The movie was so much fun. Even the sex scene, which Iuo filmed as tastefully as Andrew and Lucas’ personal movie. Chef’s kiss.

Now onto less fun things.

Andrew asked, “Are you sure you want to go through with this?”

He and Lucas were standing in the memory research lab, facing the special case with Razor’s nacre inside. Kyle and Silence waited respectfully to the side as the other couple talked it out.

Lucas stared at the nacre with nothing readable in his expression. The longer they’d gone since he’d outed himself as Aegis, the more he looked the part. No perception filter—All-white features. The brocade three-piece wasn’t exactly uncharacteristic of him, but the way he moved in it was. Lucas glided, almost floated in a graceful ballet of gestures and movements which mesmerized Andrew—

Literally hypnotized him.

It was beautiful, awesome, and, if Andrew was less in love with the man, a touch frightening. Matt had told Andrew once about how Razor had punched a guy at the Night Rayne concert, and the man had exploded on contact. That kind of power was unimaginable. Not even Rayne was capable of it.

“You’re staring, lover.”

Caught, Andrew confessed, “I was only admiring you.”

The goofy grin which spread across Lucas’ lips was only for Andrew. The last Aegis said, “Your admiration is priceless to me.” He kept his eyes on the nacre as the smile faded. “Thank you for being here. Thank you, all.” He gestured at Kyle and Silence.

Kyle said, “Let me know when you’re ready. The sooner we get this over with, the sooner we can all go to bed. If you know what I mean?”

Andrew shook his head incredulously, but Lucas was smiling again.

Silence kissed Kyle’s cheek before approaching Lucas’ side. He peered up at her as she said, “Three Two Four will listen, and I think he’ll agree. It won’t be easy—Not at first. But you are anything if not persistent, old friend.”

Like Andrew, Lucas was shorter than Silence, so he had to stand on tiptoe to kiss her forehead as he whispered, “Have I mentioned how happy I am that I awakened you?”

“If I haven’t already said it, thank you.” Silence beamed at him with her thousand-watt smile.

Between that and Andrew taking Lucas’ hand, the last Aegis took a shaky breath. Ready. “Let’s do this.”

Kyle opened the way into Razor’s memory bank, and Andrew stood in a monochromatic display of the Pain Curator’s life. Music staffs lined the walls, white on black, with a faint glow from the lines.

Memoryscapes had always fascinated Andrew, and Razor’s was no exception. They were all dressed in pinstripe suits. Razor even did their hair. The men in slicked-back ponytails beneath gangster fedoras. Silence’s hair was in a pencil bun, with the blue stripe left out and twisted to the side. Judging by the smile on her face, she was rather fond of it.

Lucas, however, was dressed in a black waistcoat, black button-down, and black slacks. He looked like a pallbearer at an expensive funeral. There was a rose in his breast pocket, and it was yellow, like Aegis blood. The stars of his pupils shifted places as he peered around the room before settling on Andrew.

The younger man tried to smile and reassure his alien lover, but this wasn’t a straightforward task ahead of them. So he took Lucas’ hand and squeezed before mouthing, “Say. Something.”

Kyle nodded encouragingly, and Silence patted Lucas’ shoulder.

“Three Two Four, I come to you with an offer I hope you’ll consider taking.”

The four guests in Razor’s memoryscape glanced amongst themselves, waiting for a sign from a deranged sociopath. Reformed, deranged sociopath? Was anyone clear yet on Razor’s denomination?

When no response came, Kyle said. “Razor, Xelan doesn’t know we’re here. We thought you’d might like to surprise your old friend if you agree to our terms.”

The multiple scenes on all six walls shifted into one, and Andrew patted Lucas so he would notice. It was black and white, but one feature was in color. Yellow blood. It oozed out of Razor’s nail beds as his brothers tied him down and ripped his fingernails out.

Lucas swallowed audibly before saying, “I wasn’t there. I was already on my journey to repair the Probability Matrix.”

Text appeared in black script over the white images.

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You were not there to stop it, either.

Andrew hated the shame on Lucas’ face. It was the same expression in Lucas’ memory when he’d passed Razor by on Ishkur’s bridge. All the Aegis had treated Razor like a monster long before he came to be one—Nature versus nurture, and all that.

While Andrew smoothed a hand in a circle on Lucas’ back, Kyle tried a different approach. “We want to make a deal with you, Pain Curator. A man like you enjoys making deals. Especially when you come out better for it in the end, which I have no doubt you will.”

The images disappeared, and the screens returned to a black background with white musical staffs. On the lines, words appeared.

I like you, Mr. Roberts. State your case.

From Sagan, Matt, and Pehton’s stories, Andrew knew Razor liking someone was more a curse than a blessing. And Kyle paled slightly at the commentary.

Silence didn’t. She stepped forward in her slitted pencil skirt and touched the wall, curiosity plain on her face.

Andrew and Kyle jumped back when Razor appeared on the screen, twin crescent pupils in his eyes like an alien reptile. Of course, his suit was white with black pinstripes, double-breasted, and it looked immaculate, accompanied by a top hat and cane.

Darling, I have always wanted to make your acquaintance.

Silence grinned. “Listen to their offer, and you may have the chance.”

Kyle slipped an arm possessively around her waist, deepening her smile.

Razor smirked and quirked a curious brow.

His flirtatious expression flattened as Lucas made the proposal. “I found Celindria’s lab here in this Probability, and in it, she’d stored certain samples. You, obviously. But Triss also…”

On the screen, Razor didn’t seem remotely surprised. Almost as if he already knew Celindria had kept archives of him and others from the Emporium.

Lucas continued, “The Shadow are in need of a mind who understands those predators living beneath society, not only with appetites for vice, but possessing the skillset to market it for others. If you profile for us and adhere to the strict rehabilitation program, we’ll resurrect Triss and provide you with a home to luxuriate in each other’s arms for the rest of your days—Without harming others.”

Andrew blew the air from his cheeks, ignoring the urge to whistle. This was an impressive offer—A gambit to satisfy all their wrongs.

Razor was a wrong.

The look on Kyle’s face after he’d spent a day perusing Razor’s memory—Xelan’s insistence there was some good in the man—And Sagan’s controversial relationship with the Pain Curator all supported the theory he was someone worthy of rehabilitation.

Every time Andrew heard the story of Three Two Four, the cautionary tale of a young man born different from his family, Andrew couldn’t help but see a bit of himself in it. Sure, bisexuality wasn’t the same as a man destined to destroy his own race, but othering was othering.

The four waited expectantly for Razor’s reply. So far, he’d seemed non-responsive, but that was the Aegis way. Even Lucas sometimes formed his more human expressions for Andrew’s benefit, and Andrew knew it.

Even though Razor kept his face neutral, text appeared on the wall.

What of Echo?

Andrew almost cringed. This was the question they’d hoped to avoid. It was uncomfortable, and that was apparent on Kyle’s and Silence’s faces. Triss had died to bring Echo into this world. It stood to reason she’d insist on taking her daughter back as part of this arrangement.

Lucas’ voice was matter of fact. “I think you know the answer.”

Good. This wasn’t even up for discussion. Andrew trusted Lucas not to negotiate visitation or parental rights over Korac and Sagan’s baby girl. Beside Andrew, Kyle’s body gave one gigantic sigh of relief, while Silence watched on, unsurprised.

The question disappeared from the screen, replaced by another.

And my bones?

The Aegis had formed nacres from their bones, and it was a unique material no resurrection casket could replicate. There was only one place in the galaxy with an abundance of the material.

Andrew glanced over at Lucas, who answered, “I will fetch the ore from Thailea myself. There are many regrets between us, and I won’t let providing you an inferior form count among them. You will be Aegis again.”

Wow.

Andrew’s brows shot up and everything. Kyle shifted uncomfortably.

Silence said, “Three Two Four, I was wronged for most of my conscious existence. I know some of your sorrow. Come to the Shadow, leaving as many burdens in your past as you can. Try to open yourself to any happiness that was ever denied you, or you will only prolong your suffering unnecessarily.”

My dear, from anyone else, those words would carry little weight. From you, they could pull down the sun. As for the golden child, I sense guilt in you. The Shadow seeks absolution for the righteous end of my pitiable existence without fully understanding it. Live my life, expose my sins, and then make the offer again. Triss, too. Let us come to your ‘rehabilitation program’ not as strangers, but as welcome guests of honor. Make no mistake, we will make the most of it.

Andrew tasted the ghost of an intention in the words and discerned its depths.

Ambition.

That was all Andrew gleaned. Raw, unsaturated purpose. But with no hint as to Razor’s aim, how could Andrew interpret it fairly? And did it matter? Kyle’s rehabilitation program would eliminate any of Razor’s ill intentions, and this was why Andrew wouldn’t say anything. The last thing he wanted was to come between Lucas’ reconciliation with his younger brother.

Kyle stepped up next. “I’ve offered the deep dive into your life to Xelan. He turned it down, citing trust and honor and all that shit. He thinks you’ll reform on your own merit, despite your history. Now will you disappoint someone who considers you a friend or will you commit to this, your only chance to prove Sagan and T.a.o. saw something in you once worth redeeming?”

Nice evocation of the girls’ trust. If Razor wasn’t watching them, Andrew would probably bump Kyle’s fist.

The long pause stretched, leaving the four of them staring into the Pain Curator’s unfathomable eyes.

Lucas looked uncertain how to proceed until Silence nudged him. He looked at her, and she smiled. Although the transaction was wordless, Lucas got the message and stepped up to Razor’s image on the wall. He said, “I want to make amends to the brother I couldn’t save, no matter all the ways I tried. Despite the horrors you’d subjected Korac to, he agrees. There is a path for you, Three Two Four. Give the Shadow—Give me a chance to save you. One last time.”

Andrew held his breath, Kyle crossed his fingers, and Silence placed a supportive hand on Lucas’ back.

What would Razor choose?

The Pain Curator answered with a congenial smile.