The History of Tomorrow

The History of Tomorrow

So Fast

Authors note: I claim no ownership of the Predator franchise. Warning: Yautja/Ooman pairing, descriptions of sexual intercourse and murder/death, and bad language. I will be using some information previously stated in ‘The Ripple of a Stone’, if any questions, please email me. Pronunciations at bottom. Good reading!

This chapter moves really fast, so try and keep up.

E.M.

“” “” “” “”

“He will see you now, Miss. Matthews.” The strangely small secretary tells Kella to go into the Governors office. She stands and flattens out her winter jacket, hoping this will not take too long. Opening the door, she expects to be speaking to Adam privately, but she enters to see him and two other men standing by his large desk.

“Hello Kella.” Adam says and stands, shaking her hand. He looks as good as ever, his dark skin and eyes almost glowing against the backdrop of snow from his large window. “How do you do?”

“I am fine, and yourself?” Kella asks and takes off her jacket, placing on the back of a chair before sitting down. She looks to both the men standing at the side of Adam for a moment, deciding to ignore them for now. “I come to ask a favor.”

“I have heard.” The Governor laughs slightly. “Not only is the city of Acropolis up in arms with you training more Caretakers, but neighboring cities as well.”

“Good.” Kella smiles wickedly.

“I don’t think you understand just how must trouble you have cause with this.”

“No I do not understand, and I don’t care too. All I am asking for are the papers to make everything legal with the kids.”

“The kids?” Adam leans back on his chair, closing his eyes as if concentrating. “I find it hard to view them as kids, Miss. Matthews.” Kella raises a single eye brow at him using her last name. “I, as long with others, view them as weapons.”

“They are, but to the right people.” Kella defends.

“Since you began ‘training’ them, over a year has past. I have seen them running around here day and night, tracking, training, whatever. The ruling governments don’t like it, I do not like it. Even the people do not like it.”

“I don’t know what people you are talking to, as I have more then a few come to me, asking when their training will be done so their District can be protected.” Kella tells, making Adam go quiet.

“The issue at hand today has nothing to do with them as weapons and future Caretakers, as I understand.”

“Your right about one thing I see. I just need the papers to make the adoptions legal.” Kella finally gets out.

“You plan on adopting twenty-five kids?” Adam nearly yells.

“I do. I just need your help to speed it along.” They go quiet, both staring at each other with unbending concentration. Adam slowly turns to his left, and nods to one of the men. He walks to one side of the room and opens a giant wooden cabinet, taking out a thick bundle of paper. He places it on the desk between him and Kella and goes back to his spot.

“Consider it a favor to be repaid.” Adam sighs. In silence, Kella grabs the papers, stands and gives him a small nod before leaving the room.

“She doesn’t seem so bad.” One of the men standing observes.

“Have you even been in love?” Adam asks, getting ‘of course’ from both men. “Horrible, isn't it? It makes you so vulnerable. It opens your chest and it opens your heart and it means someone can get inside you and mess you up. You build up all these defenses. You build up this whole armor, for years, so nothing can hurt you, then one stupid person, no different from any other stupid person, wanders into your stupid life...You give them a piece of you. They don't ask for it. They do something dumb one day like kiss you, or smile at you, and then your life isn't your own anymore. Love takes hostages. It gets inside you. It eats you out and leaves you crying in the darkness, so a simple phrase like "maybe we should just be friends" or "how very perceptive" turns into a glass splinter working its way into your heart. It hurts. Not just in the imagination. Not just in the mind. It's a soul-hurt, a body-hurt, a real gets-inside-you-and-rips-you-apart hurt. I hate love.” (1)

“” “” “” “”

Aaron and the others make their way to the Caretakers house, always walking on the sidewalk and never on the grass, that being a rule she had added a very long time ago. If someone had seen the kids when their first started with the Caretaker, and then seen them now, they would have thought they were different kids. All have their own skills have shaped their minds and bodies, making them into the perfect examples of what determination and great leadership can do to a person. He knocks on the door as they get there, waiting for her to answer to let them in. After taking off their shoes and lining them up rightly she leads them into the society room, Aarons eyes on her constantly. They enter to find the table with papers and pens lined up, the Caretaker telling them to find their name and sit quietly. After a minute or two, all of them are down and silent.

“In front of you are legal papers that you can sign, but you need to know what will happen if you do. These are adoption papers that will make me your legal guardian, as none of you have any and I want to be. It is your choice to sign. If you do, I will be happy. I you don’t, I will be fine with that. It is your choice. Now,” Before Kella can even finish, each and every one picks up the pen and signs on the dotted line, tears of joy in her eyes before she forces them away.

“” “” “” “”

Aja slams his shoulder into the chest of the Unblood, the wonderfully sickening ‘snap’ of bone music to his ears. The male tumbles to the ground, and doesn’t get up. Aja stands tall and slams his own fist against his chest, his own way of declaring that he has won. He wipes the sweat from his cheek, his finger tips grazing over the scar over his eye. And for a moment his mind drifts to his Kella again, for the thousandth time this day. His body shivers from the memory of her tracing down his scars, her soft skin touching his.

“Aja, we are here to train the Unbloods, not debilitate them.” His fellow trainer Cray informs with a soft chuckle.

“I would not have had to break the Tarei'hasan if he had not insulted me.” Aja hisses back and leaves the training deck before someone can ask questions. To long as it been since he has mated with Kella, and for his father and others, they have all noticed now he does not mate with other females. His potency had been called into question some time ago, but after rigorous testing it came that he is perfectly fine. The females of his clan seen to adore that he has refused them, making them all try harder to get him to mate. Even during the last mating season, Aja had taken an assignment to look at the contingent along the borders of their territory, just to get away from them.

After a cleansing bath, he slips onto bed as the hour is late and contacts Kella, her voice a nightly routine he never wants to break. Counting from the day he had met her, he has heard her voice for five hundred and four Ooman days, and everyday he has worshiped her. He wouldn’t mind just sitting and listening to her breathe as she slept more frequently then he did, even that time precious to him. But this night he has great news for her…

“” “” “” “”

When news that Aja was coming back in just over sixty days, Kella could feel a strange build up in her chest. She knows that with every second he got closer, and with every second she could feel her anticipation build. She would count the days down religiously, her family and friends asking her constantly what is going on, but never getting an answer. Although, Kella came up with the response that she is simply excited about her children, as they are hers and always will be, and the future they hold, that being a good enough tale to believe, for now. Naxa, their dog, seems to know that he is coming home as well, his behavior becoming angelic. He has grown to his complete size now, his body weight nearly more then hers. Kella guesses he just doesn’t want her to tell on him. Everyday Kella wakes and says hello into the communication device her Aja had given her, always getting a purr of hello back. However, one particular day he did not say a greeting back, scaring Kella nearly to death that something had happened to the device when in reality he could not say anything back, having a private talk with his father at the time.

One thing that has come from Aja and the Yautja coming back early is bad, to be true. Kellas’ plans with Elder Rhd and her children have to be pushed back, they are no where near ready. So they must wait until the next time they come around, whenever that may be.

“” “” “” “”

Elder Rhd stands on the Bridge with his first son behind him, Aja calm and as silent as ever. But with them on this trip are the Matriarchs advisors, four in all and all formidable as the most dangerous Hard Meat Queen. Atie, the Matriarchs most trusted of them all, is rather large, even for a female. Standing a full head and shoulder above Elder Rhd, all the males feel a sense of sexual frustration, but they all know they can never act upon their needs. Atie is not only a famous advisor, but she was once a great huntress as well, her kills known among all their peoples, only few have a greater number then she. Aja seems to be the only one not stealing glances at her, something she had noticed the day she had arrived on their DropShip, forcing her attraction to the male to increase in size. She moves her giant body in a slowly graceful manner, making her way to Ajas side.

“I have not heard a lot of this Ooman world.” She starts, a deep resonating voice almost hurting Ajas’ ears.

“There is little to know.” He sighs, trying to act uninterested in the female. He knows that his attraction to the other females is great, but what he feels as a need and want for his Kella has always been more then a simple attraction to a Yautja female. However, since Atie had come into his life, he has felt a stronger attraction to her, something he knows he can handle.

“You have been there many times though?” She asks, genuinely interested.

“Too many times.” He lies.

“I was told by a friend of a friend that you hunted a Bad Blood the last time you set foot on that rock, and that you gained a great scar from the fight.” Aja slowly looks towards to towering female, mentioning of any scars on the opposite sex a very clear indication that they wish to mate.

“I did indeed.” He says quickly, turning his gaze back to the view screen. But even as the blue planet gets bigger, as well as his need to see his Kella gets bigger, he cannot get his concentration off Atie. She on the other hand has grown rather impatient with the second in power, her need still unfilled after so many days of swooning over him.

The rest of the trip to the planet though is quiet, all on board silent in anticipation. Every few seasons, the Matriarch will send her advisors to the planet to see how far along the Ooman people have come after the take over. And from the advisors words, she will decide weather or not the Yautja will have a continuing hand in their life. Everyone knows that they will recommend that they stay involved with the Oomans, their planet being one of great significance from the war. How odd it will look if the Yautja give up any connection to the one dividing point of a war, odd indeed. Ajas only thought about the planet now is that his Kella is there, and what will happen after the advisors are done with their inspection, free hunting time. He knows what he will be hunting…

“” “” “” “”

As the ramp lowers to the ground, Aja stands along with all the other Yautja masked and in formation. In front of him is his father, already down to the planet and talking to the Ooman Becks, and Aja doesn’t miss who he is. It takes more then he thought to keep himself from killing that male for mating with his Kella, but he knows that if he harms him in anyway, as he is the ruling male of the Ooman city, he will be in much trouble. Behind him he can smell Atie, her scent never giving him a moment’s peace. It is almost as if she knows he is going to break, but he will try his hardest not to give in to her, he has his Kella and that is all he needs. He can hear Elder Rhd and the Ooman speaking, only a few more moments before they can leave the ship and look around the city. It will take no more then an Ooman day for the advisors to see the city, and after that he will be in his Kellas bed again. After Elder Rhd nods to the waiting group, Aja and the others begin to move down the ramp. However, Atie takes rather large steps and the next thing he knows, she is by his side.

“I know a little secret.” Atie whispers in a purr, making Aja nearly pump out every drop of musk he has.

“And what may that be?” He asks back in a whisper, though he never intended it to be so.

“I know how you like this planet. I do not know why, but I know you do.” She informs, making his stomach twist up. “It would be a pity for this planet to be restricted of Yautja hunters, don’t you think?” She goes on like her words are normal conversation. “I have never been…encouraged enough to like rock. Nothing has ever…given me just what I need to like it.” She purrs again, a strange stirring occurring in Ajas loins. As the group starts down the path to Payas statue, she purrs and whispers sexual things that Aja must try his hardest not to acknowledge. But after they are done with the small ceremony, she says something that gets him going. “I am sure if you give me exactly what I need, I will give a glowing recommendation…” She purrs into his ear. Instantly Aja is ready to mate, his appendage appears from beneath his metal loincloth. He grabs Atie by the hand and pulls her into an ally way, growling to himself that he is going to give her exactly what she needs.

“” “” “” “”

Kella had a very hard time sleeping this night, her mind and body wanting Aja more then anything. She had given the kids the day off so she could go to the arrival, making sure she got a good place atop a roof so she could see her Aja. As the ship lands at the end of the street, she can feel her heart pound and body heat up with desire, a need she knows will be filled. For too long Kella would stare at Adam before the Yautja came, thinking that the man could not do a single thing to look bad. She knows he is a great man, and that he is simply angry at the fact she had denied him so long ago. Hopefully in time he will be less angry, and in time they can become friends. Her thoughts are ripped from her mind as Elder Rhd comes out, him looking as magnificent as ever. She sees a small glimpse of the scar she gave him, a giant ego boost in her mind happening just then. As her eyes travel the rows of Yautja, she not only sees a few very distinct females, but her Aja as well. Her eyes trail down his honey skin, his thick arms and legs making her legs weak.

For too long they knelt by Payas statue, asking for luck in whatever they may be doing on her world. When they are done however, Kella watches as a mammoth of a female goes to her Ajas side, and then she nearly cries as she sees his become aroused and take the female off down a street. She stays on her perch though, her mind not knowing what to do. But in an instant she finds her feet deciding for her and she is off following them.

“” “” “” “”

Aja pulls the female through a few small streets and then slams her against a wall, making her moan in arousal. They both are fast in ripping off their masks, the need to smell the others musk a must. Aja moves a hand to the side of her Awu’asa and with expert fingers unclasps it and lets it fall open, her erect and secreting nipples amazingly arousing. While the male of the Yautja secrets their muck from the head and groin, the female does the same but through her nipples and groin. If their musk came from the head, the males would get a diluted dose of it. But instantly Ajas mandibles open and he takes a deep breathe, her scent to much. Atie grabs his shoulders and squeezes, making him seethe in pain but groan in pleasure. Aja lifts one of her legs up, linking it at the knee with an elbow. In an instant he is inside of her, both of them letting their heads fall back in bliss. He starts in on fast and deep trusts, labored breath from both Yautja loud in the street. Atie reaches down with both hands and grabs his thighs, pulling him closer. But in that she gives him the tell-tale signs of matting, her claws digging into him, blood dripping down to the ground. At the smell of blood though, both Yautja go into frenzy and before they know it, both reach their highest point, releasing their pent up need with each other. Aja growls lowly to the female, his chest pushing against hers. Atie growls back of course, this being what happens at the end of every mating session. After that though they both quiet down, their bodies needing another moment to gain its strength back.

“Oomans are so strange.” Atie says out of the blue. Aja lifts his head to see the female looking behind him, an immediate feeling of dread in his gut. Slowly he turns his head around, only able to go so far as his and the advisors bodies are still locked together. His eyes instantly see the red of his Kella hair on a roof top a few buildings down, her face unreadable from the distance but he knows. And once again, before he can take another breathe she is gone, him unable to go after her.

“” “” “” “”

Kella runs into her house, the moment the door closes behind her she lets the tears fall freely. Collapsing to the ground, she can’t help but feel her heart mourn somehow, a pain she has never felt before taking over her completely. She sobs into her hands, her body a crumpled mess on the ground until Naxa strides to her, his cold nose sniffing at her. She yells at him to go away and for an instant he does not know what to do, never hearing her like that before. But Kella doesn’t say it again and gets up, taking one step at a time to her room. She gets into her bed, despite knowing all that had gone on in that bed, and cries into her pillow, not knowing what else to do.

After an uncountable number of hours go by, Kella lays silently staring at the wall with bloodshot eyes when someone calls her on the COM. At first she does not want to see who it is, just in case it may be Elder Rhd saying a hello, or even Aja. She had long ago broken his little device in half on her knee, her anger boiling over. But after more then seven beeps of the COM, she finds it to be her Aunt. For a moment she doesn’t want to talk to her, but at the same time she does.

“Hello.” She answers in a shaky voice.

“Kella? Kella is that you?” Aunt Ellen asks, afraid at what she has heard.

“Yeah, I’m…” Kella breaks down. “I’m ok.” She cries into her pillow.

“I’ll be right there!” Her Aunt tells and she is gone.

Less then ten minutes later, her Aunt is in bed with her, cradling her head to her chest, whispering, begging to know what has gotten her so upset. For a long time Kella doesn’t say a thing, only crying into her Aunt as she trying to get her to talk.

“Did you have a fight with Mercedes?” She asks, Kella only shaking her head. “Kella, look at me.” He moves her head so their eyes are right across from each other. “I know what is going on. Everyone knows, everyone sees the difference in you. I know you have a boyfriend.” Instantly Kella bursts into tears, letting her Aunt know she is right. “Please tell me.”

“Aja.” Kella whispers.

“Aja, a Yautja name, huh?” Her Aunt smiles.

“No. Not just a Yautja name. Aja. The one who I said hated me a very long time ago on the phone…”

“Oh Kella.” Aunt Ellen pets her hair and tries to sooth her, but to no avail.

“” “” “” “”

Aja stands behind his father, his mind not knowing what they are talking about now. The Ooman night had long come and gone, the new sun rising in the sky. The Ooman Becks is actually quite bright, articulate and worthy. Shame that him being Governor makes him off limits to hunt, but the other event is always on his mind. Atie on the other hand had looked at what happened as comical, laughing intermittently during the whole time she is on the planet. Once the advisors are done though, they are quick to leave in the DropShip, leaving those who want to be left, Aja being one of them. However, his mind is not focused on possible hunts, but more on his Kella… ‘his’ Kella.

‘Would she be mine after what I have done to her?’ He silently hisses to himself. ‘Oomans view matting in a very different manner as Yautja. even if they are not declared as lifemates, they see mating with another a form of betrayal. I may not have seen her face, but I could feel her pain.’

The second it is possible Aja is off, running with both rage and worry in his blood. He is so angry with himself that if things do not resolve themselves this day, he will do the honorable thing a Yautja male will do when he has disrespected his female, activate his self destruct. He has betrayed the one female he has ever felt more then a physical attachment too, and the grief that comes from it is unbearable. However, he is not worried of that fact. As in his mind he feels a strange need to end his life for the complete and utter dishonor he has done to himself. Aja is worried for Kella, and if she will be his Kella any more. As he gets insight of her home, he stops and stares at it, seeing her in her room, on her bed. For the first time in what he guesses to be his whole life, Aja is afraid to move forwards. Fear and apprehension for what might come from Kella. In his sights though, Aja sees her body sit up and almost stare at him, she knows he is there somehow. He makes his way to her balcony and jumps up, standing cloaked on the other side of the door for a long while. Kella is just staring at him, waiting for him to come in until finally he opens the door and walks in.

“Get out, and never come back.” Kella says strongly, her intent focused.

“No.” Aja growls back, his stance just as strong as hers.

“This is my house Yautja, and I am telling you to get out!” She yells. Aja is stunned for a moment though, just hearing her say Yautja in that sense is enough to hurt his pride dangerously.

“I am not leaving Kella.” He says, this time in a hiss of anger.

“Do not call me that!” She screams, standing on the bed now. “You do not have the right to call me that! You are no longer apart of my life, Yautja. Get out before I force you out.” She nearly growls.

“I will not leave until we discuss this.” Aja takes a step forwards, his body tense.

“There is nothing to discuss. You mated with another female while we were together. So we are no longer together.”

“I do not accept that.” He hisses and suddenly pulls on her white sheets, pulling them from under her. Kella falls to her back with an ‘ump’ but doesn’t get the chance to know what is going on as he pulls her towards him. Aja grabs her body and lifts her into the air before putting her on the ground, him sitting lightly on her hips. “You will listen to me Ooman!” He hisses in rage, making her stop. “I am a Yautja, and things are done differently.”

“I do not accept your excuse!” She screams.

“That is not an excuse! I am free to mate as I wish!” Aja tells, though in his mind he knows he is saying all the wrong things. “But I only with to mate with you.”

“Good way to show it.” Kella finally cries, turning onto her side and covering her face, Aja bursting into a purr to calm her. “I don’t want to see you again, get out of my house, get out of my life and get off my world!” She yells and tries to kick him off, but he is to strong and heavy.

“Why do you say such things Kella?” Aja whines himself, his emotions taking over. The sounds that come form him sound more like when a dog is crying, the anguish and sadness she can hear clearly. “I am sorry for hurting you. I am sorry for what I have done. Do you not believe me?” He cries into her ear, the cold of his mask tickling it.

“That’s the thing…” Kella cries a whisper. “I do believe you.”

“Then why do you wish me away?” He asks and moves her head so she can look into his eyes, at least into his mask.

“Because I am in love with you, you idiot!” She screams and takes off his mask, throwing it across the room.

“I do not know that word.” He pets her face gently, the wet of her tears a strange feeling on his fingers.

“Love is…Love is a word that describes a feeling between people. It is looking over in the morning and seeing an empty space and wishing that person was there with you. It is thinking of that person at the most mundane of moments. It is a heartache you feel when you are apart from the person. It is a joy you feel when you are together. It is being able to be together in silence, and be ok with it. It is a constant desire, a constant need, a constant want. Do you want me to tell you something really subversive about love? Love is everything it's cracked up to be. That's why people are so cynical about it... It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for. And the trouble is, if you don't risk everything, you risk even more. Life doesn't leave that many choices.”(2)

“If that is love…” Aja says quietly. “Then I hold that for you, my Kella.” Suddenly he lifts her up, not giving her the chance to respond and sits her on his lap. He rips off his chest plates and takes out a small knife.

“What are you doing?” She asks wearily.

“Declaring.” He says quickly, then they go quiet as she realizes what he means. Aja turns the knife onto himself and makes the necessary mark to declare that she and him are lifemates. The mark itself is placed just under the neck, no longer then two inches and no wider then one. A small box is sliced into the skin, and inside that two letters in Yautja are printed, one for his name and one for her. After he is done with himself, Aja marks Kella too, doing the same to her chest with a clean knife. He takes her hand and covers it in her blood that had come from her mark, and he soon does the same with his, covering the palm completely. Aja then places his hand over her mark, his blood seeping onto her wound, Kella quick in doing to same to her Aja. After he cleans up the blood and make sure the marks will heal perfectly, together they give what the other has wanted for so long, each other.

“” “” “” “”

Twenty Ooman days later, Aja leaves again, both of them spending more time in bed then anywhere else. Of course Kella had to continue training her kids, Aja nearly dropping when she told him they are legally her pups. They had argued over the idea that Aja now had twenty-five Ooman pups, but Kella decided to be nice and say they were only hers. On the day he left though, they had a very heated talk about hiding their marks, both knowing that if the fact of them being lifemates came out, ciaos would ensue and neither want that. And so they are both hiding their marks with neck armor created with Ajas own Awu’asa. Kella of course watched him enter the DropShip, a strange sense of happiness in her stomach.

“” “” “” “”

Kella sits alone at her favorite coffee shop, sipping her daily fix and going over her calendar for the next few months. Going back, she counts that Aja has been gone now for just about two years her time, almost a full season to him. They talk every night but it is not the same. Her Aunt has been very understanding, keeping her secret to herself but she is always talking about different things. But for one thousand, three-hundred and sixteen days, Kella has known Ajas name. And she will never forget it. She checks the time and sees that she has a few more minutes until Adam is to arrive, them making a weekly talk mandatory. At first it was all about her children and how they are a problem, but it soon went to the weather and then more pleasant things and now she is confident to say they have a wonderful friendship. Kella pulls on the collar of her turtleneck sweater, having to admit that it is getting warm for the season to wear such a thing. The spring air still nips at her ears, but it is getting closer and closer to summer, closer and closer to when the Yautja are due back.

“Please tell me that is de-caf?” Adam asks as he takes a seat across from her.

“It’s de-caf.” Kella smiles.

“Liar.”

“You told me to tell you it was de-caf.” She laughs and looks up to him, finding that he has gotten a hair cut. Kella had found out some time ago that Adam was of Egyptian decent, how he knows that is still a mystery to her. Centuries have passed since a name like that had been said, Kella almost not knowing what he meant until she researched it. “So how has your day been?” She starts their normal conversation.

“Wonderful.” He sighs and stares into her eyes, trying not to seen like he is completely engulfed in them. “Yours?”

“Long.” Kella laughs and goes back to her calendar. “I have been counting down the days until the Yautja come here.”

“Why?” Adam asks before ordering his own coffee for the morning.

“Because I might tell the Elder then…” She wiggles her head to show her uncertainty.

“Are they ready?”

“Not close. But they are good enough to attract attention, the attention of many Yautja.” She tells of her concern about her children being hunted. Of course they are more then worthy for the Yautja to take them as prizes, but Kella needs to make sure they can do the job she has trained them to do.

“What are you doing tonight?” Adam asks, finally taking a chance.

“Training until the sun goes down. You?” Kella answers, not getting what his question means.

“Nothing much, want to meet when the sun sleeps?” Slowly Kella raises her head to look at him, her eyes suspicious. “Nothing like that Kella!” He laughs. “I am just tired of meeting you in the mornings. And besides, you used to be quite the club hoper.” He smiles wickedly, and yet with a sarcastic sense to it.

“That was before I became the mother to twenty-five kids.” Kella laughs. “Perhaps another time?”

“You still owe me a favor, dear Caretaker.” Adam squints his eyes funnily and takes a sip of his coffee, hoping his plan to get closer will work.

“And you want to waste it on what? Dinner?” Kella laughs.

“Dinner, dancing, drinks, anything that may come.”

“Save your favor for something big.” She sticks out her tongue, making Adam push his plans back even further.

“” “” “” “”

The Yautja were set to arrive when the weather warmed, so the very day it did, Kella was quick in begging Aja to come back. Two years was too long for any couple, but their constant talking and communication held their relationship wonderfully. The day the Yautja arrived, Kella was sad to decide that her children were no where ready to ask for help, so she had gone to something she never thought she would do to keep them safe. Just like her father had done to her, she has forced them to hide in their home for the time the Yautja would be on their world, that being quite some time. While their previous visits all had reasons, this one is just a giant hunting trip for most of Ajas clan. One thing Kella had learned from their talks was that his clan is called Anset, but he would not tell her the meaning of it. It seems that even if someone from another clan came into his, they would never know the meaning of it, only those born within it ever will. Kella completely understands, although she decided to be mean and made up a word that meant absolutely nothing, saying it is a secret word of her family, making him rather jealous.

She also decided not to go watch the ship arrive, knowing that Aja would have to do a few things before he could come see her. He had to hunt of course, just to make it seem real. It would be strange, and dishonorable, for a hunter to hunt but get no skulls, so he had to have something to show for his time. But the very second he could get away, Kella was in his arms again.

For more then sixty days, they stayed in her, their, home again. Naxa was of course by Ajas side constantly, him being completely odd at how the white ball had grown. They filled their time with whatever came, whether it was sex, watching movies or T.V., Aja had even taken her back to her tree outside the city. Everything was perfect.

But all good things come to an end.

“” “” “” “”

Sitting together on the couch, Aja and Kella watch his new favorite show, ‘Friends’. Kella had never been a fan of it, but her had been completely engulfed in it and after watching each installment at least three times, they are now just about at the end. It seems one of the characters is having a baby with another, the whole saga of ‘Ross and Rachel’ something that Aja always thought made their relationship seem calm and normal. But as they watched, they know that their time is soon over, only having a few hours before he must leave again. He doesn’t know when he will be back, him personally. The Elder and his ship will be back within two years, but Aja does not know if he will be able to come. Without saying much of his people’s problems, Kella got the distinct impression that something is going on that needs everyone’s attention. When ‘Rachel’ goes into labor, Aja is awed at the actual process, Kella needing to explain that it is in fact painful. He on the other hand had to explain that Yautja males are not allowed to be on the same planet as a pregnant female, let alone be there for the birth. After that small conversation though, Kella begins to feel strangely unfulfilled. She watched Ajas face move as things are said, even though he may not get all the cultural references, he understands that the laughing from no where is a signal that something was funny. She looks back to the screen in time to see the female get her child placed in her arms, her body sweaty and tried, but her face shows nothing but bliss for her child being born.

“I want a baby.” Kella says suddenly, her heart pounding with the realization.

“You want pups? You have pups, twenty-five of them.” Aja laughs, even patting her back funnily, but she isn’t amused. Kella turns and sits on his lap, making sure he knows he is completely serious.

“I want pups, with you Aja. You are my lifemate, I am yours. We should,”

“We can’t!” He nearly roars, stopping her words instantly. “Kella, I thought it was clear. We as we are is already something that cannot happen, and having a pup of mixed blood can never, ever be.” All of the sudden Kella goes weak, her mind frozen and body unwilling to move.

“But…But I want more…” She whispers, tears of sadness falling.

“I can’t give it to you.” Aja purrs back, rubbing her arms up and down. But just as her sadness came, anger filled her. Kella suddenly punches Aja right in the face, making them both roll off to the floor. He lifts himself up a little, holding his hurting face and staring at his Kella.

“How could you become a lifemate to someone, knowing you could never give them what they wanted?” She yells as she stands up, intending on kicking him. But at seeing her move, Aja is quick in standing as well, holding her back.

“You have what you want!” Aja hisses back, trying to keep his anger down for getting hit.

“I want a child between you and me Aja! Is that so hard to understand?” She screams and rips herself away from him, needing to be away so not to hit him again.

“It is hard to understand. Not for me, but for you. How could you raise it? You cannot come with me, you cannot raise it here alone!”

“Why can’t I come with you?” Kella turns around and asks point blank. Aja though cannot think of a true reason, other then the fact bad things may happen. “Not only do I not understand why I can’t go with you, but why can’t you stay here? I can’t just be here for you to come and see once a season so you can mate with me a go!”

“It is not like that Kella, and you know that!” He growls back.

“How can I think it is anything else? When we became lifemates, I thought we were truly becoming lifemates. That we would be together until Cetanu takes us. But I am only your seasonal mate!” Kella cries out. “I want more Aja! I can’t live with not having a child of my own, of having it grow in my belly and be born. I just can’t be with a male that doesn’t want the same things as me!” She turns around and runs up stairs, needing some time to think as her world seems to be crashing down around her. But not getting the message, Aja runs up after her, but not getting there in time before she closes the door to her room on his face. He knows not to burst in as the last time they had a fight and he did that, it just made it so much worse. He knows that his Kella wants pups form him, and to be true he was her to bare his children, nothing would make him prouder then to see have her womb hold his pup, but it cannot be. His people would never allow that to happen. He knocks on the door as he can here her crying, his instincts to go and sooth her taking over.

“Kella, please let me in…” He purrs, knowing he must be careful with his words.

“I need to be alone!” She cries back, her mind hurting hard from being so upset. How can she be with a male that does not want to give her everything, she wants to give him everything.

“I do not have time to give you Kella! You need to understand that can never happen.”

“What do you mean it can never happen?” She asks as she suddenly feels vengeful. “Of course it can happen Aja. It doesn’t need to be with you.” She hisses through her teeth.

“Be careful of your words Kella.’ He hisses back, anger brewing.

“I am careful of my words and actions, but you are not! Mating is different with Yautja, yes? Well, children are different for Oomans. Females do not always need to have males to reproduce, all we need is the seed and we are fine. I don’t need you.” She yells. “And besides, you seem to be making plenty of children for yourself!”

“Do not bring Atie into this!”

“I told you to never say her name in here!”

“Oh I will not only say Atie’s name, but the name of my new daughter. She was born not two days before I left to come to you Kella.” He hisses back, the same vengeful need in his system to. But both their minds not able to control their anger, telling them that they are soon going to cross a line they can never come back from. “Her name is Chi’Ka, and she is the most beautiful pup I have ever seen.” Kella stares at the locked door in horror, beads of sadness falling down her face. She can barely remember to breathe, her lungs only moving from adrenaline. Aja on the other hand nearly smacks himself for saying such a thing, how could he have dangled the one thing she so wants in her face? He calls out to her after a moment, but can hear nothing. He pounds on the door, begging to be let in. If this goes on for to long, he will have to break down the door to talk with her. He does not have time to waste now that he is due to leave within the hour. After a few more times of calling her, he is just about to kick it open when the familiar scent of her blood wafts to him. Instantly scared for her safety, he slams through to find the room empty but bathroom occupied. He walks to the closed so with his gut twisting in pain, not know what she could have done for the smell of her blood to be so thick. He grasps the knob tightly and turns, throwing the door open. Staring back at him from the mirror, Kella stands with her back to him, but her front shown and what he sees makes him mind stop. She stands there with a small blade in hand, blood dropping both down it and her chest, a strip of skin where her once mark of lifemates has been cut off. He looks to the counter top to find the flap of skin sitting in a pool of blood, discarded completely. Aja looks back into the reflected eyes of Kella, both of them emotionless.

Aja turns his back to her now and walks out of the bathroom, closing the door behind him. Kella drops the knife in her hand, the loud sound of it hitting the ground making her flinch. She closes her eyes hard, a lump in her throat but she refuses to cry anymore. Opening her eyes, she stares at herself, her face hard but body shaking. Slowly she moves to wash and dress her new wound, only cutting her skin deep enough for the mark to go away completely. After dressing in clean cloths, her body working on its own as her mind has checked out, she exits the bathroom to find all of Ajas things gone, from his Awu’asa to the small pieces of jewelry he usually left in her home and even the communications device, the only thing she would have to talk with him gone. She goes down stares to find the same thing, or lack of things. He had taken the large pelt of fur he had gotten from a hunt earlier, it being a gift to her to keep her warm at nights. Kella sees Naxa laying on his bed staring at her, his large white tale whipping around behind him. But when he barks at her, she is filled with all the memories of Aja.

“What have I done?” She asks out loud and fast then she ever thought possible, she is out the door. Running like her life depended on it, she goes through the streets. Running past people and shops, her legs going so fast someone would think they are going to come off. Tears start to fall though when she sees the time, knowing that they should have left no more then five minutes ago. Turning the corner, Kella sees a great sight of the ship at the end of the ‘No Mercy’ street, but it is lifting off. Taking a deep breath, she starts running down the street itself, not caring if someone was to catch her. As the sound of the rising ship hits her ears, she screams out his name, wishing, hoping and praying that he may hear. But as Kella gets directly under it, and she screams his name once more, nothing happens other then the ship flying off into the sky.

“” “” “” “”

Seven-hundred and thirty days later…

Aja nearly begged his father to release him from his duty to go to the Ooman planet, but to his dismay he was not given that gift. As usual he had be his silent self since that day almost a season ago, but more then a little angry with all those around him. He had pushed away everyone for a very long time, refusing to talk to even his father about why his behavior had so suddenly changed. Every night he slept, Aja would see Kella standing before the mirror with blood everywhere, the mark that once stood for their ‘love’ cut from her chest. She must not have known what that meant to cut that off, but Aja knows deep down she must have. Cutting off ones mark means you cut off any and all ties to the other, forcing Aja to never speak to her again. Something like that never happens in Yautja society, but she is not Yautja. Aja had to do his part though, a consequence she caused him to do. What once was red now is blue, his lifemates mark now showing that his lifemate had died, and she may as well be.

Today is the day he is to set foot on the Ooman planet again, and from the day he was told he had to go, he has felt nothing but dread. What if he is to see her again? What will he do? Can he control himself? What does he need to control? His need for her or his anger with her? Aja will just have to wait and see, they are landing in just a moment.

“” “” “” “”

When the ramp falls to the ground, Elder Rhd and the others all have their attention to the large group of Ooman kneeling on the ground to one side of the ‘M-di H'chak’, the Caretaker at the front. Aja stares at Kella as complete misery grabs hold of him, his heart suddenly heavy and chest feeling like someone is sitting on it. When the group begins to move with Elder Rhd, he goes as well, having to or else everyone else would be disturbed. Once his father is across form Kella, he stop and turns to her, making the rest all stop too. Aja stands in the middle of the group, but is still able to see everything that is going on. Elder Rhd nods his head to the Caretaker, who nods her head back in greeting.

“This is the third time you have been on this street.” Elder Rhd laughs wholeheartedly.

“Technically I am not on it.” Kella smiles back softly, her mind dedicated to her task.

“So I see.” He barks.

“I have a proposition for you, Elder Rhd.” She says and bends down, bowing to him in a sign that she has a offer for him.

“Oh?” Elder Rhd barks in surprise. He takes off his mark and clips it to his side, wanting to show her that his full attention is on her.

“You once asked me if there are others like me, other caretakers and at that time there were none. But now there can be. I have trained the twenty-five Oomans behind me to do what I do, to protect the people around them.” She starts.

“That is very honorable.” He tells, Aja feeling horror in his gut rather then pride for his once lifemate.

“But there is one problem, Elder Rhd.” She says sadly, knowing that what will come next will either make or break her plan.

“What would that problem be?” He asks and takes another step towards her, leaving only a few feet between the stranding Yautja and sitting Ooman.

“You see, the only reason I am alive is because you have given me this mark of protection, allowing me to get to this point of strength and skill. And now I beg your favor to do the same to them.”

“You must be joking!” He roars in surprise.

“Please think, Elder Rhd. The hunters you have with you know they cannot hunt me, but now that they know I have trained others, they will hunt them. So one of two things will happen; One, you will not mark them and they will die. And two, you do mark them, today, and go on to protect many more people.”

“I marked you, Caretaker, and only you. And it will stay being only you!” Elder Rhd hisses at her, making her stomach turn in fear.

“Then I will make you a deal…” Kella starts. She prayed that it wouldn’t come to this, having to offer her life for her children but if she must, she will. “Mark them today to ensure their protection and when they are done their training completely, I will cut the sign from my head as I sit before you. I will give my right of protection up so they can go on to protect my people.”

“You would trade your life?” Be asks bewildered.

“You may not understand Elder Rhd, but these are my children. I have been with them for over five years, training and being with them. I will do anything for them to be safe. They wish nothing more then to be what I am, a Caretaker. But they cannot be if honorable Yautja such as yourself hunt them.” For more then a moment, Elder Rhd stands in silence, his eyes and her locked together.

“If I did not know you as I do, Caretaker Kella…” Elder Rhd starts. “I would look at this as Ooman stupidity. It is wildly known of how the Oomans cannot take care of themselves, even going so far as to destroy themselves. But I know you, and I know what you have done, this District a testament to that. Caretaker, I accept you proposition on the stipulation that these future Caretakers do exactly what you have. They must go to a District and when it becomes as prosperous as this one, they must train twenty-five more. And when they age, they will train more until every Ooman city has a Caretaker like you. Do you accept?”

“I do, Elder Rhd.” Kella bows once more in thanks. The next few moments are a blur to her though. Elder Rhd stands up each and every one of her children and asks if they are dedicated to live up to her image, all of them saying yes. After no more then ten minutes, all of her kids are bleeding from their brow with marks just like hers, the mark of protection. When he is done, the Elder walks to stand in front of Kella again, making her stand up.

“When the time comes, tell Ooman Becks and he will contact me and I will be here for when you take your sign off, fulfilling our arrangement.” Elder Rhd says rather sadly.

“Yes, Elder Rhd.” Kella says, dropping her head in respect.

“Caretaker Kella, when that day happens, you and I both know what will come after that. But I will not allow any one to simply take such a worthy Ooman as yourself. You will be mine to claim, my kill, my hunt, my skull.”

“It would be an honor.” She says, this time going to her knees to bow. Elder Rhd nods to her once more before he leads the other Yautja down the street to pray before Paya.

“” “” “” “”

Just under four-hundred days later, Elder Rhd is called to the Bridge to have a conversation with the Ooman Backs, news of the Caretakers training of her children is complete. When the screen goes back, Elder Rhd stands in silence as so do all the others in the room, including Aja. He orders his helper to arrange a DropShip to go to the Ooman world, sadness evident in his tone as he does so. When Aja thinks his father is going to leave without another word, he asks him to follow, going into the Clan Ships conference room.

“Was it the right thing to do?” Elder Rhd asks as he sits down in his chair, it being to the left of the Clan leaders chair.

“What have you done?” Aja asks, trying to seem uncaring.

“With Caretaker Kella, with trading her life for her children’s’. I should have just given them the mark and been done with it.”

“She agreed to your stipulations father, she knows what she agreed too.” Aja sighs, his heart cold to any emotion anymore.

“But should I have agreed to it?” After that Aja does not say anything, not wanting to say anything else to be true. Elder Rhd simply waves a hand, signaling for him to go away and he does to gratefully, not wanting to be in the room with the Yautja that will soon kill Kella.

“” “” “” “”

Elder Rhd stands in front of Caretaker Kella once more after all these days, her children behind her. He had intended to arrive alone, but when the Clan Leader and the other Elders demanded to be there, there is now more then a small audience there to watch her demise. Before Kella actually knelt down in the ‘M-di H'chak’, in front of the statue of Paya, they had a wonderful conversation. They spoke of everything from memories to what they hope will come from her children, Kella even asking for Elder Rhd to check in on every single one. But when the time finally came, being when the sun set and it hit the horizon as it is a sacred time, he gave her the same knife he used to mark her.

With a final nod to each other, Kella raises her hand to her head…

“” “” “” “”

Authors Note: Okay, here is what is going to happen: There are three chapters left in this story and they are alternate endings. The first is ‘The Ugly’, the second ‘The Bad’, and the last ‘The Good’. I will get them out the moment I get the chance.

I know the lateness of my updates gets worse and worse and I would never want to pour out what is going on in my life, so all I will say now is that life is life.

A special thanks to:

On ff .net: OakTreeWoman and Oniqueen.

On aff .net: Death God Dist, prairiefire, chancelor22, shortestwarrior, Muse of Scrolls and Ehlonna Bloodstorm.

And lastly, where I have marked sentences with a (1) and a (2), those are quotes, the writers are listed below. I must add that I have altered the quotes a little as well.

(1) Sandman: The Kindly Ones by Neil Gaiman

(2) Erica Jong (b.1942)
"Intuition, extuition..."
How to Save Your Own Life, 1977

E.M.