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Divide	By : kheavSarah Category: M through R > Predator Views: 12292 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Don't own Predators or Aliens and I DEFINITELY don't make any money from this!!!!

Chapter List
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With the Clan Ship still hovering above, the General had ordered the Captain and her men to return to the Colony. Cross had protested at first but a warning scowl from her father ended it. With a defeated sigh, Cross left with the twins and Connor following behind her. The General watched the four disappeared into the Colony before returning his attention to a growling Vor’mekta.
“Enough!” Elder Bakuub snapped, his patient running thinned with the two.
Vor’mekta hissed but lowered his head in submission.
“Lieutenant Samson,” the General turned to his second in command. “Take the men inside as well; I can handle things from here.”
Samson was already protesting. “General Edwin, I don’t think…”
“I didn’t ask for your opinion!” he snapped, his gray eyes glaring dangerously at him. “That’s an order.”
Biting back his words, Samson gave a curt nod and led the men back inside the Colony.
Staring at the Clan Ship with dread, Edwin watched as a small vessel-ship descends from the massive ship. With his heart lodged in his throat, he knew his father was on that vessel. Just the thought of seeing him again sent a shiver of unwanted fear down his spines.
The Arbitrator huffs a growl at the scent of fear radiating off the ooman. He wasn’t at all surprised the ooman feared Elder Nihkou'te.
“No fear, Edwin,” a voice growled beside him.
Hearing his grandfather’s reassuring voice, Edwin swallowed down his fear with a nod.
As the ship landed, his one gray eye glared as the doors of the ship opens, revealing two tall figures walking down the ramp of the ship.
Edwin was quick to lower his eye at his father’s approached.
Elder Bakuub nodded towards his Hybrid son, Nihkou'te and Elder Ju'dha of the Th'syra Clan. While Bakuub and Ju’dha conversant with one another, Nihkou’te’s gray eyes snapped towards his ooman son.
“R’ka, ooman life agrees with you,” Nihkou'te observed disdainfully.
Edwin forced himself not to flinch at his old name during his time on the Clan Ship. “Elder Nihkou'te,” he greeted with a curt nod. The only one to call him Edwin was Elder Bakuub, a name his mother had given him before her death.
“Look at me,” his father growled.
He was still cautious when he raised his eyes off the floor. It’s been years since Edwin last seen his father. The eight foot Hybrid Yautja male made the fearsome General feel like a child again. His father had aged since then. No longer were his dreadlocks a proud inky black, but gray and decorated with solid gold trinkets. His gray eyes narrowed at Edwin with disdained. Elder Nihkou’te flared his scarred mandibles in irritation at the anger filling in his ooman son’s eye.
“Stare at me like that any longer and I will rip out your other eye,” Nihkou’te warned dangerously.
A low growl rumbled in his throat. “I’m no longer a pup for you to push around, Elder Nihkou’te.”
Nihkou’te took a threatening step towards him when suddenly his path was blocked off by Elder Bakuub. His glowing purple eyes glared daggers at his Hybrid blood. “When inside this Colony you will behave. The peace must be kept between oomans and Yautja alike.” His stern eyes shot towards the Arbitrator who bowed his head in agreement. “I trust you to do your job?”
Vor’mekta held a fist to his armored chest. “By my honor, I will keep the peace.”
General Edwin scoffed at that. “You alone think you can keep the peace?” he mocked.
“You forget who you’re talking to, ooman!” the Arbitrator snapped.
They continued to bicker until Elder Bakuub finally roared his impatience. Edwin and Vor’mekta were wise enough to shut their mouths.
“Edwin, Arbitrator Vor’mekta and I will escort the Elders and their Clan to their quarters,” he said, hoping the separation might cool their anger.
Nihkou’te’s mandibles curled in distaste at the ooman name. He never understood why his father insisted on calling his son by the name Edwin.
At his words, Edwin’s gray eye snapped toward the mouth of the ship and realized six Yautja were walking down the ramp. Only one out of the six, the General noted, was staring at him intensely, a Blooded from the looks of it.
“I need to discuss an important matter with, R’ka,” Nihkou’te said.
At this Elder Bakuub was hesitated, but a look in Edwin’s eye told him he was able to handle speaking with his Sire. “My men inside will show you to the quarters.”
Nodding, Bakuub and Vor’mekta escorted the others towards the Colony. The one who’d been staring at the General was hesitating to leave but a low growl from Nihkou’te had the Blooded moving his feet.
“What is it you wish to discuss?”
“Your pup, I heard from Elder Bakuub, you sired a female. Why wasn’t she here to greet us?” his sharp gray eyes searched the emptied courtyard for any signs.
“She was needed elsewhere,” he was quick to answer.
Nihkou’te scoffed at the obvious lie. “You would deny me the chance to meet my bloodline?”
Edwin’s eye narrowed suspiciously. He didn’t understand why his father wanted to meet Cross and he didn’t like it. His father was planning something…and it involved his only child.
“What are you planning, Nihkou’te?”
A low trilled rumbled in his throat, his mandibles lifted into a smirk. “Produce your pup, R’ka, my only desire is to meet her.”

==

The Captain didn’t like it one damn bit. After the General dismissed her, she retreated to her apartment with Connor and the twins behind her. Cross still couldn’t understand why her father had dismissed her. She had wanted to stay by his side when the Elders and their Clans docked from the ship. But behind his scowl she had seen something she’s never seen from her father.
Fear.
Behind his one gray eye she saw a flashed of fear before it was quickly gone. Never had she’d seen such a look from him. Even still to her eyes, her father was indestructible.
“Mom, you okay?” Connor placed a hand on her stiffed shoulder.
Pushing her thoughts aside, Cross flashed her son a small smile. “I’m as sweet as chocolate cake, kid.”
Connor knew damn well when his mom used those kinds of terms to described her feelings something was wrong. “Stop lying, can’t you be honest with me?” he clicked with irritation. “You always used to tell me things…”
She sighed and places her hand on his arm. “I’m Captain of this Colony and the General dismissed me like a child,” she muttered bitterly. “I guess I’m pouting.”
Connor nodded his understanding, he only wish he knew the words to comfort her. Purring softly he gently gathered his mother in his arms and held her. Touched by his affection, she patted his arm.
Just then the doors to her apartment opened and in walked Betanu. Cross stiffened at the sight of him and was glad he wore his mask. But she knew he was glaring daggers at her.
“Honored Warrior,” Halkrath greeted him with a smirk.
Lar’ja chuckled. They both knew the male was in a sexually frustrated state. It was both amusing and dangerous.
Betanu growled, but made sure to keep his anger under control. “I heard the Clan Ship arrived.”
They confirmed it with a nod.
He turned his question towards the Captain. “Why aren’t you out there?” Betanu approached her, although his eyes were narrowing at Connor.
“The General ordered me to stand aside,” she muttered angrily.
Cross sighed and move out of her son’s arms. Her head was pounding with both anger and frustration.
“Nihkou'te, your grandfather, hated both Yautja and oomans. He was an outcast in between two worlds…but he fought his way to the top and won many respects…and yet it still wasn’t enough…”
Cross couldn’t shake off Bakuub’s words. Her father had fought against Nihkou'te to free himself of the Clan. He had punished his own child just because of his human complexion. Was that the whole reason why her father had sent her away? Was the General afraid to show his human child to his Yautja father? What was he going to do to her when they finally meet?
When the General returned with a grim look on his scarred face, Cross knew whatever news he had wasn’t good. The second he’d seen her, he growled. “Elder Nihkou’te wishes to see you.”
Cross had been prepared for anything, but hearing Elder Nihkou'te wanting to meet her caught her off guard.
“Remember never look him in the eye unless he allows it. And especially, never show any signs of anger when he’s taunting you…”
Cross listened to her father’s words with a heavy heart. She was starting to dread meeting her grandfather, Elder Nihkou'te. From what she remembered in Bakuub’s stories, Nihkou'te was a bitter and cruel Yautja.
“Are you listening to me, Captain?”
Hearing the General’s harsh voice, Cross snapped out of thought. “Yes, General Edwin. Don’t look him in the eye, never speak to him unless spoken to, and show no signs of anger when he’s taunting to you,” she was quick to repeat his words.
Satisfied, he gave a curt nod. “Good. You will have to leave your pet here,” his one gray eye shot toward Connor.
The young Yautja growled his displeasure. “I will not…”
“Connor, it’s alright,” Cross assured her son in a firm voice, her eyes warning him not to argue.
Seeing the warning look in her eyes, he lowered his head in submission. “Yes.”
On the outside, she wore a look of cool calm, but on the inside she was hurting. It always killed her to see the look of defeat in her son’s eyes. But he needed to see she had to do this alone. Besides he will be much safer here then meeting an aggressive Yautja male whom might consider him a bug that needed to be squash!
“He’s waiting for us in the Conference room,” her father said and snapped his eye towards Betanu. “You will stand beside my daughter during the meeting and not leave her side, understand?”
Betanu nodded.
Cross watched her father leave through the door before walking towards a stiffed Connor. When he refused to look at her, she wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled him into a hug. He was unyielding at first, but after a few seconds he wrap around arms around her. Smiling, she pressed her ear against his chest and listen to the strong beat of his heart.
“I will see you after this, okay?”
Connor trilled softly and lowered his head until his mandibles rest on top of her head. “Be safe.”

==

With her father walking ahead and her three guards following behind her, Cross felt perfectly safe with the four. But it still didn’t stop the nervous fluttered in her stomach at the thought of meeting her grandfather, the Yautja who made her father into the man he was today.
“Remember my words, Captain,” the General warned.
They were approaching the Conference room and Cross was quick to notice the heavy guards standing by the door. At their approached the two guards opened the door for them. The General was the first to enter with Betanu, the twins and Cross behind them. Once they were inside the guards closed the doors behind them. The sound of the doors closing was no more than a clicked, but to Cross, it sounded like a bang. Sitting at the long wide polished table was no doubt Nihkou'te himself.
“Your grandfather is what we called a Hybrid, very rare among the Yautja species. His features and built are similar to us, but his skin tone is lighter and softer and his eyes belonged to an ooman.”
True to his words, Nihkou'te’s scales were a deep brown and the stripe patterns on his body were a darker shade of brown. His gray dreadlocks were short, just swinging passed his broad shoulders and decorated in solid gold trinkets. His upper right crab-hook was missing, obviously during a fight, she noted. His features were softer than a full blooded Yautja. But it was his eyes that caught her attention, unlike the beady eyes of a full blood; his were round like a human and gray, just like her father’s. Even his large, crested forehead was smaller than the others and smoothed and void of patterns, all except the scars. Like all Yautja, he was dressed in a mesh suit and covered in armors.
The second he stood up from his chair, revealing his height of eight-foot even, Cross lowered her eyes.
Out of respect, the Yautja bowed their heads low. Nihkou'te lifted his mandibles in a sneer, but his gray eyes caught sight of a smaller figure behind the General. He inhaled the familiar scent and knew who stood behind his ooman son. “Bring your pup forward, R’ka.”
Side-stepping, Edwin placed a hand behind his daughter’s back and urged her forward. Cross didn’t hesitate to do her father’s bidding, she even made sure to keep her eyes on the tip of her boots. Her body tensed at the sound of footsteps approaching her. She gritted her teeth when clawed fingers shot out and gripped her chin. Her hand twitched to reach for her Bersa attached to her waist and defend herself, but forced her hand still. She allowed him to tilt her head up and made sure nothing showed on her face.
Edwin forced himself not to yank his daughter away from his father. The hostile look in Nihkou'te’s cold gray eyes brought back memories of his past. Whenever his father looked at him like that, Edwin knew he was planning something terrible.
Nihkou'te snarled at the female and knew from her scent she was furious. It was obvious she didn’t like to be submissive towards her betters, much like her Sire, he thought bitterly. But what caught his attention were her almond shape glowing purple eyes, they were like his own Sire’s. Her black-blue hair hung loose and straight pass her neck and her full pink lips were pulled back into tight lines.
“R’ka, I take it this is your only pup?”
Edwin suppressed the urge to growl. “She’s my only child.”
Nihkou'te hid a secret smile as he stared down his ooman bloodline. “She has the same stubbornness in her eyes as you.” He remarked, his mandibles clicking thoughtfully. “She’s quite a beauty and her scent is powerful. Tell me, does she have a mate?”
“She does,” Betanu stepped beside the female and pulled her away from Nihkou'te’s grip. “I am her mate.”
Cross held back her curse; how dare Betanu take advantage of the situation!
At the news Nihkou’te’s eye widened in surprise. “A Yautja mate?-who are you?”
“Betanu of the Clan Guan-thwei,” he tapped a fist to his armored chest.
His sharp gray eyes shot towards the twins. “Lar’ja and Halkrath, it’s been a while. What brings you to this Colony?”
“We’ve been assigned to guard the female,” Lar’ja confirmed.
Nihkou’te turned his eyes towards Edwin. “How is it your pup have a Yautja mate and is not with suckling?”
All four males in the room shifted nervously. Growling, Nihkou’te turned his question to the female. “No baby, why?” he asked in broken English.
“I had a chip implanted in my thigh to prevent any pregnancy,” she answered.
The General translated.
Satisfied with the answer, Nihkou’te turned his gray eyes toward his ooman son. “Cautious aren’t you, R’ka?”
“Her mate is a Yautja male,” the General didn’t bother to hide his disgust. “I will see to it she never carry a suckling.”
Nihkou’te returned his attention to the female and lowered his head until his mandibles brush against her hair. Cross tensed at the action while the others in the room edged closer in cautious. From the corner of her eye Cross watched her grandfather’s gray eyes searched something, what it was… she didn’t know.
A low displeasured growl rumbled in his chest. “She doesn’t carry your scent, Honored Warrior,” his gray eyes shot threatening towards Betanu.
Behind his mask, Betanu’s yellow eyes closed at his foolishness.
Cross didn’t understand a word they were saying, but she knew it wasn’t something good. The way her grandfather’s eyes kept staring at her was enough to send unwanted shivers down her spines. The tension in the room was so thick she can cut it with a knife! Cross was close to taking a step away from him when suddenly his talons fingers shot out and ripped the buttons off her front shirt! In a flash the Captain withdrew her Bersa and pressed it up against Nihkou’te’s abdomen. Time seem to stop as the two stared each other down.
“You will not touch me like that,” she growled, her eyes darkening in anger.
Instead of anger flashing in his gray eyes, he was merely amused.
The General was quick to yanked his daughter away from his father and thrust her into Betanu.
Nihkou’te heard her words, but his gray eyes were staring at the top of her naked breasts. “She is unmated,” he observed, his angry eyes glaring at Betanu. “She does not carry your mark!”
“You forget she’s ooman,” Betanu growled, pushing Cross behind him. “She does not wish to be mated until I court her properly.”
Nihkou’te growled his annoyance.
Edwin shot an impatiently look towards the Honored Warrior. “Betanu, take my daughter back to her quarter.” It wasn’t a request.
Betanu was glad to take his female away from the Elder.
The General watched as the four leave the Conference room before he return his attention to his father. Nihkou’te wasn’t surprised when Edwin grabbed him by the throat and slammed him against the wall.
“I don’t care who you are, but you will not touch my daughter like that!” he warned in a dark tone.
With a roar Nihkou’te knocked his hand away. “You forget who you’re speaking to!”
“What are you up to?” Edwin eyed him suspiciously. “Why are you interested in my daughter?”
“You seem to forget, R’ka, your pup is part Yautja who have yet to know her Clan.”
At his words Edwin felt his guts knotting. He didn’t need to ask his father what he meant by that. “You’re not taking my daughter to the Clan Ship, I won’t allow it!”
“That’s not for you to decide!” Nihkou’te snapped, his mandibles curling in anger.
“If you didn’t notice my pup is female, only males are allowed to train on the Clan Ship.”
“I’m not taking her to the Clan Ship to train, only to observe her Yautja heritage.” Nihkou’te explained in a hard tone that broke no argument. “After the treaty signing I plan to bring her back with me, R’ka. The blood of the Yautja runs through her veins, you can’t deny her birth right.”

==

“What the hell was that all about!?”
After escorting Cross back to her apartment, Betanu requested to be alone with her. The twins had hesitated but a firm nod from their charge made them stand outside her doors. Cross was already heading towards her bedroom’s closet to grab a new shirt, but upon entering she halted at the sight of Connor sitting on her bed with his lower mandibles sagging and his red eyes wide with shock.
“What happened to your shirt!?” he jumped to his feet and rushed to her, his worried eyes looking for any signs of wounds. “Are you hurt?”
“Bow your head!” Betanu growled from the bedroom doorway.
It was only then Connor realized his mother’s cleavage was showing! Muttering an apology he lowered his head.
“My son wasn’t being a pervert; he was making sure I wasn’t hurt!” Cross snapped at the eight foot male in anger. “Unlike somebody,” her eyes showed clearly who she thought was the pervert.
Betanu’s mandibles clicked in irritation. “I didn’t hear you complain before.”
She gasped; already the red blush was spreading across her cheeks. “Don’t talk like that in front of my son!” from the corner of her eye she spied Connor holding his stomach as though he was sick.
“He’s no longer a suckling to be coddled!” Betanu snapped. “He’s an Unblood on his way to becoming a Young Blood.”
“I don’t coddle him; I just don’t want to hear you talk about what we do in front of him!”
Connor was already leaving; the thought of seeing his mom’s breasts or hear what they do behind closed doors was enough to make the teenager shuddered in grossness. He still doesn’t like the fact his mother was interested in the Honored Warrior, but just being in the same room with them while they argued about their ‘thing’ he knew he just had to retreat before he lost his lunch.
“Now, if you will please excuse me so I can change my shirt,” she pointed a finger towards her door.
“I’ve seen you naked before,” he pointed out in a reasonable tone, his broad shoulder leaning lazily against her door with his muscular arms folded across his scarred massive chest. Obviously he had no intention of leaving.
Cross resisted the urge to grind her teeth but decided to ignore him. Turning her back on him she walked towards her closet and ripped off the remainder of her ruined shirt.
“Do you wish for me to translate what happened earlier?”
Her annoyed grunt was her only reply.
“If I were to make you my mate I will have to mark you.”
Curious she asked. “You mean like on the shoulder?”
To show her Betanu walked towards her and spun her around to face him. Cross was in the mist of buttoning up her new black shirt when the Yautja male decided to interrupt her. His eyes drank in the sight; the shirt she wore was parted, revealing to him one apple sized breast while the other one stay hidden behind the black shirt.
Trilling softly Betanu crouched down to her level and lifts a talon finger to her soft breast. He felt her jerk at the touched but didn’t pull away. “You better not be messing around…”
“The mark…” he interrupted her. “During our mating I will leave my mark on your breast.”
“Why on the breast?”
“It lets other males know you’re taken,” saying that he slowly trailed his finger down the top of her breast and over her nipple.
This time Cross pulled away with a faint blush spreading across her cheeks, she can already feel her nipple hardening. “And just how will you do this mark?”
Cross was suddenly regretting her words when he reached up to take off the hose attached to his mask. White stream hissed out the hose as he took off his mask and hooked it to his waist. Spreading his crab-like hooks wide he pointed a finger to his inner mouth which was filled with razor sharp teeth.
“Ouch,” was the only thing she can say. Her wide eyes staring at his lipless maw full of fangs.
“I will be gentle,” he vowed, his tusks twitching slightly.
“What makes you think I will agree to become your mate?” she challenged stubbornly.
An amused chuckled rumbled in his chest. “You like me far more then you admit.”
She scoffed. “I like your body.”
“And you can have my body if you agree to become my mate.”
“I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were you,” she warned as she buttoned up her shirt. She hated how easily her body responded to his mere presence.
“As I said before, you ooman seem to enjoy lying,” he growled with amusement. “Perhaps I should pay you back for the…frustration you left me in.”
“Now isn’t the time to think about fooling around,” she bit out, although her body was protesting against her words. “Tell me, do you know anything about my grandfather?”
Hiding his disappointment, he said, “Not much, only that he’d been renowned for his many victories in the Arena.”
She frowned. “The Arena - What’s that?”
“Think of your Gladiators during the Roman time. Elder Nihkou’te had been challenged many times during his training on the Clan Ship and as Elder. In fact, I’d been to one of his fights.”
Cross’s eyes showed their impressiveness at his knowledge of human cultures. “Oh? Did he ever lose…once?”
A thoughtful look came over his face before he shook his head. “Not that I recall.”
“Why did you think he was so interested in the mark?”
Betanu’s yellow eyes narrowed at her words. “I don’t know and I don’t like it. Elder Nihkou’te is hiding something…and I intend to find out what it is.”

==

Her scent was strong and ripe for the taking…
Elder Nihkou’te was very pleased by this…
Upon entering his newly assigned quarter he was immediately greeted by his apprentice. The Yautja was young and eager, a promising Blooded who was on his way to becoming an Honored Warrior among the Clan.
“Was that him, was he the one?”
Nihkou’te bark a warning growl, the Blooded was smart enough to lower his head in submission. “Cease your questioning, Guan, we have more important matters to discuss.”
The Blooded’s fists clenched and unclenched by his sides, but he obeyed his Elder with a nod. Nihkou’te wasn’t fooled; he can easily sense his apprentice’s restlessness.
“The time will come, Guan, but until then you will have to be patient.”
Patient was one thing Guan learned at a very young age. But he was close…so very damn close to finding the one they called R’ka.

==

The first night since the Clan’s arrival was chaotic. The civilians were both excited and frightened of the Yautja. Curiosity made the young ones tried to ventured their way into seeing a live alien while others just wanted to make trouble. The Captain made sure they returned back to the Civilian Colony with a warning. She ordered each squad leaders to double their team and keep a close eye on each sectors, more and more were becoming bolder. Alongside her Lieutenant, the Captain kept watched until the first ray of light peek through the dark clouds above. It’s been the same for the past four days.
“Perhaps you should return to your quarter for some rest, Captain,” Percy suggested, noticing the dark shadows beneath the Captain’s eyes. “Even I had some rest…”
Firmly she shook her head. “It’s my duty to watch this Colony, I’ll rest when I know those damn kids are smart enough to stay put!”
“They’re just kids, I can handle them just fine,” he assured her. “If you won’t rest then maybe you should get yourself something to eat.”
At the mentioned of food her stomach rumbled in agreement. For the past four days all she had to eat were sandwiches with a cup of black coffee to go with it. Food does sound appealing at the moment.
Biting back a curse, Percy ran his fingers through his thick brown hair. “Why do you have to be stubborn?”
“I don’t mean to be so difficult,” she didn’t bother to hide her amusement. “I guess I can leave things to you for a little while…”
“Good. Get a bite to eat and some rest. There’s no point of you commanding a troop if you’re about to drop dead on your feet.”
Chuckling to herself, Cross left the Headquarter and made her way towards the mess hall. Today the place was packed. The sound of rough laughter and chatters filled the air as the Captain made her way towards tray of food. Grabbing a tray she took seat at an empty table.
“It’s good to see you’re finally eating.”
Looking up from her food the Captain gave a small smile at the nurse. “If I didn’t know any better… I would say you were the one who made Percy nagged me about food and sleep.”
Her little smirk confirmed it. “Mind if I have a seat?”
“You never asked before,” she said through a mouth full of potatoes. If the Captain had been paying attention to the nurse, Cross would’ve seen how nervous her friend was.
Instead of taking the seat opposite of the table, the little nurse decided to sit beside her Captain. Fidgeting with the bracelet around her wrist, Kelly took in a deep breath and said, “There is a rumor going on…”
At her words the Captain jerked her head up with a dark scowl. “What rumors?”
Looking over her shoulders to make sure no one was listening; the nurse leaned close to the Captain’s ear and whispered. “That you and then General are not full blooded human.”
The fork in Cross’s hand bent underneath her clenched fist. “Who’s spreading these rumors around?”
Helplessly she shook her head. “I don’t know who spread the rumors…” her green emerald eyes stared at the Captain sadly. “Cross, I’m your friend…if…if you need to talk…I mean…Cross…”
“Kelly,” she interrupted the stammering nurse by taking her hand in hers. “These rumors…do you believe them?”
Looking into her friend’s glowing purple eyes the nurse had always suspected there was something special about the Captain. Since childhood Cross had been faster and stronger than most children. To Kelly at the aged of nine she saw her friend as a super hero, but to her adult’s eyes she was beginning to suspect something was more to Cross then meets the eye.
“There are times when I suspected it…” she admitted in a small voice. “Your healing ability and strength…since the arrival of Connor you craved the company of Yautja, it’s only natural…”
“A simple yes or no will do, Nurse Rose.”
Swallowing down the lump in her throat she nodded. “Yes, Cross, and it hurts you never told me.”
Hearing the pain in her voice the Captain flinched at the stab of guilt hitting her. “I’m sorry, Kelly, I meant to tell you…”
Kelly edged closer and frowned. Her friend’s speech of apology ended shortly with the Captain’s head cocked to the side with a fierce scowl, almost as if she was listening for something. “Cross...”
A finger to her lips halted the rest of Kelly’s sentence. A scowl darkened over her face before she snapped her angry eyes towards the pale Nurse. “Tell me…are there any other rumors going on about me?”
“Only the one with your blood…”
Kelly didn’t get a chance to finish, especially when the Captain was already leaving the table and stalking towards a group of rowdy soldiers from across the mess hall. Upon her approached the group of soldiers went dead silence, all except one, who she recognized as Private Talbot.
“Well, what can we do for the Honorable Captain Cross?” the burly solider gave her a mock salute.
The Captain ignored his insult. “I heard a very interesting conversation going on here,” she said through clenched teeth. “Care to repeat it?”
“Well certainly!” the soldier stood up from the bench and towered over her at six feet. “Me and me mates were talking about a certain woman who prefer to spread her legs to a brunch of ugly E.Ts!”
The other men at the table sucked in a sharp breath and all conversation ceased in the mess hall. The dead silence grew thicker and thicker as the two stare at each other.
“And just who is this woman you speak of?” she wore a pleasant face, but her tone told everyone a different story.
Grinning from ear to ear, he lowered his head towards hers until she can smell the foulness of his breath. “I do believe you know who she is, Captain,” he spat out her rank in disgust. “It’s only right for a freak to wonna fuck another freak, don’t you agree?”
Cross’s jaw clenched. “You forget who you’re speaking to, Private,” she warned in a cooled voice.
The burly man threw back his head and laugh. “I never saw you as a Captain! You women are all the same, always going after the bigger cock.” He hooted crudely. “You’re nothing more than a filthy alien whore…”
The Captain saw red when her fist connected with the man’s square jaw. With a shout of pain the man fell backward into the table. Everyone jumped to their feet and made a circle around the pair. Spitting out blood, Talbot was on his feet and rushing towards the Captain. Cross was quick to reverse his attack and flipped him over her shoulder. The crowd around her cheered encouragement while others shouted at Talbot to get back on his feet. Looking for any weapons on the floor, he was quick to grab an emptied glass bottle and threw it full force towards the Captain. Everything went into slow motion when Cross brought her arm up to block the bottle from hitting her eyes; unfortunately the glass broke and splattered everywhere upon impact. She hissed at the strings of the sharp glasses hitting her exposed face. With her vision blocked she never saw Talbot rushing towards her. The three hundred pound man easily knocked her down and gave a victory shout as her back hit the floor, hard. Quick as a cat, the Captain was back on her feet and ducking from one of Talbot’s fist. Taking advantage she swung her leg behind his knees, the force impact had Talbot falling backward on the cold ground. In second the Captain was on him with her fists beating into his harsh face. With a shout Talbot’s fist connected with her mouth. The Captain was thrown off him from the impact of his hit, but already she was shaking off the pain and charging towards him.
Suddenly she was lifted off her opponent and left suspended in the air by a pair of claw hands. Staring down she scowled at the Yautja who dared to interfere with her fight.
“Dammit, put me down!” she snapped.
Arbitrator Vor’mekta gave a warning growl at the struggling female.
Just then the General entered the mess hall and the soldiers were quick to disperse as he strolled towards the commotion. His gray eye glared daggers at the sight of the eight foot two Arbitrator holding his daughter in mid-air. But a painful moan brought his attention to the fallen soldier on the ground; he didn’t need to ask what happened. Edwin jerked his head towards a near-by medic who happened to be sitting at a table eating his lunch, he dropped his fork and rushed towards the bloodied soldier and helped him to his feet. The General watched dispassionately as they left the mess hall.
“Everyone out!” the General roared.
The soldiers were wised enough to obey their General’s order, all except Kelly.
“You may leave as well, Nurse Rose.”
“Not until I check the Captain for injuries,” she said.
The firmness in her tone told Edwin there will be no arguing with the determined Nurse. “Certainly…”
“You can put me down now,” Cross bit out at the stubborn Yautja.
Growling softly Vor’mekta lowered the female to the ground. He may not be able to speak the human language but he can easily understand them. “Feisty isn’t she, Hybrid?”
Edwin shot him an irritated look before returning his attention to his daughter. His lips curled in anger at the cuts and blood on her face. Her lips were split and the trail of dark red blood continued down her chin. Seeing the dark look over her father’s face the Captain was quick to answer. “I’ll be fine,” she assured him.
Kelly was already tugging at her arm. “We should go…”
“I’ll be fine,” the Captain repeated with a firm glare. Ignoring her look, the nurse was already wiping the blood off her face with a napkin. Cross, on the other hand, was using her tongue to feel for any loose tooth, she gave a silent thank when she felt none.
“I assigned you to keep the peace,” the General glared down his daughter. “You’re no longer a child to throw tantrum!”
Hearing the anger and disappointment in her father’s voice had the Captain lowering her chin to her chest in shame. “I apologize, General, I admit he provoked me and I lost control.”
“I taught you better than this!” he continued to bellow as if she hadn’t said a word. “Do you want me to strip you of your rank?!”
She flinched.
“And where the hell are your so called bodyguards?” the General snapped impatiently, his eye looking around the emptied mess hall.
“Training Connor,” she answered. “Honestly, General, I can take care of myself.”
He growled. “I wasn’t insulting your abilities, Captain. But what’s the point of having not one, but two Yautja bodyguards if they’re not here to guard you!?”
Holding on to her anger she replied in a calm voice. “I was the one who ordered them to keep Connor in training. They’re not to blame.”
At the reminder of the Albino Yautja the General’s scarred face screwed in disgust. “That insect of yours needs no training if he can’t even follow one simple rules of training!” he snapped angrily. “I don’t understand why you need to put so much attention to that thing!”
Her patient snapped and so did her anger. “My son isn’t a thing or an insect, General! You will not speak of him in such a horrible way!”
“That thing isn’t your son!” he roared. “He’s an abomination!”
Tears of frustration and rage stung her eyes. The cruelty of her father’s words twisted something inside her to the point of pain and anger. His own father had put him through hell for his human complexion and now he was doing the same to her son!
“Damn you,” she cursed and walked away from him, Kelly was close at her heels.
“I wasn’t finish with you, Captain!”
She never broke her stride or answers him. The General watched her disappeared from the mess hall with the nurse close behind.
“Your pup needs to be discipline, Hybrid,” Vor’mekta remarked in a bored tone.
“She never needed discipline before…not until that thing came into her life.” He growled and glared hatefully at the Arbitrator. “And don’t need you to lecture me on how to discipline my child.”
“Obviously you do,” he growled. “I thought your pup never carried a suckling…”
“She doesn’t have a suckling…” with an impatient curse the General left the mess hall, leaving the Arbitrator to become curious about this mysterious suckling.

==

Betanu growled his approval as the Unblood tossed his opponent across the sparring mat. With a grunt, Lar’ja rolled to his feet but nodded his respect toward the panting Connor.
“You’re starting to approve,” Betanu observed.
Ignoring the pain coursing through his body at the heavy hits he received from the Honored Warrior, Connor bowed his head in respect. He may not like the sperm donor but he will show respect towards the seasoned warrior, something his mother had taught him at a young age.
“Your Bearer would be proud of you.”
At the mentioned of his mother Connor’s eyes lit up at the thought. He only regretted her not being here to witness his victory. For the past four days he rarely saw his mother except perhaps every now and then he would catch a glimpsed of her walking through the corridors with her soldiers trailing behind her. From a young age Connor always admired her whenever he sees her ordered the soldiers around. He would be lying if he didn’t say he wasn’t envious of her.
Connor was getting ready for another round on the sparring mate when the doors to the training room opens and in walked his mother with a fussing Aunt Kelly behind her.
“Dammit, why can’t you listen?” Kelly bit out impatiently.
“Kelly, you’re so lucky you have a pretty face,” Cross muttered darkly and said out loud. “I just wonna be with my son for a while and then I will go to the medic quarter.”
Only when she was approaching Connor did he see the cuts on her face and her bruised chin and split bottom lip. With a roar of rage the young Yautja was rushing towards her. “What happen, mom, who did this do you!?”
She brushed off his concern with a wave of a hand. “Don’t worry, I took care of it.”
Connor wasn’t having any of it. “Name the fucker who did this!”
“Connor!” she snapped. “Listen to me when I say I took care of it.”
“Trust me, Connor, she really did,” Kelly still couldn’t get the image of Talbot’s blood battered face out of her head. “Now if only you can convince your stubborn mom to come with me to the medic quarter.”
Connor saw red; it was almost as bad as the time when he spied his mother with her former lover. A dangerous low growl rumbled in his throat. “Tell me who the fucker is!”
From the corner of her eye she spied Betanu and the twins edging closer. Connor was still young and impulsive with his emotions. But he was still her son and she wanted them to know she can still handle him.
“Can you please leave us for a minute,” she gave each Yautja males a pointed look. “I’ll like to speak to my son alone.”
Halkrath growled his disapproval.
“His body is still raging with bloodlust…” Lar’ja explained cautiously. “It’s best if we stay close by…”
“Dammit, go!” she snapped. She didn’t need to be babysat by anyone. She was a Captain, not some shivering child!
Kelly paled at her friend’s outburst. She didn’t know much about Yautja males and their view on women, but she was pretty sure they might be offended by getting yelled at by a simple female. But what shocked her more was seeing the twin Yautja bowed their head towards the Captain before leaving the training room.
“Nurse Rose, if would you please give me some time...”
The nurse gave a start at her friend’s cooled voice, but nodded her understanding. “I still expect to see you in the medic quarter,” the nurse remaindered before leaving.
“That means you too, Betanu,” Cross turned her attention to the eight foot stubborn male.
Only after he completed his scan on her physical form did he answer. “I will return shortly with some salve,” he trilled and then whispered sternly. “Don’t coddle him…”
“I won’t,” she bit out.
Walking past her, the Honored Warrior ran his fingers through her unbound hair and watched it slip through his fingers like black silk ink. At his simple touch, Cross’s breath quicken and her heart skipped a beat. He must’ve noticed it and gave a teasing tug on a lock of her hair before letting go. Her eyes still followed him as the doors closed behind him. Cross still didn’t understand why her body was attracted towards Betanu; perhaps it was the Yautja blood in her that was luring her towards him. But all she knew at the moment was finding a way to get him into her bed without having to declare herself as his mate. Only question was how she was going to do that?
“Stop looking at him!”
Cross’s eyes narrowed at the harshness in her son’s voice. “Connor, you seem to have forgotten a talk we had not long ago…”
He growled. “I didn’t forget anything…”
Her glowing purple eyes told him she didn’t believe his words.
“Why won’t you tell me the asshole’s name?” growled an irritated Connor.
Cross held up her fists to show him her bloodied knuckles. Although her fists were still throbbing in pain, she didn’t let it show on her face. “You see, I took care of it. Connor, you have to understand, like you, I will always be challenged for my status as a female Captain. The soldier I fought with won’t be the last.”
With the pad of his finger he carefully trace over each cuts on her face. “I still don’t like it. I wish I was there to gut the fucker!”
“Connor,” she scolded and then sighed. “When I watched you trained with others… I want to jump in and stop the whole thing. But I know I can’t interfere, you have to insert your status among the Yautja Clan even during training.”
He understood and truly wanted to accept it, but his gut still burned with anger at the thought of someone putting their filthy hands on his mother.
Smiling she put her hand on his arm in hopes of calming him down. “I guess no matter how you see it, our protective instinct will always take over when we see our love ones being hurt.”
His red eyes showed his sadness as he continued to stare at her wounds. “Why can’t you let me protect you?” his fists clenched and unclenched at his sides. “I’m on my way to becoming a Youngblood…”
“And I’m proud of you for it,” she leaned into him with her fingers still clenching to his arm. “But I can’t have you jumping into my fights all the time. I proved today, in front of my men, that I can handle an unruly soldier. A few cuts and bruises show my victory and I want you to understand it’s what I do.”
Her eyes narrowed at the scars on his arm and chest and her gut burned with anger. He must’ve fought many challengers to achieve those scars. She would be lying if she said she wasn’t proud of him. Better to fight then to run and hide, a saying her father always told her during training.
“Look, the reason I came here was to see you,” she sighed tiredly. “I haven’t seen you in the past four days and I missed you.”
With a defeated growl, Connor wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her into a hug. “I missed you too…I just wish…”
“I told you not to coddle him,” an irritated voice growled from the doorway.
Connor was quick to pull back while Cross stood there with an annoyed look on her face. “I wasn’t coddling him,” she protested.
Betanu’s yellow eyes shot toward his pup with a growl. “Leave us.”
Grunting, Connor lowered his head to brush his mandibles against her hair before leaving. Cross watched nervously as the doors closed behind her son. Her stomach fluttered at the thought of being alone with Betanu. She didn’t know if she can take another one of their sexual frustrated game! Clearing her throat, Cross sat down on a nearby bench while the Honored Warrior crouched down in front of her with a small gray bottle in his large hand. Curiously she watched him unscrew the lid and dip a finger inside the greenish gel inside. The salve had a minty taste to it; she noticed when he applied the cool gel to her cut lip. While he continued to the other cuts on her face, she felt his piercing gaze on her through the visors of his mask. Shifting uncomfortably on the bench, she tried to ignore the tightening in her stomach and the sweat tickling down her back. Damn, she felt like a nervous teenager on her first date!
“Are you ready to submit?”
Hearing the amusement in his voice, she jerked back in anger. “No. You’re wasting your time.”
“I don’t believe I’m wasting my time,” he shrugged a broad shoulder, her eyes followed his movement and the urge to reach out and touch that muscular scarred shoulder overwhelmed her. “You’re the female I wish to make mine…”
Any women would’ve melted at his words and jumped at the chance to be with him. But not Akira Cross, in fact, it frightened the hell out of her. She didn’t mind if he came to her bed, but having to be tied down…that was a different story.
“I don’t understand why we can’t just have sex,” she argued wearily and he chuckled. “Beside…I have too many things to worry about then this situation.”
He chirped. “I understand and I don’t want to make things difficult for you. But tonight I will share your bed.”
At his words, her lips curved into a seductive smile. “Oh? So are we having sex tonight?”
“No.”
Her smile flattened. “Then what’s the point?”
“Your grandsire, I don’t know what his plans is but I’m not taking any chances,” he growled, putting away the salve. “He searched for my scent and marking on you…”
“And the reason why you want to sleep on my bed is to leave your scent.”
He nodded. “If not my mark then my scent will have to do.”
Cursing, Cross stood up from the bench with her hands on her hips. “You and my father are over thinking things! He probably did that because you claimed to be my mate and wanted to test it.”
Growling, Betanu stood up and towered over the stubborn female. “You’re not stupid, Cross, even you know Elder Nihkou’te is planning something that involves you.”
“Listen…” she held up a hand to stop him from approaching her. “I’m not complaining about you sharing my bed, but I just think you’re worrying for nothing. Now, if you will excuse me I have something else to do.”
She wasn’t about to tell him her next plan for today was to sleep. Or on second thought…perhaps she can still persuade him into more than just sleep.
“I’m actually going to take a nap…you can join me if you like,” she grinned saucily before leaving.
Betanu’s groins jerked at the thought of being in the same bed as her. To have her so close and not take her was a tormenting thing. But he knew it would be worth it when the day comes for her to accept him. A few torturing nights of holding her intoxicating body will be worth the wait.
“You’re a tease,” he growled before following after her.

==

Edwin was still irate about the earlier incident involving his daughter and the Private. The only thing the Private suffered was a broken nose and a black eye. And perhaps a broken rib, curtsy from the General, who left the infirmity after plowing Talbot in the stomach. Hot temper always did run in the family.
“General, there are some reports I need you to read through…”
“Not right now, Samson,” Edwin sighed, running his fingers through his thick black and gray hair. “I want to be left alone for an hour,” he said before walking into his office.
It was rare to see the General lose control and Samson have never seen such a dark look of rage on the General’s scarred face. Backing up and giving him some space seemed like a wise decision to the second in command. With a salute, the second in command left the office.
Hanging his trench coat on the hook, Edwin slumped down on his chair and with a sigh. For the past four days the General had held a conference meeting between the Yautja Elders and the Councilmen. Listening to their constant bickering over the treaty was becoming tiresome to him. Unfortunately his headache only increased when one of his men came running into his office, telling him his daughter was in a brawl like some untrained rookie with a Private. The need to kill someone nearly took over him when he’d seen the cuts and blood on her face. His daughter, he thought with a sigh…she was going to be the death of him one day.

==

Betanu had his back toward the bathroom as he was removing his body of his armors and weapons. Cross had already retreated to the bathroom to shower and get into her night attire. The Honored Warrior had been sorely tempted when she invited him to join her. It took all his will-power to politely decline her offer. He was suddenly regretting it. His cock was near busting out of his loin-cloth! Growling his frustration, he took off his mesh-suit before stalking toward the bed and sat down. With his elbow bent on his knee and his fist under his mandibles, his yellow stare stared moodily at the closed bathroom doors. She’s been showering for the pass twenty minutes; already he can see the white stream escaping underneath the door. He just pray to Paya when she comes out her body would be wrapped up tight.
Unfortunately his prayers went unanswered.
The second the doors opened she emerged out glistening wet with a towel over her head with hot stream rising off her body. She was busy vigorously rubbing her hair down with the towel to notice the Yautja male glued to her everywhere move. If it wasn’t for his mask, Betanu knew he would’ve pounced on her the second the bathroom’s doors opened. His sharp eyes followed every drop of water running down the length of her soft ooman body. It was then he realized how many scars she had. Her back was covered in criss-cross scars and her arms had minors scarring and old bullet wounds on her shoulder, he noted. Many Yautja warriors prized scars on their females. To him, it showed just how many challenges she’d won and battles she’d fought. It only made his desire for her increased ten-folds. Growling deep in his throat, Betanu talon fingers bit into the soft mattress of the bed to stop himself from flinging at the seductive female.
“Where are your clothes?” he choked hoarsely.
Glancing over her shoulder, Cross shrugged innocently. “I always sleep naked,” she smiled sweetly at him.
He whimpered at her obvious lie. She was tempting him to take her and she knew it! The need to take off his mask and inhale her potent scent nearly had him on the verge of madness. Through his visors he watched her walk toward her dresser and pick up a brush. A simple and innocent thing she was doing and yet it was arousing to the Honored Warrior. She had already discarded her towel and was now brushing the tangles out of her wet black hair. Such delicate muscles moved through her arm as she brushed her hair up and down. The memory of her hands on his aching cock had him biting back a groan. Damn, he was really starting to regret having to wait until she agrees to become his female to mate.
“C'jit!” he cursed beneath his breath.
“Did you say something?” she turned to him with an innocent look.
With her body facing towards him, he sucked in a sharp breath at the sight of her delicious apple sized breasts. He hissed at the feel of his cock hardening to the point of discomfort in his loin-cloth. He could’ve sworn he heard the sound of fabric ripping down there.
Hiding a secret smile, she stretched out her arms and yawned tiredly. “I better get some sleep…” she breathed and dimmed the light down.
His mandibles curl and tighten as he watched her approach him. To his disappointment, she crawled past him and on to the center of the queen-sized bed. Cross didn’t bother with the covers but did hugged one of her pillows to her breasts.
“I take it you’re going to sleep with your mask on?” she observed.
He grunted and lay on his back beside her. Cross was getting ready to roll to her side when his muscular arms wrapped around her to pull her on top of him. The goosebumps left her body at the feel of his hot body warming hers. Wiggling to get into a more comfortable position, she straddled her legs over his hard stomach and laid her head on his chest. She shuddered at the feel of his hands squeezing her naked thighs.
“If you don’t stop moving,” he rumbled. “I will force you to become my mate.”
She grinned. “I thought you Yautja were honored bound by your words…”
He purred as he ran his talons up and down her back. She shivered at the delicious sensation and moan softly. “You make it hard for me not to,” he chattered.
His groin jerked at the sight of her pink tongue licking her bottom lip. Already the bruise and cuts were healing from the salve he used on her earlier. Smiling, Cross casually reach out and took one of his dreadlock in her hand. Just like Connor, his hair had a soft leathery feel to it. Sighing, she pressed her ear to his chest and listen to the sound of his strong heartbeat.
“You can take off your mask,” she whispered.
“That isn’t wise,” he shifted underneath her.
Using his hard chest for support, she raises herself up at arm’s lengths to stare down at him. “I trust you to keep your words. I just want to look at your face.”
He grunted.
Tilting her head to the side, she reached out and detached the hose to his mask. A low warning growl rumbled beneath her when she took off the heavy expressionless mask and put it to the side. Familiar piercing yellow eyes stared at her. With one finger she traced each twitching tusks and his lipless maw. She was careful to press against the sharpness of his teeth.
“Careful…” he warned softly.
Taking her attention off his fangs, she reached up and traces the patterns on his crown forehead. A purr vibrated beneath her. “Don’t do that,” she groans, shifting uncomfortably on top of him. Her only goal for tonight was to get him aroused, not her! Unfortunately, logic told her she will still become arouse in the process of turning him on. Already she can feel herself aching wet and slick down there, she just hopes Betanu doesn’t notice.
He does.
The potent scent of her arousal was drowning him. He was panting heavily as though he had fought through a hive of Kainde Amedha. His damn mating musk was threatening to come out on its own!
“We’re not mating,” he growled huskily, crushing down his urges.
A grinned crept across her lips. “Who say anything about mating, huh?”
His yellow eyes stared at the hard peaks of her breasts. “Your body does.”
Chuckling, she straightens back up with her hands on her hips. “You can’t blame me for that. I haven’t had sex in two and a half year.”
“Neither have I.”
Cross’s eyes snapped in both shock and disbelief. “No way, Connor told me females were after you on the Clan Ship.”
“And I refused each and every one.”
She scoffed.
“You don’t believe me?” he chirped.
Her careless shrug says it all. With a growl, Betanu rolls her on her back and covered her body with his. He was careful to keep his weight on his hands and knees. Cross’s eyes glittered with pleasure at his dominance display and for a second she felt over shadowed by the opposing Honored Warrior.
“You should never insult a Yautja’s word.”
Cross merely arched thoughtful brow. “Oh? And why is that?”
He flared his mandibles and snarled. Her eyes widened at the sight of his fangs. “You insult my pride.”
Unprovoked by his flaring mandibles, she ran her fingers down his scarred muscular chest and smile with delight at his purrs. His muscles hardened beneath her finger tips as she continued to explore him in a very slow manner. His purrs deepened when she lifted her head from the pillows to press a kiss over a scar above his chest. At the same time her arms sneak around his neck to pull him down into an embrace. Fearing his weight might crush her, Betanu rolled to his side with her still wrapped around him and their legs intertwined.
“This is a dangerous thing you’re doing,” he warned.
With her leg in between his, she was careful to brush her knee against the hard bulge beneath his loin-cloth. He hissed at her little foreplay.
She grinned. “What’s wrong with going at it one time?”
Because one time wouldn’t be enough, he thought angrily.
Seeing the determined look in his eyes, she sighed heavily. Maybe she was being unfair and pushy. The only trouble was Cross knew she wouldn’t be able to get any intimacy with any males as long as Betanu was still here.
"Should you touch any of those males, I will skin them alive and take their skulls as my trophies!"
The threats of his words still echoed in her head every time she had glanced at an attractive officer. She hadn’t realized how sexually frustrated she was until Betanu arrived. She had been so busy with training the rookies and with her father to see to her own needs.
“Your pheromone has changed,” Betanu observed with relief, his body finally relaxing.
“I’m trying to honor your words,” she bit out, rolling on her back with her arm thrown over her face. “I must seem like a horny leech right now.”
To her surprise he merely shook his head. “It’s only natural for your body to react the way it does,” he ran his hand down her body, not in a sexually way, but only in comfort. “Your body recognizes its mate.”
“Don’t start with that,” she snapped and then closed her eyes. “I’m going to sleep, wake me up in an hour.”

==

“Okay, kiddies, vacation is over and training starts now,” the Captain entered the training room and her sixteen rookies halted all activities to salute her. But at the sight of the two eight foot two Yautja males behind her made the rookies took a step back. She scowled at their display of fear. “And I would appreciate it if you ignore the two Yautja behind me.”
The twins grunted.
“Make a circle on the mat and sit!”
At her hard tone, the rookies didn’t hesitate to comply. The twins went to the far end of the training room to watch the upcoming match. “I need a volunteer.”
A rookie, Sonia, was the first to raise her hand. Cross nodded her approval. “I hope you stretched out your muscles this morning.”
Hour and a half later…
“Get your ass up, I know you can do better than that!” Cross growled staring at her fallen opponent.
Rookie Sonia struggled to her feet and pushed back her sweaty brown bangs from her face. Her opponent, Captain Cross, stood there with a grinned on her face and Sonia snapped. But the Captain was already waiting for the hot-blooded rookie’s attack. At her charge, Cross took down the rookie and was quick to wrap one arm underneath her opponent’s chin and locked her hands together to hold it. As the rookie struggles to break from the lock, Cross was careful to use her strength to flip the rookie forward to plant her feet and bridge back. To cease her struggling, the Captain added pressures to her opponent’s neck and back. Almost immediately the struggling subsided as Sonia gloved fingers bit into the arm wrapped around her neck. Her version blurred and her breathing slowed at the painful lock her Captain had on her. Sonia knew she was seconds away from losing consciousness.
Almost as if she sensed the rookie’s weakness, Cross release her hold and stood up from the sparring mat. Her fifteen students sitting circles around the mat clapped at her display. Nearby, Nurse Ross rushed to the fallen rookie to check her pulse. Her emerald green eyes turned to the Captain with a smile, letting her know the rookie was alright.
“That was called a chin-lock,” the Captain explained to the rookies, “It always comes in handy when you need to subdue your opponent.”
Cross watched as Rookie Sonia wobbles to her feet and takes her place among the circle with the other rookies. Nurse Rose went back to taking her seat close by.
“One hour on the mat, go!” the Captain ordered, watching as each rookie pair up and take their place on different sparring mats in the training-room. The only one remained seated was Rookie Sonia. Cross arched a black brow as she approached the girl. “Is there something else you need, rookie?”
“I want to continue training with you, Captain,” she said in a firm strong tone.
Cross grinned at the determined hard look in the girl’s brown eyes. “You’ve been training with me for the past hour and a half in front of the other rookies. Are you so determined to pin me down for once?”
Hearing the mockery in the Captain’s voice had the rookie gritting her teeth. “I want to be the best, Captain.”
“Everybody wants to be the best, rookie,” she said with a careless shrugged. “What makes you so different?”
Sonia’s fists clenched. “I’m not like the others.”
Cross couldn’t help but admired the girl’s determination. Rookie Sonia, if she remembered correctly, was eighteen years of age and at the top of her class. Strangely, the girl reminded Cross of Connor.
“Now there where you’re wrong, rookie,” said the Captain. “Everyone in my class is different in their own way. Rookie Tracy over there had broken two ribs and a knee cap, but is determined to out-best everyone. Rookie Roger twisted his wrist and broke his arm; he too, is determined to be the best. Everyone is determined to be the best.”
Stubbornly, Sonia tossed back her shoulder-length brown hair and smirked. “I’m the best in the class.”
Cross shook her head. “If you had been the best you would have been able to pin me down at least once. But you’re young and head-strong. I need squad leaders who can be level headed and collective when they’re on duty. Your cockiness and show-off stunts on the mat today don’t impress me. In fact, I thinking of bulking you down a level. The more you train, the better you will become.”
At her words, Sonia’s eyes widened in shock and horror. “You can’t do that! I’m schedule to graduate next year; you can’t hold me down another year!”
The Captain frowned. “To be in the military isn’t about training until the years are up, Sonia. It’s about improving yourself and your skills as a soldier.”
When the girl shook her head in denial, the Captain sighed. “I’m not doing this to be cruel. I see potential in you and I want to improve you. Your need to rush things is your only weakness and I want you to control your impulse.”
The girl continued to glare at her. If it had been her father, the General, Cross knew he would have her whip for her disobedience. Well, luckily for her, the Captain wasn’t like her father in that department.
“You’re dismissed, rookie.”
Sonia had every intention to argue, but seeing the cold look in the Captain’s eyes stilled her words. With a curt salute, the young girl stalks off towards the sparring rookies.
“Stubborn, isn’t she?”
Smiling, the Captain turned to her friend beside her. “Definitely stubborn…”
“Your eyes are soft…”
Cross frowned at her odd words. “What do you mean?”
Grinning from ear to ear, the little nurse merely said. “The rookies sees it…you no longer have this dark aura around you. Your eyes no longer hold a cruel hardness to it. You’re gentle with them.”
She scoffed. “C’mon, Kelly, don’t get all mushy on me.”
The little nurse laughed her amusement at her friend’s pout. “I’m only being honest.”
The Captain grunted. "Just don't say that in front of the General," she grumbled.
"Aw, don't look so pouty," the nurse teased and asked in a serious tone. "Which reminds me, where is the General?" she hasn't seen him in the past week.
"He's in a meeting with the Yautja Elders and Councilmen."
"Is the negotiation with the treaty not going so well?"
The Captain shrugged and shook her head. "I honestly don't know. The General doesn’t reveal that information to me."
Suddenly Cross realized how quiet the room got and noticed everyone's heads was turned toward the doors. Following their gaze, she frowned at the sight of the six Yautja males standing there. All six, she noted, were dressed in their mesh-suit and loin-cloth and held a staff like weapons in their hands with their masks over their faces. Her frown only deepened when the Arbitrator came strolling toward her. At the sight of the fearsome Yautja, Kelly slid behind the Captain.
Standing in front of her, Vor’mekta waved a careless hand toward the group of Yautja. "They...wish to spar, train," the words were slow and broken but she understood it clearly.
She nodded and indicated toward three empty mats at the far end of the training room. "They can use those mats to train."
Vor’mekta gave a nod of thanks and turned his attention to the six Yautja. "You have three hours to train, go!"
Cross watched the group of Yautja make their way through the training room and noticed, out of the six, only one caught her attention. Perhaps he was the shortest of the six, standing under at seven feet. His black dreads were tied back and his color of his skin was a dark shade of green but something about it told her if she touched his skin, it would be the same softness as hers, unlike his brethren.
Almost as if sensing her stare the Yautja stops walking and turned his head in her direction. Behind his expressionless mask, she knew he was studying her as she was him. Cross didn't know what it was, but she couldn't take her eyes off him. An unknown force almost seems to be pulling the two together and before she knew it the seven foot Yautja was looming over her. His hand was inches away from touching her face when a sudden loud roar tore her eyes away from him.
Her twin Yautja guards was in between them without her even realizing it.
“You’re not allowed to touch the female, pup!” Halkrath roared.
Before the young Yautja can utter a word, the Arbitrator yanked him back.
"Go train, Guan," Vor'mekta ordered.
The Blooded warrior didn't bulge a muscles. "You can't order me around, Arbitrator."
Vor'mekta's mandibles curled with irritation. "Because you're an Elder's pup you think you can do whatever you want?"
He growled. "I wasn't going to hurt the ooman."
Frustrated, the Arbitrator stabbed a finger in the direction of the other Yautja. "Go and train, I will deal with you later."
Even with his fierce words, Guan was reluctant to leave. Behind his visors, his eyes swung back to the ooman female. Her wide unusual glowing purple eyes stared at him with the same curiosity as his. Guan was never interested in oomans other than hunting them, but staring at the female before him...he felt drawn to her. Almost as if she was magnetic and he was the metal. He was tempted to touch her just to see her reaction.
The twins took a threatening step towards the young warrior.
“Go!” Vor’mekta barked impatiently.
Holding back a curse, Guan gave a curt nod and went to the sparring mat.
Cross watch the young Yautja walk off and stopped Vor’mekta from leaving. “Who was that?”
“Blooded Warrior Guan of the R'ka Luar-ke Clan,” he answered gruffly.
Lar’ja translated.
R'ka Luar-ke…that must mean he belonged to Elder Bakuub’s clan, she noted thoughtfully. Her eyes stayed glue to Guan as he took down his sparring partner. Cross couldn’t put her finger on it, but there was something about the young Yautja warrior that felt familiar to her. It was as if his mere presence felt comfortable and warmed to her.
She scowled.
What the hell was she mooning about this time? She already had one Yautja to worry about; she didn’t have time for another one. Shaking her mind clear of Guan, she returned her attention to her rookies.
Guan’s attention, unfortunately, stayed on the ooman female. Even with her back towards him he can still see those glowing eyes of hers. Exotic was the only thing to come to his mind when he stared her down. Oomans were nothing but weak, cowardly and greedy creatures to him. Guan rather ripped out their skulls then to declare peace with them. But this one…he didn’t know what to make of it.
A sharp painful whack to the back of his head brought him out of thought with a roar.
“Stay focus, Guan!” his sparring partner hissed.
Glancing over his broad shoulder, he scowled at his kin. “H'chak, do you know anything about the ooman female there?” he indicated his head towards the raven haired female barking orders at the ooman soldiers.
He shook his head. “No, why are you interested in a simple ooman?”
“I’m only curious,” Guan muttered.
H’chak rolled his eyes. “It’s the same thing.”
With a irritate growl, Guan roughly pushed his friend’s shoulder. “Are we sparring or gossiping like females!?”

==

General Edwin didn’t like this…he didn’t like it one damn bit.
“R’ka, it looks as though something trying to crawl its way out of your stomach,” Elder Nihkou’te observed amusedly with a hint of icy disdain. “Come now, your lack of welcome makes me feel unwanted.”
“Apologies, Elder,” Edwin lowered his eye to hide his fury. After the Conference the General had already left through the doors to make his hasty escape. Unfortunately luck wasn’t with him when his father entered his office without his permission and made an unthinkable suggestion.
“What wrong with having a, what you ooman called, a family dinner?”
Edwin frowned. “You still insist on taking my daughter to the Clan Ship?”
Nihkou’te chirped. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“I will not allow my daughter to go and that the end of it,” he growled impatiently.
“If that is what you wish…we will end that discussion.”
Edwin mentally rolled his eye. If he knows his father, and he did, the discussion of his daughter wasn’t far from over.
“As for tonight you will not deny me of this,” the Elder argued. “You will arrange for the gathering and…”
“I will not…”
“You will do as you’re told!” Nihkou’te roared.
“You forget we’re no longer on the Clan Ship, you’re in my domain, Elder Nihkou’te!” Edwin pushed back his chair and stood up to his seven foot eight in height.
With a growl the Elder was suddenly looming over Edwin. His gray eyes glaring daggers at the ooman pup he sired on his ooman mate. Their personalities were so similar. Defiant and stubborn, his ooman mate had fought him tooth and nail until he finally got her to submit.
“You forget who you’re speaking to,” Nihkou’te hissed, his fists clenching at his sides. “I let you live when I didn’t have to. I could have crushed you the second you left your Bearer’s womb.”
“If it hadn’t been for Bakuub…you would’ve killed me,” Edwin muttered, his eye staring at the floor.
“I kept you alive when I didn’t have to,” he shrugged carelessly. “But I kept you none the less…you will show me respect and honor my request. Tonight we will sit together and you will bring your pup to the table.”
The General watched his father leave his office and everything crumbled as the doors shut behind him. This possibly couldn’t be happening. With a spiteful curse, Edwin fell back with in his chair with his hand over his roughen face. The thought of having his father and daughter in the same room had his heart racing with fear. The truth was going to come out and his daughter will know his terrible past. She will know every horrible detail he suffered on the Clan Ship…
An unwanted child…
The Elder’s hybrid pup…
She will learn of his shame and disgrace…she will know…
God help him…but she will know everything.

==
A/N: Please Review!
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