Adult-FanFiction.org : Movies

What You Never Know (Won't Hurt You?)	By : MuseofScrolls Category: M through R > Predator Views: 17791 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Predator movie series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 13
- 14
Chapter 14
[Mya’s POV]
As So’len slid the opening closed, I smiled at Tor’ac while he curled his arm around my shoulders. He raised his mandibles and then leaned down to rub them against my brow, flexing the top two and brushing them along my skin. “Thank you, Meeya.”
“You’re welcome, my mate,” I said, pressing close to him. It had been a gamble to ask Tor’ac to physically reach out to Ka’jai despite his silence. There was no way to be certain that So’len would allow it or that Ka’jai would even take our hands. But I had to try… for both of them.
“I don’t recommend doing that again,” So’len clicked, folding his arms. “It’s not a practice to… reach inside the prison cells like that.”
Nodding to him, I bowed my head a bit. “I figured it was against protocol, So’len, but thank you so much for letting us do it anyway. And believe it or not… I think it helped Ka’jai.”
“You… are likely correct, Meeya.” So’len angled his head with a sigh, raising a brow at me. “I’ve seen what comfort… a small gesture such as a touch can bring about. Mostly on Urth but sometimes on the clan ship. And I mean that in a clean way.” So’len looked pointedly at Tor’ac.
My mate chuffed and nodded while rubbing his hand along my shoulder. “With you, it’s easy to believe otherwise, So’len, but I know what you mean. And we will keep our promise to come around this time each day.”
“Good thing I have the early shift then,” So’len clicked, glancing at the cell door before continuing in a soft hiss. “I’ll brief you later on the other assignment you gave, Captain.”
Tor’ac inhaled a slow breath while looking between So’len and Ka’jai’s cell door. Then, he turned to nod at his second and then guided me towards the elevator. “Now we need to see the other sol’rachs, Meeya.”
“Tor’ac…” I started to speak, then lowered my voice to just above a whisper. “There was a lot unsaid between the lines of the few questions you asked Ka’jai. I’d like to know more of the details on what happened before you came to Earth.”
Glancing at me, my mate tightened his hold on my shoulders as we stepped inside the lift. Tor’ac clicked one mandible as he looked at the lift doors without really focusing on them, apparently thinking about his answer. What could bring about such a reaction from him and such a silent one from Ka’jai at his questioning?
I recalled the main question Tor’ac had asked. ‘Did they have anything to do with her death?’ Her… Whose death would have such an impact on both my mate and Ka’jai? Blinking, I inhaled sharply. “Your mother… it has to do with your mother?”
Tor’ac faced me again, and I saw the same darkness within his eyes that I’d seen when he was telling me about his family. He closed his eyes, holding me tightly against his side. “Meeya… I will show you something before seeing the sol’rachs. It won’t take long since it’s on the same level as the archives.”
Nodding to him, I wrapped my other arm around him, embracing my mate as we waited for the lift to stop. My mind whirled with thoughts on what happened, what it could have been. These others… Captain Ro’khu and the seconds… and the possible connection to the death of Tor’ac and Ka’jai’s mother. Just pieces of a puzzle that had no visual guide.
The lift stopped two levels above the arbitrators level, and I knew eventually I’d have to understand the various levels. I’d need to make a guide until it became second nature to me, otherwise I’d always need Tor’ac or La’rn with me while moving about the clan ship.
As the doors opened, Tor’ac and I stepped off into a corridor once more ornately decorated with depictions of Yautja among other beings I couldn’t begin to describe. There were symbols along with the images, and I wondered what they meant. Each image was of a Yautja holding some form of reading object, some with what looked like scrolls and others with actual books. However, most were holding what looked like a tablet.
“Meeya,” Tor’ac interrupted my perusal of the images carved on the walls, and I looked to see him standing in front of one of the images.
This one was set apart from the other not by what the Yautja held but instead by the large, jagged scrapes that covered it. I frowned at the ruined detail of the image and even the symbols beneath the Yautja were marred by gouges. “What happened to this one?”
“This… was my mother’s tribute as a sol’rach, the only female,” Tor’ac growled, placing a hand against the ruined symbols. “It was… desecrated when she was found guilty of treason in an attempt to assassinate the High Arbitrator. All honor was stripped from her before she was executed… we cannot even speak her name openly.”
Gazing upon the ruined tribute, I remembered Tor’ac’s furious reaction when I told him about my parents’ death. Now I understood why and I clenched my hands into tight fists while standing before something that was supposed to be an honored memory of his mother… now ruined. Knowing Tor’ac’s strong sense of justice and the position both he and Ka’jai held, I couldn’t believe that someone who had raised them would be capable of treason.
“You don’t believe she was guilty,” I said without looking at my mate.
“No. But the evidence against her proved otherwise.” He released a long breath while standing next to me. “I had hoped… that the reason Ka’jai killed the captain and seconds was because he had found proof of their guilt. Sadly, my brother sometimes acts before thinking… though in this case, I can’t blame him.”
I reached out to Tor’ac, grasping his large hand and entwining my fingers with his. Looking up at my mate, I saw the sorrow within his eyes as he turned to face me. “There might still be a way to prove her innocence… but we’d need to read through all of the documents involved.”
“If you believe there is a way, I will see what I can do about obtaining copies to review, Meeya,” Tor’ac clicked, tilting his head in thought. “We do retain all main documents from arbitration cases.”
“Good, I’ll read them as soon as we have the copies.” I twisted my mouth to the side while looking at the tribute of my mate’s mother. ‘She was the only female sol’rach…’
Tor’ac sighed and squeezed my hand in his, chirring, “I appreciate you believing in her and your efforts to help prove her innocence.”
“Well… first things first, right?” I said, squeezing his hand back.
Nodding, Tor’ac guided me further down the corridor to a set of enormous double sliding doors. He pressed his hand against a panel to the left of the doors, allowing his palm to be scanned. Once the scan finished, I heard a mechanical voice say, “Name: Tor’ac, Level: Arbitration Captain. Enter the archives with honor.”
The immense doors opened with a hiss, and I watched with widening eyes as shelving units high as the ceiling were revealed inside the archive. From what I could see at the entrance, tablets lined the shelves with equal space given to each item on display with the screen facing out. “Wow…”
“You see our archives aren’t too different,” Tor’ac clicked as we stepped inside. “We just have a more advanced means of storage.”
“I’ll say…” I told him, still craning my neck to see how far up the archives stretched. The tops of the shelves were literally the ceiling. “Good heavens! The libraries on Earth aren’t quite this big… well, excepting maybe the Library of Congress but still.”
A Yautja wearing a long, white cloak strode at a rapid pace towards us, and my stomach tightened at the apparently annoyed look on his olive green face. Tor’ac watched him approach us, clicking, “Sol’rach O’run, it is good to see you in good health.”
“You as well Captain Tor’ac, but you know rules with regards to… accompaniment within the archives,” Sol’rach O’run growled and gave me a pointed look.
Tor’ac remained in a relaxed stance and he spread his arms a bit, motioning to me. “I understand well enough, Sol’rach, but my mate doesn’t have proper authorization to enter the archives on her own.”
“And why should… an ooman female? Your mate, Captain?” The sol’rach blinked as his mandibles remained half-splayed in what looked like disbelief.
“That is what the captain said, O’run, or are you going deaf?” A deeper, ragged voice growled from behind where Tor’ac and I stood. Looking over my shoulder, I saw another Yautja wearing a white cloak only it was pushed back behind his broad shoulders. I guessed the cloak was a part of the sol’rach uniform. His skin was a reddish tone with a darker red mottling pattern starting at his shoulders and stretching down to his hands.
This Yautja stopped next to us as he gave Sol’rach O’run a narrowed stare. “Since you’re having difficulty understanding the captain, I shall assist him and his mate.” Without another word, the second sol’rach turned to stride down the corridor between the first two shelves.
“I guess… we’re going with him?” I asked, blinking up at Tor’ac.
My mate nodded and angled his head to Sol’rach O’run before placing his hand on my back to urge me along. “We don’t want to keep Sol’rach Su’rakh waiting for long as you can see.” He raised his mandibles in a smile to me as we hurried down the corridor to catch up with Sol’rach Su’rakh.
A small door was at the end of the corridor, and I noticed Sol’rach Su’rakh waiting there with his arms crossed in front of his chest. He huffed out a breath and growled, “About time, come inside.” Placing his hand along a scanner to the left of the door, it slid open and the three of us walked into what I guessed was Sol’rach Su’rakh’s office.
There was a large desk along with several cushioned chairs, and Tor’ac motioned me to sit on one while he took the other. Both of us watched Sol’rach Su’rakh take his seat behind the desk, leaning back with a sigh. With all of his impatience outside with Sol’rach O’run, I hadn’t noticed the slight whiteness of his dreads or the spines that lined his face much like High Arbitrator Ga’av. Sol’rach Su’rakh was definitely one to offer respect.
[Tor’ac’s POV]
Relief flooded through me as I felt the tension release from my arms while sitting inside Su’rakh’s office. I knew he was still an active sol’rach, but he kept to himself so much, it was difficult to know his location within the archives at any time.
“Tor’ac… it’s been awhile, hasn’t it?” Su’rakh growled, leaning his face against his fist while staring at me. “I haven’t seen you in the archives since… before.”
Inhaling a slow breath, I nodded to him and motioned to Meeya. “Yes… before. I didn’t have a reason to return to the archives until now. This is Meeya, my mate, and I’d like to request she be given candidacy as a sol’rach.” I steeled myself for his reaction, ready to rein in my temper before it rose.
Su’rakh’s stare didn’t waver as he scrutinized me with sharp amber eyes, a look that would make even the council members fidget. I dug my claws into my palms to keep from moving, matching him stare for stare. This was for Meeya and I wouldn’t waver in the decision on her request for candidacy.
“You do realize what you’re asking, correct?” Su’rakh broke the silence as he looked at Meeya before narrowing his eyes at me, jabbing a clawed finger towards the door. “That out there with O’run was just the beginning, and that was just for bringing her inside the archives. Think of what will happen once he and the others hear of this request for candidacy.”
Slowly blinking at the sol’rach, I knew the truth of his words, but I also knew not to try speaking. I’d learned from my mother that Su’rakh was often never finished the first time he spoke.
“Furthermore, I’ve heard the rumors about her already flowing through the clan ship, and you just returned yesterday. I can already tell you, Tor’ac, that despite what you may think, everyone will not take lightly to an ooman being offered the rank of sol’rach let alone candidacy,” Su’rakh growled raggedly. “What makes you think this request will be approved? And who would take her on as a candidate?”
I paused for a moment to ensure he was genuinely asking the question before clicking, “I had thought of you, Su’rakh.”
“Damn it, Tor’ac!” Su’rakh slammed his fist against the desk, making Meeya jump a bit in her seat. “Why would you ask this of me? After what happened with your mo… You ask too much especially after her. Yes, I was your mother’s mentor. Yes, I saw to all of her training as a sol’rach, and yes, I watched with pride when she received her cloak. But after what happened… I cannot do that again.”
Meeting his glare with a steady gaze, I leaned forward to close some distance between the sol’rach and me. “I thought of you because you are the best mentor for sol’rachs.”
Su’rakh released a long, hard breath, running his hand over his face before rubbing his thumb along his mandibles. “Flattery will get you nowhere… but I know that’s not your way, Tor’ac. Why her?” He motioned towards Meeya.
“I believe Meeya is a proper candidate from what I’ve seen on Urth.”
The elder Yautja inhaled before fixing his eyes on Meeya, drumming his claws against the top of his desk. “And what did you do on Urth, Ooman Meeya? What warrants an arbitrator captain to request sol’rach candidacy for an ooman?”
I almost said something in her defense, but Su’rakh stopped me with a raised hand as he waited for Meeya to answer. Looking at my mate, I saw her brow scrunch up as it did when she was thinking through her response, and I trusted her to answer the sol’rach honestly.
“Well… on Earth I was in library school. I guess you could say I was learning to be a sol’rach and a… an archive caretaker,” she said, pausing to look at Su’rakh.
“I’m aware of what an Urth library is, Ooman Meeya, even if it is a more primitive term when referring to one of our archives,” the sol’rach clicked, leaning against his crossed arms on his desk. “Explain the importance of an archive… or a library as referenced on Urth.”
Meeya stared at Su’rakh, glancing at me before inhaling a long breath. “An archive… is more than just a means of storing information. It is a provider of that information and a generator of thought for those who choose to seek out knowledge. From what I understand, sol’rachs serve as both caretakers of the archives as well as users of the archives to gain more knowledge through study.
“Yours is a race of hunters and warriors, yet they offer respect to you as sol’rachs. Why? Knowledge is one of the key traits of life, of survival, of adaptation. It is that knowledge that helps solve the problems that face society, mold future generations, and establish contact with other sentient races… the latter in turn hopefully offering access to even more knowledge.” She released a heavy breath, swallowing while still staring at Su’rakh.
Blinking at Meeya, I couldn’t believe what my mate had offered him in response. The same fire filled her eyes as she faced Su’rakh and I raised my mandibles in pride. I looked at Su’rakh’s impassive face then watched him lift one brow... a good sign from the normally stoic sol’rach.
“You certainly have the fire of a sol’rach…” Su’rakh growled, then pointed at me. “Alright. If she receives approval from the High Arbitrator, I will become her mentor. However… this changes nothing from what I said before.”
I nodded to him. “Understood.”
The sol’rach gave Meeya a hard look. “Are you prepared for the onslaught you’ll have to endure from others on the clan ship and the other sol’rachs? Your courage cannot waver nor can your determination, Ooman Meeya.”
“If you’ll pardon my expression, Sol’rach, wild horses couldn’t drag me away from learning… with all due respect,” she said, offering Su’rakh a smile.
I saw the sol’rach’s mandibles twitch slightly at her response, but Su’rakh merely cleared his throat and waved his hand at both of us. “So be it. Get me High Arbitrator Ga’av’s approval and we’ll start her training immediately.”
Standing from my seat, I offered Su’rakh a modified bow as did Meeya when she rose to follow me. “Thank you for your time and consideration, Sol’rach Su’rakh.” I turned towards the door but stopped when Su’rakh growled for us to wait.
“Here, take that since she’ll need it to start off.” Su’rakh tossed a tablet towards me, and I caught it in one hand.
On the screen was a copy of the standard Yautja letters alongside a copy of the common Ooman alphabet. I glanced at the sol’rach as he nodded to me, waving us off again, and I offered the tablet to Meeya. “Nothing wrong with getting a headstart, my mate.”
She took the tablet and looked over it, her eyes widening. “Wow… this will definitely be interesting to learn.” A brief wave of concern washed through me but her smiling face banished it as I saw the readiness within her eyes at this challenge.
“Git, both of you, I have work to do,” Su’rakh growled, urging us to move outside his office.
As we made our way through the archives and were hustled outside by Sol’rach O’run, I drew Meeya close to my side again. “What did you think, my mate?”
“I think… the archives look amazing, but the sol’rachs aren’t very welcoming,” she said, furrowing her brow a bit. “Even Sol’rach Su’rakh seems very hesitant about my presence… but at least he seems willing to work with me, so that’s something.”
“I think he likes you, Meeya,” I chirred to her, raising my mandibles when she looked at me. “It can be hard to tell with Su’rakh, but I’ve known him a long time. I know most of his cues, and he wouldn’t have taken you as a candidate if he didn’t see potential.”
Meeya smiled at that and then looked off to the side as we walked towards the lift. “Still we need to get the High Arbitrator’s approval for my candidacy. I hope High Arbitrator Ga’av will be willing to approve it.”
“Leave that to me, Meeya.” Leaning down, I brushed my mandibles along her brow. I had already mentioned the possibility of her becoming a sol’rach to Ga’av on Urth. Now, it was just a matter of following through to obtain his approval.
~~~
[Ka’jai’s POV]
Opening my eyes, I blinked up at the dark ceiling of my cell, raising my shackled hands to rub the sleep from my eyes. The single bench along the far side of the cell was the only furniture, and I made do on the hard surface. I’d managed to sleep some though my night images were of a message I’d received from my mother and how she needed to see me at once. I growled at myself for not seeing the importance of her words sooner, and by the time Tor’ac and I went to her, it was too late.
I shook my head and sat up to stretch my arms out as much as I could, recalling Tor’ac and Meeya’s visit the previous day. She said they would come each day but I wasn’t sure how early they would visit. Duk’ar had not come by with the early meal yet, so perhaps it would be after that time.
It was fascinating at how even the prospect of a visit made my shackles feel somewhat lighter, though the logical part of my mind told me not to expect too much. I exhaled a short breath, thinking that with all Tor’ac and Meeya needed to do, it might be next to impossible to see them each day. Lying down on the bench again, I closed my eyes and took a long, slow breath.
Several knocks against the cell door roused me from my slight dozing, and I heard Ch’or growl, “You have a visitor.”
I sat up and stared at the door, moving to stand and step towards the opening as Ch’or slid the cover to the side. Narrowing my eyes, I realized it wasn’t either of the visitors I was expecting, and I remained in the center of the cell. It was from here that I could see outside without being too near that Yautja.
Per’ra raised her mandibles at me, trilling, “Well, well… good to see you as well, Ka’jai.”
My mandibles remained locked together as I just stared at the female while trying to ease the growing tension within my shoulders. Why had she come here? There was no reason for this female to give a damn about me and come to the cells… unless it was out of spite. That would come as no surprise.
“Nothing at all to say to your former mate?” she chirred, stepping closer to the opening. “I would think that you’d at least greet me… especially as the mate to one of the High Council.”
I took a step back from the opening, wanting to turn away so I didn’t have to see Per’ra’s face. But, as I’d learned as her mate, doing so would give her an opening straight into my back. “Is there something you wanted?”
“Nothing at all,” Per’ra trilled and shrugged her shoulders, returning her yellow gaze to mine. Her mandibles curled into a smirk. “I just wanted to see you in the cell… where you belong.”
“That is for the High Arbitrator to decide.” I kept my voice even while also maintaining my stare.
Per’ra stepped close enough to the opening to where all I could see were her yellow eyes narrowing at me, hissing, “By all rights, both you and Tor’ac should be inside this cell. I hope you find it comfortable, Ka’jai… more so than you made our bed feel. I am happy to be free of you as my mate, and I will be thrilled to see that you receive the punishment you deserve, Bad Blood.”
My pulse spiked when she mentioned Tor’ac, and my vision was already starting to bleed red when I heard So’len’s voice. “Per’ra, your visit is done.”
The female moved away from the opening, narrowing her eyes as she looked to the side. “As Na’km’s mate, I will say when my visit is done, So’len.” She flared her mandibles in a snarl.
“And I am certain your mate would require you to be by his side at early repast,” So’len chirred with as much calm as I wanted to feel. “Ch’or, you’re relieved of duty, so escort Per’ra to Council Member Na’km’s side.”
With a huff, Per’ra focused inside the cell opening once more, offering me a glare and another smirk before tossing her locks over her shoulder. I watched her move out of view, hearing her and Ch’or’s footsteps move down the corridor. As the red faded from my vision and the adrenaline passed, I slumped to the floor.
“Are you well, Ka’jai?” So’len’s voice made me look up at the opening where I saw him furrowing his brow.
Nodding to him, I crossed my legs to sit more comfortably on the floor. “I wasn’t expecting her of all Yautja to come here…”
“You know, Per’ra. Does whatever she wants when she wants,” So’len growled, rolling his eyes. “Not the best of personalities. What did you ever see in her?”
Clicking one mandible, I raised a brow at him without answering his question.
“Ah, that’s right, it wasn’t really by your choice.” He nodded and had the respect to look abashed by his earlier statement. “Well… at least that’s one less problem.”
I chuffed at that, feeling a bit of the tension ease from my shoulders as I took deep breaths and slowly released them. The last thing I wanted to be reminded of was my time as Per’ra’s mate, and I shook my shoulders and head to free my mind. For some reason, Meeya’s embrace after saving her came to mind, and I glanced down at my right hand, recalling her cool touch as I took her hand.
“So you prepare his meals personally?” I blinked, hearing Meeya’s voice after just thinking about her.
“Yes, but it’s for all prisoners who await trial, Meeya,” Duk’ar’s voice followed, sounding close. “It’s to prevent… well, to prevent problems from arising.”
“‘Problems’... right,” So’len growled. “Tor’ac wasn’t able to come this morning?”
Slowly standing, I heard her response. “He needed to speak with the High Arbitrator, but he wanted me to come visit. I just needed an escort. Since you were already here, So’len, I asked Duk’ar if I could come with him.”
“With both La’rn and her asking at early repast if I could take Meeya with me, how could I say no?” Duk’ar sighed before I saw his face appear in the opening. “Time to eat, Ka’jai, and you’ve got a visitor.”
I stepped closer to the opening, raising my hands as before and took the tray of food. Meeya was just to Duk’ar’s side, and she smiled at me and waved her hand. It caught me off guard while my hands were full though I did offer her a nod as I moved to sit on the bench to eat.
“What’s that in your hand, Meeya?” I heard So’len ask her while I slowly ate my meal.
“It’s a book I brought from Earth, one of my favorites, and I thought I could read it to Ka’jai to help pass some time,” she answered, then I saw the object in question appear in the opening as she held it up. It appeared to be a thick stack of small thin sheets bound together along one side; the unbound edges had a curve to them as though worn. A small Urth land mammal with long ears was displayed on the front. “I hope you don’t mind, Ka’jai, and it’ll be just a few chapters each day.”
Finishing the small meal, I brought the tray back to the opening, sliding it through to Duk’ar. I looked at Meeya as she stood with the b-uuk in hand, apparently waiting for my approval to start reading. That she would even consider doing such a thing for me… all I could do was nod to her and watch her smile once more.
“Okay, this is Watership Down by Richard Adams,” she said, opening the b-uuk.
[Mya’s POV]
“‘In less than a minute the little band of rabbits had disappeared into the dim, moonlit night.’” I finished chapter four and cleared my throat again before looking at Ka’jai, So’len, and Duk’ar. “Okay, I think that’s enough reading aloud for one day.”
Chuffing a bit, Duk’ar clapped a hand on my shoulder. “If I’d known you’d intended to read it to him, I would have brought additional water for you, Meeya.”
I coughed a little, trying to get my throat moistened enough to speak again. “I’m so sorry I kept you this long, Duk’ar. I hope there’s nothing pressing in the kitchen.” Honestly, I thought Duk’ar would have escorted me to the cells and then gone about his work.
“Nothing my assistants can’t handle for a bit of time,” Duk’ar chirred, waving his hand to the side. “Besides, it’s not often I get to hear stories outside of Yautja lore, and that one is an interesting story considering it’s about small prey from Urth.”
Both Duk’ar and So’len had surprised me by their attentiveness to my reading the book. It made my throat go a bit dry, seeing the actual audience I had on hand especially considering the characters of the story. But my main concern had been in helping to ease Ka’jai’s imprisonment time.
Gazing up in the opening of the door, I saw Ka’jai’s fiery eyes looking off to the side I hoped in thought rather than boredom. “What do you think so far, Ka’jai?”
His stare moved to me, and even though I knew it wasn’t intentional, I still felt slight warmth in my cheeks to see such an intense look from my mate’s brother. Almost as though sensing my anxiety, Ka’jai’s eyes softened a bit as he chirred, “It’s interesting to see a small group go against the norm of their society… despite the odds and opposition.”
“Yes, but with the danger Fiver foresaw, they didn’t really have a choice… or did they?” I asked, looking at all three Yautja, curious to know what their thoughts were.
So’len was the first to respond. “It was a means of survival, so there was no choice but to leave.”
“That might be so, but what if Fy-ver had been wrong in his vision?” Duk’ar asked. “What made Hay-zel listen to him and the others listen to Hay-zel for that matter?”
“I think…” Ka’jai chirred from the opening as he looked at me. “I think it was a matter of trust and believing in someone even while knowing the odds may be against you.”
Smiling at him, I nodded and glanced at So’len and Duk’ar. “Well… that was a good bit of discussion.”
“What kind of discussion?” Tor’ac’s voice came from behind us, and I turned to smile up at my mate as he curled his arm around my shoulders.
I held up the book, saying, “Just read the first few chapters out loud, and I’d asked Ka’jai, So’len, and Duk’ar what they thought.”
“Was that after the confrontation with Captain Hol-lee?” My mate tilted his head, and I blinked at him.
“Have you read it before, Tor’ac?” I asked with a grin, surprised that I hadn’t noticed him doing so.
Tor’ac raised his mandibles, running one of his thick fingers along the curving edges of the book pages. “When a b-uuk is that worn, it has to be my mate’s favorite. I started reading it while you were obtaining authorization to enter the archives and discussing lesson times with Su’rakh.”
“So she was approved then?” So’len chirred, raising both brows.
Nodding to his second, my mate trilled, “High Arbitrator Ga’av did so yesterday.”
Giving So’len a pointed look for interrupting, I turned back to Tor’ac, saying, “You’re just full of surprises, aren’t you? I’m glad you got a headstart on the book so I won’t have to catch you up when we visit tomorrow.”
“Are you certain you’ll have time? I’ve heard sol’rach lessons really put candidates through the gauntlet,” So’len clicked, quirking his mandibles up in a way that I thought was in concern. “And with Su’rakh as your mentor… I don’t think anyone has had him as a mentor since…”
Tor’ac slowly nodded and rubbed my shoulder. “So’len may be right, Meeya, you don’t want to push yourself to exhaustion.”
“I know it will take time, but I promised.” I looked at both of them and then at Ka’jai as he still stood near the cell door opening. He gave me the same concerned look that both Tor’ac and So’len wore. Then, I snapped my fingers and turned to Tor’ac again. “If nothing else, I can bring my homework... er, lessons here.”
Ka’jai growled from the opening, “Meeya… I appreciate your determination to keep your promise, but you also said at least one of you would visit.”
When I faced the cell again, I saw Ka’jai’s mandibles raise a bit, the first time he had done so for me since meeting him. Despite his own situation, he was showing worry for me, though it might have only been born from Tor’ac’s concern. I sighed and leaned against my mate’s side. “Alright, we’ll see how it goes with my first lessons.”
“A wise choice… much like mine to get back to the kitchens now,” Duk’ar chirred as he clapped a hand on Tor’ac shoulder. “Since you’re here, I shall leave your mate back in your care, Tor’ac.”
“Thank you for escorting Meeya and remaining with her, Duk’ar,” Tor’ac clicked, returning the shoulder-clap before Duk’ar made his way back towards the elevators. Then, he turned towards Ka’jai’s cell with a heavy sigh. “And we must be going, too, Brother. Meeya must prepare for her first lesson tomorrow.”
I beamed at Tor’ac while thinking about tomorrow’s lesson and what Su’rakh planned to go over with me. The tablet he’d given me yesterday was a huge help, and I felt confident that given enough time I’d be able to understand the basic Yautja language… at least through reading it. Still though, I needed to pace myself in my studies and I knew progression would be gradual.
My mate trilled at the look on my face and I saw Ka’jai’s mandibles raise a bit more when he looked at me. I asked, “What? Can’t I be excited about learning something new?”
“It will definitely help you to become a sol’rach, Meeya,” Tor’ac chirred, rubbing his mandibles against my hair. He looked at Ka’jai through the opening and placed a hand against the cell door. “Be well, Brother.”
Ka’jai nodded to him. “As best as I can.”
“Tor’ac, there was one other thing,” So’len clicked as he slid the cover over the cell door’s opening, furrowing his brow in deep creases. “Per’ra was here when I came to relieve Ch’or.”
When I felt Tor’ac’s rumbling growl, I blinked and looked up to see my mate’s mandibles splayed in a snarl, and his brow furrowed with even deeper creases than So’len’s forehead. “Why should she be here?”
“It seemed as though she was taunting Ka’jai,” So’len growled, looking at the cell door. “From what I overheard, she seemed thrilled that he was imprisoned… and that you should be in the cell, too.”
Chuffing, Tor’ac shook his head. “There is no emotion lost between our family and her.”
“Wait, is this that female who made you and La’rn so upset the first night we were here?” I held up a hand to get their attention. “Tor’ac, who is this… Per’ra and why is she causing you such grief?”
My mate inhaled a deep breath as though composing himself to answer my question. “She is… Ka’jai’s former mate and current mate to Council Member Na’km, one of the four you saw on Urth with High Arbitrator Ga’av. It was not a match by Ka’jai’s choice... rather a repayment of an honor debt for our father.”
“‘A repayment of an honor debt?’” I blinked at him, scrunching my forehead.
“At times, we might incur an honor debt or something that must be repaid to maintain one’s honor, and our father Ran’th, had incurred a debt with Per’ra’s father Ku’m while on a training hunt,” Tor’ac chirred. “The debt incurred always depends upon the Yautja the debt is owed, and Ku’m wanted a mate of high honor for Per’ra.”
My eyes widened at the idea that arranged marriage existed among the Yautja as well. “So Ka’jai fulfilled the debt?”
“Yes, but it was too late that all of us realized just why Ku’m wanted her to have a mate…” Tor’ac paused and exchanged a look with So’len who nodded in return. “Let us just say… Per’ra has a unique personality.”
Given my own brief interaction with Per’ra, I could guess what type of personality… rhymes with witch, starts with a capital ‘B.’ I twisted my mouth to the side, raising one eyebrow. “And he couldn’t just… disown her as a mate after the fact because it was an honor debt?”
“Correct,” Tor’ac growled with a heavy sigh.
“But because of… Ka’jai’s actions and his honor being called into question, Per’ra chose to leave him,” So’len hissed quietly, eying the cell door as if wondering if Ka’jai was listening.
“Unfortunately, there is not much I can do about Per’ra possibly coming down here again. With her being Na’km’s mate, only his authority or the High Arbitrator’s would be able to prevent it.” Tor’ac shook his head as he looked at the cell, too. “In any case, we must head back to our chambers, Meeya, so you can begin your study.”
Nodding to my mate, I waved to So’len as Tor’ac and I left him at his guard duty post. I tried to think about what to go over first in my studying, but with all of the thoughts whirling through my mind, it was hard to focus. The execution of Tor’ac and Ka’jai’s mother and proving her innocence… starting my candidacy as a sol’rach… and then there was Ka’jai being in prison.
I shook my head a bit to clear it from all of those thoughts as we strode towards the elevators. Perhaps it would be better if I remained behind tomorrow to concentrate on my studies. And truthfully, if we wanted to free Ka’jai, it’d be best if Tor’ac could talk with him alone.
TBC

Author's Note: Thank you to all readers who have stuck with me so far! I know it's been so long since I first started writing "Know" and I'm happy to once again be working on it. I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter and will keep updating as regularly as possible. ^w^
- 13
- 14
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

What You Never Know (Won't Hurt You?)