The weeks and months after losing his job and home were some of the worst of his life. He’d been alright for the first week or so, but after that, the odd jobs dried up, and what little money he’d saved had evaporated on daily living costs. Without so much as a change of clothing to his name, he’d taken to zipping down the overalls and letting them hang around his waist during the warmer days and nights, while still using them as intended otherwise.


It seems whatever that kirin had done was a black mark on his name everywhere that reported to the central government. The only thing that ever came back is the status “Unhireable”. And just like that, he had become an undesirable. Someone unemployable, unable to work or function in spite of his obvious skill or talent in the mechanical and information, and technology fields. His name now but a stain, his life seemingly made worthless.


He hitched a ride to neighboring cities a time or two in search of work there, but it was always the same. And with the nature of the smaller cities, he found it harder to find places to sleep that didn't see him chased off or beaten in some cases. Whereas the larger city he came from had dark alleys to hide in and an abundance of thrown away food.


He always came back to the city. A parasite now. Living off the bloated body that was society in general. Feeding off of its leftovers, hiding in the unpatrolled areas of its extensive framework. And yet be it out of pride or fear he could not sell himself even as a common whore. The offer had come a few times, and more than once had been very tempting. But all the same, what if it was a trap. Deer where desired as a black market food source after all. And what if he ended up with some disease. The risks too great, the rewards too small.


And so it was he went on existing. Not living, but merely consuming resources, producing nothing of value, and growing weaker and more desperate day by day. But all hope was not lost. He’d made friends with a small group of others in his situation. Most of them had been at this far longer than he had for sure. 


Ott; the otter was the leader of this small group that he now called his own. He was a lively spirited man in his mid 40s. He loved going on about how he hated his real name and never went by it. He laughed long and hard at it from time to time, putting on a highly pompous voice and declaring himself “Sir. Oswald the third!” He found it overtly pompous and simply chose to go by Otto or just Ott. 


Ott kept them all safe during the several police raids to attempt to capture them. He had connections, and unlike the others seemed to live this life more from choice than from need. The fucked up thing was, that if he or any of the group were ever caught, it could be bad. And not the ‘spend the night in jail’ kind of bad. But being forced into slavery, as a slave to the government, or in some cases even sold at auction for either exported slavery or possibly even as food stock. Carnivores have to eat after all. And sure; the feral cattle were a thing but meat was meat. And if the meat came from a higher bloodline, then all the better.


The police raids were infrequent, though, and often more a show of force than anything else. A publicity stunt to say “Hey, we did a thing. Give us more funding if you want us to succeed next time.” Those in charge often would aim for a measly 25% capture rate. Showing they were capable but ‘understaffed’ or ‘mal provisioned’. Hell sometimes, they’d capture some, beat them, then drop them off a few miles away.


But... it didn't last. Like all things in this world, it came to a screeching halt one day when one such group of ‘malcontent undesirables’ rebelled against the central government and threw molotovs into one of their head branches. A riot miles away, from people Jin never even met, nor wanted to meet. But it was all the same... he was one of them by labeling not by choice.


There was a media frenzy, stirring the normal citizens to action, calling the police to action, and even some limited military response was used to ensure higher up officials were safe. From where he stood it looked like the north side of the city was burning. The riot lasted long into the night and even the next morning.


The central government officials called for a city-wide sweep. A clean up of the undesirables. Taking out the trash as it were. “These bloodless, jobless refugees wish to destroy all we have worked hard for. To muddy our lineages, to fill the bellies of your daughters with impure seed and take the jobs from those who are born to do their duty!” Cried one of the city officials.


This was it. This was the end of his life as a vagabond... and what now, Fugitive? Slave? Food Stock? The sad truth was a deer was good meat. Even one as malnourished and thoroughly battered as he was. It was only a day or two that another raid happened on his camp... but now... now they had their funding and were on the hunt for real.


The police surrounded the camp, and when Otto went to speak peace,... they shot him right there. Message, delivered. They executed him, and anyone else who tried the diplomatic approach, or to run that night. They simply rounded up the rest and stuffed them into containment trucks. But Jin, Jin had managed to escape the raid. Be it luck or some form of foresight he’d been out gathering supplies and raiding dumpsters coming back in time to see only the corpses of Otto and other friends left there to rot, the tents and makeshift homes smashed and leveled.


Otto’s death hit him hard. He’d known him for only a few months but it had been through hard times and he was his only true ally in all of this. He went on for another week or two but, in time it became clear to him that, it would be better to die a quick death than to slowly starve on the outskirts of town, or worse to be made a slave to the government or sold as cattle.


He decided that a bridge on the outskirts of town would do the job. The river below had long been dry now. A drought taking place in a geological sense much like it was in the moral sense, and civil sense as well. This road was well traveled was his only risk. So he’d have to do it quickly and at night. Any lingering would get the police called. And failure to go through with it would lead to that which he was running from.


“Might as well jump. At least it will be my choice how high, not the government’s this time. Not some craken’ nobleman’s choice either...” He said to himself that giving him a smirk at first, along with a misty-eyed chuckle. Dark humor had its place, he supposed. After all; it was kind of nice to smile again. Even if it was a joke about his own death.


He decided to wait till dusk nearby in a burned-out marketplace. The traffic from the airport just down the road was still going to be heavy, but it would let up after dark hit. And after dark, there were less civilians, and the focus would be more on industrial traffic. But let's face it, those paid to drive are more focused on keeping time than anything else. No time to stop, just keep the foot down and the wheels rolling.


He casually walked along the bridge to the midpoint. Simply standing there with his hands on the railing as he overlooked the empty, dusty, and rocky river bed below. He stopped first to ponder on something odd that had come across his mind. 


“It’s a river bed. And soon, it will also be my death bed.” He smirked again and shook his head. “Who’d have thunk’ to call it a crackin’ bed. Not necessarily thinking about people like me who would like to lay on it forever.”


He chuckled once more, casting his gaze to the horizon. Seeing the setting sun out on the sea not too far away. The sky was a smear of pastel hues, a greenish-brown haze from the city, with orange and yellow still near the border, and the near-black, polluted sea sparkling as the waves caught that light still. He swallowed hard, looking out to the bay and the setting sun as he put his first hoof up on the lower section of railing and then his other hoof before letting go with his hands and standing up straight. Taller now, able to better see the beach that had been occluded by the nearby hills. And in spite of that beach being strewn with waste, and tainted a deep murky brown with sludge and froth. There was still that odd striation of nice, creamy white sand further up the shore here or there. Small vestiges of uncorrupted beauty. “At least the scenery is nice enough...”


As he took that second to ruminate on this, what was possibly his last vision, he heard something that broke his fixation. A light squeal of car breaks, the idle hum of an engine that soon shut off, and a door opening and the telltale thump of it closing. It was not done in a hurried manner, but in a slow paced methodical manner. As he turned back he saw the last thing he ever wanted to see. Worse than the police, worse than a ‘meat wagon’. It was that same black SUV he worked on. The one that had led him to all of this. And there beside it stood him... the Kirin. The nobleman who had destroyed his life, who had condemned him.


The kirin stood there smoking his pipe and just looking at him in that same suit. Hands in his pocket he simply spoke with that deep raspy voice that one would expect of a kirin. “It's time.”


Jin, almost visibly fuming, spun around and hopped off all in one motion. Balling up his fists he shouted as loudly as he could at the noble, “-I- decide when it's my time... Not you! Not any nobleman! Me! My time, is my time!” His voice cracking a bit near the end as his anger overwhelmed him. The kirin shook his head and walked forward now moving a finger to point at the tires of his SUV. “No. It is time again, I need your services.”


Jin was confused to say the least, but he was pissed all the same. “No, go fix it yourself. I don't work there anymore. YOU should know that. You... Kraken’, Errrgh!” he snapped as he trembled with rage. His rage was a seething hellfire that filled him from base to brim, a fire in his eyes like never before, his fists balled so tight as to crack, and his teeth clenched as he stood there, his fur standing on end. Wanting more than anything to sink a good punch across that nobleman’s face but knew he’d never survive doing so. But hell, it was his time wasn't it? What better way to go out than to spit in the man’s face one last time as it where. But for now, he held his ground.


The kirin, unphased, toked on his pipe once more before nodding a bit in acknowledgment. “I have an appointment with Nyle. If you are incapable of doing the work I will use her services.” He locked his demonic eyes on buck’s for emphasis before going on to say, “Just as I used yours.” 

This made Jin’s world go colorless. To say he had a crush on the girl wouldn't be far out of order, but even then, he knew on top of it all, she could never survive as he had. She was already fragile. Already frequently late due to depression and anxiety. It took him right at half a year to get to killing himself... she wouldn't last a month, likely not even the week.


The kirin took slow measured strides and simply opened the back door to his SUV before pointing to it. “Come with me. Let's send her home, and you will do your job. If you do it well, I will reward you; as I did last time.” Jin snapped once more, “Reward me?! Reward!? You call this a reward?! Being homeless, watching everything I care about being ripped from my hands and thrown away? You destroyed my life! You destroyed me!” 


The kirin took a deep breath and shut the back door before moving to open the driver’s door. As it opened the infuriated buck snapped “Wait... just crakin' wait...” The kirin stood with one foot in the vehicle, standing in the doorway ready to leave. “Yes” He asked in what seemed like an annoyed tone. The buck growled and asked “What's in it for me? Will you get me my job back?”


The kirin smiled and stepped back from the suv’s door, shutting it and moving to open the back door. “Your life can get no worse. But Nyle’s can. What does it matter what is in it for you? You where about to forfeit your life anyway.” The buck snarled in anger and said “Give me my kraken job back! That's all I want! I want my life back!” The kirin looked as if he was thinking about it for a second, before giving a single nod. “If you want a job, I will give you a job. Else I will do to Nyle what I did to you.”


The buck was trembling with rage still giving the kirin the most harsh of stink eyes “Promise me Nyle will be safe, and I will have a job. Then I'll agree to go with you. You sick twisted fuck...” The kirin made a false gasp and covered his mouth, “My my! Did you just curse at me? Well, you are worked up then aren’t you! You don't like to curse do you.” This took Jin a bit aback. That was a personal thing that the kirin had no way to know. Not unless he’d spoken to some one who knew him intimately. Like Nyle. “I-... NO... I don't like to curse... But what do you expect people to call you when you get your rocks off destroying lives?”


The kirin laughed uproariously at this, his antlers sparking a bit from the tines as he did so, losing a tiny bit of his control in that laughter. “Boy,... I did not destroy your life. I freed you from it. You needed to do a little growing before I’d give you the real job I had in mind. Just like I'm going to do for Nyle. But let's face it, the girl is medicated enough to knock out a bull rhino and still can't keep her makeup from running at least once a week.”


All of this information he had was so detailed, so personal. Something wasn't right, but it drove home the point that he knew to be true. Nyle would not last, especially not now that the enforcement squads where so highly prompt to shoot first and ask questions later. But before the buck could ask about this, the kirin said. “I promise Nyle will keep her life as is for as long as she chooses it. And you, you will have a new life with a new much better paying job. This is my word, and I do not break my word.”


Jin nodded and sighed, walking towards the SUV slowly. With a quick swipe the kirin taken hold of one of those antlers atop the young buck’s head. With deft grace the kirin shoved the buck head first into the SUV without so much as a moment’s hesitation. Once in, and the door shut Jin noticed the locks and handles had been hidden away in the back as if this was a police car. Now, he was locked inside.


As the kirin opened his door he held up a single hand as if telling the buck to stop. “Let’s go see Nyle. Then you will do your job, and I will feed you. Where would you like to go for food, Jin? Pete’s Maybe?” Jin’s eyes went wide. Something was much MUCH more wrong than he’d first realized. Something didn't add up. Pete’s was the place Ott and his brother owned, and he’d only ever learned of it after living on the streets for a few months.


Jin, lost in thought had his mind race back to the fact that if the knew this much, then he only feared how much danger Nyle could be in. He responded simply “I... ye-...Promise me again,...  promise me Nyle will be okay...” to which the kirin nodded as he started the suv. “You have my word Nyle will go home safe and sound. As long as you do your job, and stay calm. Now boy, where do you want to eat? I have arrangements to make beforehand.”

Jin had no choice at this point really. He was along for the ride. And with the threat to Nyle gone, he figured he could play the game a little longer. Worst case, his ‘bed’ would not be going anywhere. And a good meal sounded nice. “I... Pete’s sounds good. It’s on West 31s-” The kirin interjected, “West 31st. Near the Old-Town-Royale. I know right where it is boy.” 


The kirin pulled up his halo, while the suv drove itself for a ways and seemed to tap in some information on his wrist. These halos were a necklace of sorts that produced a heads up display around the head of the wearer, and in this case, all outside users could see were rainbows of Iridescence, as to protect the privacy of the wearer. It was odd to see a nobleman using a halo, most nobles had cybernetics installed that where essentially computers wired directly into their brain. 

It was a short ride before they arrived at the shop, in Jin’s old bay, at almost the exact same time as he’d shown up the first time. Once inside, the kirin turned to Jin and said “Shall we send her on her way?” where Jin shook his head, knowing he had not been seen in the blacked out windows of the car. “No.... I don't want her seeing me like this. Please, tell her on your own.”


Jin watched the kirin get out, shut the door, and walk up to Nyle before he pulled out his wallet, handed Nyle  a credit chit and then pointed her out of the shop with very clear orders judging by his hand motions. Once she’d left, and the bay door had closed, he stepped out and silently got to work as he had the first night. 


It took him record time to do all 4 tires and have the case filled, all the while the kirin smoked his pipe and watched. Like the first night, the buck had taken the initiative to point out that it was a no smoking area due to flammable substances, and like before, the kirin put out his pipe. Though this time not without speaking up. “You do what is right to a fault. Ready to throw yourself off a bridge earlier, yet not letting me get away with smoking my pipe in a place that im sure you’d enjoy watching burn to the ground now.” Jin lugged the wheel up onto the metal counter with a sigh and grunt before responding. “Yea, but im still in this place. While a long fall is a painless death, burning to death in this slag hole sounds a lot less fun...” This garnered an amused chuckle from the kirin who stood clear and let the buck do his job.


Once done, he silently set the case in the backseat, opened the bay, pressed the remote inside to auto close the bay, and then slipped back into the passenger seat of the SUV. Eyes on the floor and nothing else,... he was just happy Nyle got to go home. The kirin spoke up as they pulled out onto the road once more, “Jin, I will soon give you your payment as promised. Once we eat, you will have a choice. Just know, I won’t wait around after I finish my food. If you don't make your choice by the time I am done, I will drive away and leave you alone forever.”


They soon pulled into “Pete & Ottos grub hut”, the sign featuring 2 otters, one of which being a caricature of his now-deceased friend. They went inside and found the place empty aside from the hostess and the kitchen staff. They set down and soon got to ordering. Jin spoke softly asking “Is... Pete around?” The hostess giving a small shake of her head stating “Sorry hon, he’s been called away on a family emergency.”


Jin nodded and sighed “I’d figured as much Ella. Ott sent me.” The older golden furred female canine was taken aback by this as she started to ask “Hon, you know...” Jin nodded and sighed. “I know... I know very well.”


Ella placed a paw on his shoulder patting it lightly. “You’re both on the house. I'm sorry for your loss.” And with that she went away after getting their orders. They sat in silence until their food came, An order of onion loaf done up in a rich gravy and a side of steamed greens. A house special. They did serve meat but most people could not afford it in this neighborhood, and most were still herbivores and wouldn’t eat it if they had to. So their famous onion loaf was made to taste like meat, look like meat, but be made from plant matter, and genetically grown proteins.


The kirin smiled at the food, seeing it for what it was. A fake. A food for commoners to enjoy free of the guilt of eating meat, but also masquerading as it. With a smile, the kirin pulled out his wallet and slid a crisp 1000 credit chit towards Jin. That was more money than he’d seen in 2 months of solid working at his old job. Yet he seemed unphased by it, picking up his plate and scooting the chit under it for a tip.


Jin simply stares at the steaming plate of food now covering a veritable fortune to him. His chest heave, and he let out a deep sigh, saying bluntly, “I don't want your money. I want you gone.” To which, the kirin simply smiled and chuckled. “Tonight one way or another I will be. What happens to you is the question.” Jin still seemed depressed and unmoved by the kirin’s words. The kirin emptied his pipe into the ashtray before repacking it and then lighting it with his claws, a hot plasma arc between their tips pressed deep into the bowl of the pipe. “You have until my meal is done to decide. Once it is done, I walk out that door, and drive away forever. If you’re not in the seat behind me when I do, you will be left here as you are.”


The kirin pulled out another 1000 credits and slid it under his own plate, hidden from Ella for now. “I can make every day of your life, just like Ella’s night tonight.” Jin interrupted “Stella. Her name is Stella. You are not her friend. You are not Petes’ friend.... And you’re definitely not Ott’s friend. Call her Stella.” The kirin, smirked and casually held up both hands with his wrists still on the table. He nodded and smirked at this. “Well; Stella is going to have a wonderful night tonight. And you could have your everyday just like that. But you’d have to trust me t-” “Go eat glass...” said Jin with a sigh, picking up his chopsticks and starting to eat now.


The kirin closed his eyes and chuckled at the deer’s remark. But he didn't start eating yet. “The job is simple. I have a lot of mechanical work that needs doing, and your file also said you’re a decently skilled coder. Which means I can assume you know computers. Possibly even how to hack to some extent. To this end, I need all of your skills in time. But foremost, you will be my slave. I will treat you well, and I will train you how to do so much more than you already know. You were going to kill yourself anyway, your life was forfeit for all you cared. But you must understand, you must be my slave. That is non-negotiable. Your life is mine the second you follow my order.” 


Jin growl deeply, looking up at him grabbing a dull steak knife tight in one hand now. The kirin went on though as if nothing was at all out of the ordinary. “You will be paid. You will be mostly free to do as you wish after a time. But at first, and legally on paper, you will be my slave with a predefined contract length. You will work with me on my shipping and transport ventures. You will travel on my ships, airlines, and cargo trucks with me and my associates who you will respect just as if they where me.”


Jin, ate as if he’d not eaten in weeks, possibly because it may well have been true. He seemed to have totally tuned out what the dragon-noble was saying at this point. The kirin carrying on; “And when need be, attend meetings as my personal servant. After 15 years of service you will have enough money to buy yourself a writ of nobility, and retire anywhere you wish as the contract will have ended with you a free, and might I add, notably wealthy man.”


The kirin started eating now. Not giving much more than that in detail. Jin on the other hand started laying down the law. “If I agree to this, I need provisions in my contract.” To which the kirin gave a half nod, more tilting his head as if half agreeing, or agreeing to listen. Jin going on from here; “I will never hurt anyone. I will not steal for you. I will not break any laws.” He said going on and on about this and that line of morality, most of which are basic things one would imagine. 


But the kirin didn't stop eating, nor once acknowledged any request. It took no time at all for him to annihilate the food on his plate leaving Jin’s food less than half done. The kirin wiped off his maw, tossed the napkin in the now clean plate, stood up and said “Come along boy. Your master has need of you. Or you may stay here. An entirely free man. Free of job, free of home, free of all obligations but survival.”  And with that, the kirin started to walk towards the door.


Jin was left with no time at all to think. He didn't know if his provisions were agreed on or not. But... What choice did he have? If he didn't go now, he knew that Nyle would possibly be next anyway. He didn't trust him to keep his word one bit on that front. So he stood up and as soon as he caught up to the kirin in the doorway, he took this last chance to grab the kirin’s shoulder, stand in front of him and lay one solid right hook across the kirin’s cheek. Growling deeply before taking a few deep breaths and then standing back with a bow, speaking through gritted teeth. “By your lead... Master...”


The kirin was unphased by the small deer’s punch, really. But it had made him smile. His last act as a free man was to punch a nobleman. And now that he was a slave, it instantly legally transferred blame back to the kirin. The fact he’d legally punched the kirin in his own face was not lost on either of them. And while it made the kirin laugh uproariously, Jin could do little more than smirk a bit as he followed along. Jin was lead to the seat behind the kirin within a few seconds. 


But it soon became clear why the kirin had made him to sit behind him. The kirin’s tail already now teasing the buck’s thighs, a sign of much more to come they were both sure. It was worth noting that it took all of Jin’s willpower not to swat it away, but in the end, he knew he had no choice. And honestly, it was better than lying in that ‘bed’ beneath the bridge.