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The Fighting Irish: Catalyst and the Dtai'kai'rish	By : girlyhero Category: M through R > Predator Views: 4378 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own nor profit from Predator, Alien Vs. Predator, Alien franchises.

Chapter List
- 11
- 12
Chapter Eleven: Kids in the Hall

Naranarti nuzzled Jesse’s neck. She was sitting up in bed, sketching in her journal and purposely ignoring him. It was more of a teasing, playful gesture than anything, and Naranarti could tell by the small smirk of her mouth. He slipped a talon under the page and tried to flip it over. Still ignoring him, she scribbled over his hand and then continued drawing on the next page when he won the battle to turn the page of the book. He grabbed the top of her pencil and tried to take over her drawing; he managed to force her to draw a very crude penis on the person she was drawing, who was obviously intended to be female. The corner of Jesse’s mouth started to twitch as she suppressed her grin. When she still would not acknowledge him, he slid his hand around the back of her neck under the cascade of red waves and tossed the lengths of hair over her head in front of her face.
            Jesse shook her head, and her hair fell back to its original position. Naranarti did it again. And again. Again. Jesse managed to keep her poker face and continue drawing. Internally, she was hysterical. Naranarti sat up straight. His mandibles tightened in annoyance. With a quick bark, he leaned forward and nipped her right breast with the joints of his mandibles. Jesse tossed the book in the air and squealed.
            Naranarti wrapped his arms around her waist. All his weight on her made the two lay back in bed. He nuzzled the small of her back and purred.
            “You’re such a boy,” Jesse giggled.
            “You were ignoring me,” he replied.
            “It was fun though.”
            “How long have you been awake?” He leaned off of her so she could sit back up.
            “Not long,” Jesse rested her head against his chest. “What all did you do yesterday? I woke up, and it was just me and Yari’mso. She said you ran off after bleaching my little trophy-tooth.”
            “I talked to an old friend and to my father about the investigation. I’m closing it.”
            Jesse looked up at him intensely. “Why? Did something happen?”
            He shook his head. “Not necessarily. Nanaiyude is no longer concerned, and we both feel that pursuing the culprit is not a priority.”
            “So… you do know who did it?”
            “We do.”
            “Who?”
            “Don’t worry about it.”
            “A little hard not to.”
            Naranarti stepped off the bed and started dressing. He started to recalibrate his computer gauntlet. “You really shouldn’t. It’s been handled, and if they fear I suspect them, they will back off from us.”
            “It’s your mother, isn’t it?”
            Naranarti dropped the gauntlet and stared at her with wide eyes.
            Jesse stood up on the bed and bounced slightly in excitement and disbelief. “Oh, fuck my Jesus! It is her! She really did it?!”
            “You’re quite perceptive,” Naranarti sighed as he picked up his gauntlet and clasped it around his wrist.
            “No, I was saying it to be a bitch. I had utterly no idea of how true it was.” Jesse said. Her expression became concerned. “Why would she do that? What’s her fucking deal? I get she hates me enough to have some dick-hole hurt me, but why try and kill your father?”
            “[Who the hell knows?]” he grumbled. He approached Jesse and placed his hands along her hips. “I’ve dealt with her as far as you’re concerned, though. She would be suicidal to attempt to hurt you again.” He lifted her from the bed and sat her on the floor. “Now, get dressed. I want you to be a little more active.”
            “Well, guess that ruins my plans for lazing about the house eating cheese-puffs and watching SOAPs.” She shook her head when she saw he was confused. “It’s a joke. So what do you want me to do?”
            “I want you,” he handed her the small bleach-bone trophy, “To travel about this level of the ship. Take a look at what some of the others do with their smaller trophies and get an idea of what you want to do with yours. When you think you know what you want, go to Hy’kgrel and have him make the set up for you. Don’t be shy of The Pit, either. Yeyin told us the younger males have nothing against you, and they are just curious and intrigued about your presence—not threatened.”
            “Not to sound snobby or cocky,” Jesse said as she started rummaging through a drawer that she had designated for herself. “But I would think that after yesterday’s display of neck-snapping, there wouldn’t be a single threat throughout the ship…BUT! That’s me being foolish—tell me I’m wrong.”
            “No, it would be foolish to drop your guard,” he confirmed. “I would advise against it. That is why I said to wander the halls on this level. The Warriors will be training for most of the day. By the time they roam, you will have an escort of some kind. If you get an escort, you may go elsewhere in the ship.”
            “Oooo! Can I bother you at work?” She finished the wrapping of her dress and tightened the clasp in front.
            “Training? I suppose…” Naranarti wasn’t sure if his uneasiness was over her safety or the idea that she would be seeing him while working. What if my fuck-up students fuck up? he worried. “Where’s your splint?” He noticed she was not wearing it.
            “I don’t think I need it,” Jesse rolled her hand and arm around and even applied pressure to areas of her wrist. There was no pain or even mild soreness. “I think that blood-medicine combined with that magic-hell-pain-injection fixed me up. And fast.”
Naranarti didn’t reply. Normally, a broken wrist would take about three days to heal; seven without the injection. Overnight was beyond amazing. Almost too amazing—he would discuss it with Denarde later.
“You think I could make it into a little dress-clasp like this one?” She pointed at the Kainde Amendha on her chest.
            “You could,” Naranarti said. He started to trill. “But you still have to go out and mingle with the locals.”
            “Should I bathe first?”
            “[Get out,]” Naranarti pointed to the door.
            Jesse ran out to the living room giggling. She adjusted her breather and placed the translator against it. She wasn’t trying to avoid going out into the open, at least she didn’t think she was. When she came to the door, though, she found herself hesitant. Naranarti came up behind her and placed a satchel over her shoulder.
            “This has your book in case you get bored or no one will talk to you. Find a corner and draw—that will get their attention. I also have your splint in there in case you did not heal as fast as you thought.”
            “How do I smell?”
            “Nice and alittle like me,” he gloated over the last half of the sentence.
            “Really? Well, I did have this big sweaty guy spooning me all night.”
            “[Oh, you did?]”
            “[Yes. I did.]” Jesse stuttered slightly.
            “That’s good. You’re getting better. Don’t worry about getting adventurous with your words though.” Naranarti opened the door and ushered her out with him.
            “Shit, Nara,” Jesse whispered. “Couldn’t give me a second to collect myself?”
            “Nope,” he shut the door behind him but didn’t lock it. “If you really get into trouble, trouble like yesterday, then scream and I’ll come kill someone.”
            “Can’t promise their face will be intact,” Jesse said. Naranarti nuzzled her then started down the hall. Jesse watched him leave feeling a little uneasy. When he disappeared around the corner, she reached for the controls to the room. A loud bark startled her and she looked back to see Naranarti had returned. He shook his head then made a motion with his hand to shoo her from the door. She’d been caught. “Dammit,” she grumbled then turned and started down the opposite end of the hall.
            Everything seemed quiet, even The Pit. A scant few individuals were mulling about, but no one even noticed her today. She felt lucky for it. How long it would last, she was unsure. The hall was also very empty, at first. A door opened to her right as she approached. A tall male stepped out and shifted to lock his door. He seemed to see her from the corner of his eye and paused as Jesse did. He continued toying with the code to his door, then turned and faced her. He was blooded. His skin was beige with dark brown spots forming more like stripes over his contour; the “stripes” were not as defined as Denarde’s were. His hair was black in dreads of varying lengths. His eyes were a red-orange, and he seemed to study her with them. Something distinct about him was a second set of ridges at the top of his head, smaller than the others. His mandibles were longer and skinnier than most of those she had seen. They made her think of the Hish, of Ulij, but theirs were double jointed. His skin was not as textured or embossed like them either. Maybe he was one of the “half-breed” she had heard whispers about?
            Fuck it, Jesse sighed. She took her time as she spoke wanting to get it right. “Gg-kaun…dte?” She didn’t intend for the fluctuation in her voice to sound so uncertain. She forced a smile, hiding her teeth just in case she would offend.
            The Yautja tilted his head slightly, not expecting her to speak his language. “Gkaun,” he said plainly in a very deep, throaty voice. He nodded his head at her.
            Jesse nodded back and started to make her way past him in hopes that she was fine to continue on. She could feel him watching her leave, however.
            The medical lab was up ahead. The door was shut, and there was no window to peer inside. The door in front of her though, had a porthole window about a foot above her head. Nara had told her that it was the Parliament Hall. She peered about the hall to ensure she was alone. Content that no one was around to see her make a fool of herself, she started jumping to steal glances through the porthole. Her curiosity was not getting satisfied, and she continued jumping.
            On her eighth jump, Jesse felt a set of hands grab her under her armpits and cried out in surprise. The taloned hands hoisted her up to peer through the window. Taking advantage, she leaned forward and looked about the room. It was large with stadium seating. The benches were arranged in a circle around a center stage at the lowest level. At the far end of the room, two females sat and were talking, oblivious of the tiny audience.
            Jesse pushed herself away from the door. Whoever had hoisted her up understood and set her to her feet. She turned—it was the male from earlier. He was staring at her as though waiting. “Um…thank you,” she said. She walked past him again. When there was a bit more distance between them, she turned and decided to use a phrase she had heard the others say as they took their leave. “Uhh… Yin. Tek. Kai.” The male tilted his head and crossed his arms as he relaxed his stance. Jesse spun and took a fast pace down the hall uncertain as to what he thought.
            Slowing her pace, Jesse passed The Pit and Nara’s suite. There was still very little activity in The Pit, but it appeared as though the reason was due to their sleep schedule. Looking into The Pit from a different angle, Jesse noticed that many of the males were curled up on mats closer to the far wall. Some of them were waking up to prepare for their days. Others were relaxing with friends (or spatting with enemies) before their days begin. She saw Yeyin and the other males he associated with dart quickly out of The Pit through the exit opposite the one she spectated. Jesse took off down the hall hoping she could catch them before they made it into the elevator.
            The sharpest curve of the hall put her in between the bathing area and the Warriors apartments. It was there that she bumped into Mhrende, almost literally.
            Mhrende chirped and his eyes squinted above his mandibles when he smiled.
            “Mhrende,” Jesse nodded to him. “Where are you off to?”
            “Training,” he replied with a sense of pride. “I help Naranarti. Why are you here?”
            Jesse explained her quest.
            “Let me see it, if I may.” Mhrende held up the bone and cartilage mandible. “I would suggest a necklace, but there is so much you can do. Come, they may be conflicted about your presence,” he motioned for her to follow him into the dorm-like living space. “But they will never turn down a chance to show off trophies.”
            The dorm was broken up into a numerous amount of cubilces of three-in-a-half walls. The walls reached above Jesse’s head, but they did not reach the ceiling completely. Each cubicle had a cot with storage above and below it. The wall beside the cots had small grooming stations with square mirrors, small sink and more storage. The wall opposite the cots were set up for holding trophies. Jesse couldn’t help but peer into one of the cubicles. The trophy wall held two elongated Amendha Kainde skulls, three unknown, and one human skull. It was slightly unsettling, and she reached out to Mhrende to try and stop him, but he had already started calling out to the others.
            “[Hey, assholes!!]” Mhrende called. “[Come here!]”
            “[What do you want now—]” one Warrior peered out from his cubicle. He seemed irate at first, but his expression turned to shock when he saw Jesse.
            “[It’s a trap, Yamadeia! Don’t do it!]” another male said to the first, Yamadeia, trilling.
            “[Shut your face!]” Yamadeia said to him. The two left their cubicles to approach. “[Mhrende, this seems foolish, bringing the Ooman here.]”
            “[Relax.]” Mhrende held up Jesse’s little trophy and explained. Many other males had gathered and were listening. Some ran off to grab a few trophies while others waited. Mhrende looked at Yamadeia. “[Well?]”
            Yamadeia didn’t say anything. He turned and walked away. Jesse noticed his back had a lined of blue spots up his spine, a pop of color over his tan skin.
            “Mhrende,” Jesse gently placed a hand on his shoulder to get his attention. “Is he related to—?” He answered before she could finish.
            “Denarde’s other son. We don’t get along. Here,” he gave her back the trophy. “I have to go, but you will be fine. You are likeable. Be yourself, be respectful. Even if not, fuck’em. Not literally… you know. Bye.” He started to leave, but then called to the other Warriors. “[La’dete, translate for her. And everyone remember, if you hurt her, the Arbitrator will kill you.]” Mhrende was gone before Jesse could protest being left alone.
            Jesse looked about at the males who just stood staring at her. Some of the whispers her translator could pick up. The conversations were obviously centered on her, but one thing that seemed consistent was her new nickname: Ka’tor’di.
            Trap. In the feminine form.
            “[Why’s Ka’tor’di here?]” a male from the back asked.
            “[Ka’tor’di, what trophies do you want to see?]” The question was directed to her.
            Jesse looked up to search the crowd. “Um…” She was slightly startled when they all went silent. “Small ones.” She made a motion with her hands. One of the males started talking to the rest of the crowd. This must have been La’dete. “Wait,” she stopped him from taking. “Let me be direct….” She held up the mandible. “What could I do with this?”
            La’dete nodded. He translated for her. There were about nine males left in the crowd and most all of them scattered to their cubicles to retrieve trophies. The three that stayed behind wanted to study the mandible, including La’dete.
            “Necklace?” La’dete said, motioning around his neck.
            “[How about she attaches it to a collar?]” The second male from earlier suggested.
            “[You do that to teeth and tusks,]” the third male, a new one, commented. “[Not entire mandibles.]”
            “[Remove the tusk,]” the second replied.
            “I don’t want to do that. But thanks, though,” Jesse said. She didn’t want to lose parts of her trophy, especially when she had ripped the whole thing off of the bastard.
            La’dete translated and the second male shrugged.
            Others started approaching. They showed her various items from jewelry to decorated weapons. Of her favorite, there was a skeleton hand that could be worn over your own (but not Jesse’s as it was enormous) and a dagger with teeth on the guard pointing up with the blade. She suspected that the dagger itself was also a trophy, made of bone and bronze. One of the males to her side kept studying her at a crouch, she noticed. The moment she looked over to another male who was trying to show her a bangle of claws, the male who had been staring at her poked Jesse in the breast.
            “HEY!!!” Jesse looked at him and yelled. He hissed in surprise. It hadn’t been the first time she had been harassed, but this male painfully hit with the tip of his talon. Jesse looked at his hand which was still in the air, glared at him, and slapped his hand. It was audible, and the group fell quiet again. The male’s mandibles dropped in absolute shock. “The hell’s wrong with you?! Your mother not teach you it’s rude to poke a bitch in the boobs?!”
            La’dete translated between trills. The rest of the group started trilling loudly, some blatantly laughing. The male pulled his mandibles in turning very green in the face and forehead. He grumbled at her.
            “Don’t grumble at me, boy!” Jesse snapped. That was too bold, she thought. Her face was turning red, she could feel. She was getting edgy and nervous. She hoped they thought she was turning colors from anger, but she worried her scent gave her away. Should she back down?
            The male hissed at her.
            “Jes’deinz,” La’dete warned, slurring her name slightly. “Heez mad!”
            She could see everyone staring from the corners of her eyes. Her translator was going wild, but she kept her eyes on the male who matched her stare. Should I back down?
            “[She’s got her eyes on your mandibles!]”
            Should I back down?
“[Don’t get scared! She can’t knock you down!]”
            Should I back down?
“[She’s scared!]”
Should I back down?
            “[That’s why she’s Ka’tor’di…]”
            No. Jesse took a step forward. The male surprisingly stepped back. “Why’d you do that? It was very rude.”
            The male straightened and shook his head at her. “Tarei'hasan.” He started to walk away.
            Jesse’s bottom lip trembled. Now was a time to do something stupid. “Sy--S'yuit’de!”
            Something very stupid. The male turned about to face her. If he didn’t have anger on his face, he did now. In response to being called “an unworthy insect,” Jesse felt the need to call him a coward. In her head, she went over which way she should dodge if he went to hit her. Maybe she could hit him first? No, let him be the bad-guy, she decided. The male stopped in front of her. He stared at her for a moment. Jesse noticed something interesting at that moment about the wrap he wore around his waist; it was missing a piece. She knew what she was going to do. She just hoped Yautja and human nerves were wired the same in certain aspects.
            “[Why don’t you run? You’re scared,]” he growled.
            “Because you’re not worth running away from.” Jesse answered flatly. She waited for La’dete to translate. It took him a moment; she guessed La’dete was trying to avoid them breaking out into a fight. He finally spoke when the male looked up and growled.
            The male raised his right arm and came down with an open hand.

*****

Naranarti tied the blindfold on Unada. He backed away and left him in the middle of the small, makeshift arena. He looked at his other students. R'kaan, Yeyin, Rautade, and Si'myt'de waited anxiously at the edges.
            “R’kaan!” Naranarti called.
            Immediately, R’kaan leaped forward and attacked Unada. Unada took several blows to the side and face, unable to block or dodge them. He threw a punch into the open air only to receive a knee to his gut.
            “Kicte.” Naranarti said. He sounded disappointed. “Unada. To the side. Yeyin. To the center.”
            Unada ripped off the blindfold, cursing and spitting. He dropped it and walked off. Yeyin picked up the blindfold and tied it on decently. It was dark behind it, but he could hear his comrads chattering and the talons of their toes clipping the padded floor.
            “Si’myt’de!”
            Shit! Yeyin could hear his friend to his right. He took a hit to the back of his shoulder, but he heard the movement Si’myt’de’s swing made. He knew what to listen for. Si’myt’de swung again, an uppercut from below with what Yeyin assumed was his left as that was the side he heard it on. Yeyin jumped backwards. When his feet landed, he pushed forward to where he hoped Si’myt’de was still standing. He could feel the body heat, and the surprised chirp from his friend let Yeyin know where he was in reference to Si’myt’de’s person. He meant to punch him in the ribs, but it felt more like the armpit. Either way, it seemed like it did the trick. Si’myt’de was knocked off balance. Yeyin grabbed at the air until he caught Si’myt’de’s neck and kneed him in the chest. Si’myt’de fell to the floor with a yelp. His chest seized for a second as his lungs tried to recollect air.
            “Kicte,” Naranarti said. “Drag Si’myt’de off the arena, Unada.”
            “Did I piss you off?” Si’myt’de hissed in pain.
            “No,” Yeyin replied. He could hear Unada picking him up. “I’m just showing off.”
            “Hard to tell the difference.”
            “Ra’kaan!” Naranarti called. “Rautade! Go!”
            Shit, shit, shit! Yeyin could hear them from both sides. He curled and rolled. Jumping up, he spun and dodged. One blow he managed to grab and sling into his other opponent. He palmed one of them in the chin (he determined it was Rautade, as he had an overbite, and Yeyin could feel the top teeth scrape his palm slightly). R’kaan elbowed Yeyin in the chest, but unlike his friend, Yeyin bared the pain and using his tension, head-butted R’kaan. Both fell to a roll and groaned.
            Naranarti trilled lightly. He had a smartass idea. “Ki’cte.” He pushed Mhrende towards the arena. “Begin.”
            Yeyin listened carefully. There was nothing but the darkness of his blindfold. He inhaled the air searching for a scent. That’s odd. There scent was strange, almost feminine…
            “C’JIT!!!” Before Yeyin could react, he was kicked across the room. Scrambling to his feet, he met a backhand to his jaw. His body spun, but before he could hit the mat, a fist met the other side of his face. He was brought back to his feet by the punch. Another kick slammed into his side. When was Naranarti going to call this one?
            Naranarti trilled lightly. Yeyin should have known better than to get cocky. Fighting noisy opponents was one thing, but silence is deadly. Out of the corner of his eye, Naranarti saw a familiar face approaching.
            “You’re plaything is running loose, again,” the Elite Warrior with the double row of ridges said. He noticed Naranarti’s brow tilt. “…N’yaka’de.”
            “Nice save, Venyude,” Naranarti commented. “I know she’s out there. And she’s not my ‘plaything.’ Were you not at the meeting?”
            “What meeting?”
            “Of course not. So, you missed the excitement,” Naranarti trilled again. “Ki’cte!”
            Mhrende dropped Yeyin who fell with a loud thunk to the padded floor. Yeyin cringed and pulled the blindfold off to see Mhrende walking away towards Naranarti and Venyude blatantly laughing. Yeyin stank of resentment. He tried to get up, but cried out in pain as a rib that was cracked suddenly broke.
            “Yeyin, go to the infirmary,” Naranarti called out.
            “What’d I miss that was so exciting?” Venyude asked.
            “Naranarti broke a neck, called S’esutuhn out in front of everyone,” Mhrende answered as he approached.
            Naranarti directed the other students. “Break up and spar!... Begin!”
            “I hate to miss a good execution. Anyone I’ll miss?” Venyude was intrigued. He had heard the alarm, but not the most obedient of Naranarti’s old students he stayed in his apartment to wait out the excitement. He had his reasons.
            “Gu’yete,” Mhrende answered.
            “Guess not. He was a prick,” Venyude trilled.
            Though Naranarti scolded him for not being at the meeting, he would never truly hold it against Venyude. It was a façade they played. In large crowds, Venyude’s adrenaline level spikes, and he becomes violent with little to no push. He killed one other Elite and wounded a Leader. Nanaiyude was the one to take him down and knock him out. His rank was not pulled, however, though many protested. Few knew of his predicament and felt sympathy for him. When he was young, Venyude and a small group were stranded for seven months on a barren moon inside their ship. Their food supplies dwindled, and his mother was willing to do anything to ensure his survival… Anything. It was the reason for his appearance; cannibalism causes an increase in bone production. Most of his joints were sharper than the average Yautja, and his skull grew a second ring of ridges. Being so young when it happened, he managed to keep his “kill switch” in check. He knew better than to place himself in a scenario that may get his blood pumping too heavily with aggression, otherwise he would go berserk and kill all in his path.
            It was also why he worked mainly with the younger boys who had just started their training. They were more manageable, and their competitive natures were still premature and childish. He was brash and very informal in most all he did. Denarde suspected it was due to the incident; his brain may have been affected to where he could not create complex dialogue. It could also be due to the comfort level he would have to be in order to function properly—even when speaking to S’esutuhn, he would speak to her as though she were his equal. If S’esutuhn and his deceased mother were not good friends, Venyude would have been reduced to an Eta or even exiled for his behavior and tainted genes. Denarde had spent many hours every mating season reassuring the females, though, that Venyude’s genes were perfectly fine; he had more good qualities that outweighed the bad, anyway.
            “I picked her up,” Venyude said. “She’s small. Not very small, but small.”
            “Why did you pick my Jess’si’deinz up and how?” Naranarti sounded irritated. As vague and odd of a comment, it was hard to blame him.
            “Under the arms. She wanted to look into the Parliament Hall.” Venyude nodded. “She speaks very formal.”
            “Maybe you could learn something,” Mhrended chirped.
            “She is still learning our language,” Naranarti said, “but what she does know is on the higher end of etiquette. It should keep her in check with everyone.”
            “So what’s she doing running about?” Venyude saw R’kaan get knocked into a wall and laughed.
            “Exploring,” Naranarti said. “Sort of. I’d prefer she stay far from the Warriors, just in case trouble occurs. I’m worried about my overconfidence.”
            “Uh oh…” Mhrende whimpered.
            “What?”
            “I may have thrown her to the wolves. I left her with the Warriors—they were showing her their trophies... I’m sure she’s fine!”

*****

The male let out a high pitched shriek. His knees trembled, and reflexively, he grabbed Jesse’s shoulders for support.
            Jesse shook herself of the weakened blow to the side of her head. If she hadn’t grabbed him first, the smack could have sent her flying. The male started whimpering like a frightened dog as she dug her fingernails into his scrotum. She heard growls from the other Warrior males, but they weren’t hostile, at least towards her. They were jeering and being condescending towards their fellow Warrior.
            “[Go ahead and rip them off! He won’t be using them this season!]”
            “[Edyu’ta’s got his balls in a trap!]”
“[Good job, Edyu’ta! Now, the Arbitrator’s going to clean house with your ugly face!]”
Jesse had an idea and maybe it would give her a leg up with the Warriors. They seemed concerned about Naranarti’s reaction to the incident, but maybe he didn’t have to know. “Here’s what’s going to happen,” she spoke slowly so La’dete could translate. “I’m going to let go of your junk. You are going to walk away, Edyu’te. I am going to pretend that this fight never occurred—meaning, unless he specifically asks, I won’t tell Naranarti about how you disrespected me and then attempted to harm me.”
“[Ka’tor’di…]” she heard a male mutter from behind her. From the corner of her eye, she could see that it was Yamadeia. He had his arms crossed over his chest. He looked amused.
Jesse released Edyu’te’s most sensitive parts and backed away. The male fell to one knee panting. “I think I’m done here.” She looked about to everyone, “Thank you all for showing me your trophies. You have been very helpful.” Once La’dete translated, she turned to leave the dorm.
Edyu’te launched forward with a ferocious roar.
Jesse spun to see his claws inches from her face.
Edyu’te went flying sideways as Yamadeia slammed into him. Mhrende’s half-brother grabbed Edyu’te by the hair and slammed his knee into his face. Edyu’te dropped to the floor unconscious.
Jesse felt her heart fluttering from the sudden anxiety and excitement.
“It was not smart,” Yamadeia said. “Back turned to opponent.”
“No,” Jesse agreed, blushing. “It wasn’t.”
“[Are you going to have Naranarti kill us?]” a worried Warrior asked.
“What? No!” Jesse replied. “I’m not placing guilt by association.” She figured La’dete didn’t understand the last half. All he told the others was “M’ko, m’ko.”
“Brave, but foolish,” Yamadeia commented on her. “You should have run. You are not one of us.” His knowledge of the language was limited, but he knew enough. He intended to learn more now.
“Well,” Jesse’s lips pursed in frustration. “Maybe I’m trying to be…” She turned and left the dorm. Yamadeia followed her. It wasn’t until she reached their suite did she face him. “Can I help you?”
Yamadeia tilted his head. “Offend you, did I?”
Jesse sighed. “Maybe. Why did you follow me?”
“You intrigue me.”
“I have that effect on people.”
He trilled. “Are you proud of yourself? Defending your honor. Trying to prove you belong.”
“You got a goddamn problem with that?” Jesse glared and gritted her teeth. She was still wound up from the adrenaline rush. “No, I’m not fucking proud. I’m pissed and edgy. I’m not even asking anyone to be my friend as much as I would like that—I would, however, like everyone to keep their hands to themselves. I don’t get so much as a ‘I’m sorry’ or ‘I didn’t mean to’!”
“We do not apologize to prey.”
Jesse’s face burned. She bit the inside of her lip. “Oh, really?” She said, “Well I don’t take shit from cock-bites who can’t get over their own insecurities. It just shows me what little you assholes amount to. I’m damn glad I met Naranarti first. I sure as hell was wrong to use him as a model for honor and basic decency on the ship. If that’s how you all really feel, then the rest of your kind is nothing but a joke.” She opened the suite and entered. The door shut behind her before she could see or hear Yamadeia’s response.
Yamadeia didn’t understand everything she had said, but he understood the meaning. He rethought himself and tapped on the door.
“What!” Jesse’s muffled voice came from the other side.
“I am sorry.”
Jesse opened the door and stared up at him. Her mouth was twisted in annoyance, but her eyes were glassy, and she smelled of salty tears. “What?” She hadn’t heard him very well through the door.
“[I am sorry for misusing your pronouns. I mean Yautja in general—most Yautja will refuse to apologize to ‘prey’. I offended you again. I apologize.]” Yamadeia hoped he clarified well enough.
“I really don’t get it,” Jesse said shaking her head. “You come off as a real jerk, then apologize for it. Is this just something I need to get used to, or is it just something you do?”
Yamadeia trilled. “That is my fault…”
As he continued to explain himself in Yautja, Jesse started feeling like a jerk herself. Yamadeia was apparently concerned for her. He had followed her for two reasons: he was afraid he had offended her by what he said and because she was bleeding from her breast where Ed’yute had jabbed his talon. To keep from offending her further, he didn’t mention the small wound (she hadn’t realized herself she was bleeding). Everything else he said, he was merely trying to make conversation. He called himself a “Dh’ki’Jedin,” which finally translated as a socially awkward loner. Jesse was embarrassed.
“I have no friends,” Yamadeia said.
Jesse stepped out from the doorframe and back into the hall. “I’m sorry, too,” she said, “for figuring you the wrong way. Maybe I shouldn’t have been so defensive.”
“No,” he trilled. “Defensive is good for now.”
“Well,” Jesse placed a hand over the puncture. “I need to stop by the infirmary and get this plugged up before Nara sees all the blood.”
“He will smell it,” he replied as they started walking down the hall together.
“And it’s started a nice line down my dress,” she grimaced. “I wanted to avoid telling him about that little skirmish.”
It took him a moment to realize what “skirmish” meant. “Tell him.”
“I said I wouldn’t, though.”
Yamadeia shrugged. He spoke in Yautja. “[When you left, the other Warriors noticed your wound. They know it doesn’t matter now. The Arbitrator will investigate and Ed’yute will find himself demoted to less than an Eta. Besides, my father will tell him that he had to treat a wound for you.]”
“Good point… well, I said I wouldn’t tell Nara; I didn’t say I wouldn’t tell Denarde. I tell him about Ed’yute, and the rest should be safe.”
“Maybe.” They reached the infirmary. “I leave you, now. This was enjoyable.”
“Well, I’m glad,” Jesse said with a smile. “Looks like you have a friend, now.”
Yamadeia trilled and bowed his head as he departed.
Jesse felt decently proud of herself. She didn’t mean to start trouble, but she gained a new friend from it.
Opening the door to the infirmary, the howls of Yeyin’s pain flooded her ears.
“[Hold still, you little sucker,]” Denarde hissed as he tightened the bindings around Yeyin’s sides. “[Before I break more of your ribs!]” Yeyin spun and gripped the table with his claws and his teeth. Denarde grumbled and continued to bind his ribs.
“What happened?!” Jesse exclaimed.
“[He got his ass handed to him by—what have you been calling Mhrende?]” Denarde asked with a hiss. “ ‘Kalei’dui pauk-aseigan.’ [Did I get that right?]” He pulled the bandage tighter making Yeyin cry out. It became obvious that Denarde was purposely man-handling him. But calling his son a “female-scented fuck-slave” gave him reason.
            “That’s not very nice,” Jesse said flatly.
            “[No, it wasn’t,]” Yeyin replied. “[He was an asshole about it—whether you like it or not, Denarde—yeiiiiii!]” He cried out again when Denarde pinched his side.
            “I was referring to you, Yeyin,” Jesse corrected. She was sterner this time as she spoke. “I doubt he was making it personal when he broke you to bits.”
            “Always personal,” Yeyin grumbled.
            Denarde slammed the edge of the wrap against Yeyin’s side making him wince. “[You and your friends are the bitchiest pups I’ve ever had to deal with.]” Denarde changed his pitch to a higher octave as he spoke in what Jesse assumed was mocking the chirpy wankings of Yeyin and the others. “[‘Mhrende’s a prick, he cheats in fights because there’s no way a Warrior is better than a young-blood; I have to listen to the hermaphrodite like he’s important even when he actually is; The Arbitrator is too difficult because I think I learn when things are too easy; The Arbitrator’s just pissed because he got one of his students killed last hunting season—’]”
            Jesse interrupted. “Whoa, hey! Who said that last one?!” She started turning red in the face as she recalled four years back. “Who were they referring to? The one on that planet with them, Mhrende’s friend?”
            “M’yreti,” Denarde said.
            “Yeah, him,” Jesse approached them. Before Denarde could ask why she was bleeding she continued. “Who has been saying shit about Nara’s student gettin’ killed?!” She watched Yeyin lower his gaze. The gory scenes playing in her mind only made her angrier. “WHO?!” She slammed her fist on the counter making the utensils and jars rattle and startling them both.
            Denarde looked from Jesse to Yeyin and stared at him intensely.
            Jesse didn’t need a verbal answer. “Oh, I’m sorry, were you there?” She asked condescendingly of Yeyin. “You must have been well hidden, because I didn’t see you there? Because I saw every-damn-body from where I was perched and it wasn’t a pretty fuckin’ picture. But, no, you were there, because you know why Nara’s pissed off. You know he’s pissed because a group of fugly fuckin’ Hish dropped in on them unannounced. You know he’s pissed because they got the sneak on M’yreti and cut his fuckin’ head off, attackin’ him from behind. You know he’s pissed because on his honor he had to watch them skin his brother alive—something I sure as hell will never forget—just for a goddamn password to your systems. You know he’s pissed because they nearly killed Mhrende—his survival was nothing more than luck! You know all of that because you were there…’Cuz you know every-god-damn-thing, so fuckin’ smart, aren’t you? But I bet I know something you don’t know.”
            Yeyin’s eyes glanced up at her. He was still learning In’glish, but he knew enough to understand the majority of what she said.
            “Nara’s also pissed because he is stuck teaching a bunch of snot-ass brats who don’t understand that when he’s being hard on them and kicking the pissy-shit out of them, that it’s so when some Hish assholes get the jump on them, they won’t get decapitated from behind. That maybe they will be strong and smart enough to stay alive through the worst.”
            The room became very quiet for a long moment. Yeyin removed his eyes from her and looked down again, tilting his head away from her. His brow and forehead were turning a light green from his embarrassment.
            “I need a plug for this,” Jesse finally said to Denarde, pointing at the puncture.
            “[Yeyin, you may hobble your wounded pride out of here,]” Denarde said to the young blood as he led Jesse to a different area of the infirmary.
            Yeyin slowly dragged himself from the infirmary with many things lingering in his mind, unable to catch Denarde and Jesse’s conversation about her wound. The hall way was mildly active indicating he had been in there long enough for a break from training to get announced. He had heard of Clans that didn’t take “breaks” for the younger students, most of which on the Luxa’’s ship. There were a couple leaders that didn’t give them, but Naranarti, Nanaiyude and the rest believed that the subordinates and the young bloods needed a longer moment to “take in” what they had just learned. They all knew, though, that once they became Warriors, the breaks were over.
            Yeyin was about to turn the corner into The Pit, when he saw Venyude dragging an unconscious Edyu’ta with what looked like broken fingers towards the infirmary. Naranarti was behind him. He quickly entered his suite, then exited and looked about.
            “She’s in the infirmary,” Yeyin said.
            Naranarti’s head jerked as though he hadn’t even realized Yeyin was standing right in front of him. He nodded and left after the other two.

*****

“Wake up, stupid,” Unada’s voice jostled Yeyin.
            “The fuck you want?”
            “Are you coming back to class,” Unada asked.
            “Denarde said I needed to sulk over my wounds for at least three days,” Yeyin replied. As he sat up, his side pinched and reminded him why Denarde had said that. He would have preferred to have returned to training even with the broken bones, but by now, Denarde had already discussed with Naranarti his judgment on the matter. This meant he would be stuck in the kitchen for three days; being a grunt to elderly males and bored females was not an event he looked forward to. With certainty, he knew he would be forced to serve Mhrende’s dorm their food, to spite Yeyin for speaking so ill of him. Dumbass…
            “Sucks to be you,” Unada trilled. “Hey, did you hear about Naranarti’s ooman getting into another fight?”
            “I saw she hd a small bleeding injury,” Yeyin’s interest perked. “What’s the details?”
            “Edyu’ta attacked her, but Yamadeia busted him up. Naranarti broke his fingers; said it was for ‘using them rudely’… whatever that means…”
            Yeyin put two and two together. “I think I do…”
            Si’myt’de ran over to them and grabbed at Unada. “Look, look, look!” He pointed frantically at the doorway.
            The two looked over and almost yipped in surprise. Jess’si’deinz cautiously entered The Pit and looked about the room searchingly.

Jesse felt a burning need to talk to Yeyin again. The “teacher” in her came out and insisted on issuing verbal discipline. She wanted to assure Yeyin that a friend was still present in her. She had to defend her other friends, however. From her understanding, Yeyin was a dumb teenager, and to her, that meant he still had room to redeem himself.
            Not seeing Yeyin, she decided to take note of the large, dust-and-rust covered machine to the left. It was mostly cylindrical, about fifteen feet high. There were several tubes running over the top and down the sides going back into the cylinder. Four spouts jutted out the front. In front of the machine was what looked like a bar with tall stools on the other side facing Jesse. Some young males were seated conversing amongst themselves. A few silenced when they saw her.
            Jesse turned about not wanted to engage them. Facing her right, she saw several males had shifted trying to study her inconspicuously, clearing her view to see Yeyin and two others tucked away against the wall. She regained herself and started towards them. Yeyin’s two friends seemed jumpy and excited. Yeyin redirected his face while watching her from the corner of his eye.
            “Hello, Yeyin,” Jesse said cooly.
            “Hello, Jess’si’deinz,” Yeyin returned the greeting. The others froze.
            “I wanted to talk to you about our conversation from earlier. I wanted to let you know I don’t hate you, basically.”
            Yeyin looked up at her. His eyes were wide, but there was a look of relief on his brow rather than surprise.
            “I said those things because…” Jesse’s mouth contoured as she rethought how to word her sentences. “Because all the shit you had said was childish, you and your friends. I figured if I cared enough about you, then I was obligated to correct you. Your attitude was immature, and I thought you needed a little help growing up…” She watched his gaze fall to the floor in thought. “You still have my friendship, if you still want it. I would have just called you an asshole and let you continue on if I didn’t care if you came back from your next hunt or whatever it is you do. But, I’d like to keep seeing you around here.” Jesse felt herself getting sentimental. “I’m sorry.”
            Yeyin stood up and shook his head. “No. I am sorry.” He placed a hand on her shoulder and shook it gently. “Naranarti is my Master and Arbitrator. I never should question his methods or that of Mhrende. You are my friend?”
            She heard the fluctuation at the end of his sentence. “Well, I like having friends. I was hoping we could make it official by saying it.” She couldn’t help but grin. She overheard Yeyin’s friend, the one with the twitch, point out an observance that her front teeth were “flat.”
            Yeyin trilled. When his friends inquired, he reiterated what she said as far as the friendship went.
            “I warn you, though,” Jesse admitted. “When I was still ill with you, I told Nara what you and your friends had been saying. He’s not pissed, but I think he’s going to be a bit harder on you…”
            “I not care!” Yeyin trilled. He wrapped his arms around Jesse and embraced her in a bear hug. “We friends—AIEEE!” He dropped her when the contact of their bodies applied a generous amount of pressure on his broken ribcage. Whimpering, he slowly knelt to one knee. His friends trilled and blatantly laughed at him.
            “Don’t laugh,” Jesse said to him. “You kids are next on Mhrende’s list.”
            That shut their faces.
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The Fighting Irish: Catalyst and the Dtai'kai'rish