What You Never Know (Won't Hurt You?)

New A/N: Made serious edits since about 1/2 to 2/3 of the dialog was taken out.

A/N: Dialog within () indicates dialog in the Yautja language. And the word “sol’rach” translates to “scholar”. This chapter’s also dedicated to Keen and Prairiefire for their…*cough* update encouragement. *hugs Keen and Prairiefire*


Chapter 7


[Tor’ac’s POV]

(So’len, R’ys.) I clicked, surprised to find both of them here in Meeya’s dwelling. Thinking back to the previous night cycle, I couldn’t recall locking the bal’ko-nee door, which explained how both entered the dwelling easily.

(Arbitrator Captain Tor’ac.) So’len said as he and R’ys knelt to the cloth-covered floor, bringing their fists across their chests in a respectful greeting.

(So’len, enough.) I sighed at my second’s formal protocol even if it was meant to honor me. He had been chosen as my second even though I had respectfully declined receiving one from the High Arbitrator when I became a captain. We had been selected and trained as arbitrators at the same time, and beyond my elder brother and the High Arbitrator, So’len was one of the only Yautja I granted my full trust and friendship.

R’ys was another captain’s second who had been assigned to aide me on my mission. He was always very quiet, and I often wondered if he just didn’t favor idle talk or had some sort of speech problem.

(Forgive me, Tor’ac, but protocol’s been knocked into my head, literally,) So’len trilled in a chuckle as he and R’ys stood up. Then, his head moved as if looking at my side, asking, (So you mind telling your second what you’re doing in an ooman dwelling?)

Turning my head, I saw Meeya looking from the other two Yautja to me, her pale brow crinkling in the middle. Her eyes held that same look of sadness I’d seen the night I tested her honor and trust, and I felt slight pressure within my chest. Trilling, I pondered what brought on this look that made me feel like a Hard Meat had just stabbed its tail-spike through my torso.

I wrapped an arm around her shoulders, motioning her forward and speaking in ooman, “Meeya, this is So’len, my friend and…second. And the one next to him is R’ys.”

“Do they understand English…my language like you, Tor’ac?” she asked, looking at the others.

Nodding, I answered, “They do just not as much as I do.”

She blinked, smiling a little which took away some of the sadness in her gaze, and I watched in pride as she bowed to So’len and R’ys. “It’s an honor to meet you, So’len and…Ri-iss?”

“Close, Meeya,” I trilled as R’ys cocked his head to the side and huffed.

Chuckling, So’len crossed his arms, clicking, (Were we…interrupting something, Tor’ac?)

I glared at him, growling for him to shut up and show similar respect to Meeya. She had honored both of them with her bow and greeting, and she deserved the same honor.

“You honor us…Meeya,” my second said in ooman and bowed his head to her. R’ys merely grunted and nodded to Meeya, bringing a growl from both So’len and me.

Stepping closer to him, I swiftly cuffed the unshielded back of his head, and R’ys hissed at me before lowering his head. I snarled at him before moving back to Meeya, seeing her eyes wide in what I prayed was surprise. When I failed to hear her heart rate increase and didn’t scent any fear from her, I trilled and cocked my head to the side. I had noticed that she seemed to favor this motion as it usually made her smile, and it worked once again when her soft lips moved up.

I looked over at So’len to find him facing Leeyah and Kahsee, and he took a few steps closer. Clicking a mandible, I had almost forgotten that he’d had “encounters” with ooman females before while on the backwater planet.

(And these females? Are they yours, too?) My second clicked, purring lustfully in their direction and trilling when Kahsee backed away.

(They are Meeya’s friends; Leeyah is the shorter one and Kahsee the tall one,) I answered, growling at his question of claim. None of these females, even Meeya, were claimed as mine. ‘Yet,’ my mind trilled as I faced Meeya, but my eyes were met by her sad gaze once more. Cocking my head to the side, I rasped softly, “What troubles you, Meeya?”

She looked down at the cloth-covered floor, saying, “You…you didn’t tell me why you were here on Earth.”

Raising a heavy brow, I knew it was more than that; it had to be more that just that. I trilled and gripped her shoulder, saying, “I will tell you now. Like your father, all three of us are law keepers, and I’ve been ordered to bring back one who was accused of behavior befitting a bad blood…I think your word is ‘deceiver’.”

“You mean like a criminal?” Meeya raised her head, and her brow furrowed as she met my gaze. “He’s just been accused? There’s no evidence…I mean proof of his conduct?”

“Oh, there is proof…but he has not been named a bad blood. Not yet.” I growled softly, trying to think my words through. Staring at Meeya, I watched her eyes as she seemed to ponder something.

“What did he do?” she asked, still looking at me.

Inhaling, I wasn’t sure that I should tell her such information…but I could not simply lie to her. Not to my Meeya. Still, there was information I couldn’t reveal because of my own inner dilemmas. “He killed a law keeper and four others, seconds like So’len. But it was an act of vengeance as the behavior of these five was…questionable.”

(Tor’ac…should you really be telling her all this?) So’len clicked, his mask facing me. (She’s not involved. And I’m not sure that the High Arbitrator will favor this.)

(I will not lie to her, So’len,) I growled, staring into the eyes of his mask. Returning my gaze to Meeya, I saw her biting her lower lip as she looked at the floor. (Besides, I am not telling her everything, only what she should know.)

“An act of vengeance?” Meeya spoke up, interrupting my conversation with So’len. “Did he kill any others beyond those five?”

“No.” I shook my head. “However, because he ran, his actions are looked upon in a…negative manner.”

“Hmmm.” She sighed and looked at the bal’ko-nee door. “So…that’s why you were so anxious to go outside at first.”

“It is my mission…but…” I stopped and closed my eyes. “Meeya…I…”

“Should really do what you came to do,” she finished, making me look at her.

“What?” I blinked as my brow furrowed.

Meeya’s eyes were on the floor, and she held her arms together. “I’ve done what I can to help, Tor’ac, and you don’t need my help anymore. You need to finish your mission.”

Both of my brows raised, and I watched her limp inside her bedchamber. She returned holding my mask in her hands, handing it to me as her lips turned up in a smile. Meeting her gaze, I knew her smile wasn’t completely true, but I grasped the mask, saying, “Thank you.” Then, I recalled one of the original reasons why I didn’t leave, facing So’len and clicking, (We’ll have to wait until the night cycle. My cloaking unit was damaged.)

(That’s no issue,) So’len said, trilling to Leeyah for a moment before stepping closer to me. Taking the gauntlet off my arm, he inspected it and opened his tool case.

As my second worked, I faced Meeya leaning against a wall, her eyes on the floor. With her head turned away from me, it was almost as though she was…rejecting me. But her gaze had been so sad when she looked at me. Swallowing, I couldn’t understand; why wasn’t I saying anything to her now?

Clenching my fists and digging my claws into my palms, I closed the distance between us. I raised a hand and slowly touched her soft cheek, moving her face to look at me. “Meeya…”

She blinked several times before I felt her hand against mine as she said, “Good luck on finishing your mission, Tor’ac.”

“Thank you, but…Meeya…” I growled to myself, wondering why the pauk I couldn’t speak. “Meeya, I…”

(Tor’ac, it’s finished,) So’len said, approaching us and handing me the gauntlet.

Gritting my inner teeth and cracking the knuckles of my free hand, I glowered at him and snatched the gauntlet. (Thank you, So’len.) I sighed and removed my other hand from her face to replace the gauntlet before turning back to Meeya.

“Go…and be safe, Tor’ac,” she said, lowering her head.

Was Meeya rejecting me? The pressure in my chest increased as I stared at the female who had honored me, yet I could not honor her in kind. That did not sit right with me, but with So’len and R’ys’s arrival, I had to think of my mission. My thoughts could not be on her confusing manner…not now.

(She is right, we should go now,) So’len agreed as he turned his head to look outside. (The night cycle will be here soon enough.)

Nodding to him, I lifted my mask up and met Meeya’s eyes once more without my face shield before attaching the breathing hoses. I stared through the eye sockets and heard her heart beat increase rapidly as she looked at me. Then, she held out her hand to me, a gesture I’d seen before among other oomans. I took her hand; it was so small and very soft as I brushed the pad of my thumb against the back of it.

I felt the blood pumping faster through the veins in her hand at my touch, and I cocked my head to the side once more. Just as before, her lips turned up in a smile, and I felt the pressure in my chest lift some. To hear Meeya’s heart race was…more than I could describe as a deep rumble emitted from my chest.

(Tor’ac.) I heard So’len’s voice, but I couldn’t release her; I wouldn’t. She ended up releasing her gentle grasp, forcing me to let go of her hand.


[Mya’s POV]

I didn’t want to let him go, but I knew I had to. He needed to complete his mission. Watching as Tor’ac placed the mask over his face, I felt my insides clench and his leaving seemed even more real. If So’len and R’ys weren’t standing in the living room, I wouldn’t believe this was happening. But they and Tor’ac had their masks on, ready to depart.

The other two were standing near the balcony door; Tor’ac joined them and then hesitated, turning and looking right at me. I chewed on my lower lip, preventing myself from saying anything more as I stared into the glassy eyes of his mask. Then, he brought up his wrist and tapped his claws against the guard, and his body vanished, becoming only a disruption in the air.

Opening the door, all three disruptions moved outside, and I slowly followed them to the doorway. The shorter two disappeared, climbing along the side of the building, and the large one I knew was Tor’ac stopped. I heard a soft trilling noise, and I had to close my eyes to stop any tears. When I reopened them, he was gone.

“Be safe, Tor’ac,” I whispered, closing the balcony door.

A hand patted my shoulder, and I looked at Leah as she stood next to me near the balcony door. “Missing him already, Mya?”

“Yeah.” Swallowing, I felt my knuckles cracking and gripped my hands together, turning and limping towards my bedroom. “I had to let him go. He was here for a reason…and he’s going to do that now.”

“Are you all right?”

“Of course I’m fine, Leah. Why wouldn’t I be fine? Everything is peachy.” Limping into my bedroom, even I hardly believed what I just said to Leah, but what else could I say? I was glad to help Tor’ac and now he could move on and finish his task. Very happy to help.

Closing my bedroom door, I leaned my head against the wall and squeezed my eyes tight. ‘Shower…I could really use a shower.’ I’d spent almost the past two days in the same clothes, and taking a shower would help me feel better. Hopefully in more ways than one. I went through my dresser and picked out fresh clothes before heading to the bathroom.

~~~

Inside the bathroom, hot, steaming water gushed through my hair, trailing down my back as I stood under the spout. Washing my hair normally calmed me down, and I rubbed the shampoo in my long hair to a nice thick lather. I turned around to rinse out the suds and stopped when my eyes were on the tiled area where Tor’ac had braced himself when I was removing the bullets.

Warm water trickled down my cheeks, and I knew it wasn’t from the showerhead. Who the hell was I kidding saying I was fine and happy? My friend, my guardian was gone, and he wasn’t going to come back. I mean why should he? What reason did he have to return here?

Shutting my eyes, I bit my lower lip as my head bowed, allowing more water to sluice through my hair. I had to let him go…didn’t I say that before? But that didn’t mean I had to like it…I knew I’d said that before, too. How could a person just fall in your life and then just as easily vanish into thin air…literally in Tor’ac’s case? A bitter sound came from my throat as I thought, ‘If I knew that answer, I wouldn’t be feeling like this.’

I turned the shower off and wrapped a towel around my wet hair before draping another across my shoulders. Drying all the water dripping from my body, I dressed and limped back into my room. I had to do something to keep my mind preoccupied. The more free time I had, the more time I had to dwell on things I’d rather not.

Immediately, I went to turn on my computer; if there was one thing that could distract, it was the Internet. After booting, I clicked to check my messages, one from my uncle about bank account transfers for the next semester and some junk mail. I groaned in disgust, deleting the junk and replied to my uncle, saying I’d call him later to discuss it.

Then, there was another message that just arrived after I sent my reply. It was from Mrs. Henderson.


[Tor’ac’s POV]

Moving along the tops of the large structures as we searched for our quarry, I found my mind wandering back to Meeya. Her eyes had held such a sad look when I left, but her actions and words told me to go and do the ordered task. A sigh left my inner mouth within my mask, and I stopped in the shadowed area between two structures. So’len and R’ys stopped nearby, and my second made his way to my location.

(Tor’ac, what’s with you? Still dwelling on that female?) He asked, cocking his head to the side.

(I’m not dwelling, So’len. Just…thinking about this whole mission.) I growled low and looked at his mask.

(What about it?)

(I don’t believe he should be classified a bad blood. Retrieving him would only seem to justify the council’s choice of labeling him.)

I heard a low trill from my second as So’len looked out into the open area where the light was slowly dimming. (Tor’ac, if they really wanted to label him a bad blood, why would they have given you the task of pursuing him? Do you think High Arbitrator Ga’av would have ordered him to be returned alive?)

Clicking my mandibles thoughtfully, I sighed; I knew the High Arbitrator would not have bothered to send me if this mission was a lost cause. Ga’av did not waste time on what he believed was worthless, one of the traits I and others admired about him as a leader. (You’re right, So’len.)

(Of course I am, Tor’ac, you just don’t trust me enough.) He trilled. Then, he clapped a large hand on my shoulder. (And you don’t need to lie about thinking of her, Tor’ac. You’ve been looking back the entire time since we left.)

Sighing, I caught myself doing exactly what So’len claimed I was doing, and I fingered my belt, touching the hair ornament still tucked there. (I just…can’t forget her. Meeya…my Meeya has more honor than you’d know, So’len.)

(Oh? So you now claim her as ‘yours’?) So’len chuckled before shaking his head. (Ooman females are nice to have around in between hunts here, but I’d never expect to become that close to one. Do you really want to claim her as a mate, Tor’ac?)

Dropping my head, my mandibles clicked as I thought about the past cycles I had spent with her. If I had wanted to leave her, I could have at any time during the night cycle. But something always held me back and not just the unease of this mission. It was Meeya…just Meeya. Staring at the eyes of So’len’s mask, I rumbled, (She healed me, trusted me, shared with me more than I can grasp now. She has given me such honor, and I’ve never wanted a mate more than I do now. Yes…she will be claimed as my mate.)

(What about High Arbitrator Ga’av? Do you think he’d allow this?)

(It is not unheard of, taking an ooman female as a mate. Other clans have had ooman females become part of their clans. Why should ours be different?)

(Tor’ac…we are arbitrators. I’m not sure that your rank will aid your choice.)

Shaking my head, I felt my dreads strike my shoulders before settling against my back once more. (No, because she will have more than my rank on her side. She will have her own rank…as a sol’rach.)

As I watched So’len, my second reared his head back, clicking, (You think she would be considered a sol’rach?)

(If they knew her as I do, she would have that rank granted to her.) I trilled to my second. I knew Meeya’s knowledgeable mind would be very valuable. She was a sol’rach; I knew this was true. (She has this…Hunter’s fire within her, but its fuel is knowledge. I’ll prove it to the High Arbitrator that she is a sol’rach…somehow.)

(Whatever you decide, Captain, you have my support.) So’len rapped his fist against his chest and nodded to me in a sign of trust. Then, he motioned to his gauntlet, asking, (Are you feeling anything odd with your gauntlet?)

Shaking my head, I lifted my arm up and looked at it, inspecting it through a different vision setting in my mask. (It’s working properly, like it was never damaged.)

(Just checking. It’s been awhile since I’ve worked on the cloaking mechanism in any of these, so if your wrist gets warm or anything…)

(So’len, it’s fine,) I told him, placing a hand on his shoulder. (You and Ka’jai were always better technicians than me.)

(Unfortunately, that’s the problem now with finding him.) So’len tapped a claw against his mask. (He knows enough to adjust his cloak and somehow hide his signature from us even when we use different vision settings.)

Sighing, I nodded before cocking my head to the side and mulling over other possible ways that we could find Ka’jai. I knew that if he had really turned bad blood, there would have been more killing and destruction both here and on the clanship. That would have made this an entirely different mission. I knew he still had his honor, even if the council was uncertain. But I couldn’t understand why he had not confronted me once I arrived on this backwater planet. He was still in hiding, and that confused me.

‘Brother…where are you?’


[Mya’ POV]

I couldn’t believe I was standing in front of the library again after what had happened last night. And what seemed even more stupid on my part was that I was alone. But since I was meeting Mrs. Henderson, there wasn’t any reason to bring Leah or Cassie with me. She had asked me to come to the library tonight because she’d found odd neon green spots on the third story floor.

Instantly, my mind went to Tor’ac and the night I’d helped him, and I couldn’t remember how much blood had gotten on the carpet. At the time, it didn’t really matter, but now, it worried me that Tor’ac might be discovered. Against my better judgment, I took the evening bus up to campus and limped my way to the library.

Standing near the steps, I looked around for Mrs. Henderson and rubbed my arms, trying to get warm in the chilly weather. I leaned all of my weight on my good ankle and lifted the injured one, slowly rotating it and only stopping when it began to really hurt. My eyes scanned the area once again. ‘Where could she be? It’s after nine already.’

“Hey, Mya,” an all-too familiar voice came from behind me.

Turning my head, I narrowed my eyes as Kyle sauntered up the sidewalk towards me. Why the hell he was here I’d no clue until my eyes went beyond him. About a dozen men stood in a cluster behind Kyle, and I slowly turned my body to face him. “Kyle…what are you doing here?”

Shaking his head, he looked up at me, saying, “I knew you’d do anything for that old, bitchy biddy.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” I pursed my lips at the insult aimed at Mrs. Henderson before looking once more at the crowd behind him. “I don’t think you should talk about your boss like that.”

“My ‘boss’? Right, like that woman could really call herself my boss,” he scoffed. "Nah, I was sent to finish the job that those fuckers couldn’t do last night even after I set it up for them. Just like I set this meeting up, too.”

‘Damn, why doesn’t that surprise me?’ I thought, slowly stepping back. “You hacked the system and sent me that email.”

“Yep, because I know you’d do anything for dear Mrs. Henderson.” He whined the last part of his sentence making me clench my fists.

“You sent those guys after me? Why?”

“Oh, don’t give me that line, Mya.” Kyle took another step towards me as did the group behind him. “You can’t act stupid after what I saw last night—that thing hovering over you before taking you away. Yeah, who would want to question you?”

Blinking, I knew there was no point in playing dumb like I had last night. Even if I had thought Kyle was bluffing, there was no denying the danger present behind him. How could I have been so stupid to come up here alone? I could kick myself for not even telling Leah and Cassie about the email. And no matter how much I wished it, I knew Tor’ac wasn’t going to come charging to save me again. He was gone.

“Now, are you going to come with me or are you going to make this more interesting, Mya?” Kyle sneered, still approaching me. I saw his hand motion towards the others, and the group stopped as he stalked closer.

Inhaling softly, I grasped for something, anything I could do to get me out of this situation. With my ankle still throbbing, there was no way I could run out of here. As for fighting him…well, kicking was definitely off the list. And there was no way in hell I’d just go with them. I’d die before just giving up.

‘All right, he wants it more interesting, I’ll give him interesting,’ I thought, glaring at Kyle as he was nearly upon me.

When he was within reaching distance, I bent to the right and swung my arm and fist up, aiming for his side. Kyle flinched and stepped to the side, grabbing my wrist and yanking me against him. Cursing, he reached his free hand inside his coat, pulling out a gun. “That was a mistake, Mya. Now, I’ll definitely have to finish what they started.”

“You bastard!” I hissed, baring my teeth at him and bringing back my free hand.

The cold metal of the gun barrel against my face forced me to put my fist down, and Kyle smirked. “That’s better. This’ll be fun, so try to enjoy it.” Releasing my wrist, he wrapped his arm around my shoulders, still keeping the gun pressed against my cheek.

Then, I heard a high-pitched whistling noise, almost like a firecracker, and my eyes widened as something bright shot right past us. Following it with my eyes, I watched as it exploded within the tight cluster of men, sending some flying through the air while most fell dead to the ground. For a brief moment of shock, my eyes darted to the library, and I sighed in relief that whatever that blast was hadn’t damaged the building. Another shot was fired, forcing my attention back to the group, and any of the bodies that had moved after the first shot grew still.

“What the fuck was that?!” Kyle bellowed, pulling me to him and shoving the gun against my temple. “Son of a bitch…show yourself! I will kill her if you don’t show yourself, you fucker!”

All that ran through my head was Tor’ac; he’d come for me again. Even after leaving to finish what he came to do, he still found me somehow. Swallowing hard, I felt my heart beating against my chest in fear of death pointed at my head and elation that Tor’ac was here. I scanned the area, trying to see any sort of movement or disruption in the air.

There! My eyes widened as I saw Tor’ac’s tall cloaked form moving closer to us. Glancing to the side where the gun was pointed at me, I thought, ‘Screw it.’ Just as I was about to move, a low growl rumbled beside Kyle, and with a yell, he pointed the gun where he thought Tor’ac was, shoving me away.

Losing my balance, I grunted as I hit the ground, thankfully landing on my right side to protect my injured ankle. As I raised my head, I saw the twin blades appear from Kyle’s back before ripping up and out the right side. I clamped a hand over my mouth and swallowed quickly, looking away to stop the churning in my stomach.

A soft trilling made me glance up, and I saw Tor’ac’s tall cloaked form standing over me. I couldn’t stop the smile on my lips as he bent down and carefully touched my ankle. “It’s all right, I’m fine,” I assured him, and he answered me with another trill. From what I could see despite his cloaking device, his arms scooped under my legs and supported my back as he picked me up.

Immediately, my arms went around his neck as I pressed my forehead against his cold mask. I closed my eyes and sighed, so happy that Tor’ac came for me yet again. His next trill sounded almost like a question, but I could only focus on him being here.

“Tor’ac…” I breathed against his mask.

His grip around my torso tightened for a moment before I heard his feet pounding against the ground in a run.

~~~

It didn’t seem like we ran very far from the campus, and I opened my eyes to see Tor’ac had brought me to what I guessed was a warehouse. The place was empty of everything but some cardboard boxes, and I leaned my head back to look at the high ceiling. Definitely a warehouse, but where it was, I couldn’t say.

Slowly, Tor’ac lowered my legs to the floor before releasing me from his grasp. I watched him step away from me, and I frowned, wondering what was wrong. Standing and looking over his cloaked form, I thought he looked a little taller than before. Or maybe I really couldn’t remember how tall he was.

Watching his almost invisible form, I saw one of his hands move to the other arm, and I thought he was deactivating his cloak. With small crack of blue lightning, his form appeared in front of me. But something seemed off…even in the shadows, I could have sworn his mask looked different. The armor covering his shoulders, chest and legs were familiar, but his skin. The color was too light.

I blinked and stared into the eyes of the odd mask, and he raised a hand up to pull out two hoses from his mask. Lifting the metal face-guard up, my eyes widened as I looked at his face and stepped back. It wasn’t Tor’ac.

“Who are you?”

TBC

A/N: Thank you all very much for reading, and I’m so honored especially by: shortest_warrior (they won’t spear you, Shorty, I won’t let ‘em), prairiefire (Tor kicks srs ass), Ripe wickeD plUm (you are such a nut, but I love ya anyways), Cara Sky (I hope this chapter answered some of those questions ^_^), Capt_Davy_Jones_Lover (nope, not over by a long-shot), Ar-shiya (I hope this chapter lived up to the last one, too), Keen (hearing such a compliment like that from an excellent writer like you makes me very happy), and Zellezra (I know, cliff hangers all around, right, hun? ^_~).