Chapter 1
He wanted to see her.
He wanted to see the girl his father had become so attached to and see for himself if she were worthy of his father's love and sword.
He HAD to see her.
He'd heard so much about her but never once seen her not properly, only fleeting glances of images in reports from his fellow hunters as they travelled on their ship, as a Veteran and Elite clan member he rarely had time to return to his home and visit the Dark Blade clan, much less chance to question his uncles and cousins about this Ooman child his father had chosen to name his own.
"Mar'us!" A voice snarled and he almost dropped his combi stick and stumbled over his own two feet. Mar'us looked up and growled at his friend as the other looked down at him slightly. "You are having trouble staying focused my friend."
"No Karn," Mar'us said, "I just have a lot on my mind."
"About that Ooman girl?" Karn asked knowingly while using his combi stick to move a large leaf out of the way. "Or wondering why your Osh'dara gave her his swords?"
"Dose everyone know my business now?" Mar'us asked.
"You make no secrete you're curious about her, even the young bloods know about it." Karn said as they continued their patrol of the planet they were on, refuelling the ship and restocking on meats and fruits.
Mar'us sighed. "Am I THAT obvious?"
"Is an Elder's dreadlocks gray and long?"
Mar'us sighed. "I just don't understand how an Ooman, a child at that, has earned his name and the right to be part of the family." he said. "I know it's not a rare thing in some clans, but really... I thought he of all Yautja would be the last one to have accepted a Ooman girl as his own pup..."
"And the fact you two had that big fall out hasn't helped matters I guess?" Karn asked as the two reached their ship again.
Mar'us sighed. "I can't even remember why we were arguing."
"You're Mother." Karn stated.
Mar'us's shoulders sagged, remembering the argument now and the broken look on his Father's face when in his anger Mar'us blamed him for his mother's death.
He'd never forget the hurt he'd seen that day on the face of a Yautja he had always believed to be a Paya...
Shame, fear and that awful... broken look behind his eyes...
He didn't have chance to say he was sorry for that argument and now he never would.
Karn sighed. "Look, we're stopping by home to get a few things and so we can celebrate the union of the High Priestess and another Yautja, while we are there you can talk to the Ooman and see what so special about her. I'll even go with you to hold your hand." He said chuckling as Mar'us punched his shoulder.
"Shut up." Mar'us said as they entered their ship.
I'ka stood with her mother, using a knife to cut and slice into a large section of raw meat. "Do you think everything will be eaten before it gets cold Ma'da?" She asked.
"It had better," Nagara said. "I am not cooking this feast for it to be wasted." She stated.
"Need a hand in here?" Shara asked from the door, "I'm free to help." She added and Nagara nodded handing Shara a knife.
"Thank you Shara." She said while I'ka smiled. "How's Martha Mary?"
"Her recovery will be slow, but at least she's talking now." Shara said chopping the many smaller ingredients for Nagara while the older Yautja started to add the chopping into a bowl with oils and other such things.
"Do you think she will be able to walk again?" I'ka asked. "I know she enjoys running around with Dart and Tracker..."
Shara shook her head. "Not for a long while yet, the damage to her legs and hips was so extensive but she is hoping to at least get her upper body strength back so she can still pilot the ship." she said slicing with practiced grace and speed.
"Sounds like Martha Mary will fit into Dart's family just fine, they have a habbit of pushing themselves even when they know they aren't expected to recover in an instant." Nagara said as I'ka finished chopping the meat and set them down ready to cook when they were needed.
"I hope we have enough to go around, it's not every day the High Priestess takes a permanent mate," Nagara said. "It's the only time the whole clan comes together for a long span of time." she added.
"So the whole clan will be back together?" I'ka asked.
Nagara nodded. "Everyone, even the Veterans and Elites will be here."
"Sounds like a lot of mouths to feed." Shara said.
"It is, with all the clan together we have a reunion and a marriage. That double the reason for them whole Clan to be together." Nagara stated. "But thankfully, the other females are cooking up meals too."
"So that's why Cas'kar and Les'ie were so eager to get back to their ship, they have meals of their own to cook." I'ka said.
Nagara nodded again.
"Smells good in here." Jessica said as she came in carrying a heavy looking basket of picked fruits and vegetation. "Gift from Lil'th, she got caught up in a talk with her mother while we were on the way." She added while moving to help.
"Ah so we can expect extra hands." Nagara smiled.
And so on the cooking went until the sun reached the ground in the early hours of the evening and the last of the ships landed.
"This will be an eventful night." Bull Dog said. "Are you sure you wish to do this now?" he asked looking at the High Priestess's shadow beside him, he was forbidden from laying eyes on her until their ceremony but the small fire cast shadows long enough fo him to know she was safe.
"We have waited almost a hundred years... nothing has changed since we first admitted to such love... I do not wish to see this life out any longer without the joy of being wife and perhaps even mother." She said. "I will soon be too old to raise a child to full maturity..."
"You could never be too old." Bull Dog assured. "I promised you at least one pup, and it will happen, I promise."
The High Priestess smiled and while she would have loved nothing more than to embrace her soon to be eternal mate, she knew the laws and she had to obey them.
At least until the ceremony was over.
"Where are my chosen?" She asked as Big Guns stopped outside the door and knelt.
"They have been called from their chores to prepare for the evening." He explained. "I have also brought you news of the Dark Blade Ship, The Jagged Edge..."
Bull Dog tensed. "Isn't... that Mar'us's ship?" he asked.
"Indeed... and Mar'us is coming here... Do you want Striker to keep an eye on Shara?" Big Guns asked.
"No." The High Priestess stated. "I will not have her babied just because the blood pup of her adopted Osh'dara is returning. If Mar'us causes trouble it is shame to his name, not his Osh'dara or Shara."
"As you wish, High Priestess." Big Guns said and then, as was law, placed a small jewel in a golden dish before leaving.
I'ka smiled as she and the other unblooded pups watched the last of the Blooded, Elite and Veteran Warriors came into land.
"They're huge!" He'ry yelled over the roar of the engines.
"Of cause they are!" Lil'th yelled back. "They are two of the largest ships the clan has; they were built to stay out on multiple hunts!"
"Like the Dark Mass?" I'ka asked.
"That was her basic design!" Tracker yelled. "We had to make the Ship slightly smaller so the speed was greater, but the lack of Size is less than we had first thought it would be!" he added.
The ship engines started to calm and Striker smiled as the two ramps slowly lowered, several young Yautja warriors covering the sides of the gang plank while the elders travelling with them and the Veterans left the ship.
"Who are we here for again?" I'ka asked.
"Mar'us." Lil'th said. "Jha'kle's son."
"Oh..." I'ka said looking at her brother who had been silent until now, his gaze seemed locked on a pair of males who were heavily armoured and stood beside a Veteran who looked to have been badly injured and needed their aid to even walk.
Once the old Yautja was in the care of the healers, Striker and Tracker moved in while Lil'th stayed with the unblooded pups, this wasn't a place for them.
Though it seemed whatever words were exchanged, Mar'us seemed calm enough.
For now.
Shara stood beside Mark and Big Guns as they waited for Bull Dog to finish preparing. "Please tell me everyone is here?" he asked.
"Everyone, Martha Mary was brought down by two of the young Bloods, they have her in a wheelchair." Big Guns said.
"I see." Bull Dog said. "Is everything ready?"
"Everything is in place and ready." Mark said.
Shara chuckled. "Is it always like this?" she asked. "When a High Priestess takes a mate I mean?"
"Indeed it is, though sometimes can be more stressful." Big Guns said. "But thankfully we have been planning this for years." He admitted.
"Really? Why so long?" Shara asked.
"Bull Dog and the High Priestess had other duties they had to see to first. The High Priestess the blessing of ships and Young Bloods and Bull Dog the training of pups and also the retrieval of the Queens from Earth." Ghost said as he arrived.
"Oh..." Shara said ducking her head. "I guess that little tack ruined a few plans." she asked and Bull Dog chuckled from inside his room.
"If it were not for that task, I likely would never have been able to grant the High Priestess her biggest wish." He stated. "She wanted to see the Earth and she got that wish and more... for that I have you to thank Shara, you and your friends."
"Our family now Brother." Big Guns said ruffling Shara's head. "She is a sister to all of us... Even if she is a runt." He added with an amused chuckle.
"Remind me to ask Lil'th to keep you on pup juice all night." Shara stated and they all shared a chuckle.
"Are you ready Bull Dog?" Ghost asked.
Bull Dog nodded. "I have been ready for the last four years of my life." He said.
"Then get moving Pup." R'ka stated as he came in to the room. "The day will not last forever."
As they turned to leave R'ka's hand fell on Shara's shoulder. "Stay a while at the party, then come to the Elder Temple, Striker and the others will head there on their own time..."
"Is there trouble?" Shara asked.
"No... Not yet." R'ka said and Shara nodded.
"I'll be there."
Karn watched as Mar'us chatted with old friends, he recognized some but not all, so busied himself by looking around the gathered clan, he could see Lil'th and Nagara by the food tables, likely making sure under aged pups didn't get at the heavy drinks.
Despite the celebrations the rules still stood, if you weren't old enough to take your trials, you didn't get to drink like the older pups. The only reason you were allowed a strong drink was if you were given permission by an Elder.
Few young pups did drink the stronger stuff anyway, but there was always the few who wanted to try it and see what all the fuss was about.
Then Karn's eyes fell on a pair of young Bloods stood beside a Ooman woman, her legs in heavy casts and her upper body wrapped tightly in a protective blanket, curious he tapped a passing Young Blood's shoulder.
"Who is that Ooman?" he asked.
"That's Martha Mary, one of the Oomans from Earth... she was injured during a savage attack." The young Blood explained. "She is one of the best Pilots too. The Dark Mass will be grounded until she is able to fly it again."
"She's the pilot of the Dark Mass?" Karn asked, recalling the many stories and reports of the small ship that had become well known in the Clans for its speed and grace. "I never knew."
"Few do." the Young Blood said, "Martha Mary doesn't like to be centre of attention."
Karn blinked, the name sounded strange in their tongue but to an Ooman it would likely be a normal name.
"Eyes off her," another voice said and Karn looked behind him to see Thar'kastood there. "She and Dha-ta are together."
Karn dropped his eyes. "I wasn't thinking of anything." He admitted. "I'm just amazed that all the stories I've heard were because of a Ooman skill." He explained.
Tracker chuckled. "You haven't met Ben, Mark, Jessica or Shara yet," he stated moving closer then grew serious. "You and Mar'us will come with me to the Elder Temple, after the vows are spoken. No Questions, No doubts." He said. "Understood?"
Karn blinked his mandibles clicking and then nodded. "I understand." He said.
Tracker nodded back. "Good."
"Mei'hsweis and Mei-jadhis! Hear me!" a loud, echoing voice roared and every Yautja, stopped what they were doing and fell to one knee.
High atop the central structure, stood Elder R'ka and Elder Rha-n, both dressed in golden robes, and with them, bejewels and wrapped in silver stood the High Priestess and Bull Dog.
"We are gathered to day, to witness and celebrate the union, of our High Priestess and Bhul-Dwag our Highest and most respected Mentor." Rha-n said, "Our Clan has been granted this joyful event and we are blessed with the joys of at last knowing our High Priestess will be not only mates to a worthy Mate... but also that our Clan has been granted the blessings of the Paya themselves!"
"I'd forgotten how to the point Elder Rha-n was." a Young Blood said quietly.
"Our High Priestess isn't really a fan of long winded ceremonies." Another stated. "But I will admit, she and Mentor Bhul-Dwag are perfect mates."
"Indeed."
R'ka turned to the two soon to be mates. "Even thought I know the answers, we must do this right." he said quietly.
Both Yautja nodded.
R'ka smiled, "High Priestess, under the eyes of our Paya and before our clan, young and old... Do you swear your life, soul, mind and entire being to Bhul-Dwag?" he asked. "To be at his side, through what challenge the Paya will give you? To forever love and care for him? til the end of all time?"
"With my heart and mind I do." The High Priestess said smiling,
R'ka nodded and turned to Bhul-Dwag. "Mentor Bhul-Dwag, Under the eyes of our Paya and before our clan, young and old... Do you swear your life, soul, mind and entire being to The High Priestess?" he asked. "To be at her side, through what challenge the Paya will give you? To forever love and care for him? Til the end of all time?"
"And beyond." Bhul-Dwag smiled. "With my heart and mind, I do." he stated.
"Then as Elders of this Clan," Rha-n said as he wrapped their hands with a gold and silver scarf. "We are proud to say you are now Eternal Mates. Bond for life. Now and forever."
There was a roar of the whole Dark Blade Clan when the scarf was loosely tied and both Elders bowed down and the two newly wedded Yautja were surrounded by a glowing light.
Jessica and Dart walked beside Martha Mary's wheelchair, heading to the Elder's chambers.
"What do you think this is about?" Martha Mary asked.
"Maybe the attack on the ship?" Jessica suggested. "Striker didn't go into detail he just said meet here with the rest of the Crew." She said.
"Must be something big," Martha said.
"Good thing we got here early." Dart stated.
"Not the first ones to show up however," Big Guns stated opening the door, "Quick." He stated while moving to the side to help Martha Mary get inside.
"Who else is coming?" Jessica asked.
"Everyone." R'ka said. "We need everyone here who was on earth and some of our other warriors will also be joining us." He explained.
"That bad?" Dart asked.
"That bad," Rha-n assured as I'ka handed out drinks with her mother, Tracker, Karn, Mar'us, Guan-thwei, Ghost, Vi'cor, Cas'kar, Ben, Mark and Les'ie were already there, leaving only Striker, Lil'th and Shara to arrive.
"Always the last one to arrive." Ben chuckled, "Thank you I'ka," he added as she handed him a drink.
"Shara is always the last is she?" the female unblooded asked.
"Not always, but she does enjoy the veterans stories, so maybe she got caught up in another one of their recollections of a hunt?"
"Or maybe she's half way here." Ben stated pointing out the window.
All eyes turned to the door as Striker opened it for both females and sighed. "That is the last time I get into a debate with that pup." He said.
"Who?" I'ka asked.
"He'ry," Shara said. "They were debating why you and your class have been held off your trials and when you'll be allowed to go on them."
I'ka nodded. "It has been a question I've wanted to ask... but I didn't want to be rude." She admitted.
"Women who speak their mind are women of high intelligence and knowledge." Nagara stated. "Never hold back a question my dear, it may give you an answer sooner rather than later."
"Yes mother." I'ka said.
"All small talk aside for the moment," Rha-n said, "We have another issue that needs addressing..." he added as everyone sat down, Share carefully placing Jackal's sword in front of her so it wasn't damaged.
"The surviving Queen has made her hives and now she seems to have hidden herself in one of them and after all that happened before..." R'ka said looked at Shara. "We believe it best to deal with this now."
"How do you want us to deal with it?" Ben asked, "Going in gun blazing didn't work and we don't have enough plasma ships to go hive to hive and drop them down." He added.
Shara looked at both Elders and realised they were both watching her. "Why do I not like this way this is going?" she asked.
"You have the link to the hives through all that happened on earth... perhaps you could tell us where she is hiding?" Rha-n said.
Shara looked a little shocked. "You want me to try and find away into her head? Elders I know I have the ability with regular Xenomorphs but... I've never tried to link with a Queen..." She said. "I... I 'm not sure if I even can..."
"It's worth a try," Jessica said, "I mean I know the idea scares you but you are part of the Earth hive in a way... that's why they called you sister..."
"I don't view them as sisters." Shara assured, starting to rub her left arm. "Not now nor ever... not after what they did." She added.
"Perhaps a little assurance she will not be giving you anymore scares would help?" All eyes fell on Guan-thwei and Ghost. "We may not be the strongest, but we can hold the mental barriers up to keep her out but let you move freely."
Shara continued to rub her arm then looked at Jackal's sword...
Mar'us watched her head cocked to one side slightly.
"Shara?" Nagara asked.
"I do it... I don't know if it will work but I'll try..." she said
Both elders nodded. "You already know what we are looking for, anything you can give is better than nothing," R'ka said as Ghost and Guan-thwei moved closer, both holding a blessed jewel like Jackal had when he first saw into Shara's mind.
Shara removed her mask and her necklace while Mark held onto the sword as if it were a fragile thing, letting Shara focus on her task and not worry about anything. Guan-thwei and Ghost took each of her hands in theirs and began to mumble odd sounding chants while Shara let herself slip into her own mind.
Darkness... strange sounds and cold breezes... faint smells of decaying bodies and death... awful sounds of breaking bones and horrid feeling of someone watching her... waiting for her to make a move.
She started to feel like something was around her neck, but she ignored it. The faint sound of chanting reminding her that this was just a mental world... it wasn't real...
It was just to check on a few things then she could leave...
"She's trying to get in..." Shara said and Mar'us blinked. "She's behind me..."
"You are safe, Shara." the High Priestess assured, "You are surrounded by friends... she cannot hurt you..."
Shara made a sound of understanding as her eye lids seemed to flutter rapidly. "She's infertile... she can't lay eggs of her own... she took over a hive but she won't allow a male near her... not yet..."
R'ka spoke up.
"Where is she?"
Shara seemed to try and focus harder on what she was asked, "I don't recognize the planet... large forest... matured tress not saplings... red leaves... no grass... sand I think... I can't see water... but there is something falling from the sky... two moons..."
~Foolish of you sister...~
"Shara?!" Striker caught Shara before she could fall completely. But made sure she didn't slip from Guan-thwei or Ghost's grip as the two chanted louder. "Shara wake up! Shara?!"
"What do you want?!" Shara demanded focusing on her barriers
~You to join the right family, as you should have done on earth...~
"Never!"
~I have ways of making sure you do as I ask, sister... some more physical than you might like.~
A sickening snap was heard and Shara's body jerked violently, Mar'us's mask told him that Shara's chest had just been struck by something, violently forcing Shara back into full consciousness with a cry of pain. "SHIT! Fuck..."
"What happened?" Ghost asked.
"She broke through... damn that hurt..." Shara stated gritting her teeth as she tried to regain her breath. "Shit... she did this..."
"How... that was only a mental connection..." Guan-thwei said.
"Only while I was awake..." Shara said. "On earth... when I slept the pains I felt were real... the Queen could hurt physically... and it seems she's past that ability to her daughter..." She explained.
"Drink slowly." Striker said as I'ka handed Shara a glass of water.
"What do we do now?" Ben asked.
"We go to her and we kill her." Dha-ta said, "before she becomes too strong."
"She's already full size..." Shara said, "She's learned from her old sisters and she's going to know we'll be coming..." She added.
"Thoughts?" R'ka asked.
There was heavy silence.
"You could..." I'ka began nervously.
"Go on I'ka." Shara encouraged.
"It's just... this new Queen seems to be set on you and revenge... couldn't you use that against her? Maybe lure her to a place you would have the advantage?" She asked.
"How would that come to be, we don't know what planet she's on." Cas'kar asked.
"Kilos 09." All eyes fell on Karn as he tapped his arm piece, "salt based ground over all land areas mild irritant substance that falls every five months, the salt neutralizes the irritation though and the trees are mature all year around, new trees don't grow there until after the rain and they grow in a matter of hours."
"How do you know?" Vi'cor asked.
"It's the only planet the ship can go to refill the water holds, and it's a good place to find good hunts, the beasts there are feral but they learn." Karn explained projecting the images he had.
"Looks like what I saw..." Shara said.
"Kilos 09... just a storm cloud away from thei-de luar-ke," Rha-n said.
"Death Moon?" Ben asked.
"A planet that passes through the systems every three years... it comes so close that Kilos 09 surface becomes so heated, it becomes like glass, the odd gravity of Kilos 09 keeps the moon from hitting it, but it is never wise to be close to the passing ground." R'ka said.
The talk went on into the night and most of the morning and following afternoon, formulating plans and checking details before at last, R'ka called the gathering to an end.
Mar'us found he couldn't be bothered asking why Shara had taken the smallest guest room in his family home when they arrived, but he would find time to ask later, after he and Karn had rested and they were refreshed.
All that he cared about was that she hadn't changed the home in anyway, in fact by the look of things all she had done was repair the small damages and had a new bunch of trophies to his father's trophy room.
He'd thank her later.
Ok, so chapter one, what do you guys think? do you like it? hate it?
Which ever it is, please read and review and please be nice, nasty coments will be used to keep me warm in the comming winter.
You already know what's mine and what isn't...
Enjoy and see you in the next chapter!