. "No. I'm leaving. You can't convince me to do otherwise."

"Upon leaving_AllAle_, you will be a private citizen, Kanoth," said the CEO coldly, his amber eyes contracting into slits. "I cannot guarantee your safety upon your departure. You're aware of the Overworld and AllAle's practices. You will be asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement, of course. However, I cannot guarantee that other corporations won't try and extract any information from you or your family."

Surprisingly, Kanoth was able to stare Emile down. Aileen wasn't sure if she could have.

"I thought you might say something like that, Emile," answered the gopher coldly. "Which is why I've already made an arrangement with the Custodes Libertatis to extract all my knowledge about everything AllAle has done during my tenure as CFO."

Emile's eyes widened and even Aileen spun around to face Kanoth, her muzzle open in shock. She had expected the resignation but not this total betrayal.

Emile's rattle began filling the room again. Aileen turned towards the CEO. A chill gripped her heart. There was just some... dark aura emanating from him. Fury? Pain? No. It was malice. Just unbridled malevolence that would've rivalled all the demons of hell. She found her composure broken and taking a step back from the rattlesnake.

"Kanoth," she said, batting her eyes at him. "It's clear that the Libertatis have somehow manipulated your mind."

"They've only made me see exactly who I was and what I was becoming." Kanoth lifted his chin proudly. "I wanted to become just like you Emile. I wanted to rise up from my humble beginning and eventually make a big splash in the world just like you did. However, looking at you now, seeing that murderous stare you just gave me, I've realised exactly what they meant." He lowered his chin, this time returning Emile's stare. "I made no such deal with the Libertatis. It was just a test. One you failed."

Aileen stepped back in surprise. "That means you didn't make that deal?" If she could slip into the Overworld, she could stop him from leaving. Maybe quickly implant an idea into his mind to -

"Don't bother trying to change my mind in the Overworld either," said Kanoth. "I'm not sure how but they've got dirt on all of you. The Custodes Libertatis is watching us right now. I can guarantee it. I've talked them down though. They're not going to release anything on any of us. They know it won't do any good. Allegations can just be buried by money, after all. No. They'll let me leave in peace so long as you do as well. If you don't, they will bring you down."

That malevolent aura was seething right out of Emile, almost becoming a full dark cloud hanging over him.

"You've really turned against us, haven't you, Kanoth?" she demanded, trying not to look at her CEO. "We can't guarantee your safety."

"No but the Libertatis can. You're all afraid of attacking them because to do so would provoke them and all their resources." His gaze never left Emile's. "Other corporations know exactly the same thing. I'm under their protection now. Hurt me or any of my family and you can rest assured that you will be destroyed."

"And why would I care?" Emile asked coldly. The question surprised Aileen with Nero showing the greatest amount of surprise. Elijah just lifted one eyebrow. "We already have the _Libertatis'_attention. How much farther can it escalate? Why don't I just kill you here and now and let them come?"

Kanoth locked his jaw for a moment like he was considering what to say next. "I will confess that what I'm about to say next isn't my words but I was assured that you would know their meaning, Emile." He cleared his throat for a second. "Is that the question you should be asking?"

All that malice suddenly left Emile and the rattlesnake's composure broke entirely, his jaw dropping in surprise. There was a flash of fear in his eyes and the rattling stopped.

How did those words alone have enough power to shake the seemingly indomitable CEO of AllAle?

"Leave," Emile snarled.

Cedar turned Kanoth around.

"I'll see you Monday to make the official announcement," Kanoth said. "We'll discuss the terms of my resignation then."

The duo left, the door slamming shut behind him. No one spoke until the elevator dinged and they were sure that Kanoth had left.

"What was that?" Nero asked. "Emile, I've never seen you so shaken."

Aileen was curious herself but didn't dare to voice it.

Emile lifted his head, straightening his tie. "The Custodes Libertatis has a loose leadership. They call themselves the Kage. 'Shadows' in Japanese. I've been visited by one of their leaders from time to time. His name is Cue."

"As in the letter 'Q'?"

"I don't know. He's only ever told me his name and always in the form of a question. That's just how he speaks. Always in questions." Emile's eyes narrowed at the door. "Whatever else he may be, he visited me at my mansion upstate a few nights ago."

Aileen balked. That was one of the most secure places for all of AllAle. In fact, the disaster recovery servers were directly under Emile's mansion and it was guarded by Corpsmen around the clock. The mansion looked empty to the naked eye but there were always Corpsmen about. More so with the recent attack of Kanoth.

If one of the_Libertatis_ had managed to sneak their way in...

"I know what you're thinking," rumbled Emile. "I don't know how he did it. All the security cameras didn't record anything. None of the Corpsmen saw anything. He just walked into my den and sat down next to me." He glared at each of them in turn. "This bastard is pulling the strings and he said those exact same words to me that night."

And now she realised why Emile was shaken. Whoever this 'Cue' was, he could bypass all of their defences and, if he so wished, kill them. It would be so easy. This was the Libertatis giving them a warning.

Try them, push them and they would have to ask the question: when was Cue coming for them?

******

The smell of coffee was not something Ryker was used to whenever he woke up but it was certainly pleasant and had the effect of lifting him out of his sheets like one of those cartoons were ethereal hands made of scent lifted the protagonist off their feet. His eyes were barely open by the time he had left his room and shut the door behind him. It was the absence of Takoshi's snores that woke him completely. He had gotten so used to it was almost like a lullaby and without it, his instincts told him something was wrong. In fact, coffee was not something he was used to either. Cliff didn't believe in it and Takoshi preferred tea.

So who was making coffee?

Poking his head into the kitchen, nose twitching. Oliver was perched on the edge of the kitchen island, a coffee machine quietly churning away while Summer was at the stove cooking something. Ears pitched forward curiously, Ryker emerged from around the corner, regarding the duo curiously.

"You made coffee?" he asked.

Oliver gave him a small smile. "Thought you might like some when you woke up."

He sniffed the air. There was a faint vanilla-like edge of the coffee that he absolutely adored and it brought him closer to the machine. "You didn't buy a brand new coffee machine, did you?"

"Got it from the severance package I got from AllAle."

While Kanoth had his big resignation speech with the AllAle_officers, agents of the _Libertatis_had snuck into the _AllAle facility and fudged with a few records. Since Kanoth _was_the Chief Financial Officer, the agents had ensured that Oliver had gotten a significant payout and gave the reasoning as 'Emile would know'. Oliver got a sizable amount of money shortly afterwards. Kanoth didn't seem to mind. The officers would take it as hush money to keep Oliver from spilling their secrets to other corporations with access to the Overworld.

"Okay but why'd you bring it here?" Ryker asked. "You can go back to your own place."

Oliver bobbed his head from side to side as he pushed a coffee mug towards him. "Well, the thing is my apartment is a single bedroom place and the lease specifically says I can only have one person there."

Ryker's eyes switched to Summer who was quietly humming some nameless tune as he flipped what appeared to be pancakes rather skillfully. "Can't you just add him to the lease?"

"That'd be difficult considering he didn't exist up until about a week ago."

That was a fair point. Without any official items of identity, a credit score or even a birth certificate, Summer was basically a ghost. It would be impossible to get him added on the lease without even so much as a driver's license. Takoshi was lucky since they lived to campus, their leasing agent understood that the apartment - and all other apartments in the complex - were subject to 'visits' and 'parties' from other college students. They wouldn't ask about Takoshi living there so long as the rent was paid. But somewhere else would be different.

"I see," he commented. "Still doesn't answer the question of why you brought it here, though." On some level, he knew the answer but he was still dreading it.

"I broke our lease and I'm currently hunting for a new place where Summer and I can live without too much scrutiny. Takoshi said we can stay here until we find a place." Oliver held up a paw. "And don't worry! I'll pull my weight around here. I'll even pay for rent. Not just part of it. All of it. The severance package was very big."

He remembered. The moment Oliver had seen his bank account that day, his reaction was to faint.

"I suppose you were already living here before then anyway," Ryker sighed, picking up the coffee mug. "I'm sorry to say that you and Summer will probably have to share the couch."

"Oh, I got a futon. Got one for Takoshi too given that he was sleeping on the floor most of the time."

That was very nice of him but Ryker worried that Oliver was spending too much too soon. It seemed like the symptoms of a person who had just come into a lot of money and had decided to throw frugality out the window. Perhaps he should advise Oliver to find some place affordable and invest his money. Ryker shook his head a second later. He was being a dad again. Oliver was a grown cat - older than he was - and one who had started his own microbrewery that could've been amazing had AllAle not stepped in. Someone like that surely would be wise with their money.

Right?

He took a sip from the coffee and his ears immediately perked up. "Wow! This is good!"

"Before I thought about being a brewer, I was thinking about owning my own coffee shop. Worked in a Starbucks near where I lived." The tabby shrugged and poured himself a cup. "I know my way around all sorts of drinks."

"You thinking about going back to beer with your new savings while we fight the corporations? Would be handy to wake up to this every day after a night of fighting corruption."

There was a moment where Oliver's eyes drifted towards Summer and then back towards his mug. "I'll be honest, Ryker, I don't think I want to join the Libertatis."

Even Summer was surprised, so much so that he missed a catching a pancake he had flipped and cursed under his breath.

"Why?" Ryker asked. "Do you want to keep fighting AllAle?"

"AllAle, yeah. But the rest of them?" Oliver shook his head sadly. "I don't really have anything against them. I mean, I'll keep fighting with you guys if you need me but I'd honestly prefer it if you didn't."

That was a respectable request. Ryker was driven to ensure that no IPs are left to fend for themselves and no one had to suffer through the heartbreak of having their idea stolen from him like he had suffered not too long ago. The Custodes Libertatis aimed to stop everyone from abusing the Overworld. Everyone had their own motivations for fighting but there was no guarantee that they would all fight together until the Libertatis' goals were met. That could take years and maybe even lifetimes considering just how many corporations were out there that could have access to the Overworld.

"Can I at least keep you as a Contact?" he asked, offering a sheepish smile.

"After you blew off Kanoth's leg like that?" Oliver snickered. "I prefer to be on your good side."

"You know I didn't think it'd be that bad, right? It was an accident. Mostly."

"What did you think would happen?"

At the time, he had just hoped that Kanoth's bones would break. Enough to get the gopher off him. The effect of Break was much more... gruesome than he had anticipated.

"Not that," he surmised. "Seems like I've really got to learn how to use my Function and get it to manifest."

Summer turned towards them with a heaping stack of pancakes. "Here you go, boys! Eat up!"

The pancakes were perfectly golden and smelled absolutely delicious. Ryker's muzzle was starting to water just watching that slab of butter melt atop the stacks, taking the light sprinkling of sugar with it as it was absorbed into the golden-brown disks. His nostrils flared as he took in the sweet aroma and his stomach growled in anticipation.

He didn't miss the faint scowl on Oliver's features though.

The pancakes were delicious. Fluffy on the inside but with a little, salty crunch when he bit into it. With a little bit of maple syrup, it was absolutely heaven and he made sure Summer knew that. Oliver barely touched his. Awkward silence followed and Ryker was compelled to look at his phone just so that he wasn't painfully aware of just how uncomfortable the sound of their utensils hitting the plates was. The news was still rife with Kanoth's abrupt resignation and the impact it had to AllAle's stocks.

The door to the apartment suddenly burst open and Cliff charged in waving his phone. "Hey guys! Have you seen the news?" Arthur was a step behind him carrying what appeared to be a few bags of groceries.

"I was just looking it up," Ryker answered, glad for the distraction.

"Aw sweet!" Arthur exclaimed, setting down the bags. The boar hiked his chin towards Summer. "You made these, bro?"

"Yes I did," replied the eagle with a smile. "First time making them. Just followed a recipe really."

Oliver muttered something that sounded a lot like, 'If only you had followed my recipe' but Ryker wasn't sure. His musings were interrupted when Cliff charged over, took the stool next to him and held out his phone.

"You need the_Watcher News App._ It's this app that's distributed to the Libertatis_members. It's basically what we use to keep up to date on the latest happenings. _AllAle is everywhere, dude."

Cliff's phone displayed what appeared to be two newscasters wearing similar masks to what they had donned during the fight against Kanoth. One was an otter from all appearances and the other some sort of horned mammal, maybe a moose. The otter was female and just like their voices from behind the masks, her voice was heavily synthesised to hide her identity.

"The multi-million dollar, monopolising, mob-like AllAle has started executing countless deals and trades that seem counter to their normal market trends which is usually to acquire and then fortify. Right now, these assholes seem to just be acquiring like crazy."

"You can really tell this is unbiased media," Ryker commented. Cliff hushed him as the moose, a male with his voice artificially set to be ridiculously and comically high, took over.

"Our agents within and without AllAle_have observed that they most often go into a large spree of acquisitions in the first half of the year. This mostly involves them integrating vast swathes of IPs through their 'open door policy' or using their Corpsmen to bully and coerce smaller individuals or companies to sign on with them. In the second half, they start fortifying by spending money to empower already established IPs and train their Corpsmen."_

"With the abrupt resignation of Kanoth Lameer, the Chief Financial Officer of AllAle_,"_ continued the otter, "_AllAle's _spending has skyrocketed and they have now gone to great lengths to secure their assets. Spending is at an all time high and Corpsman activity is mostly focused around the area directly around the AllAle HQ."

Kanoth's resignation had unhinged the corporation and sent them into a paranoid spiral. It looked like they were now desperately trying to defend themselves from further attacks. With the _Libertatis_watching them, it was justified.

"Other beer companies have already started making enquiries and a few skirmishes have occurred in the Overworld," continued the otter. "While AllAle has been able to maintain their security for the most part, there have already been talks about defections amongst the staff. Those unaware of the Overworld are already considering jumping ship to other companies. Morale is down with the Overworld-aware as well as it is evident that it is through the actions of the brave the Custodes Libertatis agents that Kanoth Lameer was force to resign."

Without their CFO, AllAle was spending insane amounts of money into their other departments. It couldn't be good for morale. It showed that they were visibly shaken.

The moose began speaking again. Ryker had to keep himself from giggling because of the big male's falsetto tone. "_AllAle _has also closed off its doors to all IPs seeking to become Dosers. The Custodes Libertatis have naturally started taking in any refugees although other corporations had taken to poaching them as well. Right now, the area around the company's HQ looks a lot like a prison than the recruitment and brainwashing centre that it was before."

"They must really be scared," huffed Oliver. "I remember how that place had a line of IPs that went for blocks. I can hardly imagine it being a ghost town right now."

"Arthur and I were going to go scout out the place," Cliff said with a grin. "See if we can find our next target."

"Isn't that a bad idea?" Ryker asked. "They're on high alert right now. They're bound to find you."

Arthur picked up a pancake with one hand. "Now is _exactly_when we should be scouting." He took a bite out of it and commented on how good it was to Summer. "We get a measure of their strength at full capacity. Get a sense of what they'll be like when things get really rough. We'll stay safe, naturally."

"You should come with!" insisted Cliff. "Besides, it's still early in the morning. Even if they're on high alert, they'll think that we wouldn't strike in broad daylight even in the Overworld. Too much collateral damage if we do."

That also meant that AllAle was less inclined to strike back if they were spotted. They wouldn't want to cause damage that could potentially spook investors all the more. While it was illogical to think that some random occurrence like a shattered window or an abrupt pothole could be pinned on AllAle, if that happened close to or within the AllAle HQ, the media could spin that story in all sorts of ways. Employees would certainly have their morale drop even more.

"That makes sense," he agreed. "But you guys go on ahead and stay safe. I've got class today."

"Ah, right," Cliff said with a nod. "No problem, bro!" He glanced towards Summer and Oliver. "You two wanna come along?"

"I'll come," Oliver said, rising from his seat. His pancakes were barely touched. "Maybe I can catch some of my old coworkers and convince them to jump ship."

"Great idea!"

As Summer made to follow, Oliver lifted a paw. "You stay here, Summer. If they see you, they'll know that I've sided with _Libertatis_and they might be less inclined to join." He nodded towards Cliff and Arthur. "I'll be your eyes and ears in the Realworld. You guys can spy around in the Overworld."

There was more to it than simple tactics. Ryker could see the hurt in Summer's eyes at being excluded while Oliver's cold shoulder spoke volumes about what the tabby really thought about his bat-wielding eagle. Ryker kept his peace and nursed his coffee while Oliver made preparations to leave with Cliff and Arthur. Takoshi woke a few short minutes later just as the trio were leaving.

"What did I miss?" yawned the big bear, wearing nothing but the red 'shorts-turned-speedo' that once belonged to Ryker.

"Just catching up on the AllAle situation," Ryker answered. "Apparently, there's a part of the Libertatis that's all about spreading news." He lifted his phone, the Water News App now on the screen and showed it to his IP. "They're going on about how AllAle is freaking out."

The bear wasn't impress and tsked. "Sounds like some propaganda bullshit right there. I bet they're blowing it out of proportion to make it look like we did more than we really did."

"We did take down the CFO," Summer offered. "That's got to be big."

"Yeah but I bet they've got a deputy that'll take over in a few days." Takoshi sat down and grabbed Oliver's unfinished plate of pancakes, shovelling it into his mouth without a fork and speaking while chewing. "If something isn't done soon, AllAle will be just as secure as before."

"So you want to attack again?"

"Fuck no. We've done our bit. Let the rest of the _Libertatis_do some shit."

Clearly, Takoshi still didn't quite trust the Watchers of Liberty. That was fine. Ryker was still reeling from the events of the fight against Kanoth and he needed a rest. The Kage assured them that another team could take over and the task of taking down the corporation wasn't solely on their shoulders. It seemed, at least, that the Watchers were a lot more organised than it first seemed.

"You're really okay just letting someone else do the rest of the work after you've done so much?" Summer asked.

"As far as I'm concerned, it ain't my battle." Takoshi reached for the carton of milk, completely ignoring the glass set out for him. He guzzled it right from the carton without a second thought. When Summer threw Ryker an incredulous look, the wolf just shrugged. He was guilty of exactly the same thing every now and then. With a relieved sigh, Takoshi set down the carton and began tearing into his pancakes again. "I know you've_got a beef with _AllAle but that ain't my business. You want me to fight, you gotta offer something in return."

Summer glanced away, gently grasping one arm and ruffling his feathers across his forearms. "Honestly, I don't know much of what I want."

"Bullshit. Everyone wants something. No one is _that_selfless." Takoshi shrugged and hiked a thumb at Ryker. "Maybe the boy but he's only really doing this whole 'save everyone from corporations bit' because he's too afraid to pick up the pieces of his destroyed game and start over."

"Hey!" Ryker exclaimed. Then he frowned and crossed his arms. "I'm going to pick up my game again one day."

"Sure. When everyone is free of corporate greed and we all fuck one another in a big communist orgy."

"Fine then. What do you want?"

The big bear shrugged. "Fuck. Fight. Whatever. I live every day as it comes. What I want changes based on what I feel."

A sense of deflation hit Ryker like Takoshi had just stabbed him with one of his swords and all the air was slowly filtering out of his body. If what Takoshi wanted changed from day to day, would that mean at one point he would want to be away from Ryker?

"If you're wondering about us," said the bear grumpily, "don't."

"I wasn't -"

"Yeah, you were. I'm your IP now and I made a promise to stick with you. I'm not going to just turn around and abandon you because I don't feel like you and I are in synch anymore. If anything, I'd make you my bitch so you'd see things my way."

Ryker's cheeks burned and his hackles rose. "What? I'm the Host here! If anything, you'd be my bitch!"

"Keep dreaming." Takoshi wrapped up one of his pancakes like one would a taco and began to eat it. "You'd never be able to overpower me."

"It's not about power!"

"It's always about power."

On a whim, Ryker grabbed the mug of hot scalding coffee in his paw and immediately threw it at Takoshi's face. The bear, completely unprepared for the attack, let out a startled cry as he fell to the floor, gripping his face and desperately trying to wipe off the burning liquid. Ryker immediately pounced, placing himself on top of the bear and pinning his IP's wrists to the ground.

"Who's the bitch now!?" he demanded.

Takoshi grimaced and managed to peel one eye open. "Fuck, you fight dirty."

Ryker released the samurai's wrists and rose to his feet. "Yeah well, my point stands. Raw power isn't everything. You've got to have the smarts to use it." He handed his IP a napkin which the bear used to wipe off his

"Or the element of surprise."

It was painfully obvious what Takoshi had planned by the time the bear had set down the towel, sat back down on his chair. Ready to lunge at Ryker, Takoshi pretended to eat one of his pancakes then abruptly turned and lifted his arms into the air as if to catch Ryker in a big bear hug. The young wolf was prepared. Ryker had grabbed Oliver's unfinished coffee.

Splash!

And Takoshi was on the floor again, clawing the scalding coffee from his face. Frustrated and clearly humiliated, Takoshi didn't bother with the napkin and stormed into the bedroom, barely able to see. The shower could be heard a second later.

"You two are really close," Summer commented.

"We're Host and IP," Ryker answered with a shrug. "We're supposed to be close. Our whole survival depends on it."

The bald eagle glance briefly to where Takoshi had vanished then looked back to Ryker with a shake of his head. "It's not just that. Synch rates are about how well you two are coordinated with one another. It's not really a measure of how much you like one another. That's why it'd be impossible to fully synchronise with everyone in your Contact list because you'd never be able to be like everyone's shadow at any given moment."

"Really? I honestly thought it was some sort of bizarre measure of how well we worked together."

Summer leaned forward. "No. Your synch rate can jump up to 100% in the heat of battle or drop down to 0% if you're just not moving in concert with your IP. It fluctuates." The eagle then nodded towards the source of the grunts and muttering that could be heard even over the shower. "But what you have with Takoshi... it's something I wish I had with Oliver."

So it wasn't just him. There was clearly some animosity between the two. Was that why Oliver didn't want to join the Libertatis?

"I noticed he was kind of... cold towards you?"

Summer nodded grimly. "I don't think he realised that after being freed from a Contract, I wasn't going to be turned back into the Summer he remembered. I'd have to be rebranded again for that and itr won't happen unless he gets the Atl Function or somehow convinces someone from _AllAle_to do it for him. Even then, I'd have to become a Doser again and..."

"You don't want that," Ryker concluded. "Do you remember what it was being that Summer?"

The eagle shook his head grimly. "It's like I was just born a few days ago. I mean, I've got basic knowledge." He tapped the side of his head. "I know how to speak, eat, use a phone, all that stuff. But what it was like being Summer? The peahen that Oliver toiled away for so long to make?" The eagle's defeated tone spoke volumes. "I don't remember any of that. I mean, when Oliver speaks about her, I have vague recollections but it just doesn't feel like... me, you know?"

He could only shrug helplessly in response. "I... unfortunately can't really relate or understand. Sorry Summer. I didn't go through what you did." A pause and a glance at the door to the apartment confirmed Oliver wasn't about to come bursting in on them while they were talking. "But I can sort of see how Oliver has been treating you. Like... you're not _his_anymore."

"In a way, I'm not," Summer sighed. "I'm what _AllAle_made me. I can't change that." The eagle crossed his arms and rubbed his shoulders with his hands. "I've honestly been wondering if I could break my pact with Oliver. Maybe he can make his own IP again."

That didn't sit well with Ryker. "Two things," he said, holding up two fingers. "I've been where Oliver has been and trust me, it's really_hard to just go back to your original idea once someone else has picked it up and did something else with it especially if all signs point to that something being _way better than your original product."

Summer slumped forward, his hands clasped together. "I don't think he'd ever admit this, but in the day or so when he was selling my brand of beer in that bar, he sold way more than he did in a single month."

Ears perked in surprise, Ryker asked, "Really?"

"Yeah. When you're selling organic beer, people have a lot of brand loyalty and they kind of heavily scrutinise whatever it is that they're drinking. They won't just tell you to get them a beer. They'll want a very specific kind of beer and it's hard to get them off one brand to yours. But in a sports bar, they don't really care."

He bobbed his head from side to side. "I guess I can see that. I also guess that's kind of why he's got a bit of contempt for you. He _knows_you can be successful but he just don't like the fact that it wasn't completely his idea." Lifting his gaze towards Summer, he continued. "I know you're still his IP, but you can't let yourself be defined by what he wants."

Summer lifted an eyebrow at him. "Isn't that against what IPs really are? We're supposed to be the ideas of our Host given physical form."

Ryker shook his head. "Not to me. Takoshi was never my idea. He's a totally different person. Every IP is a living, breathing person that just so happens to have been born in a different way to people in the Realworld. They're free to become whomever or whatever they want in the end but I guess as Hosts, we just like some respect or acknowledgement from them as the ones that created them." He pointed a finger at the eagle. "You may not have been what Oliver initially intended for Summer but you are still Summer and you're your own man. Maybe start with that and define yourself before you go deciding to cut ties with him. Who knows, he might just like you if he wasn't so hung up on what he lost."

The eagle gave him a faint smile. "Thank you, Ryker. I appreciate that." He straightened, crossing his feathery arms behind his neck. "Honestly though, I have no idea what I want. I was just brought into awareness less than a week ago."

Leaning forward, Ryker said, "Don't over think it. Just do what you want to do. First thing that comes to mind."

Summer twisted his beak slightly. "Well... I've never been to a baseball game."

******

Surprisingly enough, Takoshi hadn't been to a baseball game either so the white-furred bear was more than happy to accompany them both. While it was still off-season, there was one place they could go to fill the need for baseball: a batting cage. It was a newer version of the batting cages as well where a 'virtual coach' would appear and help the person in question to bat. Summer stood with a borrowed bat in his hands while the 'coach' which took the form of some retired coach from the Mets.

"Okay, keep your knees bent," uttered the portly bull whom Takoshi couldn't recognise. "One shoulder in front of the other. Keep your eye on the ball."

He leaned down towards Ryker, both of them behind the wire meshing to keep them from getting hit by any foul balls. "This sounds like some generic bullshit." He pointed at the screen protected by it's own cage. "Is that thing actually giving advice or is it just telling us shit?"

"How can you tell?" Ryker asked. "You've never been to a baseball game before."

"I know enough to know the slogans and 'advice' that gets thrown around everywhere."

Ryker got that strange calculating look on his face again whenever he was thinking hard; his ears would swivel forward, his brow would furrow and a single crease would appear between his eyebrows while his lips would purse forward like he was about to start sipping or kissing something. It was honestly adorable but Takoshi would never admit that to the pup.

"How did you become so knowledgeable about the world if you've been a wandering IP for a while?"

He lifted an eyebrow at his Host. "Comes with devouring Dosers really. Us IPs and the Dosers are basically packets of information and the Overworld is some psychic alternate dimension so everything about it has something to do with the mind." A tap to the side of the head added emphasis to his words. "Back when I was a free-roaming IP, devouring a Doser let me take a bit of their knowledge. Taking more than I needed gave me a bit of power to... make modifications on myself."

"So you could say you overdosed?" Ryker snickered at his own little joke while that same attempt at humour made Takoshi roll his eyes.

"You are such a dad."

Ryker gave him a foul stare complete with ears folded back. Whatever he was going to say was abruptly interrupted when a baseball slammed into the chain-link fence.

"Follow through!" Takoshi hollered. "Ignore whatever the fuck that wrinkly bastard is saying! This thing is designed to distract you with that asshole's prerecorded speeches so you pay for another round!" He felt, more than saw, Ryker perplexed look. "Hey, these places have got to make money somehow, right? It's just like that claw machine in the arcade. You're never meant to win."

Another ball came flying by and striking the fence. Ryker flinched as it came dangerously close to his head. Naturally, it would _never_break through the fence but Takoshi hated the idea of any harm coming to his Host. His ears burned at the memory of being made to look like a drunken idiot against Kanoth. The day he had woken up from the hangover, he had vowed he would never again let Ryker be thrown into that kind of danger.

Grumbling loudly, He pulled open the grated door into the batting cage. There was a brief alarm indicating that someone had opened the door and was stepping in. That caused the ball machine to stop momentarily. Summer dropped his beefy arms and slouched forward in defeat.

"I'm a fucking eagle that dresses like a baseball player and I can't even hit a goddamn ball!" lamented the avian.

"You're putting way too much meaning in a fucking game." The scarred bear placed himself behind the eagle. It was only then that he realised he was slightly taller than the recently reborn IP, maybe just an inch or two. Summer's shoulders were broader, however, typical of a baseball player.

Takoshi grabbed the bird's waist and forcibly twisted him a little to the right. Summer struggled for a second before shuffling his feet reluctantly.

"Since when do you know about baseball?" Summer asked. "I thought you were a samurai."

"I know shit about baseball. What I do know is that you're just swinging with your shoulders and arms. No power from your hips. Turn your whole damn body into the swing. Adds more power. It's like if I were to cut someone with just a flick of my wrist. No power in there."

His left paw remained on Summer's waist while his right moved to grab the wrist Summer was using to hold the bat. Summer instinctively grabbed it with both hands and from there, he guided the bat over the eagle's shoulder. Slowly, he pulled the bat forward just like how Summer would perform a swing but as he did so, he put a little pressing on the hip he was grabbing, forcing the bird to twist alongside the swing.

"Angle the swung upwards," he advised. For a moment, he released Summer's surprisingly slim waist and pointed upwards at the big bullseye that hung over the ball machine. The words 'Home Run' were plastered over the sign. "You want to hit that thing up there. You're not going to get there if you just swing downward or straight ahead."

"You sure you really don't know anything about baseball?" Summer pressed with a smirk.

"It's common fucking sense, asswipe." He pulled back, letting Summer do a few more swings on his own. "There, you got the hang of it. Now try to actually hit the fucking ball. That thing is designed to make sure you miss. It's not going to consistently throw you a low fucking ball. Stay on your toes and adjust where you're going to swing."

"More common sense?"

If Oliver's IP was going to be a smarmy bastard, maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea of they quit after AllAle was defeated. "If you don't want to take my advice, then take off that damn helmet and let yourself get brained by the fucking machine. I'll be happy to walk your unconscious ass to your base."

"There are no bases here."

"You know what I mean," Takoshi growled. He slammed a fist against a big red button, triggering the machine to start pitching again. That annoying prerecorded coach began blaring off useless advice again before starting a countdown. On the one, there was a loud buzz and the machine lobbed a slow, low ball at Summer. The eagle was a surprisingly quick study. He swung hard and fast but used all of his upper body into the swing.

WHACK!

The ball went sailing, striking the big red sign above the ball machine.

The monitor showing the coach exploded into a flash of colours and virtual confetti. The words 'Home Run' flashed on screen. Ryker whooped in excitement while Summer grinned broadly.

"Good," Takoshi rumbled. "Now let's see if it wasn't a fluke. You've got six more balls, birdbrain."

Summer gave him an exasperated stare with his beak twisted slightly upwards. "You just can't be happy for anyone can you?" Without waiting for further comment, he repositioned himself in front of the machine, ready to take another swing.

The monitor began another countdown, buzzed and the machine fired another ball. Summer hit it with a resounding crack and again, hit the home run sign with a resounding clang. Again, there was a celebratory noise.

"I'll be happy when you're an actual functioning adult and can take care of your Host without him looking at you like he got third place at the lottery."

The comment caused Summer to lose his composure and had the next ball sailing past him to strike the fence. This time, Ryker didn't flinch and just stared at him in surprise.

"What are you talking about?" asked the avian.

"I've seen the way he looks at you," he answered. "You being here. It's so you can make yourself more useful to him, isn't it?" It was a rhetorical question. He already knew the answer because he had been there himself many times before. It was also obvious that this was Ryker's idea and there was a little bit of annoyance on his part that his own Host would suggest going to these lengths to appease Oliver. His opinion of Oliver lowered as well seeing how the tabby was treating Summer.

"You're your own man," Takoshi continued. "You shouldn't have to make yourself more appealing to anyone. Yeah, Oliver may be your Host but the way I see it, AllAle fucked up the original Summer and you're not his anymore. If you can get away with breaking ties with him, go for it because it's just like what happened with the boy and me. He didn't create me but we still made a pact together. If Oliver can't live with that, fuck him. Move on."

Summer's features softened and he stepped aside, letting the ball sail past him. "This actually isn't that. Ryker suggested that I try and figure out what I want first before I decide what to do about Oliver. I figured I'm a baseball eagle, why not try baseball."

Those words surprised him and he glanced at Ryker who offered him a shrug. Despite being in separate rooms, they had given exactly the same advice to Summer about an hour apart. His heart skipped a beat and the hardened, icy shell he had wrapped around it cracked slightly. Shaking himself free of the fantasies he knew were to come, he looked back to Summer.

"Then if you're wasting your time with this bullshit. This isn't baseball. It's a fucking game." He pulled open the gate again, sending a blaring alarm through the batting cage. "Come on. I know somewhere we can go." He nodded towards his Host. "Hey, Ryker, can you call us a cab? We've got to go a little far though."

The grey-furred pup with the brown cheek ruffs smiled at the mention of his name. Takoshi felt that after the display of wisdom that led them here, Ryker deserved to be called by his name for once. "Where are we going? Might be better to take a train."

"The suburbs."

A combination of train and cab was needed as they travelled outside of Manhattan and into Long Island. Amongst the suburban landscape, Takoshi directed them towards a little, pleasant baseball field. It was one of those that was reminiscent of Little League games without any major stands and just a dirty, unkempt grass littering the field. No one else was present at this time of day as all the kids were at school while the adults were at work. After paying the cab driver, Takoshi immediately took them to the back of the restrooms.

Ryker and even Summer flinched away at the sight of the two hobos crouched behind the squat, brick facility smelling of urine and booze.

"Dover," grumbled the bear. "Hey."

The bigger of the two men, a badger with one eye permanently shut, looked up with his one, good, red eye. The man broke into a toothy grin, showing yellowed fangs. "Well fuck my ass silly. Is that you, Takoshi? What the fuck are you doing in the Realworld?"

Takoshi shrugged and hiked a thumb over his shoulder. "Got myself a Host."

"Damn! Again? And here I thought you'd never go that route again after all the shit you've been saying."

He was all too aware that he had never divulged his past to Ryker but he decided to let it slide for an old friend like Dover. "Yeah, yeah. C'mere." With one paw, he pulled the shorter but still burly badger off his feet and gave him a hug despite the smell. "How you been doing anyway?" he asked before releasing the man with the scraggly hair.

"Oh, you know," answered the badger with a shrug. "Laying low." He glanced towards his partner. "Hey Nat, this is Takoshi Kumareigi, the guy I was telling you about."

The other hobo, a white tiger, suddenly rose in a single smooth movement, graceful like a danger. She lifted the cap she was wearing, affixing both Takoshi and the other two with fierce, sharp, blue eyes. When she spoke, it was with a thick Russian accent.

"Ah yes, the famous Takoshi. The ever-wandering ronin somehow capable of living longer than most other wandering IPs." She stepped forward, holding out a hand that was covered in a woollen glove missing its fingers. "Natasha. That's all you'll need to know."

Takoshi shook her paw. Sensing the confusion from behind him, he turned slightly towards Summer and his Host. "'Natasha' here used to be a Russian corporate spy. She got hired in some tech company's diversity recruitment drive, travelled to California and was there spilling secrets to her Russian counterparts in a competing tech company using the Overworld. She defected for some reason or another."

"Let's call it a difference in opinion with upper management," said the Russian with a tilt of her head. "What brings you to me, Takoshi?"

"I wanted Dover's help." He nodded towards the badger then gestured towards Summer. "This guy used to be a Doser and was recently freed of his Contract. He wants to learn a little more about baseball."

Dover cocked a big, bushy, white eyebrow at the eagle. "Not thinking about being the next Babe Ruth, are you? You know that's a surefire way to get captured again, right?"

"Nothing big," Summer admitted. "I just want to figure out who I am first before I start making any crazy decisions." He lowered his eyes bashfully. "I'm kind of ashamed to admit that this" - he gestured at his body - "isn't exactly of my own creation... or my Host's for that matter."

"Corporations will fuck you over like that," Dover said. "Let me grab some of the equipment from the shed. We can pitch a few balls out on the field. No one is using it today."

Sensing more confusion from the newly awakened avian IP, Takoshi explained. "Dover was an IP made to be a sort of 'general athlete coach' or something. Meant to be the face of some union for athletes or something."

"The idea was to make a sort of virtual coach that up-and-coming athletes could refer to," Dover explained. "The tech company Natasha was working on was meant to build me. Problem was, they were purposefully accepting bribes and not basing analysis on the data. Kids who they thought didn't have that 'star quality' or whom sports teams, colleges or even rich parents paid to promote would be given honest advice while I was meant to give shitty advice to everyone else so that the 'good' players made it to the big leagues."

"That's terrible!" came Ryker's predictable outraged cry. The kid was quite the activist.

"It's business," Natasha answered with a shrug. "You put your money where it's bound to make more money. Doesn't make it right."

"That's why she stole me," Dover snickered, flashing them a grin.

Ryker canted his head slightly. "Wait a second. What's stopping the guys at that tech company from just making a new guy?"

Natasha angled an eyebrow at Takoshi. "Quite the green one you have here." Without waiting for a reply, she turned her sharp gaze back towards the young wolf. "An IP is more than just an idea given shape or form. It's the very representation of that idea." She lifted a finger. "The Overworld is the psychic dimension. An IP, especially one exposed to the public, leaves an impression in the people's mind. A seed. In the beginning, that seed is linked to the IP, dependent on it for nourishment and sustenance. At the same time, every time a person thinks of that IP, it feeds the IP with a little bit of strength."

"It's almost like a 'relevance' system," offered Dover. "If you ain't got the watches, you ain't gonna survive." He gave Takoshi's chest a backhanded slap. "Either you go about eating Dosers, you sustain yourself with a Host or you somehow stay relevant and people will sustain you as long as they think of you. Problem is, without a corporation backing you up, you're going to die sooner or later. The market can turn on you like" - he snapped his fingers - "that."

Natasha nodded grimly. "This is a two way relationship. The people feed the IP and in turn, changes to the IP can influence people. Is how corporations user their Corpsmen to manipulate people's minds. But is not always so clean cut. The idea in person's mind is a reflection of IP. But, eventually, seed can take root. It can fight off other ideas, take nourishment from the individual's personality and thoughts and grow into it's own IP." She waggled her finger at him. "But if you restrict people's creativity, if you stop this natural propagation of idea by forcing people to adhere to the template of a single IP..."

"Like a Doser," provided Dover.

"... just like a Doser, then you are keeping that dependence on the core IP. When that IP is severed from the Overworld or cuts ties from the corporation, you are taking that idea from them and those seeds will be left to wither and die."

Ryker cupped his chin thoughtfully while Summer just gave the two a confused look.

"I think I get it," muttered the wolf. "It's like Dover was all the data, all the programming and all the history of the whole project. You took all of that away. Not just in a physical form but from people's minds as well."

Natasha smiled slightly. "Green you may be but you are a quick learner." She nodded sagely. "Yes. That is exactly it."

"And I'm guessing you're not... unemployed by choice. This is a disguise to keep you from being recognised?"

She shrugged absently. "Today I am hobo. Tomorrow, I may be someone else. I am a spy by trade. That is what I am good at and that is how we survive."

Dover gestured towards the baseball field. "It helps that I basically have a photographic memory of all types of sports, all athletic techniques and whatever else young sportsmen need to excel. I can get a job as a coach or personal trainer easily enough and Natasha can get phony qualifications to keep us from corporate radars. We just like to move about a bit and pretend to be hobos to throw off the scent."

Takoshi glanced towards Ryker with a smirk. "A few years back, they were a 'husband and wife' pair with Dover as the PE teacher at a local elementary school while Natasha was 'Belinda' back then and was a stay-at-home wife."

The badger patted Summer's shoulder. "But we're here to get you a taste of real baseball. Come on out, my friend. I will show you what it means to be a professional athlete."

Summer stammered a few protests but Dover was already pulling him towards the field. Badgers really didn't give a fuck. Takoshi leaned against the short metal fence on the edges of the field while Summer and Dover hit the field. Natasha remained at their side, head pitched forward to hide her features but still looking quite attentively at the two on the field. Despite her ragged clothing, she maintained her figure and upon closer inspection, the clothing weren't really that filthy. They just looked dirty because they consisted of dark colours and didn't match.

She was a spy indeed.

"What's your opinion of the Custodes Libertatis?"

The question came out of left field from Ryker and Takoshi flinched. Natasha cocked an eyebrow at him.

"I see," she mused quietly. "So they recruited you. But you have misgivings?"

"Initially I was all for fighting for IP and Host rights," Ryker admitted. "But Takoshi wasn't too hot on the idea and I can't let those concerns go unanswered." The young wolf leaned forward against the fence, arms dangling over the edge. "So? What do you think of them?"

Natasha turned her eyes back towards the field. "The real question you're asking is why I am not part of the Libertatis if I am anti-corporation."

Trust a spy to be able to get to the crux of an issue.

"The Custodes Libertatis are a bunch of children trying to play superhero," she said at length. "They are presented with incredible power but are too naive to realise exactly what to do with it and what the consequences of their actions would be. Taking down 'corrupt corporations' or 'abusers of the Overworld' is a far too generic law to uphold. With no proper guidelines, what is stopping the Libertatis from merely sending their forces against someone who annoys them? Further, with little governance, there could be others out there who claim to be Libertatis but are truly not. Impostors trying to gain infamy." She turned around, pressing her back against the fence. "The Overworld is much like the internet. You will have trolls, thieves, predators and the naive. You cannot truly police something that extensive without turning into a dictatorship or at least being called a dictator."

She regarded Ryker from the corner of her eye. "Be very careful, young one. Be very careful not to become embroiled in the same control that you claim to be fighting."

Takoshi could see that Ryker's thoughts had gone rather dark but he didn't want to interrupt such brooding. This was a good. Ryker was considering all aspects of the Overworld. The kid was smart; smart enough to question everything that was fed to him even if it was hard to swallow.

They watched Summer get tortured by Dover for a good thirty minutes before the eagle declared that he had enough. With a laugh, Dover pointed him to the showers in the locker room which he had the keys to. There were no questions how a supposedly homeless badger had keys to a locker room in a public baseball field. Dover joined them while they waited for Summer, bringing the reek of booze, piss and now strong body odour with him.

"That kid has some raw talent," admitted the badger. "But he's clueless like most recently freed Dosers. Doesn't really have a personality outside of what's likely been reflected off his Host. He's going to take some time to adjust."

"We did just free him recently," Takoshi admitted. "Just a few days ago. But he's one of those that were rebranded."

Natasha scowled. "Another victim of Alt."

Ryker's ears perked up again. "Alt?"

"Corporations have four very powerful Functions that they share in common. No one knows who_first started sharing these Functions but now every corporation with access to the Overworld has them." She lifted a finger. "The first is _Control. It's what's used to forge a Contract. With Control, they can force someone to do something so long as it is within the terms of the Contract. The second is Alt." She lifted a second finger. "As it's name suggests, it is used to alter anything within the confines of a Contract. That includes rebranding an IP." Just the mention of Alt made Takoshi's skin crawl. He was grateful when Natasha held up a third finger. "The third is Delete. Unlike the other two, it is a purely offensive function that can deal significant damage at a whim. Hard to use, however, as it often takes time to execute correctly." Natasha closed her paw into a fist. "The last and by far the most devastating is Kill."

Ryker's tail went on edge just at the mention of the Function. "It can kill someone?"

"So long as they are bound by a Contract," confirmed Natasha. "These four Functions are generally under the control of the officers. Ask them if you require further information but they are what is used to keep Corpsmen and Dosers in line."

"I wonder why Kanoth didn't use Delete or any of those other Functions on us..." Ryker mumbled.

"Because Delete wounds never really heal," Takoshi said, resisting the urge to grip his scar. "Even rebranding can't fix something that's Deleted. Kanoth sounded like he wanted to capture us and make us into his fucking slaves. Can't do much with damaged goods."

Ryker looked at him and he knew he had said far too much. "Are you speaking from experience, Takoshi?"

This was not a conversation he was ready for.

"What the fuck is taking that damn bird so long?" he lamented, looking towards the locker rooms. "I'm going to go check on him."

He had turned his back and mentally blocked out any of Ryker's protests as he strode towards the small, ugly, sky-blue building made out of painted bricks. There was a sound of water running so he knew that Summer had started to take a shower. What he was not ready for was the eagle standing out in front of the communal showers, staring at the rushing water with a look of utter confusion on his face.

"Don't tell me you're scared of water," Takoshi chuckled.

Summer glanced towards him, beak falling open for a second before shutting again. He pointed a finger at the shower. "I... I don't know how to take a bath."

It took him a second to process those words and even then, there were multiple follow up questions. "You can't be that dumb. When I became self-aware, I knew a few things. Basic hygiene being one of them. How have you been keeping yourself clean these past few days?"

"Yeah but that's because you learn that from your Host. And I've just sort of... tried to avoid being dirty?"

If Summer could remain relatively clean and BO-free for the days that he's been aware, that was fairly impressive. That wouldn't fly past today given he had some heavy exercise. "And I'm sure Oliver takes baths. He's a fucking cat. Licking himself is a fucking bath."

"Exactly!" Summer gestured at his naked form. "I'm a bird! I can't lick myself."

And there was the dilemma. Oliver had fur. Summer had feathers. Newly awakened IPs should have some knowledge of basic hygiene but Summer was not only newly awakened but also newly rebranded. In effect, he was born just a week or so ago. That meant Takoshi effectively had a 300-pound-plus baby of feathery muscle who barely had any idea how to take care of himself.

This was going to be a challenge.

A quick look around revealed that there was some pretty standard soaps and shampoos available for use. They was a whole rack filled with generic brands and probably smelled fouled but it was better than having to deal with Summer's body odour and the awkward silence that would inevitably be punctured by Ryker's query about his past. Along the rack were multiple types products for different species. Short haired shampoos, long hair conditioners, scale oil and, mercifully, feather soaps. Every species needed their own kind of soaps, after all. He had to remember to ask Ryker to buy him something for a longer, denser coat. The pup's shampoo-conditioner combination was built for a wolf not a bear.

He plucked the soap from the rack and then tossed it towards Summer. "Here. Try this stuff."

Summer regarded the little green bottle curiously. "Do I... Do I put it on my head like shampoo?"

Takoshi groaned. "Oh for fuck's sake..." He marched over and began stripping off his shirt.

"What are you doing!?" Summer exclaimed.

"Since you clearly can't bathe yourself, I'm going to have to do it for you. Just pay attention, birdbrain. Our shower back home ain't big enough for two guys our size so this it the only time I'm going to show you." He pressed two big paws against the eagle's back and pushed him right under the shower head. Then he reached past the newly freed IP and gave the dials a twist.

As predicted, Summer let out a yelp as a cold water hit him. Takoshi immediately held him down to keep him in place. "It's not going to get any colder. Just stay still and don't waste any fucking water." He began running his paws across the eagle's shoulders, guiding the water across the avian's muscular form. Not bad all things considered. "You're a bird. Unlike those of us with fur your outer layer of feathers aren't designed for prolonged exposure to water so you've got to be careful not to scrub too hard or this'll happen." He ran a paw roughly across Summer's shoulder and the avian immediately flinched. One of his big, brown feathers fell off and landed in Takoshi's paw. "You'll be a bald eagle in more than one way."

The blue-eyed bird grimaced at the feather. "You guys don't have this kind of problem?"

"With proper care, our fur doesn't break so easily. Your feathers have a slick layer of oil on them to help keep them free of water but it's not the outer coat, the thicker feathers, you should be worried about." Takoshi brushed his feathers in the opposite direction, against the 'grain' of Summer's feathers and pushing the dark brown, larger plumes aside to reveal the thicker, fluffier feathers beneath. "Your scent, sweat and shit gets stuck in this layer. You can clean the outer layer all you want but if you don't clean this shit up, you're going to stink up the place, attract parasites and even get an infection."

He reached past Summer, the cold water hitting his forearm as he plucked the bottle of feather soap from the bird's hands. "That's where this comes in." A quick squeeze of the bottle and a watery, greenish goo dropped into his palm. There were little silvery flakes in it and it exuded an awful artificial, minty smell. It left a burning sensation in his nose. He quickly began rubbing it against Summer's arms, making sure to go against the grain of his feathers to make sure that it got into his skin.

"How do you guys bathe?" asked the eagle, holding out his hand. Takoshi complied by squirting a bit of the shampoo into the offered palm.

"After a while our fur gets soaked. It's not so much of a concern if we lose a few strands here and there as it's not plainly obvious but for you, it'd be fucking obvious."

"I can still feel that feather you plucked out..." admitted the eagle as he began rubbing his chest, making sure to get under the top layer of feathers and into the softer layer beneath. "How do you know so much about this?"

"I've been around a while. The Overworld can be a huge repository of ads and corporate slogans so you pick up on this shit." Takoshi lifted his voice into a high pitched mockery of a energetic salesperson. "Tired of feathers falling out? Try our new no-pluck shampoo! Guaranteed to reduce 99.9% of feather loss during your daily baths!"

Summer snickered. "Really?"

"Yeah but you know that whole 99.9% bullshit is to cover their asses in case you do go bald because of their product."

The eagle's eyes dropped sorrowfully. "You're so much more experienced than I am. Next to you, I must seem like a big, dumb brick."

Self-loathing. That was the worst kind of IP out there. Arrogant bastards, corporate sellouts and zombie IPs, he could take but it's when IPs hated themselves and blamed themselves for what they were that really irked him.

This had to stop.

Takoshi seized Summer's shoulders, spun him around and then slammed him hard against the shower walls. The bird let out a loud squawk as the bear pinned him to the wall, staring directly into those stunned brown eyes. "There are three things anyone, including Hosts, can't pick." He held up three fingers. "Our origin, our birthday and anyone else's origin or birthday. So don't go comparing yourself to me or anyone else because what made me who I am today won't make you a better man. You live your life." He hiked a thumb against his chest. "I'll live mine. Got that?"

Summer swallowed loudly and was suddenly strangely speechless. All the avians Takoshi had ever known were always very chatty, even the crows. Then again, Summer was just starting to find his identity so it wasn't a surprise that the eagle might have been intimidated by Takoshi's outburst. An apology was halfway up his throat when Summer's eyes darted briefly downward. He followed the gaze and noticed that the newly awakened IP had glanced at his flaccid dick... and that Summer's own pink, fleshy member was already at half-mast.

For a second, he wondered if there were some sort of ethical conundrums over fucking an IP who was just under a week into awareness.

Then he decided, 'Fuck it'.

Literally.

He dove for Summer's neck, the eagle immediately gasping and arching he head away as Takoshi's mighty jaws clamped around his jugular and held it firmly between his lips. Warm water rained down on top of them but that was nothing compared to the heat of the polar bear's tongue sliding up and down the muscles of that corded neck. He was sure to slip his surprisingly flexible tongue beneath the feathers, squirming past the under layer so he could brush it against Summer's flesh. A shudder ran throughout the entire avian's body. Had his coat not been wet from the prolonged shower, every feater surely would have stood on end.

It was obvious from the head radiating from Summer's groin that he was enjoying this very much. It was a boost to the old ego to feel that hot prick growing harder and harder, stretching longer as it filled with blood and brushing against Takoshi's leg as it rose to full attention. Certainly nothing as arousing as watching a feral dick rise out of a sheath but still arousing. His blood burned to stick his dick in something and it was made all the hotter at the touch of Summer's rapid pulse against his tongue.

He pushed himself closer to the eagle, his two large paws still holding onto the avian's shoulders tightly though not as roughly as before. Summer's feathered hands inched towards his waist, grasping the hardened muscle and running his thumbs across the lines of the Apollo's Belt. The bird's tongue slipped out between his beak, panting while gazing upwards oblivious to the rain of water pouring onto his head and into his eyes.

Takoshi slowly ran his tongue up the bird's neck, inching slowly and seductively towards the hidden ears.

"Turn around."

Summer obeyed without question. The Adonis amongst bald eagles pressed his chest against the ugly, dark-brown tiles and lifted his fan-like tail to reveal the pink, needy, virgin pucker nestled between two plump glutes. Takoshi licked his lips, running his paw up and down his rapidly growing length. There was no waiting for his dick to be fully erect. He pushed his leaking dick between those two mountainous, feathery buns, the heat of Summer's need drawing him in until the tip of his semi-hard dick pressed up against the ring of his pucker.

"Oh god..." moaned the eagle, pressing his forehead against the tiles. The muscles on his back were bunched in tension, bracing for the moment when Takoshi would enter him. "Is this what it feels like to be penetrated?"

"I'm not even in yet," answered the bear, slowly grinding his dick up and down the crevasse of the eagle's ass. "If you're having second thoughts..."

"N - No," panted Summer. "J - Just nervous." He let out a soft laugh and turned his head to glance at Takoshi. "Y - You know, I was actually hoping Oliver would be my first. Seeing how I was a chick before, maybe him fucking me would get him to bridge that gap."

Takoshi growled. "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard and I'm going to punish you for it."

He shoved a good two inches of dick into the eagle.

Summer let out a loud screech, throwing his head back and gargling a bit of the water. "Oh fuck!"

"Feels good, doesn't it?" Takoshi rumbled, sliding his cock an inch out and then pushing it back in. Summer's entire body shuddered, the heat radiating from it almost enough to reduce the water to steam.

"Oh shit... It feels... It feel so good..." Summer lifted his right hand, balling it into a fist and placing it into his beak. Almost in a whisper, he said, "Deeper..."

"I didn't catch that," Takoshi demanded coyly. "What did you say?"

"Deeper..."

"Louder!"

"Deeper!" Summer cried. "Deeper! Fuck me!"

Now at full mast, Takoshi thrust another two inches into the bird, making Summer moan with every inch that moved. His thrusts were fast and powerful but every time he pulled back, he was sure to slow it down and make sure they both enjoyed the moment. At a total of five inches, Summer was pressed up against the shower wall, his cheek pressed against the tiles and his eyes glazed over. There was nowhere for him to escape anymore and as Takoshi pushed a sixth inch deeper, Summer was moaning so loudly it drowned out the roar of the shower above them.

"You one something a chick would never enjoy out of this?" Takoshi said, as the seventh inch drew him even closer. He got no reply from Summer save for a few high-pitched whines. "Women won't ever know it feels to be fucked and get your dick stroked at the same time."

With those words, he reached around Summer's waist and grabbed the steel-like cock bobbing against the eagle's strong abdominals. Summer went rigid for a moment, clarity returning to his eyes. Takoshi thrust, pushing his paws to the tip of the avian's mushroom-shaped glands. Then, as he pulled back, he drew his paws backwards from the tip of the surprisingly girthy dick towards the base. Summer let out a string of incorrigible words occasionally interrupted by a lusty moan.

The eagle was a fairly good length, ten inches at least from his best estimate. Nothing as long as Takoshi's but definitely thicker. Another inch into that virgin ass and that dick spasmed in excitement. The balls covered in a soft layer of fluffy feathers jostled when his paw reached the base of that long cock. One inch deeper and he was almost entirely on top of the bird, his hot breath wafting down Summer's neck even as the shower continued to rain down upon them. His balls were getting tighter and he was getting closer to blowing his load. If there was anything he learned from all those porn IPs that he had consumed, it was how to to keep himself from cumming too early. Unless he was going for a multi-orgasm scene.

Remembering just how much the eagle loved having his neck played with, he leaned forward, pushing another inch deeper into the feathery, wet ass and eliciting a moan from the man beneath him. His right paw roved away from Summer's cock, rubbing a bit of the precum from the leaking dick into the bird's thick thighs.

"You're not Oliver's Summer," rumbled Takoshi, nipping at the bird's neck and causing a shudder across the eagle's body. He traced the lines of that quad, groping the thick, steel-like muscles and following the curves as they naturally led towards the bird's tight ass.

Smack!

The slap made Summer gasp and jerk back but he couldn't move too far as Takoshi's jaws were hovering around his neck.

"Hell, you know what?" rumbled the bear. "We're going to give you a new name."

"W-w-what...?" stammered the bird, his eyelids flickering.

"Summer was that fucking peahen that wasn't even that busty. You're this juicy piece of ass." For emphasis, he dug his claws into the avian's ass, pulling at it slightly to let himself dive another inch deeper.

"You're a sexy male."

His fingers rolled up the curve of that ass and traced the lines of Summer's back.

"A powerful... tight..." He felt greater resistance against his dick, likely hitting his limit at 12 inches. "... bird."

He pulled out about halfway before driving in slower, sexually but still strong enough that his balls slapped against the bird's ass.

"You're a male."

He tightened his grip around Summer's dick, drawing a long stroke that made the bird moan in ecstasy.

"Be proud of that."

It took all of his paw just to wrap around one of Summer's back muscles. The group of strong, steel-like muscles hidden beneath a layer of wet, brown feathers roiled against his touch and twitched, maybe even flexed a little. That was good.

"Find yourself," commanded Takoshi, his tongue sliding up Summer's neck. "Find a name for yourself."

The eagle moaned. "Give me a name... Name me."

Seemed like this big bird was very much a submissive. No problem with that. What was a good name for someone like him? Something big, something powerful but one that also reflected the bird's gentle nature.

"Soren," he rumbled. "You're Soren."

The newly named avian arched his neck towards him, a look of appreciate but also confusion in his eyes. "Soren?"

"Yeah." Takoshi suddenly pushed his cock deep into the bird, bringing a loud squawk. "Now I want you to say it." He pulled back one more time and then thrust deep and hard. "What's your name?"

The cock in his paw was twitching hard and like molten lead. He was close and so was Takoshi. This had to be fast and hard. With another powerful thrust, he shouted, "Say your name!"

"Soren..." gasped the newly awakened IP.

"Louder!" Takoshi demanded, his balls jostling with his increasing pace.

"Soren," came the more resolute answer.

"Louder!"

"Soren! My name is..."

Every muscle in Soren's body suddenly went rigid including the glutes that were tightly wrapped around Takoshi' dick. His eyes rolled into the back of his head and his half-open beak went slack, a choking gasp leaving his throat in tandem with the jets of hot spunk that exploded from his dick. The sudden tightness around Takoshi's cock was almost enough to push him to the limit, almost. All he needed was one more powerful thrust, burying himself as deep as he could into the bald eagle as he could before letting the floodgates open. His own seed came churning up from his balls, rocketing up the entire length of his cock before exploding out from the tip of his glands and filling the eagle. The first blast was enough to cause Soren to gasp and shudder, letting loose another jet of cum. The next one was just a step behind Takoshi's second and they quickly beat out a rhythm of pulsating man milk.

Soren's knees went weak but Takoshi wrapped his arm around the bird's chest and kept him upright.

"Soren..." mumbled the eagle. "My name is Soren."

Takoshi gave the bird a light kiss on the neck. "Good boy."

Then he pulled himself out, fast and mercilessly. Soren moaned, a sound that grew louder with every inch that was pulled out of him. One last burst of cum exploded from his cock when Takoshi's glands came out with a soft 'pop'. A trail of seed drizzled onto Soren's ass as a result.

It took another ten minutes before they were fully cleaned up as he had to teach Soren how to apply avian oil to restore the sheen to his feathers and strengthen them again to keep them from breaking. It was much like conditioner for furs. When they were done, it was just a little past noon and Takoshi was feeling a little hungry.

"Anyone hungry?" he asked, patting his stomach. "I'm starving."

"What took you two so long?" Dover asked, cocking an eyebrow that indicated he knew the answer to that question.

"Soren needed to be taught how to bathe properly," he answered, hiking a thumb at the eagle. "He didn't know how to use shampoo and the oil."

"Soren?" Ryker asked. "You decided to change your name?"

The burly bald eagle nodded. "I'm not the bird that Oliver came up with. I'm his IP but not the one he made. He'll have to live with that. I'll try to make it work but I need to separate myself from 'Summer'. I'm never going to live up to that idea. I'm my own."

Natasha cracked the first smile she had ever given since they started talking. "Good. An IP trying to be another IP is despicable. There's a word for that."

"Neurosis?" Ryker offered. "Identity theft? Inferiority Complex?"

She shook her head and turned to leave.

"Plagiarism."

Ryker lifted a finger like he was about to say something but then curled that same finger as if realising that Natasha wasn't _technically_wrong. The expression on his face made Takoshi chuckle.

A soft ringing interrupted Natasha's departure and Ryker's reverie. The grey-furred wolf reached for his pocket and pulled out his phone. There was a look of surprise on his features prompting Takoshi to look over his shoulder. Even he was surprised when he realised that the call was calling from Kanoth.

"Don't -" he began but Ryker had already hit the 'receive' button, offering Takoshi a shrug.

"Hello?"

Cocking his ear, Takoshi tried to hear what the newly handicapped gopher had to say.

"I've got some bad news," came the grave response.

If that news was 'I've backstabbed you and you're going to be dead in 30 seconds', Takoshi mentally swore that he would personally wring that bespectacled ass' neck.

"Aileen Raskeil is throwing a party in two days for investors and the board of directors at her place," the gopher said. "She's going to get the Corpsmen to act as waiters and waitresses."

"She's going to get them to implant the idea that everything is fine into their minds," Ryker concluded without skipping a beat. "Our window of opportunity to stop AllAle is closing."

"Exactly. Can we meet?"