Divide

A/N: Thanks everyone for the awesome reviews!

==

 

It’s been three days since the incident with the Xenomorph and life on the Colony was slowly getting back to normal, all except for the upcoming day of the Peace Treaty. The President of the Colonies was to arrive in a matter of hours and the General had already prepared things for the President, but his arrival wasn’t the only one Edwin had to worry about. Also coming was the High Elder Nrak'ytara and his Clan. When news got out about the two high powers under his Colony who knew what would happen. All the General knew was to be cautious. The scheduled signing was coming close and Edwin wasn’t about to let another incident happen under his watch.

Walking down the corridors, Edwin was making his way towards the Yautja’s side of the Colony. Today he had an appointment with his grandfather and there were questions he needed to ask the Elder, mostly involving his daughter. Edwin just hoped he didn’t have to see Vor’mekta’s annoying face. He’d already gotten an earful from his father this morning and he didn’t need any more coming from that bastard.

“Please…just please…kill me,” the bloodied mouth rasps hoarsely from the medic-cot.

Staring stonily at the unrecognizable face of former Rookie Kyle, Edwin calmly removed the scalpel knife from the prisoner’s torso, the body strapped down to the med-cot jerked at the harsh movement.  Sighing in boredom, the General dropped the bloodied knife on the tray that stood beside the med-cot.

“We’ve only been into this for five minutes,” The General’s voice was heavy with disappointment and sarcasm. His gray eye staring at the wound on the rookie’s shoulder, “C’mon now, rookie, I need you to stay awake…”

The rookie let out a wail of pain when the General probed his wound with his finger. “Now you will tell me the location of the Black Market,” Edwin demanded, his finger probing deeper.

Sobbing, he said, “I…went north to the Black Market…but I doubt they will still be there,” he cried out when the Genera; removed his finger.

Scowling, Edwin asked. “And why is that?”

“Be-Because they move…they don’t stay at the same place for too long.”

Grunting his frustration, Edwin glanced over his shoulder at his second in command and said. “Watch the prisoner.”

Leaving the holding cell after interrogating the prisoner, Edwin calmly walked down the corridors and ignored the stares he was getting from his men. He didn’t have to look at himself to see he was half covered in blood, both his and the prisoner’s. For three hours the General had been interrogating the prisoner and for three hours he’d received the same answer. Growling a curse, Edwin stormed into his office and instantly halted when he found a pair of gray eyes glaring coldly at him.

Elder Nihkou’te, his father, was sitting on his chair with his clawed fingers drumming impatiently on the desk. His gray eyes were staring at him as though he was nothing more than filth.

Clenching his fists at his side, Edwin bowed his head low. “Elder Nihkou’te, to what do I owe the pleasure?” he asked through gritted teeth.

Nihkou’te’s maimed tusks lifted into a sneer. “I never thought you to be so weak, R’ka.”

Edwin stiffened. “What are you talking about?”

“Needing help from your brother to kill a hard meat, that’s pathetic,” he scoffed.

Anger and rage boiled inside the General’s head, but he calmly breathed deeply and said. “I never asked for Vor’mekta’s help, he came without my knowing.”

“Regardless you took his help and would’ve died if he hadn’t come,” Nihkou’te’s gray eyes looked at him as though he was a worm. “Have you no pride?!”

Resisting the urge to choke his father, Edwin lowered his head further down until his chin touched his chest. “Is there anything you need, Elder?”

Scraping back the chair, Nihkou’te stood up and made his way around the table to approach his son. “I’ve been meaning to keep this from you but seeing how close the signing is approaching I decided to speak to you about something important.”

Edwin’s single gray eye widened before narrowing at his father suspiciously. “What do you need to tell me?”

Nihkou’te’s eyes glimmered with mischievous, his maimed tusks lifting into a grin. “Come by my quarters tonight and I will tell you, and bring your pup, I’m sure she will like to know.”

He scowled. “What are you up to, Elder?”

Nihkou’te didn’t answer. Edwin watched as the Yautja walked past him and out the doors. Frustration and fear knotted in his stomach at his father’s words. What the hell secret was the Elder keeping from him? And why does it involve his daughter?

Edwin still couldn’t shake off the dreadful feeling clawing at his guts. Whatever Nihkou’te had up his sleeves he knew it involved his daughter. Did his father still plan to take Cross to the Clan Ship? Females weren’t allowed to train with the males, so why was Elder Nihkou’te so persistent to bring his daughter?

“So…you’re Elder Nihkou’te’s hybrid son,” a cold and bitter voice said from behind him.

Edwin stiffened and glanced over his shoulder and frowned at the Yautja leaning lazily against the wall. Immediately his memory went back to when the Clan first arrived and when the small group of Yautja descended from the ship, it was this Yautja who kept staring at the General. Edwin remembered him as one of the shortest amongst the group. Standing probably at seven foot even with his inky black dreadlocks tied behind his head, but it was his skin that caught the General’s attention. True they had the proud shade of dark green and black stripes, but Edwin was sure if he reached out and touched the skin it would be soft.

The Blooded Warrior was dressed in the Yautja’s traditional armor, mesh-suit and loin-cloth. Looking closely, Edwin recognized the Clan symbol carved into the warrior’s helm. “You’re from R'ka Luar-ke Clan,” Edwin observed disdainfully.

The Yautja gave the General a mock bow. “I served beside Elder Nihkou’te since I was a pup,” he announced proudly.

He scoffed. “You must have low self-esteem to think highly of Nihkou’te.”

The warrior scowled. “And you’re a coward to abandon your Clan and Sire.”

At his words, Edwin’s eye glared in hatred. “You know nothing about me, Yautja; I suggest you keep your crab-mouth shut.”

Smirking, the warrior reached to detach his mask before pulling it harshly. “I am called Guan of the R'ka Luar-ke Clan,” he proudly tapped a fist to his armored chest. “Remember that name, hybrid, for I will be the one to mount your skull along with my collection of trophies.”

Edwin’s eye widened at the sight of the warrior’s eyes. They were an unusual set of silver and blue, he never seen anything like it before. Other than his eyes that caught the General’s attention, it was his scent. There was something oddly familiar and Edwin couldn’t help but edge closer to the angry Yautja.  Guan’s mismatched eyes widened slightly in confusion at the hybrid’s action, but stood still while he moved closer. With his mask off, Guan caught a sniff of a familiar scent coming from the hybrid. His tusks tightened when he felt warmth spreading throughout his body. It almost felt as if he was standing in front of Akira and it was her scent he was inhaling. True he was her Sire, but his scent shouldn’t have affected him like Akira’s had.

Though the scent was faint, it brought an unfamiliar ache to his chest. Growling, Edwin shook his head of the odd scent and took a step back. Annoyance flickered in the General’s eye before he walked away. Guan’s eyes darkened in anger at the hybrid’s disrespect. It won’t be long now before he achieved his goal -the death of the hybrid at his hands. How glorious it will be to have R’ka’s blood on his hands. 

 

==

 

Drumming her fingers impatiently on her desk, Cross leaned back in her chair and winced at the soreness coursing throughout her body. Cranking her neck she instantly grimaced at the stiffness. For an hour now she’d been trying to massage the knotted muscles there. Brushing her fingers over the her bite mark, Cross lowered her eyes and felt her guts knotted in fear at the thought of her father finding out. For the past three days she’d been avoiding him and everybody else with sensitive noses. She even went as far as to send Connor to train with both Halkrath and Lar’ja. She was lucky her guards didn’t argue, in fact, Lar’ja seemed quite eager to drag his brother alongside him. Tilting her head back, Cross’s closed her eyes and couldn’t prevent the smile stretching her lips at the thought when she first awoken in her new mate’s arms.

Groaning, Cross batted sleepily at the hand creeping inside her thighs. A male’s low chuckle tickled her ear, causing her sore body to shiver at the sound. Humming tiredly, Cross turned in his arm and pressed her face against his hard chest.

“Go away,” she muttered sleepily.

A pair of tusks brushed delicately across her forehead. “Then let me go.”

Without opening her eyes, she frowned. “I’ll think about it, right now, you’re my heater,” saying so her arms tightened around him.

His whole body vibrated with laughter.

“You’ve exhausted me to the point of not wanting to leave this bed,” she accused and yet wore a pleased smile.

Seeing her satisfied smile, Betanu couldn’t help but be filled with male pride. “I was right…”

Hearing his soft words, she peeked one eye open, “About what?”

Running his clawed fingers carefully through her hair, he said. “You were worth the wait.”

Blushing at his words, she grinned and touched her abused neck. “So, I noticed you still haven’t marked me yet even though we went at it three more times.”

At the mentioned of the mark, Betanu felt his tusks tightened. Cross, noticing how stiff he was, lifted her head from his chest to stare at his trouble eyes. “My intention was to mark you the first time…”

Curious, she tilted her head to the side. “What stopped you?”

Thumb brushing over her lips, he said. “I was curious as to why you didn’t stop me from claiming you.”

Cross was careful to think over her words. What if he knew the reason why she allowed him to mate her was because she needed his help to calm the Black Rage. If he knew that, what would he do? If there hadn’t been any Black Rage to begin with Cross was pretty sure this wouldn’t happen. And Betanu was a prideful Yautja; she definitely didn’t want him thinking she was using him.

Not that she was using him.

But will he see it like that in his eyes?

“It just felt right…” was all she said, her eyes closed.

Despite her calm words, Betanu knew his mate was hiding something. The speed of her heart increased at his words and he knew then she was nervous about something. Resisting the urge to hold her down and bite her into submission, Betanu captured the small hand resting on top of his chest and brought it close to his tusks.

Cross’s eyes widened at his action and noticed how dangerously close his lower tusks were close to piercing her skin. She hadn’t been afraid of him during their mating, but right now, there was something dangerous lurking within him. She also noticed a red stain on one of the sharp fangs of his tusks. She forced herself not to shudder at her blood sitting there.

“You wouldn’t hide things from me, would you, mate?”

Her heart leaped in her throat at the warning in his tone. Cross had to remember this wasn’t some ordinary guy she was lying in bed with. This was Betanu, a Yautja and an Honored Warrior. Something inside her forced her to lower her eyes and tilted her head to the side, exposing her neck to him. Almost immediately he growled his pleasure and thrust his face in between her neck and shoulder. Cross gasped at his sudden action and closed her eyes at the feel of his warm wet tongue bathing over her pulse. She gave a little whimper when he nipped her with his teeth.

“What are you hiding?”

Fluttering her eyes open she decided it was best to give him the answer and hope he wouldn’t blow up. “I have something called the Black Rage, and I went to Elder Bakuub for advise and he told me my best option of containing it was by turning that rage into lust…”

Cross cried out when he bit her again. She waited for him to say something, but after a minute when he didn’t she continued. “During the Black Rage Connor stumbled on me and tried to stop me from executing the criminal…though luckily someone shot me with something that put me out.”

Pulling away from her neck, Betanu’s hard and glaring eyes were staring down at her. “Why did you seek to hide this from me?”

“Because I didn’t want you thinking I only mated with you because of it,” sighing heavily, Cross pressed her face against his chest. “Though to be honest I would’ve waited a couple of years before mating with you.”

Startled by her words his brows furrowed together in confusion and hurt. “Why would you wait so long to be mated with me?”

“Betanu, I’m too young to be…tied down,” she breathed out tiredly. “I didn’t want to be with human nor Yautja until I was ready.”

He lowered his eyes at her words. “But because of the Black Rage you were forced into it…”

Cross was already tugging at one of his leathery dreadlocks, her face were set on stern lines. “Hey, I didn’t say I regret it. Betanu, I’m not good with words or how to soothe people’s feeling, but when I say I have no regrets, then I have no regrets.”

Detecting no lies in her words, the Yautja warrior brushed his clawed fingers over her naked breast. Humming her pleasure, Cross laid her head on his chest and listened to the strong sound of his heartbeat.

Sighing, she snapped her eyes opens and peered across him to stare at the digital clock on the nightstand. The bright red light flashed six thirty in the morning.  “Shit, I was supposed to be up half an hour ago…” she made a move to sit up but winced at the soreness in between her legs. “Great…just what I needed.”

Betanu watched through hooded eyes as his female limp her way towards the bathroom. Seconds later he heard the water running.

“I’m surprised no one came to wake me up,” Cross observed thoughtfully.

Betanu shifted uncomfortably in bed. He wasn’t about to tell her he scared off the ooman who came to wake her an hour ago.

After showering Cross walked out with a towel wrapped around her and went straight to her closet. Rummaging through her clothes, she sighed when she felt a warm presence from behind. A finger carefully probed the stitched wound in her head.

“Will you tell me about this now?”

She nodded her head and sighed. “We found the criminal who brought in the Xenomorph to the Colony. We got into a little fight…”

“I would hardly call this a little fight,” he gestured to the wound. “If you hadn’t moved this shot would’ve killed you.”

“I know, but in the end I put him in a cell. The General will decide his fate later.”

He frowned. “It should be the job of your mate to rid you of your enemy,” he growled.

Throwing on her uniform, Cross turned to him and merely placed a hand on his chest. “While on Earth it’s my job to rid of the threat. With the peace treaty signing we can’t have any Yautja harming humans, guilty or no.”

Betanu scowled. He’d actually forgotten the whole treaty, “Elder Bakuub told me something very important about the treaty.”

She arched a brow and slowly removed her hand from his chest. “The Elder revealed to you what was in the treaty?”

His yellow eyes narrowed at her action. “A sentence or two, but your leaders had already agreed to allow the Yautjas to continue hunting oomans…”

The Captain scowled her disapproval. “What?”

“But not just any oomans, the ones we’re allowed to hunt are mere criminals in your system.” He explained. “They’re to be transported from Earth and disposed of on a planet where we can continue our tradition in the hunt of oomans.”

Her eyes darkened at his words. “Who am I to complain about a life-long tradition?” she tore her eyes away from the scowling male to thrust her hand into a leather black glove. “I find it odd though for you to hunt humans and yet…fuck one as well.”

With a growl Betanu hauled his female into his arm and held her against his chest. “You’re not in the same catalog as a criminal, mate, you’re a warrior. Those criminals are no better than Badbloods; we hunt and kill them, same as you. ”

Cross sighed heavily. Suddenly she felt like a fool, why was she arguing with him about a brunch of criminals? They had their chance at life and decided to screw it up. Hell, she was sure they deserved what was coming to them. Besides, she killed before, both humans and Yautja. So why was she so mad at Betanu?

Groaning, Cross laid her head against his chest. “You’re right, I’m sorry. Its’ just…when I think of hunting humans it makes me think of Connor.”

He chirped. “Why should that worry you?”

She shrugged. “You should talk to him about that….”

At her words he frowned. “You’re coddling him again, mate.”

“Betanu,” she scowled.

He grunted his disapproval.

Pleased he wasn’t going to argue with her, she tippy-toed to press a kiss on his scarred abdomen. She craned her neck up to look up at him while he stared down her. “Duty calls; I’ll see you later in the day.”

Cross lifted her head from the desk when she heard the doors open. She instantly relaxed when she realized it was Kelly walking in with a small med-kit in her hand.

“I’m here to remove your stitches,” she announced.

The Captain nodded and grinned. “I was supposed to meet you today at two for that appointment.”

Kelly’s lips curved into a smile. “But we both know you will somehow forget the appointment and make some lame excuse,” she put the kit on the desk and flipped it open. “Now, just hold still while I remove these stitches.”

Taking in a deep breath, Cross closed her eyes while Kelly carefully removed the stitching from her head. “No matter how many times I see it, your healing ability still amazes,” Kelly’s eyes stared in astonishment at the healed wound to the Captain’s head; it hardly looked like a scar at all.

Cross grunted in reply.

Smiling at her friend’s stony expression, Kelly began removing the stitches. With Cross sitting in front of her, the nurse could see down her collar and noticed an ugly bite mark on the Captain’s neck. “Cross, what is this!?” she cried out in horror.

The Captain was quick to slap a hand over the bite mark and looked up at the nurse with a stern expression. “It’s not as bad as it looks,” she assured her with a lop-sided smile. “This…” she removed her hand from the wound, “Is a result of sex between human and Yautja.”

Eyeing the bite, Kelly paled and flinched. “I think I’ll stick to humans.”

Cross arched a playful brow at that. “I’ve never seen you date anyone, Kelly, why is that?”

A faint blush spread across the nurse’s cheeks. “I haven’t found the right one yet,” she muttered as she resumed removing the stitching from the Captain’s head. Once she was done with it Kelly went to bandage up the bite wound.

Sighing heavily at her friend’s bitter expression, Cross lowered her eyes in shame. After all these years Kelly still hadn’t found anyone and the reason why was because of her. Cross had hoped her friend’s little infatuation with her would’ve faded away by now. But seeing the longing and warmth in the nurse’s green eyes whenever they talked should’ve given the Captain a signal.

Cross snapped out of thought when a knock came to the door before the doors slid opened. She gave a small nod at her Lieutenant walking in. “The General has gone to the Yautja’s Colony,” he reported and nodded towards the nurse.

At the news Cross let go of the breath she’d been holding. If he was at their Colony than that meant he was speaking with Elder Bakuub, which also meant he won’t be back for a while.

“Are you hiding something, Captain?” Percy asked casually. “Is there something you’re trying to hide from the General?”

She sighed. “I guess you can say that.”

Cocking a thoughtful brow, Percy sat across from his Captain with his elbow resting on the desk. “Care to share it with your second in command?”

Leaning back in her chair, Cross regarded her Lieutenant with narrowed eyes.

Chuckling in amusement at her suspicious look, he assured her, “The General didn’t send me here to spy on you, Captain, trust me when I say my loyalty belongs to you.”

Her lips curving at his words, she nodded. “What would you think if I…become, let’s say, mated with a Yautja?”

He shrugged. “What you do is your business, Captain, who you sleep with has nothing to do with the General or anybody else.”

Cross’s smile widened. “You think there’s nothing wrong with a Yautja doing a human?”

His brown eyes went straight towards the bandaged on her neck and instantly a faint blush spread across his cheeks. “I take it someone got lucky last night.”

She laughed. “I guess you can say that.”

He laughed. “I’m just surprise you can get turn on by a face like theirs.”

The Captain shrugged.

After Kelly was done, the nurse put everything inside her medic-kit and left the office, but not before kissing Cross on the cheek. Cross hid a smirk behind her hand at the envious look in her Lieutenant’s eyes. Once the nurse was gone, Percy turned back to his Captain and stiffened at her sly smile.

“Well…well…well, looks like someone has a crush on a certain little nurse,” she grinned.

 

==

“And what can I do for you today?”

Sighing heavily, Edwin sat down across from his grandfather. “I want to know what Nihkou’te wants with my daughter.”

At his words, Bakuub tapped a finger to his lower tusk. “Perhaps the best way to get the answer is if you go to Vor’mekta.”

Edwin’s eye narrowed at the mentioned of his brother. “No fucking way am I going to that asshole.”

Amusement sparkled behind the Elder’s eyes. “That asshole saved your life.”

He growled. “Don’t remind me.”

“If anyone can help you it’s Vor’mekta,” Bakuub advised him calmly. “Edwin, you must face your brother sooner or later.”

Edwin hissed a curse.

Shifting uncomfortably in the chair, Bakuub glanced up at his blood and noticed the irritation twitching in his eye. Perhaps now wasn’t the time to ask if he knew of Cross’s new mate. Clearing his throat roughly, Bakuub asked. “Have you spoken with your pup recently, Edwin?”

He shook his head. “I haven’t seen her since the incident with the Xenomorph. Though when I call her for things she sends over her Lieutenant,” he shrugged it off as if it was no big deal. But something must’ve given Bakuub away because Edwin leaned in the chair and asked. “Why?”

Though his tone was casual but the look in his eye demanded an answer. Sighing, Bakuub just hoped Cross could forgive him for this. “Edwin, during your time on the Clan Ship had you ever heard of the Black Rage?”

Frowning in confusion, he shook his head.

“It’s something that happens when a female goes into a blood rage…”

Edwin held up his hand to halt the Elder’s words, he already knew where this was going. “Akira is twelve percent Yautja; she can’t go into a blood rage.”

“Connor witnessed it and so did Guan, she came close to harming her own pup,” he explained patiently. “For her to harm her own pup is out of her character, Edwin, she was completely taken over by the rage.”

Edwin’s scarred face scowled. “And where was I when this was happening?”

“You were hunting the Emperor…”

“My daughter would’ve told me if something like this had happened,” he argued.

Once again he shifted again in the chair. “Because I told her a method to turn that rage into something else…”

Listening to his words, Edwin felt something drop into the pit his stomach. “And, uh, what method is that?”

Looking away uncomfortably, Bakuub cleared his throat roughly. “Perhaps you should talk with your pup…”

The General’s scowl darkened. “Elder, I asked you…what kind of method did you suggest to my only child?”

He grunted and crossed his arms over his chest. “Cross is hardly a suckling, Edwin, she’s a grown female and had decided to take a Yautja for a mate.”

Bakuub wasn’t at all surprised by his blood’s reaction.

Edwin shot out of the chair and roared, “WHAT!?”

 

==

 

Three floors up, Cross jumped up from her chair and winced when she felt a cold shiver down her spines. Despite the thick walls she clearly heard the angry roar of her father. Paling, she ignored the odd stare Percy was giving her as she made her way towards the door.

“Captain, where are you going?” Percy called after her.

Putting on a stoic face, Cross turned to her Lieutenant and said. “I’m going to check on a few things, but if the General comes storming in just tell him I wasn’t here.”

He arched a brow. “You sound like a teenager who’d been caught doing something naughty.”

Casually brushing her bangs from her face, she said. “I assure you, Percy, its nothing like that.”

“Then stay and let’s see what the General have to say,” he taunted her and went back to sitting down in the chair. “I’m pretty sure I know why he’s mad.”

She grimaced. “Have you ever seen the General pissed off?”

Percy thought about it and was quick to come up with an answer, “Always, Captain.”

“Well, those instances are nothing compare to how pissed off he is now,” she cringed at the thought of the General’s face.  “Seven foot eight of four hundred pound pure muscles with scars to scare off any living creature and it’s all aimed at me,” she shuddered at the image, “I better get going…”

“And where exactly are you going, Captain?” a cold and irate voice said behind her.

Cross instantly flinched at the voice and knew who stood behind her. Brushing off the sweat coming from her forehead she turned to the General and bowed her head. “I was on my way to see you, General,” she lied smoothly.

From within the room came a snort, Cross was pretty sure it belonged to Percy.

The General sharp gray eye snapped towards the Lieutenant. “Leave,” was all he growled.

Wisely, Percy jumped to his feet and quickly left the office. Cursing him under her breath, Cross watched helplessly as her father locked the door behind him and approached her. The growl rumbling in his throat could easily be heard by her. Cross held her breath as her father lowered his head until his nose brushed against her hair. Even with her eyes closed she knew he was staring dead on at her bandaged neck. Without warning he yanked off the bandage and Cross bit her lip to hold back the cry of pain.

With a growl of rage, the General pulled back and snarled, “You fucked a Yautja!?”

Feeling as though she was a child again, Cross lowered her head at her father’s thunderous voice. “With all due respect, General, who I sleep with are none of your business.”

His jaw clenched at her tone. “Dammit, Akira, do you have a death wish!?”

She frowned. “A death wish? General, aren’t you forgetting the chip implanted inside my thigh?”

“We don’t know if it works against alien, you’re coming with me to the medic center this instant!” he grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the door.

Hissing a curse, Cross yanked her hand from her father’s possession. “I’ll go with you but I don’t want you making a scene,” she said through clenched teeth. If all her father wanted was a see if she was pregnant then she obliged him. At the moment she’d do anything to wipe off that murderous scowl off his face.

Growling in his throat, Edwin stormed towards the door and, with unnecessary force, thrust the doors opened. Cross winced as the doors banged against the walls and flashed an apologetic smile at the startled soldiers standing in the corridors. The General proceeded to walk down the corridor as if nothing had happened.

So much for not making a scene, she thought wearily.

 

==

 

Panting heavily from the hours of training, Connor sat down and watched as the two Honored Warriors continued on with their training. He had to admit those two could train for hours on end. Even now Connor’s body was shaking in pain from the extreme sparring he’d just endured by the hands of Halkrath. Where his brother, Lar’ja, was more on training him how to defend against attack, his brother, Halkrath, was all about brute strength. No matter how many times Connor tried to dodge his attacks, the older warrior always landed a hit that knocked Connor across the mat. Even now his right shoulder was sore and throbbing from one of Halkrath’s massive punchs.

"Do you see yourself as a Yautja or a human?"

Connor stiffened uncomfortably upon remembering the soldier’s question. For the past few days he’d been replaying that question over and over in his head. How does one come up with the answer? He was born a Yautja but was raised under the care of a human. In his reflection he sees a Yautja, but inside his heart he feels…human?

Connor shook his head. “Does it really matter?” he muttered to himself.

Since childhood he always hated the way he looked. Every day he wanted to be normal, to be human, like his mother. Like any other child he wanted to be accepted by others. But Connor knew deep down he wasn’t normal, he couldn’t be seen, and he had to be hidden. From the beginning his mother told him everything, never leaving anything out. She’d even confessed she had in mind to kill him when she found him. He knew his origin was Yautja and yet his life had been on Earth. His mother loved him despite his alien face. But she never raised him to be just Yautja or human. She cultured him the best way she could. She’d told him everything she knew of the Yautja race, and yet, every time she brought the subject up he would throw a fit. It was only after he sulked for weeks that she finally gave up and taught him human education.

He always hated being reminded of the race that threw him away.

Even when Betanu brought him to the Clan Ship, Connor felt like an outcast. His body, features, and hair were the same as theirs but what they’d seen was his albino skin and red eyes. They never saw a Yautja, but an abomination instead. The first few months Connor had begged Betanu to take him back to Earth, but the older warrior always refused. Everything on the Clan Ship was different, the language, the food…he’d nearly broken down.

The necklace his mother had given him before he left Earth had been destroyed by the hands of Yautjas. On his first day alone wandering the market side he was crowded by a bunch of newly made Youngbloods. It was the first time Connor ever experienced true pain, even the beating the General had given him seemed small in comparison. After they beaten him, Connor didn’t had the strength to move as one of the Yautja yanked the necklace from his neck and crushed it before his eyes. A precious gift from his mother, the only thing he had that belonged to her, was completely destroyed.

And then he snapped.

Connor didn’t remember much at all except there was blood on his hands and he was being carried away by Betanu. It was then Connor realized how dangerous he was. His hands, so small, and yet could cause so much damage. The talons on his fingers were smaller and yet they could wreak havoc. The scars his mother carried were proof of their action.

“You seem lost in thought, young warrior,” a voice growled above him.

Shaking his head of his dark memories, Connor looked up and sighed. “Are we to train again, Honored Warrior Lar’ja?”

Lar’ja gave a disapproval growl. “Say it in Yautja.”

Connor instantly scowled his displeasure, he always hated speaking Yautja. Clearing his throat roughly, he asked. “Are…we-we to train…again?”

The brothers shot each other amused looks.

Grumbling a curse, Connor shot to his feet. “I don’t care about speaking the Yautja way, I only care about fighting!”

Lar’ja gave the young warrior a disappointed look. “We Yautja don’t just fight,” he explained patiently, “We’re hunter, warriors of pride. We defend our honor and the honor of our Clan. If we’re to fight, we simply do so only to protect our name…”

“Isn’t that pretty much the same thing?” Connor scoffed.

Halkrath growled a warning towards the young male disrespect.

Lar’ja merely shrugged off the rude comment. “Everything within the Yautja is of honor. If pulled into the right direction you engage in combat only to honor your name and your Clan. But if pulled into the wrong way, then you’re simply fighting because you want to…because you’re thirsty for blood…”

He snorted. “That’s pretty much the Yautja’s way.”

“If you do so then you’re dishonoring your name and that of your Clan. You’re not fighting to honor anyone but to sate your bloodlust.” Lar’ja continued as if Connor hadn’t spoken.

He scowled. “Do you consider it honorable for a mother to throw away her baby?”

A flash of understanding sparked behind the twin’s eyes, but as fast as it came it was quickly gone. “Do you know, Connor, that twins are considered a bad omen among the Yautja’s?”

Connor didn’t bother to hide his shock. “Why?”

Lar’ja shook his head. “Usually, a Yautja female births only one suckling for her mate, but to give birth to two means evil.”

Halkrath growled. “Superstition old fools.”

Connor couldn’t help but nod in agreement.

“Some Elders believe an evil bhu'ja, spirit, clings on the suckling when it enters the womb. The evil spirit can be either twin, but no Clan likes taking the chance of killing the correct one.”

“So what you’re telling me is that a Bearer usually only has one suckling, but if there are two that means one of the twins is evil because he came from the evil spirit realm?”

The brothers nodded.

Staring at the brothers, Connor asked. “So what did your mother do?”

“Our Bearer wanted to be rid of us, but Elder Bakuub stepped in and took us under his care.”

Connor wore a look of bewilderment at the twin’s story. He never knew the Yautja to be a superstitious brunch. Curious, he asked. “What if someone knew magic?”

Halkrath slid a finger across his neck. Lar’ja chuckled at his brother’s action.

Connor flinched; he didn’t need the Honored Warrior to interpret that.

 

==

 

“That was a big wasted of time,” growled Cross as both her and her father exit the medic lab.

He grunted. “There’s nothing wrong with being safe,” he argued. “I won’t have you impregnate by those…”

“But I’m not,” she interrupted him and sighed. “Look, dad, I know you’re worried about me but with the chip implanted inside me there’s no need to worry about me getting pregnant.”

Edwin watched as his daughter continued her way down the corridor and forced himself not to follow her. At the moment he had bigger things that needed his attention and it involved a certain Yautja.

==

 

A/N: Please Review!