Book 2: Living free from Jupiter's law - Rising from the ashes of Herbay

Remembering Dana Burn

Louis finished sorting out some papers and gave final instructions to Tomass, Lord Aisha Rosen's domestic assistant and highly experienced former furniture in charge of the Apex Level, who would coordinate Eos tower in his absence. He rarely took a day off but this time Orphe's insistence on inviting him out expressed particular urgency, and Louis knew exactly why.

He had not forgotten Lord Zavi's dismayed expression when, two years ago, the tremendous shockwave of a distant explosion rattled the walls of Eos, and the investigations immediately following led to a series of discoveries that would bring down his assurances one after another.

"Iason was there, right in the epicenter. He did not survive," Raoul had revealed to him, his face ashen and a bewildered look. "He had gone alone to rescue his pet. It was another mongrel, somehow related to him, who set off the dynamite."

Orphe couldn't believe it. How could Iason let his guard down, make himself vulnerable, and get annihilated by a low-level human being? It made no sense at all! It was a shock he would not easily recover from but there was no time for dismay: the truth had to be covered up. No one but him, Raoul, and Jupiter should know about it.

...and Louis. In fact, Lord Zavi had gone to his offices that night and despaired, telling him what he shouldn't reveal. No one in Eos was more discreet than the chief coordinator of furnitures and the secret never leaked, but the fact that Orphe had gone precisely to him to confide and seek comfort had sown the seed for something destined to grow, even though for almost two years the Blondie and the eunuch would try to deny and hide their feelings.

The invitation was to a quaint floating hotel, the most exclusive in that part of the galaxy. It was accessed by private airships that departed from the spaceport north of Tanagura. After an unforgettable dinner, they would spend two nights and a day suspended between heaven and earth, in a crystal-walled suite with incomparable views of the constellations and the firmament.

Louis knew exactly what Orphe expected of him. He was equally impatient. He had even prepared for the occasion.

It was not the preparation of a teenager on his first date, based on choosing clothes and taking care of his physical appearance. It was a mature and conscious preparation of his body that had been going on for days: first with his fingers, then with dilators of gradually increasing diameter. Louis was aware of the anatomical features of the Elites and wouldn't risk being physically overwhelmed by it. He knew that being careful was his responsibility because Lord Zavi, being a Blondie, would be unable to control his impulses and was unaware of human limitations.

Louis was a little scared but would go on because his relationship with Orphe was the most precious thing he had, and he had already accepted this part of his fate.

With a smile he looked at his wrist, where a watch with delicate lines had replaced the old furniture tag. Already seven o'clock. It was time to finish packing his things and put on his tuxedo.

***

Katze received a call on his personal communicator. Upon seeing the name of the person on the other side, a feeling of veiled serenity infected his lips.

- Good evening, Raoul... Tomorrow for dinner at your house, you say? What time? ... Why not. Thanks for the invitation. -

He set the device on the table and directed his gaze to the large living room windows that faced the terrace, offering an incomparable panoramic view of Apathia at night.

Tomorrow. Just tomorrow.

It was a curious date to get together. He wondered if Iason and Riki would also be there. After all, the main players in the event that began the social metamorphosis of the planet and changed the lives of many were just the four of them: Iason, Riki, Katze, and Guy.