The Collection | By : MuseofScrolls Category: M through R > Predator Views: 14063 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- 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. |
A/N: Many thanks go to both Ripe wickeD plUm and Keen for helping me with this story. *hugs both*
Edit: Minor edit, had to change On’ni’s name to ‘O’ni’ because I didn’t realize it was used in another fic. ^^; My mistake!
Chapter 2: Meeting
Reaching Bha’ruk’s master suite, Ta’al glanced at Lyra as she stood silently beside him. She had not said anything after his last words to her in the examining room, and he wondered about her mental state. But when she turned to meet his gaze, Ta’al raised a heavy brow at seeing fire within the violet depths. He knew that she would not quietly submit and join Bha’ruk’s “collection”; he only prayed it wouldn’t destroy her.
Ta’al pressed the comm next to the door, and a low voice growled, “Enter.”
The door slid open as Ta’al led Lyra inside the large chamber, and the Yautja healer immediately faced to the left of the door, lowering his head. “Elder, I have brought the newest female…a Natranian.”
Seated in a large chair was Bha’ruk, a rather immense Yautja of thick build and stature. He stood and slowly moved towards the two figures, his eyes lingering on the lithe, white being. “I can see that myself, Ta’al. Now, leave us.”
A shudder coursed through Lyra’s shoulders and down her spine when she heard Bha’ruk. Her heart already drummed against her chest just from looking at the huge being standing only a few feet in front of her. His scrutinizing orange eyes almost made her cringe, but she forced her body to remain still. A brief squeeze on her arm made her blink, and her eyes moved to watch Ta’al leave the room.
Purring low in his chest, Bha’ruk managed to contain most of his excitement about having a Natranian in his presence. He strode around her, his eyes taking in all of her; the curve of her hips, the strength present in her long legs, and the roundness of her hard feet. His gaze moved back up to rest on the length of silver hair draping well past her waist. Closing his eyes, he longed to tangle his talons within that soft mane, but he knew now was not the time. He knew breaking her would be very easy, but his mating with her would be far more pleasant if she would obey his whims and accept her role as his mate. He’d waited this long; he could wait a little longer if only to allow her to submit willingly.
As he moved in front of her, Bha’ruk closed the distance between them, watching as she inhaled sharply. Her eyes moved up to his, and he stopped at seeing their color. Such a deep shade of violet he’d not seen before in other species. The contrast was so perfect compared to her white skin, and he had to stop himself from grabbing her and pulling her closer.
Lyra swallowed slowly as she forced her tense body to remain still rather than bolt as she wanted to do. His inspection of her did nothing to settle the thoughts circling her mind. It felt as though he was hunting her, slowly moving in to kill her. When she met his stare, she saw such rawness in his eyes, and all of it directed towards her. He took one more step, bringing him to within arms’ reach of her, and Lyra stepped back, calling, “Don’t!”
Blinking his eyes, Bha’ruk raised a brow and noticed her heart beating rather loud and fast. She feared him and why shouldn’t she or anyone else for that matter? He was leader of this clan of hunters and that was the way he ruled, through fear.
In a soft almost soothing tone, Bha’ruk stated, “I will not touch you…now. But let me make one thing clear to you. I am the master of this ship, and there is no one who will give me orders. Do you understand?”
Lyra’s eyes widened but quickly narrowed at his words. She could not believe the arrogant confidence he exuded that practically claimed he could do whatever he wished. No true leader would behave in such a manner, at least no Natranian leader.
“Do—you—understand?” he repeated, taking a step closer for each word as his eyes narrowed and stared into hers.
With his hulking form leaning over her, Lyra wanted to fight, to run, or just do something to get away. She could easily strike his neck from this position just as she had to one of her attackers on Unatra. But Ta’al’s words forced her to reconsider any of her previous thoughts. ‘To save yourself from pain just cooperate with Bha’ruk.’ Turning her head away from him, she muttered, “I…understand.”
“Good,” Bha’ruk purred low in his chest. He inhaled deeply, his eyes rolling to the back of his head as her scent hit his senses. Her scent was reminiscent of the only other Natranian female he’d encountered, but this one was far sweeter because she stood before him and she was his. “What is your name?”
She remained silent, refusing to even look up. She would not honor him by giving such privileged information as her name.
Bha’ruk growled dangerously low in his chest as his eyes narrowed into a glare. She dared to show such insolence by not answering him? Raising a fist to strike her, he roared and watched as she looked up with wide eyes, her heartbeat racing even faster. Changing his mind, Bha’ruk bent down and punched the floor, leaving behind a crater larger than Lyra’s foot. Standing up, he grunted and leered at her. There was no need to learn her name immediately as long as she knew his name. And he would ensure she knew the name of her master and mate. “Since you won’t tell me your name, I’ll give you one…Natra. Such a truthful name, isn’t it?”
Flaring her nostrils in agitation to hide her remaining fear, Lyra swallowed a retort but told herself she could live with a fake name if it meant Bha’ruk didn’t know her real one. If nothing else, it would help her think of Unatra and her family. She was sure Cora had made it to the ship, but she wondered what her mother would do when she didn’t return with her sister. What could be done? For all she and her family knew, this ship was light years away from Unatra by now.
Bha’ruk slowly strode away from Lyra and opened the door where Ji’ran and Y’un were standing on either side. “You two, take Natra to her new quarters. She’ll meet my other females after she’s settled down.”
“Yes, Elder,” Ji’ran stated, moving into the room.
Upon smelling the familiar scent of the Yautja that had captured her, Lyra shrieked and moved to the far side of the room, keeping her back to the wall. Her eyes narrowed as her hands balled into fists, and she moved into a more defensive stance. She refused to let him come anywhere near her.
Watching her, Bha’ruk glared harshly at Ji’ran, demanding, “What happened?”
“I…Elder, I was the one who captured her on Unatra,” Ji’ran admitted, cursing that he couldn’t get close to the female as he had before. He had hoped to touch that soft skin and be surrounded by her scent.
“Apparently, that has had a less than desirable effect on her.” Bha’ruk growled as he stalked towards Ji’ran. He stood before the younger Yautja, looking down at his unmasked face. His arm shot out and grabbed Ji’ran’s neck, jerking him closer and snarling, “You did nothing unsavory towards her while on Unatra, did you?”
“N-no, Elder, I s-swear!” Ji’ran’s tongue stumbled as Bha’ruk’s claws pierced his neck. “I-I only caught and sedated her to bring her here without trouble.”
Narrowing his gaze, Bha’ruk couldn’t be sure if Ji’ran, his heart understandably racing with fear, was telling the truth or not. It was no matter in his mind; he could always interrogate Ji’ran’s partner. Shoving the warrior away, Bha’ruk ordered, “Go and fetch Ta’al. She seems more at ease with him, and I would prefer no bloodshed by her hand or, more importantly, yours.”
Ji’ran nodded. His eyes darted to where Lyra still stood in a defensive stance, but he turned away and strode into the corridor with Y’un.
Bha’ruk turned towards Lyra, softly growling, “Calm your heart, Natra. They won’t upset you.”
‘What’s to stop you from upsetting me?’ she thought, huffing before noticing a window behind her. Looking out into the blackness of space, Lyra placed a hand against the glass.
The Yautja elder watched Lyra with hooded eyes, wanting to further examine her in a more intimate manner. Behind him, the hissing doors made Bha’ruk shift his attention to Ta’al and Ji’ran standing just inside the room. Growling at Ji’ran, he angled his head sharply, a silent order for the warrior to go outside. Then, he looked at the healer, saying,
“Escort Natra to her room, Ta’al.”
“Natra’s…room, Elder?” the healer asked, glancing at Lyra where she stood still facing away from them.
Bha’ruk nodded. “The room next to Sitana’s will be Natra’s quarters. Take her and stay there until I come with her guard.”
“Yes, Elder.” Ta’al moved to Lyra’s side and touched her shoulder. “Come, Natra.”
Upon feeling his touch, Lyra turned to face the medic, giving him a brief look of relief before moving towards the door with Ta’al right behind her. They had to walk past Bha’ruk, and he growled softly in his chest as Lyra strode by him. She tried to ignore the cold shudder that raked down her spine, but her body stiffened once she and Ta’al were outside the room. Her eyes narrowed at the one who captured her; she remembered Bha’ruk had called him ‘Ji’ran’. His eyes were a pale yellow, and she noticed a scar running along the left side of his face. Lyra knew she would definitely be able to identify and avoid him in the future.
Ta’al moved in between Lyra and Ji’ran, snarling at the warrior before urging the female further down the corridor. He didn’t want Ji’ran agitating Lyra anymore than she already was after meeting Bha’ruk. The healer was amazed that she was still untouched, but that meant nothing when it came to the Elder.
“Ta’al.” Lyra looked at him from the side.
“Yes…Natra?” he asked, still hesitant with her new name.
She glanced back and huffed at the memory of Ji’ran before facing forward again. “Please, do not tell me that…kidnapper is allowed in this area.”
“‘Kidnapper’? Ah, Ji’ran.” Ta’al barely turned his head to look behind even though they had already turned a corner. Ji’ran wouldn’t be in sight from this part of the corridor. “He’s only allowed here when Bha’ruk summons him. I have more freedom to enter this level because of my position.”
Lyra nodded and sighed, “What ‘guard’ does he mean?”
“Each of Bha’ruk’s females has their own personal guard that escorts them everywhere,” he explained. “None of the females are allowed to enter any level beyond this one and the medical area. The guards are to ensure that they are kept safe from any Yautja who may have an audience with Bha’ruk on this level. You’ll be told more of the rules by one or more of the other females. Or perhaps by Bha’ruk himself.”
“Rules? Is there a reason for order to be kept on this ship?” she asked, pursing her lips. “Just how many other females does he have, Ta’al?”
“Five females, not including you.”
She stopped in the corridor and turned to face Ta’al, her brow furrowed. “I don’t understand. Why would I be brought here if there are that many females on this ship already?”
Ta’al sighed and stopped next to Lyra. His eyes met her gaze, and he said, “For some Yautja, one or even two females aren’t enough. As to why you were brought here, you have met him. Did you not notice how he behaved around you?”
“Yes, and it disturbed and unnerved me to no end. The way he stalked around me as though I were his next meal or perhaps inspecting a…a beast of burden.” She said the last part through clenched teeth.
Closing his eyes, the healer shook his head and motioned down the hallway. “That is Bha’ruk. Let’s get to your quarters.”
As the two continued walking, Lyra noticed several doors on either side each with a Yautja standing nearby. She assumed these were guards of the other females. The guards merely nodded to Ta’al and glanced at Lyra as they passed. Ignoring the nervous impulse to look behind her, Lyra wondered what made Bha’ruk choose them as guards for his females.
Almost as though hearing her thoughts, Ta’al said, “Each of these Yautja protects one of Bha’ruk’s females. They must swear complete loyalty to him and remain celibate while on this ship. If they attempt any mating, Bha’ruk cuts off their…pride.”
Lyra blinked in shock at this statement, stopping once more.
“Cease stopping, Natra, we’re almost to your room.” Ta’al clicked a mandible as he placed a hand on her shoulder, hoping to move her along.
“I just…I don’t know what to think about any of this,” she murmured, slowly continuing down the hallway.
Shaking his head, Ta’al walked just behind her, knowing there was nothing to really think about. Bha’ruk was what he was. Nothing could change that, and nothing could spare the females that were captured and brought onto this ship. Ta’al only did what he could to give them some relief from both pain and mating, but to him it wasn’t enough. He couldn’t give them their freedom.
The next door they approached hissed open, and a female slightly shorter than Lyra walked into the corridor. She had golden skin, strong-looking arms and a long prehensile tail. No hair graced her head, and instead four smaller appendages similar to her tail draped just past her shoulders. Her eyes were completely green with a thin vertical slit bisecting them, and they looked at Lyra and Ta’al.
“A Natranian,” she said in a series of hisses even though Lyra understood her words. “The Elder mussst be quite pleasssed.”
“Sitana,” Ta’al grunted as he nodded to the guard next to the Cerpantian female.
Lyra merely gazed in surprise at the other female of a species that she had never encountered on any of her travels. Then, she lowered her eyes, not wanting to show disrespect by staring at this ‘Sitana’. She looked up when she heard both the female and her guard approach, and Sitana stopped next to her.
“I feel sssuch sssorrow for you, hisss obsssesssion.”
Meeting the slit eyes of the strange female, Lyra watched as Sitana moved in the direction they just came from. Then, she turned and looked at Ta’al where he stood cracking his knuckles. “Ta’al? What did she mean, ‘his obsession’?”
“I…I can’t say, Lyra,” he said, stepping forward to the door after Sitana’s. Pressing his palm against the comm, Ta’al moved back and waited until Lyra decided to enter.
Looking around the room, Lyra noticed there was a rather large circular bed along the far side of the room. There was a door on both the left and right side of the chamber, and she approached one.
“That’s the bathing room,” Ta’al said, closing and securing the door behind him. “The other door leads to a small clothes storage area. I sent your measurements to Vanika, one of the females who is also a seamstress. She should have some clothes for you within the next few days.”
Lyra nodded. She approached the bed and noticed it was covered with a sheet while a white skin was supposed to serve as a blanket. Slowly swallowing, she turned and asked, “Can this be removed from here?”
“The blanket?” He cocked his head to the side, confused.
“If that’s what you call it,” she said, shuddering and stepping away from the bed. “I call it a death banner.”
Ta’al sighed, saying, “I’ll try to find more sheets for you to use instead.”
After he removed the blanket, the comm from outside the room buzzed and Lyra gasped at the sudden, piercing noise. She huffed, “Is it always that loud?”
“It is set at a normal level, Natra. Your hearing is probably more sensitive to the tone than ours,” Ta’al answered, moving towards the entry door. Pressing the comm, he asked, “Who is it?”
“Your leader, now open this door,” Bha’ruk’s voice growled through the comm.
Tilting his head to the side, Ta’al clicked a mandible before asking, “Elder, what is the name you gave this female?”
“‘Natra’ is her name, Healer, now let me inside before I make my own entrance,” the Elder rumbled lowly, the sound of his claws clicked against the metal plating.
Ta’al pressed in the release code and immediately bowed his head as Bha’ruk strode inside the room with another warrior behind him. When the door slid closed, the other warrior secured it before straightening his posture into that of a sentry.
Bha’ruk glanced at Lyra where she stood on the side of the room farthest from them but returned his attention to Ta’al, his head still lowered. He clicked a mandible before saying, “Well done with the inquiry, Healer.”
“I realize that some of us are better at mimicry than others and wanted to be certain it was you, Elder,” Ta’al stated, raising his head. His eyes locked with the bright orange stare of his leader, wishing he had more fighting skills. Hissing to himself, he knew it would be useless against Bha’ruk’s abilities and strength.
The Elder grunted. “I would have chosen a different question. It could have been Ji’ran or even his partner instead of me, and both know her name.”
“Yes, Elder, but I had little time to create an inquiry.”
Bha’ruk merely grunted again and turned to face Lyra as she stood close to the bed. A tempting scene played in his mind of throwing her to the bed and taking her immediately. But the Elder didn’t believe this room was ideal for what he wanted and shoved that thought aside. Still, he would enjoy having her beneath him…later.
Lyra kept her eyes on Bha’ruk the entire time as her leg muscles tensed as though preparing to bolt. Stilling her body from one of its usual reactions, she made sure her back was to the wall. This way, she wouldn’t be caught off guard if Bha’ruk did try something. The thought just made her insides churn.
“O’ni shall be your personal guard, Natra,” Bha’ruk stated, looking towards the door where the warrior stood.
Her gaze shifted just enough to keep both Bha’ruk and this ‘O’ni’ in sight together. O’ni wasn’t as tall or as bulky as Bha’ruk, but from what Lyra could tell, his slender body was made for speed. His eyes were a pale green, and he bowed his head to her, keeping his spear ready at his side.
Approaching the guard of his newest female, Bha’ruk narrowed his eyes as O’ni snapped to attention, meeting his stare. “You know your task. Should you fail in any part of it, you know the cost. Do not disappoint me.”
“I will not fail you, Elder,” O’ni growled, tightening his hold on the spear.
Bha’ruk nodded his head slightly then looked at Ta’al. “Your task is finished, Healer. Return to your duties.”
The blue Yautja bowed to both Bha’ruk and Lyra before releasing the door and walking into the corridor. Ta’al knew there was nothing he could do for Lyra currently, but he could bide his time. And knowing Bha’ruk, he knew she would need his medical assistance within the next few days.
“The others are gathering in the main lounge,” Bha’ruk stated to O’ni even though his eyes remained on Lyra. “Take her to join them, O’ni.”
O’ni rapped his fist against his chest armor and turned to face Lyra. He made a motion with his spear, indicating that he would follow her outside.
“‘Others’…” Lyra murmured as she thought of the five females Bha’ruk already had. Sitana’s odd words of pity came to her mind, and Lyra wondered what the other four were like.
“Natra.” O’ni’s quiet rumble pulled her out of her thoughts, and Lyra saw that Bha’ruk had already left the room. This offered her some relief, but her wary gaze turned to O’ni as he stood waiting for her by the open door. “Let’s go.”
With a sigh, Lyra slowly walked towards the door and outside into the corridor with O’ni coming behind her. He secured the room and started down the hall; she hesitated for only a moment before following him. They were moving towards Bha’ruk’s room, and Lyra tensed until O’ni stopped at a large door on the right.
Placing his hand on the comm, O’ni stepped back as the door hissed open, and Lyra moved back with him. There was a quiet murmur of others speaking coming from the entrance, and Lyra glanced at her guard as he motioned her inside. She took a few steps inside and the small amount of conversing ceased. The sudden silence made her hesitate, but she steeled her nerves and looked around the room.
It was a much larger room than any of the rooms she’d been inside already, and pillows seemed to cover most of the floor. Seated on one particularly large pile was Sitana along with another female with four arms. Approaching them, Lyra blinked as she saw dark, fine hair covering all of this female’s visible skin, and the female blinked four crimson eyes at her. Then, she gave a small smile, saying, “The newest one of us. Sitana has told us of your arrival on the ship, and Ta’al gave me your measurements for clothing earlier.”
Lyra shook her head after hearing a small series of buzzing noises that must have been this female’s native tongue. The sound was strange to her ears, but it wasn’t unbearable. “Um…I…”
“Please, forgive my manners,” the female said as she shifted her position on the pillows. “I’m Vanika, an Ahrakin, and what is your name?”
“L…Natra.” She had caught herself almost giving her real name. It wasn’t that Lyra didn’t trust these females, but she wasn’t sure about telling them in case they might tell Bha’ruk.
“Clearly a name that Bha’ruk hasss given her inssstead, Vanika,” Sitana hissed with a sigh as her eyes met Lyra’s gaze. “You do not trussst him, yesss?”
“Well…” Lyra stopped and looked down at her hoofed feet, not really sure how to answer that.
“Good,” the Cerpantian female said, nodding her head. “It isss a wissse thing.”
“Sitana, please do not upset the girl,” Vanika said, looking up at Lyra. “Sitana is definitely a female of reason and blunt words. You’ll get used to her and the rest of us along with life on the ship.”
Shaking her head, Lyra asked, “How can you say that? I don’t want to get used to life here; I want to be back with my family.”
“Asss do we all.” Sitana bowed her head and clutched a pillow in her hands. “But you mussst not think about that…about home, family. It hurtsss even more…”
Lyra blinked at both females and knelt down on the lowest part of the pillow pile. “How long have you been here?”
“Two yearsss. Vanika hasss been here the longessst of usss all.” Nodding towards the far wall, Sitana pointed out another female. This one looked rather large even with her brown-furred body curled up as she was. Lyra recognized her as a Vulfrani when she saw the long tail and pointed ears. “Rani hasss been here only three monthsss, the leassst of usss without counting you.”
Rani’s ears flicked in their direction, and when she turned her slightly elongated head towards them Lyra gasped. One of the main features of the Vulfrani was their long, thick fangs that could grow to a length of six to eight inches. The left fang had been broken off completely, leaving behind a small, jagged piece. Lyra was shocked that such thick bone could break like that.
“What…?” Lyra couldn’t finish her question.
“Bha’ruk,” Sitana stated softly as Rani gave a small whimper before turning away from them.
Facing the Cerpantian, Lyra eyes were wide enough to show the whites all around, whispering, “How could he…?”
“None of us know how it happened. One night, Bha’ruk sent for her and the next day, we heard she was in the medical facility,” Vanika explained in a hushed tone, her eyes becoming shiny with moisture. “When we saw her later that same day, she looked as she does now.”
“Now, ssshe doesss not ssspeak,” Sitana murmured as her eyes moved around the room. “The other two are like that, keeping to themssselvesss.”
Following Sitana’s gaze, Lyra saw another female hunched over and leaning against the wall. Her small body was covered with silvery-blue scales, and there were dark, sail-like fins growing along her forearms and calves. She noticed another fin-like appendage sprouting from the female’s forehead and moving backwards. Lyra guessed she was an aquatic species that had the ability to breathe air on land as well as water.
“Nemona is her name,” Vanika spoke up, and Lyra glanced up at her. “She’s a Nimonae, and she does speak…just not very often.”
“The female wearing the black cloak isss Kudra, an Avarian.” Sitana stared at the female sitting a few feet from where Nemona was bent over. “Ssshe hasss not ssspoken sssince ssshe wasss captured.”
With the cloak covering practically every part of Kudra, Lyra could only guess what she looked like. Lyra flung some of her silver hair over her shoulder and huffed through her nostrils. “He’s a monster. How can he be allowed to do this?”
“We have no answer for that, Natra,” Vanika answered, lowering her eyes. “All we can do is bear with it.”
“I won’t,” Lyra declared, clenching her fist but looking up when she felt someone grip her. Two of Vanika’s hands firmly grasped her fist as the female’s four eyes stared into hers.
“Do not oppose him. Nothing good will come of it, and Bha’ruk will do something…horrible to you, too.”
Meeting Vanika’s firm gaze, Lyra asked, “What did he do to you?”
With a sigh, the female released Lyra’s hand, whispering, “He…broke two of my arms during my first weeks here. All because I did not come when he ordered me to.”
“Ssshe isss right, Natra,” Sitana softly agreed. “Do not oppossse hisss will. You are hisss jussst asss we are.”
“If Bha’ruk sends for you, go as quickly as possible,” Vanika instructed. “Believe me, he will send for you soon, Natra. You are the one female he has searched for incessantly.”
“Wh…what?” Lyra’s eyes grew wide. “Why me?”
“He ssspoke often of Unatra, of obtaining a Natranian female.” Sitana’s eyes moved towards the door. “When he doesss order you to come do what he wantsss. I will admit I fought againssst him for asss long asss I could, but he isss too ssstrong. Thisss isss hisss ssship, and everyone on it isss hisss.”
Ta’al’s words echoed in her mind, and Lyra shook her head and looked up to see O’ni standing over the three of them. Her heart hammered against her chest as she stared at the guard.
“The Elder desires you to join him in his suite, Natra.”
TBC
A/N: Thank you all so much for your reviews for the first chapter, esp: Ar’Shiya, prairiefire, Shalimar, spider, RandolphScotty, Viewerfinder, vanthegreat, Keen, and Death God Dist. I hope you enjoyed reading chapter 2, too, even though it took its sweet time coming along. ^^;
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