Chimera, Inc.

Chapter 3

Author's note: Been in a funk lately, so I haven't been writing much. But this one's ready, and Chapter 4 should be ready soon. Stay tuned!

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The slave bowed. "Master Cal," she said, "The new animals have arrived."

Cal slept the 3D projector and turned to look. "Thanks, Airlea." He stood and stretched, listening to tendons popping. "Ow."

"My master practices his magic longer than he should." Airlea crossed the room. "Another can inspect the new animals. Please, allow me to take your cares away."

"Oh, all right." Cal sat with an exaggerated sigh and allowed Airlea to rub his neck and shoulders.

"If you would not forbid your servants to interrupt you while at your labor, this would not be necessary."

"Yeah, but then I wouldn't have an excuse to let you do this."

Airlea chuckled. "I believe my master is feeling better. How else may I please you?"

"Argh. 'Lea, I wish you wouldn't use that tone. It could give me the wrong idea."

"Perhaps you have the right idea."

Cal threw up his hands. "I wish you weren't a slave. I can't help feeling I'd be taking advantage, the way things are."

"Do you have a wife in your land? Or a woman?"

"I never got married, no. There were a couple of women who were in and out of my life. We were busy doing stuff, though, and there wasn't much time to keep a relationship going."

"And now?" Airlea gave him an inquisitive look.

"Yeah. We're busy, but you guys are right there to keep everything else up. I guess we all owe you some thanks."

"We only do what is required. You are a strange one, Calvin Hobbes, but a good one. Were I not your slave, I would yet wish to be your woman."

Cal gave her a smile. "Okay, you win. You can come to me tonight—but only if you want to."

"If I must wait that long... then so be it."

Cal watched her walk away, giving him a smoky smile over her shoulder. Good thing we brought those condoms, he thought.

"About time, Cal," Gene griped. "Let's get these boogers to the lab."

The lioness growled as the slaves lifted its cage, using poles that gave them space from angry claws. She gave only that muted protest, though, lying in the bottom of her cage and allowing the slaves to take her where they would.

"What do you need me for?" Cal shot back. "The slaves are doing all the carrying, anyway."

"We gotta be here to tell 'em what to do."

"Whatever." Cal gestured to a basket, its lid secured with several strands of twine. "What's that?"

"Viper, master," a slave replied. His Greek was simple, yet hard to make out—so he was likely a captive from Scythia or some such. His own Greek was improving, but he thought none of them were fluent just yet.

"Yeah, well, take it to the lab. Wait." Cal imagined the viper driving its fangs through the basket and into a hapless slave's hand. "You two." He pointed at a second slave. "Bring me two poles."

The slaves hastened to obey, quickly fetching poles. Cal ran one through each handle. "Carry it by those poles," he told them. "Don't touch the basket itself. Got it?"