The Savage Stillness of the Universe

[Valodya Bassarov]

the new thread

[Kassenia]

"Poor Valodya. The life of revolution is not good enough it seems. Sure you have excitement and trials...but whats in it for you? You are bored with the monotony of having to day in and day out tell all of the mindless sheep what to do. You are repulsed that no one takes initiative for themselves and always asks...Bass what can I do? I pity you for that if nothing else. That none of your people care as much as you about the cause. They do what is conveniant and serves their own petty needs while you break your back for something you believe in. Am I close?"

I lean forward and grab the remote. I lean back as well and turn to look at him. I put the remote between us.

"Stay here and watch TV with me. Or we can do anything you like. I will not ask anything of you. Its kind of nice having someone around for a change. And if you are dissatisfied...bored as you said...perhaps you should do something to change it."

[Valodya Bassarov]

"I am bored for more personal reasons. Those things you listed frustrate but challenge me. It is in my personal life that I need more challenges and perhaps I will take some initiative there." Bassarov smiles and moves closer to her.

"Are you certain that Mischa is safe? Has someone rescued him?"

[Kassenia]

I move away from him slightly annoyed he brought up Mischa again.

"Yes he is safe. He was rescued in one sense of the word. An operative has taken him into their care. He will not be tortured anymore and he will be cared for until his wounds are healed and then released. This operative it seems has the same flaw I do when it comes to you rebels..."

I scoff. Bassarov would find out the truth if I just said another rebel had rescued Mischa. So I told him a twisted version of the truth. I had lied a bit but Bassarov would not know. It could be chalked up to misinformation if I am confronted later. I told him what he wanted to know however. And left out what he should not hear...

"It seems I am not alone in my compassion for you law breaking thorns in our sides. However sometimes pains must be endured to truely appreciate what you have."

I stay away from him but put my hand on his. He is so...naive sometimes.

[Kaitalish]

"Actually," I say as I step from the shadows.

"I do wish for La Resistance to be struck against. Faust, I want you to go with Rasputin. He is a powerful man and his vast experience will be good for you. I will allow Nitas and Lisa to carry out their attack on the Hedonists on their own, they work well as a unit and I do not think they will need your support to defeat such a trivial group as the hedonists."

[Valodya Bassarov]

Bassarov moves closer once again likely without realizing what he is doing.

"Kaieka is back around again. I suppose that makes things awkward for you. Though you two really are different. You are much nicer. I doubt that she would do all that you have done for me."

[Rasputin]

"Excelent, this will be a wonderful test of my powers. Oh, I also heard that there is a mercenary interested in joining our group. I do not know his real name but I think others call him Outlaw. Someone should look into this."

[Kassenia]

Again he mentions someone who really chaffes I disagree. I turn my body so I am facing him. I move my face so it is right before his own.

"Yes it is a bit d**n weird. To know I am derrived from someone like her. But I was made from her after she knew you. She isn't the same as she was before. I do not wish to talk about your ex girlfriend nor your current boyfriend or any of your f**k buddies....."

I realize I am bantering this man. He seemed to be semi concerned and I attacked him for it.

"Sorry but a girls got limitations. I myself have been bored and disenchanted by my life recently. I feel as if i have no place now. I was Kassenia Kaiekas clone. Now I am just a poor copy of the original. Even my torture is nothing compared to hers now. I am useless and not wanted any longer. I need something too...I guess we are both in the same boat."

I lower my eyes ashamed for having unloaded on him. He was not my friend and I could not pretend he was. I was as I am to everyone...a tool to be used.

[Valodya Bassarov]

"I'm sorry. I'm being insensitive. Listen, I do use you and I have not treated you justly. We could just hang out. Would you like to watch a movie?"

Bassarov lets go of her hand and checks her movie collection.

"Ah, how about "Plan 9 From Outspace". I hear it's really good."

[Kassenia]

"Yes it is a good one. I would like to hang out with you."

I get up and put the disc in. I cut it on and sit back down closer to Bassarov.

"Actually Valodya...out of all of the people who use me, I do not mind that you do. I guess it makes me feel as if i have some role in your life other than tormentor. Don't get me wrong I love to tempt and tease you and make you squirm but I also long for what you have. You have so much in your life that I lack. I suppose I try to torture you because I am jealous of you."

Without thinking I move closer to him and lay my head on his shoulder. I also grab his hand once more.

"Perhaps just for today...just for this movie I could pretend to have something. I will not try to cause you total and utter pain, and you can not ask me to betray my government. I could pretend that you are my friend? I could maybe see what its like to have at least someone."

I look up at him my cold eyes sad.

[Valodya Bassarov]

"Of course. I have no where to go, and if..everyone is safe I can be with you tonight."

Bassarov rubs her shoulder and kisses the top of her head gently. He lingers to inhale the scent of her silky black hair.
He feels sorry for her, a sad attraction. He does not wish to pity any one. But she is the clone of his ex lover. Her whole existance is to cause him and others pain. She has no one or nothing that is her own.

"Kassenia, I will visit you more. You shouldn't be alone. And sometimes my life is too stiffling. At least you give me some liberation."

He kisses her lips.

[Mikhael Nadyezhda (Mischa)]

I sit up on the bed complacently as she chains me to it.

"Well... Can I smoke in here?"

[Kassenia]

I lean into him as he kisses me. This is what I had waited for so long. I had wanted him to give himself over to me. This was a small victory. But why did it make me feel bad? I pull away slightly and look into his eyes. I run my hand through his hair and rest it on the nape of his neck.

"Do not pity me Valodya. I am what I was meant to be. Liberation? Me whose job it is to try to imprison you? How ironic. But I know what kind of a man you are Valodya. I know what you need and what you want. I mearly try to leave you be. No one can tame a wild beast so why try? Let him be wild and perhaps you can glimpse him everyonce and awhile in his glory. Chain him up and he will wither and die. Don't your conquests understand you at all? See me whenever you like. All I want is for you to...feel free...funny that I should feel that way. me the big bad torturist."

She leans in again and straddles him on the couch. Her legs over his, her body resting on him. She leans forward and kisses him sweetly and tenderly. She could never possess him as the others did. But she did not need to. She did not wish to own him.

[Julia]

I make sure that the shackles will work and it looks like they do. I take them off since I want him free for the moment.

"Sure you can smoke, I don't care."

I sit on my bed and glance up to him.

"Why are you a rebel? Why don't you join Red Infinity?We could work together."

[Mikhael Nadyezhda (Mischa)]

I sit on her bed cross legged, and light up a cigarette.

"I was with Red Infinity." I say, taking a drag on my cigarette. "but they betrayed the revolution. I can't in good conscience go back. That, and I'm pretty wanted right now as is, they would never trust me."