The Ripple of a Stone (Revived)

by DarkOne09

Summary:

A human wakes on a Yautja Predator Dropship, unable to remember who she is. But does she want to remember? And can she become someone new, in a new world where she must prove herself to all those who think her to be dishonorable

Notes:

NOTE: This work is following the original author's work on another fanfic and I don't take credit for the idea but want to spread the love and joy for this amazing story and continue it to the end! If anyone has concerns, please don't hesitate to ask me. I'm more than happy to respond and work to the best of my abilities to respect everyone's wishes.

Thank you and Good Hunting!

Chapter 1: Blood Ties

White.

All there is is white.

"Am I dead?"

Looking around that's all she sees, white. She slowly begins by moving her toes, and her fingers, stressing every muscle in her body, a mini checklist in her mind to see, to feel if she's alive. Going through the list she draws a blank at 'my name'. She softly whispers, "How do I know what to do when I wake up, and yet I don't know my name?" She lifts her hand to touch the white that floats just beyond her body and finds it harder to lift her arm than usual, "It's fabric. "Where? Where am I?" She attempts to place her hand back down to wherever it was before, but she feels nothing but air, there is nothing under her. She's floating. Turning her head to look underneath her, she sees there is only a slab of what looks like white marble just a few feet below. "WHERE AM I?"

Panicking, she instinctively reaches for where her handgun would be but she feels only skin. "I'm naked! Why am I naked?" She grabs for the white fabric that she felt before, so she can cover herself. Pulling caused her to tumble down onto the slab of cold, hard stone. "AHHH!"

A sharp pain on her left shoulder forces her to scream, but she cuts it short in case someone should hear her. "Oh, ouch, now how did I get this?" Her shoulder is bleeding from a large gash that stretches from her collarbone to her armpit. Some of it was healed, but it still bleeds from the middle on the largest part of the gash. "I couldn't have been asleep long enough for this to heal. What is going on?"

She can see through from where she took down the white fabric that showed black walls with red stripes. "Odd decorating." She says sarcastically. She turns her body and hangs her feet over the edge of the stone she sits on, only to pull them back up when she feels it begins to move. It slowly falls and becomes one with the ground and the white fabric that surrounded her lifts into the ceiling. Her white cage from where she woke from doesn't exist anymore. "What is going on?"

A flash of white in the corner of her eye catches her attention; the same white cage is beside her. She looks down at the stone she was on and can see her reflection, startled at what was reflected. She begins to touch the black and blue bruises that surround her face and then touches her broken lip. She can see two scars on her cheek that are about two inches long and look like stretched-out triangles, just upside down, curving slightly to the left and scabbed over. Her long red hair has a bad case of bedhead and is hard to the touch from the dried blood that had settled in it.

Tears begin to swell in her ocean-blue eyes but she blinks them away. "No time to cry umm . . . oh my god . . . what is my name? How do I not know my name!" Staring at herself in the reflection of the stone, she tries hard to remember anything. Closing her eyes, she sees flashes of trees and the blue sky. And something black and wet makes her flinch at just the thought of it. "Who am I?" 

With no time to waste she tries to stand. "Ugh.." Getting up took more energy and she could feel her strength was not at its best. She knew that her injury would be making it difficult for her to move but there was something more. It seemed she was being pulled down hard like the gravity became heavier, or a bowling ball was on her head. Taking a step back, she can see more than one white cage. There were dozens! She can hear herself breathing heavily.

"I need to get out of here!" The room around her is large, the high walls with the red strips seem to be never-ending. Her instincts tell her to hug the wall, knowing that somewhere she will find a door. Hopefully . . . When she reaches a wall, she looks at what she thought were plain red strips, but they were actually covered in marks. "What on Earth is this?" She says before moving on. She takes a moment, fingering the markings that look the same as the ones from a digital clock. But she knows she can't stand here all day and look at the pretty marks. She has to move. Finally reaching a corner, a little comfort came over her but that didn't last long, 

“Pauk!”

She crouches down in the corner, searching for whatever made that sound but she can't see anyone or anything. The dim light is making it hard for her to make out anything except the white cages and the black floor. She begins following the wall again and soon finds something that resembles a door. It looks like the top half of a hexagon with a line in the middle for it to open.

"How do I open this thing?" She feels around the edges for a switch or a button but there isn't a panel for her to open the door. "Open! Damn you!" No sooner did she say that, the doors opened. Startled, she jumps and bolts back to the wall. There may well have been someone on the other side of the door. Looking around the corner, she sees there is no one there.

Stepping from the wall, she can see out through the door, only to see that the same black and red walls were throughout wherever she was. A small hallway stood between her and getting out of this place. With her first step, she feels pain. "OWWW! Grates? Who would put grates on the ground?" The pain from the top points of the grates couldn't stop her. She had to get out of there and find out where she was. It took a few steps to reach the end of the small hallway that led out from the room she was in. There was another doorway just like the one she had just stepped out from and directly across from where she was.

Looking back to the door, now closed, a moment of hesitation caused her to think. Should I have stayed in the room? Was it smart to leave? Can I get back? But it was too late. She could see a panel with the same markings on the wall beside the doorway and punched a few of the keys but nothing happened. Poking her head around the corner, she couldn't see anyone else in the corridor. She could still feel the hard metal grates that lined the floors. Every step was a new pain. 

Still hugging the walls, she walked slowly until she reached another one of the small hallways leading to another door. Looking to see if there was anyone in the hallways or coming out, she jumped across when she knew it was safe and continued along the wall.

"Mmmm, owww!" She had to stop, the sharp spokes on the grate were starting to puncture her feet, leaving small pinhole markings that gave way to tiny drops of blood. The pain showing on her face was intense as her foot throbbed in agony. She looked back to see if she was leaving a small trail of blood, only to see that she was leaving a very large one. The cut from her shoulder had soaked the white fabric she had wrapped around herself and had begun dripping large spots all over the grate, adding more to the long and large blood trail that anyone could use to find her. "Oh shit!" She couldn't help but feel like giving up. She was lost. She didn't even know where she was lost. Now anyone can see where she went.

Feeling faint from the blood she has lost, she sits down on the hard grates, but she doesn't have a lot of time to rest. She can hear the familiar sound of a door opening just a few feet away from her. Someone was coming from another room! Frantically, she ran to the closest hallway to hide from whatever was coming her way. She could hear heavy footsteps and they were getting louder. Crouching in the corner of the hallway, she tried to make herself as small as she could be so that whatever was coming would not see her. "A panel?"

She starts to hit some of the keys on the panel that sits just beside the door but the footsteps are getting louder. She looks to the end of the hallway just in time to see a glimpse of a black and green figure with metal over it. "What the fuck?" She slowly creeps to the end of the small hallway and looks around the corner to see what just walked by. "What the hell is that?"

Taking a small step forward to get a better look, she finds herself having to look higher to see it. Long black rings of dreadlocks hang down onto its back, just under its shoulder. Little round metal cuffs hug the dreadlocks while some have those same strange markings on them. The back of it had a small band of metal that hung down from its neck to its waist, covering the spine. Then she noticed just how different this creature was from her. The skin on the back was a yellow-green-cream color, which faded into a deep green on its forearms and the tops of its shoulders. The strange thought of it having the look of alligator skin, but 'moisturized' crossed her mind. It turned a corner and was out of view from her sight.

"AHHH!"

The pain from the injury and her feet were taking a toll on her strength. "I can't do this for much longer."

Taking a moment to rest, she sits on her feet with her back down onto the cold hard grates. Taking long, deep breaths, she tries to regain her strength, or what was left of it. Suddenly, her vision goes blurry and her head feels light. "No, I can't pass out. Not here, not now!" She pulls herself up off the ground and begins walking along the corridor wall again. Fumbling with her feet, it was hard for her to see where she was going. A door has opened again but there is nowhere for her to hide. She falls silent. No footsteps . . . nothing.  She isn't even breathing. She hears nothing. Something's wrong. Something here isn't right. She starts to breathe again, looking around for anywhere she can hide. The light from the open door shines brightly on the ground. She couldn't see a shadow coming out from light but there was no one there. With her eyes wide and her one good hand ready to hit anything that may come at her, she creeps to the corner of the open door. The light coming from the room is too bright. It hurts her eyes and she cannot see beyond it. 

“Now or never.” She says as she takes a step to go through the open door. The light is so blinding she puts her hand over her eyes. Blinking fast until her eyes adjust, she can see the familiar black and red walls but she can't see anything else yet. There is nothing else in this room. It’s empty or so she thought.

Her eyes have finally adjusted, and she sees the entire room. "Whoa . . . What is this place?"

The room is bigger than anything she has ever seen. Bigger than any stadium she has ever been in and in the middle of the room is a large chair that is covered in red, sitting on top of a small pyramid of stairs. The top of it has four long red pieces of fabric coming down from the high ceiling, connecting to the floor. "Beautiful . . ." She says, wide-eyed and her mouth gaping open. She takes a few steps into the large room to hear the sound of the door closing behind her. Turning fast, she goes to it and tries to open it and get out. "I have to get out of here! I can't stay here!" She says as she pounds on the door. "Please open! Please!" She can't hold back her frustration and anger and she begins to weep, falling to her knees. "Why am I here? Where is here?" She rests her head on the door and lets the burning-hot tears fall down her beaten face.

Suddenly, the door she is resting on opens, and she falls onto her back. She looks up to what is standing in front of her. She recognizes the creature that stands before her, but she can see it better now. "Oh my . . ." It's wearing a strange armor that covers its forearms, legs, and chest as a small plate hangs down its waist. But most alarming are all the weapons that rested over its entire body. They are clipped to a belt, handing off of it while some are sheathed on its thighs and arms. The black dreadlocks she saw on the other one were shorter than this one and the color was even a little different. She reaches its face with her eyes and she loses her breath. The fear of what she is looking at takes hold over her every thought and movement. "Wh . . . What is that?"

Its head is oblong with no nose or ears and it doesn't even have lips. Its giant eyes, deep set in its skull, are now staring at her on the ground. It makes a clicking sound with its strange mouth. Its sharp, jagged teeth that surround its opening don't scare her but the four large tusk things that stretched from its upper jaw to its lower and they seem to move on their own. She starts to slowly crawl backward to where she doesn't know. The creature takes a step forward and makes the same clicking sound as before but it's louder and gives off a hint of a growl.

"What...what do you want!?" She screams at it.

She was still on the ground but she couldn't get up. Her arms stop her from turning to stand. It tilts its head as it stares at her, making a hiss from its belly. "Get up. GET UP!" She says to herself. Painfully, she puts down her bleeding arm so she can stand, " ahhhh…" The pain is unbelievable but she somehow gets onto her feet. Now standing 'face to face' with the giant, she can see just how short she is compared to it since she is tall for a woman, standing a high 6'2". Whoa, even I stand a few good inches above the men in my unit, I don't even reach its shoulders . "My unit." She says out loud. "I'm in a unit." She remembers a small bit of her life before she is forced to snap back and look at the menacing creature that stands in front of her and then at the door. She takes a step to the left to see if she can run but it blocks her from looking behind it,  following her every move. It takes another step towards her and makes a loud growl at her, and somehow, she can get the sound of 'Ell-osde'.

"What? Did you just . . . say something?" The creature lifts his right arm and opens something that rests on its wrist. He pushes some buttons and it plays back what she had just said. "Did you just . . . say something?"  

Stunned, she falls back a few steps and looks hard into its eyes. Her eyes, however,  were full of marvel and fear. "What are you?"

It takes in a deep breath and lets out a giant roar. So loud that her lungs shook a little. She had noticed that only the two large tusks that rest higher on its head lift up while the bottom two never move. Suddenly,  another one appears, putting its hand on the right shoulder of the first one and giving it a little shake. The first creature looks back at the second and points with two fingers to the small woman standing just ahead of them, cowering in her blood-soaked cloth and shaking from fear and blood loss. Between the clicking that the two are making, she can make out one of them saying 'Ooman'. 

"Ooman? What's a ooman?" She asked but she couldn't believe that she had just said those words, regretting the attention she would receive. The two stopped and looked at her. Both with their heads tilted a little, eyes squinting and their brows come together. She wasn't sure if it was anger or curiosity that she could see in their eyes. Truth be told,  she didn't really want to know. To mimic them, she tilts her head too but the second one gets angry. He lets out a fierce roar with all four of his tusks spread out, showing off every muscle in his face as he roared. Somewhere between the first blast of hot air and the end of its roar, she could make out 'pyode amedha' but right now, she didn't care what that meant.

Fear was climbing up her spine and within an instant, she knew she couldn't be here anymore. She turns and runs towards the pyramid with the red chair on top of it, hoping that they will do anything but follow her. Behind her, the one that growled at her was hit in the side by the other and did a small growl with 'Ki'dte' being said somewhere in it. 

Running as fast as she could, she made it to the base of the small stair pyramid. She stops to look back at the two creatures to see that there are more of them now. Six or even seven now. She didn't want to waste her time and count. All of them staring at her and 'talking' among themselves. One of them gestures toward her and they begin to move closer. She starts climbing the stairs one at a time. The pain nagged at her to give up. The stairs were hard to climb. I guess they are not meant for someone to climb, or maybe they were and my legs just aren't enough. There may have been only 5 large steps to climb but it took a lot out of her. Reaching the top, she had become light-headed again and her vision distorted. The redness of the chair bleeding into the space around it. "Not now." Placing one hand on the chair to balance herself, she takes a few deep breaths to try and pull herself together. I can’t . . . I just can’t. She falls to the ground and moves herself behind one of the four long red pieces of fabric that come down from the high ceiling, trying to get some kind of cover. She notices that there is one side to the pyramid that has a thin, straight ramp for someone to walk on. “I wish I had that a minute ago.”

A sudden loud and strong siren can be heard, indicating that an alarm has started. She can hear the same clicking sound all around her and somewhere in it she again hears the word ‘ooman’. Ten bucks say that I'm 'ooman'. With another look back, she sees that they have all stopped at the base of the pyramid and have spread out to cover all sides of it. Great, what the hell can I do now?

For what felt like years, she sat with her back to the red fabric, looking around at all of those who surrounded her. A pool of blood from her arm had made its own bloody lake and had now leaked over the edge of the top stair, making a dripping sound that could be heard in the far corners of the room. She takes a long look at one of them that is standing below her. "I know I'm going to regret saying this but if you can't understand me, I don't think it counts. How can this day get any worse?"

Seconds after she says those words, the door she had come through opens and five more of them come in but something is off. Some of them were different and didn't look like the other ones did. They walked in rows, gradually creeping their way to the base of the pyramid. There were two in the front but one was a little behind the front one another in the middle and two in the back. The two of them that were in the back were wearing the same armor plating as all the others but they had significantly more weapons. The one in the middle was really strange. It was smaller than all the other creatures. Maybe even the same height as herself and doesn't wear armor. It wears a strange kimono-looking dress that is stiff, not even the same as the creature walking next to it. It was like it was floating and didn't carry any weapons. Instead, it carries a book or something like it. She can't see the other one that follows behind the one in front. Because this one is much bigger than the rest and more decorated than all of the others, she can't and doesn't want to see behind him. She wants to look at him. Its dreadlocks aren't black but stark white and very, very long and have the same metal rings on them but a lot more. It wears weapons in places she didn't even know they could go, strapped to its legs and cuffed to a belt. She even noticed a tiny dagger placed underneath its right arm, just under the panel thing. It still wears the armor but it's more complete and has more marks and scratches on it and has a floor-length red and black cape flowing behind it. But its face is the most unusual and most beautiful. It has so many scars with some of them designed to be purposely put there. She could tell that war was written on its face and time had slowly chiseled its teaching, defining every part of who it was. And its tusks . . its tusks are beautiful. They are engraved with markings from top to bottom, colored a deep red with who knows what. She could tell this one was different . . important.

"You must . . .be their leader?" She says with a hint of laughter. Oh, ouch, maybe I shouldn't laugh huh? The one with the marked tusks starts clicking and chirping. Ooman seems to be the word of the day and she can recognize it in his 'words'. He raises one of his arms and swipes it in the air. It must have been a signal because all that surrounded the pyramid took a few steps back. Was it to reassure her that she wasn't going to get hurt? Or does that one want to get her for himself?

She doesn't move, sitting still under the red cloth but staring hard at the 'leader' and he stares right back. He takes a step forward and can see her body flinch. He can see that she is frightened and she is. Dam it! What now? There's nowhere for me to go. He stops and looks behind him to the one she cannot see makes some chattering sounds and takes a step back. She keeps staring at them, wide-eyed and shivering hard, dreading that of one of them will come closer. Losing blood like it was water didn't help either. Her eyes begin to flutter and her head to fall slightly, but she snaps back, "Stay awake. Stay awake." she whispers. She looks towards them again to see the one behind the marked tusk one takes a step forward and comes out from behind it. Something about this one makes her feel she has seen him before like she knows his face . . .like she knows him.

“I know you.”  

He looked different from the others as well and yet so familiar to her. His dreadlocks were very long, almost down past the waist, and had many rings but one of the strands had been cut. It was now just under his shoulder and sticking out like a sore thumb. His armor was a deep gray. Different from even the marked tusked one. But everything else was the same. Weapons were everywhere and armor covered most of his body. When she looked onto his face she could see his yellow-green-blue eyes looking back at her. Somehow, those eyes had calmed her a little just enough for her to take a deep breath and close her eyes for a moment. But in that moment, she could see flashes . . . flashes of guns, blood, bodies, and the same wet, black thing. She opens her eyes when she hears footsteps. She can see the one with the gray armor walking around to the front of the pyramid and to the side with the walking ramp. When it reaches the bottom of it, he stops and looks at her.

He takes a single step forward, to see if she would react to him coming towards her but she doesn't move. She just watches. He takes another step, then another, and slowly creeps up the ramp, never losing eye contact. She watches him, staring hard at his face until her vision again goes hazy and her headlight.

"NO. Ahhhh!" She screams loudly and places her hand on her head. The creature, stunned by her sudden scream, stops mid-step. She attempts to stand and gets about halfway up when she falls forward and on the giant chair. She catches herself with its arm, balancing her body so she doesn't fall. 

Seeing her stumble, the creature rushes towards her but stops when she snaps her head in his direction. He could tell by her eyes that she didn't want him any closer. Standing straight now, she takes a few deep breaths and looks hard at the face of the thing that is coming towards her and something catches her eye. On its forehead, just about its brow are the same two symbols that are on her cheek. She brings her hands to her marks and touches them lightly.

She takes a small step towards the creature, still staring at it with the most evil look she could make. I already look scary enough with my ‘beautiful’ bruises and all but I don’t think I could bluff this thing. He doesn't move and only slants his head, making a soft clicking sound. She takes another step, winching in pain every time her bloody feet touch the floor. Now they are only a few feet apart, she can look right into its eyes. Seeing the yellow-green-blue color again makes her relax even more. Her face changed from an evil scowl to a look of marvel.

She takes another step forward. "How . . . how do I know you?"

She moves her eyes down to a red spot on his gray chest armor that sat like a tattoo. Right in front of his heart.  Maybe his heart isn't there. Who knows where it could be? For all I know it’s on the other side. But then, she saw a handprint that was hers. She knows it was because of a large line that was missing from the stain. A line crossed her hand that resembled a scar she got from a lifetime ago and sat between the bottom of her pinky finger and the bottom of her palm, stopping it from stamping on his armor. That made it obvious that it was hers and only hers. Why would my handprint be there? Why would I even touch him? Is that blood? My blood?

He moves his head back up lifts is right arm and opens the same kind of box the first creature did. He starts to hit some keys and then looks back at her. “Okay. You saved my life. Don’t expect me to kiss you on your cheek. And just because I saved yours doesn't mean you have to give me one.”

It was her voice. It was definitely hers but she can't remember saying it. She can't remember anything. He made a purring sound that was a little comforting to her and she immediately felt a little safer in his presence. He’s so familiar. How do I know this thing? How do I know that sound? The look on his face had an odd look of concern, brows raised and his eyes had such worry in them. He takes a step towards her and she flinches, ever so slightly. With the slope of the ramp that they both stand on, she and it are at the same height and are now little more than a foot away from each other. She stares at the two marks on its forehead and reaches out with her hand to touch them. He watches closely with his beautiful eyes as her hand slowly comes closer. When she finally touched his face, he didn't know what to do and drew back slightly. She takes her hand back a little but for only a moment and then moves it back, lightly tracing the markings with two of her fingers.

“I remember now.” 

Chapter 2: History

Notes:

Good evening everyone!

Another chapter of this amazing story to fill the empty period between my stories. Another chapter for Respect will be posted within next week. Thank you :)

 

NOTE: This work is following the original author's work on another fanfic and I don't take credit for the idea but want to spread the love and joy for this amazing story and continue it to the end! If anyone has concerns, please don't hesitate to ask me. I'm more than happy to respond and work to the best of my abilities to respect everyone's wishes.

Thank you and Good Hunting!

Earlier that day . . .

"What do we do now?" The raspy voice of General Millen couldn't be heard over the sound of the large metal doors to the underground armory slamming shut. They had fled to the main building that stood in the center of the town Niihau, Hawaii to hide from the monsters that were outside.

"Oh my god what are we going to do? What are we going to do?" Officer Michaels' short, stocky build begins to panic as he runs to the far wall of the armory. The room itself was one of the biggest on the base. One full wall was a mirror from floor to ceiling while the three others were covered in all assortments of weapons. Large heavy cases that held more weapons pilled everywhere else.

“I don’t! I don’t know. Ok?” General Millen yells.

Only 5 of the original 143 personnel in the unit made it down to the armory. General Millen, whose age showed in every wrinkle of his face, was in charge of the mission that went bad. Sergeant Becks and Sergeant O'Conner sealed the heavy metal doors just in time to hear the familiar scratches from the black devils.

“Quick! Hit the red panel! That’s next to the door!” O’Conner yells. Her voice etching in Sgt. Beck’s ears.

“What panel?” He yells back.

“There! Right next to your hand. Punch it NOW!” Obeying her without question, he slams his fist hard onto the panel and hears the scratching sound slowly stop. Officer Michaels, who was the jumpiest motherfucker you would ever meet, paced back and forth in the large room. He was the kind of man where the sound of a mouse would send him jumping 5 feet in the air.

"Would you stop that Michaels?" A hard Russian voice finally came from Officer Sovin, directed at the nervous Michaels.

“Listen!” The booming voice of Sergeant Beck echoed in the large, relatively empty room. “Listen . . . we have to get out of here. We have to suit up and get the fuck out here!”

“What the hell are you talking about Becks?” The General says. “We don’t have to fucking go anywhere. We just have to wait here for reinforcements and—”

"You don't understand." Becks interrupts. "They're gonna blow this fucking place up!" Sgt. O'Conner, who had already begun to pack her body with any and all ammunition she could carry, had paused when she heard Becks. Swiping her long red hair from her face which had become increasingly annoying as this shitty day went on, she knew she had to do something or she’d cut it all off from her frustration. She already knew what Becks was going to say and was waiting to see the General’s and the Officer’s reactions.

"What the hell are you talking about?" The General asks. It was more like an order but in this situation, Becks didn't want to do anything stupid. Letting out a deep sigh, Becks begins. "When we first got the call that these things were out here, we decided that after 12 hours, if we didn't secure the situation, we would have an hour to get off the island before they would blow the entire fucking thing up."

“But we’re on this fucking island!” Michaels says.

"NO SHIT SHURLOCK!" The odd Russian accent of Sovin showing on every syllable. O'Conner laughed a little inside when Sovin attempted to say 'Sherlock'. He'll never get it right, she thinks. Now both Sovin and Michaels were pacing. Their army boots hammered on the hard armory floor. "How long have we been here?" Sovin adds.

"Close to ten hours now." O'Conner finally speaks after she and Becks close the doors. She walks over the wall of mirrors and puts down the guns she has in her hands. She looks at her blood-stained and ripped-up clothing. Her boots and gray-green army pants were covered in blood from running over the corpses of their friends. Scratches and holes covered most of her uniform, caused by the claws of the black devils just missing her legs. How did I get here? Why am I here? Why are we here? Shaking her head off those thoughts, she takes off her jacket and quickly glances at the badge that rests on the right shoulder. "Sergeant Nalani O'Conner. New World Government Army." She lowers the jacket to the ground and looks over her now bare arms, searching and remembering every scar that she adorned on her body. She brings her hand up to her hair and begins to attempt a French braid. She never was good at these things. She always got one of the other girls on the unit to do it for her. She wasn't 'girl' enough to know how to do a lot of those things. As her hand rises, she looks to her right palm. A scar that started from her pinky and stretched down to the small part of her wrist causes her to pause. Mom . . . Dad . . . Snapping out of it, she begins and throws her arms behind her head, braiding her red hair. Her black, plain shirt raises up a little and shows her army body, sculpted by a lifetime of training. Every muscle on her body chiseled from her enhancements and training every single day of her life when she was at the age of 2 to be fit for the NWGA (New World Government Army). Satisfied with her braiding job, she picks up the weapons she had to drop earlier, leaving her jacket on the ground. We’re in Hawaii. It’s too fucking hot to wear that anyways. She again gazes at the mirror but not at herself. She walks over, places her hand on the cold glass, and then leans her ear to it. To concentrate on the heaving, scared breathing of their friends, she closes her eyes. Nothing. I don’t hear a thing. Good.

“When are they going to blow this place up?” The General questions.

"They told me that if we didn't communicate with them in twelve hours, saying that this situation was under control, then we would have one hour to get out. And since we have been here for 10, it means that we have 3 hours to get off the island." The way he was doing the math for the General made him feel weird, like talking down to a child. Except this child ordered you around.

'They can't just blow up the island!" Michaels cries out. "We're too close to Kauai. That island is just northeast of here. They can't blow that island! It's populated with civilians. This is just an army base island."

“That’s why they can blow it up.” O'Conner points out. “With the new weapons that we have, they can blow up a herd of an elephant’s ass without the elephants knowing. The system is accurate enough to hit just this island and leave the others.” O'Connor was looking around the armory, searching for anything that would explain what was going on and what happened. She reaches a trash can and kneels down, finding an old newspaper. November 15th. But that was . . . 3 and a half weeks ago.

“How can they destroy something so beautiful?” Sovin wonders.

“This place isn't beautiful anymore.” O'Connor tightens her brow and turns her head to Sovin. “Those things have overrun the entire island. When we were first dropped here, we thought it was just some rebels from the Coalition Against the New World Government. We never expected something like this! We didn't expect to see these monsters.” The face of the General flinches at her words and she noticed. She notices everything and she stares straight into his eyes.

"Do you know something General?" With her words, she stands and begins to stalk towards him. He looks away, almost submissively. In his old age, he had begun to slouch, making him even shorter than he really was. The General being only 5'4", O'Conner towers over him with her 6'2" height. His face showed his fear as she approached him. His white hair with the standard army buzz cut was perfectly suited for his profession. "What do you know?" O'Conner asks again. Becks had also begun to walk towards him, waiting for his answer. The two officers who had begun to rummage through the case stopped and waited too.

“Look, I just—” The General started.

"Speak up General. I think we need to hear you to listen!" Sovin's voice had hardened, stunning everyone around him. He was given the nickname 'Little Russian' but he was the size of O'Conner, standing 6'2" with black hair and dark brown eyes that looked black from far away. He was named that because of his voice. It was so tiny compared to him . . . So different. His little Russian voice was always so soft and always controlled but now, it was like he snapped at the thought of the General knowing what was here.

The General had begun to back away from O'Conner and Becks but there was nowhere for him to go. "FINE! This is all I know! Ok! JUST STOP OK!?" O'Conner and Becks decided to give him a little room. They didn't want him to get too excited and keel over from a heart attack or something. "A group of six scientists from some lab that was stationed on this island decided to go look at an extinct volcano and started digging around, poking their noses where they shouldn't have fucking been. The volcano opened up into a large cavern, where they found some of the black things and some type of egg things that released a giant spider that would grab onto your face. A few of them were grabbed by them. Only two scientists came out of there, telling the NWG of what they had found. But by the time they got there, it was way too late. They had multiplied. We don't know how."

"You mean they didn't know . . . until now." O'Conner urged. Her deep blue eyes burned bloody murder into the General, who knew what was here and still sent 143 people in. She never stopped staring at him, communicating with her eyes and telling him that if he moved, she was going to tear him limb for limb.

"We couldn't have known then what we know now! We couldn't have known that those spider things would grab onto your face and impregnate you. And we certainly didn't fucking know that the more people we sent in, the more black things came out!" The General's voice had become aggressive as if trying to defend himself for knowing. But nothing he can do or say would make the others in the room hate him less.

“I can't believe they would do this! I just can’t!” Michaels had begun to freak out even more than usual. His hands shook on his bald, shiny head and his eyes began to bulge. Sovin, on the other hand, was stationary. He hadn’t moved a muscle after he told the General to speak up.

“Why the hell would they send us hear then, huh?” Becks asked. He had brought his hand to his brown hair, tugging at it slightly to show his frustration.

“We only got word of this less than a week ago.” The General continued talking but something clicked in O'Conner's mind. Less than a week? It couldn’t be. The destruction of this town was way older than a week and . . . the newspaper! It was over three weeks old because they stopped printing it. They’ve been here for just about a month! She had a sudden epiphany as to why they would keep it a secret. Not knowing why they kept it a secret but also revealing the General's lie infuriated her. "They needed to know what these things were. What kind of a threat they were dealing with and—"

“YOU’RE LYING! YOU STUPID SON OF A BITCH! YOU’RE LYING!” Her sudden words stunned the men. “YOU’VE KNOWN ABOUT THIS FOR LONGER THAN A FUCKING WEEK! I SAW A NEWSPAPER IN THE TRASH FROM A MONTH AGO! THEY’VE BEEN HERE FOR A FUCKING MONTH!” The faces of everyone, including the General, had turned to stone.

“W . . . Wha . . .” The General didn’t know what to say.

“You already knew what they were because you’ve been watching over them for a month! You didn't want to know about them but you already did. You wanted to know if you could use them!” Finally revealing to her friends what she had figured out, General Millen was silent.

“What are you talking about?” Becks asks her.

"Think about it. They are perfect. Practically indescribable. Only our energy weapons have a real effect on them. Our bullets seem to just enter them and then melt. We saw that their blood is like acid. They would be hard to kill if controlled." The General was still stone-faced, amazed at how she could have known. "They've sent us here to die, didn't they? They sent us here to make more of those things for them didn't they?"

“NO!” The General finally bursts. “We were sent here to get the mother.” He pauses after saying that. It was like he just told a child that Santa was fake. The stunned faces of everyone stared back into his.

"What the hell is wrong with you!" Sovin yelled out as he ran towards the General. Frustration leaked from him as he grabbed him by the collar and lifted him a good foot in the air.

"Stop it, Boris! Stop it!" Becks had begun to pry Sovin's hands from the General. "We can't do this Boris. We have to stay strong. We have to get out of here." Sovin drops the General with a thump as he hits the floor. Falling on his ass, the General begin to inch away from Becks and Sovin as they were talking.

“DON’T YOU FUCKING MOVE!” O'Conner yells at him. “Look.” She turns to Becks and Sovin. “Allen is right!” When he hears his first name from O’Conner, Becks lets go of Sovin. “We can’t stay here or we are going to die, so we have to.”

“We’re going to die if we go out there!” Michaels interrupts.

"Then we shouldn't have a problem then. Accept your death, Dan. You're a soldier. It's what we do!" O'Conner's words stopped Michaels' rant. "As for you!" She turns to the General who was still on his ass. "What did you say about a mother?" O'Conner walked right up to him, taking her left foot and stepping on his chest, causing him to fall backward. She didn't care that she was doing this to the General. For what he had done, he and his friends should be hanged.

“HEY! I . . . We figured that there needed to be something that was making the eggs. So we sent in a mini-spybot that flies and sent it into the cavern. We saw a thing that was 5 times the size of the black things outside. Its head has a large crown that covers almost the rest of its body. It has an extra set of arms coming out of its shoulders but it’s what we didn't see that is most disturbing.” He takes a long pause, looking into the faces of ‘his men’. They couldn't believe it. Something bigger? “The face of it was gone, or hidden. It was definitely the mother because it was making the eggs.”

No way! Something like that cannot exist! What the hell am I talking about? Those things outside shouldn't exist but there they are. Black as night, with long skulls that seem to glow. Mouths with teeth are so sharp that they can cut through anything and it even had another mouth that came out from its throat. The hands and feet of these things were clawed like nothing she had ever seen. It had a tail with a spear at the end of it and moved so fast that and could extend to extreme lengths. And here he is telling them that those things not only have a mother but that the mother is bigger and worse. We’re not going to live through this day. I know we’re not. And so does everyone else but she has to be strong for them. Snapped from her thoughts, General Millen goes on to say that they were sent to trap it and bring it to a secret location. And then forget about it.

“I don’t care what we were sent here to do. We are getting the fuck out of here and now!” Becks argues.

The General starts laughing. “How do you suppose we get out of here, huh? How are you going to get off the island? Swim?” He laughed hard from his stomach. It was more of a ‘there’s no fucking way’ in a humorous way.

“No, you little shit. I saw a small jumper just south of the city right next to the small hospital on the landing pad. It can carry 8 people so you’re fucking lucky. If it only carried four, like the usual jumpers do, guess who would be left behind?” Becks looks right into the General. He asked a rhetorical question because he knew everyone already had the answer. With this, the General pushes O'Conner’s foot off his chest and stands. Without speaking, he sits on top of a case, content that he wouldn't be talking anymore and the others move off.

O'Conner walks up to Becks and places her hand on the small of his back. He turns to her and gives her a small kiss on her cheek.

“I don't know how we are going to get out of here. I don't know if we can get out of here Nalani. I really don't know.” Becks says and pulls O’Conner close to him, wrapping his arms around her.

“I know Allen. I know.” She whispers to him as she nudges her head to his neck. In their embrace, O’Conner had begun to fiddle with her engagement ring. Becks had surprised her with it when they were in the north. She smiled when she remembered that he had taken off his winter jacket along with everything else and ran into the snow of what used to be Northern Canada. “MARRY ME NALA! OR SOON I WILL SO BE TOO COLD TO HAVE CHILDREN!” She lets a small smirk run across her face at the memory. After years of dating, they had basically become one person. She takes a deep breath in to catch his scent. Mmm . . . sunflowers and old spice. Their wedding was a little more than a week away. This was meant to be their last mission before the big day. Little did they know that it would be the last mission for all of them.

“I don’t know what we are going to do.” She releases Becks. “But we have to get out of here nonetheless. Everyone.” She glances at the General. “Suit up. We need to be ready for anything.”

They all listened to her. She was next in command after the General. If it weren't for her 'problems', she probably would have outranked him. But nonetheless, they went by her words, even though the General was still alive. They listened to her and not him. They didn't want him there. They didn't want to be near him but there was nowhere for him to go. They each went to two different parts of the armory, getting whichever weapon best suited them. The two officers, who had already begun looking into every case that was placed all around the room, attempted to get one that was stuck within a large hole in the wall. She could hear their huffing and puffing as they attempted to pull it free. She didn't say anything to them. She enjoyed the silence. She loved the calm before the storm. She loved how content she was knowing that when they left here and that those things would come after them. The weapons that hung from her made her feel so safe. She had always felt safe with guns. Ever since she was little, she always had some kind of weapon by her. She had always wanted to be in the army just like her parents. She wanted to be strong, in and out of battle. She wanted to be everything for them. She wanted to make them proud because they were always watching over her.

"UGH! Come on! Put your back into it!" Sovin yelled at Michaels. She couldn't take it anymore. She walked over to the two men who were both pulling on the end of the case. It was still lodged in the wall and they were putting both of their enhanced strength together, pulling as hard as they could.

“That’s it. Move over!” She says. With one hand, she grabs the end of the case and pulls. It slides out easily. The faces of the two men had amazement and wonder written all over them.

“How the hell did you do that?” Sovin asks.

“HA!” The three of them turn to see Becks. “Her enhancements are upgraded.” He says with a large hint of sarcasm.

“What do you mean? There is only one dose of enhancement that you can get. There is no upgrade.” Sovin looks to O’Conner.

"Umm . . . Well, I . . . uhh." She didn't know what to say because no one was really supposed to know about the upgrades.

“Her uncle is Doctor Lynch.” Becks adds.

"Whoa! You're kidding me!" Sovin says, eyes wide.

"Who's Doctor Lynch?" Michaels looks into the faces of his friends and wonders why they look at him like he just asked the stupidest question ever.

"You have to know who Doctor Lynch is." Sovin gives Michaels a little shake on his right shoulder. "He's the guy who invented the BioNettic Enhancements."

"You kidding!" Michaels's mouth and eyes widened, almost not even believing it.

“No, he's my uncle.” She replies to him. She has a small smile on her face, loving the dumbfounded look on his.

"I thought Doctor Lynch did have any siblings," Sovin adds.

“You know of him?”

“Yeah. I was planning on going into Gene Development and Research but my father pushed me into military service.”

“He didn't have any brothers or sisters. He and my father worked together and—”

"O'Conner. That's where I know your name from. You're the daughter of the scientist who found the bases for gene manipulation. I heard he died though. I didn't know he had a child."

"Not a lot of people did. And when they died . . ." She paused. The men knew not to say anything. They knew it was hard. " . . .when they died, Lynch had adopted me as his daughter. But he is still more of an uncle than an adoptive father. He had his own children at the time. Four boys and all older than I am. He took care of me."

Michaels interrupts, “What do you mean he invented the BioNettic Enhancements?”

"What do you think I mean when I say he invented them?" Sovin replies. "He invented the enhancements, you dumb shit. We all have them. You should know who made them." Sovin's mouth gave way to an evil smirk when Michaels' face flinched.

The General, who had sat in his little corner, was amazed that all four of them had the BioNettic enhancements done. He was too old. At 61, he should have been retired by now. He remembered the day that the BioNettic enhancements were introduced in the military. The Genetic Development and Research department, under the supervision of Doctor Lynch, had the best scientists. Including O'Conners' parents before they died. They had stumbled onto something that would soon become the BioNettic enhancements. He didn't understand how they could do it. He didn't get how you splice new information into someone's DNA. The BioNettic enchantments did not affect the personality part of a person though not at least mutated part of the gene but it sure as hell affected everything else. What he did understand was that in the human muscle, there are blood vessels that hold the muscle fibers. The enhancements basically increased the number of fibers per blood vessel, doubling and sometimes even tripling a person's strength without adding extra weight, bulk, or muscle. He did notice that O'Conner was bigger than the normal woman but he just thought it was because she was an army brat. But he didn't know that she had the enhancements, let alone the upgrades. BioNettics did more than make you stronger. It made everything about you better. You can see and smell better. Food even tasted better. Your brain even processes things faster. When he heard that O'Conner had 'upgrades', he knew that Doctor Lynch had been doing more tests. She wasn't just strong either and he could tell by the way she moved. When they were dropped here, she could smell something he couldn't and she could hear something too. The BioNettics sculpted her into the ultimate soldier. He had heard of how she had fought the rebels in what was called Africa and how she was captured and tortured but somehow escaped, killing them all. O'Conner kind of reminded him of his own daughter. Both strong-willed and physically strong as hell. His daughter didn't want to talk to him either. None of his family did after he was assigned to head this mission. He should have retired years ago and his family hated that he was still being assigned and that he accepted.

"I shouldn't have done it. I shouldn't have done it!" He whispered softly to himself. With her hearing being so good, O'Conner heard the General but she didn't acknowledge him. BioNettics made a person's hearing and smell better than a dog's. Even better than any animal on Earth. You could even see in pitch-black darkness perfectly, catching every spec of light possible.

“So what do you mean you have upgrades?” Sovin said. “There's only one BioNettics enhancement.”

“That’s what you think.” Becks interrupted. He walks up behind O’Conner and puts his hands on the side of her waist, pulling her to him. He puts his chin on her shoulder and says, “When I first met her in...what was it? The third grade?” O’Conner nods. “She had already had the enhancements.”

“Are you shitting me?”

“Nope.” She said. “She gave it to me first. I was honored at the time. He had said that I was mature for my age and that he thought I could handle it. But I think I just stayed that mature because I don't think I have matured more sense.” They all laughed a little.

“What's different with the upgrades?” Sovin asks.

"Nothing really. It's just more. More strength, more ability, better senses. Like pulling that case out. That thing must have weighed a few hundred pounds and you two couldn't get it together. I'm still getting used to it though. I just got it 2 months ago and the things that I see, feel, hear, smell."

“I’d hate to smell everything. Everything around here stinks.” Sovin says. O’Conner laughs. She could smell things on him.

"I can smell a lot of things Boris. Like you had a hotdog with mayo, ewe by the way, for lunch before we came here and you had sex yesterday." His face was somewhere between 'Wow' and 'Yeah that's right'.

They realized that the severity of their situation had left their minds for a moment but it was a good moment. They talked for a little while about her enhancements and what she could do. Then, Michaels asked a question that made everyone stop. It wasn’t a rude or disrespectful question. It was just a hard one. “How did your parents die?”

O'Conner just stood there. She didn't mind the question and didn't care if they knew. It was just the memory that she didn't have her parents made her pause. “I was just a newborn when both my Mom and Dad were transferred to Niihau. And because they had an infant child, they couldn't go on the transport ships like the others. They had to get there themselves and on the way, they were hit by a semi or something. They died quick. I was safe enough in the car seat and had only a few gashes here and there.” She holds up her right hand and shows them her palm. “A piece of the car went right through me. It hit my back and my left leg too, leaving some nice scars.” Becks takes her hand in his and whispers into her ear.

“You’ve got some beautiful scars, Nalani.” She couldn't help but smile and blush a little.

Snapping out of her love trance, she looks at the two officers who were gawking her them. "You guys suited up yet? We have to get outa here."

“Yeah, we just wanted to see what was in this case.” One of them said.

"Where did you find that anyway?" O'Conner asks.

"We had just moved some cases from the wall and we noticed it was hidden in a cove," Sovin replied. He swiped his forehead with his palm to get rid of the sweat that was beading on his face. Hmm . . . it is getting hot in here. They must not be used to it yet. I've lived here all my life. I'm used to this heat. But there is no power, so no A/C and it is getting really clammy in here. We’ll be out of here soon. Ready or not. O'Conner looked at the case to see it was locked.

"Hmm . . . you guys wouldn't happen to have a magic set of keys, do you?" They shook their heads. The General made a loud cough and stood up. Everyone turned to look at him as he took a set of keys and threw them. Catching them in mid-air, Becks only nodded slightly to him. He didn't really want to talk to him. He gave the keys to O'Conner who was crouching by the case. As she took them from his hand, he slightly rubbed his finger against hers. She looks up to him and smiles. How can I love this man so much? She gets back to unlocking the 5 big locks that surrounded the case.

Finally, with all the locks off, she opened and peered in. With a gasp, she recognizes the objects that were safely packed in foam. Inside were little round balls that she had seen before but only at Weapons Concept Galleries. Her Uncle always went to them because he designed a few concepts of weapons for the government to look at. She had seen these particular ones firsthand. The weapons themselves were the size of a large marble and made of metal.

“What are those?” Michaels asks. The 3 men had crowded around the open case and stared at its contents.

"Ball Bombs." O'Connor went on to say how she had gone to a gallery that showcased this bomb. The person who invented it had to do a presentation on how it worked. To do this, he had to construct a box that had four heavy-duty metal on all four sides but also had small enough windows for people to see into but not large enough that the contents of the bomb would go through. The ball bomb has two buttons on either side of it and when pushed, it activates and you are given 5 seconds before it explodes. She remembers seeing the man who had to activate the bomb scurry like a little girl to get out of the room before it went off but she soon found out why. Inside the bomb were millions of miniature nails, smaller than half an eyelash. But when the bomb exploded, the contents expanded into two-inch long nails. They shot out in every direction, hitting the walls and never leaving more than an inch between the two nails.

“So what are they called?” Becks asks.

"They are befittingly called Projectile Bombs. Or PB's." While answering his question, O'Conner noticed another small case of them also packed in foam. However, these ones were different. They still had the metal sides with the buttons but most of it was glass and inside of them had a red liquid in it. Smart enough to know not to test it in here, she lifts each of the smaller cases and sets them on the floor. "Don't touch them until we know what they are." She sounded like a mother but she needed to be careful. Underneath the first two cases were two more. One has a set with the same glass ball but inside, it looked like it was a cloud. The other was full metal and she couldn't tell what it could be until she saw that it had three waving lines engraved on one side. She still didn't know what it could be but was glad that it was labeled. Again, she lifts the two cases out. "Dan, can you move those other cases? Make sure not to bump them or anything." He complied and moved them so she could set the others down. The next set of two cases we both the same full metal bombs. One set had a speaker engraved on it and the other had a light bulb. I feel like I'm in pre-school, trying to learn my signs. Who would use these stupid signs anyway?

“Well, considering that it was meant for us soldiers, we don't want to have to read complicated signs to know what our weapons do.” After Becks answered the question, he pointed out that there was a small black envelope that sat on the side of the case. Opening it up, O’Conner saw that it was something like an instruction manual.

"Oh sweet. Listen to this guys." She sat down on her butt with her legs twisted together. She felt comfortable in that position and she saw no reason she couldn't sit right now. "To activate PBs, place two fingers onto the side buttons and hold until you hear one beep. You will have 7 seconds to release."

It used to be only 5.

"And run after activation of PB. There are six different forms of PB's. One . . .Nail Bomb. Projects nails. Two . . . Acid Bomb. Projects an acid that will burn for 15 seconds before it dissipates. Three . . . Smoke Bomb. Emits a thick smoke that will last for 30 minutes. Four . . . Heat Bom. Emits an extreme amount of heat around an area for up to 20 minutes. Caution. Long exposure to heat can cause fatigue and can be fatal. Five . . . Siren Bomb. Emits a high-pitched, short burst of sound. Six . . . Light Bomb. Emits an extreme amount of light that can cause damage to retinas. Can be used to light large areas."

I like my new toys!

O'Conner practically squeals. She looks like a kid in a candy store, going over her new weapons. She saw a small knapsack that was attached to the bottom of the lid of the case. It was a small pack that held four tubes that sat at each corner. It held all of the little bombs and even more. Everyone had to carry a pack but what was in each pack was up to the holder. O'Conner's pack was mostly little things. An extra shirt that was basically a sports bra considering the coverage it gave, a zip-up sweater, a mini-med kit, a few extra army knives, personal women's items, and even a small music player. (AN: equivalent to the MP3 Player) But there was one thing that all personnel in the NWGA had to have. It was called the 'Last Dinner'. It was just a small case that could fit into your palm, and inside were 4 small pills. Stronger and faster than cyanide, there were suicide pills that could be used in bad situations. Three of them were the run-of-the-mill 'quick and easy' pills, while the other one, when ingested, would begin to disintegrate your entire body. Organs, teeth, bones, and even hair. It was meant to eliminate evidence that someone was at a certain location. She hated having those pills in her pack but she knew she had to have them and she understood why. She was captured and tortured when she was on a mission, and can completely understand why someone would rather die than go through what she did. But she wouldn't eat her last dinner to escape the pain. She knew that she wouldn't do it because of feeling like a coward, too afraid to face her fears of pain or death.

Once she transferred her belongings to the new case, she turned to the men. "You guys almost ready? It's almost the 11th hour and it's a 45-minute walk to the hospital. That's excluding the black devils." She knew that her sarcasm wouldn't help but it was getting too quiet. She was used to a lot of men and women that were ready and anxious to go into battle but right now, they were too scared to do anything but try and survive. With nods from the guys who told her they were ready, she looked to the General who had armed up as well and he gave a small nod.

"How are we going to get out of here, O'Conner?" Michaels asks as all of them but O'Conner walks toward the door that they entered from.

“We’re going through the door you dumb ass!” Sovin was still angry and hadn't relented in bullying Michaels. He walked to the panel that sat next to the door and brought up his hand to open it.

"WAIT! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!" Sovin freezes as O'Conner runs up to him and grabs his hand. "Do not touch that panel." Sovin's face had the question 'why' written all over it so he didn't need to to ask O'Conner. "Remember when I asked Allen to hit the red button on the panel?" He nods his head, still silent. "Well . . . I asked him to because there were black devils on our toes and were at the door. When he pushed the red button a second set of blast doors closed about 10 meters down the hallway that we were running in. Once the door was closed, the black devils were caught and the small room began to fill was freeze gel."

"Do you mean liquid nitrogen?" Sovin whispered. O'Conner's hand was still holding his and he was afraid that if she became angry with his question, she would squeeze his hand and most likely shatter it. She noticed that he had whispered and she wondered why. Then, she saw that she was still holding his wrist and let out a laugh.

"I'm not going to hurt you, Boris." She let go of his hand. "And no. It's not quite like liquid nitrogen. This stuff stays like a gel until the room is completely filled and then a single molecule of liquid nitrogen is introduced, making the entire room of gel freeze instantly. But I don't know if the devil would die because I don't know what it is. But it's up to you if you want to open the doors but you have to wait until the rest of us leave before you do." Sovin shook his head. "That's what I thought."

"So, those things are dead?" Becks walks up to the doors and places his hand on it, only pulling it back fast. "Geeze . . . The door is freezing. You must have killed it." O'Conner wasn't sure if she did but she was proud that she caught it. If it was dead, then she would be even prouder and it would be her second kill. The first one she got by accident. One of them, with its long head that extended backward, was busy eating one of her friends and she shot her energy weapon. It blew off the back of its head. That's also when they learned that the blood of those things was like acid when it hit a wall and began to melt.

“I don’t know if it is but I don’t want to take that chance. We need to find another way outta here.”

"There's no other way of getting out Nalani. I've looked." Becks crosses his arms about his chest, confident that he is right. Little did he know that she had found another way out.

"Are you so sure Allan?" She walked over to the wall with the small handguns and she aimed one at the wall of mirrors. With one shot ringing out of the gun, it hits the mirror and shatters into a million pieces, revealing another part of the room.

“What is that place?” One of them said. O’Conner wasn't looking at them though. She was looking at the extra 5 feet of room and an extra door that was revealed.

"Before you go into any situation, you need to know what you're getting into. So I looked at all the blueprints of the buildings that were here and noticed that at least five feet were missing from the size of this room and an extra door. So I guessed that it was behind the glass. But what I don’t know is if the other side of the door had the devils in it or a way out. But once we got in here, I noticed something was off. I assumed that they had something hidden like an escape route or something.” With her suspensions correct and the men amazed but ready, they walked towards the door.

“How are our families going to know we are dead? Because we are going to die. All of you know that right?” Michaels was still frantic. Both he and Sovin had newborns at home and Sovin even had some older children too.

“Considering that this was a secret mission, I’m guessing that all that will be said to them is that we died in combat. There’s nothing else that they can really say.” O’Conner knew that her words wouldn't help Michaels’s fears but it was the truth.

"Lynch will know if she's dead and if she's dead, then we're dead." Becks takes O'Conner's arm and pulls her to him. He gives her the last kiss they will ever have. "God I love you Nala. If we live through this or not, I want you to know that." All she could do was smile at him. She knew that if she said she loved him too, she would start crying but she needed to stay on task. She needed to get her men out.

"Ok, you two love birds. Death is at the door and we don't have time for cuddling." With Sovin's words, O'Conner takes the lead and starts for the door. When they entered through it, automatic lights turned on, revealing an empty hallway that led to some stairs.

"We're going to have to do this single file. Me, Allen, Don, General, and then Boris." She knew that the men wanted the General at the flank. It was the weakest position and easy to attack. But O'Conner knew that the General was of higher rank and needed protection. And besides, Sovin was a better shot than the General. So if anything came for him, she knew that he could hold his own.

The walk up the stairs was uneventful. It took a while but then again, they were a good 3 floors underground. Finally reaching the top of wherever they were going, a small room, about 10x10’ revealed itself. At the far end of the room was a large metal door. Immediately, they knew what it was . . . A blast door that was meant to be blown out if there was trouble. From the outside, it would appear as if nothing was there. But when you blasted the door, it would burst out a few good meters, leaving a gaping hole in the wall for them to get out.

"Double check your weapons men. Drink some water and put on a fresh pair of panties. We're getting out of here." Her words did nothing for them. It didn't make them laugh because her 'fresh panties' remark sometimes rang true. The men stood behind the walls that were in the middle of the room that were meant to protect the occupants of the room from debris. "Ready. Three . . . two . . . one!"

The sound of the blast doors was deafening, smoke that came from the door and sand from the ground sprang up into the air, bringing their sight to a minimum.

"MOVE! MOVE! MOVE!" Running from the protective wall, they didn't know what they had in store for them. They didn't care. They had barely an hour and a half to get from here to the jumper that sat next to the hospital. 

Chapter 3: Invitation

Notes:

Good evening everyone!

Another chapter of this amazing story after overdue for this story update. Craziness keeping me busy with the holidays coming lol. I hope you enjoy this and the next chapter update will be for Rise Up ;)

 

Thank you and Good Hunting!

 

NOTE: This work is following the original author's work on another fanfic and I don't take credit for the idea but want to spread the love and joy for this amazing story and continue it to the end! If anyone has concerns, please don't hesitate to ask me. I'm more than happy to respond and work to the best of my abilities to respect everyone's wishes.

Stepping onto the bridge of the DropShip, Dhm'Ni who had recently returned from his Kainde Amedha Chiva with great pride in his achievements and of his trophies, entered the large room. It was quite easy to enter the bridge for it had no doors. All doors would do was annoy everyone. Many Yautja hunters habitually go in and out of the bridge and it can also be a hassle during a battle. No one wants to mess with a door when someone is trying to shoot you out of space.

The moment he placed a foot on the ground, shivers ran up his spine, knowing that his father would not like the news he was sent to give him. The bridge itself was a room with three large tiers of stairs. Each tier is filled with working Yautja and looking over their Gkinmaru or sensors on the ship. When he entered, they gave him no acknowledgment of his presence since they didn't have time to look. They were too busy preparing to land on the Ooman planet. His father, however, stood at the very top of the three tiers, standing just ahead of his large Leader's chair and staring at his men. Dhm'Ni looks to his father, who was turning white from old age and holds such high respect and honor for him. When Dhm'Ni approached him, he bowed his head as a sign of respect and his father did the same to him. When they were close enough, they each placed their right hand on the other shoulder, giving it a little shake. This is a common greeting for respected males. 

"Dhm'Ni . . . my son. Tell me. Have all the Arbitrators that I've requested presence boarded yet?" His father chirped. The question Dhm'Ni had been anticipating had finally been asked and he knew his father would not approve of his answer.

"No father." He paused. "Only eight have arrived. They have boarded, attended to their accommodations, and are now awaiting you in the conference room." Dhm'Ni didn't know what to expect. He didn't even know why they wanted or even needed nine Arbitrators but it was not his place to ask. When he gave his answer to his father, he didn't expect the reaction that he got.

"Eight?" His father's face had a look of surprise when he heard there was one missing. It takes a lot to amaze him so Dhm'Ni knew that something was wrong. "Who is missing?"

"Chupa, my Lord."

"Chupa?" He hissed. "It is quite unlike him to be late for a hunt such as this."

"Yes, father. Chupa has recently lost his life mate and unborn pup during childbirth. He sends his regrets that he will not be able to join the hunt." Dhm'Ni studies his father's face as it goes from surprise to a little distressed. His top right mandible clicking against his bottom. He knew from the expression that his father held sorrow for Chupa.

"I see . . . Send Chupa my deepest regrets for his loss." His father purred those words, adding to Dhm'Ni's speculation as to what was going on. He did know that his father felt for those who have lost a life mate because he lost one. Dhm'Ni's mother.

"I already have my lord." His father gives him a small nod. "Father?" The way Dhm'Ni chirped his name showed that he wanted to ask something more. Even his mandibles clattered in anticipation of asking another question. He waited for an acknowledgment before continuing with his question. He wouldn't dare blurt it out. A nod from his father told him to carry on. "Why do we need nine Arbitrators? Are we after Bad Bloods?" His father didn't answer him. He just turned to the main view screen at stared at nothing. Dhm'Ni knew that you should never push an elder, especially one of his father's rank for an answer. He knew that we would get one in time. 

"Hcju!" His father barks the name of one of his men.

"Yes Lord Khupiee?" One of the working Yautja jumped up and chirped at the sound of his name.

"How long until we land on the Ooman planet?"

"Within the hour my lord." He chirps quickly and then sits back down fast on his chair. With his answer, Lord Khupiee turns towards the exit. His long, white dreadlocks flowed with his movement. He motions with his head for Dhm'Ni to follow him and he does contently. He knows that they were most likely going to the conference room where the eight attending Arbitrators lingered. Dhm'Ni still did not receive an answer to his question but he did not want to ask again. His father might see him as weak for wanting information so badly but his curiosity got the best of him this time.

"Father?"

"Dhm'Ni. Due to Chupa's absence, we are one hunter short. By law, we must have ten attending this hunt. The rank for the attending does not matter so my son . . . I extend an invitation to you to join us." Dhm'Ni's mandibles go slack. He was astonished that his father would invite him on a hunt so early after his Kainde Amedha Chiva. A mere two days had passed since he arrived home and then departed with his father. A lot had happened in those two days though. If Lord Khupiee could have seen his son's face, he would have been proud. His eyes held a hunter's lust to kill, to hunt. Dhm'Ni had been on Pyode Amedha hunts before but it had been long since he had had a good hunt. After his initial shock wore off, he began to contemplate what they were going to hunt because they wouldn't go down there just for some pathetic Oomans. They are not worth eight Arbitrators. 

"Are we after Bad Bloods father?" Dhm'Ni thrilled. He had heard of some Bad Bloods becoming honorable trophies to those who slay them. He had great lust to kill a Bad Blood since it murdered his mother. Being killed like that was a dishonorable way to die. There is no honor in the fact that you had died by something other than prey. Nonetheless, he still mourned for his mother and will always have hatred for Bad Bloods.

"No." Lord Khupiee hissed. We are after something much worse. Something much more difficult to hunt." Dhm'Ni knew that his father was smiling, even though he could not see his face and knew exactly what he meant. Kainde Amedha. Hard meat.

"But how? We haven't . . . there isn't—" Lord Khupiee let out a hard and angered sign while spreading his lower mandibles, telling him to be quiet. They remained silent for the rest of their walk in the empty hallway. The sound of their metal sandals rang against the grates. The floor was reflected in the shiny black and red lined tiles that decorated all the passageways in this ship, making them look wider than they really were. Within the red lines that bordered the walls were actual hunting charms made by the first true Elders, Ancients, and Arbitrators. Only their clan, the Ehre Clan, had ships with such charms. It was their connections to the creation of the Arbitrators that gave them the right to adorn their ships this way. When the first Arbitrators were created, it was one of Lord Khupiees' and Dhm'Ni's ancestors who had the initial inspiration for them. Back then, the Ehre Clan was one of the largest of all Yautja clans but after the creation, their clan had become somewhat royalty in the eyes of all Yautja.

With their new reputation, mating rights became harder to attain thus making it hard for their family to mate with just anyone they pleased. Slowly, their clan's numbers fell but it did not fall so low that it was considered the smallest clan and by no means that close. So every pup born to the Ehre Clan was 'special'. While it is true that their clan does not have a complete rule, no single clan could ever rule the Yautja but theirs held the highest respect from all Yautja, hunter and Arbitrators alike.

Reaching the end of the long hallway, two guards stood by the door to the conference room where the Arbitrators waited. They bowed their heads to Lord Khupiee and Dhm'Ni before opening the large red doors. Inside, the room was basically bare except for one large rectangular table that seated twelve. Five on either side and one at each end. The large room had walls of bright red with long tapestries that hung from the ceiling, depicting past clan leaders in fighting stances. The floors were polished black, shining so well that you could see your reflection. 

"My comrades!" Lord Khupiee thrills at seeing his old friends and they do the same at the sight of him, clattering the mandibles and nodding to him. Both Lord Khupiee and Dhm'Ni stop at the base of the long table and nod their heads in respect. "Tell me. What trophies have your hunts presented you?" Lord Khupiee walks to the top of the table where his seat is begging him to rest. Dhm'Ni, being the second of Lord Khupiee's only two offspring, sat to his right. Many seasons ago, Lord Khupiee went on an Ooman hunt, expecting it to be like any other. However, during the sport, he was severely injured, which resulted in him becoming sterile. He only produced two heirs before he was wounded, Det-Onda'Ni, his oldest, and Dhm'Ni, his youngest. He still maintained his harem of females though. He did not lose the ability to please them. It's just that he could never again produce children. His reputation for how he 'dealt' with his females was legendary. He was known for how well he pleased his females who numbered in the hundreds. All the males had immense respect for him because their females can get a little rough. 

"Hunts have provided us with many honorable trophies." The Arbitrator Pakka, who sat to Lord Khupiees' left answered him. He gained the right to sit to the left of Lord Khupiee because of two things: he was one of the oldest and most experienced hunters, highly respected among all of the Arbitrators, and then he was Lord Khupiee's younger brother. "I, myself, have just returned from a successful Pyode Amedha hunt. I found it quite amusing and invigorating. The Oomans have made great strides in weaponry but still nothing close to us. It only makes the hunt more enjoyable." A few loud thrills of laughter came from the others as they heard Pakka talk of the Oomans. He had great disdain for them and was always quick to put them down.

"Now then. Down to the business of the day." Now seated, Lord Khupiee tapped a small panel with one of his large taloned fingers, which dimmed the lights in the room. "Tell me. Has anyone located Shn'Di'Ka'Cha?" Their blank faces answered his question. "We must find him!" Lord Khupiee hisses. Dhm'Ni still did not know what was going on and was beginning to get frustrated with the fact he was the only one who had no clue.

"Father, what is going on?" He asks gently, so as not to be disrespectful. Lord Khupiee looks to Pakka and motions with a hand for him to tell his son. With a short thrill, Pakka begins.

"Tell me, young one." Pakka pauses after calling Dhm'Ni 'young one'. From an early age, he hated being called that. Pakka only continued it because he was his blood uncle and because he knew it rubbed him the wrong way. Dhm'Ni taps his mandibles in frustration and glares at his uncle. "What is the one rule upon completing a Kainde Amedha Chiva?: Dhm'Ni was quick to answer. 

"On a hard meat hunt, it is criminal to leave even a single prey behind." He looks first to his father and then back to Pakka. "What has happened?"

"Ahhhh. Quite right, young one. And if one were to leave even a single prey behind, they would be considered a Bad Blood. But what do you suppose would happen if one were to come back and claim a successful hunt and that there were no remaining prey but in fact, there were prey left behind? Let alone a Queen?" Pakka watched as Dhm'Ni's face began to change as the idea leached into his mind.

"The dishonor. The appalling idea of that sickens me. Who . . . who would do such a thing?" Dhm'Ni roared. 

"Well, young one. Many seasons ago, an unblood went on his Chiva and came back claiming that he was a lone survivor. His name was Shn'Di'Ka'Cha. The son of the Honored Jein'Ka'Cha. But when he did return, he held few trophies and did not carry the head of the queen. We questioned him but he explained that the trophy of its defeat was destroyed by one of his fellow unblood's plasma cannon. We did not question him further than that but we should have." Dhm'Ni's mind could barely wrap around this situation. His mandibles clicked wildly with anger and speculation. "It turned out that neither Shn'Di'Ka'Cha or his fellow unbloods killed the queen."  Dhm'Ni didn't know how to react. Anger and disgust for this Shn'Di'Ka'Cha boiled in his blood. His skin crawled with the idea that one of his own would claim Nain-desintye-de a pure win when they left behind a hard meat queen. 

"How is it possible that we did not detect the queen when we arrived for Shn'Di'Ka'Cha? Would we not have seen it?" Dhm'Ni couldn't understand why the ship's sensors couldn't pick up the Queen. They have specific sensors that are meant to detect them. They should have been able to find this one.

"The queen hid." Pakka hisses. He found it utterly pathetic that a hard meat Queen would hide.

"HID?"

"I found that strange too Dhm-Ni. It hid in a dormant volcano that was on a small island in the Southern Hemisphere of the planet. It went deep underground. Even if we were looking, we would not have found it."

"Then how have we seen it now?"

"We have come a long way since then. We have more powerful sensors to pick up hard meats and one of our scout ships had recently replaced that particular Ooman planet's sensor and it seems that the Oomans did some exploring." Pakka said in a smug voice. He was astonished at the idea that Oomans could do anything but fight and mate. "They had dug into the very spot where the Queen hid. When they entered, there were very few if any drones inside. The Queen must have known that too many drones in such a small place could cause a problem and that having only a few of them it could allow them to survive longer and have a better chance of getting out. And they did. When the Oomans opened the cavern, they escaped and quickly multiplied and eventually covered the island, killing all but ten Oomans."

"Five." Bakuub, another Arbitrator, corrected Pakka. "There are five remaining Oomans, Pakka." 

With a thrill, Pakka adds, "They will not survive. They are too weak and stupid to do anything that would help them. They're Oomans. They are good from nothing but breeding hard meat."

"I would not be so sure Pakka." Another Arbitrator, Sya, who sits at the opposite end of the table and directly across from Lord Khupiee, couldn't help but stop Pakka in his rant about Oomans. Sya was second in command. He had been at Lord Khupiees' side from when they were pups. Through all of the fights, tournaments, and their Chiva, they were always together.

"What do you know of this, Sya? You have not been on an Ooman hunt in years." Pakka thrills with a small laugh.

"I know but I have a great respect for Oomans, Pakka."

"Too much respect Sya. We know of the mercy that was shown to you many seasons ago but that does not give you grounds for your fascination with the Oomans. You go on your little 'expeditions' to the Ooman worlds to observe their ways. It's abnormal. Your captivation for their species."

"It is none of your concern, Pakka!" Sya roars. His mandibles were widespread, showing Pakka just how angry he was with him. Pakka is Sya's subordinate and his age overshadows Pakka by many seasons. And Sya's rage and fury are known throughout the entire Yautja universe. He immediately bowed his head submissively to him. He did not want to cause trouble on the eve of a great hunt. When they return, he will take action. "You know nothing of mercy. It is something that must be cherished for it is hard to come by. So when the day comes that one may give you mercy, take it. It will be the honorable thing to do." Pakka scuffs at this.

"An Ooman giving you mercy does not make them your equal. It only means they are too stupid to know to kill you." Pakka slams his fist onto the table, causing their flasks of water to shake wildly.

"Ki'dte." Lord Khupiee finally interrupts their bickering. "We do not have time for this! We will be landing within the hour. We must examine the Ui'stbi, the terrain, so we know our surroundings." Lord Khupiee raises a taloned hand and begins to punch a code in on the panel that rested just beyond his hand. In the center of the table, the small eye of the hologram projector rises and begins to display an image of the Earth. "There! In the southwestern region of the planet is a small group of islands." The projection zooms in closer to show the sequence of islands. "At the northwestern tip of the islands is where the Queen lays." It again zooms into the small island. "The island is secluded enough that the small number of Kainde Amedha cannot migrate to the surrounding ones. Here." Zooming in once again, the projection shows the cavern that the Queen is still hiding in. "Here is where the Queen hides."

Lord Khupiees clicks as his mandibles clattered in anger at the thought of a Kainde Amedha Queen being so pathetic in hiding like this. Such stupidity.

"She still lies there even though she is free?" Dhm'Ni couldn't understand why a Queen, who was liberated from a makeshift prison, did not immediately leave. 

"We wondered about that to Dhm'Ni. What are your thoughts as to why she has not moved?" Lord Khupiee already knew why the queen was stationary. He wanted to see if his son could deduce her reasoning.

"She . . . She must be hurt or injured. Too weak to move and get out. Odd for a Queen." Dhm'Ni had great respect for Kainde Amedha and was shocked at the fact the Queen had not died already.

"Correct, my son." Lord Khupiee thrills.

He was proud that his son figured it out so early. It took some of the Arbitrators more time than him to guess that. Pressing another button on the panel, it zooms out and then in, focusing on where the five Oomans had barricaded themselves. When they first got the signal that there was a Queen on this planet, there were hundreds of Oomans that surrounded her. They found it quite odd that there were less than fifty hard meats, excluding the Queen, which roamed the now-infested island. But when they were chattering earlier, they realized that the queen was most likely drained of energy and strength and needed food more than drones or warriors.

"Here is where the Oomans have settled. Three levels down in the ground of a building. It rests at the north tip of a compound that we assume the Oomans were using as a training ground. Then in the center of the complex is a very large circle that is oddly marked with other circles and also squares along with equipment. Lots of the buildings surround this training circle and the five Oomans hid in one of them. We watched them as they made their way down to the room. Initially, there were six running but of the three drones chasing them, one got a hold of an Ooman and took it down. The two who chased the others deeper into the building managed to follow them into where they are now. For a moment, they were alive, pacing and scratching at the door that separated them from the Oomans but within a minute their life signs ceased. Seems the Oomans do have greater technology. Hmm Pakka?"

Lord Khupiee looks to his younger brother with a smile. Pakka only scoffed at this. He did not care that the Oomans killed two hard meats. They were still nothing but prey.

"Do you suppose that the Oomans even know that they have killed two hard meats?" Miy'Hota spoke. He is the youngest of all the Arbitrators but is still as ruthless in his judgment as any other. "They walk into the room as if nothing is disturbing them. Unworried." Miy'Hota stops, clicking his mandibles in frustration. For a moment, there was silence. They watched as the small red dots conversed with one another and then suddenly, four of them seemed to gang up on one and quickly stopped. Soon after, they disbanded and each went their separate ways.

"Had anyone else noticed that they are clinging to the walls?" Dhm'Ni clicks questionably. They all did but none had a theory as to why. Lord Khupiee knew that his son would most likely come up with something. Ever since he was a child, Dhm'Ni was always able to see every angle and possibility of a hunt or life challenge. Always finds another way to solve mysteries seeing the 'what ifs' and imagining all the outcomes to recommend actions for himself. "My guess is they are arming themselves. Gathering weapons, armor, and anything that would 'help' them."

Lord Khupiees' expectations of his son were correct and he was amazed at his presumption as to why the Oomans were acting in such a way. "This means that they intend to leave the area that they're currently in. This could cause a problem when we arrive." Dhm'Ni looks to his father and is caught off guard when he sees him staring right back at him. Lord Khupiee was blown away at his son's knowledge. He was so proud at that moment but could never show it openly.

"It is a possibility." Lord Khupiee clicks. "Nonetheless, we must get down to the planet and clean this mess. Clean Shn'Di'Ka'Cha's mess. AND FIND HIM!" Lord Khupiee roars. His overgrown bottom mandibles click against themselves in frustration that someone from his clan would do such a thing. "Do we know of his last location? Dh'Kn?" Dh'Kn was the second youngest Arbitrator and the younger brother to Sya. He had been given the responsibility to find Shn'Di'Ka'Cha.

"No, my lord, we have not been able to find him. At first, when he had completed his Chiva, we found it odd that he did not immediately take a mate or choose his path but now I see why. He knew one day we would see what he had done and take the proper action to bring him to justice so he ran away. Pauk-de pathetic." Dh'Kn was a member of the Ehre Clan and felt the dishonor that this would cause to be very alarming. The anger he held for Shn'Di'Ka'Cha showed in his face and with his mandibles. If he were to get his claws on him, he would tear off each of his mandibles and make him eat them one by one. Lord Khupiee let a short thrill of laughter leave his mouth before he spoke.

"Come now. We will be landing within the hour." Lord Khupiee stands up, readying himself to leave. When he does stand, Dhm'Ni and the Arbitrators stand as well, showing a sign of respect. "Assemble your Awu'asa. Gather your weapons. As soon as we land, we will leave to rid our clan of this disgrace before it goes any further." With that, he begins to walk from the table, walking past his son. Until that moment, Dhm'Ni never really saw just how tall his father was. Figuratively and literally. His father stood at a tall 9'8', which was taller than all the Yautja in the room and he towered over all he knew. At that moment, Dhm'Ni's respect for him was inflamed at seeing how his father was such a great leader of his clan. It was astonishing. The sound of the doors sealing was a signal for Pakka to begin his onslaught of torture to his nephew. 

"So Dhm'Ni." Pakka clicks. After Lord Khupiee exited the room, most of the Arbitrators had left, leaving Pakka, Sya, and Dh'Kn to speak with Dhm'Ni. "I heard you had quite a successful Chiva." Sya and Dh'Kn move closer to the two. They had very little time to waste before landing and had many questions to ask Dhm'Ni.

"Indeed it was Uncle. It was the first in this century that all un-bloods came back victorious. There were injuries of course but none too severe."

"I heard that as well Dhm'Ni. I am impressed but I also heard that you decided to use your body as a blood bank for the hard meat. Let me see your scar." Sya joined in the conversation but it was not his Chiva that he wanted to know about. He had hidden intentions to find out about Dhm'Ni's time between arriving back on the clanship and then leaving with his father. Dhm'Ni graciously turns his back to Sya and lifts up one of his back plates, revealing a large teardrop-shaped scar that was caused by the blood of the hard meat splashing onto his body. "It is a fine-looking scar, indeed."

"We all took many trophies to hang. I, myself, took only 4. The rest were too easy. Three drones and one warrior. Their skulls are striking on my wall." Dhm'Ni was so proud of his trophies. He had brought them on board the drop ship and every night he goes to sleep looking at his achievement. 

"I did not see the queen's head though." Pakka did wonder about the absence of this trophy but he also wanted to know the same thing that Sya wished to as well.

"Her skull was badly damaged when we took her. No hunter could really claim her skull so we each took a small trinket." Dhm'Ni lifts his left arm to reveal his belt of skulls and one large inner mouth from the Queen. "I dealt the killing blow so I claimed her inner mouth as mine. She died faster than you could say Thei-de."

"It seems Paya was watching over you, leaving Cetanu to wait for the next Chiva." Dh'Kn thrilled loudly. "Take this as a blessing Dhm'Ni. You have Paya's favor but that also means that Cetanu will always be at your heels." They throw their heads back, letting out a thrill of laughter. 

"What have the spoils brought to you?" Dhm'Ni knew what Pakka was asking. He wanted to know why Dhm'Ni didn't take a mate the night he got back. He did have two days and in that time, he did not take a female. He had asked a female named Ferca but she denied him. The females here are law despite what the Arbitrators may say. They all have a female behind them giving them the evil eye. Ferca was one of the most celebrated females of his clan. She had gone on a few hunts, gaining recognition and honor. She was sought after by many males but mated with only a few. Only Semo, Nder, and Aru have claimed to have mated with her but she did not acknowledge that they had done anything. And when Dhm'Ni began to show interest in her, she adamantly denied him but she did more than that. She had disrespected him when she refused him. The words she said should never be repeated.

However, that very night she said no, word was spread of Dhm'Ni's Chiva and of his trophies. When he decided to retire to his room after a long night of C'ntlip and stories, he walked into his room to see Ferca. She tried to seduce him but all of his lust for her left the moment she began to sully his name right into his face. He immediately sent her out of his room, leaving her unsatisfied and furious.  

"Yes, Dhm'Ni. What spoils? For I have heard of you denying a female. Do you really think you deserve to pick and choose?" Sya was only playing. He knew that Dhm'Ni must choose his mates very carefully but when he heard just who it was that Dhm'Ni denied, he was astonished.

"Denying a female? What wench would choose you for a mate?" Dh'Kn began to thrill in laughter but soon stopped when he saw only he and Pakka were laughing. "What?"

"Be careful who you choose to call a wench Dh'Kn. You never really know who it could be." Sya clicked in a smug tone. He knew that it was one of Dh'Kn's daughters that Dhm'Ni denied. He just wanted to wait for Dhm'Ni to tell him.

"WHAT?" Dh'Kn roars. Dhm'Ni looks over to Sya. He figured that Sya knew who the female was and was waiting for Dh'Kn's reaction. 

"Ferca." Dhm'Ni finally admits. "I said no to Ferca." Dh'Kn's face went blank. It was his daughter. His daughter! He couldn't even imagine someone saying no to her. She was the ultimate female. Strong, beautiful, honorable, and aggressive. She has even gone on hunts with other males and comes back with more trophies than them. How could Dhm'Ni deny her?

"Why." Dh'Kn and Pakka were stunned. Dh'Kn must have lost his breath because he suddenly inhaled deeply like someone had just strangled him.

"I lost my lust for her. That's all I am going to say."

"What do you mean by 'that's all you are going to say' like that!? We need an explanation!" Pakka chirped.

"Nooo. You want an explanation. You don't need an explanation."

"Come on Dhm'Ni. Tell us!" Dh'Kn asks.

"I just . . . I asked her when I arrived home and she said no. That night I came home from the celebration and she was in my room. She had said some things that I would prefer not to say again and I kicked her out."

"Why would she come back to you after she denied you?" Pakka asks.

"She had said that when she heard of how successful my hunt was, she saw me in a different light. But after the words she spoke, I saw nothing in her."

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT DHM'NI? That's how it works. We go to hunt, kill, bring trophies, attract females, mate, and they get pregnant and we live on. How can you say no to that?" Dh'Kn thrills. He was in between anger and laughter when he spoke. He was mad that his daughter was stupid enough to say something that would put off Dhm'Ni and that he denied her... but it was funny that Dhm'Ni didn't take her right then and there when she was in his room. The others could tell from Dhm'Ni's lack of mating scars that he did nothing with her so they could only believe him and let it go.

"You will have to excuse me." Dhm'Ni stood from the table and began to walk towards the large doors. "I need to get ready for the hunt as well as all of you." Dhm'Ni boosted. "We have a little less than a half hour to get ready." With that, Dhm' Ni exited the room, leaving a few stunned Arbitrators with their mandibles hanging.

Content that he left them stunned, Dhm'Ni marched down the long hallway to his temporary dwelling. Currently, they were on an Imperial DropShip. It was three times the size of the usual DropShip that most other Yautja clans had. Dhm'Ni hated his room. It was less than half the size of his other room on the clanship. His sandals kept making a loud clunk at every step. He didn't mind it but he detested how it made every other Yautja look at whoever was walking. A small group of Unbloods were heading towards Dhm'Ni and immediately dropped their heads and hugged the walls to get out of his way. He loved how they did that since he was now Blooded. He used to have to do that to every Blooded he saw but now, he was one of them and was proud of the fact that they no longer needed to be inferior to everyone.

 

A small hint of comfort came when he reached his door. He placed his hand on the panel and it slid open, revealing his tiny, cramped room. Walking inside, he looked at his large bed and can vividly remember Ferca. She wasn't just in his room when she came. She was on his bed stark naked and her mating musk reeked in the room. He cringes as he remembers her scent. He can still smell it in his mind like she was standing right in front of him. The door closes behind him and he takes a small step in. To his left is the COM-link that is connected to the ship. The small view screen and panel have a dim light to them so that you can see if it is too dark. A small blue light was flashing, telling him that he had messages. He bet that they were from Thr'ik, his best friend. Thr'ik was with Dhm'Ni on their Chiva. They had been best friends ever since Dhm'Ni was in a forest on their homeworld and was attacked by a Mukken, a large beast that roamed there and Thr'ik helped him kill it. Dhm'Ni didn't really want to hear of his new 'conquests' of the females. He anticipates mating enough as it is, let alone Thr'ik rubbing it in his face. It takes only a few giant steps from the door to get to the bed. To the left was the small trophy room that housed his four skulls. To the right was the small but quaint bathroom. Inside it was all the amenities that one would expect but for a large pedestal basin that sat right in the middle of the room. This was the Usipa, a basin that is used in the ritual of cleansing your body of a prey's blood after a hunt. Even if one was cleaned of all blood after a hunt, like if they went to the healers, they must still cleanse themselves with the Usipa water. Inside the bathroom was also a small closet that held fresh linens for the bed and large towels. Having a clean body is just as important as having a clean soul. That was his room's entirety. On the clan ship, his residence had many rooms, including a living area, a meditation room, a much larger bathroom, and even an undersized eating area. Here though, there was nothing but a bed. Everyone on the ship had to eat at the galley and converse in one of the many society rooms, which were meant for celebrations with stories and a lot of C'ntlip.

A small smirk began to form with his mandibles as he remembered the many times he and Thr'ik drank too much C'ntlip and kept waking up in places they didn't know. He walks towards his Awu'asa that hung from its stand and begins to assemble it, careful not to irritate the scar from the hard meat blood on his back. The scar would forever be sensitive to touch. The nerves now exposed can be a great disadvantage to a hunter. The slightest touch can cause you to convulse in pain so he had a special piece of armor made to cover the area. The rest of his Awu'asa was plain compared to the others. They tended to have intricate cuts and grooves so even design came into play for some hunters. But for Dhm'Ni, the hunt is not a place to be vain and have an Awu'asa that is elaborate. His fashion of his Awu'asa being natural continued in his mask. It only had the needed equipment for breathing and seeing. It had no clear design except for his blooding mark. Two upside-down triangles that stretched for two inches and had slight curves to the left that sat in the middle of its forehead. He gently ran a taloned finger along the markings, finding that his pride and honor grew every time he saw them. He turns, places his mask on, and exits his abysmal room. 

"Dhm'Ni! There you are! We have been waiting!" Sya says with a hint of humor. "Come and show me your mark. I have yet to see it." Sya motions him to come closer and he does without hesitation. Sya raises one hand and takes Dhm'Ni's chin, turning his head from side to side. Normally, this would not be tolerated by a Yautja but it was Sya, an Arbitrator and his father's best friend and second in command so he did as he was asked. "Take honor in that mark, Dhm'Ni." He releases his hand and sees Dhm'Ni give a small nod.

"Now. Who is missing?" Lord Khupiee angrily clicks. He noticed that there were only eight bodies in the docking bay, still waiting on two. This was a hunter's bay where those going on a hunt on foot would wait for the DropShip to land. The DropShip, however, did not stay grounded. It would go back into a low orbit and await orders to come back down. That was only for normal cases. For this hunt or rather 'mess', it would stay cloaked a few hundred meters above the ground. While this DropShip was large compared to others, it would have no trouble landing on the outskirts of the Ooman grounds, giving them ample time and space to hunt its prey. 

Lord Khupiee was getting restless now. They were landing in a few moments and two Arbitrators were still not here. 

"Inkel and Rathe have yet to arrive," Pakka answers. He was about to COM-link them when they walked through the door. Rathe was carrying his two legendary five-foot-long glaives except they're more swords rather than like a naginata or glaive. They are each carried at the end with a leather-wrapped handle and the long blade is elegantly engraved with his clan's design. Like most Kainde Amedha weapons, it is acid-resistant and can handle a good beating. The rest of the Arbitrators, Lord Khupiee and Dhm'Ni wore the customary Awu'asa but for each hunter, their armor was tailored to their personal style and needs. 

A sudden rattle and shake of the ship told the hunters that they had landed. 

"Lord Khupiee?" A shrill voice came over the Com-link, which was replied by a low grunt from Lord Khupiee. "I would like to inform you that the five Oomans that have survived have begun to move." Another grunt from Lord Khupiee told them he understood. With Inkle and Rathe finally here and now joining the others in conversation, he walks towards the gathered group and gives them the arrangement.

"Now. We will depart in three groups. Pakka, Sya, Dhm'Ni and myself in one. Dh'Kn, Inkle, and Rathe in another and then M'Ho, Miy'Hota, and Bakkub." As the hunters began to place on their masks, Lord Khupiee marched to a panel and punched in a code. The large docking bay doors began to unbolt, opening horizontally from the center. The top rose to connect with the ceiling while the bottom fell towards the ooman planet. A large thump from the ramp hitting the ground signaled them to begin their hunt. Activating their cloaks, the hunters joined their assigned cohorts and entered the thick brush.

Notes:

Pronunciations of the names are lenient. (In order of appearance, from left to right )

 

Dhm'Ni _ Domni
Chupa_ Chew-pa
Lord Khupiee _ Ku-phie
Hcju _ Hick-Jew
Pakka _ Paka
Bakkub _ Ba-Kub
Sya _ Saya
Shn'Di'Ka'Cha _ Sindy-ca-cha
Dh'Kn _ Dah-Kin
Ehre Clan _ I-Re clan
Ferca _ Fer-Ka
Semo_ Seemo
Nder _ Nedier
Aru _ Ahruu
Thr'ik _ Thirick
Inkle _ en-ke-ill
Rathe _ Ra-thie
M'Ho _ me-ho
Miy'Hota _ My-Hoot-a

Chapter 4: To Catch a Scent

When all ten hunters were off the ramp, it began to rise and fall back into the haul of the clocked DropShip. The soft whirring echo penetrated the air, not enough to overshadow the sound of the local nature, but loud enough to catch attention. Lord Khupiee and the others turn to watch as the ship rises and moves to its resting position above the Ooman training area, just as lord Khupiee prearranged. Before the others were to disband, they waited for the last instructions from Lord Khupiee. Because this was no normal hunt, silence was not necessary nor welcomed under these circumstances. While the others talked amongst themselves, Dhm'Ni began to study some of the strange plants that called this planet home. One of the first things Dhm'Ni even noticed was how similar this reign was to the Homeworld. The heat and humidity were almost exact, just a tad cooler. Even though the plant life was similar, granted the ones of the homeworld were colored differently and their size was much greater, it was still enough to remind him of home.

Sya walked to the side of Dhm''Ni to see what he was looking at, "This place is rather odd isn't it?" Dhm'Ni chirps softly.

"Undeniably it is. It reminds me of the Homeworld. Ohhh . . . it was been many seasons since I have seen her,'' Sya adds with a hint of sorrow, he truly wishes to see home again. But his responsibilities to Lord Khupiee and being an Arbitrator prevent him from going back as often as he wanted to. Lord Khupiee turns and is now standing in front of the large group, overhearing Sya.

''We will be home soon enough,'' Lord Khupiee chirps reassuringly.

Pakka just stood with his back to the group, staring into this despicable planet. He hated this world with the most passion he had ever known. He only came here to hunt but never saw Oomans as truly worthy prey. Most other Yautja would come here to gain honor and trophies, as many Ooman skulls as possible, but Pakka only had one Ooman skull. It was on his second hunt that he gained such a prized trophy. The Ooman put up an honorable fight and Pakka gained a great amount of scars that he proudly displays. But he will never again take an Ooman as a trophy, they are animals to him. Nothing more, nothing less. Well...definitely not more but perhaps something less. Pakka lets out a strained sigh.

"I truly loath this place," Pakka whispers to the wind but everyone could hear him still.

''Then let's keep this journey short Pakka,'' Lord Khupiee clicks.

He loved how Pakka hated this planet, ever since they were children he held nothing but hate and revulsion for anything Ooman, ''Now, M'Ho, Miy'Hota, and Bakkub, go to the Queen. She still rests in the cavern. If you find her worthy, call for others to help bring her in. We could use her on a Chiva but do not hesitate to kill her if you see fit,'' Lord Khupiee intentionally requested M''Ho and Miy''Hota and gave them the task of capturing the Queen because of their trapping skills. A new Queen was needed every now and then for Kainde Amedha Chivas, so he did not want to pass up this opportunity. Bakkub was sent along because of his knowledge. He was somewhat of a know-it-all, but his genius was well-documented.

The three nod to Lord Khupiee and begin the short crossing to the Queen, ''Dh'Kn, Inkle, and Rathe, you three are to trek along the outskirts of the Ooman settlement and kill all you see. Soft or Hard meat,'' Dh''Kn and Inkle were both excited for the hunt, they were both itching to use their famous fighting skills. But Rathe was thrilled at the idea. It had been too many seasons since he hunted hard meat and was happy that we would join in, considering that C'ntlip was his best friend. They too nod and go off to their task.

Before Lord Khupiee and his group left, he contacted his servant, Ykas''e, who was more of an aid than a servant to him. Ykas''e was a runt and an ETA. Very short and very small for a Yautja. He was, however, a good aid to Lord Khupiee, almost an assistant, always keeping him on time for summits or informing him of certain matters that related to his clan.

"Yes Lord Khupiee?" The same shrill voice that informed him earlier of the Ooman movement came through the com.

''Ykas'e, have a grouping of young bloods ready for if and when the Queen is brought in,'' He clicks nonchalantly.

"So we have decided to take the Queen?" Ykas'e asks.

"It depends on her condition. Have to Ship and hunters ready."

''Yes sir,'' Ykas'e spoke. With the conversation ended, he motions to Pakka, Sya, and Dhm'Ni to the Ooman settlement. They will hunt the Kainde Amedha in there while the others do their parts.

It was a short walk to get to the Ooman buildings. Lord Khupiee took the lead while the others trailed shortly behind him. The brush was not hard to travel, sand and stones were scattered between the spread trees. It didn't obstruct their route to their destination, but it was still a long silence, long enough for Sya and Dhm'Ni to strike up a small conversation.

"You have hunted Soft Meat before, right Dhm'Ni?" Sya asks, and gets only a nod from Dhm'Ni as a response. "Shame that today is not a day for Ooman trophies. Today is a day to hunt Hard Meat."

''I do not think I will be taking Hard Meat trophies either. I would not want to remember this incident every time I walk into my trophy room,'' Dhm''Ni responds. He knew that today was definitely not a day for trophies and that they just needed to rid this world of the hard meats before anything.

Lord Khupiee was the first to reach an Ooman building. The perimeter of the settlement was basically a wall of large structures surrounding the training area. The particular building they arrived at was short compared to the others, and beside lay another, an exact replica of the one in front. Lord Khupiee signals with a taloned hand for Sya and Dhm'Ni to scale the other, while he and Pakka would topple the one in front.

Climbing the barrier was effortless for Sya and Dhm'Ni. The walls seemed to be made of sand or soft material that they could easily puncture with their talons. However, just beneath the seemingly fragile exterior was a hard metal that stung the ends of Dhm'Ni's fingers as he dug them deep to hurl himself upwards over the wall. A quiet crunch came from each climb as they burrowed into the helpless wall, leaving a trail of holes in their hands and feet. Once close enough to the top of the building, they hoisted themselves up and over the edge, dropping their heavy bodies onto to roof. Once over the obstacle, they could see that the area that they were now, which was level and had a four-foot high ledge that rose above the flat surface, was uniform among all the buildings in the area. Together they walked to the opposite edge to view the lanes below. They found that there were intricate alleyways and roads for the Oomans to travel on. Some are smaller and narrower than others and some were very large.

"This is strange," Dhm'Ni says, he had never seen something like this before. He had only hunted Oomans in jungle and tropical settings. Never in a heavily populated area.

''Not true,'' Sya says politely, "The Oomans use machines to travel, some large some small. Nothing like our bytte, but the basic principles are the same. These passageways are used by those machines. By the way, Khupiee tells me Iyan'Tha'Te gave you a bytte as a gift not too long ago.''

Dhm''Ni only let a small guttural grunt come from that statement. It was true that Iyan'Tha'Te gave him that gift and it was a stunning bytte, but it came from him that pissed him off. She was Lord Khupiees' dominant female in his harem and he hated her. Aesthetically speaking, she was beautiful, but inside, as a huntress and as a mother . . . she was horrific. After the death of Dhm'Ni's mother, it took many seasons for him to take another mate. Iyan'Tha'Te was his first and so became the dominant when the group became larger. She was always wicked towards Dhm'Ni, but not his eldest brother. In the later years when Dhm'Ni became older and was able to defend himself against her attacks, she switched and started to spoil him and try to gain his favor but it never worked. The last thing she gave him was a bytte. An extremely small one to three-passenger ship that you would use to get around the Homeworld. Each one was fashioned to the owner's specific style and clan. For some young blood it was a staple when they went through their Chiva.

"But you do not like it," Sya chirps. Dhm''Ni only looks away, Sya knows of his feelings for Iyan'Tha'Te and he shared the same feelings. There was something off with her but Lord Khupiee was fond of her and they could say nothing.

"Do you see them?" Lord Khupiee yells from the other rooftop. A bit startled that they were not doing what they were sent to do, Sya and Dhm'Ni checked through their sights and saw many hard meats around the area.

''That we do Khupiee. I think that-''

In mid-sentence, Sya gets interrupted by a large blast radiating from a building across the way. To Dhm'Ni, it almost sounded like a shoulder cannon going off. Fascinated by the sound, Sya and Dhm'Ni begin to look for whatever made the noise and find a large dust cloud forming in the middle of the street they were just looking upon. In normal vision, you would not have been able to see, but because they are wearing their masks, they could see in infrared.

''The Oomans . . ." Sya growls lowly. It seemed that the sound was of a blast making a hole big enough for the Oomans to get through, out of the building and to the outside. They knew that because the dust and debris were still dancing in the air and that the Oomans could not see like them, they could have waited. They formed a defensive structure with their bodies until they could see. Sya found it odd that they would even come out from their relatively safe area to go into this hell. They couldn't possibly think that they were safe, could they? There are tens of Hard Meat around here, yet they come out here to their certain deaths? Brave but stupid.

"I think we should trail the Oomans," Dhm'Ni speaks out. He too thought it strange they would come out, but he also thought it would be a good thing, "The hard meat will be attracted by them, they come to the Oomans, and we kill them."

''And what of the Oomans, Dhm'Ni? We cannot just use them as bait. It is dishonorable to use them in such a way. But perhaps we will follow them to see how they fair against the Kainde Amedha. Then if and when they become overrun by them, then we will take them all out,'' Sya knew that the Oomans could not match with the Kainde Amedha, and that sooner or later they would fall by their hands. Sya signals to Lord Khupiee and Pakka telling them of their plan.

''I think that he just wants to watch his precious Oomans, Khupiee. He is not dedicated to this hunt," Pakka thought Sya to be brainless when it came to hunts concerning Oomans. Ever since that one incident, he had a soft spot for them, ''He gives too much credit to them they are nothing and yet he chooses not to hunt them anymore. If anything that action makes them worthy to be hunted, that little honor they would gain would make their skulls highly respected. But NO! He decides to watch them, learn their cultures, their ways. It's disgusting to see him having such favor to them.''

''In all our years together I have never known why you hate Oomans so much. Truthfully I do not care. I find it amusing that you think so lowly of a prey species. And I agree with what Sya said before. His liking of the Ooman species is none of your concern and you best be careful of where you poke your mandibles. Sya is not one to take kindly to defamation for his studies.''

"C'jit! Studies my green spotted ass," They both let a small chuckle go before they leave to hunt.

 

---

 

As Sya made his way back to Dhm'Ni's side, he saw that the once impenetrable cloud of dust and sand had begun to fall gracefully to the ground.

''Four males and a female,'' Sya says bluntly.

''A female? How can you tell?'' Dhm'Ni had never seen an Ooman female before. There had always been only males on his hunts, and by the code, he could not hunt females. He assumed that like in his world the females would be larger, but none of the five forms were noticeably larger than the others, so he presumed that they were all males. However, he did notice that one had a smaller build than the others but thought nothing of it.

''What you think of females, their size and dominance is the complete opposite for Oomans,'' Sya states directly.

At first, when he began to go to Ooman worlds, he thought the females would also be the dominant but he was proved wrong. Ooman females were sometimes overshadowed by the male's size. He also found it utterly disturbing how the males treated some females. Abuse and rape were on every planet he had ever visited. While Sya's fellow hunters believed that he had discontinued hunting Oomans, that was false. Whenever Sya could, he would prevent a female from being taken, or killed by a male. He would not take their skulls as a trophy, it was enough to know that these males died because of their wretched actions towards females.

''How can that be?'' Dhm''Ni could barely form that question. He couldn't even process the idea that females would be inferior to males. It's impossible.

''Here the females are much smaller, and sometimes cannot defend themselves. So males take the lead.''

They both fall silent when one of the males begins to talk but then is blatantly interrupted by the female. After a small argument, the female begins to do something peculiar. She began to inhale deep and long breaths, almost as if smelling the surrounding area, turning her head this way and that to catch the wind. Suddenly, she twists her head in their direction, staring right at where they are standing. But as quick as she looked towards them, her eyes began to follow the rooftops of all the buildings.

"Did she just look at us Sya?" Dhm'Ni softly chirps.

"I think she did."

 

---

 

The moment the wall was off, O'Conner motioned to the men to move. Once out, they formed a defensive V so that all angles would be covered. The sand and dust made it hard for O'Connor to see or hear or even smell so she would have to wait to find out just what was out there. The elements danced in the air as she waited for them to tire and fall to the ground.

Finally, O'Conner was able to see the side of the other buildings. Like the rest, it was covered in a sand-toned plaster that was meant to make it look better in this environment. But it was just hiding the rough and sturdy metal structure underneath. No building was labeled, you had to know them by heart to know where you were going or you would probably end up at the doctor when you wanted to go to bed.

At first, everything seemed to be quiet, which was strange for many reasons. Right now the entire compound was being overhauled. Buildings are being rebuilt, and roads are being repaved. There were materials everywhere, cranes still holding chains and steal bars but there was no one screaming, no one yelling for help or crying in pain. Before they got to the armory building that was all they could hear, their friends being ripped apart by those things. Sovin and Michaels, who were on one side of the V began to scan the area for anything when Sovin noticed something on O'Connor that he had never seen before.

''Holy shit," He whispers.

Only Michaels noticed and looked to Sovin. With his face, he asked ''What?''

But Sovin only pointed with his head towards O'Conner. What Michaels saw was unimaginable. With the sunlight, they could see scars all over O'Conner's arms like someone had whipped her. Her black t-shirt hid her back and her front from him but he guessed that they weren't local to only her arms. Sovin knew of her stunt in Africa and can only imagine what she went through. But he couldn't understand why she didn't get all the scars removed.

''Quite," O'Conner softly orders.

She needed to hear everything, once she could get the sounds of her surroundings, she could begin to hear if those things were anywhere nearby. They are constantly climbing and scratching at things or people she knew that sound very well. She closes her eyes and begins to listen to the soundtrack of the world around her. It sounded mushy and weak. O'Connor knew that he wasn't up to standards in the health department but he was still fit for a guy his age. Then a thought dawned on her, ''Shit! The jumper pad is north, next to the hospital and it's a 45-minute walk, but we are definitely not fucking walking. And shit happens that the road to get there rides next to the wide-open training zone. FUCK!"

O'Conner checks her watch one hour and twenty-three minutes we're going to make it. At least Allan, Boris, Danielle, and I will make it, the General I don't really care about him and doubt that he'll make it to the main road. His heart is probably going to coop out sooner than that'' ''

 

"RIGHT!" The General yells out, "This is what we are going to do. We-" Before he can say anymore O'Conner violently turns and strides to him so that they are face to face.

''Don't you fucking think that this is your mission anymore. Your name may be on the mission papers, but right now our asses are on the line and the only people here to help you are people that hate you. So don't go all 'listen to me because I have more fucken badges than you' on us because there are only four options for you right now."

He paused a moment, "One . . . the black devils will get their hands on you. Two . . . WE are going to get our hands on you. Three . . . your heart is going to give out before we get there,'' O'Conner pauses for a moment and gives the General that ''I know'' look. ''And four, you make it to the jumper with us. Now, don't start pulling rank to make us leave you behind so that the black devils get you. Or put too much strain on your heart so that you fall behind when you run. We are going to try and get you out of here because of WHO you are General. But WHAT you are'' you are more of a monster to me than those black things'''' O''Conner then turns back around and begins to smell the wind to catch the scent of the things again. There was no word in the human language that describes the stench these things gave She could only imagine that it was the smell of hell during a heat wave. Slowly she shifts her head from side to side trying to catch the wind. Suddenly every muscle in her body tenses as her nose picks up unfamiliar scents.

"Shit," She whispers.

"Oh god!" Becks gasped, "You smell them . . . Don't yah?"

''No,'' O'Conner responds, ''It's something else.''

She could smell two distinct scents, but those things all smelt the same. At least all the ones she could smell. But why would they have separate scents the ones she had now didn't smell like hell'' one was of wild rice and burning wood and the other was of fresh rain and vanilla. The wind shifted suddenly, bringing more of the aromas to her, now she knew where they were coming from. She jerks her head to the roof of an adjacent building, searching for someone or something. All she sees are distinct heat waves that cut up the air, most likely from an air condition vent or something. Quickly dismissing them, she scans the rest of the roofs with her sharp eyesight. But there was nothing.

''Nala," Becks grabs O'Conner's shoulder, shaking her out of her daze. ''We got to get outa here babe,'' She nods to him.

''Right. The main road is four blocks down. I will take the lead and if I smell them or hear them I will be the first to know. Then Becks, the General, Michaels then Sovin,'' They all give a nod to this. ''Let's go.''

O'Conner set the pace, a light jog. She knew that she could outrun all of them men easily but she wouldn't. And she also knew that they could all outrun the General and make it to the jumper in less than 20 minutes, but they couldn't leave him. Well, they could . . . but O'Connor wouldn't.

They make it to the main road quickly and easily but before they turn onto the road they have to check if there is anything out there. O'Conner slides to the corner of the sand building and takes out a pocket knife, intending to use a thick blade as a mirror. The sound of the blade flicking out makes the General flinch. Slowly she brings it out and looks at the reflection. At first glance there was nothing, but then she noticed all the people on the ground.

''Oh no! Maurine!'' O'Connor says.

In the reflection, she sees her best friend Maurine. They met at the academy when they were thirteen and have been best friends ever since. Double-checking that everything else was clear, she motions to the men that they could go around. ''Hang on guys. Don't move."

She could barely get that out, tears had decided to gather in her eyes and her through had the familiar sting of when you weep. She bent down to her mangled friend. One of the things decided to sharpen its claws on her chest. O'Conner takes a hand and closes her best friend's brown eyes. I'd rather get my brains blown out in the wild than wait in terror at the slaughterhouse. Right Maurine? Well, I think you died in the slaughterhouse," A long time ago when there was an accident at the academy and a kid got killed, Maurine had said that. It was a quote by Craig Volk, but either way, it suited her. She would rather die in battle, than in a place where her death was only a number.

Even though O'Conner told the men not to move, they went a little ahead anyway. If they had stayed with her and waited, she would have been able to tell them that there was something that smelt like hell coming around the corner.

''Dhm'Ni.'' Sya hasty says. Dhm'Ni immediately looks to Sya to find him pointing with a taloned hand. Following it, Dhm'Ni sees that the Oomans are not only moving, but they are turning onto a road that would make them cross paths with hard meat.

 

"Should we not go after it?" Dhm'Ni asks.

 

"Mmmm. No," Sya chirps bluntly.

 

"Why?"

 

''I would like to see what the Oomans will do,'' When he was younger, Dhm''Ni had always wondered why Sya would go away for long periods and come back with no trophies. Then he learned that he would go to watch Oomans, he had forever wanted to know why since then. Later, Pakka told him of how Sya was shown mercy by an Ooman, and instead of activating his self-destruct device, he saw the Ooman as an equal. ''I find them to be a strange species Dhm''Ni. Like us in many ways but completely different in others. Their sense of honor and respect varies in each person, as our skin varies in each Yautja. To one Ooman, killing another is something they would never do, while to another they would take a life as if life was not a thing to be treasured. I tell you one thing Dhm'Ni''sometimes I envy them''.''

"Why?"

''Because they have such diversity. On every Ooman planet, I have seen their culture, their tongue is different. For example, take this planet. On almost every single continent is a different culture with different beliefs and ways and speech. With us, our entire species has one tongue, one code, and one belief system. Do not see me as one to hate your own culture Dhm'Ni, I beg you not to. I just wish that someone else would understand that Oomans are more than pray to me.'' Sya sounded almost hurt by the end. He finally told someone how he truly felt about Oomans, and why he did not hunt them further. He did trust Dhm''Ni to keep this between themselves, but he was a little worried as to how he would take it.

''I do understand Sya,'' Dhm''Ni places his hand on Sya's shoulder as a true testament that he did understand. Dhm'Ni would never lie to Sya, he did understand. Sya had a great amount of respect for Oomans and it was not his place to oppose him. Dhm'Ni couldn't oppose him even if he wanted to. He also had a great amount of respect for them but as prayer. Maybe as he aged he would see them in a different light but for right now, at this point and time in his life he would continue to hunt them.

''One thing I find most interesting, the one thing that spans all Ooman worlds is their view of their females. You would not believe the ways that they are defiled every day, and shown little or no respect as life-givers. That is why I wish to see this one.'' Sya points to the female Ooman. ''She seems to be in power. At the lead of the group of males.''

They both turned their gaze back to the moving group as they continued to move closer to the waiting hard meat. For some bizarre reason, the female knelt next to a corpse and said something that neither of them could hear. Both Sya and Dhm''Ni could understand Oomans, but Sya could actually speak it, Dhm''Ni was not that far in his studies. The four males continue for a short distance without the female, falling right into the path of the Hard Meat. Together they jump from the top of one building to another to get a better view of the impending battle.

Suddenly a horrific screech came from an alleyway. O'Connor and the others knew what that sound was. O''Conner looks up to see that the men had continued on when she told them to stay still.

''I TOLD YOU NOT TO MOVE!!!!'' O''Conner yells out.

But it was too late.

Jutting out from the shady alleyway was the all too familiar shiny black skull of a devil. Slowly and mercilessly it walks on all floors towards the shocked men. O'Connor had already gone into fight mode, head down, shoulder back, knees bent and hands holding some powerful guns.

''MOVE!!!'' She yells.

The black devil first moved its head in her direction, but before anyone could do a thing it pounced on an unprepared Michaels.

In a fluid, almost graceful movement the devil was on top of Michaels and extended its inner mouth into his head, killing him instantly. O'Connor knew that she couldn't just start shooting the thing because of her position. A bullet could easily go right through it and into one of her men into Allen. She had to get to the other side of it, but the size of the devil made that impossible and its tail was something she did not want to go near, so the only other way was over. The other men had already moved back, giving her ample room for her to land. In a polished, well-trained move, O'Connor ran towards the closest wall, jumped up with both feet onto it, and pushed herself off. Flying over the devil, she used this opportunity to begin her onslaught of fire. Almost in slow motion, she was right over the devil, shooting it with all she had. Hitting the ground, she rolled closer to the ready and waiting men. They would not be shooting until she was well over the devil and closer to them.

''NOW!''

All together they began to unload their weapons. O'Conner knelt down to her knees, aiming for the beast's legs. If this wasn't going to kill it at least it would disable it. The loud gunfire rang in their ears as bullets shot out of their metal prisons. Little did they know that they would be going into that thing. The only thing that was more damaging than gunfire to their ears was the earsplitting, high-pitched cry that came from the devil. As the metal bullets entered its body, it punctured the hard black skin causing spurts of the green acidic blood.

''MOVE BACK! KEEP AWAY FROM THE BLOOD!'' Back yells out. Not wanting to get hit with that shit all of them begin to back away. Taking this moment, O'Conner switches one of the guns in her hands from a 13mm Laser Pistol to O'Conner's personal favorite. A .50 cal. An M3M machine gun that shoots at the outstanding rate of 1,100rpm. Every time she held one of these she felt invincible. Still aiming for its legs she squeezes the trigger, letting out a ring of fire.

Somehow one of the legs of the thing began to fall from its body, giving out a piercing shrill along with it. Its elongated head began to wave in the air in pain. Little by little the pools of acid blood started to eat away at the ground, being so close to it was not a good thing for O'Conner. The smell was horrid, but that wasn't what was bothering her. The acid was so strong that it began to eat at her nose, she could smell her own blood creating drops in her nose, ready at any moment to fall. The pain wasn't too bad, it wasn't any more than it was before. It was only because she was so close and that there was a lot more blood that it started to devour her inner nose.

''EVERYONE! GET READY TO DUCK!!'' O'Conner looked to Becks as he told them to move, he had gotten out a grenade launcher and aimed it at the devil's head. This was a new model, it would puncture a surface and clamp itself onto it, then blow up.

''NOW!'' He yells out.

In unison, everyone but Becks dives underneath whatever they can. Because the compound was being rebuilt, the material was everywhere, giving them a lot to choose from. Sovin and O'Conner dive beside some crates and lift up a metal plate over their heads. That acid shit could come up and over the crate and it wouldn't be a good thing if it ended up on their heads. The General also dove behind a few crates and did the same with a wooded top. With a sound that reminded O''Conner of one of those automatic tennis ball machines, the grenade was shot at the devil. Before it even hit it, Becks dived into O''Conners and Sovins makeshift bunker. As the grenade hit the devil, it screamed out in pain as it dug into its black skin. One thing worried O'Conner though, if the grenade did not go off in time, the metal casing would melt and the bomb would fall off, not killing that thing and probably catching all of them.

As Becks dove in, he covered O'Conner with his body. She wrapped her hands around him, pulling him in closer to her. The moment Becks shot, he had started to count. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4'' He inwardly thought.

''THREE''TWO''ONE!!!''

The blast was so loud to O'Conner that she dug one side of her head into the chest of Becks while covering her other ear with her shoulder. Sovin and Becks didn't budge when the explosion came to their ears. They weren't as sensitive to sound as O'Connor was, it didn't hurt them as it hurt her. Along with the bang of the bomb, they could also hear one last desperate screech coming from the devil as its head was ripped apart.

After a moment, Becks loosened his tight hold on his fiancé''. Rigid breaths came from them as they began to breathe again. O'Conner however was thinking about her nose as blood began to pour. Becks was about to turn to look around the corner of the crates when O'Conner pulled him back.

''Wait'''' She said roughly. Becks looks back to her and sees her pointing above to the edge of the metal plate where his head was just a second ago. A single drop of the green acid liquid dripped gingerly down to the ground. ''We need to do this fast. Lift it straight up then throw it somewhere.'' Both Sovin and Becks stand up with the plate in hand and then throw it to the side of the wall. Now standing, O'Conner brought her hand to her nose to try and stop the bleeding, even though this wasn't a normal nosebleed, the skin was actually burnt so it would take a second for her nose to relatively heal and stop bleeding.

"YEAH! WE GOT THE SUCKER! TAKE THAT YOU PIECE OF SHIT!" Sovin yelled at the now blown-to-bits black devil. He would have danced around it if it wasn't for the acid.

"What?" Becks asks.

''Oh uhh''fucker.'' Sovin answers. He never really liked English swears, he said he liked the Russian way. The General made it through too. He too stood with Becks and Sovin to look at the defeated monster. O''Conner just stood a little behind, tending to her nose, every now and then blowing it to get the blood out. The sound of her blowing her nose made Becks turn to her. Seeing her blood made him panic.

''NALA! Are you hurt? Are you ok?'' Becks ran to O''Conner and tilted her head so he could look at her nose. She just smiled and let him do as he wanted to. She could never tell him she was okay because he would still check to see if she was alright. ''Why are you bleeding? Did something hit you?''

''No,'' O''Conner says. She points to the carcass of the dead devil. ''The acid hurts my nose. It burnt the inside of it. But don't worry, it will adjust.''

"Well," Sya began. "Would you look at that?"

Notes:

Current Pronunciations: (Past names and words are in chapter 3)

Ykas'e: Yeah-Kah-See

Bytte: Bye-Tee

Iyan'Tha'Te: Eye-Yan-Tha-Tee

Chapter 5: Of Hate and Sorrow

"By the grace of Paya, they did it," Dhm'Ni thrills. He thought it was absolutely amazing what they had done. He was particularly fascinated by the bomb they hit the hard meat with. They were high enough on the buildings that the spew of its blood didn't reach them, but they could definitely smell it in the air now.

"That was remarkable, wasn't it? I had no idea a female could move in such a way," Sya had only seen Ooman females being submissive and subservient. He was blown away that this female took control and had such power over the males. Dhm'Ni wasn't interested in the female though, he suddenly had an itch for the skull of the Ooman male that killed the hard Meat. His skull would be one of his most valued, just think of the females it would attract, maybe a quick flash of a naked Ferca skipped into his mind and he quickly dismissed the thought because he did not want to think of her right now and he should NOT be thinking about mating at a time like that.

Dhm'Ni switches his sight to look at the male's skull, just to see how prized it would be. He noticed a large fault that extended for a good 4 inches. His skull shows battle, it would certainly be welcomed on my wall'He looks to the other males as well, to compare them to his future trophy. But when he looked at the female, he had to stop. Stunned at what he was looking at, he nudges Sya to get his attention.

"Yes,'' Sya clicks.

"I thought you said the females are weaker, smaller than the males,"

"I did because they are," Sya says in turn.

"But--'' He couldn't get it out. With his sight, he could see the bone density of the female and it was like nothing he had ever seen, of a higher density than anything he had ever seen. It was completely different from the males around her, they did have a higher density than the other Oomans. Dhm'Ni had observed on previous hunts, but they were nothing like the female.

"But what Dhm'Ni?" Sya asks.

"Look at the female's bones," Dhm'Ni spoke softly. Sya changed his sight and looked. He was dumbfounded by the picture. It was normal for the density to differ between each Ooman but not like this, "How is this possible Sya?"

"Perhaps it is an abnormality. This is not typical of Ooman females or ALL Oomans for that matter. The rest of her structure is odd too Dhm'Ni. His lungs, his muscles, her bones are just--'MY GODS DHM'NI!" Sya yelled out, "Look close, almost every bone in the female's body has been broken. They all show signs of being healed from injury. How can any Ooman gain such wounds?'" He couldn't even fathom how she received such wounds. Through the experience of all his hunts and through life, Sya could tell how a wound came to be, whether it was from battle, accidental, or even self-inflicted. It came in handy when a dispute concerning the word of a hunter came up. Clams of scars gained on a hunt or battle were sometimes questioned and it was Sya and the other Arbitrators that came in and would recommend an action.

Before they could say anything else, one of the males noticed an injury the female gained and began to bombard her with questions. Her answer to how she received a wound to her nose came as a shock to both Sya and Dhm'Ni as she motioned to the burning acid blood of the dead Hard Meat.

"Did she just say that the acid was burning her nose?" Dhm'Ni asked. But the acid never came into contact or even came close to her nose. She couldn't be sensitive enough to get a reaction from the blood. The 'nose' of a yautja was sensitive and could get damaged if close enough to the acidic blood, even without touching it. With their nostrils located on the outer edge of their inner mouth, it was hard to sustain an injury to them, but it has happened before.

"Without question she did. Now be quiet Dhm'Ni. We must listen," Sya motioned with his hand for Dhm'Ni to hush but he needed to tell Sya something.

"But Sya, There are--" Dhm'Ni didn't get the chance to finish as Sya turned to him.

"When I say quiet Dhm'Ni, I mean QUIET!" He roars. Dhm'Ni was stunned, to say the least, but Sya needed to see what he saw. Dhm'Ni slowly raises his hand and points towards some far buildings. Sya followed his direction and switched his sights to see four Hard Meats coming in fast, "Most likely attracted by the screams of the fallen drone. This is going to get interesting."

 

---

 

"Allen! Really, I'm OK. It will heal fast and soon that shit won't hurt me anymore," Becks had ripped a strip off his shirt had was whipping all the blood that trailed down O'Conner's face. He paid special attention to her lips, he loved those lips. Softly and carefully he caresses them with the cloth, letting those beautiful memories of her lips and his enter his troubled mind. "Allen," She whispers. Finally, he looks to her to find her smiling at him.

"Oh yeah, you're going to be OK. What did you mean by that shit won't hurt anymore?" Becks asked her. He was standing right in front of O'Conner while Sovin, who was visibly saddened by his death, had begun to walk towards the body of Michaels. O'Conner gave herself an inward kick for saying that. It was something that she didn't even tell Allen about the upgrades. They really changed everything about her body.

Because of the new enhancements, her body can actually adapt to 'minor inconveniences', as her uncle said, and to new surroundings. If she were to ever be thrown into that acid shit she sure as hell would die, but she could probably adapt to it burning her nose. During her first few weeks after getting the upgrades, she noticed that he body reacted differently to new environments that would usually be hard to do anything in. She and some of her unit were sent to the mountain ranges that rested on the old border of Iraq and Turkey to catch some renegades, the rest of her unit found it increasingly hard to climb the mountain but she thought nothing of it. Her lungs had adapted to the low Oxygen in the high atmosphere. Her lungs were already different from the others, the blood vessels were larger so they could hold more and send more Oxygen to her body. But no one is supposed to know that. She promised her uncle that she would never tell a soul, even Allen. If word got out about the new additions to the enhancements, the advocates for 'Pure Living' would have a field day. The 'Pure Living' group was an assemblage of people who thought the enhancements were against God's wishes and shouldn't be given to soldiers anymore. But when they were first formed, they had little power and couldn't stop it from going out. But now they have a lot of power. It's getting increasingly harder to get soldiers their enhancements. Doctor Lynch has become paranoid that they will shut him down if they catch wind of his experiments, so she promised that she would tell no one.

"Come. Say a prayer with me," Sovin said out of the blue. O'Conner let out a sigh of relief as Becks and the General moved closer to Sovin. He looked to O'Conner who he noticed didn't come to pray. "Sergeant, are you coming to join us?" He asks.

"No Sovin I am not. I am not a God-fearing woman, never believed in him, or any higher power for that matter," She stated bluntly. The idea that her life wasn't in her own hands, that someone or something had complete control made her furious. That was why she had problems with the higher-ups in the NWGA. The authority controlling the army was stupid to her. They couldn't even have souls for what they wanted her to do. Assassinations, sniper missions . . she hated that shit. That's also why she never rose in rank, she was always fighting orders that she thought were morally wrong. If it weren't for her abilities as a soldier, and her connections to many governors of the different world districts, she would have been dishonorably discharged a decade ago. But they knew she was an asset that they couldn't simply throw away. One Governor in particular has a strange liking for O'Conner. He was always trying to get into her pants. You should have heard some of the come-ons this piece of shit spit out. She wouldn't allow it because he was married for one thing, but he was discussing it in her eyes. He was the ultimate sleaze bag, he was infamous for 'skimming off the top', and he had millions upon millions stashed away, and mansions all over the world while people still sleep in mud huts in some places.

As the three men did their prayer for Michaels, O'Conner stood a little ways off, waiting for the blood to go away so she could smell anything other than her own scent. Finally, as the stench of her own blood began to fade, she caught those two scents once more. Striating up, she began to sniff the air again, but she couldn't find out where they were coming from. Her nose wasn't healed enough yet and the wind wasn't carrying it right. This was getting to be infuriating. She looked up to the tops of the building again to see if there was anyone there, but all she could see were the same heat waves. FUCK IT! She thinks to herself. She didn't have time to worry about strange smells when all she needs to do was get the fuck outa here.

"Nala, we gota get going. What if that thing yelling like that will make more come?" Becks questioned. O'Conner didn't know how many there were or if it did call for more but she didn't care, she just needed to get everyone off this shit-hole island. O'Conner gives a nod to him.

"We gotta run from here on in. We've only got--'' O'Conner looks to her watch, "One hour and three minutes. We can make it, IF we stay together and run like our asses are on fire," Just as the group was about to turn and begin running Sovin said the strangest thing.

"Nala?" Sovin said in a timid tone. He had never called O'Conner by her first name before. They had never been together outside of training and missions so they never got on a first-name basis. O'Conner looked at him and made an attempt at a smile but could only manage a sheepish smirk. 'If one of those things gets me like it got Dan, could you umm . . . I . . . uhh . . . I'd rather die by your hands than theirs. If I'm ever caught like Dan was or anything like that just kill me before it does. OK?' Sovin lowered his head like he just asked to be shot right then and there, waiting for the bullet to enter his head. O'Conner was both honored and shocked that he would ask that but she completely understood. She toddled up to him with that same smirk on and lifted his head so he was looking right into her eyes.

"I promise,"That was the only thing she said before she turned and motioned for the men to start running.

 

---

 

After the last instructions from Lord Khupiee M'Ho, Miy'Hota, and Bakkub made their way to the Queen. Excited was an understatement for these three. Bakkub really wanted to see the Queen to find out why she would stay in the cavern for so long. They had thought before that she would be too weak or maybe injured but that does not explain why she is there now. It has been some time since they were warned of her presence now and she has undoubtedly gained in strength from the Oomans. Bakkub had an insatiable desire for knowledge. He always wanted to know why and how. Some around him thought it was odd that he would have such a need for information. He stood a tall 8'5 and was skilled in many ways but he would rather read a text than spar or train anymore. In his early years, he would have never had the chance to study as he does now. And he is using his time right.

"Can you believe Lord Khupiee invited Dhm'Ni on this hunt?" Miy'Hota asks. He was the youngest of all the Arbitrators on this hunt and was looked at as relatively inexperienced compared to the others, but he was still as merciless and brutal as any of them. He just couldn't understand that Lord Khupiee would request Dhm'Ni to attend this hunt.

"The laws of a hunt such as this only say that you need 10 hunters, their rank or status does not matter as long as they are blooded. I'm guessing Lord Khupiee saw this as an opportunity for Dhm'Ni to gain more honor for when he returned to the Clan Ship. Have you heard of what happened before he left for the hunt?" Bakkub asks. He was always up to date with laws and such, but he was also one to carry gossip like a female. M'Ho and Miy'Hota thrill at his question.

"Yes, I have heard," M'Ho chirps. "To think of him denying a female, it's hilarious! And FERCA for that matter!" They all let out loud thrills of laughter. "I'm guessing with this hunt on Dhm'Ni's back the females will be literally throwing themselves at him," They all laugh again but are cut short by a familiar shrill from a Hard Meat. They have reached the cavern. They didn't know whether or not it was a nest because she had not moved, but why would she want to nest in such a small place when she could easily go nest in a building or a larger cave.

"So,'' Bakkub says quietly. "That's why she hasn't left yet," As they reached the entrance of the cave, they saw that the Queen was actually trapped in the cavern. The hole created by the Oomans was not large enough for the queen to get out of and she had to get five of her drones to dig and scratch at the small hole to make it larger. But even with them attempting to hollow out the cavern so she could escape, it wasn't enough. She wouldn't be able to get her crown out. "This is too easy!" Bakkub thrills.

"Ready," Miy'Hota says first.

"Aim," M'Ho chirps second.

"FIRE!" Bakkub yells out, getting the attention of the five digging drones. Because there were only three of them and five hard meats, they expected the two remaining to attack and they did the moment they fired their shoulder cannons. The shots were true and took out their intended targets. The remaining two drones jolted towards the now uncloaked hunters. Bakkub had already told M'Ho and Miy'Hota that if they wanted they could take the two remaining while he looked to the Queen.

Both Miy'Hota and M'Ho roar with all their capacity and sprint towards the oncoming hard meats. M'Ho was the first to connect with a drone. He smashes into the black body, causing it and him to fall hard into the sandy ground. The hard meat screeches and tries to hit M'Ho with its tail but he rolls away as the tail comes straight down. With a tightening of his hand, M'Ho flung out his wrist blades and sliced off its tail. The Hard meat shrieks in pain, raising its head to scream into the sky. Big mistake. M'Ho Jumps to his feet and brings up his wrist blades right into its head. To add to its impending death, he twists his blades causing the head to separate into two bloody pieces. When the carcass of his prey falls to the ground, M'Ho brings his arms back, lifts his head, and lets out a roar for his triumph.

Out of breath, M'Ho looks to Miy'Hota to see him shaking his head. "What?" He asks. He looked to Miy'Hota's kill to notice that he just used his shoulder cannon. "Hey, at least I killed it by my hands. Why did you get it with your cannon?' Miy'Hota only shrugged his shoulders, "Come on, let's go."

The two catch up to Bakkub who had just made it to the edge of the cavern. Deep within, they could see the Queen. She had retreated deeper in because of the commotion outside, but they could still see her. She was indeed a large Queen, the crown would never have been able to exit the small hole made by her drones. With a hiss and a swipe at the hunters now in her space, the Queen tries to force her way through the rock of the cavern but is unable to get herself through.

"M'Ho," Bakkub starts, "Contact the DropShip and tell them we need hunters to help get this cave open, and to bring restraining chains for a large Queen," He nods to him and walks a little off to contact Ykas'e. Bakkub and Miy'Hota meanwhile walk a little further into the cavern but stop a few feet in. Slowly they bow their heads to the far-off Queen and in unison, they say 'My Lady."

"Come on Dhm'Ni. You can do better than that!" Sya clicks teasingly. As they were following the running Oomans, they had to jump from top to top to stay with them. But over the past few Dhm'Ni had just barely made it past the edge while Sya landed with room to spare. "To think an elder such as myself beating one so young," He trills again.

"I was never one for high jumping Sya and you know that," Dhm'Ni answers. In training, Dhm'Ni had trouble jumping to a higher surface, but he made it up with great stamina in running. 'But I have always been able to beat anyone on the track, I can outrun you if--" Dhm'Ni was interrupted as he almost ran right into an unmoving Sya.

"Why have you stopped?"He asks.

"Because they have," Sya motions with his head towards to Oomans who have stopped at a building. "Why are they stopping now? They can't be that stupid to stop now!" He says angrily.

"I don't know Sya. Maybe they are looking for someone or maybe something," Their thoughts were broken when they heard a tiny, almost inaudible scream come from the female. "What is she doing?" Dhm'Ni asks. He has never seen anything like this before, the Ooman female has trickles of water coming down her face.

"She is crying Dhm'Ni," Sya clicks.

"What's crying?"

"When an Ooman feels an emotion like sadness or dread, they cry because the emotions become too much. It's a release. But why she is crying is what I want to know," He pauses.

"THE HARD MEAT!" Sya clicks suddenly, he changes his sights and sees that the female is not looking at the hard meat, she's looking into a building. And she was so preoccupied with what was in the building that she didn't see the four hard meats that had begun to circle around the group, trapping them on all four sides. 'They are doomed.' Sya chirps softly. Deep inside, he didn't want them to be killed, especially the female. It was a loss to any species if a female died, and one so extraordinary it would be tragic.

 

---

 

The General was getting tired. His hoarse breathing was evidence of that. They were about a hundred meters away from the entrance of the training circle, and O'Conner was dreading it. Who knows what would be there now? Probably more of those things and they're going to be in the wide open, ready for anything to come at them. She takes a swift glance back at the men and catches the eyes of the General.

He knew that he was getting too tired to run anymore, they must have been running for at least 10 minutes straight and were barely at the training circle. I can't keep running, I just can't. God these guys aren't even breaking a sweat and here I am. Fuck! I'm about to fall the fuck over and these guys would gladly leave my sorry ass behind. I need to find another way of getting to the jumper. There must be another way . . .TANK! There are garages everywhere! All we need to do is grab a tank and we can take that! What the fuck are we doing running!

O'Conner was thinking the same thing but there was one thing she didn't like about their location in the complex. They are in the south-east of the compound, which means they are in the Research and Development portion. Who knows what they have in the tank bunkers, they could be normal tanks or bombing tanks. They didn't have time to check and even if they did it would be a 1 in 23 chance that that they got a garage that held transport tanks. Just ahead, O'Conner sighted the tell-tale garage door to a tank bunker. The others noticed as well.

"Why not take a tank the rest of the way?" The General asked slyly.

"We can't take the chance that it is a Developing garage, and if they carry Bomb Tanks then we could only travel for 30 minutes before it blows up and I don't want to be there when it does," O'Conner answers sternly. They really didn't have the time to check what was in there. But somehow she knew the General definitely did.

"We can take that chance! What if it carrying transport tanks huh? Ever think of that?" The General says back.

"OF COURSE, I DID!" O'Conner yelled out. She was a little insulted that he would think that she wouldn't have already thought of that. "There are 67 tank garages over this entire base, and odds are, because we are in the Development and Research part of the base, that there is a 1 in 23 chance that they carry transport tanks. Now shut up and keep running and don't stop," Becks and Sovin didn't know what to make of this exchange, they knew of the tanks and of where they were so they agreed with O'Conner that it was too big of a risk to stop now. But the General wasn't having any of it.

A few minutes later when they were just close enough to the garage, the General left the formation and ran towards to bunker.

"I TOLD YOU NOT TO FUCKING MOVE GENERAL!" O'Conner belted out.

"I don't give a shit. If there are transport tanks in here then we take them, if not we only weren't a few minutes," As he was talking, the General made his way to the panel that was on the far right side of the garage. He punched in a code and both sides of the two-way garage started to open. The very second it began it noisily rose, and the garage let out the reek of blood. It was so strong that they could all smell it as the door rose higher. The crimson, rusty stench hit O'Conner like a ton of bricks, but she never thought she would ever see a blood bath like this. As the door finally stopped, the sunlight revealed the massacre. They wouldn't be able to count the bodies even if they wanted to. Blood seeped out of cold corpses. Limbs were thrown every which way, and bodies laid limp on top and under the tanks. O'Conner couldn't hold onto her tears anymore and let out a small scream as she saw and recognized some of the horrified faces. She dropped the handgun that was in her left hand and brought it over her mouth to stop her from screaming again. Becks and Sovin were mortified. Their faces were frozen in fear as their eyes and minds registered the scene.

"Oh dear god,'' Sovin spoke softly. He walked towards the carnage but stopped just as he entered the garage, "How can this happen . . ? HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN???" He yelled out. Turning towards the rest of the group Sovin missed the black devil slipping into the back of the garage. 'This is not right! How could they do this to us! How could they' Sovin didn't get the chance to finish as the black devil rose up behind him, let out a piercing screech, then drove its tail into Sovins back. He never even screamed.

O'Conner just stared, the world stopped as she and the others looked on. Not again. Can't lose another one! Not like this. I can't just let Boris die like this, I made him a promise. And I going to fucken keep it! The world started to move again as Sovin looked down to his chest. His blood poured out of the wound, the black devil's tail still lodged in his back. Sovin looked up to O'Conner, who had already gotten up her favorite weapon of choice and aimed and gave her a blood-soaked smile and a small nod. O'Conner gave him a small smile as well, as a last goodbye before she took his life. She pulled the trigger.

The bullets sang as they left the chamber, soaring through the air and condemning Sovin to a quick death as it entered his skull. The bullet didn't just stop, it ran through the back of his head and into the devil that stood right behind him. Sovin's body fell limp, just hanging off the end of the devil's tail. That's when the real music happened. All at once Becks, the General, and O'Conner let out a symphony of gunfire, aimed at the doomed devil. It was pinned between a tank and them, there was nowhere for it to go. Within what seemed like an eternity, the acid blood stopped flowing as the lifeless body fell to the floor of the garage. The irritable and strained breaths came from all of them, they couldn't process what just happened.

"Oh, Boris," Backs said softly. He and Sovin had been close for a few months, Sovin only joined the unit about 7 months ago, who knew that this would be how he ended his time. Becks could barely hold back the tears, gradually he made his way to his friend's body and said a silent prayer for him. He didn't have a lot of time to pray as two more of the devils silently dropped down from their perch on the sides of the building and watched. A new smell of hell came into O'Conner's nose, it wasn't from the dead one, there were more.

"BEHIND US!" She yells out. They all turn and begin the song of death again, but this time there are two. There was no way they could get them both when an idea popped into O'Conner's head. "When I say, dive into a tank as fast you can fucking run. I'm setting off a PB!" Becks and the General just keep shooting, waiting for her signal. O'Conner reaches back with her free left hand and grabs three Nail PBs. One for each side, far left, middle, far right. There is no way this thing can survive this."

"DIVE!" She shouts. Together they turn around and dash for the closest tank. The blood and body parts made it hard to get on top, their feet kept slipping on the fresh blood. Finally, they made it to the hatch opened it, and dove in. 'Time to play with my new toys don't you think?' O'Conner was looking right at the devils, almost expecting an answer. With the three PBs placed in between her fingers, she squeezes the side buttons and hears the sound.

 

---

 

Dhm'Ni was astounded at what just happened, not only did the female kill the hard meat, but she killed one of her own. "Why would she take out one of her own Sya? I don't understand."

"I am amazed Dhm'Ni. Were you not listening before? That male asked the female to kill him before a hard meat does. Really Dhm'Ni, I am stunned. You should listen to your prey. That is why we have taught you Ooman so you can listen, and LEARN," Sya was scolding Dhm'Ni for not paying attention. It was one of the cardinal rules while hunting, always keep your eyes and ears on your prey. Two of the three remaining hard meats jump noiselessly down from the building and stand behind the Oomans.

"I think now is the time to act Sya. There is no way they are going to get those two."

"That is what we thought the last time didn't we, maybe they can do two. Just maybe,'' Sya says. He wanted to watch the Oomans until their demise. Until there was nothing left but the stench of blood, whether it came from the hard meat or the Ooman's, Sya didn't care. He just wanted to see how this played out.

They saw the Oomans turn to the two hard meat and begin shooting with their weapons. But it was perilous, they could barely get one with all their firepower, and they couldn't possibly get two.

"Perhaps this is the end," Sya chirps with a hint of sadness. He would hate to have to interfere now. If he and Dhm'Ni did they would have to kill them all, the Oomans and the hard meat. Sya did not want to do that, he didn't want to kill any Ooman who didn't justify their own death. They watch as the female motions to the others to go into the building while she stays out front. "Abandoning a female?" Sya roars out, "I will not stand for this!" Sya stood tall and was about to jump down but Dhm'Ni grabbed his arm.

"No Sya. She told them to go, she told them to hide. Now who is not listening?" He asks teasingly. Sya had the sudden urge to smack Dhm'Ni across the head but he was right. He had been watching the scene too intently and forgot to listen. They look back down to the fight and see the female throw little balls at the hard meat, one on each side of the beasts. "Bombs?" Dhm'Ni questions.

"I think so. Ingenious, cover them on all sides. Pakka was right. The technology on this planet has improved greatly," Both Sya and Dhm'Ni thought that the bombs would carry nothing that could reach them and that they would only reach the hard meats but as the female ran into the building to follow the males, the bomb went off. Dhm'Ni watched as tiny little metal objects grew and flung towards them. With lightning-fast speed, Dhm'Ni leaped onto Sya and brought him down onto the rooftop to be shielded by the four-foot high ledge. They hit the top with a loud thud as the small objects zoomed by them. Dhm'Ni releases a thunderous roar, today wasn't a lucky day. Some of those things embedded themselves into his arm and his shoulder armor. He wasn't too alarmed that they marked up his armor, he was just pissed off that some of those things now rested in his arm.

"PAUK!" Dhm'Ni yells out. "WHAT IN THE UNIVERSES IS THIS C'JIT?" They both sit up to look at Dhm'Ni's arm.

"You were fortunate today Dhm'Ni," Sya, with his harp talons, painfully rips one out of Dhm'Nis' arm. He wouldn't take one out from his armor, the more the chaos the merrier. And besides, the holes made by the bits and pieces would leave some odd-shaped scars for Dhm'Ni to talk of later. 'Any of the metal pieces could have easily hit your neck and killed you. You, my friend, are one lucky Lou-dte Kalei," Sya chuckles and gets a hit to the shoulder for it.

"Sya?" Dhm'Ni chirps. Sya only nods as he continues to rip out the bits of metal from Dhm'Ni's arm. 'That makes three hard meats where is the fourth?' Simultaneously they both leap up and look for the last remaining hard meat and find it on the rooftop of the building the three Oomans just ran into. Sya changes his sight to look for the Oomans and sees that they are moving, slowly making their way out of the structure and out into the open.

 

---

 

O'Conner raced towards the open tank hatch the moment she released the PBs. With a grace Becks had never seen, O'Conner jumped and flipped up and over the blood and bodies of their friends and landed on top of the open hatch. She couldn't fit through the hole with her pack on, so as fast as she could she removed it from her back, dropped it down the hole then slipped in herself. Without a moment to spare the PB's went off. The sound of the extended nails going off was the most annoying thing O'Conner had ever heard, the tick sounds coming from the millions of nails were deafening. But somewhere in between the scraping of the nail was the pleasant but horrific screeching of the devils falling to their wounds. O'Conner could have sworn she heard a roar or maybe a howl but she just thought she was hearing more than what was there.

"Glad you made it." Becks said sarcastically.

"Not this time Allen, really not the time," O'Conner responds. It was just a little cramped in the now apparent Bombing Tank with three bodies cramped inside. It wasn't meant for anyone to sit in, let alone three people. A Bombing Tank was a prototype of a mobile explosive the government was funding. But they have been having trouble with the navigation system and sometimes it would end up in someone's living room instead of the Coalition headquarters. These were all in the middle of being dismantled and couldn't be used even if O'Conner wanted to.

"Do you think they are dead?" The General asks.

'Does this thing have a view screen? Or have they already taken it out?' O'Conner points to the front, close to where the General was sitting, at some of the controls. 'If there is one it should be right behind that sliding panel.' The General slides open a plate and it reveals a view screen. With a soft 'yes' the General punches some buttons and a picture pops up. The image was one of beauty to O'Connor's eye. In the far corner of the screen were two writhing bodies, distorted and bloody.

"We got the fuckers!" Becks yells out in victory.

"Come on, we don't have time to wait," O'Conner checks her watch again and now they only have forty-seven minutes. Since she was the closest to the hatch, she slowly opened it, hoping that the nails didn't somehow fuse it to the rest of the tank. To her relief, it opened easily and she popped her head out. The first thing she saw was the terrifying pieces of nail that had emended themselves into the haul of the tank. The only way for them to get down now was the back way, the only part that wasn't hit by the nails, but there was one problem it was covered in blood and body parts.

"Looks like we gotta go through some bloodshed to get off guys. The front and sides are all hit so the back is the only way." O'Conner boosts herself up and steps onto the top of the tanks. She slips as her boots hit the blood, faster than she wanted to she slides down the back of the tank landing hard onto the chest of someone she was glad she couldn't recognize. Without waiting she walks out toward to still-moving devils. In one hand she had her pack and in the other her gun. Finally, out of the blood-soaked bunker, she stops and takes a moment to stare at them, writhing in pain on the ground. Somewhere deep she felt sorry for them, she didn't like to see anyone or anything in pain. She always killed fast, never letting anyone suffer. She wasn't sure if it was the sight of the black devils or the thought that she felt something other than hate for them that made her feel nauseous. After a single moment of hesitation, O'Conner lifts her gun, aims at one head, and shoots it dead. Backs and the General stop a little behind her, just at the edge of the garage and watch as she kills one.

"What are you doing? Let it bear the pain so it knows what it did." The General says harshly.

'For one thing, I don't think it knows what it did. It's an animal in General, it's not self-aware. And just think about it. The other one we killed screamed and three more came. I don't want to let these things call for more do you?' O'Conner didn't lie, she was worried about it attracting more. But she didn't want to tell them that she felt pity for these things as they lay there in pain. She changes her aim to the other one and ends its life. Out of the corner of his eye, Becks saw a flash of black that made his insides turn 1000 times over. Snapping his head towards with devil, he sees that it is looking right towards an O'Conner with her head down just as she turns to them. O'Conner froze as she saw the horrified face of Becks looking to his left. Then she saw it crawling on a wall, looking straight at her. Somehow her body knew what to do before her mind and she found herself diving to the ground and rolling as the devil leaped towards her. Coming out of the roll, Becks runs to her side and together they start to shoot it.

The General had other ideas though. While these two would fight this devil, he would run towards the jumper. But he needed more than the guns he's got now, he needs those PBs. He notices that the pack that O'Conner filled the PBs in was in her hands after they left the tank. Silently she creeps up behind O'Conner and grabs the pack.

'WHAT THE FUCK!' O'Conner yells as her pack is ripped from her hand. She twists her body to look back at the General. He was fumbling with the tiny switches that let out one PB at a time and she knew that he was going to fuck it up. She stops shooting as she fully turns to the General, intent on getting it back before he lets them all fall out but it is too late. The General had hit a switch that let all of the remaining PBs fall from her pack. O'Conner didn't have time to think about what he did, she just turned back around to restart shooting the devil. But as she turned, she saw a fast smear of the black as it jumped towards her and Becks. They both dodge the body with a squat but they forget about its tail. Just as it landed, it brought its tail around and slammed it against O'Connor's chest, sending her flying into a wall. Becks watched helplessly as the devil jutted towards O'Conner.

'Screw this shit.' The General whispers. He bends down in time to miss the tail of the devil, but while he is down, he picks up a few of the PBs. He didn't have time to look at the signs, he just grabbed them and started to run down an alley.

"NALA!" Becks screams out. Becks ran just as the devil sprung at O'Conner, who was now coughing up blood as she leaned against the wall she hit. Becks jumped in between the devil and her, keeping it from O'Conner. The devil didn't care who it got, it spread out its razor-sharp claws and dug its hand into the chest of Becks and out his back.

O'Conner couldn't hold in the blood from the hit the devil gave her, it must have broken at least one rib and now all she could breathe out was blood. The pain was so intense that she never heard Becks call her name. The next thing she knew was a spatter of blood on the ground right next to where she coughed up her own, but it wasn't hers. She opened her eyes as wide as they could as she slowly raised her head to see who the blood came from. Secretly she was wishing it was the General but she never got her wishes. There standing right in front of her was Becks with the hand of the devil through him. Without warning, the devil pitched back with Becks still in his hand and sprinted, at a speed unseen by O'Conner ever before.

''Allan!''

Chapter 6: Nonentity

Notes:

Good evening everyone!

Another chapter of The Ripple of a Stone (Revived) and HAA and both are intense, emotional and full of suspense that it will be hard to keep up lol (hopefully not too much). My next update will be for this chapter and also for Respect. Hope you have patience for me as things are chaotic at the moment.

 

Thank you and Good Hunting! :))))))

 

NOTE: This work is following the original author's work on another fanfic and I don't take credit for the idea but want to spread the love and joy for this amazing story and continue it to the end! If anyone has concerns, please don't hesitate to ask me. I'm more than happy to respond and work to the best of my abilities to respect everyone's wishes.

---

Sya could only watch in horror as the Oomans were overtaken by a Hard Meat. But when he saw one male abandon the female, armed or not, it made him furious. Any male that would desert a female, such as this one, should be killed on the spot. Sya growls lowly. Dhm'Ni didn't know why Sya was so mad, and why he would get so angry at that one male leaving. Dhm'Ni was watching closely when Sya suddenly flinched. He looked down and saw that the female was hit by the tail and had been pitched at a wall. Dhm'Ni didn't know why but he felt like he should do something, but he couldn't. Seeing a female fall to a Hard Meat was a dreadful thing to witness. That was why almost no females went on a Kainde Amedha Chiva, there was too big of a risk of losing a female.

Both Sya and Dhm'Ni begin to jump off the top of the building as they watch the Hard Meat lunge for the female but they are beaten to it. Before they even got a foot over the edge they watched the last male jump into its path and sacrifice himself for the female's safety. Together they bow their heads in recognition of him surrendering his life for her. With not a moment to breathe the Hard Meat ran off with the male still in its grasp. They watch the female as she calls for the male, trembling and shaking, but a single second later she is on her feet. The trail of blood that seeped out of the male's wound provided the perfect path to track and the female began to follow it. Sya thought it was a mistake for the female to be stripping off all the weapons she held on her body but then he thought of how it may weigh her down to travel. Before she was out of sight Sya turned to Dhm'Ni.

"I will see to the male who abandoned the female, while you will follow her," He ordered sternly.

"Wait! What? Why follow the female?" Dhm'Ni asks just as Sya jumps down from the building onto the sandy ground.

"Do not question me Dhm'Ni. Follow her or you will have me to deal with," With a roar Sya was gone, running down the same road the deserting male traveled. Dhm'Ni didn't know what to do. He didn't want to follow a female when there were Hard Meats to take care of just to waste time. But as he turned back down to the female she was gone.

"C'jit!" He didn't want to deal with Sya if he found he didn't do as was told of him so he started after the Ooman.

 

---

 

O'Conner wasn't thinking, she didn't know how but she was on her feet, running, following the blood trail, and stripping herself of all heavy weapons that would weigh her down, leaving a line of guns behind her. O'Conner only had a few knives, a full-size dagger hidden in her right boot and her hands but that was enough. She ran faster than she ever run before in her life, following the ever-increasing blood path. Somehow she was gaining ground, she had lost track of how many turns she made but she didn't care. All she cared about now was that she could see the tip of its tail as she turned around a corner. As she rounded the turn she saw it, still dragging Becks and running fast. But at seeing him, O'Conner's rage flew her into a frenzy, her legs seemed to fly as she slinked closer and closer to the devil. Without thinking she lunged, just as she got close enough, onto its back, causing it to throw Becks to the floor and roll to the ground with her still latched to it. The devil ended up on top, not as she hoped. She didn't really have a plan, she couldn't control herself as she jumped, the only thing she knew was that this thing was not going to survive.

The devil started to thrust its tail down at O'Conner but with their positioning, she was safe under its body. She had to bring up one of her legs to under its chest as it attempted to puncture her head with its inner mouth. Remembering her training of how to deal with an attacker, human or freaky black devil, she brought up the same leg that was keeping it away from her and kicked its head, making it twist to one side. This was exactly what she wanted.

She used her hands to grab the back of its long head while placing her foot as close the its mouth as possible, without getting hurt and she started to pull with her hands while pushing with her foot. Gradually it started to twist so far that it looked unnatural. She was waiting for a particular sound, a cracking of its neck but it never came. Does this thing even have a fucking neck? A moment after she asked herself that a sound, that could only be luck herself screaming for O'Conner to prevail, rang through the air. Its neck buckled and its body went limp. Before it fell onto her she flipped it over.

O'Conner's heart stopped when she looked at Becks. She half expected him to be face down, dead and lifeless but he was moving, HE WAS MOVING!

"ALLEN!" She screams out as she makes her way behind him, pulling him up to sit against her body. Her hands wrapped around his chest, the blood pooled as he lay there against her, flowing onto her arms and legs and she sat behind him. "NO, you're not dying. I won't let you!" Becks coughs up blood as he attempts to laugh.

"I don't have a choice, Nala. Now get outa here, NOW!" Becks ordered but only got 'no' as a response.

"We *cough* we promised each other that if anything should happen to one of us, *cough* ANYTHING, that the other one would go on," He said softly. But still only got a 'no' back.

"Nala," He takes her hand that was wrapped around his chest and brings it to his mouth, giving it one last kiss, "Get to the jumper and get out for me...please," Becks squeezes her hand one more time, then his hand drops to his side and his head falls forward. The only thing O'Conner could do was scream, so she let out all she had. The sound echoed in the air, forever etched into the wind as her heart broke into a trillion pieces.

 

---

 

It took everything Dhm'Ni had to keep up with the Ooman, he was only slightly impressed. Somehow they were gaining ground on the Hard Meat. As they rounded the corner he found that they were right on its ass. He couldn't even comprehend why the female leaped on top of the Hard Meat's back but she did and she brought it down. Dhm'Ni laughed to himself as he thought that the Yautja watching over his video feed from his mask would be shitting their loincloth as they watched from the Bridge. But when he watched her kill it, with her bare hands, Dhm'Ni nearly fell over.

He froze as he stood on a building top just across from the fallen male after witnessing that. Its neck twisted like nothing, leaving the carcass motionless. Dhm'Ni couldn't even imagine what his face looked like at that moment. His mandibles were slack, eyes wide and head cocked a little to the left.

What the Pauk just happened?

He couldn't catch any other words, they seemed to have decided to take a break as his mind attempted to process what he had just seen. The next thing he knew the female was over by the male, holding him to her. Dhm'Ni thought the way she was holding him was odd, conceivably they could be mates by the way she was acting towards him. But they wouldn't be mates for too much longer. Dhm'Ni changed his sights and saw that the injuries to the male were too severe and that nothing could save him now, it was too late. He saw that the female also had an injury as well, a broken rib that had punctured her right lung. How could she have moved so fast with a wound like that? I could just keep up with her and she was injured!

Dhm'Ni was taken from his thoughts when the female screamed as he saw the male's heart stop. He had to wonder why she would be so distraught by his death. Wouldn't she just go and get another? Surly a female like this would attract many males, she was strong, agile and for Pauk's sake she took out a Hard Meat. But then again Sya did say that everything is different here, there females are nothing like theirs. They are not as strong as theirs, not as dominant as theirs, not as striking as theirs. Dhm'Ni slipped into a daydream. He could actually feel himself with a female. Just imagining her on his bed, just thinking about what he would do to the first female he got his claws on. Unconsciously, Dhm'Ni lets out a tremendously loud purr as those delicious thoughts of mating leak into his mind.

 

---

 

O'Conner was content with staying by Allen. She wanted to be with him, no matter what stood in the way like her life. All she wanted to do was stay here until she died. Whether those black things got her or the bomb she didn't care. Even though they promised each other a long time ago that if one died the other had to live on, she would never let him go. O'Conner held onto the lifeless body as tight as she could and started to slowly rock back in forth. She didn't care if she cried. She never did, she didn't think it was as weak to cry as some in the NWGA did.

She was brought out of her spell when she heard something really weird, kind of like a kitten purring or something. Then the realization of what just happened dawned on her. She couldn't just stay here until death claimed her. She had to live for Allen. She had to get out of there and survive for him. O'Conner gives him one last hug and a kiss on his head before she lets him go. Slowly she stood tall, staring down at the one person in this world she ever really loved. Then she heard it again, the same loud rumble. O'Conner walked into the middle of the road to hopefully catch the hot wind and smell something or someone, and she did. She could smell those scents again, not just one. Just that all too familiar fresh rain and vanilla again. The way the wind carried it, she could tell it came from above and she looked up accordingly at the tops of the surrounding buildings. There was a familiar sight as well.

On the top of the roof were heat wave lines, or so she thought. Now she realized that someone or something had been following them since they left the armory. It's probably The Secret Service, they must be here watching those things and decided to watch us run like fucking mice through a maze. But why would they still be here when the island is going to be destroyed? Unless it's not? Why else would they stay here? Well, fuck them, either way, I need to get off this rock.

"Alright, I know you there!" She yells out.

Suddenly the waves she thought were most likely a person ducked down beneath the roof ledge. She was right, there was someone here to watch over the devils, "I saw you. I've seen you since we came out of the armory! I can smell you in the wind too you fucker! You've been following us since the beginning and you haven't helped us! How was it huh? Did you like seeing us being picked off one by one? HUH? WELL FUCK YOU!" With the same speed as she ran after the devil, she turned back following the same blood path back to the main road. She wasn't going to leave behind her pack, all she had left of Allen was in there.

 

---

 

Dhm'Ni's body gave way to an immense flinch when the female yelled out that she could see him. Without thinking he ducks down behind the ledge but when she again said that she saw him move, he cursed himself for being so careless. She couldn't have seen me? She couldn't know I was here? Could she? I shouldn't have moved, PAUK! When Dhm'Ni heard 'fuck you' and then her footsteps he slowly raised his head to see her again, his clocked cranium lifting up, as slowly as he could, just above the top of the ledge. But she was gone, running back down the bloody path.

Without a moment to lose Dhm'Ni started back towards her on the rooftops. He didn't want to lose her for fear of what Sya would do to him. The last Yautja to disobey an order from Sya was in the healers for at least a full cycle. Sya wasn't one to take kindly to disobedient pups, or blood, or young blood, OR ANYONE for that matter. He wouldn't think twice about killing one to question him, or even injure them enough to cause them to become an ETA. No one but Lord Khupiee can really question him, the other Arbitrators would have to issue a challenge if they had a dilemma for him. Dhm'Ni wasn't stupid enough to cause Sya to become enraged so he had to keep up with the female. But what did Sya want with her? Maybe he wants to study her? Dhm'Ni would not interfere with the Ooman's death if a Hard Meat crossed her, he wouldn't protect her for Sya. He laughed to himself as he thought that he wouldn't protect a Hard Meat from her.

When they reached the spot where the male was taken, the female grabbed a small carrier bag and strapped it to herself then she raced down their original passageway they were traveling on. Dhm'Ni was again impressed at her speed. He could keep up with her with no trouble, it was just the jumping from top to top that was keeping him back. And royally pissing him off. It would be much easier if he was on the ground. He could stay a little ways back so she would be able to see him again but close enough that he could still watch her.

When he saw the chance he jumped off the roof onto the sandy ground. He hadn't gauged just how hard he jumped, when he hit the ground it caused a very loud thud and a small dust cloud to form by his feet. Then the female, who was about 15 meters ahead of him, stopped and turned on her heel to look back, Dhm'Ni ducked, AGAIN, behind some wooden crate and boxes. Pauk, I'm getting sloppy! He felt stupid to hide from her, why should he? He could take her any day, she was an Ooman, no matter what she has shown today she is still nothing compared to his strength. 

"Alright, you shit stain!" The female yelled out.

Shit stain? Dhm'Ni thought that was absolutely hilarious, he was a little insulted, but he still thought it was funny. He held in a laugh but his shoulders still rose and fell as they would if he laughed out loud. He shook his head, making his ringed locks wobble.

"I know you're out there so show yourself. Come on, don't be so pathetic," She teased.

Dhm'Ni stiffened at being called pathetic, it took everything Dhm'Ni had to not jump out and kill her for calling him that. He did however growl, so low that he hoped she didn't hear him.

"FINE! FUCK YOU!" She said again. Dhm'Ni wondered why she kept saying that. He knew that 'fuck you' in Ooman meant 'Ell-osde' Pauk' to him. Before he let his rage overcome him, Dhm'Ni steadied his breathing and then continued following the female.

As Dhm'Ni ran behind the female, he noticed that just beyond the buildings to their left was the training ground, and the DropShip. He wondered if some of the others on the ship were watching, by now the one monitoring his video had informed Ykas'e and was undoubtedly watching them run by.

 

---

 

"This is not possible!" Hisses one of the watchers of the video monitors. He and another Yautja next to him were watching over the video feed from Dhm'Ni and Sya. When they split up, and Dhm'Ni followed one of the Oomans, the watcher didn't know what to make of it.

“What is not possible?” A shrill voice questioned. Ykas’e was basically in charge when Lord Khupiee was not on the Bridge. He may have held a little power but it got him nothing. He was a runt and an ETA. No female would want him as a mate and he was too small to be allowed to go on hunts. When he became Lord Khupiee's servant so many seasons ago, his life changed for the better. If it weren’t for Lord Khupiee, Ykas’e would have been dead by now, killed by some hormone-driven pup or unblood that thought he had something to prove. He owed his life to Lord Khupiee and will serve him until his death. Which won't be too far off. Ironically Ykas’e was older the Lord Khupiee, by at least 70 seasons and his age had begun to show. It didn’t affect his duties though, but when it did Lord Khupiee would have no other option but to kill him. But until that day, Ykas’e will serve him as he always had.

The watcher motioned to Ykas’e to come over and see. The Bridge room was oval in shape, the three tiers were set in the middle, and Lord Khupiee's leader chair sat at the top while on either side was a small set of stars for the yautja to walk on. The watchers were on the lowest level of the three tiers, alongside the navigation. In the middle were the weapons and on top were the sensors. As he made his way down, Ykas’e saw a glimpse of what was on the watcher's monitor. What he saw was an Ooman fighting a Hard Meat, bare-handed and winning. He was about to ask a question when the watcher said something first.

“Wait, you have to see this also,” The watcher punched a few symbols and opened up to old footage of Dhm’Ni and Sya observing the Oomans. The clippings showed the Oomans actually killing Hard Meats, Ykas’e was stunned, for a lot of reasons.

“Why have you not brought this to my attention earlier?” He asks a little irritated.

“I did not think that the Oomans needed to be watched closely for their movements, but when I saw this,” The watcher goes back to the footage of an Ooman killing the Hard Meat, “I knew something wasn’t right.”

Ykas’e went silent. He was thinking about whether or not to bother Lord Khupiee with this now or wait for the hunt to be over. But he decides now. Something as rare as this was not a thing to hold back. No doubt Lord Khupiee will be angry that he interrupted the hunt, but he would be even angrier if he was given this information too late.

“Watcher, get a short clipping ready to be sent to Lord Khupiee. Include only the significant footage,” The watcher began to assemble the correct data to be sent to Lord Khupiee’s mask for him to see. Just as Ykas’e was about to walk back to the top tier of the Bridge, he would NOT be sitting in Lord Khupiee’s chair however, only one with a death wish would sit there, he turned back to the watcher, “Is there any audio?”

“No sir. Neither Dhm’Ni nor Sya had turned on their audio recorders,” A hunter's mask always recorded video, but it could record audio as well. However, it was up to the hunter if it was recorded or not. The video recorder was not a choice for each hunter. It was up to the leader of the hunt, and in this case, it was Lord Khupiee. He thought that the video would help the unbloods see just how Kainde Amedha moved.

Ykas’e only had to wait for a few moments until the watcher was ready with the recording. He motioned to the communications group to COM-link Lord Khupiee. He would need to be delicate when he talks to him, if he is too forceful with the video Lord Khupiee will not watch it.

“YES?” Lord Khupiees's voice came over the COM-link, sounding just a tad irritated.

“Lord Khupiee, I think that there is something you need to see,” Ykas’e says skillfully. Just enough power in it to show that he really needs to see it but not enough to seem as if he is forcing it.

“I do not have time Ykas’e,” He clicks bluntly.

“I know that at the moment you are hunting but Sir, I think that you should watch this,” Ykas’e says with a little more force.

“You have 5 seconds to tell me why I should see it.”

“It is a short clipping from Dhm’Ni and Sya, showing Oomans killing Hard Meats.”

“And that would be of importance because . . .,” Lord Khupiee asks.

“Because in the video it shows an Ooman killing a Hard Meat, with its bare hands.”

Lord Khupiee fell silent.

“Show me,” He finally says.

Ykas’e nods to the watcher to send it to Lord Khupiee. A few minutes later, after he viewed the footage, Lord Khupiee spoke.

“And you say this came from Sya?”

“Most of the footage came from both Sya and Dhm’Ni. But the last part, of the Ooman killing the Hard Meat with its—”

“Her,”Lord Khupiee interrupts.

“Sir?”

“The Ooman that killed with its bare hands. It’s a female.”

Lord Khupiee was well aware of Ooman females and of the variation between the sexes of Oomans. That was why he was so flabbergasted by the video. Ykas’e was even more stunned than before. Even though he never went on hunts, he knew of the Oomans, he actually knew of all the prey that they hunted. It was an asset that he thought Lord Khupiee would like when he took a new servant, and it was his knowledge that made Ykas’e the front-runner.

“Well, that footage came from Dhm’Ni alone,” Lord Khupiee wondered for a moment if he should get Ykas’e to send to footage to the other hunters. Pakka had been wondering what he was talking to Ykas’e about and wanted to see the female killing the Hard Meat. So he orders the footage to be sent to the others, along with a message saying that he ordered it sent. If Ykas’e were to send footage without order, some of the other hunters may get angry at him for disrupting the hunt.

“What of the Queen?” Lord Khupiee asks, changing the subject.

“They have decided to take her. She is quite large and could not leave the cavern on her own accord. The young bloods sent have helped M’Ho, Miy’Hota, and Bakkub open the cavern wider and have captured the Queen. They are on their way back now,” He answers.

“And the others?”

“Dh’Kn, Rathe, and Inkle have taken all that travel on the outer rim and have also begun to return. How has your hunt been?” He asks.

“There are still some Hard Meats that roam. However, if the Queen is making her way to the ship then it will definitely call for aid, Pakka and I will move towards the ship and along with the others wait there for the coming drones.”

“Yes sir,” With that Ykas’e ended the link.

 

---

 

“What was that nonsense?” Pakka asks after watching the video. It must be trickery. No Ooman could do a thing like that. They must have missed something that the female used to twist its head like that.

“Nonsense? Why must you think Oomans are incapable of ANYTHING Pakka? Perhaps Sya was right. Maybe they are more than they seem,” Lord Khupiee chirps.

“Don’t even think it Khupiee. One out of billions does not make the entire species worth anything else but pray. Just as one Bad Blood does not make our entire species murderers and rapists,” Pakka hit a cord that he shouldn’t have and regretted it deeply the moment it came from his mouth.

Almost immediately, Lord Khupiee dropped his head in remembrance of his lifemate Ni’Atne. He missed her with all of his heart and every night he would sleep in their bed hoping beyond hope that one day he would wake to her golden eyes. But she was never there. When Lord Khupiee finally took other mates, he had an individual room made just for mating. He would never have another female in his bed. He would never disgrace her by having another share their bed.

Pakka placed his hand on Lord Khupiee's shoulder as a silent apology. Pakka also had a great love for Ni’Atne. She was his sister when Lord Khupiee and she became lifemates. And he held the highest respect for her because for one thing he had to, but also because she could kick his and Lord Khupiee’s ass without a sweat. The fights that those two had were legendary. They would fight together and then heal together. Ever since that day in the gardens, where Ni’Atne was murdered, Lord Khupiee was never really the same. He never smiled the same way, he never laughed the same way. Sometimes, if you look hard enough, and at just the right time you can still see the same hurt in his eyes as on the day she was found.

“I must contact Sya,” Lord Khupiee says suddenly. He presses a few buttons on his control panel and it links Sya.

“What can I do for you Khupiee?” Sya asks right out. He had been tracking the Ooman male, to see what he would do. The male had made his way to the southern tip of the compound and had begun to mess around with a flying machine.

“What is this I hear of an Ooman female killing a Hard Meat?” Lord Khupiee chirps.

“I was not there when she killed it Khupiee. I left Dhm’Ni to follow her,” Sya had said that a little too roughly for Lord Khupiee's liking.

Sya was watching as the male started the machine. He knew that the male would not go back for the female, so he would have to deal with him now. “Khupiee, I will have to get back to you I am in the middle of hunting an Ooman if you can believe that,” Sya then terminated the COM and started after the male.

 

---

 

The General, after deserting O’Conner and Becks, ran to another tank garage and carefully opened it to find a small tank that he could use. In his hands, he held seven PBS. A few were the nails but the others he didn’t recognize. He wasn’t listening as O’Conner went through what they were. The small tank that he made his way into was a single-person transport tank. He thought that Lady Luck would never smile down on him like she had today.

He slid into the driver's seat and started it up. He let out a giant sign of relief as it did, he was praying that it wasn’t here for spare parts and had been taken apart. He punched into the auto-navigator that he wanted to get to the hospital. This was going to be a smooth ride, he thought. But as the tank pulled out of the garage it collided with something that made it jump up and down but a moment later it rested again. Must have been a bump or something.

Little did he know that he was carrying a passenger. With his view screen, the General checked all angles around the tank to see if maybe it was a devil but as it made its way around the back and side he saw nothing. Too bad he didn’t check on top or he would have seen a large figure that bent the air. The tank gained speed and soon it was up to 100 mph. In no time he was at the hospital. He made his way to the side and there was the jumper. It was basically a helicopter in design but they stopped using those about a decade ago. This jumper was large, it had a cockpit that could seat two, and a back that could seat six. For some strange reason, it was open, the large doors that covered both sides were slid out, leaving the seating areas open. With a quick check before he left the tank, he opened its hatch, jumped out, and ran towards the jumper. He made his way to the pilot's seat and started up the engine.

Sya watched the male start the machine and begin to close the doors. He would not allow him to go far. With his agility, Sya gracefully ran towards and jumped into the back of the jumper just as the male was closing the doors. His large body could barely fit into the cramped Ooman machine but somehow he fit. It was glad about where he was sitting. He was all the way in the back, sitting on something very cushy, while his legs were spread straight out into the floor.

Suddenly the machine started to move, very fast. It kind of reminded Sya of a bytte, it too could fly and travel at immense speeds. The first movement the male made was to go straight up, which made Sya's stomach turn a little. He was never one for moving so fast, but somehow he kept his dinner down. A Yautja vomiting is NOT a pretty sight. Sya saw that the male was getting agitated at something, he kept fiddling with some knobs and such that were by him.

“Why the fuck isn’t this thing going faster? Full capacity, what the fuck do you mean by full capacity! There’s only me in here!”

The male then hit the buttons in frustration. A little too heavy is it for you Ooman? Sya thought. He was, at best, 450 pounds of pure muscle. Maybe this machine can’t hold so much weight?

As the Ooman made another move with the machine, Sya observed that they were not heading to the female and that he was right in thinking the male would not go back for her. Now he was really mad. Sya wanted to kill this thing but he couldn’t do it up here. He had to get it back on the ground. It would be stupid to kill the Ooman that was flying, he would end up dead too. Noiselessly, Sya took out a small spear from his leg, moved up closer to the male, and slid up right behind him.

“Leaving the female are we?” He says in their tongue.

The male whipped around just as Sya brought up his small spear to his neck, “Don’t go crazy now Ooman. I wouldn’t want you to crash this thing before I have my fun.”

The male didn’t know what to do, he was just staring at the ripple effect the air had. Sya had purposely left his clock on, he would until they landed, “Land now Ooman,” Sya ordered.

With a nod, the male turned back to look out the front window, still with the spear at his throat. They landed hard on top of a large building with a thump, “OUT!” Sya ordered.

Complying, the male opened the large doors and slid out. Sya switched the spear to his other hand so that the male would not try and run. “Your reputation as an Ooman precedes you,” Sya says as he uncloaks.

“OH MY GOD! WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU?” The Ooman asks.

“I am your judge, your jury, and your executioner Ooman. You are charged with abandoning a female. And so you will die,” Sya says harshly. He wanted to tell the male right out that he was going to die.

“WHAT!? WHAT FEMALE?! YOU MEAN O’CONNER?! SHE CAN TAKE CARE OF HERSELF MAN! I WAS— I WAS JUST ABOUT TO GET HER!” He says.

“Liar. The female is there,” Sya points towards where he left Dhm’Ni to follow the female. He hoped the Dhm’Ni didn’t do something stupid like leave her, or take her skull. If he did either, Sya would kill him for disobeying a direct order. Khupiee's son or not!

“And you were heading in the opposite direction. Isn’t that right Ooman?” The male didn’t move. He just stared right into Sya's mask, “I will give you one chance, Ooman. To take your own life, to keep what honor you have left,” With that Sya turned the spear in his hand over and offered it to the male hilt first. In a fast move, the Ooman took the spear, but he didn’t use it on himself.

“THAT WAS A VERY STUPID THING TO DO!”The male yelled out.

“Oh was it?” Sya teases. He knew that male you do something like this. They didn’t have the honor to take their own life.

The Ooman lunged at Sya with the spear, but Sya countered with this arm. He grabbed the Ooman’s other hand, twisted it behind his back, and then grabbed the other one. “This is your punishment you filthy Ooman.”

Sya bends down and whispers into his ear, “You pathetic males have no honor. You abandon a female like she is nothing. You rape, you disrespect, and you damage them beyond repair, and for what? To reassure yourselves that you are better than them? They are life givers, the ones to bring others into the world, and yet you still defile them. You abandon them. So your punishment is this. With your own hand,” Sya took the male's hand that held the spear and brought it to his neck, “You will take your life. And in your last breath,” Slowly Sya pushes the Ooman's hand, causing the spear to enter his neck.

”You will know that you died because of your actions or should I say inactions towards a female.”

Sya leisurely carries the male's hand across his own neck. The blood drained from his open wound, and his tendons were exposed to the hot air. All that came from him was a gurgling sound as the spear punctured his esophagus, his larynx, and his trachea. Say rumbled as he watched the male struggle, the gratification he received when taking the life of a male who had done a female wrong was like nothing he had ever felt. That was one major reason why he became an Arbitrator. The body of the Ooman fell limp and Sya just let it fall to the floor. He looked down to his kill. Blood poured out of its neck into the rooftop, making a large pool of red and Sya loved it.

Then he remembered that earlier he had cut off Lord Khupiee and he was going to be mad! With a little hesitation, Sya brought up his arm and contacted Lord Khupiee, “Are you done with whatever game you are playing with us Sya? Because it is getting very tiresome!” Khupiee clicks a little teasingly.

Lord Khupiee didn’t believe that Sya was hunting an Ooman, he thought he was just kidding around but when he actually cut off the COM-link Lord Khupiee grew suspicious. Perhaps he is hunting an Ooman. Maybe something in him finally snapped back to reality and he hunted one that he thought to be worthy.

“I play no games Khupiee, just handing out a little justice to a deserving Ooman male,” Sya clicks. Hiding just enough information from Lord Khupiee.

“And just what is that supposed to mean?” He questions.

“Perhaps another time Khupiee. What was that you contacted me with before?” Sya changes the subject quickly.

Lord Khupiee thrills at Sya, he always thought it was funny how skilled he was a changing the subject of a conversation. Once, Sya actually stopped a clan war by switching the conversation from hunting rights to females. It was a beautiful triumph, steering away from the war was even better when females were brought into it. 

 

“Did you watch the video Ykas’e sent? Or were you too busy?” He teases.

“Video?” Then Sya noticed that his control panel had been beeping, he just never noticed before, “One moment,” He says before activating the video. What he saw was unbelievable! The female actually killing a Hard Meat with her hands! Sya could only laugh as he watched it.

“What is so funny Sya? And why did you send Dhm’Ni to follow her?” Lord Khupiee asks. He really wanted to know why his son was following a pathetic, well, ok this one is not so pathetic, female when there are still a few Hard Meats around.

“It was his proposal Khupiee. He ingeniously thought that the Hard Meats would be attracted to the Oomans and that then when they were overtaken by them, we would then take them all out. But as you can see we haven’t needed to get involved yet. Amazing isn’t she?” Sya asks slyly. Lord Khupiee only grunts.

True what she had done was an amazing thing and it was unbelievable that the Ooman survived so long but what does Sya care? He couldn’t possibly want to take the Ooman female as a pet or servant? Taking an Ooman as either became outlawed almost a millennia ago. And he is not allowed to take her to experiment on her. It was both illegal to do so and Sya's morals would never allow him to do such a thing.

“What of it Sya?” lord Khupiee asks.

“Oh, nothing,” Sya clicks sarcastically.

“SYA!” Lord Khupiee barks.

“I would just hate to see her fall by the hands of a Hard Meat. Or by ours,”Sya adds quickly.

Lord Khupiee knew what he was asking. Sya didn’t want her to be hunted, at least not today. After a moment of silence, Lord Khupiee finally gave in.

“Fine,” Lord Khupiee barks. Sya smiled big when he heard him. Maybe the female will survive this ordeal. And maybe he could come back one day and find her to watch. His heart began to race at just thinking about getting back to his studies. It had been ages since his last voyage to an Ooman world. Maybe lord Khupiee would even allow him to stay here, with a small ship of course, and stay to watch the female. And then a horrible thought dawned on him. By now this video made its way through the ship and all those on it will probably be begging to hunt her. Maybe he should stay to protect her? Either way, he would have to ask Lord Khupiee when the hunt and the celebration were done.

“What of the others?” Sya asks. Again covertly changing the subject.

“The others are finished with their tasks. They have decided to bring in the Queen. And because she will most likely call for her remaining drones, we will meet the other groups back at the DropShip and wait for her drones to come to us,” Sya agreed with the plan but then he thought of Dhm’Ni.

“Should you tell Dhm’Ni or should I? I am heading back to him now,” Sya chirps.

“If you are heading to him, you may. But leave the Ooman be. If she finds we are here, we will have to kill her Sya, so don’t be stupid,” Lord Khupiee warns him.

“Me? Stupid? Even the thought of me being stupid! HA!” Sya says sarcastically while making his way down the building he killed the male on.

“I am assuming that you understand Sya?” Lord Khupiee asks and gets a grunt as an answer, Good. Then I shall see you and Dhm’Ni at the DropShip.”

Lord Khupiee ends the link. Perhaps Lord Khupiee won’t like Sya's stay now. He didn’t seem too pleased when he told him to stay away from the female. But Sya didn’t need to be warned of that, he knows how to hide among the Oomans so that he is not seen.

When Sya finally reached the ground from the high building he searched from Dhm’Ni near where he left him but he was not there anymore. Franticly Sya searched for him, he couldn’t even fathom how Lord Khupiee would react if his youngest son died here. But then there he was, running behind the still-alive female. Sya was relieved that she was still alive and of course Dhm’Ni. With a deep breath, Sya started towards the running of Yautja and Ooman.

 

---

 

O’Connor set a pace that she had never seen before. She had already passed the training ground without meeting any more devils and was really close to the hospital. Her breath was starting to become labored and her muscles had begun to pulse with pain but she pushed past it. She only had thirty-three minutes to get out of here, plenty of time by her count.

After she looked at her watch she finally realized that in all of ten minutes, her entire life fell into shambles. She lost her men, her friends, and the love of her life, and here she was running away when she had stayed with Allen.

NO!

She can’t think like that! She needs to get out for Allen, it was his last wish. And so she would run for him. If it were even possible she picked up speed, her legs still burned, yelling at her to slow down but she wouldn’t. Her French-brained hair flew behind her like a dark strawberry-blond vail. With every step she took she jumped, flying up then crashing down on her back. She takes a deep breath in and holds it in, she can hear her footsteps as they hit the gravel, but she can hear someone else’s too.

They were heavy and hard, they didn’t even sound like a person's footsteps. They were so off. But then again this was probably the Secret Service, they weren’t built like normal people, they were either gigantic or tiny depending on their profession. A long time ago they came to O’Conner and offered her a job, but it was something that she would never be, a sniper. Her shot was as good as any other, maybe even better but that didn’t mean that she should go around taking lives like the rest of them did. In mid-thought, she saw the hospital. There it was right there! Now she can get out of here and go home!

As she made her way past the front of the hospital to go around to the jumper pad, she still, somewhere deep inside, wished that she could stay and die with Allen. But she promised. She always kept her promises. Skidding to a stop in front of the jumper pad, O’Conner couldn’t believe what she saw or didn’t see. She fell to her knees as it sunk in. There in front of her was an empty jumper pad.

Chapter 7: Hello Gorgeous

Notes:

Hello everyone!

As promised, another chapter for The Ripple of a Stone (Revived) has been posted. Took me a little longer to edit and grammar check it but here you go and it's a very 'interesting' one. The next update will be a chapter for Ripse Up so hold on to your seatbelts and let's get Hunting!

Thank you all and Good Hunting! :D

She couldn’t believe it. 

How could he do it? How could the General have done this?  

He left her here to die. She’s dead . . . no matter what she does. Whether by those devilish things or the bomb, she is doomed. She couldn't help but get frustrated, but she was hurt more than anything. She wasn't sure if it was from being left behind by the General, or that she wasn't going to fulfill the promise to Allen. She was on the verge of exploding, she couldn't hold it in anymore. 

As she sat on the sandy ground, with the rock and stone digging into her knees, she started to punch the earth with her fists. Shrieking and shouting at the ground as if it was its fault that she is here, as if it could have done something to save her. She just kept hitting it with all she had, even after her knuckles started to bleed. The ground had begun to form into little balls of blood sand but she didn’t care. She just kept punching, bringing her fists down over and over. 

Soon though her anger was gone and now filled with sadness and fear. She didn't want to wait here to die all by herself. She should have stayed with Allen after all. Her death would be comforting right now. She tried . . . she really did. She gave her all to get off the island but she couldn't. She just can’t! She hoped that in the next life, if there was one, that she would meet Allen. Maybe he was already waiting for her? Or what if he wasn't? Even now she felt like she couldn't breathe without him, like her breaths were only for him, like her hands were only for him and would never touch another living soul, her lips to never kiss another, her heart to never find all of those trillion pieces it broke into and become whole again. Because she had been broken. She couldn't do it anymore, not without him. She had to be at his side when her world finally crumbled. She had to hold him as the bomb fell on them, she just had to. 

Taking a deep breath she stood, turned back towards the main road and began to sprint. She had every intention of running back to Allen just as the weapon fell, her objective was to let nothing get in her way to get back to him or so she thought until she slammed into something solid, hitting her head hard on something metal and falling to her ass with a loud thump. Instinctively, she brought up her hand to her head but regretted it as it hit the exact spot of where her head contacted a hard mass. 

“DAMN IT!” She yells out. Gently she pokes the dent on her forehead, “Its not as bad as a hangover but shit! Ow!” 

What the hell did I hit?  

Then she remembers that someone was following her and that she probably collided with them as they made their way to her. It was definitely a built person because she didn't feel it move as she slammed right into it.

Dhm’Ni didn't know what to do when the female crashed into him. He shouldn't have been so close but he didn't know she had stopped as she made her way around the corner. Even though she hit him with her entire body he didn't budge, not even when her head met his chest plate. Although his face did flinch at the thought of her pain, he couldn't even imagine what her head must feel like right now. And when she fell to her ass he thought that it was just getting worse for her. When she said that her head didn't hurt as bad as a hangover, Dhm’Ni just had to laugh as memories of his own C’ntlip enforced hangovers came flooding in.

She heard it again! The same sound and this time it was right in front of her, to close for comfort. O'Connor rolled back by bringing her legs up and over, causing her to roll backwards on her head. As she rolled out she grabbed the seven inch long dagger from her right boot and brought it up with her as she stood into a defensive position. There in front of her were those same wave lines that broke up the air. The Secret Service must have some new kind of camouflage she guesses.

“Alright mister! There’s no more hiding now! I see your sorry ass. Show yourself you pathetic fuck!” She yells out at the unknown form. She didn't care if she angered someone anymore, like it made a difference but Dhm’Ni felt otherwise. He had had enough of this Oomans insults, he had killed Yautja for half of what she has said to him. So he was delighted when she brought out a weapon. Now he could really work his magic. 

Dhm’Ni fell into a fighting stance, knees bent, head down and arms out, ready for anything. But he was actually caught off guard by the female as she lunged at him. 

O'Connor saw it go into an offensive position and she took this as an advantage. She jumped at the relatively see-through form and collided with it head on. With her combined weight and power in her move, Dhm’Ni was down. He couldn’t understand it but he was. She landed on his chest but not a moment later he backhanded her right in the face causing her to fly back towards a building. 

O’Connor couldn't feel her face as it hit right on the side of her head. It was like her pain receptors knew what was coming and made it numb so that it wasn’t as bad as it could be. As she hit the ground she began to tumble but soon she caught herself, landing on all floors. Then the pain came, her cheek had begun to burn from the blow, it stung like she had just been kicked by a horse, hoof and all. She didn't have a lot of time to think when she was kicked right in the gut. 

Dhm’Ni thought it amusing how she flew through the air by one simple kick. She hit the side of the nearby building, yelping in pain as she fell to the ground. O'Connor couldn't catch her breath, knocked out of her by the blow. She could hear as the thing made its way to her, knowing it was going to kick again . . . and she was right. 

She saw a giant outline of a foot coming towards her and she caught it with her hands. Dhm’Ni couldn’t believe it, not only did she catch his foot but now she was digging her nails into the exposed part of his leg. He had to roar in pain as she burrowed her nails deeper and deeper until he bled. The Ooman actually made him bleed. 

Suddenly, she pulled on his leg causing him to fall onto his back. O'Connor didn't notice the blood on her hands, she just crawled on top of the thing and began to punch it, delivering specific blows to its chest and arms. Dhm’Ni didn’t know what she was doing, she wasn’t striking him in the right areas that would harm him. He popped his body making her roll off. 

O'Connor needed her dagger to finish what she started. She jumped back as she landed from being pushed off its body. She searched for the dagger and found it as it reflected the hot sun in its blade. She dove for it just as she saw the figure get up. As she grabbed it from the ground, she rubbed some of the blood that was on her hands, some hers, some not, and wiped a big blob on the back hilt of the dagger. 

Before Dhm’Ni could make another move after getting up, she threw a knife at his head. He couldn't get out of the way in time as she flung it at him. However, the blade never hit him, it was the butt of the knife. She miscalculated? She didn't get the spin right and the butt hit me instead of the blade. 

Stupid Ooman.  

O'Connor never miscalculated. Her dagger hit right where it was meant, smack dab in the center of the head. Her eyes caught the sight of green just as she threw it, she looked at her hands. What in the blue hell? She asked herself. All over her hand was a green, thick liquid. It was actually fluorescent green to be true. It was in her nails and all over her fingers. She had dug her nail into its leg, but it’s not blood. Is it? She rubbed the gewy stuff between her fingers and marveled at its texture. It was thicker than blood, at least her blood. But what the hell did this come from? 

She looked back up as she heard her dagger hit metal and she smiled big. Right in the middle of its head was the spot of blood that she placed on the hilt. She needed to see just where this thing was so she decided that she needed to mark it and the only thing she had was her blood. All over its body were dots of blood made by her punches. Strategically placed around its body so she could see exactly where it was, but she never got its head in time. 

“I can see you perfectly now. You might as well take off the camouflage. There’s no point in hiding any longer. Don’t you think?”

Dhm’Ni didn’t know what the hell she was talking about until he looked down at his body. There all over him were splotches of her blood. They were all the way down his arms and legs, some even on his chest.

The knife! 

Dhm’Ni quickly brought his hand up to where it hit him and he felt even more blood in his head. He looked at his hand and saw that it was a mix of his blood and hers. She was smarter than he thought. 

O'Connor never noticed just how tall this thing was until she marked it. It must be at least eight and a half feet tall. Before she wasn't the least bit intimidated but now she is. How could someone get that large? Were the Secret Service guys using the enhancement but had made a few changes? They could easily change the DNA of the new sequencing to make them into giants, but this big? 

Dhm’Ni didn't like how she was staring at him, he was already mad that she marked him with blood and could tell where he was. He didn't want to decloak, not yet anyways. He growled as loud as he could expecting her to flinch and she did. It scared her to death when she herd it growl at her, seriously it fucking growled! She cringed at the sound, and it was real stupid of her to do so. Dhm’Ni, on seeing her recoil, shot towards her. 

With one hand he grabbed her by the neck and lifted her high into the air. O'Connor struggled in his grasp but to no avail. She could feel its strong hand getting tighter and tighter as the seconds drifted slowly. She couldn't just let it kill her like this! She brought up her legs and planted them against its chest and pushed. But all it seemed to do was make its hold even firmer. Then she got an idea. With one foot, she started to kick its face. She was so happy that she marked it in time because she knew exactly where it was. With everything she had she punted it right in the kisser. It took four hits but he dropped her to the ground. She fell back to her ass as she desperately tried to breathe again. 

Dhm’Ni couldn't hold onto her any longer. He hit her just too hard and his mask had actually begun to short out! The image from his mask had begun to blink as her kicks got him again and again. Not only that but he could hear his clock starting to crackle. How could an Ooman cause such damage? First my mask now my cloak!? He had to take a few steps back from the blows and to get a little distance when his cloak would finally give out. He actually had to shake his head, he was dizzy. He had become lightheaded and a little wobbly, he couldn’t understand it! He was relieved when his mask came back online and showed that the female was still a little ways away.

O'Connors’ breaths weren’t as labored as before, she could now inhale without hurting too much. Her broken rib still plagued her but she couldn't think too much of it. She watched and listened as the camouflage started to frizzle; the sound reminded her of when you crumple up plastic wrap. She jumped back up as the fading form started to back away. White light danced as its body started to appear. 

Oh god! What the fuck . . .

When the light had finally stopped dancing she could see it. She couldn't hold in a gasp as she looked at this thing standing in front of her. Dhm’Ni knew she could see him when she covered her mouth with her hands. He was exposed, now he had to kill her no matter what. But he didn't want to. But why? Her skills were outstanding, yes, but she is an Ooman, he can’t allow knowledge of his species to be brought out. Dhm’Ni switched his sights but without warning it blinked out, leaving him with only his normal vision. 

For a moment, the two just stared at the other. O'Connor was frozen, she didn't know what to think, she didn't even know HOW to think at that point. This thing was over eight feet, but that didn't really scare her anymore than what she noticed next. Its body was covered in metal armor that she’d never seen before. It was a strange gray, black color and it covered most of its body. It was the mask that really sent chills up her spine. It too was a gray black color, and had two pitch black eye pieces but its shape . . . It told O'Conner that its head was huge. The forehead of the thing was long, from what she could tell. The mask was emotionless. It made her feel like this thing was death himself coming to take her. As if staring at her was him judging her, measuring her up to see if he should take her life now, or wait for the fireworks of the bomb. She could see scratches and marks all over the mask and the rest of its armor. Then she looked as to what was under the metal. It was covered by a thick mesh but she could see that its skin was a strange shade of light green, but on the side of its legs, which were moderately exposed, was a deeper shade of green, almost a forest green and in that were speckles of black. Its hands were giant, and its feet, they were all massive! But they also all had claws on them that were at least two inches long and looked sharp as hell. When it moved slightly, she noticed black tresses coming out from the back of its mask. They were long, almost touching its waist and they had little gray black rings all over them. 

Dhm’Ni really didn't like her looking over him, undoubtedly she has never seen a Yautja before but this was just disconcerting. Even as he looked at her in his normal sight, she looked impressive. She was tall for an Ooman, maybe even six foot five, and all over her was blood, top to bottom and now she had his to add to her collection. Dhm’Ni stared right into her face, her hands were covering her mouth but he could still see her eyes. A Yautja always looked into the eyes of an opponent. The strange shade of blue was too familiar. They reminded him of his mother, she had the same tint of blue in her eyes, but it didn't cover her entire eye, it just rimed it as it does him. The horrid memory of the gardens leached into his mind. He was there that day, the day his mother was killed but he was too young to do a thing. Even Det-Onda’Ni was there but he couldn't help either. 

He shook his head to push the memory out and snapped back to the shaking Ooman. She was really afraid of him. Wasn’t she? Shame. Dhm’Ni thought that maybe she would be a good kill, and that he would take her skull, but she was just standing there. And he just kept watching. Her hair, a color that he had never seen before, blew across her face. After a while of nothing, Dhm’Ni was getting restless. He wasn’t just going to stand here all day and watch! 

Swiftly, he ran at her, catching her off guard and hitting her right in the jaw. O'Connor didn't expect it to move so fast. How could something so large be so nimble? But she guesses that’s the same as asking how a jaguar carries an entire antelope up a tree, they just do with strength and power.

As she flew from the hit, O'Connor formed a plan. She would have to hit it in the best spots to bring it down. Killing it was not an option. She couldn't possibly deliver enough damage to do that so she would have to settle to incapacitate it. The moment she landed, she was up on her feet, running towards the side of the hospital. And just as she hoped it ran after her. She wasn’t headed for the door, or a window, just for the wall. When she reached the side, she ran up as far as she could go then jumped off with her feet. Dhm’Ni didn't know what to think as she jumped over him and landed right behind. He had no time to turn around before O’Conner took out the knife she had in her pant leg and thrusted it into its back. 

Dhm’Ni howled in pain, she got him right in the lower back, perfectly aimed to hit the muscle, making it hard for him to move. She's too smart. Dhm’Ni whipped around with his arm but missed as she ducked. He took up his leg and hit her right in the chest. O'Connor was down on the ground again, it was an all too familiar place in this fight and she didn't like it that way. She heaved her legs up to her chest then kicked out, lifting her body from the ground but as she did so she leaned a little too forward and hit that thing, AGAIN! But this time she didn't fall back. 

“Fuck! Do you intend on killing me by smashing my head in by your armor? SHIT!” She yells at it. 

Her head began to throb again, she hit it right in the same spot as before and now it hurt even more. Dhm’Ni couldn't help but laugh at her. My Gods! How many times has she hit me with her head today? Twice? Maybe he was going to kill her by smashing her head in. But then her skull would be too damaged to put on his wall, so he had to be a little careful. But that doesn't mean he can’t kill in a different way. 

Dhm’Ni punched her in her rib cage, right where she was broken and she screamed so loud that it actually hurt Dhm’Ni’s ears. He reared back from the sound and O'Connor used it. She leaped up onto him again making them both fall. She didn't expect him to but Dhm’Ni was off balance. They fell to the ground hard with Dhm’Ni hitting his head against the rocky floor and almost lost breath but was glad he didn’t. She was on top of him again. How can she force me down like that? How does she have so much power? Dhm’Ni really didn't care. He changed the positioning until he was on top, pinning her down by his weight. He brought up his hand to her broken rib and pushed in with his thumb. She let out that same ear-piercing scream. Dhm’Ni couldn't take that for much longer. 

As she screamed from the pain, she took in a deep breath and she immediately froze from the horrid stench of Hell. Her face changed from cringing to showing her fear. And Dhm’Ni knew that face, he had seen it as he watched her. A Hard Meat was near and she could somehow tell. Dhm’Ni took back his hand from her rib just as he heard it, a shirking of a Hard Meat. Together, they both look past the jumper pad, all the way to the far building and there it was, coming out of the alley. Dhm’Ni was about to get up when O'Conner took hold of his mask. 

“Look, I know these things. It's either me fighting you and fighting it OR me and you fighting it.” Dhm’Ni knew what she was proposing. 

He looked back to the Hard Meat and he noticed that it actually wasn’t a drone. It was a warrior. What was a warrior doing away from the Queen? By now they had killed the Queen and everything around her, but now he couldn't even COM-link someone to ask. This was larger than the drone, much larger and it was headed this way. He looked back to her, then back to it. 

“We don’t have a lot of fucking time, make up your mind man!” She tells him. Dhm’Ni growled menacingly and lowered his head to her, making it so his mask was only inches away from her face. His pitch black locks fell off his back, making a veil of darkness around O'Connor’s head. But she wasn't afraid, she just stared bloody murder into his eyes. Then he nodded. He stood up, followed by O'Connor. She had already formed a plan in her mind as this guy took his sweet ass time deciding on what to do. 

“Okay, we need to hit this thing on more than one side,” She begins. 

Dhm’Ni looks down at her. Like he would allow this Ooman to decide what to do. He was about to say no to her to the best of his ability to speak the Ooman tongue, his name and yes and no and a few other things too but that was it. 

“I want you to throw me just as the devil gets close, so that I end up on the farther side while you on the closer. Hit it on both sides,” Dhm’Ni couldn't disagree with that. It was a good plan and he would like to throw her, he would like to throw her against a wall but he agreed to fight with her. The devil started for them, it was a faraway but it was big, and made its way to them in no time.

“Put your hands together, like this,” O’Conner shows Dhm’Ni how to make a basket from his hands, weaving his fingers together. She positioned him so that he was facing the Hard Meat while her back was to it. Dhm’Ni couldn't help but feel a little taken aback as she moved him around, showing him how to place his hands. He felt stupid but when she placed a foot into his hands, he understood. He would bring up his hands with her foot in them and that would lift her up into the air, tossing her up and over he Hard Meat. O’Conner looked back as the devil made its way closer and closer, she would have to wait for the perfect moment to tell him to lift. If it was too soon, she would land on it too late and it would get to her ‘associate’ before she could throw her weapons at it. 

“NOW!” She yells. 

The devil got to the point she wanted it at and yelled at Dhm’Ni. But he hesitated. 

“NOW!” She shouts again. 

Dhm’Ni ripped up his arms, heaving her into the air. She flew gracefully over the devil, twisting and turning her body so she landed on her feet but he did it too late. The hard meat got too close and now Dhm’Ni had to deal with it as it ran at him. He wasn't ready, the Hard Meat already had its inner mouth out, ready to puncture his head. Dhm’Ni tried to defend himself by bringing up a shuriken, he opened it and flung it at the Hard Meat but it was too late, it just missed its head. He and the hard meat smashed together, but somehow its head wasn't right. It was raised into the air, not like it was before. Even though its head couldn't catch him, its tail did. 

It rammed itself into the Dhm’Ni’s left arm, not causing too much damage, only grazing his forearm. Strange for a warrior, usually it had amazing stamina and never missed. What was going on ? Dhm’Ni’s gash on his arm began to burn from the impact. He and the Hard Meat had fallen back towards the building, making Dhm’Ni slam into a wall. His head hit so hard that his vision started to blur, throbbing in pain as his body started to lose its strength. He was losing consciousness, he thought that this was his time to die.Then he heard the strangest thing . . . and that was the last thing he remembers.

O'Connor saw the devil dart forward as she landed, she couldn't allow it to kill her . . . ally? 

No. He tried to kill her, they only have a momentary alliance. The second she killed the devil she was going after him. 

She had already taken out some knives from her pants and the second she got her aim right she threw them at the fleeting head of the devil. She hit spot on, they entered the back of its long head and the devil screeched in pain, lifting its head up into the air. Then, O'Connor saw something coming at her, it was like a round blade or something. She had an idea to catch it but she would not be using her hands. She took out her last knife and welded it in her left hand, just as it was about to pass her she whipped around, stabbing the round blades with her own knife. But before she got it to drop, it had hit her right arm, just at her shoulder and made a small gash. It was only about a centimeter deep, it didn't hurt too much, but either way she knew that the pain was a good sign. She had hit the round blades perfectly with her own and it fell to the earth. 

Quickly, she picked it up and took a single moment to look at it. It was indeed round, but it had six long curved blades coming out of it. There was a place to put your hands so it didn’t cut you, and even a little . . . well . . . ‘not so little’ holes for fingers. They were huge to her but not to Dhm’Ni. She looked back to the devil and saw that it had rammed her companion into the hospital wall. She saw that he had started to drop so she needed to do something. So she did.

“Here kitty, kitty, kitty,” She says thunderously in that odd tone one would use in actually calling a cat, along with a wonderful ‘come here’ whistle. It worked perfectly. 

The devil turned to her with its giant head. She did notice that it was different from the others but she didn't give it too much thought, she needed to kill it. The devil turned its giant body to her and leapt forward. O'Connor took up the round blades, aimed as she would if she were throwing a boomerang, and hurled it. It was surprisingly light, and even better in the air than she expected. It flew like a hot knife through butter, cutting its own path through the sky. The devil didn’t know what hit it. The round blade cut like it was nothing. It shaved the top off its head, showing just what it had to offer underneath its black skin. The round blade went right through it and ended up in the wall of the hospital while the devil fell lifeless to the ground. O'Connor had to scream out in triumph. She raised her hands into the air and screamed in victory! When she was finally out of breath, she looked to her original opponent and found him motionless. 

“Oh shit!” She ran around the devil and its pooling acid blood. She noted that her nose didn't hurt as it did before and gave herself an inward slap on the back for not being so weak. 

As she made it to the fallen form she wondered if he was dead. He was half leaned against the wall, limp and motionless. She needed to make sure and if it was alive, then she would leave it and feel a little swindled out of killing it herself. She bent down next to it and moved some of its black tresses out of the way of its neck. She took her index and middle finger and placed it to where she thought she could feel a pulse. And there it was indeed, it was hard but consistent. She sighed out of relief but then she saw its arm. A lengthy scratch, it was about 5 inches long and it was in his left arm but it wasn't too deep. However it needed stitches, along with herself but what was the point for her to get stitches? Luckily, she was near the hospital. It was a small one, and she knew it by the blueprints. Inside the doors were rooms with all the things she would need to sew this thing back together. She wondered to herself why she was doing this. Why would she help this guy? Why should she? It was following her since she and the men left the armory and didn't help as they were picked off by the devils. So why the hell should I help? Deep down, it’s because she knew she should. She wasn't someone to just leave someone injured. Was the thing even a person or even human? She didn't have any more time to think about it. She grabs it by its feet and pulls to make its upped body come away from the wall, and once it was far enough she moved to its head. She lifted it by its arms and started to drag it towards the doors of the hospital. 

Normally, the doors would have opened by themselves, but there was no power so she had to push with her back to get open. Inside, it was basically a long hallway with several rooms, nothing more nothing less. If you were severely injured, then they would transport you to a different island but what she needed to do she could do in one of the rooms. She drags it into the closest space and leaves him on the floor. She wasn't going to try and lift it onto the metal table. It was 300, maybe 350 pounds, and she could barely drag its body.  

The room was just a giant square, it had cupboards and shelves holding the medical stuff and one large metal table for a person to lay on. She rummages through the drawers and finds what she needs, a rounded stitching needle, some stitching threads and wet gauze to clean the wound. She felt stupid as she sat next to the cut arm and began to clean it. What the fuck am I doing? Cleaning and bandaging my challenger, the same guy who tried to kill me. Aren’t I the smart cookie? God this is gross. Its blood is so weird. I’m just lucky that the needle can actually go through its skin . 

O'Connor took a second to marvel at its texture. It wasn’t rough at all despite looking like it, but its smooth and even soft, but still tough. She takes his hand and starts to inspect it. She must have looked like a child, just staring at something so similar to hers but not at the same time. She felt dwarfed by its mass as it lay on the floor. She moves the mesh that it wore under its armor and found it to actually be a twisted bunch of wires. Its metal armor was nothing like she had ever seen. There were so many marks on it that it would take years to look at them all. Then she noticed, with a small laugh, marks on its right arm and shoulder armor that were from her nails. Her gaze turned to his mask. She never had a good look at it before. She noted so many scratches and scuff marks but right in the middle of its forehead, just above its eyes was a strange marking. It was of two upside-down triangles that were two inches long and had a curve to the left. She reaches up and touches them, tracing them from top to bottom. She suddenly had an urge and a want to see his...wait ‘his’? Is this thing male? Cause if this thing is a chick then that would just be wrong. Well, it doesn't have breasts, which would mean that it's either a male or not a mammal. Only mammals had mammary glands. 

Fuck it! It doesn't matter!

As she was looking at its mask, she noticed that there were tubes and cords attached to it. Maybe for breathing, or a power cord? She didn't want to mess with them just in case she killed it by accident. When she saw it start to move, she went back to stitching him up. She wanted to get it done before he woke. When finally knotted, she gave the wound a swift smack, hoping to get him with the pain. It worked and he jolted up with a roar.

Dhm’Ni didn’t have a clue as to where he was, or how he got there. But as he looked around he saw medical equipment and he panicked. He stood up and thanked Paya that he wasn't strapped down or dead, hearing the rumors of Oomans doing the same thing to his previous kin. He heard rustling from his left and turned to see the Ooman. She had a needle in her hand and that was enough for him. He jumped towards her but she stepped out of the way. She made it to a shelf and took out a sharp knife of some sort. 

O'Connor didn't want to hurt him anymore then he was, come on she just sewed him up, she didn't want to make more for her to stitch. But when he lunged at her, she jumped up onto a metal table and swiped the scalpel at his head. It caught one of his black locks, cutting it right off from his shoulder down. Dhm’Ni didn't notice, he was intent on bringing the female down. But as he turned to her, she jumped on her feet first. He wasn't that surprised as he fell back into the floor bue he was when she brought the sharp blade to his neck.

“ENOUGH!” O'Connor yells at him right in his face. 

Dhm’Ni stops struggling but he still grabbed her hands in his to make sure she didn't get slice happy and cut his throat. “I didn’t fucking stitch you up to make more cuts for me to sew. OK?!”

Dhm’Ni looked to his left hand where the Hard Meat caught him with its tail and there was his wound, competently sutured together. He looks back at the female with shock, “Yeah, so calm the fuck down!” O'Connor then got up off him and walked over to some other drawer to get medical tape to close her arm, mumbling to herself about what an ungrateful asshole.

Dhm’Ni just stood up watching her gather some medical supplies. Why did she help me? He touched his wound and found that she had done a superb job of putting him together. It would still leave a scar but to Dhm’Ni, it was welcomed. O'Connor made her way to the medical table, jumped up and sat cross-legged on it while laying down the tape and a pair of scissors. She looked up to the frozen person in front of her but only shook her head. Dhm’Ni didn't know what to do. She healed him, and saved his life so now he couldn’t kill her. He held in a grunt from the disappointment. As he watched her cut a few pieces of tape he noticed a cut on her right arm, up close to her shoulder and then it dawned on him, he threw his shuriken and missed but it hit her. Dhm’Ni instantly felt horrible. He hit her unintentionally and now she was healing her own wound, and doing it wrong for that matter. Dhm’Ni let out a loud sigh catching O'Connor off guard. She was even more stunned when he walked right up to her and took the pieces of tape from her hands. 

“Stupid Ooman, pinch together then tape. Are you daft?” Dhm’Ni said. But O'Connor only got clicking and growling from him. Dhm’Ni started to pinch her skin together, noticing how soft it felt to his.

“Don't criticize me for my work. I put you together just fine did I?” She asked. 

Dhm’Ni turned to her. Does she understand me? How can that be? I can’t understand what you are saying.  

She continued, turning her head away as he roughly squeezed her skin together, “I can tell by your body language and how you shook your head at me that you don't like what I was doing. OW! HEY!” She yells. He inadvertently scraped his sharp claws against her skin. 

“My apologies,” He clicks. O'Connor only nods to him. She guessed that he said something along the lines of ‘I’m sorry’. They just stared at each other as they did before when Dhm’Ni’s cloak fell. O'Connor still stared into the eye pieces, still wondering what he looked like. She marvels at his skin tone. Then she suddenly had the thought that the colors kind of reminded her of a cucumber, of how light the inside is and how dark the outside is. 

“You can understand me, yes?” She asks and gets a nod as a response, “But can you talk?” Dhm’Ni shakes his head, “Well, you know, you have no idea just how tempted I was to take off your mask when you were out of it. But I saw the cables,” She pointed to the side Dhm’Ni’s mask. Oomans have such weird curiosities. Why would she want to see me? What does it matter? I have heard from Sya that Oomans don't like our features, well . . . its not like they are the most good-looking things in the Universe.  

“So I didn’t cause I don’t know what they are for. Can’t breathe this air can you?” She asks. Dhm�Ni shakes his head, “You aren’t from around here are you?” He again shakes his head. O'Connor looks to her shoulder, “Well thanks,” She says while pointing to her arm. 

Dhm’Ni does the same, he lifts his arm and points while bowing his head to her. She could only smile. Bowing is such an aged custom. But it’s good to see it every now and then. Dhm’Ni was waging an inner war with himself. He didn’t know if he should show himself to her, she did save him, and heal him. What has he got to lose? He sighs aloud while bringing up his hands to the hoses that were attached to his mask. He could breathe the air on this planet, but only for a few moments. There wasn't enough methane and some other elements that he needed to breathe. 

O'Connor couldn’t believe that he had started to unhook his mask. The hoses hissed as they were taken from their spots. Her stomach turned in fear and excitement, mostly excitement. Anticipation had taken hold of her, she couldn't tell why but she really wanted to see him. To finally know to whom and what she was talking to. Even Dhm’Ni was nervous about her seeing him. He expects her to scream, to be even more afraid of him than she already is. He takes his mask in his hands and pulls, making the magnetic latches unhitch from his head. A long time ago, before the new technology, the hunters' masks were held on by an adhesive. They wouldn't be able to take it off until they got back to the ship. It caused a lot of trouble because if something should happen to their breathing device while they were not back at the ship, the hunter would suffocate. So the magnetic implants were made. They were placed under the skin at the age of 2 seasons, young enough to know what was happening but not old enough to really remember just how painful it was. The older hunters, when it first came out, would talk of how it hurt more than getting hit by a Kainde Amedha’s tail. At the sound of the mask coming off from his face, O'Connor unintentionally flinched. 

Slowly Dhm’Ni lowered his mask, revealing his large forehead to her. O'Connor saw that the light green also covered the top, while on the outer edges were the deep green and black spots. Gradually, he revealed his eyes, they were deep set in his skull, overshadowed by a large brow. O'Connor took in a deep breath as she saw his eyes. They were actually beautiful. They had a ring of a dark blue on the outside, then it went to a stunning shade of green and then a honey gold. His pupil was small compared to hers, looking only like a tip of a pencil had drawn on it. Then the entire mask was down. 

O'Connor felt bad as she gasped. He didn't really have a mouth. He had a set of four mandibles that each had their own tusks at the end. They seemed to move all on their own while covering a small mouth, enclosed by razor sharp teeth. Dhm’Ni didn't mind that she took in a hard breath at the sight of his mandibles. He clattered them together in amusement when her eyebrows rose in surprise. Her eyes were wider then he ever saw before and even he stopped to stare at her eyes. Oh God, he missed his mother. He remembered how she would read the story of Creation to him every night before he went to bed. He loved the story of Creation even now. It was a story of the great warrior Paya and how she, along with Cetanu, came together to make the Universe. 

With his mask off he could really see her and smell her. Her scent was something that he had never held before. It reminded him of something but he couldn't put his finger on it. Dhm’Ni leans his head to one side, wondering what she could be thinking and wondering why she hasn’t had any other reaction. When O'Conner saw him tilt his head she felt like she should say something.

“Well . . . You are gorgeous compared to those black things,” She says bluntly, putting an emphasis on gorgeous. 

Dhm’Ni just stared at her and blinked hard. He lowered his head, while shaking it slightly, until it was completely down. Still shaking his head he placed his hand over his eyes. I can NOT believe she just said that! Dhm’Ni started to laugh. His shoulders rose and fell with his chuckle.

“Oh Paya, you just had to pick this one to see me didn't you? That's all I need today, a joker,” He chirps. Then he sees his tress on the ground. 

“WHAT THE PAUK!?” He said while bending down and grabbing his cut off lock. He looks at his tresses, taking them in his hands searching for the cut on and then he finds it. It was on his right side and was trimmed to a shoulder length, just below a ring. He grabs it hard and moves it right in front of O'Connor's face and waves it in a strange manner. 

“I’m sorry, did I hurt you when I cut it off?” O'Connor didn’t know if she did or not but thought it necessary to apologize if she did. But Dhm’Ni just raised his head and shook it saying ‘no’ with the movement. He placed it down beside her on the table she was sitting on.

“Dhm’Ni,” He said his name. He didn't know why he did but he just found himself saying it. But what got him most was he didn't regret it. O’Conner just looked at him. 

“Your name?” She asked and Dhm’Ni nodded, “Well,” She didn't want to be called O'Connor anymore, “Nalani, but call me Nala,” It took a few attempts but he got it right. But then Dhm’Ni pointed to himself, intending to say what he was but it seemed to confuse her.

“Yautja,” He said.

“Wait, I thought you said Dhm’Ni?” Now she was puzzled and guessed it showed on her face because Dhm’Ni sighed in annoyance. He took her hand, making her withdraw by his touch initially but still let him take it. He opened her palm and moved it over his face. 

“Yautja,” He said, then moved her hand down and placed it on his chest, “Dhm’Ni,” Then he moves it over her face, “Ooman,” Then onto her chest, “Nala.”

“Oh. What you are is ‘yeowjah’?” She didn't catch it the first time so she attempted again.

“Yautja,” He corrected her.

“What you are is Yautja, but who you are is Dhm’ni?” He nods to this. 

“And what I am is Ooman, but who I am is Nala?” Dhm�Ni nods to that as well. He suddenly started to cough from the air, he needed his mask back on and quickly did. 

“Well, Dhm’Ni. You better get outta here before all hell breaks loose,” She looked to her watch and cringed at seeing that there was only twenty-two minutes until it came down. She noticed his lone lock next to her and picked it up, fiddling with it. Since Dhm’Ni obviously wasn’t Secret Service that meant that he didn’t know the SS were going to blow the island. Dhm’Ni just tilted his head in question. 

“My people, the ones responsible for those things getting loose, are going to blow up the island in twenty two minutes. So I suggest that you get off now.” 

Dhm’Ni didn't know what to say to that. The Oomans are going to destroy the island and the DropShip is still on it. With his mask out, he can’t communicate with the ship to warn them. He needed to get to the DropShip now. It wouldn't take long, and it was just north of here. Dhm’Ni grunts as he turns towards the door of the room. 

“Just follow the blood out,” Nala said. 

She had taken off one of the small rings from his tress and was staring at it, looking close thar she could see little marks on it. With that, Dhm’Ni stopped. Why wasn’t she following me? Wouldn't she need to get off too? He motioned with his hand towards the door.

“There is nowhere for me to go, Dhm’Ni. There is no way for me to get off. Now get going,” Nala could barely hold back her tears. She would just have to stay here until she died. She bet that Dhm’Ni had a way off, and hoped that he would make it there in time. 

“WHAT?” Dhm’Ni barks, startling Nala. Dhm’Ni didn't want to leave her. He can’t just leave knowing that she's going to die here after saving his life. Again, he grunts at her, but he also stomps his foot in a very pup fashion and points again at the door. 

“What the hell do you want Dhm’Ni? Huh?!” She broke down. She didn't want to cry right now but she couldn't hold it back. This was making Dhm’Ni uncomfortable. Did I make her cry? Sya said they start to trickle water from their eyes when they are sad. Did I make her feel sad?  

“I can’t go! There is nowhere for me to go! I DON'T HAVE A WAY TO SAVE MYSELF DHM’NI! I'M TRAPPED OK! I'M HERE UNTIL THEY BLOW ME UP!” She yelled at him. She feft badly for yelling, but she had to. 

“I’m going to die here,” She whispered as she lowered her head. At that moment she felt too pathetic, just weak and feeble. She never noticed that Dhm’Ni had walked back to her. She only looked up when he started to make a purring sound. 

“I’m not leaving you behind,” He purred softly. He didn't know what he was going to do, but he was not leaving her to die. Maybe Sya will know what to do. I should bring her to Sya and tell him of the Oomans plans to destroy the Island. Dhm’Ni grabbed Nala’s hand and pulled her off the table to her feet.

“What the hell are you doing?!” She screamed at him as he started to pull her towards the door, “No, Dhm’Ni! No!” 

She yanked her hand from his grasp making him growl and look back at her, “Just go,” She didn't want to but she said that with a little too much hurt and Dhm’Ni noticed. He wasn't going to abandon her like that one Ooman male did. He couldn’t . . . and he didn't want to. He wanted to help her, anyway he could, but he didn't know how. He just needed to bring her to Sya as quickly as possible. Dhm’Ni stepped to Nala, intent on getting her arm again but she jumped back. Now he was getting mad. 

He roars in frustration and it scares Nala. Dhm’Ni knew she would flinch at that, like she had done before, and when she did he delivered a blow to her head that knocked her out cold. Before her body fell, Dhm’Ni scooped her up in his arms, he knew that when she woke he would pay dearly but right now he didn't care. As Nala told him he followed the blood, out of the medical room and out of the building. 

Chapter 8: In the Jaws of Death

Notes:

Hello everyone!

Finally got this chapter finished with the grammar and took longer than expected, given my life is going around in circles but pulling through a best I can. The next update will be for Respect as that one is close to being completed!

Thank you all and Good Hunting! :D

The light hit Dhm’Ni with a punch as he smashed his way through the doors. He followed the trail of red and green as Nala said too and it even carried on outside of the hospital. When his eyes adjusted to the difference, the room itself only had a small window to allow any in, he saw the gruesome scene. There, a few feet away, was the dead warrior, its head cut horizontally in half. He had to bark in surprise. He knew somehow she killed it but he never thought like this. Only a shuriken could do this.  Dhm’Ni looked around for his weapon and found it fallen on the ground and also noticed the hole in the building made from the remaining Hard Meat blood that had eroded the wall. He kindly lowered Nala to the ground and picked up the shuriken with care, even though it has been some time since it killed the Hard Meat, the acid would still burn if it came into contact with skin. He took out a small piece of cloth and whipped the remaining liquid off. He closed the weapon and placed it back onto its holster, quickly making his way back to the laying Nala, bent down to one knee and was about to pick her up when he looked to her arms. He was stunned at the sight of grisly scars roaming her exposed skin and grabbed it for a better look. They were light, almost invisible to which could explain him missing them in the building, but they were all over her arm, from shoulder to fingertips, only showing up in a few areas. He didn't really have the time to count, but he wanted to know if they were in fact everywhere or were just evident on her extremities.  Dhm’Ni drifted his hand towards the bottom of her shirt and began to lift it up. He felt a little odd looking at her like this but he wanted — no — needed to know despite not knowing why. He had the urge to see what this little Ooman had as trophy scars and he wasn't disappointed. There were more, actually just three. One began from below her pants and rose to end just beside her belly button while the other two were parallel cutting diagonally across her abdomen. He just stared in astonishment. How could one Ooman, a female for that matter, gain such scars? He wouldn't look any harder and going for a closer look would be dishonorable and he didn't really like being so close. Carrying her was one thing, but actually looking and studying her was too much. He smoothly picked her up again, holding her by the crook of her legs and by her torso. He couldn’t even imagine how this could look to a fellow hunter, no actually he could. Why are you holding an Ooman? One might say.  I really don't know. Could be the only thing for Dhm’Ni to utter. Planning to take its skull? They would ask. No. Dhm’Ni would answer. Skin it? No. Eat it? No. Then what? And all he would be able to say is. I really don’t know. He couldn’t worry about looks right now. He needed to get to the DropShip but hopefully Sya first.  Sya was close. He could see Dhm’Ni, uncloaked, with the female in his hands. He had been running the moment he and Lord Khupiee ended their conversation and had now gained enough ground to see him. But when he looked at the female being carried, rage and anger began to pump in his veins. He told Dhm’Ni not to hunt her, not to take her as a trophy, NOT to harm her but it seemed Dhm’Ni disobeyed him and caused damage to her.  Sya did wonder as to why he was carrying her. Why not take her skull when he killed her? Sya needed to know now but when he attempted to COM-link Dhm’Ni, all that would come up was ‘unable to connect’. That usually meant that the hunter was dead or that somehow their mask was destroyed or broken beyond care and the ability to COM-link was impossible. Sya could undeniably see Dhm’Ni, so death was out, and he could see that his mask was indeed intact, but why would it keep saying that message? Perhaps Dhm’Ni was blocking incoming COM-links on purpose, if someone would try to contact him while he hunted the female, he would not be interrupted. He was too far to call out to Dhm’Ni, even Sya’s greatest roar could not travel these pathways. The only person that would have knowledge of what has happened would be Ykas’e. The watchers must have seen or at least know the reason why Dhm’Ni cannot be connected. “Sya, I have many questions for you!” Ykas’e began. He wished to know about the female . . . the entire ship did. The short video made by Dhm’Ni’s watcher was sent to all of the ship's occupants. If they had not watched it on their personal COM-link in their room then they probably watched it in the galley or society rooms. Ykas’e didn't care much about it getting out but he was a little concerned about the income of requests to exit the ship and hunt her. All were denied, of course, by Lord Khupiee instructions, “Do tell me of this female Ooman.” “What? So surprised an Ooman can do such a thing? Or is it that she is female that gets you questioning?” Sya teases.  “Both,” He clicks bluntly. “Another time Ykas’e. I have a burning question to ask you myself. I am unable to COM-link Dhm’Ni. Do you know why?” “One moment,” Ykas’e suspended the COM as he went to ask the watcher. All Sya could do as he waited was keep running. Only a few more moments and he would be right on Dhm’Ni’s tail. But as he got closer, Sya switched his sight to look at the damage Dhm’Ni caused to the female and was pleasantly relieved when he saw she was still alive, unmoving, but alive. “Sya?” Ykas’e came back on the COM.  “Yes? Do you know or not, Ykas’e?” Sya forcibility asks. “The watcher says that his video feed was terminated a few moments ago. The last thing it recorded was the female kicking Dhm’Ni’s mask, and then it was out. When he tried to COM him it also said it could not make contact. The sensor shows he’s alive but also that he’s traveling with the Ooman. Before he was following until now. I’m concerned.” “Don’t be Ykas’e. I have Dhm’Ni in my sight. I shall ask him myself.” Sya ends the COM-link.  Just ahead of him was Dhm’Ni holding the Ooman in his hands, running with great speed. Even Sya would not be able to keep up with Dhm’Ni if he went that fast. In training, he was always the first to finish a race or tournament. The Un-bloods and sometimes the Young bloods would test themselves against each other in things other than combat. Only the stupid would think that a fight is won by strength only. So Sya had to catch him now or he would not be able to at all. “DHM’NI!” Sya growls loud. Immediately, Dhm’Ni stopped in his tracks and turned to his name. He could tell that it was Sya but with his mask conked out he could not really see him, only the outline of his cloak as he made his way closer. They rested at the corners of some of the buildings. They all seemed to be the same, all looking like the other, copy upon copy. But Dhm’Ni knew his way back to the DropShip, he had followed Nala this way as she ran to the hospital and it was really close.  “Sya! Thank the Gods! Lend a hand with her. She’s heavier than she seems,” Dhm’Ni chirps. Nala was larger than the other women, even in her unit she was bigger than them, you could actually say superior. She was almost 220 lbs but didn't really look like it. In her later years, she would enter underground boxing matches, despite being outlawed about 20 years ago after the war, and she was almost killed because some accused her of adding weight. In truth, it was the enhancements that added the weight, inside her bones and muscles. They look small but they are a large load to carry and Dhm’Ni was having cramping in his arm muscle and it was getting bothersome. “Cannot carry a small Ooman?” Dhm’Ni? Really!” Sya chuckled. “This is not the time to mock me, Sya! We have a big problem!”  Sya listened intently as Dhm’Ni told him everything. About their first fight and the Hard Meat to her healing him, and then about the impending destruction of the island, “I did not know what to do, Sya. I cannot leave her here to die. I cannot abandon her,” Dhm’Ni said almost pleadingly.  “I understand, Dhm’Ni. She saved your life. I must tell Ykas’e. But I am warning you not to say a thing about her, not right now. When your father contacts me, which he will and he will assume that I made contact with the Ooman and will get very angry, I will tell him of her. If we tell Ykas’e, who knows what would happen.”  Dhm’Ni nods to him, he would stay silent. “Sya, have you made contact with Dhm’Ni?” Ykas’e came over the COM. “That I did. I need you to listen and listen carefully, Ykas’e!” Sya roars.  Now. Ykas’e knew something was wrong. Sya hardly ever raised his voice to him, “I need you to CONSTANTLY be monitoring all incoming objects. I have received information that the Oomans are planning on destroying the island. I do not know when or how but I need to you keep a hard eye on this. Understand?”  “Yes Sir. I will inform the others of this as well?” He asks. “Of course. They need to know this over anything and if any of them get angry with you for contacting them, tell them to bring it up with me!” Sya says, reassuring Ykas’e that he would not get into trouble with the message. “I shall. Make your way to the DropShip. Lord Khupiee and the others have already arrived but the Ooman is still with you Sya . . . Why?” Ykas’e asks with disapproval.  “That is nothing to be worried about. Get to your task,” Sya says, terminating the COM-link.  It was true that the Ooman was nothing to worry about, at least not yet. He looks down to the small bundle of flesh and bone in Dhm’Ni’s arms. She looks so harmless, limp and flaccid. You couldn’t even tell this, an Ooman, could do such things as kill a Hard Meat with its hands. What are they to do with her? Dhm’Ni said she has no way of getting off the island, but maybe . . . just maybe . . . Lord Khupiee would allow her to be taken to a neighboring island. Sya could only hope. “What of the Ooman?” Dhm’Ni asks. He would not leave her, not be on the same level as that Ooman male. He would not abandon her.  “We cannot and will not desert her Dhm’Ni. Your father will have words, but you must ask him to take her to safety. If anything, you can do that for what she has done for you.,” Sya began to chuckle at the thought of her stitching him up. He began to laugh even louder as he remembered how Dhm’Ni’s hair was cut sharply at his shoulder. “Are you seriously laughing at me Sya? At a time like this?”  “I apologize. It’s just the look of your locks . . . How amusing!” Dhm’Ni growled at Sya. He did not want to get badgered right now.  “Okay . . . The DropShip then?” Sya clicks sarcastically. Dhm’Ni didn't give him any response other than a grunt as he turned down the road to the training area where the DropShip waits.  Lord Khupiee and Pakka arrived at the DropShip just as the Queen, chained and bound, was being hauled into the cargo hold. But something was off about this creature. She was at least double the size and stood very tall with her crown was like nothing he had ever seen. The form and design of the Queen's skin made her ancestry very clear to Lord Khupiee, but not to the others. The intricate forms and waves of the skin seemed to mold perfectly in a terrifying ballet of black. Even the strange way it shined in the sun made her different from all other Queens.   “You decided to take her I see?” Lord Khupiee said to Miy’Hota, his words held disapproval of his decision. All Miy’Hota could do was nod in accord, “You do not see it do you?”  Miy’Hota looks to the Queen just as the door to the cargo hold began to close, but there was nothing. He looks back to Lord Khupiee, tilting his head in question. “Perhaps you are too young to remember.”  By now all the others who attended the hunt had gathered around Lord Khupiee, while the young bloods pulled and tugged with all their strength to get the Queen to stay inside, “She is of bad ancestry. Her line is well known to our clan. They are volatile, debilitated and even decrepit. Some Queens would even go Hulij-bpe, absolutely insane and kill her own. Even hosts that still have growing Hard Meats. She is unstable. I do not hold you responsible for the mistake, only Dh’Kn, Sya and myself would have to be able to see her as she really is. We must destroy her at the earliest moment.”  The others were stunned, usually a Queen with such temperament would be considered of high value, able to produce honorable kin for unbloods but she was not sound. Before Lord Khupiee could continue, he was again interrupted by Ykas’e and he was beginning to get annoyed. “This is the second time you have disrupted this hunt, Ykas’e. The first time was acceptable but I swear if this is about that female or any Ooman for that matter, I will wear your skin as my hanging cloth!” He roars at an unsuspecting Ykas’e. He was used to Lord Khupiee yelling at him, but he would usually stop whatever he was doing that annoyed him. Today he did not have the convenience.  “I sincerely hope that you will be comfortable in my skin because I have news of an Ooman intent on destroying this island,” Ykas’e was glad from the silence that came after the news. It was silence that meant Lord Khupiee was thinking of a plan, “Sya informed me of that and told the sensors to keep an eye on all incoming objects. They have yet to see anything but that does not mean there is nothing." “Sya told you this?” Lord Khupiee barks. He had specifically told Sya to stay away from that female, to not make contact but it seems he didn't heed that warning. “Yes Sir. He was making his way to Dhm’Ni who is . . . uhh . . .” He didn't know how to say it. He can’t just go right out and say ‘your son is traveling with an Ooman’. He couldn’t possibly. “Who is what, Ykas’e?” “Who is in the company of the Ooman?” He finally lets out. “As he was before?” Lord Khupiee thought that Dhm’Ni was still following the Ooman; he had not talked with him since the hunt began. He never worried about him. Sya was with him for most of the time, and he was a great warrior and could take care of himself as all other hunters should.  “No, sir. Before he was following, the sensors showed that he was a little behind the female but now he is actually with the Ooman.” “WITH?” Lord Khupiee barks, “Have you contacted him?” “The watcher saw the Ooman bust Dhm’Ni’s mask a little while ago. From that point on, we have been unable to connect with him. However, Sya said he was near and would speak to him. That is when he came back to me with the information.”  It was Dhm’Ni.  Lord Khupiee had assumed it was Sya but it was his own son. How could he be so stupid? Lord Khupiee ends the COM with Ykas’e and was going to connect with Sya when the Queen started to rustle in the hold. Her screams echoing through the entire ship. “Keep her down! We will jettison her into the cold of space when we leave the place and soon. The Oomans have decided that they have another way of cleaning up this mess. Either way, there are little more than three Kainde Amedha left. We will finish the hunt before we leave. For now I have someone to scold,” He ends as he contacts Sya. Meanwhile, Dhm’Ni’s arms were beginning to burn just as they entered the training grounds. Sya kept looking back on the trailing form of Dhm’Ni holding the female and laughing every time. He stopped a little ahead of Dhm’Ni to let him catch up. He thought it was the funniest thing he has seen in all his seasons. An eight foot giant holding onto a tiny being, it was kind of befitting. Big and small together. He was about to laugh again as Dhm’Ni got in arms when Lord Khupiee COM-linked him. “SYA!” He roars, “I TOLD YOU TO STAY AWAY FROM THE OOMAN, DID I NOT? AND DID I NOT TELL YOU TO COME BACK TO THE DROPSHIP? WHAT IN THE GREAT WOMB OF PAYA IS GOING ON?” He was fuming with anger.  Sya had to try his hardest not to laugh at him, “It was not my doing Khupiee. It was your son. He had accidentally and I stress accidentally, made contact with the Ooman and a battle, with the Ooman and a Hard Meat, ensued.” “A battle?” “Do not worry. He came out fine. Only a small cut from a Hard Meat, which was then healed by the Ooman,”Sya paused, waiting for Lord Khupiee's response. But there was only silence.  Dhm’Ni could only watch as Sya stood there calm and peaceful while he knew his father was furious. Dhm’Ni was so intent on watching Sya that he never saw Nala flutter her eyes. She didn't know what the hell was going on. Her eyes couldn’t follow anything like they were glassed over, making her blind to the world. But as they slowly cleared, she looked up and saw the bottom of Dhm’Ni’s head. She scanned over her current position and found him to be holding her up and then the memory came flooding in.  He hit me! That little prick hit me!  She looked back up to him, her eyes half lidded in hate. She saw that his mask lipped around his chin and on his temple, ending just as his tresses began. He looked positively menacing. His gray black mask, eyes and his black hair made him look unbelievably threatening, even to Nala but her hate had clouded her judgment. “Are you actually requesting to transfer the Ooman to a safe area?” Lord Khupiee questioned Sya. “Not me. Your son. She saved his life, Khupiee and neither he nor I will leave her. She was abandoned by her own, leaving her to die,” Sya regretted wasting time with the male he killed, he doubted that the flying machine he used was still operable, “All he wishes is to drop her onto a neighboring island. Or is that too big of a request?” He teases. “Where are you now?” Lord Khupiee asks a moment later.  Now, Sya knew he gave in, “We have just entered the area where the DropShip sits. We should be there in moments.” “Very well. Be warned that there are at least three Kainde Amedha left. And Sya, I will hear nothing more of this after she is off,” Lord Khupiee growls and ends the COM.  “What did he say, Sya?” Dhm’Ni finally speaks up. He had been anxious to hear of his father’s decision. He didn't know what he would do if his father said no . . . or even yes for that matter. “He will transport her to a safe island. But you are to never speak of this after she is safe,” Dhm’Ni thrilled at knowing she was going to be safe. He didn't know why he cared, but he thought it was a way of repaying her for saving his life. “YOU LITTLE SHIT!”  Dhm’Ni immediately dropped his head down to see the scolding eyes of the female he was carrying. He was actually alarmed, his chest tightened and whole body stiffened. He didn't get a moment to think before Nala rolled out of his hands and onto the ground.  “WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO?” She screams. Her head was pulsating in pain from the blow. She was backing up while still yelling at him, cursing every bad word she knew. Throwing out insult after insult, her tongue wouldn’t stop until she backed into Sya. She instantly stopped talking as a chill ran up her spine at the thought that it was another one of Dhm’Ni. Slowly, she brings a hand back and presses it against whatever it was she was leaning on and felt that it was breathing. She was touching Sya’s stomach, feeling it as it rose and fell. “She seems pleasant,” Sya clicks mockingly. He knew that Dhm’Ni understood her words and was seething.  Hearing more clicking sounds, Nala quickly jumped forwards towards Dhm’Ni and turned right around. She was right! There was another one, although different. His armor was more open and colored differently, kind of a bronzy-gray. It was more intricate and it seemed to have a design, probably meant to be showy. But to her, he just looked strange. She could see that he was relatively bare compared to Dhm’Ni. While he had his arsenal out for all to see, Dhm’Ni had his tucked away, concealed for only him to know where they were. She also noticed that he was taller, larger and broader than Dhm’Ni. His skin was a light shade of brown that molded into a darker shade in strange spots, but all over him were stripes of a really dark brown, noticing every muscle in his arms and legs. His mask really made Nala freak, it had odd angles here and there, not really giving him a true shape and yet showing off his head.  “Hello,” She squeaks. She did know what to expect from him. She had continued backing up towards Dhm’Ni, almost right up against him when Sya spoke. “Greetings,” He said in her tongue. Nala was stunned, even flinched at the hard and gruff voice coming from him, making her hit Dhm’Ni with her back. Dhm’Ni did not like her being so close so he took a small step back from her. “You . . . Can you talk?” She forced her voice to finally come out, she tried to hide her panic but it came out no matter how hard she tried. “Yes I can. Do not be afraid,” Sya took up his hands in a calming way, “I have studied for a long time in order to speak your tongue. He is too young to know how to speak it like I,” Sya motions to Dhm’Ni. “Should have known he was young, given his ill manners,” She jested. “THAT IS IT!” Dhm’Ni growled.  Nala wasn't fazed by his sudden anger, much liked seeing the opposite. She wanted to kick his ass for what he did, “You tell her to watch her mouth! Or I will cut it off so she can really watch it!” “Perhaps you should watch yours, Dhm’Ni,” Sya clicks, “I do not think she is one to take kindly to the person who thumped her. Do you?”  Nala was getting nervous with the clicking and chirping going on between them. She didn't have a clue as to what they were talking about but guessed that it had something to do with her.  “Can I get involved in this or not?” She speaks. “I am sorry,” Sya paused, “What is your name?” “Nala,” She answered quickly. “Nala, well I am Sya and this is—” “Dhm’Ni. Yeah we met,” She says harshly. She was beginning to feel like a miniature person as she stood between Sya and Dhm’Ni, two towering peaks of muscle. “I see that you have. And he wishes me to tell you to watch your mouth. His words, not mine,” He adds quickly. Dhm’Ni froze as he heard Sya. “Don’t say it like that!” But he didn't have time to really say much more when Nala elbowed him in his side. It was such a hard blow that Dhm’Ni let out a harsh humph and even bent over a little. Nala turned to him with that same scowl. “WATCH MY MOUTH? ARE YOU FUCKING TELLING ME TO WATCH MY MOUTH? THIS COMING FROM THE GUY WHO PUNCHED ME OUT! HA! YOU CAN’T JUST HIT ME LIKE THAT AND TELL ME TO SHUT UP AND EXPECT ME TO FOLLOW SUIT! YOU HAVE GOT TO BE FUCKING KIDING ME!”  She was absolutely furious with Dhm’Ni. How could he be so wicked towards her, especially for what she had done for him. She wasn't going to let him do that. But now Dhm’Ni was angry and one Hard Meat tooth away from bashing in her skull. He stepped right up to her and even leaned down and roared above. Suddenly, Nala jumped up and pushed his shoulders, making him get out of her face. She had no idea of what she just initiated. Dhm’Ni, however, was ecstatic at the proposal. He moved back into Nala and bent his face inches in front of hers.  “A FIGHT IT IS!” He roared again.  He expected Nala to recoil from the roar, as she had done before but didn't move. Her face changed to an emotionless canvas, leaving all recognizable traces of anger behind her. In a movement too fast for Dhm’Ni to see, Nala brought up her right hand and slapped him, not hard enough to hurt or make his head move but more to let him know what she meant. A sissy slap is the best thing to describe it. Dhm’Ni just remained there, mask inches away from her face, just still. He could hear Sya laughing. He was bent over holding his stomach, almost rolling on the floor from the hit he just witnessed. Nala herself had to hold in her laugh. She just continued to stare into those black eyes. “Never. Roar. At me. Again. Got it?” She said calmly. Dhm’Ni stood tall. “Please let me kill her. I beg you, Sya. I cannot let her do that to me. I do not care what she has done to the Hard Meat or to me. She deserves to die for her disrespect!” Dhm’Ni clicked, sounding almost tranquil, “She challenged me anyways Sya, I should kill her right now, right where she stands.”  “Perhaps she does not know what she did. And it was you who made her so angry,” Sya chirps. “It doesn't matter who started it, she initiated,” Dhm’Ni growls. “Nala,” Sya began to say in Ooman, “I do not think you know what you have just done. Pushing on the shoulder is a challenge. Dhm’Ni mistakenly thought you were challenging him to a fight.” They all went silent. Nala was thinking about what a waste this challenge would be, while both Sya and Dhm’Ni were wondering about her upcoming reaction. Little did they know Nala was planning her attack. “I see no reason to squander such a challenge,” Suddenly, Nala lunged at Dhm’Ni, punching him in the jaw. Sya was shocked by the move, perhaps he shouldn't have told her what her actions meant.  “What are you doing?” Sya asked but got nothing back as the two scuffled on the ground, rolling his eyes at the sight.  Funny thing was that Nala was winning. She was punching him right at his collarbone and Dhm’Ni didn’t know what to do. He grabbed both her hands as they came back down and popped his hips making Nala flip head over heel onto the ground ahead of Dhm’Ni. While still holding her hands, Dhm’Ni turned around and sat up onto his knees, he turned her body around to face him then pulled her under his body, trapping her under his weight. Before she could stop him, Dhm’Ni brought down his fist into her nose, the sound that came from her face was unrecognizable. The splitting of her nose was one of the most painful things in her life, her eyes began to water and her mouth hung open in a silent scream.  When Dhm’Ni saw the blood on his fist as he took it back up, he stopped. He had won. Then the worst feeling came over Nala. She had been trying to hide it since she was hit by the tail but now it was too much. She began to cough up blood from her punctured lung, blood from her nose didn't help either as the red liquid was propelled in Dhm’Ni’s face, splattering it all over his mask. She turned her body until she was on her side to continue coughing while Dhm’Ni groaned in disgust. He sat up while still on his knee hovering over Nala and took off his mask. Sya just chuckled. He hadn't laughed this much in seasons! While he was in his laughing attack his eyes caught the sight of something unnerving coming their way. Dhm’Ni, on the other hand, was looking at his blood soaked mask. He flared his mandibles in revulsion at the sight. He swiftly grabbed the same cloth he used before and began to wipe off all the red he could see. He didn't even seem to care that Nala was almost convulsing while she was coughing in between his legs. Somehow, she had started to breathe normally and her coughing spell began to wear off. She took in deep breaths and at every one she felt pain. When Dhm’Ni was finished he placed the cloth back and looked down to the Ooman under him before he placed his mask on the ground next to her. Her face from her nose down was covered in her own blood, some caused by him, some not.  “Nala?” Dhm’Ni spoke up.  She turned back onto her bottom and tried to sit up. She had to use both hands to prop herself up so she wouldn't fall back down. Instinctively Dhm’Ni put one of his hands behind her, holding her up by her back. Nala's eyes were still shut from the pain from her nose and they did not want to open.  “Pain?” He asked. Now, Nala opened her eyes to him. She looked into his striking eyes and let out a relieved sigh at the sight that they were not fighting anymore. But as she looking at his face she saw that the same two marks on his mask were also marked on his head, sitting in the middle of his brow just above his eyes. She started to wipe off the blood from her mouth and below her nose with the collar of her shirt, careful not to hit it in any way that would cause pain. When she was done though, she didn't set her hand back down. She reached slowly forward towards Dhm’Ni’s head. He tried to move back from her touch but because he was holding her, he just moved her along with him. With her index and middle finger, she touched the two marking and smoothed them down there full length. They were the same light green as the rest of him but they looked like scars, and they were actually soft to the touch. “They are on your face too? Doesn’t add anything to your looks,” She says sarcastically.  Dhm’Ni didn't know what to think of her touching his mark. This would not be tolerated in usual circumstances but what could he do now? Just let her go and watch her fall? Nala took her hand back as she realized that she touched him without asking, “Sorry. I didn’t ask if it was ok,” She looked down submissively. Dhm’Ni was about to say that it was ok but he was interrupted by Sya. “KAINDE AMEDHA!” He roars. Together Nala and Dhm’Ni look to Sya to see that behind him was a Hard Meat warrior, slithering through the darkness of the trees.  “YOU FUCK! You broke my nose, I couldn’t smell it!” Nala said to Dhm’Ni as he stood up, bringing her with him.  Sya was already in a fighting stance, ready and waiting for the Hard Meat. Nala cringed at the sound of scrapping metal when Sya pushed out his wrist blades to full length. The Hard Meat screeched and Sya growled menacingly as they collided. But when they fell to the floor it didn't stay with him. It started to run on all floors at Dhm’Ni and Nala, its tail lashing in excitement. Dhm’Ni released Nala and took out his combat staff from its hiding spot at his right thigh and extended it in front of him. He too bent down and roared in anticipation. Nala however was scared out of her mind, she wasn't thinking straight when she started to back away from Dhm’Ni. The Hard Meat didn't want to fight with Dhm’Ni, it wanted Nala. It jumped over Dhm’Ni with no trouble and landed behind him. Dhm’Ni whipped around and saw that Nala was no longer right behind him. She had moved away and from the looks of things she was frozen in fear. She didn't know what to do when it started for her, she could barely stand let alone fight this thing. She needed to do something, she needed to get close to Dhm’Ni or Sya. She shouldn't have moved away. Dhm’Ni activated his shoulder cannon but wouldn't use it, he had already tried to hit a Hard Meat with a weapon and ended up hitting Nala, he would not do that again. He didn't want to hurt her yet again. He had caused so much harm to her while she had healed him and saved his life. He hadn't even thought of what would have happened if she didn't warn him of the Oomans plans. The entire ship was indebted to her for her information. They may not like it when they hear it, well . . . if they hear it, but it’s true. And now Dhm’Ni was powerless as the Hard Meat got closer and closer to Nala. But she would not just stand still and wait for this thing to get her. She had gone through enough today to die by a devil's hand. The sight was terrifying to her, just ahead was a devil on all floors running at her. She could hear its every step as its hard hands hit the ground, thumping and pounding, it was driving her insane! But when it got close it lunged at her, jumping into the air. She used its airborne status against it as she dashed into action. But she fell towards the ground while it was in the air. She somersaulted when she met the ground and rolled a few times. But as she rolled out, she couldn’t get back up. It was as if all her energy was taken from her, her breathing was gone and her eyes were clouding. When she looked up and saw that both Sya and Dhm’Ni were running towards her, they were too late. Dhm’Ni watched in horror as Hard Meat jumped on Nala. She had turned her body and was on her back as it fell onto her. Nala screamed as its weight was on top of her. The only thing she could do was hold its shoulders in an attempt to keep its head away from her. The instant Dhm’Ni was close he thrashed his combat staff into the middle of the Hard Meats head. Instantaneously it fell dead adding its whole weight onto Nala. She screamed from the pain as it began to crush her. Soon though she fell silent as she watched a colossal drop of the acidic blood fall from where Dhm’Ni’s weapon had pierced it. Time froze as she watched it crawl its way closer to the mouth of the devil. It traveled down its open jaws and collected at the tip of its teeth. It wasn't a second later that it fell.

Chapter 9: Only If

Notes:

Hello everyone!

After a long time of waiting (which I apologize), the updated chapter has been posted and will keep continuing with the others although might not be as frequent as the others. But of course, the nest update will be for Respect and the climax is just around the corner :)

Thank you all and Good Hunting! :D

The only thing Nala could do when the drop of acid began to fall was turn her head, leaving her right side exposed. She couldn’t believe that she would die by the blood of some creature from hell! She couldn’t process that idea, she had endured almost 20 years of military service, she survived torture, being stranded in Zambia, being attacked by its animals and this is how she would die. By acid blood burning through her neck, it wouldn't even be quick! She knew that it would slowly erode through her neck, bubble and boil as it made its way through her skin. Soon though it would hit her brain stem and kill her. Soon she would pass on, unless Dhm’Ni could do anything about it. He had watched the blood from the Hard Meats wound plunge towards Nala. He had done it again. He was attempting to kill a Hard Meat and in the end all he did was hurt her. If she died he would be considered a Bad Blood for harming a female in such a manner. Even if it was unintentional, it was done. He had to do something, anything! But just as Dhm’Ni kicked the dead Hard Meat off Nala the blood fell onto her head, landing just behind her earlobe and it began to drip down to the base of her neck.

“SYA!” Dhm’Ni yelled as he dove for her. In a matter of seconds he swiftly scooped her up, fell to one knee and then draped her over it on her stomach. He gently turned her head to the right, giving him access to the wound, and wiped away her hair.

“Got it!” Sya answered back. He hastily opened up a small pouch that was attached to his belt and took out a beaker filled with a thick paste. This was something no hunter left at home when on a Kainde Amedha hunt. This was hele, an almost solid substance that dilutes the effect that Hard Meat blood has on skin. Hele has saved many, many lives on hunts. Even Dhm’Ni used hele on himself on his Chiva. Sya threw the package to Dhm’Ni and he promptly opened it and poured it onto Nala’s neck. Sya then turned and fell to his knees in front of Nala’s face just as Dhm’Ni gave her the heel and was watching her intently. The pain that she was feeling was so intense that all but her heart had stopped. She stopped screaming, stopped thinking, and she even stopped breathing. Even as Dhm’Ni poured the heel, and the pain was reduced to a fraction of what it was before, she could not start breathing. She tried to get herself to inhale, it was as if she had the wind knocked out of her and it wouldn't blow back in. Her eyes were shut tight and her mouth wide open in a silent scream. She needed help! Her body was leaned over Dhm’Ni’s leg and her hand was right by his knee but she couldn't move. She needed him to know she couldn't take in air but how?

“WHAT THE PAUK!” Dhm’Ni roars as Nala digs her nails into his knee cap. She didn’t know if he would see that she wasn't breathing, but maybe he would tell that something else, other than the fact that she had acid on her head, was wrong. Dhm’Ni reared his head back and flared his mandibles wide as the pain shot up his leg. 

“She's not breathing!” Sya barks. He needed to get her to breathe. He couldn't just let her die like this, “We need to get her to start breathing Dhm’Ni!”

“But . . . but how?” He asks. It's not like he could do mouth to mouth. Dhm’Ni felt helpless as Nala lay there on his leg, he couldn't help her! He didn't know what he could do.

“Hit her!” Dhm’Ni looked at Sya, his face showing a question. 

Hit her on the back, get her lungs moving.” 

Now he understood.

“GENTLY!” Sya added. 

Dhm’Ni gave him a small nod and he raised his hand. He was lucky that the pack Nala was carrying laid low on her back and that he had to hit high. He didn't know how hard to hit her, but Sya said gently, so that's what he did. With a light smack he slapped her back, but nothing happened. 

“Again. Harder!” Sya ordered. 

So again, Dhm’Ni lifted his hand and slammed it down onto Nala. This time he got a reaction. Nala screamed out all her pent up pain, releasing it from its cage inside her chest. Dhm’Ni cringed at her shriek, his mask was off and he was right next to her. It was even more ear piercing than her screams from their fight, those were from a mild pain compared to this. But soon Nala was out of breath. She heaved in intense breaths as her lungs began to take in air. She released her death grip on Dhm’Ni’s knee and was about to place her hand on her wounded neck but Dhm’Ni seized it before it made contact.

“No . . . pain.” It was all he said as Nala took back her hand and rested it back on Dhm’Ni’s leg. 

Instinctively, both Dhm’Ni and Sya began to purr in an attempt to soothe her, it was an impulse that all males had when consoling females, distressed or in pain. And there she laid, listening to them rumble. It was actually quite calming, she could feel the vibrations from Dhm’Ni through his leg and the way it felt against her skin and how it shook her body ever so slightly made her feel well again, at least a little. She took a deep breath and started to push herself off Dhm’Ni’s leg. As she stood, Dhm’Ni and Sya came along with her. Unintentionally, Nala staggered at the sudden movement but was caught when Dhm’Ni took her by the shoulders. She looked up to him and saw that his eyes showed a strange sense of concern, wide and staring right at her.

“Tell her there will be pain for a few more minutes but soon it will be gone. She was lucky that we caught it before it made its way deeper into her skin or she would have died,” Dhm’Ni chirps to Sya and he then tells Nala but a bit gentler. Dhm’Ni can be a little too forward with his instructions but he gets his message across. 

Without warning, Dhm’Ni began to cough again, this world was wreaking havoc on his own lungs, they were burning from the air. Sya walked away, picked up Dhm’Ni’s mask from the ground and threw it at him. Dhm’Ni speedily placed it back on. 

“How are you feeling now Nala? The pain of the Hard Meats blood should be gone by now.” Sya says in Ooman as he made his way back to her.

“Oh . . . uhh . . . better, I think. Well,considering . . . but thank you. Really,” She pauses to give Dhm’Ni a light punch to his stomach, “Thank you.”

He nods to her and gets a big smile back from Nala, “Okay you saved my life but don't expect me to kiss you on your cheek and just because I saved yours, doesn't mean you have to give me one.” 

Dhm’Ni thrills in laughter. Her nose was beginning to feel a bit better but she needed to set it now or it would look crooked. She places her hands on either side of her nose and gives it a swift turn making it crack into place. Dhm’Ni just watched as she set her face like it was nothing! 

“And thanks for breaking my nose, Dhm’Ni.” 

He just laughed and pointed to himself.

“Win,” Dhm’Ni spoke to her but she scoffed at it. 

Nala finally took in a breath with her nose when she caught an odd scent of wild rice and burning wood. It was Sya who had been watching her with Dhm’Ni that whole time. He had been there, doing nothing to help. But why is he helping now? Why are either of them helping now? 

“You were watching me too weren't you Sya?” She asks and Sya just nods, “Hm. Wait. What’s Hard Meat?” She asks as she turns to Sya.

“It is our name for them,” He points to the carcass, “Their actual name has no Ooman translation. Hard Meat does.” 

Nala opened her mouth again to ask how they knew these things but Sya beat her to the punch, “The Hard Meat is our prey. We hunt them as a game. That game, unfortunately, spread into the innocent occupants on this planet. You see, they are not from here, as I think you have guessed. And neither are we.”

Nala just stared at him, not really understanding what he was saying but still Sya continued. “We came here to hunt them because a very, very long time ago a hunter, one of us, left a Qu—” Sya couldn't finish his sentence when an incredibly loud screech hit the air. Immediately Dhm’Ni and Sya turned to the sound. Dhm’Ni had whipped around so fast that Nala had to duck just to miss getting hit by some of his tresses. They knew that sound all too well, it was the Queen.

“What was that?” Nala asks. 

“Hard Meat. We have to move. Get to the DropShip. They are waiting for us,” Sya said to Nala.

“Who's waiting for you? What’s a DropShip? Just what is going on?” She asks. She was getting really confused. She had guessed that Dhm’Ni has a way of getting off the island, but now that Sya is here, she realizes that there are probably more of them, maybe a lot more. Her body had stopped shaking and her breathing steadied but she still had a tough time standing. Her body needed something to keep her going. 

“Our hunting party. The others at the DropShip are waiting to take us off this planet. What are you doing?” Sya asks when Nala took off her pack. She began to rummage through the mess and finally, her hand hit that little box of heaven. Apple juice. She knew that she had one box left from her lunch and she quickly chugged it as she placed her pack back on.

“I needed something to get my strength up. Apple juice has a good concentration of sugar so it will help.” 

Although I don't know why I should drink it . . . What was she doing? Why should she get her energy up? It's not like she was getting off right? She couldn't ask them to help her off the island could she? Would they even?  

“Do you think we would leave you here?”Sya asks. He hadn't considered telling her that they were helping her, thinking that she would have already known since she was traveling with Dhm’Ni. 

Nala just looked up at him.

“You helped Dhm’Ni and with you telling us that the Oomans are going to destroy this island, you helped all of us. We are not going to abandon you. We will take you to a safe place, somewhere near here.” She just smiled sheepishly, she couldn't tell why, but somehow she felt safe knowing they were going to get her off the island. She didn't want to die, she had to live for Allan. When the General left her and took the jumper, she felt utterly hopeless but now she had Dhm’Ni and Sya. Now she can get off and go home. 

Do I even want to go home now? Can I go into that empty house without Allen? Can I even continue being in the military without him? Well fuck them. They left me here, I'm not going to work for the same government who sent in 143 people to catch the mother of these things. There’s no fucking way. I'm just going to leave when I get back and go to some derelict island somewhere and live there until I die. 

“Come. We have to go now. They are waiting for us there,” Sya says and points to the middle of the training circle.

“But there's nothing there, I can’t see anything or anyone,” She just felt stupid after saying that they had camouflage. Of course she can’t see them, “Wait. Never mind. I understand,” She says while laughing at herself for her stupidity. 

“Do you think you can keep up with us?” Sya asks. Dhm’Ni starts to laugh.

“Oh she can. She can run as fast as us, Sya. Maybe faster than you but not I,” Dhm’Ni chirps teasingly. 

“Never mind,” Sya says to Nala, “Dhm’Ni says you can run with the best of us but wait one moment. If the substance we put on your neck stays on too long, it will start to crust and then it will be a lot of trouble to get off.” 

Sya takes out a small piece of material from the same pouch he took the he’le from and motions for Nala to come to him. Reluctantly, she makes her way over to him and Sya gently takes her head in one of his hands “This may hurt but for not too long.” 

Nala nods as Sya softly and precisely wipes most of the heel off, “There. Now we must go. Dhm’Ni, you ready?” Sya gets a loud grunt as an answer. Is he ready? He has been waiting for them since his mask was back on and he retrieved his combat staff. But why would Nala even think he would leave her? He wasn't just carrying her around for fun. Dhm’Ni motions with his head for them to go and soon all three of them are on their way.

 

---

Meanwhile, Lord Khupiee was getting anxious. He had been waiting for Sya and Dhm’Ni to come with the Ooman so that they could drop her off as soon as possible and be done with it. He didn't want to even think of what could have happened if the female didn't tell them of the plans the Oomans had. The sensors would not have even seen it coming because they were not looking for it or anything else for that matter, only the Hunt mattered.

“Why are we doing this Khupiee?” Pakka hissed. 

When Lord Khupiee told them that Sya and Dhm’Ni asked to have the female transported to a safe island, he became livid, “First, they watched her, then they traveled with her and now they plan to help her. What next?” Pakka didn't want to think of what was next. 

“According to my son, she saved him. I do not know how but soon we will and I do not think Dhm’Ni would be content or able to leave her. If he or we did, he would be considered a Bad Blood for not helping a prey that gave him mercy. I will not have that of one of my sons. I am just relieved that I sent him and Sya together and not him and you. You would have killed her and skinned her before she even knew what happened.”

Pakka gave a small thrill of laughter. True, he would have killed her on spot. He would be in pure bliss if he had the possibility. But now, Lord Khupiee is helping her so he would not have the chance to do a thing like that. But then again, nothing is keeping him from coming back one day. She did show great power and strength but Pakka told himself many seasons ago that he would never take another Ooman skull, not even if it is from one so noteworthy. 

“So it seems,” Rathe joins in, “However, she appears gifted. Skills like that in Ooman or Yautja are remarkable. Did Dhm’Ni talk with you or did Sya?” 

“Sya,” Lord Khupiee answers.

“Did he tell you how the female healed Dhm’Ni?” Lord Khupiee shakes his head, “Did he tell you anything?”

“All he told me was that there was a battle between the Ooman, a Hard Meat and Dhm’Ni and that Dhm’Ni received a wound but the Ooman healed him. Sya also said that there was something rather humorous that he would wait for us to see. The Ooman did something to Dhm’Ni that he could not stop laughing about, I have been speculating as to what it is but I have come up with nothing.” 

All of them begin to thrill in laughter as each one blurts out something humorous, like perhaps she gave him one of those weird Ooman slings they use on themselves, but they all stopped when the Queen, still not completely in the cargo hold, began to thrash about. Her hands, legs and tail were all bound to the ship with thick chains and she had a solid muzzle covering the front of her head, keeping the dangerous mouth and inner mouth from causing damage. But no matter how thick the metal, her shrieks still came through. Each time she screamed it sent chills down each of the hunter’s spines, some from anticipation but most from exhilaration. They each had an urge to kill her, to ready their shoulder cannons and slaughter her but they were old enough to keep their primal instincts to hunt at bay. Even with her being so close they kept themselves in check. The door to the cargo hold was just to their left, the closest to the Queen when she was brought in. Soon, her shrieking died down, giving them another chance to fill the time with conversation.

“I have heard that Ykas’e is getting frenzied with the sudden influx of requests to leave the ship and hunt her,” Bakkub chirps. He had contacts all over the ship that would periodically COM him and tell him new rumors that were floating around, “Shame that Ykas’e was told to deny all that came in. Don’t you think so?” He asks.

“Sya wished that she was not hunted. But—” Lord Khupiee adds quickly, “I said nothing about future hunts. Since we are transporting her,” Lord Khupiee pauses, not really knowing how the ship will carry an Ooman, She will live and therefore her skull will be up for any who ask it and for who gets to her first.”

“Or who is the first to not get killed by her,” Rathe says bluntly. The others just look at him like he just asked Kainde Amedha to be his mate, “What? You think that an Ooman that can kill a Hard Meat cannot defend itself against one of us? No wonder why Ykas’e is having a fit with the requests to hunt her. Just think of how valuable her skull would be, of the females it would attract. I myself wondered why Dhm’Ni hadn't taken her skull already, despite what she had done for him.”

“By law he . . .” Bakkub started.

“..cannot hunt or kill the one to give mercy. It is a greater dishonor to kill a comrade from battle then to not kill at all. I know the law, Bakkub. We all do. But I am just saying that her skull would be prized. But then again . . .” Rathe trails off in thought.

“What? Do not start a sentence and not finish it. Rathe, it is rude for one thing,” M’Ho barks.

“I was just thinking about what a waste it would be to kill her.”

"A waste?" Pakka hisses, “What waste? She is prey! Her skull is all that should be or will be expected to come of her,” He points with one taloned finger at himself, “Just listen to me! I am calling it ‘her’ when it's an ‘it’.” 

“Perhaps to you Pakka but to Dhm’Ni she is a loose end that he must take care of!” Rathe roars at Pakka, “I personally would love to see just what she has to offer, whether it is her skull, or her strength and ability. To see this in a prey species is a once in a lifetime opportunity and a waste to take it without reason.” 

Pakka growls deeply at Rathe. These two have always had trouble being in the same room together. Even bringing them onto the same planet was a leap of faith from Lord Khupiee. Earlier, when contact was made to each of the Arbitrators, Lord Khupiee had a private message sent to both Pakka and Rathe telling them of the other’s involvement and that he expects them to be on their best behavior. Their spat began a long time ago when Pakka was courting a female but lost her to Rathe. Ever since then they had been at each other's throats. 

“Enough of that!” Lord Khupiee barks. 

“FATHER!” 

Lord Khupiee hears from behind him. He turns around to see his son and Sya running with the Ooman right behind them. It took little time for the three to get to the group and Sya was impressed at Nala’s speed, considering her injuries. Nala, however, was keeping her pain deep down. She had learnt from her travels how to suppress pain through meditation. It didn't last very long but hopefully it would for the time being until they dropped her off somewhere where she could get medical help. 

“Are we here?” She whispers. She didn't know what to do with most of them. She could only see those tell-tail wavy lines but couldn't make out any particular shapes, just one large blob of waving air. As Dhm’Ni and Sya slowed, she slowed along with them, taking special care to stay close behind Sya. 

“Keep her silent,” Dhm’Ni warns Sya. He didn't want to be even more embarrassed from this situation. Her talking would just make things worse. For all he knew she would make another ‘gorgeous’ joke about his father.

“Yes, Nala. We are, but I have to warn you to keep quiet. Our present company will most likely not approve of you being here,” He says softly to her.

“Then why the hell did you say that they will help me get off this island when they don't even like me being near them?” She says out loud. 

Suddenly, she hears a lot of separate growls coming from all around her. She looks around but can still see nothing but air, “It’s a little annoying not being able to see them. How am I supposed to defend myself against one of them?” She asks Sya in a whisper. 

Sya just starts to laugh, “Do not worry little one. Dhm’Ni and I will make sure you are not harmed,” Sya says to reassure her but it doesn't work.

“Why do I not believe you when you say that about Dhm’Ni?” Like he would help her anymore. He had been so wicked to her and she had been to him, so she didn’t expect anymore of him after he saved her life.

“I SAID KEEP HER SILENT!” Dhm’Ni roars. He couldn't believe she had said that about him. He didn't care that everyone heard her. It was that she thought that he wouldn’t protect her. 

Nala thrashed her head towards Dhm’Ni, intent on giving him a piece of her mind but a sudden, piercing pain started the moment she moved her neck. Immediately, she seethed from the sting and moved her head back. 

“Pain . . ?” Dhm’Ni asked quietly in Ooman as he turned to her.

“You think?” She said between her teeth. 

Dhm’Ni knew all too well about her pain. He still has trouble sitting or even sleeping on his back because of his scar, though he will become less sensitive to the hurt. The pain, however, will never change. The only thing that could change is how one would deal with it. Nala sighed as the hurt went away, for now.

“Shall we get going Khupiee?” Sya chirped, “Or do you intend on staring all day?” 

Lord Khupiee gives him a low growl from that little remark. But all Sya does is laugh. 

“So this is the Ooman?” Miy’Hota calls out. He had wanted to see her ever since he watched the video and he was intrigued with her ability. There was always the thought of coming back to take her skull in his mind but for now he would be ‘polite’. 

“I really don't like this Sya,” She whispers. Nala was freaking out, and hated not seeing them. If one of them did decide to attack her, she couldn’t do a thing about it. Screw Sya and Dhm’Ni. There was no guarantee that they could help her if she needed it with these guys. 

“I doubt they will show themselves,” Sya answers, “We do not like to be seen.”

“Worried she may be too afraid to see us?” Pakka growls in a taunting manner. 

“No, she is not,” Dhm’Ni says passively. He didn't really want to tell them about her seeing him. He doesn't regret doing it, it was just that ‘gorgeous’ remark is something the others would find absolutely comical. Pakka was about to ask just what he meant but Lord Khupiee kept him from inquiring.

“Then we shall show ourselves,” Lord Khupiee chirps. He wanted to know just what she was going to do. She seemed fine with Dhm’Ni and Sya so why would she be different with them? Most Oomans would panic from seeing them but most wouldn't last this long with Hard Meats around either. 

“What?” Pakka barks. Soon he could hear each of his fellow hunters' cloaks start to crackle. “What are you all doing?” He hisses. He couldn't believe what they were about to do. Expose themselves to a lowly Ooman, its absurd. 

“Whoa,” Nala was amazed at the sight before her. 

There were six, no seven of them that showed themselves. She could also see one other one that kept its cloak standing right next to one that was truly interesting. He was really, really tall . . . maybe nine and half feet high! He just looked down at her as she stared up at him. His mask was alarming, marks and scratches were everywhere, even more so than Dhm’Ni. His armor was open like Sya’s but had a strange tint of blue to it. It was the same color as a darkening sky, gray and blue melded together as one. His skin was almost the same as Dhm’Ni’s. The identical light and dark green but he was missing the black spots. In his hands he held the same staff she’d seen before. When she saw that his hair was an odd shade of white, she could tell that he was older. 

“Who’s he?” She whispers up to Sya. She was still right behind him and would never be willing to come out from her relatively safe position. 

“He is the head of the hunt,” He couldn't really say that he was Lord Khupiee so he opted for him being the leader. 

“Hi,” She says to Lord Khupiee. They were about 10 feet apart and that was close enough for both her and the rest of the Yautja. 

“Hello,” Lord Khupiee answers. Nala didn't expect him to speak English either. Can they only speak English or other languages too? She didn't really have time to ask so she let that thought drift away. 

“Can you talk to me? Can all of you?” 

“No,” He answers, “Some of us but not all.”

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING KHUPIEE?!” Pakka roars. He still held his cloak and had no intention of taking it down and making his presence known. However, when Lord Khupiee began to speak to the Ooman, he realized that he had too much of this.

“Alarmed, are you Pakka? Why do you keep your cloak on? Are you afraid of her seeing you?�” Lord Khupiee teases. 

All conversations were broken when Inkle began to laugh uncontrollably. As the others turned to him they saw him pointing towards Dhm’Ni and bent over holding his stomach, “May I ask what you find so amusing Inkle?”

“Dhm’Ni! I like your new haircut!” Inkle says in between laughs.

In unison the others look back to Dhm’Ni and search his hair and there it was. On his right was a shoulder length tress that had been cut. They, altogether, except for Pakka, begin to laugh. Dhm’Ni was embarrassed beyond anything he had ever felt before. He just shook his head slightly as the others continued to laugh. Nala knew that they saw his hair when one pointed at him and she felt really bad, and yet not that bad, he deserves to be laughed at.

“I’m really sorry about that Dhm’Ni,” She whispers to him. Dhm’Ni just looks down at her and grunts.

“I am not afraid Khupiee,” Pakka finally growled. He hated being called afraid of anything and being called that because of an Ooman was too much. He instantly turned off his cloak. The others stopped laughing and turned to the now uncloaked Pakka. When he heard Nala take in a sudden breath, he looked down to her and gave her a threatening roar and she moved up closer to Sya when he did.

“I guess he's one that I should be wary of huh?” Nala says aloud. Lord Khupiee barks in amusement.

“She is smart isn’t she?” Lord Khupiee clicks. She should stay away from Pakka at all costs. But when they bring her to another island she will be held in a cargo bay for the trip. He would never allow her to roam free on his ship. 

Suddenly, a large bang echoed in the air, startling everyone, “Just the Queen rustling around. She is of bad lineage and needs to be dealt with at the first possible moment,” But when the banging continued they all got concerned.

“Where did you say she hailed from?” Sya asked but moments later he got his answer. 

The Queen had been banging the door to the cargo hold with all her strength and it gave way easily. The door swung open hitting the ground with a heavy thud. All of them were stunned to say the least but Nala was scared shitless. As the Queen made her way out of the cargo hold Nala saw her for her entirety. She was gigantic, black as night and one of the meanest looking things she has ever seen. What the General said was true, she had a crown thing that extended all the way down her body, it had so many bumps and grooves that it glistened like a true crown in the sunlight. And at the front of the crown was a muzzle that probably held a menacing set of teeth. She had two sets of arms, one from the sides of her shoulders and one from the top. Her long body gave way to two giant legs and an even larger tail. But they all had shackles attached to them. There was no doubt about it, this was the mother. 

“Now is as good a time as any. Kill her now then we will take her back into the ship,” Lord Khupiee orders. But just as the others were getting into position and aimed the cannons they saw what looked like stones being thrown at the Queen's head. 

“What is going on?” He looked back towards Sya and saw the Ooman had started to throw rocks at the Queen. Nala didn’t know what else to do. It was her fault . . . the mother’s fault that Allen was dead. She made those spider things which made the Hard Meat that killed Allen and all her friends. She took everything from her. She took her life.

“You stupid bitch!” She yells while still picking up and throwing any stone and rock she could find, “You killed them all! You took him from me, you cunt!” They all just stared at her.

“What is she doing?” Lord Khupiee asked. “Why would she be so angry?” 

“Think about it Khupiee,” Sya says softly, “Her life has been turned upside down because of the Hard Meat and I think she knows that this is a Queen. She essentially killed all of her friends.”

“And her mate,” Dhm’Ni added as they turned to him, “The male that sacrificed himself for her was her mate. When Sya and I split up, the female ran after the Hard Meat that took the male. It was the same Hard Meat that she killed with her own hands.” Now they understood. They knew not to interfere with an angry female, of any species. 

“I hate you! You piece of shit!” Nala continued, “You come here, to my world, to my life and destroy everything!”

She whips another stone at her. It wasn't like it hurt the Queen, it didn't even faze her. The Queen just kept thrashing at her chains and screaming. She was attempting to take off her muzzle with her hands but was having a hard time. When she tried to pull her hands towards her mouth they would just jerk from being chained up but somehow she got a hold of the end of the muzzle and ripped it off her face. She raised her head high and belted out a deafening screech. Nala just kept throwing stones. What else could she do?  

“I'm gonna kill you, you little bitch! I’m gonna kill you!”She screams. Nala knew that she wasn't going to kill her by throwing stuff at her so she stops and turns to Sya, “Help me kill her Sya. I must kill her!”

“No. We will take care of her.”

“What has she done to you huh? She didn't kill someone you loved did she? She . . . she took him from me! That bitch is gonna die by my hands!” 

She had never felt so much hate in her life. It was pumping in her veins, giving her a new strength. She couldn’t let them take her, that bitch was hers to kill.

“SHE'S MINE!”

The others were dumbfounded by her words. Such hate in such a small being, it would have been funny if they didn't know she was serious. Suddenly a thought crept into Dhm’Ni’s head. 

“Nala,” Dhm’Ni spoke out, making her turn to him. She watched as Dhm’Ni made a basket with his hands and then motioned to the Queen with his head. Nala started to laugh but it was a funny laugh, it was cold and ominous. She lowered her head and her eyes darkened from anger. Her pupils had taken over and showed little if any of the blue. With her pupils so large she could see perfectly with them allowing more light in. They were all stunned to watch her change, her anger close to rivaling that of a female Yautja. 

“Perfect idea. But I need something to cut off her head. Like your spear but longer!” Nala's voice had changed. It wasn’t its normal serene and sarcastic tone. It changed into a harsh and stern pitch, showing off just how irate she was. Dhm’Ni turned to the only Yautja here with the weapon that could do what she wanted. 

“Rathe,” Dhm’Ni gestured with his hands but Rathe just tipped his head. A loud screech entered the air, the Queen was tugging and pulling at her limbs in an attempt to get them out of their chains but they were too strong. 

“You did say that you would love to see just what she has to offer,” Lord Khupiee chirped, “Shame to say such things and not give her the capability to show just what she has to offer. Don’t you think Rathe?”He asks teasingly.

All Rathe did was growl, like he would ever give an Ooman his prized glaives. They were given to him by his clan leader as recognition for his bravery and fearlessness in the hunt. How could he allow an Ooman to touch them? Nala could tell that Dhm’Ni was trying to convince one of the others. This one was a little taller than Dhm’Ni and had skin that looked like a giraffes. It had a yellow undertone with small light brown spots. She could also see two long blades strapped to his back, they would be absolutely perfect.

“Can you understand me?” She asks him as she makes her way closer to him. She didn't even think as she stepped out from behind Sya. Rathe watched closely as she made her way to him.

“Yes, little talk,” He answers hesitantly. He couldn't talk as fluently as Sya or Lord Khupiee but he could understand her. 

“Then hear my plea. I need to kill her. The blood of my friends and my family are on her hands. It's MY responsibility and MY obligation to take her life for what she had taken from me,” She was positively fuming. She had tried to keep her anger down so that she wouldn't insult this guy in any way but it made its way through. Rathe was pleased with her anger though. He had an urge to see what she could do but did she have to do it with his weapons? 

“Do you think she can do it?” He asked. Some of the others just grunted, not really telling him how they thought she could do. But Lord Khupiee spoke out.

“If you look at what she has done, it can be a precedent to what she will do. I, for one, have a peculiar feeling about her,” He didn't want to say much more but something was worrying him. If they do bring her to another island, alive, what is to stop her from telling her people about them? Or what's worse if she doesn't tell the Oomans about them, if she keeps their existence a secret, but they do not believe her. Without a doubt, they would question how she survived the blast and how she made it out as a lone survivor. 

“Then we shall just wait and see,” Rathe says as he leisurely lifts his hands over his head and grabs the two handles of his glaives. 

Swiftly he took them from their pocket and wielded them in front of Nala. Nala brings her hands up and opens them, waiting for him to give them to her. She wouldn't just grab them. That would be rude! Rathe moves his hands down to give room for hers as he lays them onto her waiting hands. Nala tightly grips them as Rathe fully lets go of his prized weapons. Nala takes a few steps back and looks at these two lengthy swords. They were beautiful to her. They were at least 5 feet long and were the color of stainless steel. They had engravings all over the length of the blade and from what she could make out they were miniature depictions of people dressed like them. Holding their own little weapons and in different positions. It was amazing. Quickly, she tested the weight of them with a twirl and she found them to be as light as a feather. 

“They are remarkable,” She says in a serene tone. But soon she snapped back into her hate filled persona, “Time to fly.” 

She turns back towards Dhm’Ni who got his hands into the same basket shape as before and even moved to face the Queen but Nala didn't put her foot in like before. She walked right up to him, placed both the blades in one hand and grabbed the lip on his mask by his chin and pulled his face down to hers.

“One!” She motions the number one with her finger, “You better be strong enough to get me on her head. Two!” She puts up two fingers, “You better not fucking OVER throw me. I intend to get her head, not her back! And Three!” She puts up three fingers, “DO NOT FUCKING HESITATE!” She yells in his face.

Dhm’Ni roars right back at her. He breaks his basket and tries to swipe at her with his sharp taloned hands but misses. Nala just dodges every strike and starts to laugh, “Now that I have you up and ready to go, let's do this!” 

Dhm’Ni stops his attack and quietly growls at her. He cannot believe that she made him so mad just to get his adrenaline going! And of course he is strong enough. Who the hell does she think she is? 

“You are playing a very dangerous game, little one,” Sya says to her.

“That’s the point Sya,” She smiles as she and Dhm’Ni get into position, “Now, I need one of you to hit her chest to make her recoil and her head to fall forward a little. I need to land right on her head so I can cut it off.” 

The others just looked at her, not willing to really listen but still intrigued at her plan, “And please don't hit me while I am in the air. That would just embarrass whoever tried to hit her and deprive me the satisfaction of killing her,” She says to whoever is listening. Lord Khupiee was the only one to laugh.

“I will aid you,” He says to her. Lord Khupiee thought it amusing how she taunted Dhm’Ni like that. Sya warned her that she was being risky in her actions but all she did was laugh. Nala placed her foot into Dhm’Ni’s hand, he was still pissed off beyond hope but he wanted to see her kill the Queen. Accidentally he growled loudly at her which made Nala even more heated.

“I thought I told you not to growl at me ever again Dhm’Ni? Do I need to slap you again to keep on task or what?” She whispers teasingly. 

Nala could see the muscles in his forearms tense at her words and thought it funny. Dhm’Ni was put off when Nala suddenly giggled. It was something he had never heard from her before, “READY!” 

Dhm’Ni stiffens again and Lord Khupiee steps away from the group.

“NOW!”She yells. 

Dhm’Ni rips his arms and pitches Nala into the air while at that same moment Lord Khupiee shoots the Queen's chest with his shoulder cannon. All Nala heard was a loud shot and then she could see blue light. She didn't really have time to think it over when she saw that Dhm’Ni did in fact overthrow her. Her body was still tumbling in the air as she made it to the Queen's head. 

“You overdid it!” Some of the others yelled at Dhm’Ni who was inwardly cursing himself. Nala did a good job to get him riled up. Lord Khupiee and all of the others watched in surprise as Nala caught herself before she went too far. 

She stuck one of Rathes’ blades into the Queen's crown, stopping her from flying any further. The Queen howled when Nala pierced her and tried to thrash at Nala with her hands but thankfully they were chained down. That was until the Queen tried once more and the chain holding one of her hands shattered. The sound made all the Yautjas mandibles fall in shock. Those chains have been used for centuries to hold down Queens. And for centuries they never failed. Nala tore back the one blade from the Queen, making her head pitch back from the pain. Somehow Nala grabbed onto some of the ribs of the Queen's skin and held herself from falling. As the Queen brought her head back down Nala went to work. She steadied herself on her head and speedily began to walk to the front, but half way there Nala saw a big black hand coming towards her. Quickly she jumped little forwards, inching closer and closer to the tip of the Queen's head. She barely missed as the hand swiped at her, but all the Queen ended up doing was scratching herself, leaving thick and long lines of her own blood. Nala had to kill her before she could get her hand back up. So she took a low stance and brought the two blades in front of her, one bare while the other was covered in her green blood.

“You take my life, I take yours!” She yells at the Queen as she raises the two blades up above her head in an ‘X’ shape. Without hesitation, she swings the blades down, cutting off the front of the Queen's head like a pair of scissors. Instantly the head dropped from the rest of her body and fell to the ground.

“YES!” Rathe hisses. He was absolutely astonished at her. The others looked back to him as he started to laugh and heard him say a passage from the story of creation. 

“Look at all those who doubted and wallowed in your error,” Sya, however, wasn't looking at Rathe but watching Nala as the Queen's head fell, and she stayed up there. Nala couldn’t go down her back as she planned because the Queen had scratched herself. She can’t just walk through her blood. She's not that stupid! 

“What is it?” Dhm’Ni asks Sya when he noticed that he hadn't heard Rathe. Sya just points to Nala.

“She's stuck and the Queens are coming down hard. If she lands in the blood made by her cutting off the head, she will die Dhm’Ni. There is nothing we would be able to do to help her,” Sya needed to help her off, the Queen's knees had just buckled. Nala didn’t know what to do, she couldn't jump and she couldn't go back.

“NALA!” Sya roars from below her. He made his way as close to her as possible, “Jump! I will catch you!”

She nods and moves both blades to one hand, she wasn't going to leave them here, they were someone else’s and she wouldn't throw them off, a disrespectful move to the owner and to the weapons themselves.

“Now,” Sya yells. 

Nala takes a few steps back then she starts running for the edge. She jumps off with her legs and flew in the air. She aimed perfectly for Sya and he was ready and waiting. He caught her with stunning accuracy as she fell into his arms, “See I got you,” He said as he moved back away from the Queen. The Queen finally fell completely with a heavy thump. Nala was silent as Sya lowered her to her feet. 

“Sya,” She whispers, he had to bend down to really hear her, “Take these.”

She hands over Rathe’s glaives, “Would you do me a favor and tell the one who gave me these a thank you and that I couldn't have done it without his help?” Sya nods, “And I was wondering if you could give me your stuff?” Sya just looked at her and tilted his head strangely, “I told Dhm’Ni not to overthrow me.” 

Sya started to laugh as he realized what she wanted to do. He swiftly and silently takes out his combat staff and extends it for her. Dhm’Ni didn't know just what was going on, he and everyone else for that matter, had been silent once she was back down on the ground. But when Sya gave her his combat staff and extended it, Dhm’Ni instinctively took out his own, thinking that she was up to something and when Nala turned towards him, with a scowling face, he knew that she was pissed for overthrowing her. Nala charged at him screaming his name.

“I told you NOT to fucken over me you asshole!” 

Dhm’Ni readied himself as she ran for him. When she got close Nala stabbed the staff at Dhm’Ni but he countered with his own, knocking it out of the way. Dhm’Ni tried to kick her in the thigh but Nala twirled away from him. Together, they started to hit the other with their staff but at each blow the other would block. 

“What is that Ooman doing?” Lord Khupiee questioned Sya as he made his way to the group. They had all turned and started to watch Dhm’Ni and Nala fight, somewhat amused with the fight but Lord Khupiee was not pleased with her attacking him without provocation. 

“She warned him not to overthrow her, didn’t she? Now she is punishing him for not listening,” Sya says slyly. Everyone but Lord Khupiee and Pakka start to thrill in laughter, it was an amazing sight to say the least to watch those two fight with staff. Sya made his way to Rathe and gave him back his glaives and whispered to him what Nala asked him to say then turned to watch the fight. Nala was getting tired of it though. Dhm’Ni would match each of her hits and she would match his. So when Dhm’Ni tried to stab her again she twirled around behind him and punched him in the exact same place as where she stabbed him before making Dhm’Ni howled in pain.

“Think I forgot about that, did you?” Nala teases. 

Dhm’Ni was seething in anger. He would not let a little Ooman overshadow him in front of his father. He whirled around and smacked Nala in the face. She flew back towards the group but rolled onto her feet and started to laugh. Dhm’Ni then charged at her. Nala somersaulted on the ground and kicked the back of Dhm’Ni’s legs when she came out of it. Dhm’Nifell to the ground hard but as he turned off of his stomach to get up Nala had already stood and made her way to him. She placed one foot on his chest and lowered her staff to his neck and smiled, “Got yah! Win!” She says as she points to herself. 

On seeing a stab at his son's throat Lord Khupiee instantly dove for Nala. By her body language he thought that she was going to kill him. He wouldn't let his son die in such a manner. He lunged and with his left hand he grabbed Nala by the throat and heaved her into the sky.

“Stupid Ooman!” Lord Khupiee yells at her. He was holding with an outstretched arm and was slowly squeezing her. Dhm’Ni immediately jumped up.

“Father, no! She was just—” Dhm’Ni started.

“I don’t care, Dhm’Ni! She threatened you and now she will die.” 

But Nala wouldn't have any of this. She had Sya’s staff in one hand but she wouldn’t use it but had a better idea. She Brought up a knee and slammed right into Lord Khupiee’s elbow, shattering it by making it bend the wrong way. Instantly he dropped her to the ground and she fell onto her back. She dragged herself away as Dhm’Ni started to look at his father's arm.

“She is strong,” Lord Khupiee hisses. He cannot believe that she had done this to him, he had had wounds like this before but not by an Ooman. 

Dhm’Ni started to gently laugh, “I think we both know that now.”

Nala was gripping her aching neck. Why do they always go for the neck!? She sat up and took in air like she would never breathe again but as she did she caught the scent of hell. She stood up tall and started to look around. No one was paying attention because they were all looking at their wounded leader but Nala was searching for the Hard Meat. It was close. The wind was carrying it and it was coming from—

“GET DOWN!” Nala yelled as she dashed towards Lord Khupiee. 

She smelt it coming from behind him and even if he tried to kill her, she wanted to kill the Hard Meat more than anything. But since no one was paying attention to her they all thought she was charging Lord Khupiee so everyone, including Dhm’Ni, got into a fighting stance. All the same to Nala, she sprinted towards them and then jumped up and over them all. However she didn't land on ground, she landed right onto a Hard Meat warrior. She brought it down with her weight and it screamed in agony. All the others quickly turned to see her and a Hard Meat started to fight. Dhm’Ni and Lord Khupiee were speechless while Sya was furious.

“Do you really think she would attack you without motivation?” He asked as he made his way to Nala but Lord Khupiee stopped him with his good arm.

“No, I would like to watch her. If she dies, she dies. If not, then she doesn't,” He said emotionless. It was like he didn't even care that this little Ooman saved him from being attacked by a Hard Meat but truthfully he was thanking the Gods for bringing her to him. 

They all watched as Nala started to actually play with the Hard Meat. It was jabbing and stabbing its tail, swiping its sharp claws and extending its inner mouth but Nala just dodged them all. She was twisting and twirling, moving her feet so fast they couldn't keep track of them. It was as if she was dancing with it but she was in the lead. She was moving along with it, matching each and every strike with her own. When Nala started to hum and close her eyes, they all thought she was Hulij-bpe, just crazy. But Nala was alright, actually she was perfect. She was dancing with the Hard Meat, stabbing it with Sya’s spear every now and then but she was having fun. Dhm’Ni and the others were hypnotized by her movements. She was flowing like water, matching and moving with each and every attempt the Hard Meat gave to hurt her. But it never came close. Finally, Nala sliced off its tail with the spear and then jabbed it in its back. The Hard Meat wailed in agony as it fell to the ground dead. 

“Lord Khupiee?” Ykas’e came over the COM making Lord Khupiee flinch and taking him out of his daze. 

“Yes Ykas’e, what is it?” He asked.

“We have made contact with a group of objects coming this way. There are over 10 missiles aimed right at us and they will be here in less than 6 minutes. I suggest that we get out of here now sir.” 

“Then we shall. Are you . . . are you watching this Ykas’e?” Lord Khupiee asks.

“We all are sir. The watchers had decided to project each hunter's video feed into the galley and all of the society rooms. I am sorry but by the time I knew what was happening, she had killed the Queen,” Ykas’he said with a hint of ‘I couldn’t believe it’.

“That is alright, Ykas’e. Just make sure that they know what is happening with her being transported to another island,” He hisses as he ends the COM. He was angry with him for not being in control of the watchers but it's too late now. 

He turned back to the female when he heard her say something to the dead Hard Meat, it was something along the lines of mocking it, “Ooman!” Lord Khupiee yells, catching Nala’s attention.

“Come here,” He orders but Nala doesn’t move. Her face changes into a ‘yeah right’ face and stares into Lord Khupiee’s mask. He just starts to laugh, “Do not be concerned. I swear not to hurt you. Again,” He adds, “I just wish to give you something.”

Everyone turns their heads to Lord Khupiee. He couldn’t be about to do what they think he's going to do is he? Nala unenthusiastically makes her way closer to Lord Khupiee but stops at arm's length. 

“What else can I do for you?” She asks mockingly. Pakka, who made his way next to Lord Khupiee, started to growl at her but stopped when Lord Khupiee raised his hand to silence him. 

“What is your name Ooman?” Lord Khupiee asks. 

Pakka couldn’t believe it! He was doing it! He was going to mark her! Pakka hisses as he turned from them and started to walk away. Nala followed him for a moment and her lips gave way to a smirk knowing that that particular guy really didn't like her but the old one told him to shut up.

“Nalani,” She answered as she looked back at Lord Khupiee.

“Nalani, I wish to mark you,” He pauses. He couldn't believe it himself that he was doing this but he felt that he needed too. She had saved his son, the ship and even himself. No matter how hard he was going to try and forget it, she did it and he had to do something to thank her. 

“A mark in remembrance of what you have done today. A tribute to your accomplishments, to your prey,” He motions to the Queen and the warrior, “And take your trophies. You amaze me Nalani, I am shocked at your power and at your determination,” Lord Khupiee carefully takes out his ceremonial dagger from his belt and shows it to Nala to make sure she knew he wasn't going to use it on her. Nala held back a flinch as she looked at it. It was a dagger for sure but its handle wasn't a normal handle, it was a finger from a Hard Meat. 

“Do you accept my gift for you, Nalani?” He asks, bringing Nala out of her daze.

“Is it like the mark Dhm’Ni has?” She wondered. Hearing his name, Dhm’Ni looked at Nala but she still gazed at Lord Khupiee. 

“Yes it is but for females we place it on the cheek.”

“Then I accept,” She says without hesitation. She would never forget this day for the rest of her life. Perhaps a mark would keep her from ever forgetting.

“Dhm’Ni,” Lord Khupiee clicks. 

Dhm’Ni walked to his father and retrieved the dagger from him, “From the Queen's blood,” He says. 

As Dhm’Ni made his way to the pooling blood of the Queen, he couldn't help but feel strange that his father was doing this and yet he had an odd sense of pride. Sya did as well. He swelled his chest in anticipation, he knew that this was something that was never done and was even proud at the fact that he was acquaintances, if not friends, with Nala. Quickly, Dhm’Ni tipped the claw of the dagger in the Queen's blood and handed it back to his father. 

“Are you ready Nalani?” 

She nods to him. 

Gently he takes her tilting her head with his good hand then positions the blood tipped dagger by her cheek, “This is going to hurt.”

“I'm used to it,” She says in a witty tone. Lord Khupiee didn't know what she meant so he began to draw his clan's blooding mark. The pain was nothing to Nala. She didn't flinch or grind her teeth or show any pain in her face. When Lord Khupiee was done with the two marks, he saw her neck and understood what she meant by her being used to it. 

“I see that you have already been marked by the Hard Meats blood. Seems you are a magnet for blood aren't you?” Lord Khupiee jokes at all the blood on her. She was covered from head to toe.

“Very funny,” She says. All the sudden she felt a little self conscious, she had been chastised too many times because of her scars but as she was about to cover her neck with her hand Lord Khupiee grabbed it. 

“ I would not touch that if I were you.”

“I wasn't going too. I just . . . Scars are not something to show off for a girl yah know?” 

No I do not. Show your scars with honor Nalani, they are you. They make you know you are. They are a living story in your body. Never cover them. Especially these,” Lord Khupiee motions to Nalas arms. He had noticed them and wanted to question them but now was not the time. Lord Khupiees and Nalas eyes connected and he could have sworn that his heart skipped a beat. 

“Do you see it Dhm’Ni?” He clicks. Dhm’Ni just nodded to him. He knew that his father saw it too. He knew that he saw Ni’Atni in her eyes as he did before.

“Lord Khupiee!” Ykas’e came over the COM again, making Lord Khupiee look away from Nala.

“YES!?” He hisses in response.

“We must leave within three minutes or we will not make it out.”

“I understand,” Lord Khupiee ends the COM. He looks back down to Nala to find her not there anymore. She had made her way as close to the Queen's head as possible when she noticed that Lord Khupiee had gone somewhere. 

“I hate you for what you did to me and now you are dead,” She continued to whisper to the decapitated head under the watching eyes of all the hunters.

“Tell the youngbloods to bring in the Queen and the warrior she killed into the cargo hold,” Lord Khupiee adds.

“Why the warrior?” Dhm’Ni questions but when Lord Khupiee thrashed his head towards Dhm’Ni, he immediately looked down and forgot about getting an answer. Dhm’Ni looked to the small group of Young Bloods that were supposed to keep the Queen in the cargo hold and motioned for them to gather the Queen and the warrior. As the others came into a group around Lord Khupiee Sya had a burning question.

“So we take her to another island then?” He asks. Somewhere deep down he didn't want to just drop her off. He had an intense dread that if they left her here she would be dead within the cycle. The entire ship has seen this, she's not safe here or anywhere.

“Only if she agrees to keep our existence a secret…” He pauses and points towards Nala. She left the head once, she was done damming it to the depths of hell, if there was a hell for this thing, and memorizing her face in her mind. She had turned back towards the group but she stopped in her tracks at seeing Lord Khupiee point at her, “And only if she survives the Hard Meat that is behind her.” 

In unison they all, including Pakka, turned to Nala. Now she knew something was wrong. Her body stiff and her heart quickened when she realized that her senses were blocked by the stench of the Queen and that there’s another Hard Meat somewhere she wouldn't have been able to tell the difference. 

“NALA!” Dhm’Ni roared as he saw a Hard Meat come out from behind the Queen. 

He watched Nala's face turn to pure horror and he watched as the Hard Meat came up behind her and stabbed her in her left shoulder. Nala didn't scream. She just looked down to the tail jutting out from her shoulder and then looked back up to the group. She was specifically staring at Lord Khupiee. He had seen it coming and he did nothing to help her. She saved him from this happening to him but couldn’t he have done the same for her? 

Nala suddenly yelped in pain as the Hard Meat thrashed her to the ground, whipping her off its tail and throwing her a good 20 feet away. Both Sya and Dhm’Ni were about to run at the Hard Meat before it jumped on Nala but they both stopped when they heard a shoulder cannon go off. They turn back to the group to see that Rathe had in fact shot. He couldn't just let her die like that. She had shown so much honor and skill today that he couldn't just stand idly by. The Hard Meat was blown to pieces by Rathe’s cannon, leaving Nala on the ground. She just laid there staring into the beautiful Hawaiian blue sky. She brings up her right hand and covers her new wound, coating her right hand in her own blood. No amount of meditation could help the pain, but she would never cry. She wouldn't give that bitch of a mother the satisfaction of one of her offspring making her scream. 

“She is dead,” Lord Khupiee chirps sadly. 

“NO!” Came from more than a few hunters. 

“She is not dead,” Dhm’Ni hisses sternly. He didn't care if his father got angry because he was angry at his father. How could he have done that! Just watch and do nothing to help Nala when she had done the complete opposite for him. Then Dhm’Ni grasped the memory that all he did was watch. Lord Khupiee was about to give Dhm’Ni a very threatening roar but was stopped by a strange sound.

 

BEEP BEEP

 

BEEP BEEP 

 

BEEP BEEP 

 

It was coming from Nala. Dhm’Ni and the others watched as she began to move, Lord Khupiee was taken aback that she could move at all. 

“I told you she was not dead,” Dhm’Ni again hissed at his father. Before he got smacked for his disrespect he made his way to Nala. She tired with all her might and somehow she lifted her left hand. Her watch had started to beep, telling her in its cheery tone that the bomb was either here, or close. She hated this watch. It just stared at her with its stupid face blinking the time. It took a couple tries but she got it off and threw it away. But as she followed it to the ground she saw Dhm’Ni making his way to her. Great. I can’t let him see me like this. I don’t want a fucking audience when I die. She looked up at him as he kneeled down beside her. 

“Times up gorgeous,” Dhm’Ni grunted at being called that again. But Nala just smiled at him. He let out a loud sigh as he started to pick her up.

“Wait! What are you doing?” She yells at him. She tried to push him away with her good hand but couldn’t do a thing, “Leave me to die in peace Dhm’Ni. For all I have done that is the least you could do.”

Well . . . the least they could have done was they did. And that was nothing. 

“No,” He stands up tall with her bloody body in his hands. He motions with his head towards to ship, “No pain . . .” He says as he starts to walk towards the open hunter’s bay doors. The others were all silent. Never had they seen Dhm’Ni be so arrogant and disrespectful towards his father but they could all understand, even Lord Khupiee.

But Sya was furious. How could Lord Khupiee be so cold towards her after what she has done for him? Sya’s body had begun to shake from the rage, he clenched his fists and lowered his head.

“I cannot believe you did that Khupiee,” Sya hisses, “You just stood there and did nothing. I am disappointed.” 

With that, Sya turned to follow Dhm’Ni with Nala in hand. Lord Khupiee just watched him walk away. Sya had only ever talked to him like that once before, long before he became Clan Leader. All the others began to follow Sya’s lead and they walked towards the ship. They had little time. 

Lord Khupiee just stood there for a moment. Had I truly done that? What would Ni’Atni say about my actions?  

She always said gratitude is the most exquisite form of courtesy. And look what I had done . . . nothing at all . 

I just stood and witnessed a being that saved me, saved my son and all on my ship, and I just looked on as she was hit. How could I have done that? 

I know now that my son is beyond angry with me. But she is pray is she not? She may have my Clan mark and she may have done many a great things but what does that make of her? Did I truly have a debt to her for saving my life? Do I owe her something? 

DID I owe her something? 

I guess that it is too late to ask that now. My actions spoke for me. I dishonored myself for not helping one who helped me. How can I repay her now? If she is not dead she will be soon. An Ooman cannot take a wound like that, not even a Yautja can. I guess I will forever have her blood on my hands. 

“Khupiee!” Pakka yells from the ramp leading into the ship. Lord Khupiee sighs aloud then starts to walk in. As the ramp closes behind him, he sees Dhm’Ni give him a strange look. Even with his mask on, he knew that his son was infuriated. They would have to wait until the ship was off ground to move, it would harm Nala even more if she was thrashed about because of the movements of the ship but she . . . had other plans. She couldn't really see where she was but didn't care. She had Lord Khupiee in her sights and she was not going to let him go without knowing what he had done to her. Nala quickly grabbed a small knife from Dhm’Ni’s belt and kicked it out of his hands.

“You . . . asshole,” She says in almost a whisper. 

Everyone turned to her when she spoke wondering how she was even standing. Her body wasn't right, she couldn't feel anything. All she knew was that she was hit bad and it was because that fucker in front of her just let it happen. 

"All you do . . . for me . . . is the point?” She gets out in between labored breaths.

“Thanks . . . for the gratitude,” She says as she lunges at Lord Khupiee. Some tried to grab her but she dodged every hand. As she makes it to him she stops and brings up the small knife and wields it in front of her. Lord Khupiee emits a low growl and he is lowered into a fighting stance. Suddenly everyone started to wobble and shake as the ship lifted off. Nala used this to her advantage and punched Lord Khupiee in the neck with her fist that was holding the knife. He reared back in pain but quickly came back and swung at Nala. He hit her in the right cage, just beside her sternum. She shrieked in agony from her broken rib as Lord Khupiee took back his hand and punched her in the jaw, busting her lip. Nala flew back and fell just at the feet of Bakkub. Bakkub watched her slide to him and couldn't even fathom why she would take such a beating knowing that she was hurt. When Bakkub saw Lord Khupiee take a footstep towards Nala he stepped around the trembling body below him and stood in between her and Lord Khupiee.

“Ki'dte!” Bakkub roars and Lord Khupiee stops. He wasn't going to hit her again, he was going to pick her up and take her to the healers but they thought he was going to hurt her. How could they think that of him? He takes a step back from Bakkub. Even with his size, Lord Khupiee and Bakkub were an even match but with his left arm banged up he wouldn't stand a chance. “Dhm’Ni, take her to Kh’Cho,” Bakkub hisses. 

Dhm’Ni hurriedly makes his way to Nala to see that she had lost consciousness. He carefully picked her up again but before he turned to take her to the healers he gave his father one last look. 

“GO!” Bakkub roars. Dhm’Ni then turns and runs, along with Sya, to get Nala to Kh’Cho. He had to get her there now or she would die in his hands. 

“Wasn't letting her fall to a Hard Meat enough Lord Khupiee?” Dh’Kn chirps softly as he and all the others start to make their way out of the hunter’s bay. And there Lord Khupiee remained. Standing alone as the others went to their rooms to take off their Awu’asa and cleanse in the Usipa water. 

Notes:

E.M.

Current Pronunciations (Previous on chapters 3, 4, & 6.)
Hele He-Lei
Kh’Cho Kah-Choo

Chapter 10: Lost and Found

Notes:

Hello my fellow readers!

Much needed update for this chapter is here. Sucks that Word can't get the symbols from the original writing or else this would be quicker lol. But at least it's here!

And with that, I'm hoping to kickstart into overdrive with my stories especially with Predator Badlands new trailer up and now seeing Comic Con images from the panel, I'm so excited. And also whoever is there, you are so lucky as you got to see the first 15 minutes of the movie live! So jealous and sad but it only makes me want to hype all the more!

Anyway, new chapter for Rise Up will be the next and then Honor Above All and right back to Respect but depends which one I'm driving with lol.

Hope you love it, thank you for the wait and Good Hunting! To the BADLANDS!!! And to my favorite Yautja DEK!

And my new favorite quote:

"I'M PREY TO NONE!"

She said that word to me. Gratitude. It can’t be a coincidence.

Ni’Atni...you used the same word. Oh Paya, I miss you. How could I have done such a thing today? How could I have just stood there?

But why is this bothering me? Is it how she reminds me of you . . . or how and of what she had done today for me and our son and my ship.

I can’t even think right now . . . I did a dishonorable thing.

What am I to do? Ni’Atni, I need your guidance. I need to have you by my side, I need your words in my ear and I need you to tell me what to do. I cannot send her to the Oomans can I? How can I risk it? Is it even a risk that frightens me?

“Lord Khupiee?” Ykas’e says over the COM.

“Yes?” He answers back, shaking his head of all thoughts.

“Sir, I think you need to come to the Bridge. You need to see this.”

“See what?” Lord Khupiee asks as he starts out of the Hunter’s bay.

“You have no idea how fortunate we are to have left when we did Sir,” Ykas’e says with merit.

“Oh,” Lord Khupiee didn't sound right. His voice was filled with misery. He was even walking with a lowered head as he made his way to the lift. And to his dismay there was a constant trail of Nala’s blood making its way down the hallway. He was thankful that the corridor was empty. Around this time it was usually packed with Hunters coming and going but since the watchers were showing the video feeds in the galley and society rooms they were all there.

“The missiles have just hit the island we were on, my Lord.”

“I will be there in a moment,” Lord Khupiee said and then ended the COM. He waited for a minute after he punched the lift key as it came back down. He was dreading the scene when the lift door would open and he was right too. When it arrived and opened, her blood was on the ground. He shook his head slightly as he made his way in the large box, careful not to step in her pooled blood. All the lifts around the ship were the same size, they could hold up to 15 Yautja at one time. But no one would want to be that close to one another.

“Bridge,” He said to the voice command and it started to carry him away. He just stood there in the black and red box, silent and unthinking. But when the lift prematurely stopped he lifted his head to the opening door to see a small group of Young Bloods who immediately bowed their heads and stepped back. They wouldn't dare share a lift with him. When the door closed again he went back to his thoughtless state. He was trying with all he had to keep a question that was aflame in the back of his mind from coming forward. So he was grateful when the lift stopped at the Bridge.

“Sir,” Ykas’e chirps, making all in the room stand and bow to him. All was silent as he made his way to his leader's chair and sat down. To his surprise he had forgotten about his arm but fully remembered its broken state when he attempted to rest it on the arm rest but got a menacing pain instead of comfort.

“What is it that is so important?” He hisses out of pain.

Ykas’e nods to the sensors and the three viewing screens turn on. When Lord Khupiee looked up he realized that he still had his mask on and that he could not see the screens all that well, but as he took it off he paused in shock. The screens showed a picture of a blue blast cloud completely enveloping the entire display.

“Do you see that small little spot, right in the middle of the cloud that is a white color?” Ykas’e asks. Lord Khupiee just looks at him, his eyes telling that he did not want to deal with bullshit today.

“Well, if we waited one minute more, that would have been us,” Lord Khupiee looks back at the screen. And then the question came into his mind.

 

---

 

Dhm’Ni was getting concerned as he and Sya ran to the lift. Nala had started to cough as he held her in his arms when he realized she couldn't breathe this air. She was suffocating in his arms but that wasn't all. He could feel the blood from her wound seep down his arms and down his waist covering his lower armor but he did care about the mess. He should have protected her. He should have kept her near him on both the planet and in the Hunter’s bay.

Who knows what else his father did to her.

He hit her broken rib with unbelievable precision and then hit her again in the head. Like she wasn’t in enough pain as it is. But why would she have gotten up when she was hurt so bad? It was as if she couldn't feel a thing as she moved. Dhm’Ni growled as the anger for his fathers actions started to boil in him.

“Calm yourself Dhm’Ni,” Sya said as he ran a little ahead to the lift. He punched the lift key and to his relief it opened right then and there, “You will do no good to her if you are crazy with anger. We need to get a mask on her. She needs more oxygen than us.”

The healer’s level was only a few decks above them so it took only a few seconds to get there. As the door opened, a small group of Young Bloods were waiting. But when they didn’t move and just stared at Nala as she laid there motionless, both Sya and Dhm’Ni released a deafening roar to get them to move. Immediately, they scurry out of the way, giving them room to pass but as the small group turned back to the lift the doors were already closed.

“DHM’NI! SYA! Hurry!” Kh’Cho yells from the open door to the healers. There was only one healer on this DropShip and Kh’Cho was the best of the best when it came to medicine. On this DropShip half an entire deck was dedicated to the healer, while on a normal one they would only be given a small room but with the number of Yautja here they needed larger accommodations. While the major part of the healer’s portion was a collective healing room, there was a small private room for personal healing.

“I have been waiting!” He yells again. Kh’Cho had been in the galley as the watchers projected the videos feeds. And from what he saw, he was either going to have a crash course on Ooman physiology or a very angry Lord Khupiee with a broken arm. He was actually delighted when Nala came first.

“Sya!” Dhm’Ni barked. He had stopped in his sprint when Nala ended her coughing. Sya turned to him but when he looked to Nala he saw that she was breathing fine now. He just shook his head and grabbed Dhm’Ni’s arm and pulled him towards the door.

“She still breathes Dhm’Ni,” He says as they run into the room. There were many doors into the healers and they had purposely entered into the private room.

“Quick! Place her onto the block!” Kh’Cho orders Dhm’Ni. He ran up to the white table and carefully placed Nala down.

The room was all black except for the white slab of stone that sat in the middle of the space. It had all the necessary equipment but everything here was meant for just one person to heal in private. There was even a bathroom connected to it but it did not have a bath like others do.

“Cj’na!” Kh’Cho calls for his assistant who comes running in but stops still when he sees Nala. Dhm’Ni and Sya had both moved off to give them room. Neither of them had the intention of leaving her alone.

“Disrobe her!” Kh’Cho yells at his assistant but he remains still. Kh’Cho roars in frustration and starts to do it himself.

“Spare what clothing you can. She will need them when we leave her,” Dhm’Ni says in a gloomy tone to the healer. Both Sya and Kh’Cho look at Dhm’Ni wondering why but for different reasons. Sya didn't want to leave her. He didn't want to just drop her off somewhere. Who knows what would happen to her?

“What are you still doing here?” Kh’Cho hisses and he runs at the two standing hunters, “Get out! Get out!” He orders, “No males when healing an injured female! OUT!”

“But she’s Ooman,” Dhm’Ni tries to say but was cut short as Kh’Cho started to push them out. They would never raise a hand to him, that would be rude considering they are constantly at the healers and it is a stupid thing to anger the one with the pain killers.

“Yes, but female nonetheless. OUT!” He says again as he pushes them both out into the hallway. They couldn't get a second word in when the door closed. So they just stood there, staring at the closed door knowing that she was right there beyond a small wall, bleeding to death.

“Hmm. . . I didn't think Kh’Cho would take so easily to her,” Sya thrills.

“Right and she is sooo easy to get along with,” Dhm’Ni says angrily. He was huffing hard breaths as he waited. He didn't like being away from her. If she got hurt, in ANY way, he would go insane.

“All we can do is cleanse and get ready for the meeting,” Sya says.

Dhm’Ni just looks at him and tilts his head, “We have a few things to discuss, your father and I, and all of the other Arbitrators for that matter.”

Sya wasn't sure what was going to happen at the gathering. He and Dhm’Ni are furious with Lord Khupiee and he isn't too sure about how the others feel either. Dhm’Ni turns to completely face Sya and motions with his hand towards the door.

“She will be safe with Kh;Cho, Dhm’Ni. Be sure of that. He will take the utmost care with her, Ooman or not.”

Sya paused and something caught his eye, “Would you look at that,” Sya chirps and he points to Dhm’Ni’s chest plate, “Seems you have been marked by blood today too.

Dhm’Ni peered down to his chest and his eyes met with Nala’s bloody handprint.

“She tried to push me away,” He said as he looked back up to Sya. But he only shrugged his shoulders.

“She thought she had died Dhm’Ni, beyond hope of healing. And my guess is she would have rather died down there than be thrown onto some island to die.”

Dhm’Ni just grunted at that. He too would have rather died there than to be placed into a ‘safe’ island to die. Seeing how his father was acting just now, that was probably what he would do . . . just throw her into the first piece of land he saw and leave her there to rot. Dhm’Ni was beginning to breathe ever harder, his breaths turning into roars at the ends. As he thought of his father he clenched his fists and his body began to feel like bugs were crawling all over him. He needed to vent now or he would take it out on his father the first moment he saw him. He swiftly turned down the opposite direction of the lift and started to walk. There are sets of stairs all through the ship and maybe climbing all the way to the residence decks would calm him or maybe tired him a little.

“She will be in good health Dhm’Ni,” Sya yelled down the hallway.

“I know that Sya. She is tough, even with her wounds. It is how she gained that one that infuriates me!” He roars back.

Sya fell silent as he watched Dhm’Ni walk and turn the corner to the stairs. All Sya can do now is go to his room and cleanse, hoping Dhm’Ni to do the same. But as Dhm’Ni scaled the flights of stairs it seemed to only irritate him even more. His rage and anger were fueling him as he made his way. It was over 32 decks up and even as he got to the residence deck that his room was on he was still fuming. As he turned the corner to the hallway, all those standing in the passage spun in his direction. He didn't care anymore. Look all they want. They were probably looking at Nala’s blood rather than at him. He just rammed through the crowds as they silenced and made his way into his room. This is all he needed, a small confined and restricted hole when all he wants is space. Even before the door closed he tore off his mask, threw it onto his bed and belted out a thunderous roar as he bent his back and flared his mandibles as wide as they could go. He just stood there for a moment in an attempt to get back his breath.

“Djh’fah,” Dhm’Ni hisses and the lights turn on. A lot of things were by voice command, it's a lot easier to just tell the lights to turn on then do it yourself. But for words such as lights, a different statement is used. Words that are common to everyday conversation tend to have a different word representing them so that you don't keep turning on and off the lights throughout the day. The COM still blinks blue with messages for Dhm’Ni but in his rage he slams his fist down, deleting them all. Thr’ik would just make him even more heated. Right now Dhm’Ni just needs to cleanse.

He swiftly makes his way to his Awu’asa stand and starts to take off his armor piece by piece. He stopped when he took off his chest plate and stared at it. Right over where his heart is was Nala’s hand print in her blood. Unexpectedly he found himself blowing on it as if trying to dry it. What the hell am I doing? Do I want to keep her print on my chest plate? You know what I do. After I cleanse I will take it to the K'daai, the armor makers, to seal it to my armor. If anything, my memory will keep her alive.

Oh Paya, what if she dies?

I don't care if I am considered a Bad Blood anymore, she can’t die now. Am I even mad at my father or am I mad at myself for not helping? I should have been with her to keep her safe. She is my responsibility isn't she? What the hell am I talking about no she isn't! What debt do I have to her now? She saved me from a Hard Meat, I saved her. But we would all be dead right now if it weren't for her, right? Would we still be alive if it wasn't for her? No I guess not.

He puts the plate down onto his bed as he continues to undress. He will have to take his entire Awu’asa to get it cleaned but his body needs to be cleaned first. He strips naked and turns to his bathroom. As he made his way, he fingered a horizontal scar that rested on his right side, just above his pelvis. As makes his way in, he grabs a sponge from the linen closet and walks up to the Usipa. Every hunter is taught at an early age to cleanse. Even if you come back from a hunt without stain, you must still cleanse. Dhm’Ni dipped the large sponge into the basin and lifted it over his head. With a tight squeeze he wrings all the water out. He lifts his head to allow water to fall onto his face. It cascades down the ribs of his forehead, splashes and splatters as it falls past his brow and his mandibles. He rewets the sponge and places it against his shoulder to squeeze it once more. The water rolls down his chest, arm and back then falls to the ground. Again he fills the sponge and does the same to the other shoulder. Then he moves his long tresses and places the wet sponge on the back of his neck.

The sensation of the water is calming even to the most riled hunter. Immediately, he found himself to be at peace as he cleansed. But the moment he placed the wet sponge on his lower back, right where Nala stabbed him, he seethed in pain but soon started to laugh at the memory. His eyes caught the sight of red and green flowing on the ground. The black tile floor had a small tilt to it, making it so all water would drain away. For a moment he watched and the two bloods danced in the water. He continued his cleansing of his waist and legs and then when he was finished, he once more filled the sponge with water and raised it over his head and squeezed. He threw away the soiled sponge and dried himself with a large towel. He dressed himself in casual armor, which was basically just an animal skin loincloth with a metal covering and a pair of metal sandals. If a hunter wished, they could wear more, but Dhm’Ni was fine with wearing just that. But as he dressed, he couldn't get Nala out of his mind. He kept thinking of her just lying there bleeding, or maybe even dead. He didn't know why he felt guilty but it filled his every thought. He couldn't and wouldn't just stand here and think of the worst when he needed to get his armor cleaned and Nala’s print sealed.

He gathered his Awu’asa, careful not to smear her print and made his way out of his room. The door opened with a little more sound than Dhm’Ni wished and everyone again looked to him. He stopped at the frame of his door and glared at all around him. He knew what they wanted to know.

“Ask it now or not at all!” He hisses. But they all stayed silent. Dhm’Ni starts to laugh and they all look at him strangely, “You will not get an answer without first asking a question,” he chirps.

“What is Lord Khupiee going to do with her?” Nder asks. He and a great number of other celebrated hunters of the Ehre Clan came along with Lord Khupiee when this voyage was set. He was beyond pleased when he found a lot of his friends and some of his enemies came along.

“He had already tried to kill her, Nder. Who knows what else he is going to do,” Dhm’Ni answers. He and Nder were friends to say the least. He was older than Dhm’Ni but he is Blooded and has many hunts on his belt. Nder and the others start to thrill in laughter.

“If she lives, I would be welcome to take her off his hands. What a trophy she will be.” Nder was shocked when Dhm’Ni started to growl at him.

“I would love to see you try Nder. But you would need to get through Sya and me to get to her and then you can try to kill her. She is like nothing I or anyone had ever seen. True, her skull would be a great addition to any hunter’s wall, but I highly doubt that that will ever happen,” He hisses. Everyone just quieted down. They didn't understand why he was being so protective of her.

“Getting attached to the Ooman, are we Dhm’Ni?” Nder jests.

“In my honor I must protect her, Nder. And I am amazed that all of you do not hold the same thinking. Has anyone seen the island that we are on, has it been destroyed yet?” He asks smugly.

“I was on the Bridge not too long ago,” Ojhm spoke up, “I watched as the island we were on exploded, but not by our arsenal,” They all just looked at him with heads tilted.

“The Oomans obliterated the island, to rid them of the hard meats. But who do you think warned us of their plan?” Dhm’Ni thrills as he begins to walk down to the hall of standing Yautja, “The female informed us of the islands emending doom, and if she had not, we would ALL be in the Judgment Hall of Cetanu.”

Dhm’Ni reaches the lift and stands there waiting for it to come. He was amused that everyone became silent after he told them. He didn’t care if his father became angry with him for telling them, they needed to know. He stepped onto the lift when it arrived and turned to see them all staring at him. He just stared right back as the door closed but once it did he started to smile.

“K'daai”

The lift begins to shift to the right. Lifts on a Yautja ship did not simply go up and down, it could go right and left as well. It stopped and opened its doors to the K'daai deck. The entire floor is dedicated to the builders. Here armor is made and mended by the best welders and creators in the entire Yautja universe. They had everything their brilliant minds would ever need or want. Metal and crafting material from all over the universe for them to constantly be creating whatever their hands can make.

“Dhm’Ni, it is good to see you,” Kaine thrills at seeing Dhm’Ni enter his workshop. Dhm’Ni walks to a bench and places his armor down before walking to Kaine. They both welcome each other with shoulder shakes and grins.

“It is good to see you as well old man,” He thrills.

Kaine had been with Lord Khupiee way before Dhm’Ni was born. He made Dhm’Ni’s first Awu’asa and from then on he made everything for him, from his casual armor to ceremonial, “I need to ask a favor of you Kaine.”

“Anything for you Dhm’Ni,” He thrills as he and Dhm’Ni walk towards his work bench.

“What’s this here?” He clicks as he sees over the armor, “Messy, messy, messy! Does your father know you have muddled your armor in such away?”

Dhm’Ni growled and turned his head away, Kaine instantly remembered the video he witnessed, “Of course he knows. The female. . .” He says, making Dhm’Ni turn back to him, “She was quite a thing to watch wasn’t she?”

“And to fight. Do you see the print on my chest plate?” Dhm’Ni asks as he motions to his armor.

“It will be cleaned as well, do not worry about that!”

“I do not wish it to be cleaned, Kaine. I hope that you will seal it,” He asks slyly.

Kaine just looks at him, one brow raised, “You wish to keep the Ooman print?”

“You question me old man?” Dhm’Ni thrills. Kaine puts both his hands up.

“Just wondering . . . and yes it can be sealed. But any future scratches to it will make some come off. The color may fade but it will keep,” Kaine then picks up all but the chest plate and gives it to another worker, “Clean this at once, before all others.”

Kaine then picks up the chest plate and motions to Dhm’Ni to follow him, “Now, Dhm’Ni. I watched the female, along with the rest of the ship, and I have to say that I am impressed.”

“As am I,” Dhm’Ni didn’t know where he was going with his words but where ever it was he better be careful.

“As well as the rest of the ship but worry still.”

“About?” Dhm’Ni followed Kaine as he made his way past the entire room and into a Kaine’s private shop. He stopped when Kaine placed his armor down onto a table and went to find something.

“About her, the female and about what happened with the Queen and the warrior, and Lord Khupiee,” Kaine said carefully, “I overheard some talking in the galley, they wondered if perhaps Lord Khupiee was going to do something other than drop her off.”

He stops when he found a small bottle on a shelf. He makes his way back over to Dhm’Ni’s chest plate and opens the bottle. But the second it opened, both he and Dhm’Ni cringed at the stench, “Just the sealer.”

“What do you mean by that Kaine?” Dhm’Ni asks. He had to shake his head as the fumes from the sealer were getting to him.

“We have gone into orbit around the Ooman planet Dhm’Ni. We were all notified that Lord Khupiee was moving her to an island but we are nowhere near an island now.”

“I did not know that we moved so far away,” Kaine took out a flat brush and started to paint over Nala’s print with special care not to smudge it, “And I do not know what his plans to do with her.”

“She is healing yes?” Dhm’Ni nods to him, “Perhaps he is just waiting for her to heal then he will let her go. Who knows...”

He then fastens the top to the bottle back on, to both his and Dhm’Ni’s delight, and places it back on the shelf and then he grabs a lengthy rectangle box that’s about a foot long but only a few inches wide and places it over the newly painted plate, “Close your eyes Dhm’Ni. The light will blind you.”

Dhm’Ni does as he was told and even with his eyes closed, he could see the blue light that the little box was emitting, “Ok. All finished here. The light dried and preserved the print,” Kaine says as he places it back down.

“Thank you Kaine,” Dhm’Ni says with a bow. He always had the highest respect for him. Normally, one wouldn’t give such sophisticated courtesy to a worker but they are old friends. A knock at the door makes them both turn and they see the same worker Kaine told to clean Dhm’Ni’s Awu’asa and there in his hands was a cleaned set of armor. Dhm’Ni points to the same table his chest plate laid and the worker quickly placed the rest by it. Dhm’Ni nods to him as he makes his way out of the room.

“Why do you not allow me to give you Awu’asa some ‘substance’ Dhm’Ni? The others thrive to have a unique look and yet you do nothing.”

“Then it is unique,” He says smugly as he gathered all the pieces into his arms, “You will have to excuse me Kaine. I have a meeting with ‘them’ . . .” He really didn’t want to say Lord Khupiee. He didn’t know what he was going to do once he got into the conference room and would have to sit next to his father. He would undoubtedly restrain from making eye contact just so he gets his point across that he is way past mad.

“Yes, I understand,” Kaine says as he follows Dhm’Ni out. But just as Dhm’Ni exited the room Kaine said something that made him stop dead.

“I cannot wait until I get to design an Awu’asa for her!” Kaine thrills then closes the door tight.

“Wait. WHAT?” Dhm’Ni hissed and he turned around but he came face to face with the door and not Kaine.

Dhm’Ni knew not to knock. Once Kaine’s door is closed, it’s closed. He just sighs as he turns around and walks out of the K’daai. The trip back to his room was uneventful as the hallways and lift were empty of anyone. Even his residence deck was void of life. But Dhm’Ni didn’t care. He couldn’t get what Kaine said out of his head. He couldn’t possibly have meant it.

Could he have? Father would never allow Nala to stay, could he? Would he?

Dhm’Ni’s heart began to thump hard in his chest at the thought of her staying. What if she stays with me? I MEAN US! Oh Gods! Can’t even imagine the unrest the ship would be in if Father took her in. Would she be a part of the clan or just here? Dhm’Ni let the thoughts slide as he made his way into his room and places his armor on its stand. He hastily made his way back to the lift and headed towards the conference room.

 

---

 

Just outside the conference room, Inkle, Rathe and M’Ho were standing by the doors. They didn’t know just what was going on. Lord Khupiee as ordered the ship into high orbit and for some reason he contacted the Clan Ship. No one, not even Ykas’e, knows what he had said and everyone has been speculating.

“Do you think he called them to talk about the Ooman?” Inkle asked.

“Why would he need too? We are just healing her are we not?” M’Ho added, “It would be a miracle from Paya of she survives her wounds. I heard that Lord Khupiee hasn’t even gone to Kh’Cho yet, in fear of the Ooman. She’s in there now,” He thrills.

“Lord Khupiee is afraid of no Ooman, M’Ho,” Rathe thrilled, “My guess is that he fears hurting her again. Do you honestly think he would have attacked her once more in the Hunter’s Bay? He doesn’t wish to hurt her again. But I still wonder why we are so far from a place we can drop her off.”

They all went silent as they fell into their own thoughts.

“Does he still wish to drop her off?” Inkle asked. Slowly the other two look to him but say nothing.

“Rathe, M’Ho, Inkle!” Dhm’Ni yells down the hallway. Together they all look to him and nod to him, “Why wait out here?”

“We are discussing our predicament before we go in. The rest all wait in there, we just wished for a little time to talk before we go in ourselves,” Rathe chirps, “Dhm’Ni, during your fight with the Ooman—"

“Nala,” Dhm’Ni interrupts, “She deserves to have a name, don’t you think?” He asks. They just started to laugh.

“Yes, I do,” Rathe continued, “During Nala’s and your fight, Sya came up to me and told me that she asked him to thank me for her. I didn’t think that manners were in that species, but I am glad that they are in her.”

Suddenly the doors to the conference room swung open and they see Pakka standing there with a sullied look on his face.

“I could hear you from in here. He said as he turned back into the room. With out the possibility to talk any further they walk in. The guards closed the doors behind them as they made their way to their seats. Everyone was already in there, including Sya who was seated and silent. He kept his eyes down, not willing to make eye contact with Lord Khupiee or anyone. Lord Khupiee was seated as well, his damaged arm hanging off to one side. Dhm’Ni and the others leisurely get to their seats but Dhm’Ni never looked to his father. If he had he would have seen that Lord Khupiee was staring at him. For a moment everyone was silent. They just sat there and stared into nothingness.

“We have a problem,” Lord Khupiee finally began. He looked away from his son and stared into the air, “But I have a solution. It is not up for debate. It is not something that can be changed or influenced.” His voice was hard and commanding. It echoed in the room making it sound even more thunderous.

“The Ooman named Nalani is in with our healer and he says that her recovery will take days, if not weeks. And I am alarmed with the thought that if we placed her back onto that planet, some may question her whereabouts from the time of the destruction of the island, to when she returned. I am even more troubled by the fact of all of you.”

Everyone but Dhm’Ni and Sya look to him at his words. But Lord Khupiee still starred at nothing, “Do you truly think me to harm her even more after I hit her? It pains me to know what I had done. I dishonored myself and my clan with my inactions after what she had done for me. And I hope that in her future time with us, I will be able to repay her for everything.”

Now Dhm’Ni and Sya looked up at him. Dhm’Ni was trying so hard to keep from smiling, if he was right in his thoughts, but it still came through.

“Her future time with us?” Pakka hissed slowly, “What future time with us?”

“I have contacted the Clan Ship and called for the Elders to meet us halfway to the Homeworld,” He said, leaving Pakka’s question momentarily unanswered, “I did not lie when I told Nalani that I was impressed with her. And I imagine that she will be an exceptional addition to the Ehre Clan.”

Lord Khupiee fell silent as he finally looked up to the face of his son and saw him smiling. But as he drifted to the others, most were puzzled, Sya was gleaming but Pakka was furious. His mandibles were clattering in rage and his talons were digging into the table, “Careful Pakka, I do like this table. You claw marks will ruin it,” He says teasingly.

“An . . . exceptional addition did you say?” Pakka finally got out. His eyes were bulging out of his head and his breathing was erratic.

“That I did. I also said that my decision is not to be questioned,” Lord Khupiee looked to Pakka.

“An Ooman in my clan? I think I need to go look out a window because I think I would rather see a Kainde Amedha Queen fly through space then have an Ooman in my clan,” Pakka says calmly.

“Then I suggest you start looking,” Lord Khupiee says as he turns back to the group, “This meeting is done but I request that until we meet with the Elders and until she is either completely welcomed into my clan or not. I ask that all of you stay here. If something comes up that needs an Arbitrator’s attention than one may leave but I ask that you come back. I need each one of your testimonies for when she is judged. For now, we will sleep. And when Nalani wakes, we will tell her of her new membership to this clan.

Lord Khupiee stands up, making everyone else do the same, and started for the door, “I intend to tell her myself,” Just as Lord Khupiee was passing Sya he stopped and turned to him.

“Sya,” He looks at Lord Khupiee, staring right into his eyes, “How am I to make things right with her?” Sya was stunned at the question. Never has Lord Khupiee even attempted to make things ‘right’ with someone. He either killed them or— he just killed them.

“Apologize,” Sya said. Lord Khupiee nodded to that and then continued out. As the doors opened, he saw Ykas’e was waiting for him.

“Sir, are the rumors true?” Ykas’e asks as the doors closed.

“What rumors?” Lord Khupiee questions as he starts for the lift to get to the healer's deck.

“That the Ooman is . . . staying?” He asks cautiously.

“Yes she is,” Lord Khupiee answers. Ykas’e stood still, “COM Kh’Cho and tell him I am on my way.”

“Uh . . .yes Sir,” Ykas’e staggers out of his mouth.

Back in the conference room, everyone sat back down to their chairs but remained quiet. They all just stared at one another, looking into the faces of the person next to them, all unbelieving and skeptical.

“So, she stays?” Miy’Hota finally spoke.

“Seems that way,” Inkle added.

“He knew,” Sya suddenly barked. Everyone turned their head to him, “He knew that she was staying from the beginning. Since she killed the Queen and the warrior. Why else would he have told Dhm’Ni to get the Young Bloods to bring them into the ship?

“He did say he had a peculiar feeling about her, didn’t he?” Bakkub chirps, "Perhaps he only thought something might happen. Perhaps he didn’t really know what was going to happen until--" Bakkub fell silent when Dhm’Ni suddenly growled at the memory.

“Perhaps a lot of things happened Bakkub,” Dhm’Ni started, “Perhaps he feels an unstable amount of guilt for his actions. Or perhaps he just wishes to keep her here until he decides it’s time to throw her away. But until we find out, we can do nothing.”

“NOTHING!” Pakka roars, “WE KILL HER, THAT’S WHAT WE CAN DO!”

Pakka fell silent when all of the others growl back at him, “What? I will not allow a pathetic Ooman into my clan!”

“There are something’s you need to understand Pakka,” Bakkub hissed, “For one thing she is not pathetic. Ooman yes but pathetic no. I think she had shown us differently and for another thing, you would not be here if it weren’t for her. None of us would be AND we cannot change Lord Khupiee’s mind once it is set. I know that he feels guilt and even remorse for what he had done.”

“Then he is unfit to be Clan Leader!” Pakka hisses.

“And what do you plan to do about it Pakka?” Dh’Kn tested, “Challenge him? Do you truly think that you are fit to be Clan Leader? I think not! And I think that what he has done is the right thing to do. WE held a Chiva there. WE put a Queen there. WE missed her when we came for Shn’Di-Ka’Cha. WE took Nala’s life from her, her friends, her mate, everything. WE even took her death from her when we took her into the DropShip. And now WE will give her a new life. Here . . . with us.”

“I think we need to do as Lord Khupiee suggested. WE need to sleep, let our minds come to terms with this,” Rathe starts and he stands up.

“I for one am thrilled that she is now a part of the Ehre Clan. She will be an excellent addition, Pakka. I am just disappointed that I did not welcome her to my clan first,” He said laughing.

He did think that she would have been a great addition to his own clan but he was still overjoyed when Lord Khupiee said she was now a part of this world, “Somehow, I know she will be fine. I have heard some talk of how she was . . . enticing,” He chose his words carefully, “But we will discuss that at a later time! For now, we slumber,” He ended as he opened the doors and exited. Soon he was followed by everyone but Dhm'Ni and Sya. They remained still as the others left the room. Suddenly, Sya started to laugh and Dhm’Ni just stared at him.

“What is so funny?” Dhm’Ni questioned.

"Well, for one thing your hair is still the funniest thing I have ever seen,” Dhm’Ni just turns his head away, rolls his eyes and stares at the wall, “But really, did you wake up today and think that we would go on a hunt and come back with an Ooman,” He thrills in laugher. And it was infectious.

Dhm’Ni tried to hold it in but he just couldn’t, he too started to laugh, “No I can positively say that I didn’t.”

“I think it is time for us to sleep. Oomans usually sleep for about seven hours but with Nala hit like that I’m guessing she will be out for some time. Go and rest Dhm’Ni. I think I will sleep like a pup tonight,” Sya says as he and Dhm'Ni exit the conference room.

 

---

 

“Cj’na! Help me disrobe her!” Kh’Cho hisses at this helper but he still stands still.

“It’s an Ooman,” Cj’na chirps.

“Not just an Ooman, Cj’na, THE Ooman. Have you not seen the video?” He asked and Cj’na answered by shaking his head ‘no’, “Then go to the galley or any of the society rooms. They are replaying the videos and I think you should see them before you get too railed up about her being here.”

But he just stood there.

“Do I need to order it? GO! NOW!” He hisses and without another second passing Cj’na was gone to the galley.

“Stupid pup,” Kh’Cho mumbles to himself. He looks back to the bloodied Ooman before him and starts to cut away her shirt, it cannot be saved. His guess is that only her pants can be kept. Once her shirt was off, he took of her boots, the tubes of cloth on her feet and unbuttoned her pants with a little difficulty but he got them off. He then cut off her undergarments and threw them away along with her shirt. He was not fazed by the fact he had a nude Ooman in his care. After all, he is a professional and nudity is not something that the Yautja are anxious of. For a moment, he just stared at her body.

“My Gods . . . What happened to you?” He asked.

He looked over her body and witnessed a menagerie of scars. There were ones that looked like they came from a whip that were from top to bottom. There was a giant scar on her leg and even smaller ones all over but he couldn’t just stand and stare all day. Kh’Cho quickly made his way to the medical panel at the far side of the room and activated the drijer. It was a device used to elevate the body up into the air to alleviate any pressure one might have when they are laying on a hard surface.

Instantly Nala was lifted into the air. Next, Kh’Cho sent the scanners. Small round and flat flying objects flew out of nowhere and circled around Nala. Moments later, an image of Nala, inside and out, came up on a screen on the medical panel. He would need to know what was wrong with her before he fixed her, “Hmm. There is the left shoulder, the right rib, a punctured right lung, a broken nose, a fractured jaw with a busted lip, a serious bump on the forehead and a small cut on the upper right arm. You my dear are lucky!” He said to her as he started to punch a command to the computer. The small scanners then flew back to the spots.

Kh’Cho then made his way to a wall. He pushed a small button and a drawer opened up, showing hundreds of small vials. He quickly took a sedative and a pain killer and placed them into an injector. He hoped that he put enough in it to keep her down. He didn’t want to kill her right on the spot. He made his way back to the floating form and just as he was about to introduce the liquid until he caught a glimpse of her back.

Up close to her right shoulder were four long scratch marks, by her lower back was a large round mark and then, with a bark coming from Kh’Cho, he saw what looked like scars from something that had bit her on her left butt cheek. Wow.

He injected her and quickly made his way back to the medical panel. The moment he left her side, the machines went to work. With a surgery like this, sanitation was key so the machines would do the work, to Kh’Cho’s welcome though. He had no clue about Ooman physiology but because the computer has the image of her body and her injuries, it knows what to do. Giant instruments fell from the ceiling and rose from the ground surrounding her completely. While one would work on her shoulder another would tend to her lung and rib and another would work on this and that.

“Kh’Cho?” Ykas’e’s shrill voice came over the ships COM-link.

“Yes?” He quickly responds.

“Lord Khupiee is on his way,” He warns with panic in his tone, “And I suggest moving the Ooman, I do not want to think of what will happen if those two are in the same room...again.”

“You and me both Ykas’e but I cannot stop in the middle. She is at a focal point in the process and I cannot just stop,” Kh’Cho hisses.

“You may not have another choice,” Ykas’e says as he ends the COM. Kh’Cho doesn’t know what to do. He can’t stop her healing, can he? Lord Khupiee only has a broken elbow, five minutes tops, to heal him. Maybe he can place her in the collective healing room while Lord Khupiee is in the private? But is she far enough along to even wait that long?

Kh’Cho quickly exams her progress and reluctantly decides that she can wait. He stops all the equipment and watches as it all goes back into their hiding spots. He then turns off the drijer and Nala falls softly back to the white slab. Kh’Cho hastily makes his way to her and picks her up effortlessly. With Nala in hand, he walks towards a door that opens automatically. He walks to the closest healing pod. In this room there were over 25 separate healing pods, all white slabs of stone with a white circling of fabric to hide the one healing. It is uncomfortable to see seen when one is healing so they white sheet is the best thing to keep everything easy. All pods are active, even if there is no occupant. The slab raised and fabric lowered. But once the person moves, or attempts to get off, the block lowers to the ground and the white cloth would rise into the ceiling. Kh’Cho was glad for a lot of reasons but mostly because it would hide her if someone should wake and see her.

“Open pod 17,” He orders.

The top fabric lifts up, half way into the ceiling and Kh’Cho places Nala down. But as he takes his hands back, he accidentally catches on of his talons on a tie that she was using on the bottom of her hair and instantly tears it apart. He just shrugs it off, “Activate pod 17,” Kh’Cho sighed as she was again lifted into the air and as the white cloth came down concealing her from all eyes.

Once he was back in the private healing room, he cleaned all he could with a towel. Her blood was trailed in by Dhm'Ni and Sya and it had pooled on the stone. Just as Kh’Cho disposed of the soiled towels, the doors opened.

“Lord Khupiee,” He says as he bows.

“Kh’Cho,” Lord Khupiee chirped as he makes his way to the white block but he did not sit on it, he just stood by it as Kh’Cho gathered whatever it was he needed to heal his arm, “Please be quick with this Kh’Cho. I had a long day.”

“So I have seen. Arm,” He says as he takes Lord Khupiees arm.

He uses a small hand-held scanner to look over his elbow. Once it was done, he walks to the medical panel and looks at the image, “Not that bad bearing in mind what it could have been or considering what you have had before,” He thrills. He had mended Lord Khupiee since he was a pup. He knows every scar on him. Kh’Cho taps a few commands to the computer and a small apparatus rose from the floor. Lord Khupiee extends his arm, as best he could, into the air as the machine wraps itself around his elbow. Without moving, flinching or showing any pain, the machine starts to cut and scrape around in his arm. Adding gel around certain areas to induce quicker healing and then resetting the bones. Once it was done with its job, it fell back into the floor and Kh’Cho walked back to him. The machines weren’t fine enough to apply the sealing gel to a wound. Someone would actually have to apply it. And again, as Kh’Cho applied the burning gel Lord Khupiee didn’t show pain. Once it was completely healed Lord Khupiee stood tall and looked around the room.

“Where is the Ooman?” He hissed. She should have been in here. Why didn’t he notice it before?

“Ykas’e warned me to keep you and her apart so I, temporarily, placed her in the collective healing room.”

“YOU DID WHAT!?” Lord Khupiee roars, “Bring me too her now!” He orders and follows Kh’Cho out of the private room.

“PAUK!” Kh’Cho howls.

Lord Khupiee stepped to the side and saw a healing pod was deactivated. The slab was recoiled into the ground and the white fabric was gone. Kh’Cho suddenly turns right around and runs around Lord Khupiee, “We must close all the doors and lock them. She couldn’t have gotten far,” He yelps in panic as he and Lord Khupiee run towards to medical control room.

The medical control room was simply the room that controlled all things related to healing. From the healing pods to the doors. Kh’Cho runs up to a panel but swears when he realizes that he doesn’t know half of these controls. It was his assistant’s job to work this. He tried anyways and hit a button labeled ‘Entry Doors’ but the moment he punched it, all the doors near him opened. “C’jit.”

Without warning, Lord Khupiee grabbed Kh’Cho by the color of his healer’s garment and lifts him up into the air.

“If she is harmed, in any way, I will hold you personally responsible,” Lord Khupiee roars at the cowering form of Kh’Cho. He then dropped him to the ground and stormed out of the healers.

 

---

 

“So, it is true?” One of the watchers asks Ykas’e on the Bridge.

“I asked him myself and he said yes. The Ooman is staying on this ship!” He answers back.

“But how can that be? And if she was truly staying why did Lord Khupiee order the ship to stay in orbit?”

“I do not know but—" They both stop talking and turn around as they hear the sound of the lift doors opening. It was late so they wondered just who it could be but they got their answer when Lord Khupiee came rushing in.

“Lord Khupiee!” Ykas’e says as Lord Khupiee stood just in front of his chair.

“I need the watchers to go over the camera recording of all the doors leading in and out of the collective healing room now,” He orders.

Without question all the watchers scurry back to their posts and begin going over the footage, “The Ooman somehow awoke and she made her way out of the room. She is not healed and is considered dangerous.”

Who knows what she would do. An injured being will do anything to survive.

“Got her!” One yells out, “She exited the second door on the east side and is heading down the corridor.”

“Are there any Yautja near there?” Lord Khupiee barks to the sensors.

“There are four, Sir,” One answers a moment later.

“Ykas’e, get the closest to head towards her.”

“Yes sir,” Ykas’e says as he makes his way to the communication post and contacts Dyne, the Yautja closest to the Ooman, “Dyne?” Ykas’e says when the COM-link came through.

“Yes Ykas’e?” Dyne answers a little irritated. He was making his way to the residence decks to go to sleep.

“Listen to me very carefully and do not do something stupid!” Ykas’e starts. He knew that if anyone was given the chance, they would kill the Ooman, “The Ooman is near you. She left Kh’Cho and is not completely healed. Lord Khupiee needs you to go get her and bring her back to Kh’Cho. ALIVE!”

“To do what?” Dyne barks.

“DO NOT QUESTION ME DYNE! LORD KHUPIEE IS ORDERING ALL YAUTJA CLOSE TO GO TO HER AND YOU ARE THE CLOSEST. GET TO HER NOW!” Ykas’e roars.

“Where is she?” Dyne says finally giving in. Ykas’e had to pause, he didn’t know.

“Where is she?” He asks.

“She is heading towards The Ka'rik'na Hall,” One answers.

The Ka'rik'na Hall, The Summoning Hall, shared the deck with the healers. Lord Khupiee was becoming frantic and everyone could smell it. They had never seen him so agitated.

“She is along the corridor to The Ka'rik'na Hall,” Ykas’e says to Dyne.

“I— l’ll be right there,” Dyne says as he ends the COM. He couldn’t believe that he was going after the Ooman. He had watched her from start to finish and was beyond excited to hear that she was on the ship, for more than one reason.

“He says he is on his way,” Ykas’e tells Lord Khupiee as he made his way back to him.

Together they watch the sensors screen as they followed Dyne walk down the hallway. He was getting close to her, real close but she ducked into one of the many doors to the collective room and Dyne just walked right by her, “C’jit! Get him back on the COM!” Ykas’e orders.

“Tell him to go to the Ka'rik'na Hall,” Lord Khupiee says.

“Sir?” Ykas’e chirps.

“And open the door to the Ka'rik'na Hall when she gets close. She will go into the first door that’s available . . .let’s hope,” Lord Khupiee hisses and Ykas’e goes to tell Dyne. Maybe if she goes in, they can keep her there.

“Doors open,” One from the sensors chirps, “And she is in!” He barks.

“Close the doors!” Lord Khupiee orders.

“Doors closed.”

“Dyne is heading back to The Ka'rik'na Hall Lord Khupiee. What now?” Ykas’e asks.

“Now we go to her,” He answers as he turns back to the lift.

“We sir?”

“Yes. We, Ykas’e. Hurry or you will have to take another lift to that deck,” Ykas’e then ran, as best he could, after Lord Khupiee. Once they were both in the lift, Lord Khupiee told Ykas’e to COM Dhm’Ni and Sya to get to The Ka'rik'na Hall.

 

---

 

The very moment Dhm’Ni walked into his room he just sat on the corner of his bed. He couldn’t believe it, Nala is staying. He couldn’t get another thought in before he yawned. His mandibles spread wide in a yawn/groan and he lifted his hands above his head to stretch. Sya wasn’t the only one to sleep like a pup tonight. Dhm’Ni stripped bare, lifted the fur lined covers to his bed and just as he placed a knee on to it Ykas’e ruined the wonderful moment.

“Dhm’Ni?” Ykas’e chirped in a stoic tone. Dhm'Ni just sighed.

“Yes Ykas’e?”

“Could you come to The Ka'rik'na Hall please?”

“Now? Why?” He questioned.

“It seems that the Ooman is doing some sight-seeing,” He paused.

Dhm’Ni stood tall and turned on his lights, “She got out of the healers when Kh’Cho put her in the collective healing room and she awoke, then escaped. She made her way to The Ka'rik'na Hall, eluding all those we sent to get her and now we have trapped her there. Your father wishes you to be there when we get her.”

“I understand. I’ll meet you there but DO NOT GO IN WITHOUT ME! Who knows what she will do when she sees my father. Wait until I get there!” Dhm’Ni hisses as he starts to put on his Awu’asa. Nala is not going to be happy so he’s going to be ready for anything.

"Dhm’Ni asks that—" Ykas’e starts.

“I heard Ykas’e and he is right. The little Ooman packs a lot of strength and I do not plan to kill her if she goes after me. She is injured and I do not want to kill our newest member of our clan,” Ykas’e whips his head to Lord Khupiee.

“She’s in OUR CLAN!? What?!” He roars but Lord Khupiee only laughs at him.

“All with come out soon enough,” He says between shrills of laugher. He stopped suddenly when he realized that all the other Yautja were not warned to keep a safe distance from her. As the door opened Lord Khupiee contacted the communications sect.

“Put me ship wide,” Lord Khupiee orders.

“Eight away sir.”

When Lord Khupiee hears a loud siren, he knew that everyone was now awake and that everyone was listening.

“What I am about to say is something that I hope all will understand for being woken for. The Ooman is loose on the ship and is in The Ka'rik'na Hall. Keep a safe distance between her and you if you come into contact with her. I will severely discipline any who cause harm to our new clan member. But I will not discipline her if she is to cause harm to any of you!” He roars then ends the COM. As he and Ykas’e walked the hall, he saw Dhm’Ni running their way.

“Where is Sya?” Lord Khupiee asks Ykas’e.

“He said he would be here in a moment,” He answered.

“COM Kh’Cho and tell him to be ready with a sedative when we get her. She needs to rest,” Lord Khupiee chirps just as he reached the door to The Ka'rik'na Hall. He only waited for a moment as Dhm’Ni made his way to him and following close behind Dhm’Ni were Nder and Khanna.

“They followed me here after you woke the ENTIRE ship,” Dhm’Ni thrilled.

“Good. Dhm’Ni, you follow me, then Ykas’e, Nder and Khanna.” They all nod to him as Lord Khupiee opened the door.

The door swished open and the walked in and around to the ramp. Dhm’Ni was dwarfed by his father’s size but he still stayed right behind him. He was just worried that Nala wouldn’t see him and only look at his father and become frightened. As they walked in, Dhm’Ni could see some others had made their way into The Ka'rik'na Hall and that they had trapped her on the pyramid used by his father when he gathered all the Yautja on the ship. When Lord Khupiee stopped, he motioned with his right hand, his left would still be sore for a few days, to get all the others to back away.

“Father, I don’t think you should go get her.”

But Lord Khupiee didn’t say anything back because earlier he saw Nala say something but was too far away to hear her. Lord Khupiee steps towards her but when he saw her flinch in fear, he thought it best for Dhm’Ni to go. He turned his head and whispers, “I think you are right. Go.”

Dhm’Ni nodded and took a step out from behind his father. When he looked up to Nala he stared at him oddly, like she didn’t know him.

“Something’s wrong. She doesn’t remember me,” He softly clicks to his father.

When Dhm’Ni saw her closer her eyes he started to walk up to the ramp but stops at the base. He slowly stepped onto the ramp, taking one tiny step after another to watch how she will react. He didn’t want to alarm her anymore then he already is. Dhm’Ni never took his eyes from hers as he made his way up the ramp. That was until Nala suddenly pitched forward towards his father’s chair. He inadvertently lunged for her, to keep her from falling but when Nala glared at him with those eyes, he actually felt chills run down his spine but Dhm’Ni was a modestly relieved when Nala stood tall, a little wobbly but up. He was happy when he saw her finger her Blooding mark. Maybe she does recognize something. When Nala stepped towards him, he didn’t move, he would wait for her to come to him and she stopped when she was a few feet away.

“H . . . how do I know you?” She asks. She looks down to Dhm’Ni’s chest and then she took up her hand and looked at her palm. Dhm’Ni knew exactly what to do. He brought up his control panel and opened it. While some may have thought he didn’t record sound on the hunt, he actually did. He pressed a few keys until he found the right recording and then looked back to Nala.

“Okay, you saved my life. Don’t expect me to kiss you on your cheek. And just because I saved yours, doesn't mean you have to give me one.” The words echoed in the large room.

Some of the others that surrounded the pyramid started to softly laugh but Dhm'Ni just dismissed it. He watched Nala’s eyes widen as she realized it was her. He takes one last step to her and stops when he and Nala were at eye level. He noticed she was staring at his Blooding mark and didn’t really know what to do when she reached for him. She was doing the same thing as before when he broke her nose. After Dhm’Ni took back his head for a moment, he let her touch him again.

“I remember now,” She says aloud.

“Nala?” Dhm’Ni finally speaks to her.

Nala just smiled and lowered her head while still staring into Dhm’Ni’s eyes. He didn’t like where she was going, he had seen this too many times but it was too late to do anything.

“Hello gorgeous.” She said in a tranquil tone but not a millisecond later she punched him right in the chin, making Dhm’Ni fly backwards. He landed just at the base of the ramp and quickly stood back up.

Nala started to walk down after him but when her eyes caught sight of Lord Khupiee, she changed her aim. But just as she made it to the bottom and was about to charge at Lord Khupiee, Dhm’Ni moved in between them.

“Get out of the way Dhm’Ni!” She yells and she sidesteps him intent on still going after Lord Khupiee.

“No,” Dhm’Ni says as he reaches out and places his hand on her abdomen, basically the only place on her entire body not broken. Immediately, Nala stops. Maybe she shouldn’t make things worse? Who is she kidding! She wouldn’t be herself if she just left it alone. She just starts to laugh and she stood there with Dhm’Ni holding her back.

“How is your arm?” She asks in an evil tone.

Lord Khupiee just looks down at her. He knew she is angry so he just stood there as Kh’Cho went to work. He and Sya walked in without a fuss and Kh’Cho had made his way to the side as Nala started for Lord Khupiee. But just as Kh’Cho lifted his hands with an injector-shooter filled with a sedative, they could knock out a Yautja, Nala saw as she shot it. She stunned everyone when she twisted in Dhm’Ni’s arm and hit the dart away. She started to back into Dhm’Ni’s body as Kh’Cho reloaded. Dhm’Ni wrapped on arm around Nala’s waist to hold her to him while he raised the other to stop Kh’Cho but he was too late.

“Don’t shoot!” Dhm’Ni roars just as Kh’Cho fired once more. It flew past Dhm’Ni’s hand and hit Nala in her upper arm. She yelped from the pinch but she quickly tore it out of her arm. After a few moments she soon found her legs going numb. Her legs finally buckled and she started to fall. Dhm�Ni went down with as she collapsed to the floor. Nala’s head at last fell forward, telling Dhm’Ni that she was finally out. He just remained there for a moment, holding her in his arms as he waited for the others to come.

“That would have taken down a full ground Yautja in half the time,” Kh’Cho gasped.

“Dhm’Ni!” Sya barked as he ran around Lord Khupiee and all the others and kneeled down in front of Nala. He lifted her head with one hand and gently opened her eyes one by one, “C’jit Kh’Cho, you could have killed her! You shouldn’t have sedated her without knowing what she can take!” He hissed.

“I told him to sedate her Sya. Do not scold him for following orders,” Lord Khupiee chirps as he made his way closer to Dhm’Ni, “Get her to the healers Dhm’Ni,” He said to his son.

Dhm’Ni nods and quickly but smoothly lifts her. Without looking at his father, both he and Sya exited The Ka'rik'na Hall, “Go back to bed. Tomorrow everything will be clearer,” Lord Khupiee said to all in the room as he turned and followed the fleeting form of his son and Sya. He looked to Kh’Cho just as he left the Hall and motioned with his head to follow him. Kh’Cho rapidly runs after Lord Khupiee and follows him into his own healing room. When they entered Dhm’Ni had already placed her onto the same white block as before and backed away. Sya however was leaning over her and hand his hand on her forehead.

“If she lives past this night Kh’Cho, I think you will have a new enemy,” Sya thrilled in laughter. No one else laughed though. Lord Khupiee made his way next to his son and for a single moment they looked into each other’s eyes but they quickly stared back to Nala.

“I sincerely apologize for this happening. I should have kept an eye on her,” Kh’Cho pleaded as he moved to the medical panel. Dhm�Ni and Sya just grunt. They didn’t hold Kh’Cho responsible for this. She should have been under constant supervision but they all slipped up.

“Please stand back Sya,” Kh’Cho chirped as he activated the drijer once more. Nala rose in the air for the third time but as she did the white cloth, she used to cover herself fell to the floor. Everyone’s eyes, but Kh’Cho’s of course, went wide as they looked at her naked form.

“Oh Gods. What happened to her?” Lord Khupiee finally barked. Sya and Dhm�Ni just stared in silence. Never before had any of them seen such scars on a person. Ooman or Yautja.

“I will allow one to stay with her. Only one,” Kh’Cho chirped, taking them all out of their trance.

“I will stay with her,” Sya hissed. He could help but feel responsible for this. He had simply left her with Kh’Cho when he should have stayed with her.

“No Sya,” Dhm’Ni started, “I think I should. She knows me.”

“And yet she still punched you. I am on better terms with her then anyone else on this ship,” He says sternly, “I will stay, you go and sleep. She will need you when she wakes.”

Dhm’Ni was about oppose him but when Lord Khupiee placed his hand on Dhm’Ni’s shoulder, he stopped. Sya was right. Right now, he was the only one that Nala didn’t clearly hate. He nods to Sya and both he and his father move out of the healers.

In silence they walk to the lift. Those who were already waiting moved to the side to allow them to get the next one. They didn’t wait long before the door opened letting them enter and empty lift. They just stood there in silence after Dhm'Ni told it to go to Lord Khupiees deck. He had his own deck as his residence.

“Dhm’Ni,” Lord Khupiee began.

“I know Father but it is not me who needs your apology.”

“I know that,” Lord Khupiee says sadly.

“Did you mean it?” Dhm’Ni said as he finally looked up at his father, “Are you actually going to allow Nala to join our clan?”

“I absolutely meant it Dhm’Ni, “He said as he looked down to his son. They just stared at each other until the lift stopped and Lord Khupiees’ residence. When the doors opened Lord Khupiee swiftly entered.

“Good night Dhm’Ni and do not worry. She is with Sya . . . and with us now,” Lord Khupiee says without looking back as the doors close.

“Residence deck: Number two,” Dhm’Ni said he stood there alone with nothing but his thoughts. Truthfully, he was too tired to think but just wished to go to sleep and tomorrow he will go to Nala. Tomorrow it will begin.

Notes:

Current Pronunciations (Previous on chapters 3, 4, 6 & 9.)

Cj'na Cheena

Djh'fah Dah Fah

K'daai Kid-a eye

Ojhm Oogem

Kaine Cane

Drijer Dry Gear

Dyne Dine-e

Ka'rik'na Ka Rick Na

Khanna Ka Na

Chapter 11: Dream Land

Notes:

Hello my fellow hunters!

Getting my updates going back to a moderate pace and hope this is a start for it :).

Here is a new chapter for The Ripple of a Stone and this is one of the few chapters that gets to be emotionally for the Yautja and of course makes one wonder what happened. Many questions but still too early for answers. But it won't be for long.

For now, the next new chapter will be for Honor Above All and will follow with the new chapter for The Ripple of a Stone and then to Respect so my rotation will be for going back and forth between stories and new chapters will hopefully be posted within a week or two of the update. That is my promise to all and hopefully keep to all of my fellow supporters.

And of course, I'm so excited for Predator Badlands and love the character Dek and part of his backstory. I wish we can get more insight of it but at least I know it's coming and can't wait to get the pre-sale tickets for it to watch :D

Thank you and Good Hunting to all!

Sya let out a giant sigh as Dhm’Ni and Lord Khupiee left. He had a sudden desire for his pillow, it was just there, in his room, being unused. He leans against the wall as Kh’Cho went back to healing Nala.

“Sya,” Kh’Cho softly clicks.

“Do not agonize, Kh’Cho. We all slipped up when leaving her unsupervised,” Sya answers. 

He rests his head against the wall and closes his eyes. He just wanted to slide under his covers and not wake until next cycle, “I, however, am going to apologize to you if I fall sleep,” He thrills. In his old age he was finding it harder and harder to stay awake when not on a hunt. When hunting he would never sleep but once he was on ship, he slept like a newborn.

“I think we all need some shut eye after this. This female will force any into exhaustion.”

“Her name is Nalani. The least we can do is honor her with her own name,” He said firmly, “Besides, I think any ooman that can do what she had done can inevitably tire all who encounter her. For instance . . .” 

Sya rose from the wall with a grunt and walked towards the Medical Panel, “I have never laughed so hard in all my seasons. Do have any idea how many times she insulted Dhm’Ni in one minute!? Well, Dhm’Ni seemingly recorded audio with his wrist computer so I am sure that we will hear it,” Kh’Cho just thrills in laugher.

“Did you witness her hit? Gods that was hard! Dhm’Ni flew in the air!”

“She is without a doubt strong, in many ways,” Sya says softly as he walks as close as he could to Nala. The same machines had gone back to work. He watches closely as one was mending to a small cut on her shoulder. In one motion it would clean the wound of all filth and supply it with healing gel.

“How do you suppose she gained such scars, Sya? I have not seen a marked body like this since Lord Tonikum. He was truly a Yautja with story.”

“That he was Kh’Cho. I do regret Dhm’Ni not being able to meet his grandfather, to see him in true form but then again it is a rare thing in his family . . . and Lord Tonikum did indeed have admiration from all for his scars. But this,” Sya chirps as he motions to Nala and looks back to Kh’Cho, “This was torture. I have seen many with marks such as these.”

“Torture? Surly not all could be from that?”

“No, of course not Kh’Cho. But those from being whipped are. The others I have not seen too well to tell.”

“And the others are a thing to see,” Kh’Cho barks. 

As he was watching over the monitor his eyes caught something odd. He zooms in to look at the base of her brain stem and it looked like a microbe or maybe a small implant was attached to it. He made in note to himself to do a more precise scan when she was done healing.

“Are they?” Sya asks taking Kh’Cho’s eyes from the screen.

“There is one that I have never seen before. If you can, look at her left buttocks. It seems something has bitten her. There is also a large circle scar on her lower back and four long scratches on her upper.” 

Sya moved around the shifting machines and made his way to a better position. He bends down a tad and looks up. And there they all were. Sya just had to bark as he gazed at her back. That one scar was undeniably made from something that had bit her. And from what he could tell it was from a large animal. He stood tall again and walked back to Kh’Cho.

“Something did in fact bite her. When she wakes, I will have to ask her where it came from or what it came from,” He jests, “By the way, when will she wake?” Sya hisses in anger. He was still a little mad with Kh’Cho for sedating her but Lord Khupiee did order him to.

“Well, it was enough to keep a small but full grown Yautja down for about half a day. I had given her a tranquilizer and a pain killer just before Lord Khupiee came in, yet she still woke. So, I presumed that it would take more than that to get her down. Her injuries will be healed by then, maybe even by tomorrow or this morning. Before she came, I thought that she could not be helped. Especially after Lord Khupiee but when she arrived, she was already in the process of restoring to health. Her body was already regenerating, blood platelets and cells beginning to renew.” 

Suddenly, Nala started to cough making them both hold their breath but it didn’t last for too long. They both starred at her and then they remembered that an ooman cannot breathe this air.

“How is she doing it?” Sya barks.

“I don’t know! I didn’t even think of it when she came in. She was breathing well,” He answers.

Kh’Cho typed in a command and a few of the same scanners flew out. They whisked past the working machines and started to circle around her lungs. After a moment they came back and the image came into Kh’Cho’s screen, “Her lungs have adapted.”

“What?” Sya hisses as he turns and walked behind the Med Panel to look at the image.

“Look.” 

Kh’Cho points as Sya came beside him, “Her lungs are working normally but they are not absorbing most of the air. They are taking in what oxygen she can but not the others. However, there is little of it in this air so she is slowly suffocating, Kh’Cho chirps. He moves away from Sya and strides to the same wall of drawers and opens one. He takes out a small vial, places it into an injector and then introduces it into Nala.

“What was that?” Sya questions.

“I put her in half-stasis. It is meant to slow her breathing and heart rate, almost to nothing, so that her blood will not circulate as fast and therefore not need so much oxygen. I will have to figure a way to help her breathing when she wakes . . . and speak.” 

Kh’Cho stops midway to the Med Panel and looks oddly at Sya, “I would guess it to be rather lonely for her if only Arbitrators and Elders can speak with her. Most of us cannot even understand ooman let alone speak it,” Kh’Cho nods his head but he didn’t go back to Sya, he turned and left the room saying he would be right back. Sya only grunted as he watched him leave. He was looking at Nala when a giant yawn came, he belted out a booming roar as his mandibles spread wide and every muscle tightened. He leaned back against a wall once more but the second he closed his eyes, Kh’Cho came back in.

“I knew I had one somewhere!” He chirps loudly.

“One what?” Sya asks as he lifts himself from the wall.

“A translator,” He simply states but when Sya tilted his head he knew he didn’t understand. 

“A long time ago I was told that we needed a translator for when on an ooman or some other hunt but in mid development they told me to stop. Seems having ooman translated for those who cannot understand it is way too easy but I finished it without them knowing. It is highly experimental so I have no idea what it will do for her. It is meant for a Yautja,” He says as he walks back next to Sya. 

In his hand, held in a small glass dish, was a small rice sized device, “It is implanted into the brain by way of the right temple. It reads the sounds from the eardrum, translates it before it reaches the brain and then sends it. However, it does not allow the person to speak in that tongue, only to listen. I will have to figure a way to get her to speak Yautja.”

“Why not alter her?”

“Alter? Like surgically?” Kh’Cho asks and Sya grunts a yes, “Well . . . it will take me some time to hatch out just how to do that, so for now I will give her the translator so she can at least understand us.” 

Sya couldn’t hold in another yawn. He shook his head at his sleepy state, “Sleep if you need it Sya. If she wakes, I am sure that you will arouse from the sounds of her beating me up,” They both thrill in laugher. It was probably true.

Dhm’Ni was stretching his lower left mandible as he waited for the lift to take him to his deck. The hit Nala gave him did in fact damage him but no matter how he lengthened it or rotated it, it was still stiff. He gave up his attempt to fix it when the doors opened to his residence deck. He sighs in displeasure when he saw everyone was still outside their rooms and chattering like pups.

“Get to bed!” Dhm’Ni barks as he made his way to his room but stops when Dyne steps in front of him.

“She can understand us,” Dyne hisses. He was the first who met Nala when she was in The Ka'rik'na Hall and found it odd that she could understand him when she asked what Ooman meant.

“She knows very few words. In our conversations, she picked up a few things,” Dhm’Ni hisses back. He wanted to go to bed and did not want to deal with Dyne right now. They were always in conflict with one another. Only they know why and it’s been that way since they were pups, never getting along after all these years.

“YOUR conversations?” Dyne thrills, “Chatting with prey now, are we? Or are we trying to get on her good side, Ooman Fucker,” He hisses. 

Dhm’Ni lowers his head and emits a deep, threatening growl. Everyone backed up a little as they smelt rage in Dhm’Ni’s musk. They all know that Dhm’Ni was a force to deal with when he as angry. He inherited it from his mother but even with him always trying his best to keep his anger down, he let his rage show the moment he was called an Ooman Fucker. Long ago, laws were set that made mating with Oomans strictly prohibited. To be accused of being an Ooman Fucker is the same as being called dishonorable.

“That is enough!” Nder marches in between the two, “Lord Khupiee ordered us to bed and that is what we will do. And as for you!” He barks as he turns full onto Dyne, “We all know how you feel of the ooman being here. What was the expression you used?” 

Dhm’Ni instantly stiffed at Nder’s words. His eyes went wide and his mandibles slack. He wished that Nder wasn’t going to say what he thought he was going to say, but he did. 

“Enticing, wasn’t it? Do not harass one who does not have the same desires you do, Dyne.”

Dyne scoffs at this. Him? Attracted to the Ooman? Dyne’s thoughts were broken up when he remembered watching her as she danced with the Hard Meat. The way her body moved and how she so easily killed it. Dhm’Ni didn’t know what to make of Dyne when his eyes looked practically glassed over and then a scent crept into Dhm’Ni’s nose. He knew that it was Dyne’s mating musk. Instantly, Dhm’Ni growled again.

“You will never touch her!” Dhm’Ni hisses. Nder turns and looks at him but starts to laugh.

“Perhaps the desires are shared,” Nder thrills but stops when Dhm’Ni strikes his shoulder.

“When the Elders agree to her being in our clan, I highly doubt that she would ever choose you, Dyne, to be her mate. And I would never allow such a revolting male like you to ever touch her,” Dhm’Ni didn’t know why he was being so protective. For one thing he would never allow Dyne to handle her. He felt pity for any female that would mate with Dyne. In some eyes, he was honorable, powerful and even influential but Dhm’Ni felt the complete opposite.

“Hulij-bpe S'yuit-de Lou-dte Kalei!” (Crazy Pathetic Female!) Dyne roars. Dhm’Ni was about to challenge him but Nder held him back.

“Tomorrow, when we wake, we will deal with this but for now I think the musk in here is too thick and we all need to go to our rooms,” Dyne swiftly turns his back to both Nder and Dhm’Ni, insulting them as he made his way to his room. Slowly the hall emptied leaving Nder and Dhm’Ni.

“He and some others find her tantalizing and wish to actually mate with her Dhm’Ni,” Nder began, “But I do not think that will be allowed.”

“Why do you say that?” Dhm’Ni asks as he calms down.

"I was with . . . well . . . everyone when we were watching the ooman kill the Queen and then the warrior but when she attacked Lord Khupiee, I immediately noticed a sudden rise in musk. Some of the attending Arbitrators were there and told all in the room to watch their musk and that mating with the ooman is not permissible until further notice. If she is accepted then that question will be raised but not a moment sooner,” Nder answers as he started for the lift. His room was on the deck up, he was only down here to talk with Dhm’Ni but after what just happened, he would talk with him later.

“If she survives the night you mean,” Dhm’Ni said softly, making Nder turn around. He tilts his head and thrills in question, “She is with Kh’Cho and I think she is not doing too well. Did you see all the blood from her in The Ka'rik'na Hall? Wouldn’t it be befitting for her to survive and kill how many Kainde Amedha and then a Queen, and fall because of our inactions?” Dhm’Ni hisses as he turns to his door. It swishes open and closes before Nder can get a word in. 

Dhm’Ni just stood there for a moment. He never thought that anyone would want her for a mate but he can understand why. She did show a level of skill never seen of a prey species but she is prey, an ooman. He quickly dropped all thought when he saw his bed, cover half opened from before, ready and waiting. He could swear that he can hear it whispering for him to come and sleep. He promptly stripped, put his Awu’asa on its stand and headed for his bed. He drifted his hand down to his scar on his pelvis. He prayed to Paya every night that he wouldn’t dream, not to have that same nightmare but he still did . . . every night. 

As he slipped under the covers and fell to his back he roars and sat up. His tear scar was throbbing in pain. He cursed himself for being so slow. The sting was climbing up his spine and down his legs. The hurt traveled around his entire body, from forehead to the palms of his feet. He had to steady his breathing and wait for the pain to go away. Once it was tolerable, he turns onto his stomach and buried his head into his pillow. Slowly, his eyes glide shut and he fell into his hell called sleep.

---

It was always peaceful in the gardens. The grounds were full of rare and even extinct flowers from all over the Home World. A sound of a large wave from the pond, filled with an assortment of fish, crashed on the shore. A soft wind wafts through and brings in the delicate scent of all the flowers into the nose of three seasons young Dhm’Ni as he pursues a bug as it jumps from petal to petal. Stalking his pray as it as it makes its way around the grounds.

“Dhm’Ni. Dhm’Ni, my sweet. Come here.” 

A beautiful yet strong voice echoed through the grounds. Instantly, Dhm’Ni jumped up from inspecting the bug that had started to eat a flower and ran to his mother. Ni’Atni kneeled in full Awu’asa and spread her arms ready for her pup. With all his speed, a small form sprinted to her. The thumping from his feet on the ground was just a short warning to the coming jump. At once Dhm’Ni leaped into the air and fell into Ni’Atni’s awaiting arms. She clamped down as she contacted her son, stood tall and started to purr.

“Mother, your home early,” A tiny voice came from Dhm’Ni. He wrapped his hands, as best he could, around her massive neck and squeezed with all his might.

“Yes I am, and careful Dhm’Ni. You don’t want to suffocate me with your strong arms do you?” Ni’Atni thrills. 

Dhm’Ni just barks and gives her a little more room to breathe, not a lot, but enough. Suddenly, they both look towards the lake as they hear Det-Onda’Ni’s roar. He was standing on a rock that was a few feet away from shore and had caught a large fish with his hands. He was older than Dhm’Ni by five seasons and a considerable larger size. He stared into the eyes on the flat fish with disgust as he held it in his hands. Without a second to spare, Det cracked the fish’s neck in two.

“Det, Det come here,” Ni’Atni barks crossly. Det simply threw the dead carcass into pond as he jumped off the rock and made his way to his mother. 

“Mother,” He says as he bows to her. 

“Det. What did I tell you about hunting the fish?” She asks, but Det remains silent, “I told you that you cannot hunt them without either taking a trophy for your time or eat it. And what did you do with that one I just saw in your hands?” 

Det lowers his eyes to the ground. Ni’Atni growls at her son for his disobedience for not answering the question and cowardice for not owning up to his deeds. 

“DET!” She barks.

“I did neither, Mother,” He finally yelps. 

A rustling in the bushes makes Ni’Atni look up from her son and stare into the hedge, making some of her dark brown colored tresses fall from her back. It couldn’t be possible for someone else to be here. They were in the private gardens, only their family can be here but she couldn’t see anything, guessing that it was one of those stupid birds. Dhm’Ni shifted in Ni’Atni’s arms until she was carrying him on her hip, one hand holding his bottom and letting her other go free. Dhm’Ni started to purr as he rested his head on her shoulder. He never felt as safe as when he was in his mother’s arms. At night, he would secretly whimper for her if she was ever gone. This past week had been hard on him and he reveled to have her hold him once again. 

“Never misuse prey, Det . . . and never make them suffer as you just did.”

Dhm’Ni had been looking down at the flowers, searching again for his lost bug pray. But something was off. All the bugs and animals that were usually here, rusting around in the foliage, had disappeared. He raised his head to look to the sky but he didn’t see the sky...

“MOTHER!” Dhm'Ni hisses in fear. 

Instantly Ni’Atni twisted around and saw a large group of Yautja, all covered from head to toe in black Alsn, even covering their faces with a black shapeless mask. Alsn was almost a second skin that was worn, if one wanted it, underneath an Awu’asa but it was usually meant to be used when a hunter didn’t want to bring an Awu’asa or weapons. But there were over 15 males standing there in Alsn, with plenty of weapons.

“RUN!” Ni’Atni roars as she throws Dhm’Ni at Det. But when Det caught him, he just stood there and watched. 

Dhm’Ni struggled out of his brother’s hands and turned just as Ni’Atni charged the group. She extended her wrist blades and swiftly took out her combat staff as she pummeled into the group. Her sons watched in horror as she started to slaughter them one by one, cutting through their bodies with ease and slicing off heads . . . but she couldn’t get them all. 

Ni’Atni let out a roar in pain as one of them stabbed her in the back with their wrist blades and then left them in her, jutting out her belly. Dhm’Ni couldn’t let this happen. He tore away from Det and ran for the one that had hit his mother. He leaped on top him and forced him to fall to the ground. The black figure simply hit him with one slap, making Dhm’Ni tumble off. Ni’Atni flew into a rage when she saw her son hit the ground. She pulled the blades out from her back at threw them at the same black form. But as she did, she left her side exposed and she was again hit with someone’s wrist blades. She shrieks and growls as the blood seeped from her new wound. She weaved around, making the blades come out from her side, and she cut off the head of her assailant. 

Dhm’Ni stood tall and stared once again as his mother was hit. He ran for the one closest to her and jumped on his back. The black form grabbed him by the foot with one hand and threw Dhm’Ni to the ground onto his back. The black figure extended his combat staff and raised it above Dhm’Ni. Ni’Atni charged as the black form thrust the staff down but was a little too late. She hit the form just as the point of the staff entered Dhm’Ni, right at his pelvis but it didn’t enter him completely as Ni’Atni took the form down. She forced the staff to move along with them, making it travel along Dhm’Ni’s waist. He howls in agony, but not from the wound as he watched his mother and his attacker fall to the ground but the remaining black forms converged on the fallen twosome. He could make out spurts of green blood in between the legs of the black figures as he laid there and he could hear his mother growl and roar as she was repeatedly stabbed and pierced with all the weapons the black forms carried.

Suddenly, she stopped screeching and the black forms stopped moving. Time seemed to stop as all the figures shift away from an unmoving Ni’Atni. Dhm’Ni couldn’t move as his eyes fell onto his bloodied and motionless mother. He couldn’t even feel his wound, he couldn’t even breathe. With strength he never knew of, he lifted himself from the blood-soaked ground and limped to his mother. He fell just beside her head and looked at his mother’s face. Her eyes were still open. Her blue and golden windows frosted over by death. 

“Mother!” He yelps softly, but nothing. 

“MOTHER!” 

He roars again as he grabs the choler of her chest plate, but still gets nothing. So, he starts to pull and shake, trying to lift her up into the air but he was too weak, still shaking her body with all he had. All that did, however, was make more blood fall from her wounds and her head to shake a little. He stopped as he felt a burn by his waist and he looks down to a gaping wound. The pain started out small but soon grew to be unbearable. He pitched back, falling to the ground holding his bloody and open wound. 

He screams.

“MOTHER!”

Dhm’Ni roars as he sits up on his bed. He had to look around for a moment to figure out where he was, and soon found that he was in the same tiny, cramped room. His body was still shaking from the nightmare. A thin layer of sweat covered him from top to bottom, incasing him a layer of wet. Suddenly, a pain started from his waist and he threw back his covers, exposing himself to the cool air. He seethes as he places a hand on his scar from so many seasons ago. He had this dream many times before and his scar had hurt before but never this much before. He shuffles off the bed and heads to the bathroom. The door swishes open and Dhm’Ni turns on the lights, grabs a small washcloth and goes to sink. He taps a little silver button and from a large hole in the wall a line of cool water starts to pour. He quickly soaks the cloth and places it against his scar. He shuts his eyes as the cool water hits his skin and starts to flow down his waist. He sighs as the pain starts to slowly and mercilessly fade.

BEEPBOOP 

Dhm’Ni groaned as he hears the COM-link signal that someone wishes to speak with him. He yawns aloud as he steps out of the bathroom, he turns the lights on and walks up to the COM-link. The screen is touch sensitive and had a large emerald circle with a symbol that reads ‘accept’ and a crimson one that reads ‘deny’. He swiftly accepts the COM and Sya pops up on the screen.

“Sorry to wake you so early Dhm’Ni,” Sya clicks as both he and Dhm’Ni bow to say good morning.

“So early?” Dhm’Ni turns his head to his time reader, his clock, and it reads that it is the fourth- and one-half hour. Dhm’Ni starts to laugh at himself for being up so early, “I was already up Sya,” he says as he turns back to the screen.

“It is the nightmares that always plague us, is it not?” Sya softly says. He knew that Dhm’Ni suffered from nightmares. Not everyone did though. Ever since Ni’Atni, Dhm’Ni had never had a good night sleep. He would always wake up screaming for her. 

“Nala is healed,” Sya chirps happily. Dhm’Ni immediately perked up with a smile, “Almost to 100 percent. So, I suggest that when she wakes, she should have some—” Sya paused and started to laugh.

“What?” Dhm’Ni barks.

“I was going to say she should have some friendly faces around but never mind. She should have someone around her that she at least knows. How she feels of that person doesn’t really matter,” Sya teases, “I have already awoken your Father, with a lot of trouble, and he says that he will meet you here.”

“Is she awake now?”

“No. But we will wake her when you two arrive. It would be a waste to keep her asleep when I have so many questions for her,” Sya slyly adds.

“Questions?” Dhm’Ni asks but Sya just starts to thrill instead of answer.

“That’s right. You haven’t seen them! She has a great number of other stories on her body that you or your Father never saw yesterday. I am itching to hear them. So, get here quick but do not dress in your Awu’asa. She might be apprehensive of it and may consider you having armor on means you wish to fight her again.”

“She challenged me Sya!” Dhm’Ni defends himself. He never would have fought her unless she didn’t challenge him first.

“I know Dhm’Ni! I am just saying that we don’t want that to happen again now do we?” Sya asks. 

Dhm’Ni shakes his head. 

“Good. Get here soon,” Sya says just as the screen goes black. 

Dhm’Ni quickly makes his way to his Awu’asa stand and takes off the belt. He is going to have some way of defending himself from her. Who knows what she will do to him now! He then puts on a casual loincloth and a pair of metal sandals.

Dhm’Ni was grateful as he left his room and saw that the hall was empty. He quietly makes his way to the lift and waits for it to come. But to his dismay, someone had heard him.

“Off to see your little Ooman?” Dyne hisses from down the hall but Dhm’Ni stays silent. He knows that all Dyne is going for is a fight and nothing more. As the lift doors open and he steps in, he does not turn around but keeps his back to Dyne as the doors close.

“Healers Deck.”

Usually, the lift would stop every now and then, to pick of other passengers but it was, in reality, very early in the morning, so it was a direct route. Everyone was still asleep and rightfully so. Sleep is essential to keep up one’s energy to hunt and fight.

Meanwhile, Sya was rummaging through all the drawers and cupboards around the entire healer’s deck and it was getting very irritating to Kh’Cho.

“Can I help you find something?” Kh’Cho barks.

“Perhaps. Do you have any Alsn?”

“Umm, I may have some white healing Alsn but I do not have hunting Alsn,” Kh’Cho answers back.

“That will be fine,” Sya says as he starts back towards Nala. 

When Kh’Cho was finished with healing her and implanting the translator, he lowered her back down to the table. Sya thought that her scars are beautiful and will stand out brilliantly on her peach skin. Kh’Cho had swiftly left the room and a few minutes later returned with five large bundles of white Alsn and applied on to the skin in thick strips. Once it was layered on, and contacted another part of Alsn, it would form into one piece. Sya grasps the collection and stands next to Nala. He begins with one leg and slowly starts to unravel it like a long bandage up her leg and afterward the other. Then he cuts one bundle in half and does each arm, but as he was covering her left arm, he took up her hand and looked at her wrist. 

With his thumb he softly strokes three thin scars and sympathetically shakes his head. Seems suicide can hit even the strongest. He finishes up her arms and starts on her abdomen. He carefully wraps her chest and beasts since she is going to be a little tender for the next few hours. He then starts to wrap her stomach and waist but stops as he hears the door swish open.

“Lord Khupiee,” Kh’Cho barks to the entering form. Lord Khupiee was in the middle of a yawn as he entered but still tried to say good morning, all that came out was gibberish.

“Kh’Cho. Can you finish this for me?” Sya asks as he leaves Nala’s side. Kh’Cho nods, takes his place and resumes covering her lower half.

“I wish to speak with you,” Sya growls as he takes Lord Khupiee by the arm and leads him out. “Now, you are going to be pure with me! Just what is going through you head?”

“Why I do not know what you could mean,” Lord Khupiee answers mockingly, but decided not to kid anymore when Sya roars in his face.

“A lot of thinking is going through my head, Sya.”

“And at what C’ntlip induced moment did you decide to bring her into our clan?” Sya hisses. He was happy, ecstatic, that Nala was now in their clan. He just didn’t like that Lord Khupiee didn’t include him in the decision. He would have pulled in her favor but he was Lord Khupiee’s second, he should have been there.

“The very moment I was called to the Bridge and I saw the island we were on exploding into nothing the thought came to me. You said her people abandoned her and left her to die. If they cannot appreciate a warrior like her then they do not deserve to have her.”

“And we do?” Sya questioned. He completely agreed with him but he wanted to hear him say it.

“It is not that we deserve her Sya. It is that she deserves us.” 

Sya went silent and just stared into Lord Khupiee’s eyes. He could tell when he was lying, his left eye twitched but he wasn’t twitching today. They both looked to the lift as the doors open and Dhm’Ni walk out.

“That took a while!” Sya teases. Dhm’Ni nods good morning to his father as he walks to them. 

“And I warned you not to dress in armor,” He hisses. Dhm’Ni looks down to his belt and then back up to Sya with one brow rose.

“You expect me to be in the same room as her and not be ready to be attacked?” He asks seriously but they just laughed. Dhm’Ni shook his head as he turns from them and walks into the healers. Kh’Cho was done with bandaging Nala and had even cut it just at her bellybutton to give her movement. They say good morning to each other as Kh’Cho walks back behind his Med Panel.

“Now we wake her?” Lord Khupiee questioned as he and Sya made their way in. He sees Kh’Cho nod, “How?”

“I can reverse the sedative I gave to her and she should wake up almost instantly.”

“She should?” Dhm’Ni barks.

“I don’t know how fast it will be. Considering that it took at least 30 seconds for the second dose of tranquilizer to take effect, it might be longer,” Kh’Cho says as he takes out a small vial from the wall. As Kh’Cho went to stand by Nala, Dhm’Ni inadvertently took a step back, making Lord Khupiee and Sya start to thrill in laugher.

“Are you really that afraid of her?” Lord Khupiee teases.

“You say fear, I say getting ready,” Dhm’Ni bluntly states, “Who do you truly think she will jump? The one she believes did her wrong or the one closest?” 

Both Sya and Lord Khupiee look back to Nala just as Kh’Cho injected her and they too took a small step back. Even Kh’Cho scurried away when he was finished and took cover behind his Med Panel.

After a few minutes still nothing happened, remaining motionless. Everyone’s musk smelt of tension and apprehension as they waited for her to wake but still, she didn’t move.

“What is wrong?” Dhm’Ni barks, startling everyone. 

He walks beside Kh’Cho and looks at the Med Panel. He had an 'unfastened’ education of the Healers equipment. Everyone had to but because of who he is, he must have a full understanding within a few seasons. Both Sya and Lord Khupiee watch and follow Dhm’Ni and continued to watch him until they started to hear cracking. Together, they look back to Nala and found her starting to move.

She had completely forgotten everything as she woke. Like most do as they wake every morning. For a split second everything was perfect, nothing was wrong and the world was heaven. She half expected to wake up to her room, to smell the sweet honey scent from the maple syrup she made in her house and to even see the soft rays of the sun push through her eye lids as they shown through her widows. She instinctively started to stretch, arching her back and extending her limbs to make them all crack from the night’s sleep.

Dhm’Ni moved away from Kh’Cho as he watched Nala. He slowly made his way out from behind the Med Panel and made it halfway to the side of his Father when Nala took in a deep breath. She didn’t know these smells. Everything was different, she wasn’t in her room! 

She went rigid and sat up with her eyes still shut and took in another gulp of air. She smelt those same two scent from before but there were also two new ones she never smelled before. But she was concentrating on the rain and vanilla. She violently opened her eyes and right in front of her was Dhm’Ni. He didn’t know what to do. She lowered her head and growled in her throat as she pushed herself up but she couldn’t really do it and wobbled a bit. Her body was still coming off the tranquilizers and was still a bit floppy but she made it up and was sitting on her feet. She used all she had and lunged at Dhm’Ni. 

He readied himself for her even before she knew what she was going to do and caught her in midair. He swung around with her in hand and slammed her against the near wall. Nala yelped in pain but soon went to work scratching and kicking Dhm’Ni.

“ENOUGH!” Dhm’Ni roars in her face. Immediately Nala stopped struggling, she was having a hard time figuring out how she understood him and wondering why she couldn’t keep her eyes open.

“Careful with her,” Sya said softly. 

Dhm’Ni involuntary looked to Sya and didn’t see Nala grab hold of a small knife from his belt and slip it into the sleeve of her new garment. Nala whimpered as her head was suddenly hit with an intense migraine, her eyes flutter, her head flew back from the hurt and she suddenly lost conscious. Dhm’Ni, at seeing her suddenly fall limp, picked her up with his hands and took her back to the white slab.

“What happened?” Sya barks as Kh’Cho strides over to the table. He uses a handheld scanner and looks at her body.

“My guess is her body still needs rest, or the reversal didn’t completely work,” He answers. Once he was done scanning her, he walks back to the Med Panel and looks over the new images, “Her body simply went into overdrive and come to a standstill. I am worried that when she wakes again, she will be even more violent and possibly hurt someone.”

“I agree,” Sya said suddenly, “I think she needs to calm down before we tell her of her new evolvement with our clan.” 

Lord Khupiee nods and looks back to Nala. Dhm’Ni hadn’t taken his eyes off her when he put her down. He stared at Nala’s face, as if trying to remember it, tracing her features. Her eyes, her strange nose and lips. He never really looked at his ooman prey, never been so close to one he wasn’t about to kill and skin. The males and female features are almost the same . . . same structure, same bone and even the same skin tone. Dhm’Ni had heard of some hunters saying the skin color was different to each land and even Sya said once that the oomans on her old world can look completely different from the next. But Dhm’Ni never saw anything other than the peach skinned ones. Maybe once this was all over and done with, he can go back and hunt the other colors. They might be a better challenge.

“Place her into one of the observation rooms. We can watch her as she wakes,” Lord Khupiee said but Dhm’Ni wasn’t really listening, “It will give me time to summon all on the ship and tell them of the new developments. But first I think we should have a meeting to discuss everything so quickly get her to the room and we shall get together,” He said but Dhm’Ni didn’t move. He was still gazing at her face. 

“Dhm’Ni?” Lord Khupiee clicked, but nothing.

“DHM’NI!” He finally roars and now Dhm’Ni looked to his father, “Get her to the observation room, now.” With a nod, Dhm’Ni scoops Nala in his arms and leaves with Kh’Cho in tail.

Kh’Cho ran a little ahead and pushed for the lift. Dhm’Ni waited for only a minute before it came and was grateful that it was empty.

“Deck 24: Uninterrupted.” Dhm’Ni said as he and Kh’Cho entered. Dhm’Ni ordered the lift to make a continuous route to deck 24 without interruptions. He didn’t want to even think of what might happen if the door would open to a pack of Yautja. Kh’Cho was standing in front of Dhm’Ni and was holding her hand.

“What are you doing?” Dhm’Ni asked hesitantly.

“Checking her pulse,” Kh’Cho barks bluntly, “Her breathing has been off for the past few hours, erratic and uneven. But I gave her something that should help until I find something to completely fix the problem.” Dhm’Ni didn’t get to ask anything else when Nala started to stir in his hands. She was whimpering and moaning like she was in pain, but Kh’Cho healed her. She quieted down and the doors to the deck opened. 

Deck 24 was a spilt between the supplies and what could be construed as a jail. But jailing is not a thing done in Yautja society. The rooms here were meant to hold people in yes, but not permanently. It was usually meant as either a light punishment or for observation. If a healer thought you may have a sickness from hunting you would be sequestered until you healed, died, or was proven to be without sickness. The observations rooms are quite large, a good 20 by 20-foot square. The walls, except for the door, was of one-way glass so that those observing can watch the one inside without the one inside knowing where the said watchers are. The room is completely bare of most necessities. It is intended that all excrement is taken to be tested. There is only a small cot and a table with a few chairs, nothing more.

“Do you wish to test her?” Dhm’Ni asks as he and Kh’Cho walk along to hallway. There are only two doors along the entire deck, one to the giant supply rooms for all to use and another to the observation rooms.

“No. When she wakes and is more compliant, I will take and do the necessary tests.” 

They stop at the door and Kh’Cho opens it with a code. Some doorways and rooms were locked as there are some places, on every ship, that are not meant for all to see. Dhm’Ni swiftly brings her in and they walk into the first room. He quickly but carefully places her down onto the cot and almost ran out of the room.

“Do you stay or do I?” Dhm’Ni asks.

“My guess is I stay. Who else is better to watch her? And you need to get to the meeting.”

“What meeting?”

“Your father said that he should have a meeting with all the Arbitrators, you and Sya before he summons all on board . . . but you weren’t listening,” Kh’Cho chirps with a small smirk, “Go now or be late.” Dhm’Ni nods to Kh’Cho as he starts for the door out.

“I apologize for awakening you all,” Lord Khupiee chirped to all the awake and grumpy Arbitrators, “Nala had awakened and again attacked Dhm’Ni.” 

Everyone stared to laugh as Lord Khupiee made a face.

“She is aggressive, isn’t she?” Pakka chirps, almost sounding pleased. Lord Khupiee looks to his brother but stays silent as he thinks over his brother’s new view of the ooman.

“We decided to place her in an observation room, until she calms down. I do not want her killing my son for a vendetta that may be righted when she learns of her now being in the Ehre Clan. I sent Dhm’Ni and Kh’Cho to watch over her until we hatch out just what needs to be said when I summon the ship.” 

Lord Khupiee didn’t get to finish when Dhm’Ni came strolling in, “What are you doing here?” But as Dhm’Ni opened his mouth, Lord Khupiee raised a hand to silence him, “You are here now. No point in changing that.”

“Just what is it that you find so important for us to hatch out?” Miy’Hota groaned.

“I was thinking that all of you had some concerns that you think need to be raise about the ooman being here that you may think the ship need to know. I am going to summon them and tell them everything and I do not wish to miss a thing,” Instantly all started to fidget with their questions.

“How is she to survive here?” One asked.

“How are the males going to react to her being here? Her being the only female and all,” Another said.

“Who is to be her caretaker? Where will she stay?”

“Can she be challenged? Or even spar?”

“Is she to be trained?” 

Lord Khupiee slams his fist on the table and roars at a defining tenor. Everyone quieted down and looked back to a flustered Lord Khupiee.

“Let’s just start with the ones about Nalani herself, shall we?” He didn’t think they would be so forwards with the inquiries but he got what he was asking for.

“How can an ooman survive here?” M’Ho asked first.

“I would think she will do just fine. She will need to be educated in the ways of Yautja society and maybe even trained but with the skill we saw earlier, I do not think a lot will be needed,” Lord Khupiee answered.

“I will teach her,” Sya barks, “She will need to know how to read and write, know our customs, our laws, our hunt and I take responsibility for that.” 

They all nod in agreement as they knew Sya was an amazing teacher. Before Lord Khupiee became Clan Leader and Sya his second, he was a trainer for those going on the Chiva. For years, all his students came back victorious. He had only ever lost five, at most, and he even predicted that they would fail. ‘The arrogant and stupid deserve to die with such attitudes’, he would always say at the begging of a new training season.

“And as to the fact of her being the only female aboard,” Rathe began, “I think that until she is accepted by the Elders, mating should be forbidden.”

“I entirely agree with that,” Dhm’Ni barks making everyone look at him oddly, “Some of the males have already expressed an interest.”

“Then any mating will be prohibited until she is accepted,” Lord Khupiee chirps.

“Who is to be her caretaker? She cannot be alone at any time.” Rathe adds.

“I suppose that Sya would be up for the task,” Lord Khupiee says bluntly. Sya just tilts his head in question, “You are the most ‘up to date’ with the oomans and all that entails so I guessed that you would love to have her in your care.”

“That I would,” Sya thrills. He could finally get all his questions answered, “But where is she to be housed?”

“Housed?” Lord Khupiee asks.

“You cannot expect her to stay in the observation rooms her whole life, do you?” Bakkub finally joined in, “And you cannot think her to stay in the Unblood decks? By law she is a Young Blood and should room on the Young Blood decks.”

Dhm'Ni twists his head to Bakkub, “We don’t even have room for her to house alone. You practically packed the Drop Ship full when you left. We have no room for her, unless she bunks with someone.”

“I know of a few males that would care for her,” Dh’Kn says slyly.

“If you are talking of Dyne, I will not allow that!” Dhm’Ni roars.

“Then perhaps she should bunk with you?” 

Dhm’Ni opens his eyes wide and slowly turns his head to his father, “Once you two meet on a more favorable ground, I am sure you two would get along nicely,” Lord Khupiee jests.

“Are you kidding?” Dhm’Ni asks in a stoic tone.

“I am not,” Lord Khupiee barks, “Nalani stays with you. She is a Young Blood, so she stays with the Young Bloods. She will spar and can be challenged and deliver challenges.”

“What of her judgment?” Pakka asks.

“All seven Elders have been summoned and will be leaving the Home World within a few days with another Drop ship of the Ehre Clan. They will meet us about halfway there and in between now and then I hope that she will go on a hunt or two, so we can see her in action. And so that when we all testify, either for her or against her, we will have grounds for our own judgment.”

“How is she to communicate?” Inkle added.

“Kh’Cho implanted her with a translator,” Sya answered, “It only works one way though. She can understand us but cannot talk Yautja. He has already stared in a plan to alter her surgically so she can speak and hear,” Sya stopped suddenly when he watched Dhm’Ni leaned on the table with an elbow to hold his head, “What is it Dhm’Ni?”

“Why my...hwy...umm...Me?” He finally gets out.

“Would you prefer her be in with Dyne?” Rathe thrills, “I was there in the galley with him and a lot of others. He was impressed to say the least.”

“FINE!” Dhm’Ni growls, “I will not have that disgrace of a Yautja handle her. In any way.”

“Are there any other concerns?” Lord Khupiee barks. 

Everyone looked to the others but they all were quiet, “Very well. I will get Ykas’e to summon them all to the Ka'rik'na Hall but at a better time. I do not want cranky hunters getting the news that they have a new ooman clan member. Once she is cleared by Kh’Cho, I alone tell her that she is now here to stay. She will get everything done for her new life,” Lord Khupiee nods and all the other stand and start for the door. 

“Shower and get ready. At the eighth hour, we will all meet and then go to Nala.”

“Dhm’Ni,” Sya called out. 

Dhm’Ni was in a stupor as he walked from the room. He never heard Sya call him. There is going to be an ooman in his room, not even that, in his bed. He’s going to have to sleep in a hammock the whole way home! He doesn’t want to be that close with her! She hates him, right? All she has done is attack him. It is expected but after a while it’s just going to get annoying. 

“Dhm’Ni, stop!” Sya roars. 

Dhm’Ni finally looked back to Sya. All he could muster was a brow raise in response to him, “Do not worry Dhm’Ni. It will all be ok. You two just need to talk. You got along before. She only started to dislike you when you knocked her out,” He thrills in laugher but Dhm’Ni remains emotionless.

“When she calms, we will talk with her and she will be alright. Now, go and get what rest you can before the summoning. And just because he missed it now doesn’t mean you are not going to play your recording of the day,” Dhm’Ni barks as he remembers about that.

“You are uhh . . . going to be amused,” Dhm’Ni chirps, “I can assure you that. I think I need to go and sleep. And hope to Paya that she hates me enough to refuse to stay with me.”

“Are you so sure she hates you?”

“How can she not?”

“Just speak with her. Ooman females need to be um . . .” Sya paused and started to roll around a clawed hand, trying to remember a word but it just never came. It’s just on the tip of his tooth, “I don’t want to say persuaded but talked to. Just promise to me that you will try. You and I think EVERYONE does not want to deal with an angry female. Ooman or not!” Sya ends as he starts to walk away.

“I promise,” Dhm’Ni hesitantly barks.

Notes:

Pronunciations (Previous on chapters 3, 4, 6, 9 & 10.)

 

Tonikum: Taun Eik Cum

 

Alsn: Als In

 

Hulij-bpe S'yuit-de Lou-dte Kalei = Pathetic Female!