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

A/N: Hmmm, apparently, AFF is having some issues, so I'm reposting the chapter. Dedicated to prairiefire (for lighting a fire under my creativity), Keen (for all the help she's given with "Collection") and to Ar-shiya (for the inspiration to finish it sooner than thought).


Chapter 8

[Mya’s POV]

“Who are you?”

I watched as the strange Yautja cocked his head to the side in the same manner that Tor’ac did, but I wasn’t sure the action meant the same thing with all of them. Biting my lower lip, I tried to keep a calm mind. I mean, he wasn’t Tor’ac, but he did save my life for some reason or another. Then, a thought crossed my mind that made my stomach clench.

‘Shit, is he the one that Tor’ac’s trying to find? The…what was the word? Bad blood?’ My eyes stayed on him as he looked at me and trilled again in a questioning manner. ‘But…Tor’ac said he wasn’t sure that he was really bad, and why would he save me if he’s a criminal?’

“I’m going to ask one more time, who are you?” My voice sounded steady and firm even though it felt like my insides were jumping all around. ‘I wonder if he can even speak English…maybe not.’

“What have you been told?” A deep, grating voice came from his direction, and I blinked at the sound of his voice. It had a depth to it that was different than Tor’ac’s, and I thought it might mean he was older.

“What…what I’ve been told?” I coughed, trying to think about what Tor’ac had said earlier. He clicked something and moved towards me, his hand going to his belt. I tensed for a moment, thinking he might bring out a weapon of some sort, but instead he stopped and held out something to me.

Looking from his hand up to his face, my mouth twisted to the side. I reached out a hand, and he placed a pouch or bag of some kind in it. My hand grasped it and I heard the sloshing noise of liquid; it looked like a waterskin, one of the strange ones you sometimes see in movies, with a tapered opening on one end. I glanced in his direction again as he tilted his head to the side.

“What’s in it?” I asked, uncertain.

“Water.” He inhaled slowly and exhaled in a sigh.

Blinking, I lifted the opening to my lips and drank. It had such a different taste from the tap water I was used to; almost with a sweetness added to it. I thought back to a camping trip when we stopped at a fresh spring of water; it had tasted kind of sweet, too. Moving the waterskin back down, I looked at him and bowed my head. “Thank you.”

He blinked at me and angled his head in a nod, a return of respect I suppose. As my eyes drifted up again, I studied his face, blinking a few times to not look like I was staring. The mottled dark pattern along his lighter skin was rather similar to Tor’ac’s, but that could just be a common trait to their people. Something else about him seemed familiar, too; I just couldn’t figure it out.

“So…are you the one they’re looking for?” I asked, handing him the waterskin.

Placing it on his belt, he crossed his arms and stared at me. “Depends. Who is looking for someone?”

My mouth twisted to the side as I huffed, placing one hand on my hip and pointing the index finger of the other towards his face. “Look, I don’t have time for this. My roommates are going to be worried enough as it is since I’ve been gone so long. I’m grateful for you saving me; thank you for your help. But please, can I get some straight answers?”

Raising a heavy brow to me, he cocked his head to the side as his eyes stayed with mine. He didn’t seem that unnerved by my show of aggression, and I sighed, dropping my hand.

“At least tell me your name?” I suggested, tilting my head to the side like him. “I’m Mya.”

One of his mandibles clicked softly as he lowered his gaze from me. Then, his eyes met mine again, and he uncrossed his arms, straightening to his full, imposing height. “Ka’jai.”

“Ka…jai?” I asked tentatively, wondering if I said it correctly. When he nodded, I felt my shoulders relax a little as I thought, ‘At least we’re getting somewhere.’

“Why did you help him?” Ka’jai questioned in his grating tone as he took a step in my direction.

“What? Help who?” It took me a moment to think of Tor’ac, and I frowned at this strange Yautja. “Wait, how did you know…?”

“It is not your concern,” he growled softly, turning his head away from me. Then, his eyes flicked towards me as he queried again, “Why did you offer him aid?”

“Maybe that’s not your concern,” I answered, crossing my arms and pursing my lips.

A low growl rumbled from Ka’jai as he turned his entire, massive body in my direction. “Tor’ac is my concern! That is all you need to know, Ooman!”

Blinking at his aggressive posture, I thought about my options, trying to find the one that would either calm this Yautja or at least not force him to hurt me. My brow furrowed as I thought, ‘He could have hurt me at any time from the library to just standing here. But instead he chose to help me…wait.’

“Why did you save me? Was it just because I’m weak and needed help?” I asked, uncrossing my arms.

Ka’jai stepped back a little, his posture relaxing slightly from his challenging stance. “You were in need of aid; my honor bids me to help those who are…worthy of assistance.”

“Worthy in what way?” I pressed, inhaling softly.

He clicked his mandibles in almost the same way Tor’ac did, answering, “You were being threatened…and you had also helped another Yautja.”

“I helped him because he was in trouble, too. It was the right thing to do.” Rubbing my arm, I wondered how strange it might seem that a human female felt the need to help a Yautja male in the eyes of Tor’ac’s people. It didn’t really matter now, and I gave a small smile. “And I don’t regret helping him.”

“You are…a very strange ooman,” Ka’jai said, shaking his head. It sounded like he chuckled slightly, so he seemed less tense than before.

Tilting my head to the side, another question presented itself to me. “Why did you bring me here, Ka’jai? You could have left me back at the library after…after killing all those men.”

Inhaling slowly, his gaze went over me, and I turned my head to see the doors leading into the warehouse. “If you are here, he will come. By coming for you, he will find me.”

“Wait a sec, if you wanted to see Tor’ac, why didn’t you just approach him before?” I asked, confused at his logic before my eyes widened a little as I turned to face Ka’jai. “You’re not going to hurt him, are you?”

“If that is required, so be it. Why does it concern you?”

“He’s my friend, that’s why!” Narrowing my eyes, I stepped forward onto my hurt ankle and winced as a jolt of pain raced through my foot. “Crap…forgot about that.”

With a huffed sigh, Ka’jai strode behind several dozen stacked boxes before returning with something large and furry in his arms. As he approached, my body stiffened slightly despite my efforts to stay relaxed; I was anxious that he might be offended by my outburst. He set whatever he was carrying on the floor next to me, hissing, “Sit down.”

When I didn’t comply quickly enough, he rose and pushed against my shoulder, almost making me topple to the floor. My hand touched what was on the floor, and I looked down; it was a long and rather soft skin. I looked up at Ka’jai as he knelt down a few feet from me clicking his mandibles. ‘He wanted me to be comfortable,’ I thought, with a sigh. ‘I don’t understand all his actions…but I can’t see him as a bad person.’

“Do not be concerned with the prospect of a clash between myself and Tor’ac,” he growled softly, his eyes meeting mine. “He is not my enemy, and I will not treat him as such.”


[Tor’ac’s POV]

Staring out over the darkened streets and structures, I sighed and looked at So’len and R’ys. So’len looked ready to go to the Black Hunter’s depths with me and back again, but I could see the tense frustration building in R’ys’s shoulders. I had to make a decision on what to do.

(We’ve covered as much of this area as we can.) I growled to them, cracking my neck. (You two should head back and see if the navigators have managed to track Ka’jai’s ship. I’ll return as soon as I can.)

R’ys immediately nodded and leapt to the top of the structure across from the one we stood on. However, So’len cocked his head to the side, his mask staring at mine. (You’re going to check on her?)

(Should it matter if I am?) My shoulders rolled up in a shrug before dropping down into a relaxed position.

(I’m coming with you.) He stated.

(Can’t trust me with a group of females, So’len?) I chuckled, cursing inside because he would probably hasten my time with Meeya.

(Why should you have all the fun, Tor’ac?) He trilled before looking out among the structures again. Inhaling, a low growl came from him. (Humor aside, Tor’ac, Ka’jai is still out there, and he might choose to come to you. I don’t know what he might do…)

(Enough, So’len.) A warning growl came from my throat as I cracked my knuckles. (He is my brother.)

(I am saying act with caution, Captain,) So’len hissed. (I looked up to Ka’jai as well, and I want to believe the Council is wrong. But if it comes to a choice between you and a possible Bad Blood, I will not choose him.)

Huffing, I understood So’len’s concern and nodded. (Very well, but if we do encounter him, let me engage him first. Let’s go.)

As we moved along the tall structures, I noticed something strange on the far section of my grid and signaled So’len to stop. Looking in the direction of the disturbance, I queried, (What does that look like to you, So’len?)

(The remains of a blast from a plasma cannon.) He clicked, his eyes trained on the same area I was scanning. (You don’t think R’ys encountered Ka’jai, do you?)

(No, the ship isn’t in that direction…unless he took a less direct route trying to do one last scan.) Growling, I clenched my fists at the idea of R’ys doing something dense such as having an open confrontation alone. I wanted to believe that Ka’jai wouldn’t have attacked him in the open. Still, my mind hissed that I shouldn’t think my brother incapable of meeting another Yautja in combat. Silencing that part of my mind, I had to trust in him; otherwise no one else would. (Come.)

~~~

So’len and I stood on the roof of the structure where I had searched for Mya just the previous night cycle, and I immediately felt something twist in my chest at the memory. Coming to this place a third time did nothing to ease my mind, and I wondered what bad luck the gods had placed on this area. ‘It’s due to your presence of course,’ my mind murmured, and I growled low in my chest.

(Tor’ac,) So’len said, motioning towards the area below where many ooman bodies were lying. Each of them either held a weapon or had one nearby. (Ka’jai has been here…I wonder what drew him out to this area.)

I cocked my head to the side, asking the same question. Running through my grids, I inhaled sharply as I recognized Meeya’s heat signature showing in the area. It was too strong to be what remained from the previous night cycle. What the pauk was she doing here again? But what troubled me most was that her signature wasn’t moving in the direction of her dwelling. Instead it was traveling in the opposite way.

(Meeya was here,) I rattled softly. (Could he have…? No, Ka’jai wouldn’t…)

Feeling a hand on my shoulder, I turned to face So’len as he clicked, (We cannot be sure, Tor’ac. You say she was here recently?)

(Yes, but her signature’s not leading back to her dwelling.) Inhaling slowly, I clenched my fists as I wondered if and why my brother would involve Meeya. He wouldn’t dare harm her. Even if he was my brother, if he hurt Meeya, he would suffer ten-fold the amount of her pain. (Let’s follow the trail.)

(What about the oomans?) So’len glanced down once again at the strewn bodies.

I shook my head slowly and moved along the roof towards Meeya’s trail. (There’s nothing we can do, and it does not matter as long as there is no proof of our presence. Because of the plasma cannon, it will look like the results of an explosive.)

Hearing So’len’s footsteps thudding behind me, I increased my pace and leapt to the next structure, heading in the direction that Meeya’s heat signature was going. Gritting my teeth, I knew I’d gotten her involved in all of this. Even if it was her choice to help me, it was I who accepted her assistance. And now, by leaving her behind, I had brought her more trouble. As I jumped to the roof of another structure, I swore to myself that I would protect her; I would not leave her again.

(There!) I called, pointing out a large structure where Meeya’s signature was the strongest. The structure seemed large enough to hold one of the smaller cruising vessels, so it was possible for her to be in my brother’s custody. Stopping on the roof of the structure across from it, I could only see Meeya’s signature. ‘Ka’jai, if you are still my trusted brother, you won’t have harmed her.’

I tried to keep my mind calm, but my concern for Meeya still thrust itself to the forefront of my thoughts. Clicking my mandibles to relieve some of the tension, I glanced at So’len as he stared at the structure. He placed a hand on my shoulder, clicking, (Do not start thinking negatively now, Tor’ac.)

(I know, So’len, I know,) I huffed back, returning my gaze to the structure. (Contact the High Arbitrator and wait here. I’m going in alone.)

(Tor’ac, I don’t think…)

Facing So’len, I cut him off before he could finish. (So’len, that is an order. He is my brother; I will deal with this myself.)

(As you command…Captain.) His hand dropped to the side as he nodded to me. (Good luck.)

(If Paya is still with me, I won’t need it,) I clicked, grasping and shaking his shoulder. ‘I’m coming, Meeya.’


[Mya’s POV]

“He is here.” Ka’jai’s voice interrupted the somewhat calm silence between the two of us. Blinking, I watched as he placed his mask once more over his face.

“What are you going to do?” I asked, standing up with only a little trouble from my ankle.

Ka’jai’s masked face turned towards me, and I heard his mandibles clicking even inside the metal faceplate. “I will meet and speak with him. You are staying here.”

“No way.” I pursed my lips and crossed my arms. “Tor’ac’s my friend, and I want to see him. Besides, if what you say is true about me being used to bring him here, I should be out in the open, too. If you really just want to talk with him, don’t give him any reason to doubt you.”

His head reared back in what seemed like shock, and he trilled, “You may be a strange ooman, but you seem to think a little like a Yautja Arbitrator.”

“Does that worry you?”

Chuckling, Ka’jai shook his head. “No, it just reminds me of how your kind is changing more.”

“What about going out to meet Tor’ac?” I questioned, briefly looking at the entrance before turning to face him.

“Fine, we will both wait for him here,” he said, glancing towards the large doors of the warehouse. Then, Ka’jai craned his neck back to look at the huge windows lining the upper wall of the building.

When I followed where his gaze was, I couldn’t see anything. The windows were all dark from the night sky, and it was hard to see any sort of movement. But I was sure that Ka’jai would definitely know when Tor’ac entered the building. Staring at him, I saw that his gaze was still on the upper windows.

‘Maybe…wait, what’s that?’ I saw something shift out of the corner of my eye and turned to see the moving transparent outline of a figure. Then, blue lightning crackled along the tall body, and Tor’ac materialized, still striding towards us. “Tor’ac!”

A low purr came from his chest as powerful arms enveloped me, drawing me closer to the source of the comforting, warm sound. Heat flushed along my cheeks as I found my torso cradled against Tor’ac. I was sure he could practically feel my heart hammering through my chest against his. Then, he said, “Meeya.”

“I’m…happy to see you, too, Tor’ac,” I managed to say clearly through the muscled chest near my face. “It would help if I could actually ‘see’ you.”

Trilling, Tor’ac released me, his clawed hands gently grasping my shoulders. I was a little miffed with him wearing his mask right now; part of me really wanted to see his face, his eyes. But despite that, I was very glad to see my protector again.

Tor’ac slowly raised his head until his mask was looking behind me, and he guided my body until I was behind him more or less. Blinking, I had almost forgotten Ka’jai was there, too. Damn, where was my mind tonight, somewhere in orbit? A hiss brought my attention back to the two male aliens standing in front of me, and I heard Tor’ac huff, “Why did you bring Meeya here, Ka’jai?”

“I needed a means to bring you here since you couldn’t locate me,” Ka’jai replied with a slight shrug of his huge shoulders. “Since you had spent so much time with her, it was logical to think you would come for her.”

“That’s no excuse for taking her!” Tor’ac clenched a fist and stepped closer to the taller Yautja.

“Tor’ac, he didn’t take me! I thought he was you when he saved me tonight,” I said, moving around him and placing a hand on his arm. My touch made his mask face me, and I inhaled slowly. “Kyle was the inside man…the one working with the four men that were chasing you. He lured me back to the library and…would have finished their job if Ka’jai hadn’t come and saved me.”

“She seems to have difficulty avoiding trouble,” Ka’jai trilled and shook his head as he looked from me to Tor’ac.

“Yes…she does,” Tor’ac agreed, cocking his head to the side as his mask faced Ka’jai. “Thank you for saving her…Brother.”

‘Brother?’ My eyes widened before blinking and looking between the two of them. The mottled pattern on their skin was rather similar despite the color differences, and then, I looked at the spikes along the crowns of both Tor’ac and Ka’jai’s heads. The shapes were almost parallel to each other’s. Although I hadn’t really seen Ka’jai’s eyes closely when his mask was off, it wouldn’t surprise me if they were green.

“Well, that explains some things,” I mumbled to myself even though both Yautja looked at me. My eyes shifted between Tor’ac and Ka’jai, and I bit my lower lip at having their masks staring at me. “You both have similar physical attributes that I couldn’t really place as familial when I first saw Ka’jai.”

Tor’ac nodded to my explanation while Ka’jai shook his head, chuckling, “She is a rather…interesting ooman.”

“I won’t argue that point,” Tor’ac said, a soft purr in his voice. Then, his mask once more met Ka’jai’s. “Brother, I’m sure you are aware of my second’s presence outside.”

Glancing at Ka’jai, I saw him nod before heaving a huffed sigh. “They will be here soon?”

“Most likely…” Tor’ac stopped and looked at his gauntlet, flipping it open, and I noticed something flashing on the small screen.

“‘They’?” I asked, looking into Tor’ac’s mask. “Do you mean the other…law keepers?”

He nodded and looked towards the windows of the warehouse before softly pushing me behind him once more.


[Tor’ac’s POV]

“Meeya, stay there,” I hissed to her as I watched the five large, cloaked forms of the Council entering the structure. There was no time to really explain who and what they were here to do. Right now, I was more concerned with my brother’s situation as Ka’jai stood in front of me, watching the Council approach us.

The first Yautja to materialize were the four lieutenants, Na’km, Ku’r, Ir’o, and Re’hd. All four stood in a half-circle around Ka’jai with Na’km and Re’hd standing within the closest proximity. My mandibles clicked, and I narrowed my eyes at these two. They were the Council members who believed Ka’jai was a Bad Blood. Ku’r and Ir’o were not as certain, but they had doubts about Ka’jai’s behavior.

A huge form appeared in the middle of the four Yautja, and I bowed my head to the High Arbitrator. He wore the long, blue cloak that all Arbitrators were granted, and he held his scarred mask at his side. Ga’av had served as High Arbitrator even before I was born, and he warranted nothing but respect and honor from all Arbitrators and from our clan. It was his word that would either condemn or exonerate my brother.

Ga’av stepped forward, and his amber eyes stared into my mask. (Arbitrator Captain Tor’ac, you have completed your task of locating Ka’jai. Well done.)

(Thank you, High Arbitrator,) I clicked, bowing my head once more. Then, I met his gaze once more as I brought a fist to my chest. (However, my mission isn’t complete.)

(No?) Ga’av asked, raising a heavy, spiked brow.

(I request a trial for Ka’jai to explain the reasons behind his actions.) Keeping my eyes on the High Arbitrator, I watched as his stare moved from me to Ka’jai and back.

(So be it,) he said, nodding to both of us. (Until a time is decided, Ka’jai shall remain within the secure unit on the clan ship. So’len, secure Ka’jai on the cruiser.)

My second materialized next to Na’km and approached Ka’jai, asking, (Will you need these?) In So’len’s outstretched hand, I saw a pair of restraining guards.

(You idiot! Of course you need them!) Re’hd snarled at him. (Restrain him now! That’s an order.)

So’len lifted his mask to stare at Re’hd before turning to look at me. I sighed, knowing it wasn’t necessary since Ka’jai had not done anything to warrant the use of the guards. However, to not insult Lieutenant Re’hd and cause more problems for my brother, I nodded to So’len, and he attached the guards to Ka’jai’s wrists. Then, So’len activated their cloaking devices, making both of them vanish from normal view. I watched my second lead my brother outside the structure, and then I turned to face the High Arbitrator.

Ga’av and the others were looking beyond me, and my mandibles clicked beneath my mask as I glanced over my shoulder. Meeya had remained silent ever since the arrival of the Council, and she had a confused look in her eyes as she met my gaze. I could hear her heart beating just slightly above a normal rate, but it wasn’t out of fear…possibly bewilderment from the presence of the five large males and also not understanding a word of what we said.

(Tor’ac.) Ga’av’s voice interrupted my thoughts, and I looked at the High Arbitrator. (Explain.)

TBC

A/N: Sorry for my update taking so long, but this chapter took forever to write! Sometimes, the characters have minds of their own. Many, many thanks to the wonderful reviews of: prairiefire (well, at least I didn’t have a month and a half long hiatus ^^; ), Ripe wickeD plUm (I’m really not sure what to say to that, so I’ll just nod and smile), shortest_warrior (hee hee, hope this chapter held the answers to some of those questions), Ar-shiya (thank you so much, hoping the next chappy won’t take forever and a day to write), Keen (do you really know who he is? ;P), Alicat, TheWinterWolf, Zellezra (imagining that sight had me in stitches, Zell XD), Nahaujaret, Cassiopeia (glad to see you back on aff, hun), Nanook, Death God Dist (you honor me muchly, DGD), OutlawLanaya (I’m glad the time just seemed to fly by…or was that bad, like a distraction?), and phantommagik.

Hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. I’m going to do my best to update as soon as I can despite work and school calling my attentions their way. ^^;