Rivers Run Deep

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Disclaimer: I do not own the concept of the Predator. whatever you don't recognize, is mine however.




Authors Notes: Full Disclaimer at the begining of the first chapter.



Author: Charlotte (jemstone5)

Email: jemstone5

Feedback: Please, yes lots.

Forward to others: would be flattered if you did.

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Rivers Run Deep



Chapter 34



El glared at the back of the Yautja’s head, as the lift moved deeper into the ship. “Why are you doing this!?”


“I only wish to talk,” the elder stated curtly. “Be still!” She gathered he’d sent the lift deep into the ship. It seemed to take forever to get to where he’d indicated by the buttons. As the sound of the humming engine sounded softly around them, the elder turned to her. Kire’Baa’s eyes were stern and cold. “Gathering is very important to us, Ooman,” he grumbled. “It is a time for honesty, openness. Before you devote what little life you have to Ver’On, ask him first…who really killed your family. Who burned your home…if you can live with the answers he gives you, then I will no longer stand in your way.”


“I already know who killed my family. Bad Bloods, as you call them, from the city. My brother had been in the wrong place at the wrong time.”


“If you believe that, then Ver’On will bind you to him in the midst of a lie. I could tell you, but…from me it would be a lie. From Ver’On, well…you trust him more.” The lift doors opened, and Kire strode out, halting the doors for only a moment. “Think about it Ooman. What would you rather have? The truth, and mate for life? Or remain in a lie, and always wonder if what he tells you is the truth? You choose.” He tapped a series of buttons and let the doors close.


She leaned on the wall of the lift. Where was he sending her? These lifts would fly all over the ship. She could end up anywhere. The lift doors opened, and four males and a female strode on board. She moved to the back wall, and stayed quiet. Everyone knew full well not to touch her, less they wanted to die. Ver’On had made it perfectly clear in the beginning, that if anyone so much as mussed her hair, he’d make sure there wasn’t enough of them left to be identified with. El shivered at that thought. Ver’On was more than capable of doing that, not just to his own kind, but to her as well. Humans by far were the weakest physical beings they had ever come in contact with. It was nothing to snap their necks and not even make an effort.


She stared at the backs of the heads of those in front of her. If they were going to the level with the main dinning hall, then Lee’tha would still be there freaking out, if she hadn’t gone to get Ver’On yet. The lift stopped and the group got off, but from the wave of heat that flooded the lift from that level, told her enough that it was the wrong one. When she looked to the panel again, every indicator light was lit up. “Oh great,” she said aloud, and sat down on the floor. The trip back was going to be a long one.






“Why did they release you?” M’Pa asked of Sol, as the discussion continued around his new position.


Sol swallowed a bit of his food, then pulled Zon closer to him. “I found a mate of my own,” he said proudly.
“And he’s fantastic. Just what I’ve been looking for.” The group laughed over Sol’s prideful pose. That is until Lee’tha ran screaming into the room.


“TER’OTH! VER’ON!!” The males all rose and gathered around her, as Ter’Oth held onto her as she stopped, and attempted to pull the males back with her. “A male pushed us, he took El onto the lift and went down!”


“How far?!” M’Pa bellowed.


“I’m not sure, the screen was broken.”


“Who?! Lee’tha, who was it?!”


“I don’t know. His cloak hood was up. Ver’On, I do know it was an elder. His dreads, of what I could see, were grey.”


“Which lift Lee’tha.”


“Lift 74.”


“Come on.” Ver’On led them out of the hall to a control center in the forward section. The technician there wearily looked the group over, but never questioned when Ver’On told him to move.


Ver’On looked over the readings and found the lift he sought. “It’s circling the engineering level,” he cursed.


“It’s too hot down there for oomans. She’ll pass out!”


“I know M’Pa. Sol, stand by that lift door, make sure no one uses it. M’Pa, you and Lee’tha return to the hall, get as many pitchers of water as you can carry. Also get a towel from one of the servers. Ignore them if they protest. GO!”


“Ver’On, what are you going to do?” Ter’Oth asked.


“Over ride the lift. Get it off that level.”


“That’s dangerous. If you shut it down too soon, the inertial dampeners will go off line as well. She could be seriously hurt.”


“I’ve little choice. The lift will circle again if I don’t stop it. Someone has set it on a loop.”


“M’Pa and Lee’tha are back,” Vaz stated, then took Zon and went to do the same task.


“The lift is slowing,” Ter’Oth observed.


“Here we go. I’m over riding the system.” After a few moments the lift indicator on the screen changed color, showing success. “All right. I’m bringing it to us. I only hope she’s still on board.” It wasn’t till he’d finished the sequence that he remembered a little stunt that he and Uni had done with a lift once many years ago. They too had set it on a loop around the engineering level, to enjoy the heat while they mated. They had been observed by many when the doors opened now and then, but no one said anything. Now he wondered how many would follow his example and do the same.


It was a tense few minutes as the lift made its way through the ship. Ver’On standing directly in front of the seam to be the first to walk in as it opened. M’Pa and Lee’tha shared the water pitchers with the others, and made themselves ready to help the female cool down when she was brought out. The familiar sound of a lift approaching the level made them hold their breath. The doors opened and Ver’On rushed inside. “El? El, answer me.”


El looked up and wrapped her arms around his neck. “You’re gona start teaching me to read your language,” she sighed, ignoring the sweat that just rolled down her face and chest.


Ver’On lifted her up and took her out to the cooler corridor. There Lee’tha gave her a cup with water, and took the wet towel from M’Pa and began wiping her face. “Who did this, El? Were you hurt? Who sent the lift to engineering?”


“One – ” she gasped. “One question at a time. Please. I don’t know who sent the lift to the hot zone, there were five that got on. No, I wasn’t hurt, just overly warm. As to who pushed us? That, my Ver’On, was Kire’Baa. He wanted to talk.”


“What?”


“Kire’Baa wanted to talk to me. He did nothing else. I’m sure he was sending the lift back when he left, but then five others got on. When they left I was in the hot zone, and not going any further. I couldn’t read the symbols. Ver’On, please teach me how?!”


Ver’On pulled her close, smoothing her sweat dampened hair over her head. “I will begin at once,” he sighed, and she nodded her thanks in his neck.






Lee’tha and Zon took El to the ladies room and helped her freshen up. When her dress was dry, the women rejoined the males, only this time, the males were dressed in their armor, prepared for whatever other treachery came. El’s breath caught in her throat, seeing Ver’On and M’Pa standing together, the hammered silver metal of their armor holding tight to their muscular bodies. The surfaces shined in spots, she surmised that they must have been recently cleaned.


“El, are you alright?” M’Pa asked, coming to her side.


“She’s in heat,” Ver’On stated proudly, flexing his muscles more to her, which only served to make her want him more. “If you recall, when oomans trust and care about a male, it is easy to send them into heat.”


“Please don’t use the word ‘heat’,” she laughed, and allowed the pair to lead her back to their table.


Ver’On didn’t see his grandsire right away, so he passed the time by showing El the symbols that made up their alphabet. M’Pa sat on her opposite side watching, amazed that she caught on to the symbols so quickly. Once she was confident with that, te real learning began. The word symbols. That’s when she began to get confused. “It’s alright El,” Lee’tha laughed, as she confused the word floor with – well – shit, yet again.


“You seem to be hung up on that word,” Rel laughed. “It’s the fifth time you’ve used it.”


“I’m sorry,” she stated at last, sounding exasperated at her lack of progress. “The symbols are starting to get jumbled up. I’ll get it. I know I will.”


“As do I,” Ver’On assured, tapping his mandibles on her brow. “When you do, the next step will be to – ”


Ver’On was suddenly so still, El had to look to his face to be sure he was alright. He had the most evil look in his eyes, as he glared across the room. She followed his lie of sight to see Kire’Baa and his mate just taking their seats at the Elder’s table. “Ver’On, no. Not now,” she pleaded.


“WHAT?! You wish him to get away with what he’s done!!”


“No, just let’s enjoy our dinner, without anyone breaking any bones.”


Rel laughed as he observed two males argue over a female at the far end of their table. The larger of the tow broke the other’s arm and leg, in what seemed like a single move, at about the same time El made her statement about a peaceful meal. “Too late,” he laughed, and Ver’On got up, tapping M’Pa’s shoulder to watch over El during his absence.


He strode to the forward part of the room, stepping up to the level, normally used for lower ranked hunters to address the elders. Kire’Baa nodded to Ver’On, but did not acknowledge him enough to speak. Ver’On clenched his fists, and growled low, again he was ignored. Finally he just our right roared, drawing the attention of the whole room.


“For Gods sakes!” Kire shot back. “I just sat down. Permit me to at least drink!”


“NO!”


“Ver’On, please.” He turned to find El and M’Pa on the lower floor behind him. “Discuss it later.”


“NO! Kire’Baa, you assaulted my mate! And a pregnant female! I will find out why Right NOW!!”


Kire grumbled low, but turned his attention to El. “Did you ask him?” he snapped at her.


“I don’t need to ask him anything!” El shouted back.


“Oh? Ver’On! Gathering is barely two days away, have you disclosed all your secrets to your mate?” Ver’On was quiet for a moment.


“M’Pa, what’s he talking about?” El asked quietly.


“It is considered a bad omen to hide tings, such as secrets, from one who is about to become your mate, especially with gathering upon them. If Ver’On tells you all, that he believes to be his secrets, and you accept him regardless, then your time together will never be shaken. You could found a family filled with honored warriors…if not, it is said the pair would forever struggle, their line become weak, and more bad bloods that before would come out of them.”


El looked back to Ver’On, who seemed very uneasy with her gaze upon him, along with Kire staring him down. “Ver’On, what is it?”


He turned away, growling at Kire. “YOU HAD NO RIGHT TO INTERFEAR!”


“She has a right to know!”


“WHEN SHE IS READY!!”


“Ready for what!!!?” El shouted, stepping up next to Ver’On.


“Not now El, please.”


“Now may as well be time, Ver’On. Or will your cowardice show through over the next two days as well?!”


“VER’ON IS NO COWARD!!!!” El screeched. “He’s more courage in his smallest digit than you have in your whole body!”


“You little…”


“You pushed Lee’tha to the floor. A PREGNANT FEMALE! Then pushed me into a lift, all covered with your cloak so no one would see what you’d done!”


The other Elders all glared at Kire, but it didn’t faze him a bit. “It is my responsibility to ensure an honorable pairing for all my family!”


“Is that why you disapproved of Uni? Because she was part human, from several generations past?”


Ver’On shot her a look. “How did you find out?! Uni only told me!”


El glanced over to Lee’tha, she nodded yes. It was time it all came out anyway. “Lee’tha told me it was something Kire had yelled at her, in the midst of raping her, and threatening her sisters! Tell me Kire. Who really killed Uni?!”


Kire growled at her, but before he could leave the table, his mate grabbed his wrist tightly. Kire glared at her, as though she’d just declared war. “I’m tired of you’re scheming, Kire’Baa,” she said in a raspy old voice. “You will speak truth here and now. Or I will break your good arm, to match the other useless one.” He growled at her, she growled back, only louder.


“You want Ver’On to speak of trivial secrets,” El stated loudly, “when you carry enough yourself that would warrant your death! Who really killed Uni?!”


“You should first discover, Ooman, who really killed your family! Ver’On! Tell her!!”


El glanced at Ver’On. “Don’t’ worry bout my family. You weren’t involved.”


Ver’On stood stock still, watching his mate. He didn’t want to tell her. Not like this at least. She’d leave him for sure! He could not – WOULD NOT – let that happen. How dare Kire do this! Then he turned to M’Pa, then to Kire. Of course. Kire planned this. He’d seen the two Yautja talking a few times on the ship after the others arrived. It could be no coincidence that M’Pa would help El, make him trust him enough to make him Kadji. If El left him, with M’Pa still in that role, he would become her mate. And with his well known like for oomans, he would make short work of her ritual. But then…how would Reo had known to stop at the sparing room door where they’d met? Children were generally not spoken to by the elders, not unless they were their own, and definitely not when from another clan. No this could not have been Kire’s total plan. But he definitely had a hand in their coming together.


Then he thought of El’s question to Kire. Had Uni been murdered? Had his child been killed? And if so, who did it? The question was now put forward. It had to be answered, Kire would have no choice, and it would have to be the truth. “If Uni had lived…” he growled at the elder.


“Than this ooman’s family might still be alive!” he shot back quickly.


Ver’On was visibly shaken. There was no way to know that. El’s brother would have killed his parents anyway…wouldn’t’ he? If he hadn’t hunted them at their hid out, would the boy have really gone home agitated. Ver’On shook his head. There were too may interrelated factors. There would have been no way to be sure any of it would be different.


“Ver’On.” He felt El’s hands on his cheeks, making him look at her. Her hands were soft, full of concern for him, as any mate would have. As he looked to her green eyes, he saw them smile back, with life and love…for him. He couldn’t bare to hurt her. “Tell me. Its ok. I’ll believe you.” She gently kissed his chin, her soft Ooman lips gently laid to his flesh. He couldn’t let her leave him. He needed her, he wanted her, he wanted her lips to always touch his flesh, and ONLY his, with the love that she held so carefully wrapped in her Ooman heart.


He was going to hurt her. He knew it. Not with fists or weapons…but with words. His words. The words of the truth he had to speak. “El,” he rasped, his own voice wavering before her loving eyes. “You’re wrong…I was involved.”


El just stared at him.. Eventually she cocked her head to the side as she too in what he’d said. “You mean, you saw what happened to my family? Do you know who killed them?”


His hands rested gently on her hips, as he looked down her body. His drams of her giving birth to his children where fading fast. She’d not let him touch her once she knew. What would happen to her? Where would M’Pa take her? What would she do once she was surrounded with new Yautja?


Slowly he nodded. “Yes El, on both questions.